VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Quantitative tritium imaging

Tritium Imaging electrostatically focuses secondary electrons produced at a surface by beta-particles from tritium in the material form an image of the tritiated areas. It has hitherto been essentially a qualitative technique. The research described here examines quantitative aspects of the process. Of particular importance is the effect of depth of tritium on image intensity. For imaging purposes, tritium must obviously be nearer the surface than the maximum range of a beta particle, (about 2.6[mu]m in graphite, and less in heavier materials). Numerical simulation, however, indicates that sensitivity falls off very rapidly with depth, dropping by 50% within the first 100nm. Simulations also indicate that for all but the shallowest tritium, imaging sensitivity drops exponentially with depth. This is experimentally investigated by implanting specimens with tritium ions of a known energy to give a calculated depth distribution. The surfaces of the specimens are sputtered to change the depth distribution, and the sample is imaged at various stages in the process. The evolution of the image intensity of the sputtered region is compared to the predictions of the numerical model. This technique was partially successful in graphite, but not in aluminum, due to the mobility of tritium in aluminum, and the modification of the aluminum surface by oxidation. Imaging was used to explore the nature of these modifications. In other experiments, tritiated graphite specimens were coated with aluminum, and the image intensity was measured as a function of coating thickness. As the tritium was fixed in atomic traps in the graphite, and the aluminum coatings could be assumed to be unoxidized at the time of deposition, problems previously encountered in aluminum were avoided. In these experiments, image intensity decreased exponentially with coating thickness, as predicted by the mathematical models, although slightly less rapidly than expected. It is also demonstrated that for many typical tritium distributions, the limit of lateral resolution will be that intrinsic to the electrostatic lens system, and will be fairly independent of, (and smaller than), the range of the tritium beta. This implies that imaging using secondary electrons produced by other radioisotopes may be possible with reasonable resolution.
Costing study of liver transplantation in adults

The direct cost of liver transplantation from the perspective of the Ontario government was determined in a retrospective analysis of data from hospital charts and databases. A consecutive series of 119 adult patients from 1991-92 was followed from the date of listing to the second anniversary of the transplant. Patient-specific in-hospital services during the pre-transplant, transplant and post-transplant phases were compiled and costed. The primary outcome was the impact of complications on the cost of liver transplantation. The overall mean measured cost of liver transplantation was C$89066.44 (range 30505.19-690431.10). The multivariate logistic regression model for overall costs revealed that severe liver disease (OR = 11.97), CMV infection (OR = 6.12), additional operative procedure (OR = 4.22), and biliary complications (OR = 5.00) were associated with an increased likelihood of high cost. To reduce the cost of liver transplantation, consideration should be given to performing the procedure earlier in the course of disease, eliminating CMV infection, and reducing biliary complications.
Investigation of airflow through a compost-based biofilter

Biofiltration involves venting off-gases containing low concentrations of volatile organic and/or inorganic contaminants through a biologically active medium. In this research, the relationships between air pressure drop, particle size, gas-filled porosity, airflow rate, and moisture content were investigated for compost and wood chip biofilters. This research can be applied in developing biofilter design and operating strategies for reduced air pressure drop through the biofilter. Experiments were carried out in a 200-L downflow biofilter equipped with 28 air pressure transducers. Different mixtures of compost and wood chips were evaluated in this research. Empty bed contact times ranged from 25 to 230 s and the gas-filled porosities of the media were estimated through tracer testing using methane gas. Equivalent diameters for the compost and wood chip mixtures were determined based on the screening analysis of the compost and wood chips. Darcy's law and the Modified-Ergun equation were successfully used to model gas flow through the various mixtures. The surface area and Reynolds number for transition from laminar to inertial flow were also estimated for the media. Tracer testing data were analyzed assuming a pulse input of methane as well as by considering two methane concentration profiles through the biofilter. The tracer testing data were also analyzed using a physical non-equilibrium model for advective-dispersive gas transport through the biofilter. Tests were performed to examine the effect of varying the moisture content on the air pressure drop across the biofilter for the compost-based media. Due to the fact that the compost structure was moisture dependent it was found that adjusting the diameter of the compost aggregates was necessary to account for variation in the air pressure drop as the moisture content changed.
Learning disabled graduate students, a life history of learners and their learning

An extensive review of the literature suggests that as students with learning disabilities age, the effects of their learning disabilities persist into adulthood. Despite the fact that more students with learning disabilities are now reaching higher levels of formal education-due to increased awareness and service provision in childhood and adolescence-relatively little is known about the ways in which to approach and assist this population. Preliminary studies indicate that though legally mandated to do so, an insufficient number of colleges and universities are prepared to offer appropriate guidance and support to students with learning disabilities, particularly as they enter post-graduate or professional programs of study. Authors suggest that more study is needed into the ways in which adults with learning disabilities succeed and into the special needs which they have as students in the higher end of programs. It is suggested that qualitative methods are best suited for this type of inquiry, as they are able to capture the nature of the phenomenon and more likely to generate models of common growth and need. This study examines the learning lives of six students, all of whom reached various levels of study at the graduate level and who were at some point, identified as learning disabled. Using Life History Methodology as the primary means of inquiry, participants were asked to recall their learning, the role of significant others in their learning and the means by which they overcame the effects of their learning roadblocks. Advice to teachers and allied professionals, parents, educational institutions and future students with learning disabilities were offered by participants in light of their and perceived needs. Special attention was focused on the graduate studies experience, since little is known of the relationship between this and the target population. From them interviews, a panoramic view of the trajectory of common experience and insight emerged. Similarities in the cognitive and affective domains were noted as were reactions to institutional structures and outside support systems. A set of evaluative comments emerged on the nature of key players in the lives of students with learning disabilities and how they affected the learning experience. These experiences are compared and contrasted with literature relevant to the population and to those covering learning and psychological experience in a wider domain. Recommendations to future learners, educational systems and professionals, parents and graduate programs are included.
Rukh, the social construction of protest, 1988-1992

This dissertation is a study of Rukh, the main national movement in Ukraine between 1988 and 1992. The time frame under study embraces the inception of Rukh, the period of Rukh's greatest influence on Ukrainian politics (including Ukraine's eventual declaration of independence from the USSR), and finally, the decline and splintering of the movement in the aftermath of independence. Using Ukraine as a case study, we see the rapid transition of ethnopolitics in the Soviet Union from ethnic federalism to ethnonationalism. There have been a variety of studies of nationalism and national movements in the Ukrainian (and former Soviet) social science literature. These works tended to focus largely on nationalism. But to round out our understanding of the complex changes going on in Ukraine between 1988 and 1992, it is necessary to study the movement as well. This dissertation utilizes the social construction approach (taken from the social movement literature developed in the West), and in particular, concepts of collective identity, frame alignment, and multiorganizational fields, which, taken together with traditional approaches to nationalism, allow us to understand more fully the rise and forms of ethnonationalism that occurred in Ukraine. First, the social construction approach lets us view the ways in which Rukh framed and guided the nationalist debate in Ukraine. Next, by examining how Rukh's opponents and allies changed their strategies for mobilizing support (due to factors within and outside Ukraine), the multiorganizational field helps us analyze how and why Rukh's support grew and-then faltered during the time frame studied. For example, in 1989, Rukh was the focal point of opposition to the Ukrainian Communist Party (CPU). But by the end of 1990, Rukh found itself competing not only with the hardline faction of the CPU, but with an increasing number of political parties (many of which were allies of Rukh), along with an increasingly pragmatic faction within the CPU led by Leonid Kravchuk. It is also argued here that it is important to examine the evolution of historical memories and myths of different regions of Ukraine to understand how and why Rukh leaders used varying strategies in Eastern and Western Ukraine to mobilize support. Overall, the social construction approach not only shows a great deal of potential for analyzing the evolution of Rukh, but also for examining the processes of nation and state building that are taking place in Ukraine today.
Studies on organosilane-mediated free radical cyclization of carbonyl groups and addition of organoboronates to N-acyliminium ions

This thesis is a summary of research conducted since September 1994 at the University of Toronto in the laboratory of Dr. Robert A. Batey. This manuscript is divided into three chapters. In chapter one, an introduction to the current state of free radical cyclization of carbonyl groups is described. The discovery and development of phenylsilane as a reagent for free radical cyclization of aldehydes and ketones is described. The method was found to be equal or superior to tributyltin hydride and tris(trimethylsilyl)silane for all-carbon tethers, provided the substrate was sufficiently Lewis-acid stable. For other substrates, it was found that tributyltin hydride or tris(trimethylsilyl)silane were the reagent of choice. In general it was found that all three reagents were complimentary, with no single reagent being superior for every substrate. In chapter two, a brief introduction to 'N'-acyliminium ion technology is presented, emphasizing the types of nucleophiles known to attack 'N'-acyliminium ions. The first example of reaction of boronic acids with 'N'-acyliminium ions is described. Use of ethylene glycol boronates was found to promote excellent yields of addition products. The scope of the reaction was found to include alkenyl and aryl boronates, with exclusive control of stereochemistry for all substrates possessing an oxygen atom ß- to the 'N'-acyliminium ion. The reaction was found to give exclusively 'cis' products for pyrrolidine and piperidine substrates, and exclusively 'trans' products for a tetrahydroquinoline substrate. The ß-oxygen was found to be essential for excellent yields under optimized conditions, although the reaction would proceed in modest yield without it. Possible mechanisms of the reaction are presented. Chapter three describes our applications of the addition of boronic esters to 'N'-acyliminium ions. The chapter begins by providing a brief background on indolizidine and pyrrolizidine alkaloids, outlining their properties and highlighting previous synthetic approaches. Highly convergent and efficient syntheses of (1'R'*,8a'R'*)-1-hydroxyindolizidine and (±)-6-deoxycastanospermine are then described. A survey of iodocyclocarbamations is presented, followed by our results for stereoselective iodocyclocarbamatin reactions of pyrrolidines and piperidines.
Words of encouragement, narratives of second-generation teachers

Positioning myself within a narrative research framework, I explore the phenomenon of being a second generation teacher who is gay. I juxtapose this personal experience with stories gathered from three other second generation teachers. These are stories of how the profession was concealed or revealed by their teaching parent. By examining the unities and disunities that emerge from these narratives, I construct a picture of teacher identity that reconciles my past with my present reality. The study will aid second generation teachers re-configure their understanding of the profession by examining how their actions, theories and pursuit of a teaching career, have been influenced by the past experiences of their teaching parent(s). The thesis underscores the importance of a child's perception of the teaching profession to his or her career choice.
Lonesome words, the vocal poetics of the Old English lament and the African-American blues song

The tenth-century Old English lament and the twentieth-century African-American blues song each speak the language of a poetic tradition distinct in its history and culture, yet the voices are remarkably similar in their emotive expression of personal and social struggle. For modern reader-listeners, removed in time and space from the origins of both poetries, these voices are immediate yet elusive, truthful yet mysterious. This study juxtaposes the texts of Old English laments and of blues songs, and their respective critical reception, in order to explore the features that characterize the vocal poetics of each. With the term "lament" I include the so-called "elegy" and passages found within narrative poems. The blues texts in this study were recorded during the 1920s and 1930s. In Chapter One, I propose that the poet of the lament, like the blues singer, optimized particular features, such as the first person speaker and certain formulas, to simulate performance within the text itself. I argue that the texts evoke performance with inherent call-and-response techniques. Against a background of scholarship pertaining to the "orality" of Old English poetry, Chapter Two investigates the role of the formula in the context of blues recording with a case study of Robert Johnson's lyrics. In Chapter Three I explore the formula-generated themes of exile and imprisonment in the laments and blues songs of male speakers. When the movement of exile and the stasis of confinement interact within the text, the speaker enters an interior realm and directly engages in personal psychological struggle, and ultimately enacts release. Chapter Four discusses the reception of both poetries by their second audience. I compare and discuss the anthology of poetry contained in the Exeter Book to the 1952 'Folkways Anthology of American Folk Music' as vehicles for the reception of unfamiliar yet poetically attractive texts. The lament and the blues song are each recontextualized by the anthology, and, thus, reinterpreted in a new setting.
Development and application of nitrite-free and low-nitrite meat-curing systems

Nitrite-free and low-nitrite meat-curing systems were developed to eliminate or reduce nitrite in cured-meat products. These curing systems achieve the cured-meat colour by using the cured-meat pigment, dinitrosyl ferrohemochrome (DNFH). The synthesis of DNFH was scaled up from 125 mg to 4 g final product. The material cost of DNFH synthesis was reduced by 93% at the 4 g-scale. Synthesis performed at elevated pressure (620-690 kPa) did not improve pigment quality. The DNFH formation rate was determined by the periodic measurement of the pigment concentration during the synthesis. The kinetic data were modelled and a pseudo first-order reaction rate constant was calculated ('k ' = 0.021 s-1). It was found that the DNFH synthesis is limited by nitrite concentration in the initial phase (30-60 s) of the nitrosation, and that in the later phase pigment formation was the function of hemin concentration. The molar absorptivity value was determined for DNFH solutions in 80% aqueous acetone at 565 nm ([epsilon]565 = 13.5 cm -1 mM-1). The chemical structure of DNFH was confirmed by the measurement of nitric oxide uptake during the synthesis. It was found that the formation of DNFH gives a 1:2 hemin/NO stoichiometric ratio rather than 1:1. It was also shown that, the DNFH yield of the reaction was 90%. The nitrite-free and low-nitrite meat-curing formulations were tested by pilot-plant scale production runs of cured meats (smoked wiener, sausage, salami, bologna, jagdwurst sausage and ham). These products contained standard curing formulations with or without nitrite in combination with the microencapsulated DNFH, antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. While nitrite-free products had acceptable colour, these were visually distinguishable from the nitrite-cured controls. Low-nitrite products (98 to 99% nitrite reduced) had matched the colour of a product containing 200 mg/kg nitrite. Microbiological tests indicated that while sodium hypophosphite produced acceptable stability, sodium lactate was not effective at the 1.5% level. Low-nitrite products were more stable than the nitrite-free parallels. The microbial stability of the nitrite-cured control products was better than those of the low-nitrite and nitrite-free products. Proximate composition, antioxidant stability and texture profile of nitrite-free and low-nitrite products were matched to the traditionally nitrite-cured products. Nitrite-free and low-nitrite cured meats contained no detectable (<0.4 mg/kg) nitrite in the final product; therefore, the subsequent formation of nitrosamines in these products was prevented.
Characterization of proteoglycan accumulation during the formation of cartilagenous tissue in vitro

We developed a cell culture system in which bovine articular chondrocytes grown on filter inserts accumulate extracellular matrix (ECM) and form a continuous layer of cartilagenous tissue. The aim of this study was to determine if the tissue formed 'in vitro' had features similar to 'in vivo' cartilage. In these cultures, the chondrocytes synthesize large aggregating proteoglycans (PG) and type II collagen characteristic of cartilage. Collagen and cells, in the superficial zone of the filter culture generated tissue, were oriented parallel to the surface whereas the collagen surrounded the chondrocytes in the deeper zone similar to the 'in vivo' organization. The PG and collagen content increased until the ECM contained threefold more collagen than PG, similar to 'in vivo' cartilage. After 35 days, there was no detectable increase in the amount of PG, collagen or tissue thickness. These cultures demonstrated two phases: matrix accumulation (<35 days) and then one in which the matrix is maintained (>35 days). The newly synthesized PG retained within the matrix (PG-R) and those not retained (PG-NR) were characterized. Column chromatography (Sepharose CL-2B) showed that the PG eluted as broad peaks. The average hydrodynamic size of PG-R was smaller (Kav 0.44 ± 0.02) than PG-NR (Kav 0.23 ± 0.02). PG-NR demonstrated a lower ability to bind to hyaluronate which may contribute to their decreased retention. The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain lengths of PG-R and PG-NR were similar but the hexosamine/protein content suggested a higher degree of GAG substitution in PG-NR as compared with PG-R. The core protein size(s) were determined by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography after deglycosylation. PG-R demonstrated bands at 187, 225, 300, and 500 kD while PG-NR showed one band at 500 kD. Amino acid analysis, size of peptides generated by trypsin, and internal sequencing (two peptides) of the 500 kD protein were consistent with aggrecan suggesting do the 500 kD band is likely a dimer of the 225 kD core protein. The different Sizes of PG-R and PG-NR are in keeping with post-translational modifications similar to those that occur 'in vivo.' Based on the similarities identified to date, filter cultures provide a unique method to study chondrocyte metabolism, matrix organization, and macromolecule interactions.
The politics of peasantism, Stjepan Radi´c, the Croat Peasant Party and the intelligentsia, 1904-1928

The thesis explores the relationship between nationalism and agrarianism. In Croatia the process of national integration began in the 19th century, but it was only completed in the 1920s under the aegis of the Croat Peasant Party (HSS) of Stjepan Radic´. Consequently, the central focus of the work is the agrarian and national ideology of the HSS. In Croatia, as in most other parts of East Central Europe, the intelligentsia held a central place in the national movement. This was primarily a reflection of the slow rate of socio-economic modernization in the region, and the absence of a large native bourgeoisie or proletariat. However, the Croatian intelligentsia was gradually coopted. It found employment in the bureaucracy of the Croatian state established by the terms of the Croato-Hungarian Nagodba (Agreement, 1868). After 1868 the peasantry tended to identify the intelligentsia, that is, the educated Elite, with the city and bureaucracy and all that they represented, i.e. exploitation of the peasant. By the turn of the century Croatian society, like most other predominantly agrarian societies, was permeated by an immense social and cultural divide between the intelligentsia (the city) and the peasantry (the village). This was a major obstacle to the completion of the process of national integration. The thesis explores the ideology of the HSS from the perspective of national integration. In order to overcome the urban-rural divide in Croatia, the HSS articulated two key concepts: peasant state and peasant right. Peasant right encapsulated the party's agrarian ideology. It legitimized the peasantry's right to a leading role in society and was simultaneously the socioeconomic and political programme of the HSS. Peasant state, on the other hand, was the goal of the HSS and at the same time an important mobilizational instrument to win the peasants over to the Croat national movement. Based on these two concepts, by 1928 the Croat Peasant Party stood in the vanguard of a national movement uniting peasants and intellectuals