VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Structure et contenu dans une sélection de contes populaires acadiens, une analyse sémio-narrative

Notre dissertation porte sur neuf recueils de contes populaires publiés des provinces canadiennes Maritimes (la Nouvelle-Écosse, le Nouveau-Brunswick, l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard) et de Terre-Neuve. Notre étude se veut avant tout une description analytique des divers aspects du contenu et de la structure des contes de notre corpus. Nous commençons par la classification: nous organisons les divers éléments de ces textes en trois catégories majeures, c'est-à-dire les personnages, les objets (magiques) et les événements, selon un modèle conçu par Stith Thompson. Nous analysons alors ces composantes des contes choisis en nous inspirant de la méthodologie sémio-narrative, surtout des théories d'Algirdas Greimas, de Joseph Courtés, d'Eleazar Meletinski, et de Paul Larivaille. Pour ces chercheurs, il est important de comprendre la distinction qui existe entre les 'motifs' ou la 'composante figurative' (c'est-à-dire les personnages et les objets "modaux") et les 'actions' des personnages ou la 'composante syntagmatique'. Ces auteurs nous ont donc aidés à voir le conte comme une sorte d'énoncé comprenant un Sujet (ce qui est pour nous un personnage, aidé par des objets modaux) qui est responsable d'une certaine Performance (une action qui mène à l'acquisition d'un Objet de valeur). En faisant ressortir les éléments communs sur les plans formel et figuratif dans les contes de notre corpus, nous avons trouvé qu'il existe un principe organisateur qui transparaît au-delà du réseau de détails que nous avons étudiés. Nous nous servons d'un terme d'Algirdas Greimas pour rendre compte de cette continuité de thèmes dans notre corpus: il explique que le récit peut comporter deux modes narratifs qu'il nomme le 'mode déceptif' et le 'mode véridique '. Cette relation fondamentale, c'est-á-dire celle de ' l'être' vs 'le paraître' est, selon Greimas, un aspect typique du conte populaire en général. Dans notre étude, nous examinons le fonctionnement de ce thème dans les textes que nous avons choisis. Nous décrivons ses différentes manifestations ('le mensonge, le secret, la tromperie, le déguisement, l'illusion, la révélation' ... ) et nous montrons qu'elles font toutes partie d'un système narratif logique et bien organisé.
The genetic elucidation of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean cytochrome oxidase deficiency

Leigh syndrome (LS) affects approximately 1 in 40,000 newborns world-wide and is characterized by developmental delay and lactic acidosis, with an average life expectancy of 1 to 5 years. Saguenay-LacSaint-Jean cytochrome oxidase (COX) deficiency (OMIM 220111, Leigh syndrome, French-Canadian type, LSFC) is an autosomal recessive variant of LS found in a geographically isolated region of Quebec, which occurs at an incidence of 1 in 2178 newborns. LS and LSFC patients have a similar phenotype, but differ in tissue-specific COX deficiency. Initial candidate genes for LSFC were the ten nuclear-encoded subunits of COX and some known assembly factors. Since no disease-causing mutations were detected in these cDNA sequences, a linkage study was undertaken using genomic DNA from 14 individuals of 13 families. Due to the founder effect in the Saguenay region, considerable linkage disequilibrium (LD) was expected to surround the LSFC mutation. Accordingly, a genome-wide screen for LD was performed using 312 autosomal microsatellite markers. Marker D2S1356 located on 2p16 (p-values = 10-5) was the only single marker which showed genomewide significant LD. Higher resolution genetic mapping with four additional LSFC families and twelve additional markers limited the critical region to approximately 2 cM between D2S119 and D2S2174. The genomic structure was determined for COX7AR, a candidate gene encoding a COXVIIa related protein that had been previously mapped to this region. Resequencing of this gene in LSFC patients and controls revealed no functional mutations. Although the LSFC gene remains to be elucidated, this study demonstrates the feasibility of the analysis of genomewide LD for localizing the critical region for a rare genetic disease in a founder population.
Apoptosis prevention of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells in culture by huam plasma

Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) is a disease characterized by the clonal expansion of malignant cells of B or T origin. A culture system was developed in our laboratory that allowed the establishment of 20 NHL cell lines from direct samples from patients with NHL. Their further characterization in terms of growth regulation and genetic changes provided the opportunity to examine pathogenic mechanisms. I was able to demonstrate that human platelet poor plasma (PPP) is required by NHL cells for proliferation and survival. Its withdrawal induces programmed cell death in all tested cell lines except one. Proliferative and survival signals provided by PPP could not be replaced by two fully defined media: one composed of bovine serum albumin, human transferrin and bovine insulin and a second, a commercially available preparation (Stem Pro 34$\sp\circler )$ containing proprietary reagents. The addition of cytokines to both serum replacement media did neither improve proliferation nor survival.
A new tool for measuring and understanding individual differences in the component processes of reading comprehension

This thesis proposes a new measure of individual differences in reading comprehension ability that is theoretically motivated, easy to administer, and has high predictive power. Participants read three-sentence paragraphs that describe the relations among a set of real and artificial terms such as: 'A NORT resembles a JET but is faster and weighs more., A BERL resembles a CAR but is slower and weighs more., A SAMP resembles a BERL but is slower and weighs more'. By using the relations described in the paragraph, participants can construct linear orderings (e.g., for speed linear ordering NORT > JET > CAR > BERL > SAMP); however, because the fact that a ' JET is faster than a car' is not explicitly mentioned, participants need to access their existing world knowledge to construct this ordering. After studying the paragraph, participants respond to true-false statements that assess their abilities on four separate component processes of reading comprehension. Text memory statements (e.g., 'A NORT is faster than a JET'.) test memory for information explicitly mentioned in the paragraph; no prior knowledge is required. Text inferencing statements (e.g., ' A SAMP is slower than a CAR'.) test implicit information that can be inferred by combining information that appears explicitly in the text (i.e., 'A BERL is slower than a CAR; A SAMP is slower than a BERL '). Knowledge access statements (e.g., 'A JET is faster than a CAR'.) can be answered by accessing prior knowledge; no new text information is required. Knowledge integration statements (e.g., ' A NORT weighs more than a CAR'.) test implicit information that require participants to access their prior knowledge (i.e., 'a JET weights more than a CAR') and integrate this knowledge with the text fact (i.e., 'A NORT weighs more than a JET'). The components of the task predict performance on a test of global reading comprehension, and on a range of specific comprehension tests, each of which draws more heavily on one particular component. The component processes task is better at predicting reading comprehension than is a typical working memory span task, and has the potential of advancing the understanding and measurement of a range of linguistic and cognitive tasks.
Advancements in Nailed Connections

Previous research on nailed connections has resulted in the development of design guidelines for shear, bearing and net section fracture failure modes, for both static and fatigue loading. Since then, new stainless steel powder actuated fasteners (or "nails") have been developed. The purpose of this experimental study was to determine if the existing design guidelines are valid, or require modification, for the new stainless steel nails. A total of 21 nailed connections have been tested under 'static ' loading and results confirm that current design guidelines are applicable for connections made with new-generation stainless steel nails. Furthermore, a total of 16 'fatigue' tests have been conducted and the existing fatigue S-N curves have been modified to accommodate the current experimental data on stainless steel nailed connections. More research is required to develop design guidelines which take bending stresses into account.
Flux prediction in high-shear microfiltration

The use of membranes to treat effluents from the pulp and paper industry has been evaluated. Four applications related to the treatment and recycling of effluents were tested, and two were selected as having good industrial applicability: (1) microfiltration of old newsprint de-inking effluent containing flexographic ink; (2) treatment of an effluent from a mill using recycled old corrugated containers using a membrane bio-reactor. The membrane system adopted in this research has a unique configuration. It consists of a bundle of hollow-fiber microfiltration membranes submerged in a tank into which the effluent is introduced. Vacuum is used inside the fiber lumen to create transmembrane pressure differential, and aeration to promote high-shear stress at the membrane surface to minimize concentration polarization and fouling. Periodic reverse filtration (backflushing) is also used. A semi-empirical model to predict the permeate flux for this membrane configuration has been developed. The model was based on Darcy's law combined with a particle mass balance equation, and assumes that non-diffusive transport phenomena are the main mechanisms for the back-transport of particles from the membrane surface to the bulk solution during filtration. The model incorporates the use of reverse filtration. The model has been validated by laboratory experiments using six different suspensions: flexographic ink ([Phi]'b' = 0.005 and 0.01); calcined alumina ([Phi]'b' = 0.02 and 0.03); and yeast ([Phi]'b' = 0.01 and 0.02), where [Phi]' b' is the solid volume fraction in the suspension. The results showed good agreement between model prediction and experimental observations.
Tritiated amorphous silicon films and devices

The do saddle-field glow discharge deposition technique has been used to bond tritium within an amorphous silicon thin film network using silane and elemental tritium in the glow discharge. The concentration of tritium is approximately 7 at. %. Minimal outgassing of tritium from tritiated hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H:T) at room temperature suggests that tritium is bonded stably. Tritium effusion only occurred at temperatures above the film's growth temperature. The radioactive decay of tritium results in the production of high-energy beta particles. Each beta particle can generate on average approximately 1300 electron-hole pairs in a-Si:H:T. Electrical conductivity of a-Si:H:T is shown to be due to a thermally activated process and due to the generation of excess carriers by the beta particles. p-i-n betavoltaic devices have been made with a-Si:H:T in the intrinsic (i-) region. The i-region consisted of either a-Si:H:T, or a thin section of a-Si:H:T (a Delta layer) sandwiched between undoped hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). The excess carriers generated in the i-region are separated by the device's built-in electric field. Short-circuit currents (Isc ), open-circuit voltages (Voc), and power have been measured and correlated to the generation of excess carriers in the i-region. Good devices were made at a substrate temperature of 250°C and relatively large flow rates of silane and tritium; this ensures that there are more monohydride bonds than dihydride bonds. Under dark conditions, Isc, and Voc have been found to decrease rapidly. This is consistent with the production of silicon neutral dangling bonds (5 * 1017cm-3 per day) from the loss of tritium due to its transmutation into helium. Dangling bonds reduce carrier lifetime and weaken the electric field in the i-region. The short-circuit current from Delta layer devices decreased more slowly and settled to higher values for narrower Delta layers. This is because the dangling bonds are isolated to the Delta layer and the lifetime of excess carriers generated in the a-Si:H remains unaffected. Annealing a-Si:H:T at 120°C for approximately one hour is shown to remove dangling bonds produced from the decay of bonded tritium.
Ischemia in neuronal PC12 cells, role of free radical generation and cellular damage

Oxidative stress causing impaired cell function underlies many neurodegenerative disorders. I used an in-vitro model, neuronal PC12 cells to study the effects of Oxygen-Glucose-Deprivation (OGD/GD/OD). Cytotoxicity in culture medium (DNEM) was significantly higher following OGD/GD, immediately and 24hrs later, than the typically used--balanced salt solution (BSS). Cell death significantly decreased with addition of a metabolic substrate, inhibition of glycolysis significantly increased cell death. Free radical generation (ROS) studied with 5'6'CMH2DCF-DA, using confocal-microscopy and flow-cytometry, showed a significant early and persistent increase during OGD and early reperfusion, in DMEM. Lipid-peroxidation (TBARS assay) was increased in DMEM following OGD. Changes in mitochondrial morphology during OGD, coincided with the rise in ROS. NGF, hypothermia and anti-oxidants improved cell survival. These results indicate that oxidative stress may be an important mediator of cytotoxicity in neuronal PC12 cells during OGD in DMEM. Neuroprotective treatments must target strategies to decrease oxidative stress in the brain.
Iterative decoding of coded continuous phase modulation

In this thesis, the concept of iterative decoding is applied to demodulating and decoding coded continuous phase modulation (CPM). The background theory of iterative decoding and CPM is reviewed. Various types of concatenation are studied and simulation results show the performance of different systems in Gaussian and Rayleigh fading channels. It is found that coded CPM system with iterative decoding has a good bit error rate performance; however, the choice of constituent encoders is an important parameter in determining the overall performance.
The market model in higher education, Ontario in comparative perspective

This thesis documents the introduction of market mechanisms in the allocation of public and private funds in the Ontario university system. This thesis brings greater conceptual clarity to the central notions of "public," "private" and "market" as they apply to higher education, as well as to the concept of "marketization" and "privatization." It is here argued that marketization and privatization are profoundly different processes of government-initiated change, and that Ontario universities, instead of undergoing a process of privatization, are m fact entering into more market-like arrangements with the government and with one another. Marketization is, rather, a compromise between privatization, central-style planning and academic autonomy, where the market is a metaphor for organizing government-initiated change and control. Using the definition of marketization developed in the first part of the thesis, major finance policy developments are examined in England and Australia, with the intent of demonstrating their market-like character. Turning back to Ontario, the thesis then traces the development of higher education finance policy m Ontario and provides an overview of policy change in Ontario to 1995. Finally, the implementation of marketization in Ontario is demonstrated through an analysis of the major finance policy changes introduced in Ontario since 1995. The thesis ultimately clarifies the use of the notion of marketization as it relates to state control.
Active Bandwidth Brokers, a New Framework for Policy-Based Management

We discuss a new approach in Policy-Based Management (PBM), which can realize end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) for all connections across the Internet. The design is based on a reference PBM standard and its supporting communications protocols. These protocols are Common Open Policy Service (COPS) and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). Our proposed model is designed to work with active networks technology. In contrast to the traditional network, an active network is able to manipulate data in the packets, and change the network functionalities on a per-user and application basis. Our proposed framework, the Active Bandwidth Broker (ABB), delivers an easily maintainable, mobile and load sharing architecture for policy control. Our goals are to achieve a distributed PBM framework to improve scalability, and to introduce a mobile mechanism to enhance the availability of the service. This results an intelligent network that is incorporated with QoS control to generate performance protection for voice, video and Internet business applications.
High-fidelity broadside couplers

The goal of this project is to characterize and design high-fidelity broadside couplers for use in digital systems. The L-type contactless connectors currently in use distort the coupled signal such that signal reconstruction must be carried out at the receiver. A high-fidelity coupler would preserve the shape of the digital pulse so that this reconstruction would not be necessary. The coupler under investigation is of broadside stripline configuration and uses a conductive connection to accomplish the coupling. This report explains the theory behind the operation of such a coupler, introduces a design methodology, and examines design case studies providing comparisons with previous work.
David Jones, modernism, and the Middle Ages

My thesis examines the relationship between Modernism and medieval culture in the poetry of David Jones (1895-1974). I argue that Jones's treatment of the Middle Ages is an important response to the cultural transformations of modernity, forging a vital link to the west's pre-modern past while anticipating post-modern responses to culture and history. In my introductory chapter, I explore important historical and cultural backgrounds for David Jones's medievalism. Among the most important of these are his Pre-Raphaelite inheritance and his crucial relationship with the cultural historian, Christopher Dawson. After discussing Jones's understanding of history and tradition, the chapter concludes with a discussion of the importance of medieval and neo-Thomist aesthetics for the Modernism of David Jones and James Joyce, and an exploration of the importance of medieval form for Jones's poetry, Joyce's 'Finnegans Wake', and the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins. My chapter on 'In Parenthesis' (1937) explores the ways in which David Jones attempts to forge continuities with the past through his allusive interpretation of three key medieval texts, the early Welsh elegies of 'Y Gododdin', Sir Thomas Malory's 'Morte Darthur ', and the Welsh tales collected in 'The Mabinogion'. In my two chapters on 'The Anathemata' (1952), I discuss the importance of Spengler's view of the medieval era and of Joyce's language for Jones's understanding of the importance of culture and site in the Middle Ages. I also show how Jones interprets the culture of early medieval Europe in his portrait of Gwenhwyfar, contrasting his portrayal with that of William Morris. The final chapter examines how Jones's Roman poems antipate the Middle Ages, and attempts to demonstrate the importance of William Blake for Jones's later Arthurian fragments, collected in 'The Sleeping Lord' (1974). After a detailed exploration of how these poems draw upon early Welsh literature and history, I conclude by considering Jones's portrayal of Launcelot in his Mass poems, and by showing how 'The Book of Balaam's Ass' uses the Middle Ages to critique modernity's calculating perspective on reality.
Ghost writers, theories and strategies of communication in the autobiographies of Augustine, Descartes, Rousseau, and Nietzsche

Through examining the works of Augustine, Descartes, Rousseau, and Nietzsche, this text explores the ambivalence about autobiography as a communicative act. Autobiography is engaged in two tasks at once: the literary representation of the structure and history of a self, and the communication of that self to an outside reader. The agendas, I argue, are almost inevitably in conflict, and in each of the authors I examine here, strategies of literary seduction that actively court public attention alternate with a variety of methods of distancing the author from those very readers. The imagined reader stands as the screen against which autobiographical writing must be projected, but this requirement is deeply at odds with the desire for autonomy that motivates so much of the autobiographical practice. I conclude that in the case of each of the philosophers with whom I am engaged here, a reluctance to accept the necessary involvement of the other in self-identity seriously compromises not only the possibility of communication, but also the task of self-description itself. My attention throughout is devoted to the intersection between the various explicit theories of linguistic communication presented by these authors and the rhetorical purposes into which these theories are enlisted. It thus draws simultaneously from traditional philosophical techniques of conceptual exegesis and criticism, from psychoanalytic or genealogical analysis (principally Nietzsche, Freud, and Jean Starobinski), and from "reader-response" methods of literary criticism (Wayne Booth).
Linear and nonlinear optical properties of artificially structured materials

We begin by deriving a set of equations that describe pulse propagation in one dimensional, periodic media, in the presence both of birefringence and a Kerr nonlinearity. We use these equations to interpret the results of a series of experiments performed in fiber gratings, which, with the appropriate approximations, can be considered to have one effective dimension. We next turn to the consideration of two channel waveguides coupled by a sequence of periodically spaced microresonators, in the presence of a Kerr nonlinearity. We show that two distinct types of gaps open in the dispersion relation of the device. The frequency of one type of gap is related to the spacing of the resonators. The frequency of the other type of gap is related to the radius of the resonators. We derive a set of coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations (NLSE) to describe the propagation of light in the system. We show that the properties of the dispersion relation in the vicinity of the two types of gaps are markedly different, and that near the gap associated with the radius of the resonators, the group velocity dispersion experienced by a pulse is very small. We then demonstrate that a gap soliton should be observable at much lower intensities in this latter gap than in a Bragg gap of the same frequency width. The study the operation of a grating-waveguide structure (GWS), where a grating is used to coupled an incident plane wave into a guided mode of a layered medium. We derive equations that determine the field everywhere in the presence of a grating of arbitrary thickness, and a Kerr nonlinearity. We demonstrate that the GWS can be used as a low-loss, narrow-band reflector, or as an all optical switch. Finally, we construct a Hamiltonian formulation for pulse propagation equations in a one dimensional, Kerr nonlinear, periodic medium. In doing so, we clear up some confusion in the literature surrounding the nature of the conserved quantities associated with Kerr nonlinear pulse propagation equations.