VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
A different kind of noise, literariness in the context of transcendentalism, pragmatism, and formalism

Revisiting Russian and Anglo-American formalism, this study refurbishes a conception of "literariness" in order to provide a corrective to the constructivism that is often taken for granted in contemporary literary theory. I begin by tracing parallels between Emersonian transcendentalism and Victor Shklovsky's theory of perceptibility, with Emerson's trope of finding as forgetting anticipating the formalist conception of novelty. Emerson's practical procedures for effecting transcendence are read through William James's psychology of sensation and perception (which influenced Russian formalism), and a naturalistic paradigm is recovered-beneath the Romantic ontology of "Reason." Developing the psychological model through behavioural linguistics, I trace similar conceptualizations of novelty in New Criticism, deconstruction, and Richard Rorty's theory of cultural-linguistic evolution. The cult of irrationalism characteristic of each is critiqued. Situating Rorty's theory of knowledge accretion within a formalist system writ large, I examine its commonalities with and divergences from the classic pragmatist model of inquiry. The New Critical organic argument and its deconstructionist critique are examined and their limitations identified. Applying information theory and recent work in the field of artificial life, I argue against irrationalism by positioning intelligibility within the extremes of meaning retention and innovation. A model of "liquid" dynamics based on organic systems is used to locate the point of maximal complexity within this range at which the "literary" phenomenon occurs. Completing the theoretical argument, I examine the knowledge claim by which formalism validates literary experience. Drawing on Richard Shusterman's recent critique of "hermeneutic universalism," James's psychology, and research in the philosophy of mind and cognition, I discuss the problems with Rortian-Davidsonian epistemic coherentism and the possibilities of responding to the constructivist critique of "the Myth of the Given." The study concludes with a practical examination of Dashiell Hammett's major novels. Placing Hammett's work in the context of classic American pragmatism, I correlate the methodology of Hammett's P.I. with the pragmatist's four-stage model of inquiry. Complemented by C. S. Peirce's fallibilism and the application of liquid dynamics to narrative construction, the discussion analyzes the means by which Hammett innovated the narrative conventions of detective fiction.
Quality of service performance of ATM and IP

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) with its Constant Bit Rate (CBR) and Variable Bit Rate (VBR) services is a network architecture tailored to real-time applications. The Internet Protocol (IP) systems--though initially designed for non-real-time data--are now being augmented with Integrated Services IP (IntServ) and Differentiated Services IP (DiffServ) in order to support these applications. Given the network circumstances, what Quality of Service (QoS) should the real-time applications expect from the above services? Can these services commit to the requested QoS of the real-time applications? This thesis attempts to answer the above questions by evaluating and modeling the performance of the underlying ATM and IP layers. We study the phase dependency in the CBR delay process, and propose a Gamma distribution to model this process. The generality of this model over variety of ATM network scenarios is tested. We analyze and formulate the Cell Delay Variation (CDV) of CBR and VBR connections. We demonstrate that the receiver-time can be divided into several epochs. We find a periodic behavior in the cell-delay-correlation of a CBR connection when being multiplexed with similar (homogeneous) connections. Next, we consider a heterogeneous environment consisting of ATM and IP networks. Resources at both ATM and IP nodes (switches) are reserved by the Guaranteed Service IP, one of the two services comprising IntServ. The essential factors in this investigation are the overhead of various protocol layers and the size of the packets generated by the application. Insofar as packet delay-jitter is concerned, the performance of IP-over-ATM is very close to that of the native ATM. Although, the buffer size requirement of the native ATM is considerably less, IP-over-ATM can still be superior because of the low memory cost. We implement the DiffServ framework comprised of Premium, Assured, and Best effort service classes. We demonstrate the superiority of Diffserv over the per-flow services. We investigate the ability of the RIO ('Random Early Discard with In and Out') mechanism to effectively discriminate the Assured traffic from the multiplexing best-effort traffic. We dynamically measure the traffic existing inside the network, and apply the measurement to the network control mechanisms. We examine the Weighted Fair Queuing (WFQ) mechanism with dynamic weight assignment. We find that WFQ can only marginally improve the network performance. Finally, we show that shaping a Premium flow can exceedingly increase the overall packet delay and jitter. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Reading in both directions, a critical autobiographic method of film interpretation

This dissertation concentrates on the experiential, emotional, imaginative and social aspects of film spectator criticism. A method of viewing films is developed which seeks to analyze how viewers' social situatedness in relation to their imaginative and affective responses plays a role in their critical thinking about a given film. The main argument of this thesis is that this kind of strategy to interpreting films can uncover some of a viewer's investments in competing/conflicting filmic discourses and practices. These investments in turn may shed light on her or his life discourses and practices and be implicated in their resistance to social change. Rather than agreeing with the widely held premise that viewers' "experiences" are not very important sources of knowledge for analyzing a film, the thesis argues that a critical autobiographic film viewing method can provide media theorists, educators and spectators with a more sophisticated and productive strategy for understanding aspects of hegemony enacted or represented in films as well as in audience members' lives. Drawing on my own filmic and life experiences, I attempt to critically uncover some of the ways in which my past and current social locations interact with my affective, critical and imaginative responses to specific films. This approach to film might be of particular interest to those who are frustrated with current media theory and criticism focused on so-called rational or objective strategies of viewing film. In contrast, I stress the complex interplay of unconscious and conscious social desires that exist in spectators responses and interpretations. Finally, then, I suggest a method of film viewing which works 'with' and 'through' social ambiguities and contradictions instead of trying to arrive at fixed, universal, or purely individualistic meanings or positions from which to see and assess films.
An analysis of steel factor-stimulated receptor trafficking, survival signals and mitogenesis, understanding the role of c-Kit-associated signaling proteins

Receptor tyrosine kinases, upon binding to their respective ligands, undergo dimerization, activation of intrinsic kinase domains and phosphorylation of intrinsic tyrosine residues. This results in the recruitment and activation of a number of intracellular signaling molecules. In the case of the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Kit, activation by its ligand Steel Factor (SLF) is important for a number of developmental systems including hematopoiesis, gametogenesis and germ cell formation. SLF stimulation of c-Kit induces the recruitment of a number of SH2-containing proteins including Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3-kinase) and Phospholipase C gamma (PLC-ã). PI3-kinase generates D3 phosphoinositide second messengers. In the case of PLC-ã activation, hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate into inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol leads to Ca2+ mobilization and activation of Protein Kinase C. In this thesis, using c-Kit positive mast cells and myelomonocytic cell lines I have examined the involvement of these two signaling enzymes in SLF-stimulated survival and mitogenic signals as well as SLF-stimulated receptor internalization. The mechanism of SLF-stimulated c-Kit internalization is examined and a requirement for both Ca2+ influx and PI3-kinase activity in this process is identified. In addition, I have determined that mitogenic stimulation of c-Kit positive cells by membrane-bound SLF requires the activity of PLC-ã. Finally, I have identified an important role for PLC-ã-mediated Ca2+ influx in c-Kit-mediated survival signals and characterized a SLF-mediated apoptotic mechanism involving Ca2+ influx blockade. Therefore, the use of both c-Kit receptor mutants as well as specific inhibitors has allowed the identification of important roles for these signaling proteins and their second messengers in SLF-stimulated cellular processes. The relevance of these c-Kit associated signaling molecules 'in vivo' will be discussed.
Renzo Titone's holodynamic model for language behaviour and language learning, implications and applications for the second language teaching

The field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) has attracted the attention of scholars for many centuries. These scholars have attempted to answer questions posed by the nature of foreign language learning and language teaching. Second language acquisition as we have now come to identify it only dates back 30-40 years, though debate on how to effectively teach a second language has been present for over twenty-five centuries. Renzo Titone's 'Holodynamic Model of Language Behaviour and Language Learning' (HDM) is an integrated whole person approach to language learning which attempts to explain the process of verbal communication as an aspect of personality. The Model is based on the view that "language learning consists of integrated components of a behavioural and cognitive nature which are controlled by the learner's personality structure" (Titone 1991: 7). Unique in this particular aspect of its presentation, his model places the personality of the individual at the centre of the learning process, visualizing a bond between mind, body and spirit. He views personality as the mediating factor in the L2 acquisition process. The author offers insight into the communicative processes using the psychology of the individual learner to explain the various components of the act of verbal communication. The Model has been identified by Titone, Danesi and others as humanistic in nature. The theory maintains that language behaviour is not a linear series of one-level operations but rather that is basically a stratified and hierarchical system of dynamic structures and lends itself to an integrated approach to language teaching. This tri-level interpretation of the learner/speaker's personality is composed of the following basic constituent structures: (1) tactic, (2) strategic, (3) ego-dynamic levels. The three levels may be better understood as part of the personality if we consider them as: the act of communication; the desire to communicate; and the need to communicate. According to the HDM any form of acquisition, even linguistic acquisition, occurs at all three levels simultaneously. To date little work has been done to consider the pedagogical implications and application of this Model. The present thesis explores the theoretical assumptions of this model. It considers teaching principles which may be derived from the HDM and offers applications of such a model to the field of second language learning.
Ambiguity and social justice, Merleau-Ponty and experience as critique

This dissertation explores the notion of experience as a horizon of political judgement. Experience is conventionally understood as an irredeemably subjective mush which can be used to justify almost anything. I argue instead that it is a highly structured phenomenon and can yield a complex, compelling and recognizable truth which is both personal and universal. I begin the dissertation with a critique of liberalism and post-modernism to show the impasse which results from their mutual flight from experience. The enclosure of the individual either in her autonomy or in her uniqueness means that individuals suffer alone and bereft of a way to speak the fullness of their truth, not just aloud but to others and with others. Social justice requires a combination of respect for individual suffering and the capacity to bridge that suffering. In a two-step process and using the work of phenomenologist Maurice Merleau-Ponty, I argue for the capacity of experience to allow this. First, I attempt to demonstrate that there is organization and universality within the ambiguous and bodily (typically thought to be the source of the unreliability of experience). Second, I show how phenomena which appear to be 'things' are in fact, simultaneously changeable and vulnerable to human agency. In effect, they have an ambiguous and experiential dimension. This 'structuring' of the ambiguous and subsequent 'deconstruction' this zone established, I am able to examine and advocate a form of truth which is more embodied than principle but less potentially arbitrary then empathy or community. Finally, I consider how such a truth can be discerned using (a) Merleau-Ponty's discussion of truth as aesthetic and self-organizing; (b) experiential psychologist Eugene Gendlin's 'focusing' technique and (c) President Vaclav Havel's account of existential politics and its remarkable critical and creative power. I argue that this account of truth yields a 'morality of responsiveness' and that it articulates a way of living which avoids the dishonesty and implicit violence of ideology yet which also provides a compass of fulfillment independent of social or personal prejudice.
Phylogeny of lacertid lizards (Squamata: Lacertidae) and the evolution of unisexuality

An overall phylogeny of the Family Lacertidae was inferred from a parsimony analysis, using DNA sequence data from six mitochondrial genes. A total of 31 lacertid species were included, which represented most of the main lineages. The lacertids grouped into two clades, which correspond to the current subfamilies Lacertinae and Gallotiinae. The Lacertinae was further divided into two groups, the African and Eurasian groups. The relationships within the two groups were largely unresolved despite the large number of informative characters. A recent explosive speciation hypothesis was invoked to explain the lack of resolution from this analysis. The ancestors of the African and Eurasian groups experienced multiple simultaneous speciation events which left few or no fixed characters on the internodes making the phylogenetic reconstruction difficult. A special phenomenon, unisexuality, in lacertids was closely examined. A parsimony analysis of DNA sequence data from four mitochondrial genes was conducted to establish a firm phylogenetic foundation for the Caucasian rock lizards, among which the unisexual lacertids originated from interspecific hybridization. All bisexual species clustered into three major clades. The hybridization that led to unisexuals were of inter-clade and only occurred between the 'caucasica' and the 'rudis' clades. Moreover, these hybridization events are directional: the 'caucasica ' group only contributed to maternal parents while the 'rudis ' group to paternal parents. The formation of unisexuality is clearly under phylogenetic constraints. The causative agents of the constraints are likely multi-functional complexes, although sex chromosomes may play an important role. The divergence of cytochrome-b and ATPase 6 genes in the maternal parental species, 'Lacerta raddei' and 'L. mirta', as well as all seven known unisexual daughter species was investigated. All unisexuals constantly showed very little or no variations comparing to the substantial divergence in 'L. raddei', but 'L. mixta' showed little variation as well. A phylogeny of the mtDNA haplotypes inferred from parsimony analysis suggested that some unisexual species (clones) from the same parents shared a common ancestor while others did not. The formation of unisexual species in lacertids involved single origin, multiple origin with closely related females, as well as multiple origin with distantly related females.
Effects of electroacupuncture on cutaneous wound healing in rats

The effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the healing of full thickness skin incision wounds were examined in the rat. Epidermal wound healing was measured using a non-invasive quantitative method based on the increasing electrical resistance of healing skin. Dermal healing was assessed by measuring the wound breaking strength. We report that EA accelerates epidermal wound healing by 55% and dermal healing by 22% when compared to controls. In addition, EA effects on epidermal wound healing are abolished by nerve block with subcutaneous lidocaine injection. Thus this implicates peripheral nerves in the EA effects. Due to technical reasons the lidocaine blockade could not be tested on dermal effects of EA. This is the first study demonstrating that EA potentiates epidermal and dermal wound healing and that some of this effect is mediated by nerves.
The econometric analysis of hospital costs with an application to scale and scope efficiencies in Ontario hospitals

This dissertation applies the economic theory of production to the problem of estimating economies of scale and scope for multi product hospitals. Chapter 1 surveys the history of cost function analysis undertaken by economists and Chapter 2 develops the requisite economic theory of production for the multi product firm, including the notion of sustainability of hospital configurations. Chapters 3 through 10 discuss the implications of functional form, output aggregation and measurement teaching, unobservable factor prices, managerial inefficiency and the fixity of inputs for cost function estimation. In Chapter 11, the theory developed in the previous chapters is applied to the task of estimating economies of scale and scope for Ontario hospitals over the period 1994/95 to 1995/1996. A leading finding is extreme sensitivity of scale and scope conclusions to equilibrium assumptions concerning the capital stock. Marginal costs within all output categories are computed, and it is suggested that the resulting differences in marginal costs between primary and tertiary weighted cases have implications for the present system of hospital funding in Ontario. Strong evidence is found in favour of unexploited economies of scale and scope in hospital production Over the entire range of the data. Generic scale and scope measures are compared with product specific scale and scope measures in order to provide additional detail of the production structure of hospital outputs. Detailed examples of sustainability calculations are presented which show that, in terms of cost efficiency, the present configuration of hospitals is not sustainable. In order to summarize results into a form directly relevant for policy analysis, we predict the expected cost implications of various mergers between peer group hospitals in equilibrium, along with their associated standard errors, and find strong probabilities of large gains to hospital mergers and consolidations. The final chapter discusses findings in the dissertation, itemizes the shortcomings and provisos of the analysis, and suggests extensions to this assay.
Back pain prognostic factors, a cohort study of 1,752 patients of a national rehabilitation clinic system

This study developed and validated a prognosis model for time on Ontario Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits for 1,752 claimants. Survival analysis revealed 8 significant predictors, five were associated with longer time on benefits: (1) working in the construction industry, (2) older age, (3) lagtime from injury to treatment, (4) pain referred into the leg, (5) 3+ positive Waddell non-organic signs. Three predictors were associated with reduced time on benefits compared to their reference groups: (1) intermittent pain, (2) previous episode of back pain, and (3) higher patient questionnaire score. Upon completion of the model selection process, the four time-varying covariates (questionnaire score, lagtime, pain location and non-organic signs) were re-fit to account for violation of the proportional hazards assumption. This thesis has identified yellow flags for an increased likelihood of prolonged time on benefits among low back pain claimants with high sensitivity and negative predictive value.
Heidegger and the question of community

The focus of this thesis is Heidegger's ambivalent relation to the question of community. Specifically, I argue that, while Heidegger's rigorous analysis in 'Sein und Zeit' opens up the possibility of engaging this question, he nevertheless refrains from such an explicit engagement not just in 'Sein und Zeit' but throughout the course of his thinking. I argue further that this avoidance of the question of community is not accidental to Heidegger's thinking but plays a critical role in his privileging the question of Being above all other questions. Finally, I demonstrate how a careful development of this question in terms of both 'Sein und Zeit' and certain exigencies in Heidegger's later work leads to a clearer comprehension of his thinking and of community itself.
Mutational analysis of transcription factor IIIA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Transcription factor (TF) IIIA is an RNA polymerase III transcription factor that binds to the internal control region (ICR) of the 5S RNA gene as the first step in the assembly of a TFIIIB-TFIIIC-TFIIIA-DNA preinitiation complex. TFIIIA of 'S. cerevisiae' contains nine zinc-finger motifs with an 81-amino acid domain interrupting the otherwise repeating zinc-finger motifs between fingers 8 and 9. The first part of my studies focused on examination of the TFIIIA-DNA interaction. I purified wild-type TFIIIA and truncated versions of TFIIIA that contained the first 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 zinc fingers of TFIIIA from bacteria. I monitored the interaction of these TFIIIA proteins with the 5S RNA gene by DNase I and methylation protection footprinting. These experiments indicated that fingers 1 to 5 were solely responsible for the footprint observed with full-length TFIIIA. Fingers 6 through 9 and the 81-amino acid domain were not in tight association with DNA. As a first step in understanding the role of the 81-amino acid domain of yeast TFIIIA in establishing an active transcription complex, I identified amino acids in this domain that are essential for the transcription factor activity of TFIIIA. I analyzed versions of TFIIIA containing mutations in this domain for their ability to support 'in vitro' transcription of the 5S RNA gene and to support cell viability. Analysis of the effect of internal deletions indicated that a short leucine-rich segment (352 NGLNLLLN359) at the carboxyl-end of the 81-amino acid domain was essential for the ability of TFIIIA to support transcription of the 5S RNA gene 'in vitro' and 'in vivo.' Analysis of the effect of double and quadruple mutations in the region from a.a. 336 to a.a. 364 confirmed that hydrophobic residues in this region, particularly L343, L347, L354, L356, L357, and L358, contributed to the ability of TFIIIA to support transcription of the 5S RNA gene. I then analyzed the effect of mutations that disrupt the structures of the amino-terminal zinc fingers of TFIIIA. I found that disruption of the first zinc finger of TFIIIA abolished the ability of TFIIIA to promote transcription of the 5S RNA gene 'in vitro' and to support cell viability. These data suggest that the first zinc finger of TFIIIA may be the only finger of TFIIIA may be the only finger that is essential for the recruitment of TFIIIC to the initiation complex. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)