VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Aspects of Orientalism in Dante

Dante Alighieri's references to the Islamic world are analyzed in order to determine how he perceived the Muslim Other through his medieval Christian lens, and how this shaped both his religious conception of salvation, as well as his political dream for a universal monarchy. Edward Said's Orientalism acts as a foundational theory guiding this study, in conjunction with Hans-Robert Jauss' Reception Theory, serving to determine how Dante's perception of the Islamic world was shaped through the subjective study of the Orient which preceded him, as well as his own politically and religiously divided milieu. While Dante's depictions of the Islamic prophets, Mohammad and Ali, give the initial impression that the poet was vehemently anti-Islam, the analysis of his other references to the Muslims and later, to other non-Christians, reveal that his views on the Other are far more complex and not necessarily negative. Although Dante does denigrate those individuals whose actions initiated schism, the poet's condemnation is not limited by religious or political ascriptions, nor does he condemn those who followed the teachings of schismatic leaders, marking him as a unique figure amongst many of his contemporaries. Dante's views on the Crusades and the conflict between Church and State are also highlighted for the significant impact that these aspects had on Dante's desire for a universal monarchy. Through his inclusion of many references - both subtle and overt - primarily to the Islamic world, while also to the Jews and other non-Christians, Dante raises complex questions about the possibility of salvation beyond Christianity and religious supersessionism, applying these questions to his political vision of a stable and united universal monarchy and the threat that otherness poses to this ideal.

Keywords: Dante Studies
Divine Comedy
Islam
Orientalism
Reception Theory
Advisor: Pietropaolo, Domenico
A Peptide Modified Hydrogel Therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) results in the death of cardiomyocytes (CM) followed by scar formation and pathological remodeling of the heart. We postulate that immobilization of the pro-survival angiopoietin-1-derived peptide, QHREDGS, to a chitosan-collagen hydrogel could produce a clinically translatable thermo-responsive hydrogel to attenuate post-MI cardiac remodeling. Conjugation of QHREDGS peptide to chitosan does not interfere with gelation, structure, or mechanical properties of chitosan-collagen hydrogel blends. The storage modulus of 2.5mg/mL 1:1 mass:mass chitosan:collagen was measured to be 54.9±9.1 Pa and loss modulus of 6.1±0.9 Pa. Dose response of the QHREDGS peptide was assessed and it was found that CMs encapsulated in High peptide gel (651±8 nmol peptide/mL-gel) showed improved morphology, viability, and metabolic activity in comparison to the Low peptide (100±30 nmol peptide/mL-gel) and Control (No Peptide) groups. Construct (CMs in hydrogel) functional properties were not significantly different between the groups, however success rate of obtaining a beating construct was improved in the hydrogel with the High amount of QHREDGS peptide immobilized compared to the Low and Control groups. An adult Lewis rat left anterior descending coronary artery ligation procedure to mimic acute MI model was used to assess in vivo hydrogel performance. QHREDGS-conjugated hydrogel (QHG213H), Control gel, or PBS was injected into 3 locations in the MI zone. By in vivo tracking and chitosan staining, the hydrogel was demonstrated to remain in situ for 2 weeks and cleared in about 3 weeks. By echocardiography and pressure-volume analysis, the QHG213H hydrogel significantly improved cardiac function compared to the controls. Scar thickness and scar area fraction were also significantly improved with QHG213H gel injection compared to the controls. Mechanistically, there were significantly more cardiomyocytes, determined by cardiac troponin-T staining, in the MI zone of the QHG213H hydrogel group. No significant difference in inflammatory response between groups was observed as determined by gene regulation and cytokine analysis of excised heart sections 24 hours after treatment. The interaction of CMs with QHREDGS was found to be mediated by β1-integrins and to increase expression of the pro-survival effector MAPK.

Keywords: biomaterial
cardiac tissue engineering
chitosan
collagen
hydrogel
peptide
Advisor: Radisic, Milica
Learning Design: Aesthetic Models for Color, Layout and Typography

This thesis presents aesthetic models for three key components of graphic design: color compatibility, layout creation, and font selection. We develop these models using a variety of techniques, including machine learning and data mining, crowdsourcing, and optimization, and demonstrate their use in practical design applications. We first model color compatibility from large datasets, including analysis of existing color theories, a learned model for predicting compatibility, and several applications using this model. We then use a collaborative filtering approach to model color preferences for individual users. Secondly, we present an energy-based model for single-page design layouts derived from design principles, using novel analysis algorithms. We show how this model can be trained using existing layouts, and demonstrate its use on various tasks including style-based synthesis and retargeting. We then extend this model to enable an interactive, suggestion-based layout tool. Finally, we model fonts using attributes and similarity data from crowdsourced studies, then use these models to develop exploratory font selection interfaces.

Keywords: Aesthetics
Colour
Computer Graphics
Graphic Design
Typography
Advisor: Hertzmann, Aaron
Functional and Mechanistic Analyses of Neural-regulated Alternative Splicing

Recent applications of genome-wide approaches to profile the transcriptomes of cells and tissues have provided novel insights into the regulatory principles governing the dynamic control of gene expression. Such global analyses have revealed that alternative splicing (AS) of precursor messenger RNAs, a fundamental process by which cells can expand their transcriptomic diversity from a limited number of genes, occurs in ~95% of human multi-exon genes with the highest frequency observed in the brain. A current goal in the field is to determine how these alternative exon networks are coordinated and contribute to neural functions. Previously, we identified the vertebrate and neural-specific Ser/Arg-related protein of 100 kDa (nSR100/SRRM4) as a novel splicing factor that promotes the inclusion of a subset of brain-specific exons with critical functions in nervous system development. In this thesis, I describe an in-depth investigation of the roles of individual nSR100-dependent splice variants, and the mechanisms by which nSR100 activates its target exon network during neurogenesis. My results uncover an important nSR100-dependent neural AS event in the transcription factor REST/NRSF that modulates its activity and influences the expression of REST targets. I further discuss how the coordination of the AS and transcriptional regulatory layers impact neuronal differentiation. Finally, I describe how I combined multiple experimental and bioinformatic analyses to elucidate important mechanistic features underlying positive and negative regulation of the nSR100-dependent exon network. At the heart of this regulation is an intronic cis-element that can contribute to exon skipping and inclusion depending on the cellular context. Collectively, these studies have advanced our understanding of the functions of nSR100 and its target exons in neural development.

Keywords: Alternative Splicing
Neurogenesis
RNA biology
RNA-Seq
Advisor: Blencowe, Benjamin J
The Anarchist Peril: Industrial Violence and the Propaganda of Fear in Turn of the Century America, 1886-1908

Between 1886 and 1908, in the crossover between the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, people all across America felt the growing pains wrought by the second industrial revolution. Overproduction, exploitative working conditions, labor shortages, and increased rural and foreign immigration all made the country ripe for civil unrest to burst through the cracks of the Gilded Age. In particular, assassinations and bombings followed by murmurs of anarchist conspiracies within the labor movement gave social elites cause to fear for the stability of their nation-building project. The Anarchist Peril examines five sets of violent outbursts that disrupted the status quo: the 1886 Haymarket bombing, the 1892 assault on Henry Clay Frick, President William McKinley's assassination in 1901, the assassination of Frank Steunenberg in 1905, and the 1908 anarchist scare. In reaction to these events, journalists, police officers, court officials, and state and federal legislators, who feared the effects of the anarchist tactic of Propaganda by Deed, used their powers to shape public opinion against anarchy. These acts of violence, which were endorsed by a minority within radical circles, took on greater significance when emerging ranks of middle-class professionals reshaped the meaning of anarchists' deeds to legitimize their own competing claims to power. Since they placed so little value on anarchism's political critique, social elites ignored the class implications of anarchists' words and deeds and instead examined their bodies for signs to marginalize their actions, silenced them in the courtroom, and legislated against further acts of violence. While this approach did disrupt the propaganda of their deeds, it did not deter further acts of violence.

Keywords: anarchist
fear
Propaganda by Deed
social control
spectacle
violence
Advisor: Halpern, Rick
Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus for the Treatment of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: Combination with Chemotherapy and Targeted Radiotherapy

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) represent a novel class of cancer biotherapeutics currently under clinical development for treatment of a range of malignancies. OVs are ideal candidates for treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) due to their high tumour specificity, excellent safety profile and suitability for peritoneal delivery. OVs are unlikely to be delivered alone but rather as part of a combination therapy regimen. The research presented in this thesis provides two examples of novel combination treatment strategies for improving oncolytic VV treatment of colorectal PC. Delivered as a monotherapy, vvDD efficacy was associated with mice that had well-vascularized and highly proliferative tumours. When combined with first-line colorectal cancer chemotherapy drugs, oxaliplatin and irinotecan (CPT-11), we observed synergistic improvements in in vitro tumour cell death and improved in vivo survival in tumour-bearing mice (with CPT-11). Synergy was attributed to sensitization of cells to drug treatment due to VV-induced S-phase arrest. In addition to combinations with chemotherapy, we examined the use of VV-mediated somatostatin receptor (SSTR) gene transfer using the radiolabeled somatostatin analogue 177Lu-DOTATOC. vvDD-SSTR led to tumour-specific accumulation of 177Lu-DOTATOC with minimal effects on normal tissue biodistribution in a xenograft model of colorectal PC. Radiovirotherapy was well tolerated and significantly improved survival over monotherapy. Our findings could have important implications for the design of future VV clinical trials and the treatment of colorectal PC. The proposed mechanism of synergy between vvDD and CPT-11 suggests that this combination therapy could represent a treatment option for patients with chemoresistant disease. Radiovirotherapy has wider potential applicability; any VV susceptible tumour could be made a target of SSTR-directed therapy. Continued investigation of the mechanisms of interaction between these treatment modalities will provide a better understanding of potential improvements to therapy delivery as well as the clinical setting in which they have the greatest impact.

Keywords: chemotherapy
colorectal cancer
combination therapy
oncolytic viruses
targeted radiotherapy
vaccinia virus
Advisor: McCart, J Andrea
Low Temperature Performance of Leading Bioenergy Crops Utilizing the C4 Photosynthetic Pathway

The use of bioenergy has been considered one of the most important solutions for the reduction in the dependence on fossil fuels and to mitigate global climate change. C4 perennial grasses stands as the best alternative for biofuel feedstock and Miscanthus x giganteus has shown outstanding performance in cool climates. In addition, sugarcane has a history of high productivity and success in the biofuel industry of Brazil. The high photosynthetic rate at low temperature (14º to 20ºC) and radiation use efficiency of M. x giganteus allow this plant to build a vast canopy early in the spring, allowing it to intercept high amounts of solar radiation once temperature rise in summer, obtaining high yields of biomass by the end of growing season. It is unclear, however, how Miscanthus will tolerate the severe winter cold and frequent episodic frost in the spring of higher latitudes, like Canada. Here, I show that rhizomes of diploid Miscanthus can tolerate temperatures above -14ºC if sub-zero acclimation is allowed, while allopolyploid Miscanthus are tolerant to temperatures above -6.5ºC. Also, in contrary to M. sinensis, shoots of Miscanthus hybrids were killed when exposed to sunlight at temperatures below 10ºC in the spring. However, triploid Miscanthus showed great recovery and three weeks later plants had a vast and closed canopy while M. sinensis plants had a poor canopy. Lastly, I show that upland and lowland Hawaiian sugarcane grown at two moderate temperatures have little variation in temperature response and acclimation to low temperature. Because of its high productivity, Miscanthus should be considered in areas where it can securely be grown. According to the results found here, rhizomes of diploid Miscanthus have the potential to be grown up to 60ºN, but the frequency of episodic chilling events should also be taken into consideration. Here, I show that the genepool of the Miscanthus genus has the potential to increase cold tolerance in the most productive lines, which will increase the range for this crop. Sugarcane is still restricted to tropical and subtropical zones, but higher cold tolerance can be achieved by hybridizing this plant with Miscanthus.

Keywords: C4 photosynthesis
cold acclimation
freezing tolerance
Miscanthus
photoinhibition
sugarcane
Advisor: Sage, Rowan F
Antiretroviral Therapy Access, Acceptance and Adherence among Urban Indigenous Peoples Living with HIV in Saskatchewan: The Indigenous Red Ribbon Storytelling Study

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can be managed effectively with antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. However, Indigenous peoples living with HIV (IPLWH) in Canada are less likely than non-Indigenous peoples living with HIV to access and adhere to ARV therapy. To date, most studies examining this issue aim for statistical generalization and do not focus enough on contextual factors. To investigate this imbalance, a collaborative research effort called the Indigenous Red Ribbon Storytelling Study (IRRSS) was developed by the study investigator and 11 community partners. The purpose of the IRRSS was to examine how IPLWH construct and understand their experiences of ARV therapy use. The study used an Indigenous qualitative research design, critical ethnography, and a community-based participatory research orientation. Study participants included adults from two cities in Saskatchewan. Informed consent was obtained from all study participants, who also accepted a traditional offering of tobacco. The study involved two Indigenous sharing circle interviews comprising a total of 15 key informants including IPLWH, 20 individual IPLWH interviews, six IPLWH participant observation sessions, and a survey of socio-demographic and health information. Thematic data analysis was conducted using the Behavioral Model of Health Services Use and sensitizing concepts within the context of critical Indigenous qualitative research. Themes included holistic health care, culture, family and friends, and the value placed on respect and trust. The majority of IPLWH live with three interacting dimensions of social vulnerabilities. Their identity living with HIV is compounded by their substance use disorder and their social contexts as a culture-sharing group impacted by relations with the Nation State of Canada. Nonetheless, they are able to adapt positively to adversity, especially when appropriate underlying socio-structural mechanisms are in place to support their resilience. Recommendations were developed to improve the lives of IPLWH, most notably to involve IPLWH in anything that affects their lives, including needle exchange programs and holistic health care that is founded on Indigenous values, cultures and beliefs. Any consideration of access to, acceptance of and adherence to ARV therapy among IPLWH should view biomedical, behavioural and social aspects of care for IPLWH as an integrative system.

Keywords: Aboriginal
AIDS
Antiretroviral
HIV
Indigenous
Therapy
Advisor: Myers, Ted
Drug Delivery to the Brain by Focused Ultrasound and Microbubble Mediated Blood-brain Barrier Disruption: Vascular-level Investigation using Two-photon Fluorescent Microscopy

The use of focused ultrasound (FUS) in combination with microbubbles (MBs) to transiently and noninvasively disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been an active research topic which could ultimately revolutionize the way drugs are delivered into the brain parenchyma for treatment of central nervous system (CNS) pathologies. Stemmed from its prospective clinical application, the overarching goal of this research is to explore the underlying physical mechanisms and fundamental biological effects via the use of two-photon fluorescence microscopy (2PFM). In addition, this research aims to draw the connection between the kinetics of blood-brain barrier disruption (BBBD) and the localized drug deposition in the treated brain. To provide a robust solution for dorsal approach of FUS exposure and in vivo 2PFM imaging of the cerebral microvasculature, a ring-shaped transducer has been designed and characterized. Two modes of vibration (thickness and height) were investigated for their effectiveness at inducing BBBD in a rat model. By operating the transducer in thickness mode, we induced BBBD at different acoustic pressure levels and delivered fluorescent dyes into the rat's blood circulatory system while capturing a series of 2PFM images. These microscopic data allowed for quantitative measurement of the enhanced permeability of blood vessels upon BBBD. The dependency of the vascular permeability on the substance size and the applied acoustic pressured was established. We identified two types of leakage kinetics - fast and slow - that exhibit distinctive permeability constants, temporal disruption onsets, and pertinent vessel diameter. To translate these preclinical findings into the clinical setting, we developed a mathematical framework that depicts the kinetics of BBBD and rendered the spatio-temporal distribution of the intended drug at a targeted brain region. Here, we considered Doxorubicin (Dox) as the drug of choice. The constructed model predicts Dox concentrations within the plasma, extracellular and intracellular compartments that are governed by various transport processes. By examining several clinical treatment parameters, our simulation outputs were validated against experimental findings in a rat model. Considering the flexibility of the FUS+MBs assisted BBBD technique, this simulation study can be adapted for other drugs to assist the treatment planning process for different CNS conditions.

Keywords: Brain Diseases
Drug Delivery
Focused Ultrasound
Microbubble
Two-photon Fluorescent Microscopy
Advisor: Hynynen, Kullervo
Transgressing Boundaries Of Izzat: Voices Of Punjabi Women Surviving And Transgressing "Honour" Related Violence In Canada

This study is an act of witnessing second-generation Punjabi women who have survived displacement/excommunication/exile from their family and/or community after transgressing boundaries of izzat. Izzat is a cultural construct that holds particular importance in the Punjabi community of Northern India and is translated into English as meaning "honour". The life histories collected in this study are a result of in-depth interviews through narrative inquiry with 5 second-generation Punjabi women living across Canada. The women's stories speak to the complexities of "honour" related violence in the West, they challenge the dominant discourses that frame family violence in South Asian communities, and they allow the reader to hear how they resisted/reclaimed izzat while challenging/surviving layers of heteropatriarchy, violence and racism throughout their lives. This study aims at shifting dominant discourses that use "honour" related violence as a tool to justify Orientalism/war and cultural racism towards South Asian bodies and it does so through the use of stories. Critical race theory, post-structural feminist theory and narrative inquiry are the lens through which the central question is asked, how can second-generation Punjabi women's voices be heard and contribute to change inside their families and community, while challenging dominant discourses surrounding "honour" related violence? As the researcher, my story and autoethnographic voice is layered throughout the writing and I share my own story of displacement/exile/excommunication throughout this study. In order to understand the history of izzat and violence in the Punjabi community I conduct a genealogy of izzat and trace its development from Northern India to Canada, from a system of morality to a tool of violence against women. Finally, action research informs the final aim of this study. The women gathered and created a piece of collective writing to raise critical consciousness in the Punjabi community, as well as in dominant Canadian society, about the impact of izzat on their lives. Their words and action push us to question how we engage with violence in our communities and instill the importance of listening to young second-generation women's voices and stories of everyday survival against racism, colonialism and heteropatriarchy

Keywords: Gender based violence
Honour-related violence
Izzat
Narrative Inquiry
Punjabi Women
Second-generation South Asian Women
Advisor: Burstow, Bonnie