VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Oxynitride gate dielectrics for deep sub-micron MOS devices

The continuous demand for improved CMOS transistors necessitate smaller device dimensions. The reduction in chip size into the deep sub-micron dimensions opens up new scientific and engineering challenges. One of the most critical material in developing deep sub-micron MOS transistors is high quality ultrathin (~ a few nm) gate dielectric film. As the gate dielectric thickness is reduced to below the 3 nm mark, the conventionally used SiO2 creditability as a dielectric layer deteriorates. The incorporation of nitrogen atoms into the dielectric has been shown to improve its characteristics: by reducing defect generation at the Si-SiO2 interface when incorporated at monolayer levels and reducing boron penetration from p+ poly-silicon gate electrodes through the dielectric films. The function of SiO2 as an insulating layer for thickness <2 nm becomes ineffective, as a result of high leakage current. This thesis deals with the development of oxynitride films as alternative gate dielectrics for deep sub-micron devices. Rapid thermal processing of nitrogen ionimplanted wafers and direct nitridation in N2 are the methods used in this work to grow oxynitride films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been performed to study the chemical structure of the films. MOS capacitors with n+ poly were fabricated to determine the potential usage of these oxynitride films in MOS transistors.
5-V Only Zener Based Flash E²PROM Architecture and Peripheral Circuits

The objective of this thesis is to present the architecture and peripheral circuits suitable for the implementation of a 5V only ZE 2PROM memory. First, the development of a large signal model of the cell for circuit simulations is presented. The proposed model is implemented as a subcircuit in the HSPICE simulator. A novel "Shared Bit Line, Alternating Word Line" architecture is proposed to achieve high density for the memory. The peripheral circuits that can implement the read, program and erase modes of operations in this architecture are presented. High voltage issues in a low voltage process are addressed. The implementation of the positive and negative charge pump circuits that generate the required programming and erasing voltages using a 5V power supply are presented.
Multicultural science education, an analysis of curriculum and policy in Ontario

Where science is viewed as a cultural construct, imbued with particular values and rooted in the context and backdrop from which it emerges, there is increasing recognition that science education is postulated within a Western or Euro-American cultural framework, creating a situation of a cultural imposition and dominance over many others orginating from diverse background. This thesis presents a paradigm for multicultural science education, aimed at providing scientific literacy for all and ameliorating the cross-cultural tensions which emerge, which comprises three fundamental domains: the personalization of learning (and knowledge), the demythologization of science and the science enterprise, and the politicization of science education. Subsequent analysis and evaluation of Ontario's current policy and practice regarding multicultural and science education programs, under the defined criteria of multicultural science education, reveals several inadequacies and deficiencies in terms of the education ministry's provisions. This thesis concludes with recommendations for science curriculum policy and practice reform in Ontario.
The indigenous presence in Ruben Dario and Ernesto Cardenal

This dissertation examines the indigenous presence in the poetry of Rubén Darío and Ernesto Cardenal. It is divided into two sections, the first dealing with Darío and the second with Cardenal. In both sections the literary analysis is preceeded by a critical contextualization. The approach is principally thematic and stylistic. The Darío section examines the poet's contributions to the debates regarding race and identity, as well as the socio-political future of the Americas; the humanitarian motivation for his interest in the Amerindian world; the poet's double heritage, Hispanic and Amerindian; the presence of indigenous thematic, symbolic, mythological, and stylistic influences in his poetry; and finally his effort to search for and retrieve inspirational aspects of the Amerindian world and, after extensive research, to integrate them into his poetry. It is concluded that Darío was significantly inspired, both aesthetically and philosophically, by the Amerindian world. The Cardenal section examines the humanitarian roots of the poet's interest in the Amerindian world; the aesthetic, religious, and socio-political influences of indigenous culture on the poet; the integration of the indigenous theme into his poetry and his life as a whole; the research underlying his poetry; and the stylistic influences of Amerindian literature on his poetry. It is concluded that Cardenal's poetry is strongly influenced aesthetically, socio-politically, and religiously by the Amerindian cultures of the Americas. In the final conclusions the impact of the indigenous influence on the two poets is examined for similarities and differences.
Permeability of responsive polymer-grafted porous membranes, temperature, pH and multi-stimuli response

A temperature-responsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), and a pH-responsive polymer, poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), were singly grafted and co-grafted onto porous polyethylene (PE) membranes by photochemical means. Graft yield, graft location, co-graft yield and composition were varied by controlling grafting time, grafting solvent and monomer concentration. Characterization of the PNIPAAm-g-PE membranes by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and membrane thickness measurements shows that PNIPAAm is grafted on external membrane surfaces as well as inside membrane pores. Thickness changes with temperature are minimal at graft yields below 150%, but the thickness increases with further increasing graft yield. Characterization of the PMAA-g-PE membranes shows that methanol can increase grafting inside the pores in comparison with water solvent--presumably due to variations in pore wetting. Co-grafted membranes were prepared using a sequential co-grafting procedure. It is shown that the co-grafts are di-block in structure. Furthermore, differential scanning calorimetry results suggest that complexes between the two blocks are formed under certain conditions. Permeation studies elucidate that low graft yield membranes show a lower permeability in the expanded state than in the collapsed state, explained by a pore control mechanism. High graft yield membranes show the opposite phenomenon, a higher permeability in the expanded state, explained by a surface control mechanism. The transitional graft yield for the two mechanisms depends on the graft location and co-graft composition. In addition, permeability changes are reversible and reach a maximum at an intermediate permeant molecular weight. A two-layer model is used to describe the permeation behavior of the grafted membranes. Polymers grafted inside the pores would close and open the pores by extension and contraction of the grafted chains. With increased grafting inside the pores, permeability decreases due to increased obstruction in the pores. Polymers grafted on the surface would form a surface layer to increase and decrease the permeability during swelling and de-swelling changes. With increased grafting on the surface, the membrane permeability becomes increasingly influenced by the surface layer. Finally, the co-grafted membrane exhibits more sophisticated permeability changes, with more possible "set points", than the singly grafted membrane.
Negotiating nativism, minority immigrant women ESL teachers and the native speaker construct

The "native speaker of English" is such a powerful construct, one so deeply embedded in myth, that it is inimical to sober inquiry. In this dissertation, I argue that the native speaker is a linguistic manifestation of nativist discourses that position visible minority immigrant women in Canada as being nonnative to the nation and, thus, as being nonnative speakers of English. I also argue that linguistics as a domain of study and a theory about language competence arises from a similar set of social relations within which nativism arises. Drawing on a study of eight immigrant women teachers who have taught or are teaching English as a second language (ESL) to adult immigrants in the Toronto area, I demonstrate that the ideological relationships within which immigrant women find themselves are heavily structured by the dichotomy of native speaker and nonnative speaker. Using data from the interviews with the teachers, I illustrate how their negotiation of linguistic nativism is central to their identity formation and to their pedagogies, and show how the native speaker concept informs their lived experience as ESL teachers in Canada. Emphasizing the interconnectedness of all oppressions, I argue that accents, like race, are socially organized, are a linguistic manifestation of nativism, and constitute a new and effective form of racism. I argue also that the native speaker is imagined as having a White accent, one that is associated with speakers of Inner Circle Englishes. On the basis of this research, I raise questions about the validity of the native speaker model that is used in Settlement ESL programs in Canada, and suggest that the native-nonnative speaker dichotomy be dismantled and the native speaker norm be reconceptualized. Furthermore, I suggest how to rethink teaching of English-as-a-second-language programs in Canada that make transparent the nonlinguistic underpinnings of the native speaker construct in order that both native and nonnative teachers can make informed pedagogical choices.
Consensus guidelines on analgesia and sedation in dying ICU patients

'Background'. Intensivists must provide palliative care to dying patients but risk prosecution for assisted death if they administer too much analgesia and sedation. 'Purpose'. To develop consensus guidelines on analgesia and sedation in dying ICU patients, and help distinguish palliative care from euthanasia. 'Methods'. 'Design': Delphi technique. ' Sample': Three panels: (1) Academic Adult Intensive Care program directors and ICU directors in academic centres without a fellowship program (2) Deputy chief provincial coroners; (3) Validation panel of Intensivists from the 1999 'Canadian Critical Care End-of-Life' meeting. ' Intervention': Statements about analgesia and sedation. 'Outcome measures': A Likert scale indicating agreement with the statements, and indications of what modifications would increase agreement. 'Analysis ': A median value of 5.6 (80% agreement) was stipulated a priori to indicate consensus. 'Results'. Consensus was achieved on 16 statements. 'Conclusions'. We developed consensus guidelines on palliation in the ICU that will help distinguish palliative care from assisted death.
Text talk, towards an interactive classroom model for encouraging, supporting and promoting literacy

This thesis is the story of my journey as a teacher-researcher in a grade five classroom. In it, I discuss some assumptions I held about written and oral responses to literature and describe the "critical incidents" that caused my assumptions to be challenged and my plans to be revised. This research describes my professional growth as I worked towards developing an interactive classroom model for encouraging, supporting and promoting literacy. Response theorist Louise Rosenblatt regards reading as a transactional process, a kind of conversation between reader and writer, who together shape the ideas captured by the words on the page. As a teacher of reading, I became concerned about ways of improving the individual child's capacity to evoke meaning from the text. As one who believes in the power of personal response, the question arose: How could I foster the kind of fruitful transactions that Rosenblatt encourages? When I began my investigation, I assumed that reading journals were the best accountable way of revealing children's responses to literature. I had assumed that the students would come to write about their reactions, opinions, and connections to the books they were reading. However, this did not seem to happen in any significant way. The notion that dialogue would deepen their reflections was not validated for me. I introduced three different responses activities that further challenged the action research. My observations and reflections led me to abandon journals and to revise my investigation. In the second phase of my Action Research I revised my plans, modified methodology and collected data to help me examine response through small group discussions. I introduced four talk sessions about four poems which helped me to better understand the significance of talk as a medium for response. Through the action research process and writing about research, I have come to the present point in my journey with text talk. This thesis has prompted me to change my practice as a reading teacher to create opportunities for interactions--interactions between the reader and the text, between reader and reader and between the reader and the teacher.
Analysis of pebble shape fabrics in the central western part of the Confederation Lake greenstone belt, Red Lake region, NW Ontario

This thesis presents the results of a quantitative geometric analysis of pebble shape fabrics in an Archean greenstone belt of northwestern Ontario. The analytical method used has been called the Inertia Tensor Method (ITM) by its inventor, P.-Y.F. Robin. In addition to the geometric analysis, qualitative information was obtained, in the thesis project, about the ductile to brittle deformation modes of individual pebbles. Results obtained in the project provide new information about the ductile behaviour of metaconglomerate derived mainly from volcanic rocks. Novel types of graphic plots are introduced which may be widely applicable in the structural analysis of all varieties of strained metaconglomerates. The axial ratio of the pebble shape fabric (A°/C ° =1.4), prior to the ductile tectonic deformation, was estimated graphically. Using this ratio, the principal components of distortional strain were determined where the ductile deformation of the metaconglomerate was largest.
The synthesis of novel organofluorines by electrophilic fluorination and their evaluation as inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B

Compounds bearing non-hydrolyzable phosphate mimetics were prepared and examined as inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). These studies begin with a brief look at the importance of the phosphate group to PTP1B-peptide interactions. This was accomplished by examining peptides bearing unnatural, non-phosphorylated tyrosine or phenylalanine derivatives as PTP1B inhibitors. These studies indicate that the presence of a phosphate group or phosphate mimetic is crucial to peptide binding. We then examine non-peptidyl aryl derivatives bearing the most commonly used phosphate mimetic, the difluoromethylenephosphonic acid (DFMP) group, as PTP1B inhibitors. This involved developing a new approach, based on electrophilic fluorination of Ã-phosphoryl carbanions, to the synthesis of aryl DFMP's. Factors affecting the electrophilic fluorination yields, such as temperature, base and counterion were examined. Inhibition studies revealed that these compounds were not significantly more potent inhibitors than the parent compound, Ã,Ã-difluorobenzylphosphonic acid, with the exception being the 'meta'-phenyl substituted species which decreased the IC50 by approximately 17-fold relative to (Ã,Ã-difluorobenzylphosphonic acid. However, certain compounds bearing two DFMP moieties were very potent inhibitors. Possible reasons for this are discussed. Further studies involved examining chiral (Ã-monofluorophosphonates as PTP1B inhibitors. This work includes the first description of a general method for preparing this class of compounds. The key step in this procedure was the diastereoselective electrophilic fluorination of Ã-carbanions of asymmetric phosphonamidates bearing (-)-ephedrine as a chiral auxiliary. Removal of the ephedrine auxiliary afforded Ã-monofluorophosphonic acids in modest to good yields. Inhibition studies revealed that the R-enantiomers: were approximately 10-fold more potent inhibitors than the corresponding S-enantiomers, but 10-fold less potent than their Ã,Ã-difluoro analogues. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. Finally, we turned our attention to novel organofluorine functionalities that may be either more amenable to cellular penetration or more readily converted to caged compounds than DFMP-bearing compounds. Thus, compounds bearing monoanionic moieties, such as the Ã-fluoro-tetrazole, carboxylate, malonyl and Sultanate groups were prepared using electrophilic fluorination and then examined as PTP1B inhibitors. Of these compounds, those bearing the Ã-fluorosulfonate moiety were the most effective PTP1B inhibitors although these were not as potent inhibitors as their DFMP analogues.
Insect juvenile hormone III in the sedge, Cyperus iria L.: Distribution, biosynthesis and possible biological function(s)

In insects, juvenile hormones regulate critical physiological processes such as metamorphosis and reproduction. To date, there has been only one report of the identification of an insect juvenile hormone in a plant; juvenile hormone III (JH III) has been isolated from the sedges 'Cyperus iria' L. and 'C. aromaticus' (Ridley) Mattf and Kûk. The presence of these compounds in plants is not understood. The temporal and tissue distribution of JH III was determined in ' C. iria' over an eight-month period, from the seedling to senescent plant. Levels increased in immature plants until flowering, at which time a transient decrease in JH III content of all plant tissues was observed. Juvenile hormone III subsequently increased in mature plants until senescence when, again, amounts fell in the aerial tissues. This pattern was not observed in the subterranean tissues, where JH III was predominantly localized. The high levels of this unique compound throughout development suggests that JH III may have an important biological function in 'C. iria'. The ability of this plant to interfere with insect development, presumably because of the presence of JH III, has been demonstrated. However, conclusive evidence of the protection of the plant from insect herbivory by this compound has not been established. Therefore, other potential biological activities were investigated. Juvenile hormone III delayed lettuce seed germination and demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against rice seedling growth. This activity may confer an ecological advantage to 'C. iria' by affecting the germination and growth of neighbouring, competing plants. The antimicrobial activity of JH III (13.3 [mu]g) was tested on a taxonomically diverse range of fungi; no cytotoxic effect was observed. At present, little is known about the biosynthesis of JH III in ' C. iria'. To elucidate this pathway, a cell suspension culture of 'C. iria' was established. Through enzyme inhibition studies, it has been conclusively demonstrated that the sesquiterpenoid skeleton of JH III is biosynthesized, at least partially, through the classical mevalonate pathway. Precursor feeding studies also suggest that the later steps of the biosynthetic pathway are similar to the insect pathway.
Blood pressure regulation in ANP-knockout mice, the role of angiotensin II-stimulated vasopressin release mechanism

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP), a peptide hormone, exerts hypotensive effects. Knockout mice with homozygous disruption of the pro-ANP gene ($-$/$-$) are incapable of producing ANP and are hypertensive relative to their wild type (+/+) siblings. Previous studies have shown that there is no difference in endothelial factors and renin-AngiotenII (ANGII)system activity between the ($-$/$-$) and (+/+) mice. However, ($-$/$-$) mice show increased dependency of arterial blood pressure on sympathetic neuron activity. Such centrally determined effects of ANP are likely to be accompanied by other central nervous influences of ANP such as Vasopressin (VP) release. The present study was designed to investigate whether hypertension in ($-$/$-$) mice is maintained by central ANGII-mediated release of VP and subsequent elevation of plasma VP. This question was examined by inhibiting the ANGII-stimulated VP release pathway and administering ANP in order to investigate central non-ANGII dependent cardiovascular effects of ANP. Arterial Blood Pressure (ABP) and Heart Rate (HR) were monitored before, during, and after the injections. The results suggest that hypertension in ($-$/$-$) mice is not due to an increase in plasma VP levels arising from the lack of ANP.
Systematic reviews of the effects of two approaches to encourage the use of strict diagnostic criteria for the onset of active labour

The evidence regarding benefits and risks of health care interventions can facilitate rational, informed decision-making. A systematic review may reveal that a health care intervention has consistent effects, or it may show that treatment effects vary considerably. Applicability of results to populations, settings, and treatment differences are clarified. Results are made more reliable and effects of bias and random error limited through use of an explicit, empirically-based method. Two systematic reviews were undertaken for the Pregnancy and Childbirth Group of the Cochrane Collaboration. The first determined the effectiveness of caregivers' use of specific criteria for diagnosing labour; the second assessed the effects of teaching pregnant women specific criteria for self-diagnosis of labour onset. Each included one study, involving 209 and 245 women respectively. Both approaches to promote the accurate diagnosis of labour may be helpful, but further research is required before recommendations for practice can be made.
Characterization of the molecular nature of the interaction of human salivary histatins (histidine-rich proteins) with tannins

In order to characterize the interaction of HRPs with condensed tannin, an NMR study was performed in which two representative histatins, HRP5 and HRP7 were titrated with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as a model condensed tannin. 1D, TOCSY and NOESY spectra were recorded after every titration increment and the chemical shifts of all protons of HRPs and EGCG were recorded. The pattern of chemical shift changes observed during titrations of both HRP5 and HRP7 indicated that the interaction of these peptides; with EGCG most likely occurs by hydrophobic stacking of the aromatic rings of EGCG against the aromatic rings of the side chains of histidine, phenylalanine and tyrosine as well as against the hydrophobic portions of lysine and arginine residues located throughout the molecule. The chemical shift data also allowed determination of the dissociation constant for the HRP5-EGCG complex which was found to be 1 mM and the number of EGCG binding sites on the surface of a molecule of HRP5 was determined to be 6.6 ± 0.8.