VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Bernini as the Seicento Michelangelo: Imitation and Identity in Art, Architecture and Biography

Bernini as the Seicento Michelangelo: Imitation and Identity in Art, Architecture and Biography Carolina Mangone Doctor of Philosophy, History of Art Department of Art University of Toronto 2012 Abstract This dissertation examines how Gianlorenzo Bernini (1598-1680), acclaimed the “Michelangelo of his age,” constructed his identity by imitating the art, practices and persona of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564). Buonarroti’s “inimitability,” a disputed sixteenth-century notion that became ever more contentious as newly critical seventeenth-century perspectives of his work and practice questioned his worth as a model for imitation, furnishes the point of departure for investigating how Bernini became Bernini through and against his predecessor. By analysing Gianlorenzo’s formal, stylistic, theoretical and conceptual references to Buonarroti in his early narrative sculpture (ch.1), his sculpted self-portraits (ch.2), his work at St. Peter’s (ch.3), his architectural ornament (ch.4) as well as the intertextual strategies attending the literary uses of the association between the two artists (ch.5), I shed light on various imitative modes –ranging from emulation, allusion and paraphrase, to repetition, quotation and bricolage – that Bernini and his biographers employed to shape the artist into Michelangelo’s worthy “son” rather than his burdened epigone. In positing a filial model as a flexible framework for understanding Bernini’s life-long relationship to Michelangelo, I take a cue from early modern art writers who suggested that the way to overcome Buonarroti’s inimitability was to resemble him faintly, the way a son resembles a father. Yet while the latter saw filial likeness as fixed, I show that the son’s (Bernini’s) resemblance to his chosen father (Michelangelo) changed by degree and in demeanor over time, according to discipline and, sometimes, from subject to subject. And by reconstituting the respective prisms through which Bernini and his biographers regarded the work and life of Buonarroti, I show that each perceived Michelangelo differently based on the manifold representations of him, his work and his practice that existed in critical, biographical, theoretical and pictorial sources. In turn, multiple constructions of Bernini’s identity as the seicento Michelangelo emerge. This dissertation ultimately suggests that to imitate Michelangelo successfully was not only to inscribe oneself into history but to rewrite the past by altering the perception of Buonarroti from an inimitable vanguard to a fecund “father” of a new generation.

Keywords: Bernini
Michelangelo
Imitation
Advisor: Levy, Evonne
Sodium Leak Current through a Non-selective Cation Channel Regulates Spontaneous Activity of Pacemaker Cells

Pacemaker cells are involved in regulating numerous essential biological functions. These cells exhibit spontaneous activities in isolation, due to the various membrane ion channels. Background conductances (ILeak) are responsible for the depolarized resting membrane potential of numerous pacemaker cells, largely due to a high sodium component (INa Leak); however, their molecular identity remains unclear. NALCN is a non-selective cationic channel that was suggested as a major contributor to the background Na+ conductance in some neurons. This thesis investigates whether and how NALCN contributes to the INa Leak of two major pacemaker systems: neurons and heart. Chapter 4 utilizes the benefits of a simplified respiratory pacemaker neuron of L. stagnalis to determine whether NALCN has a functional role in regulating pacemaker cell activity and function. Using an acute gene silencing approach, reduction of endogenous NALCN orthologue expression in isolated respiratory pacemaker neuron hyperpolarized the resting membrane potential, due largely to the reduction of INa Leak, which partially affect respiratory behavioural output. Chapter 5 further determined that the NALCN orthologue of is a major contributing current to the pacemaker neuron subthreshold conductance. By using a computation model, developed in collaboration, simulation of spontaneous pacemaker activity was shown to be more sensitive to Na+ leak than K+ leak conductance. Together, these studies indicate that NALCN codes for a fundamentally important INa Leak that is capable of robust regulation of spontaneous activity. Chapter 6 investigated the role of a NALCN-like conductance in the establish pacemaker model of the murine sinoatrial node cardiomyocyte. Given the lethality of NALCN knockout, a combined pharmacological and eletrophysiological analyses were performed. Results suggest a novel INa Leak that is highly sensitive to Gd3+ and Co2+, which is similar to biophysical properties of NALCN channels. Furthermore, functional NALCN-dependent INa Leak requires an auxiliary subunit co-expression. Interestingly, regional regulation of NALCN-associating subunits correlates strongly with my electrophysiological observations. These findings indicate an important role for the NALCN channel in regulating the spontaneous activity of at least two pacemaking systems.

Keywords: Neuroscience
Cardiovascular
Pacemaker
Electrophysiology
Advisor: Feng, Zhong-Ping
Structure-function Analysis of Nlrp1b Reveals a Link between Metabolism and Inflammation: Energy Stress Triggers Inflammasome Activation

Immune cells have evolved an array of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to initiate immune responses upon detecting pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and danger associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Nlrp1b, a cytosolic PRR, forms a protein complex termed an inflammasome that activates pro-caspase-1, which leads to processing of inflammatory cytokines, such as pro-IL-1β, and to cell death. Nlrp1b has been shown to mediate death of murine macrophages by anthrax lethal toxin. Lethal toxin is a binary toxin that comprises lethal factor (LF), a zinc metalloprotease, and protective antigen (PA), which translocates LF into the cytosol. In this thesis, the murine Nlrp1b inflammasome was reconstituted in a human fibroblast cell line and shown to be responsive to the enzymatic activity of LF. Activation of Nlrp1b by LF was allele specific in the reconstituted system since an allele derived from macrophages that are killed by the toxin facilitated processing of pro-caspase-1, whereas an allele from macrophages that are resistant to the toxin did not mediate processing of pro-caspase-1. That the reconstituted system recapitulates the cellular events in intoxicated macrophages was further supported by the observation that a proteasome inhibitor that inhibits macrophage intoxication also prevented pro-caspase-1 activation in the fibroblasts. Next, I identified energy stress as a danger signal that activates the Nlrp1b inflammasome: reduction of intracellular ATP by 2-deoxy-glucose and sodium azide caused Nlrp1b-dependent processing of pro-IL-1β. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a major energy sensor in cells, facilitated Nlrp1b activation after ATP-depletion whereas it was not involved in lethal toxin-stimulated Nlrp1b signaling. However, signals derived from lethal toxin and ATP-depletion seemed to converge upstream of Nlrp1b activation because pharmacological inhibition of the proteasome blocked both triggers. Lastly, mutations that disrupted the nucleotide-binding site of Nlrp1b caused Nlrp1b activation, which is consistent with the finding that Nlrp1b was activated when the cytosolic ATP level decreased.

Advisor: Mogridge, Jeremy
Characterization of Immune Responses to platelet beta3 Integrin and GPIbalpha Antigens in Murine Models of Fetal and Neonatal Immune Thrombocytopenia

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT or FNIT) is a life-threatening bleeding disorder caused by maternal antibody-mediated destruction of fetal/neonatal platelets. The incidence of FNIT is estimated at 0.5-1.5/1,000 liveborn neonates, but the frequency and mechanism of FNIT-related miscarriage are unknown. Platelet alphaIIbbeta3 integrin and GPIbalpha are the major target autoantigens in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), but the reported incidence of anti-GPIbalpha-mediated FNIT is rare. The underlying reasons for this discrepancy have not been explored and maternal immune responses to fetal platelet antigens remain to be elucidated. In Chapter 2, we compared the pathogenesis of anti-GPIbalpha- and anti-beta3 integrin-mediated FNIT using newly developed animal models of FNIT, in which syngeneic GPIbalpha-/- or beta3-/- female mice were pre-immunized with wild-type (WT) platelets. We found, unexpectedly, that miscarriage occurred in most of anti-GPIbalpha-mediated FNIT, which is far more frequent than that mediated by anti-beta3 antibodies. Mothers with anti-GPIbalpha antibodies exhibited extensive fibrin deposition and apoptosis/necrosis in their placentas, which severely impaired placental function. We further demonstrated that anti-GPIbalpha (but not anti-beta3) antisera activated platelets and enhanced fibrin formation on platelets in vitro and thrombus growth in vivo. Finally, we demonstrated that intravenous IgG or anti-neonatal Fc receptor therapy efficiently prevented this life-threatening disease. In Chapter 3, we established naïve murine models of FNIT. Maternal anti-platelet antibody and neonatal thrombocytopenia were observed in beta3-/- mice after the 3rd delivery, but not in GPIbalpha-/- mice even after the 8th delivery. By varying the dosages of WT platelets transfused, it was revealed that platelet GPIbalpha antigen was less immunogenic than beta3 integrin. Interestingly, lipopolysaccharide significantly enhanced the immunogenicity of platelet GPIbalpha antigen, which correlated with more severe FNIT symptoms (e.g. miscarriage). In Chapter 4, we characterized splenocyte-engrafted ITP and FNIT models, in which beta3 integrin- or GPIbalpha-reactive splenocytes were transferred to WT, beta3-/- or GPIbalpha-/- mice, respectively. In summary, my data suggest that platelet GPIbalpha is less immunogenic than beta3 integrin, but infection (e.g. exposure to lipopolysaccharide) can markedly enhance the immunogenicity of platelet GPIbalpha; when anti-GPIbalpha antibody was generated, it frequently caused miscarriage, which may mask the severity and frequency of human anti-GPIbalpha-mediated FNIT.

Keywords: Platelets
Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia
Advisor: Ni, Heyu
An Investigation of the Use of Heuristics on Judgment

How and when are individuals more or less influenced by heuristics when making judgments? The first essay of my dissertation examines whether individuals can reduce their reliance on heuristics that cause them to form biased judgments. According to Kahneman and Frederick (2002, 2005), people have a tendency to commit judgmental biases by basing their judgments on accessible heuristic cues (heuristic attributes) rather than relevant cues (target attributes). This prevalent tendency to substitute an inaccessible (but relevant) attribute with an accessible (but irrelevant) attribute results in a biased judgment. To eliminate people’s tendency to rely on heuristics, the first essay of my dissertation examines whether it is possible to make the target attribute more readily accessible in individuals’ minds by merely exposing individuals to the relevant cue – the target attribute using a non-conscious prime. I demonstrate that brief exposure (20 milliseconds) of the target attribute can increase the accessibility of the target attribute and reduce judgmental biases. The second essay of my dissertation examines the ease-of-retrieval heuristic. Previous research has shown that the ease of retrieving information leads to more favorable judgments, whereas the difficulty of retrieving information leads to less favorable judgments (Menon & Raghubir, 2003; Schwarz et al., 1991; Tormala, Petty, & Briñol, 2002; Tversky & Kahneman, 1973). Contrary to previous research, I find that, when individuals have the opportunity to use a product (i.e., direct product experience), the influence of ease-of-retrieval on their judgments becomes reversed. In particular, after a gustatory product experience with a soft drink or a tactile product experience with a hand lotion, individuals evaluate the product more (less) favorably when listing many reasons why they like (dislike) the product compared to listing a few reasons. I demonstrate that this finding is not a result of alternative explanations such as motivation levels or the reliance of the content of reasons.

Keywords: biases
heuristics
Advisor: Mitchell, Andrew
Configurations oulipiennes du ludique : le discours de la contrainte dans "Cent mille milliards de poèmes" de Raymond Queneau et "Le château des destins croisés" d'Italo Calvino

Parmi le corpus des textes oulipiens, certains textes combinatoires – notamment ceux des origines – s’inscrivent dans une conception interactive de la littérature, bien avant que celle-ci soit théorisée par la cybernétique. Par exemple, "Cent mille milliards de poèmes" de Raymond Queneau (1961) métatextualise le potentiel reconfigurateur du sonnet sur le mode de l’interaction physique du lecteur avec le texte, tout comme "Le château des destins croisés" d’Italo Calvino (1969) métatextualise le potentiel interprétatif du lecteur sur le mode de l’embranchement. Pourtant, les oulipiens ont longtemps été accusés de négliger le rôle du lecteur au profit de la valorisation des jeux d’écriture, alors que les premiers textes oulipiens montrent, en fait, le contraire. Les théoriciens du ludisme littéraire insistent davantage sur l’aspect social du jeu, faisant de la littérature une simple forme de divertissement. Le jeu oulipien, quant à lui, est de l’ordre du construit et de la configuration. En s’appuyant doublement sur un programme d’écriture et une programmation lectorale, le discours de la contrainte prend en charge les modalités de l’interaction, soit sur le mode de l’indifférence – si l’interaction est cryptée – soit sur le mode de la collaboration – si le projet auctorial est de rendre visible la propriété interactive de son texte, comme c’est le cas de "Cent mille milliards de poèmes" et du "Château des destins croisés". Alors que le champ des littératures à contraintes est constitué majoritairement de modèles de lecture cryptanalytique et privilégie les textes qui programment une modalité implicite d'inscription de la contrainte, cette étude montre que l'intégration explicite par le discours de la contrainte exige une interaction qui sert un projet plus vaste de lisibilité en fonction des règles génériques qui sont spécifiques à la poésie et à la fiction. Le cinquantenaire de l’Oulipo valait bien une revalorisation de ce qui constitue pour nous la double spécificité du texte oulipien à contraintes : ses propriétés interactives et l'appui singulier qu'il prend sur la potentialité des formes littéraires.

Keywords: oulipo
configuration
queneau
ludique
calvino
contrainte
discours
combinatoire
poesie
recit
jeu
ecriture
lecture
litterature experimentale
statistique
sonnet
metalepse
poetique
Advisor: Michelucci, Pascal
Fighting Ghosts, Playing Whist, and Fencing with Fire: Three Technologies of Illusion in Performance in Nineteenth-century London

Technologies of illusion are technologies used to evoke an emotional response in an audience by producing an effect that seems to violate the laws of physics; for example, conjuring apparatuses and special effects are technologies of illusion. Traditional histories suggest that audience members value technologies of illusion for their mystery: when they understand the mechanism responsible for an effect, they lose interest in that technology. This view is empirically unsupported. Instead, technologies of illusion should be considered not as apparent violations of nature but as representations of violations of nature. Like all representations, their effectiveness hinges not on the deception of the audience by the performer but on collaboration between both parties to establish the illusion within the socio-cultural contexts that give it meaning. The analysis of three case studies, each of which embodies one of the main fields in which technologies of illusion were used in performance in nineteenth-century London, supports this understanding. The ghost illusion jointly developed by Henry Dircks and John Henry Pepper in 1862 and presented by the latter at the Royal Polytechnic Institution is representative of technologies of illusion used in popular-science demonstrations. Likewise, the card-playing pseudo-automaton Psycho developed by conjuror J. N. Maskelyne in 1875 is representative of technologies of illusion used in performances of secular magic, and the electric sword duel in Sir Henry Irving’s 1885 production of Faust is representative of technologies of illusion used to produce theatrical spectacle. Microhistories of each technology based on primary sources and informed by tacit knowledge gained through performance experiments demonstrate that secrecy of mechanism alone did not guarantee popular acclaim. Despite widespread knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for each illusion, these performers worked with their audiences within the conventions of their respective fields to construct meaning for their effects and achieve success for each technology.

Keywords: John Nevil Maskelyne
Psycho
John Henry Pepper
Pepper's Ghost
Henry Dircks
Sir Henry Irving
Faust
electric duel
Lyceum Theatre
Egyptian Hall
Royal Polytechnic Institute
secular magic
Victorian stage illusion
technologies of illusion
Advisor: Langins, Janis
Naughty Nuns and Promiscuous Monks: Monastic Sexual Misconduct in Late Medieval England

This dissertation examines monastic sexual misconduct in cloistered religious houses in the dioceses of Lincoln and Norwich between 1430 and 1530. Traditionally, any study of English monasticism during the late Middle Ages entailed the chronicling of a slow decline and decay. Indeed, for nearly 500 years, historiographical discourse surrounding the Dissolution of Monasteries (1536-40) has emphasized its inevitability and presented late medieval monasticism as a lacklustre institution characterized by worsening standards, corruption and even sexual promiscuity. As a result, since the Dissolution, English monks and nuns have been constructed into naughty characters. My study, centred on the sources that led to this claim, episcopal visitation records, will demonstrate that it is an exaggeration due to the distortion in perspective allowed by the same sources, and a disregard for contextualisation and comparison between nuns and monks. In Chapter one, I discuss the development of the monastic ‘decline narrative’ in English historiography and how the theme of monastic lasciviousness came to be so strongly associated with it. Chapter two presents an overview of the historical background of late medieval English monasticism and my methodological approach to the sources. In Chapter three, I survey some of the broad characteristics of monastic sexual misconduct. In particular, I discuss the overall rate of sexual misconduct, the sexual partners of monks and nuns, same-sex relationships, and conventual pregnancies. Chapter four examines the episcopal response to sexual scandal and their use of visitatorial inquisition, compurgation, penance and written injunctions. Finally, in Chapter five, I discuss the connection between the Dissolution and sexual misconduct, and in particular, the sodomy accusations made by Suppression agents in the infamous Compendium Compertorum. The overarching conclusion is that monastic sexual misconduct in the medieval monasteries of Lincoln and Norwich (at the level of individuals) occurred at very low and predictable rates. Nearly half of the monasteries experienced a case of sexual misconduct over the 100 years examined for this study, and certainly a bishop could expect to encounter numerous instances of it during his career. However, although sexual misconduct was clearly considered a sin and corrected by bishops and monastic leaders, in general, it was very much de-emphasized compared to other disciplinary issues. Time and time again, the bishops examined for this study emphasized economic and leadership issues over problems with chastity.

Keywords: monasticism
medieval history
nuns
monks
sexuality
social history
medieval England
medieval history
Middle Ages
medieval Church
Advisor: Cochelin, Isabelle
Clues to the Causes of Mass Extinctions in Earth History from U-Pb CA-ID-TIMS Geochronology

Mass extinctions in Earth history have repeatedly altered the course of evolution of life on our planet. The extent and rapid rate at which they occurred required processes that were global in scale and catastrophic in nature. Asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions are cited as triggers of environmental change and subsequent biological turnover. Causal mechanisms remain enigmatic, partly due to a lack of precise and accurate ages to establish the timing and duration of events, and to limitations of interpreting existing ages due to inter-method and inter-laboratory bias. Two of the largest extinction events in the Phanerozoic were triggered by different processes. The Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinctions are widely accepted as due to the consequences of impact, yet the link between the K-Pg boundary layer and Chicxulub impact has been questioned. Shocked zircon from K-Pg ejecta in Spain and Italy are 550 ± 6 Ma (2 and show a correlation between intensity of shock metamorphism and discordance to the time of impact. The data are identical to those from Chicxulub and North American ejecta sites and together support a genetic association. Clarification of this link is essential to understanding the role of impact on end-Cretaceous climate and environment. The end-Permian extinctions are the most profound in the rock record and eruption of the Siberian Flood Volcanic rocks as the trigger is supported by U-Pb ID-TIMS ages. The ages indicate that the marine extinctions in China occurred early in the eruptive sequence prior to 251.99 ± 0.18 Ma (2 synchronous with emission of climate forcing gases. Continued environmental stress from eruption in the Noril’sk and Meymecha-Kotuy areas, may have promoted terrestrial extinctions in the Karoo Basin of South Africa and delayed recovery. The extent of environmental stress is related to the composition of target lithologies, the nature, quantity, and rate of emission of the volatile load, pre-existing oceanic and atmospheric conditions, and global plate configuration.

Keywords: geochronology
mass extinctions
Advisor: Davis, Donald W