VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Gülten Akin, a pioneering Turkish woman poet: her life, poetry and poetics within their social, historical and literary context

This dissertation examines the life and work of Gülten Akin (b.1933) as a pioneering woman poet of contemporary Turkish literature. Akin is a highly original poet with a distinct voice, which is clearly that of a woman. Over the past fifty years, she has continuously presented the important issues of a traditional society from a woman's perspective. As such, her poetry acquires a significance as the prominent voice of the woman writer in Turkey. Despite the fact that she is a poet of obvious talent and endurance, as well as a literary critic, essayist and dramatist, no major academic study of the body of her work has yet been undertaken, either within Turkey or outside it. The dissertation undertakes an analysis of Akin's life, poetry and poetics in their social, historical and literary context. It examines Akin's poetry and poetics in terms of themes, language, form, style, imagery as well as her understanding of poetry. The discussion proceeds in the following order: the connection between Akin's life and poetry; the development of her poetry period by period; “woman” as a theme and major ingredient of her poetry, and finally the foundations on which her poetics are built. Akin's poetry deals with a wide range of issues relating to equality, justice, love and the underprivileged of the society. The poetry looks at the lives of women, children, peasants, as well as city dwellers. While the poems highlight the recurring problems in a patriarchal society, they are delivered in a highly lyrical way, with a humanist approach to the issues. The approach of the thesis is that of a literary critic. The sources used are the collected works of Akin, commentary in Turkish journals, periodicals, newspapers, and personal interviews. Many of her poems have been translated. This dissertation seeks to demonstrate how Akin's poetry enriched and enhanced the Turkish language and literature, thereby adding to the study of modern Turkish poetry as well as to the scant knowledge and scholarship available in the field of Middle Eastern women's writing. It is also hoped that the analysis of Akin's life and work will contribute to a better understanding and evaluation of women's poetry in the contemporary world of literature.
A requirement for Pax6 in retinal stem cells

Mammalian retinal stem cells (RSCs) are functionally defined by their ability to self-renew and their multipotentiality. Pax6 is a proposed master control gene for eye development, as it is both necessary and sufficient to induce the development of eyes in some species. We hypothesized that Pax6 might function in RSCs, as they are one of the earliest cell lineages present in the developing eye. Our results showed that Pax6 is expressed in all of the RSCs that make clonal retinal spheres in culture. At embryonic day 14, we found that there was a 75% decrease in the number of spheres isolated from Pax6 null animals. Post-natally, we observed a 90% decrease in the number of retinal spheres generated by the conditional knockouts (αCre; Pax6 flox/flox), as compared to the heterozygous (αCre; Pax6flox/wt) and wild type animals. These results suggest that Pax6 is critical for the formation of retinal spheres.
Establishing a superior tetracycline-inducible gene expression system for mouse CD200, a potential therapeutic immunosuppressive molecule

CD200 (originally called OX2) is a membrane glycoprotein expressed by a variety of cell types, including lymphocytes, neurons and endothelium. It is the ligand for CD200 receptors (CD200Rs) whose expression is limited to hematopoietic cells, especially myeloid cells. A number of in vivo studies have implied that the interaction of CD200 with CD200R1 may inhibit a variety of immune responses, including graft rejection, autoimmune disease, fetal loss syndrome, and cancer. To study further the biological function of CD200 and the CD200Rs, our lab produced TRE-CD200-EGFP transgenic mice using a Tet-On inducible system. This thesis evaluated the inducible function of rtTA2s-M2, a new generation of Tet-On regulator, and compared it to the old version of rtTA in vitro and in vivo. The data suggest that induction of the CD200-EGFP transgene in rtTA2s-M2 transgenic mice is superior to that achieved in rtTA transgenic mice following doxycycline feeding in vivo.
The effects of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 on pre- and postnatal cardiac morphology and function

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are essential regulators of fetal growth. Their effects are modulated by the IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). Circulating IGFBP-1 levels are elevated in growth-restricted human fetuses, and fetal growth restriction increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. Transgenic mice with elevated levels of circulating IGFBP-1 in late gestation were shown to be growth restricted, and have improved overall left and right ventricular function, eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and decreased cardiomyocyte proliferation at E17.5. Postnatally, transgenic mice did not exhibit catch-up growth and showed left ventricular overall, diastolic, and systolic functional impairments, and wall thinning in adulthood ( ge;8 week). We conclude that growth restriction caused by elevated IGFBP-1 alters pre- and postnatal cardiac structure and function and this may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
Development of a RF BJT in standard 0.35[mu]m CMOS technology

The demand for Analog and RF ICs for wireless communication is growing rapidly in recent years. This propels the development of low cost implementation such as RF BiCMOS technology, allowing the design of wireless circuits with complex CMOS functionality. The objective of this thesis is to develop a RF BiCMOS process by integrating RF bipolar transistor with a standard 0.35μm CMOS process. This BiCMOS process is implemented using an existing 0.35μm CMOS production technology from Asahi Kasei Microsystems (AKM). The proposed process incorporates the original processing procedures and design rules of the CMOS process, and three additional masks are added to form the RF BJT. The additional costs and alterations on the original process are minimal, and this technology is designed to co-exist with the original process. Design considerations related to the poly-emitter bipolar transistor characteristics and the process flow of BiCMOS integration are discussed. Two-dimensional process and device simulations for device optimization, and three-dimensional device simulations are presented. The DC and AC performance of the fabricated test structures was electrically characterized. The bipolar transistor showed an unity-gain frequency (fτ) of 18.5 GHz and collector-emitter breakdown (BVCEO) of 3.1V. The AC performance is comparable to previously published results for BiCMOS processes. However, the cost is significantly lower because this process only uses single poly, implanted base and with no trench isolation. In conclusion, this BiCMOS process offers good RF performance, low cost and is compatible with standard CMOS technology.
Caffeine has dopamine D2 receptor-dependent aversive properties that are independent of the adenosine A(2A) receptor

Caffeine presents an interesting drug to study because of its status as the most widely consumed psychoactive substance worldwide. While the mechanisms of its locomotor stimulant effects have been widely studied, little is known about the substrates that mediate its motivational effects. In this thesis, I identify the dopaminergic system, and specifically the dopamine D2 receptor, as the critical mediator of the aversive effects of caffeine. In addition, I show that the adenosine A2A receptor, which is currently considered to be critical for caffeine's actions in the body, is not the upstream pharmacological target of this aversive effect. Further, these experiments show that the independent knockouts of the dopamine D2 and adenosine A2A receptor do not affect the locomotor stimulant effects of caffeine; these animals show increases in locomotion following caffeine administration.
A study of multimedia lecture archives for mobile and desktop computers

The ePresence system webcasts and archives the audio, video, and slides of lectures. This thesis investigates the design of a limited-feature, mobile version of ePresence for viewing lecture archives, and then evaluates the usefulness and usability of both the existing desktop version and the new implementation for mobile computers. We evaluated the system by providing students of a third-year computer science course with archives of their class lectures. In a series of interviews, we found the students liked the desktop archives and used them as a substitute for missed lectures, a general review tool, and as a reference to course material. We also looked at how students interacted with the system through system logs, and suggest possible improvements for the interface and functionality. Unfortunately, the students did not like the mobile archives, and did not use them beyond an initial trial.
Neurobiological effects of medium-chain triglycerides (AC1203) in a dog model of amyloidosis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is currently the most common form of dementia, affecting approximately 27.7 million people worldwide. AD is characterized by cognitive and behavioural changes as well as by several neuropathological features, such as brain hypometabolism, amyloid-beta (Abeta) accumulation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage. The present study was designed to explore the effects of AC 1203, a proprietary blend of medium-chain triglycerides, in a dog model of amyloidosis. AC 1203 was hypothesized to have beneficial effects due to its rapid metabolism to ketone bodies. The ketone bodies might then compensate for the decreased glucose metabolism by providing energy to the brain. In the present study, a 2 g/kg/day dose (but not a 1 g/kg/day dose) of AC 1203 administered for one month significantly decreased BBB damage, especially in the prefrontal cortex. In addition, a 2 g/kg/day dose of AC 1203 administered for two months significantly improved mitochondrial function and decreased oxidative damage in the parietal lobe. AC 1203 administered for two months, however, did not significantly improve learning and memory in aged dogs nor did it reverse Abeta pathology. In combination, these data suggest that AC 1203 appears to improve some of the physiological changes associated with AD but does not affect the symptoms. These data also suggest that additional studies should be conducted to examine AC 1203's ability to prevent or delay the onset of AD.
Design and testing of a finite difference time domain system in cylindrical coordinates

The two dimensional FDTD method is derived and those characteristics of the method particular to cylindrical geometry are discussed. The mode resonances of metallic and dielectric waveguides simulated with the FDTD method agreed within 0.5% with the analytical solutions. The code was compared with commercially available FDTD code based on a rectangular approximation scheme, and proved to be far more accurate in simulating cylindrical structures. The modes of the novel fibre were simulated and found to be within 0.12% of those found using the Finite Element Method (FEM). The cylindrical scheme is shown to be useful for simulating three dimensional coupling situations not possible with the FEM system. This thesis presents a Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method in cylindrical coordinates for simulating structures with polar geometry and in particular a novel fibre structure. This method allows simulation of complex structures and a three dimensional representation not previously achievable.
Development and evaluation of a multidimensional electronic pain diary for adolescents with arthritis

Aims. To evaluate the construct validity and feasibility of an electronic pain diary (e-Ouch) in adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Methods. Two descriptive studies with repeated measures were conducted. In Study 1, 76 adolescents with arthritis recorded their pain three times a day for two-weeks using the e-Ouch. Similarly, In Study 2, 36 adolescents recorded their pain three times a day for one-week before and two-weeks after joint injections. Adolescents in both studies completed a battery of measures to determine the construct validity and feasibility of the e-Ouch. Conclusion/significance. These findings provide beginning evidence of the construct validity and feasibility of the e-Ouch in adolescents with JIA. The e-Ouch could be used as a template for chronic pain measurement in many chronic pediatric illnesses to improve chronic pain management and clinical outcomes in children. Results. Adolescents reported mild levels of pain intensity, unpleasantness, and interference as well as stiffness, and mild to moderate levels of fatigue. e-Ouch average weekly pain unpleasantness and interference scores were higher in adolescents with higher pain intensity scores. Adolescents reported significantly higher levels of pain intensity, unpleasantness, and interference during Week 1 compared to Week 2. Correlations between average weekly pain ratings on the e-Ouch and scores from: (a) recalled least, average and worst weekly pain, (b) health-related quality of life and pain coping, and (c) disease activity were as predicted. Valid estimates of average weekly pain ratings were obtained with three consecutive days of entries. Pain ratings were significantly lower following joint injections with the effect size in the low to moderate and moderate to high ranges at the first and second week post-injection, respectively. Compliance was 78% in Study 1, 73% in Study 2, highest in the morning, lowest after school, and significantly decreased over time. Compliance was not affected by age, sex, or technical difficulties. Adolescents found the diary acceptable and easy to use. The influence of age, sex, and disease subtype and severity on pain ratings was not supported. However, adolescents using emotion-focused pain coping reported higher levels of pain unpleasantness and interference compared to those who used less.
The influence of competency ratings on the overall score: an examination of the CBFE-OT

The Competency Based Fieldwork Evaluation for Occupational Therapists (CBFE-OT) is used to evaluate students' performance during clinical placements. Clinical educators supervising the students assign competency ratings, plus an overall pass/fail decision. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how clinical educators determine the overall score and make the pass/fail decision. The relationships among the competency scores, the overall score, and the pass/fail decision were explored through analyses of CBFE-OT scores and interviews with clinical educators. The competency scores for Clinical Reasoning, Communication, Professional Development, and Facilitating Change were the strongest predictors of the overall score, accounting for more than 90% of the variance in both midterm and final overall scores. In contrast, many of the clinical educators reported giving Clinical Reasoning, Communication, and Practice Knowledge more weight and Professional Development less weight. Factors affecting the competency scores, the overall scores, and the pass/fail decisions are also described.

Keywords: Competency-based educational tests
Students, Rating of
Occupational therapists, Rating of
Walking in Cyprus: Ancient landscapes and modern bias

Research on the earliest habitation of Cyprus has largely been limited to the finds from excavation at a few sites, or gazetteer-style lists compiled from earlier surveys and fortuitous finds. Generally, though, there was little interest in finding and researching small lithic scatters and resource areas that may be of importance in unravelling the patterns of prehistoric land use. This thesis looks specifically at archaeological evidence from two research projects, the Canadian Palaipaphos Survey Project (CPSP) in southwest Cyprus and the Idalion Survey Project (ISP) in the central Troodos foothills. I focus on the distribution of, and the relationship between, large habitation sites, small, enigmatic lithic scatters and lithic resource areas. I support this with a study of ethnographic research on modern land use behaviour, and ethnoarchaeological research on the modern dhoukani (threshing sledge) industry. This latter is especially important as it sheds light not only on the locations and quality of numerous chert sources in both study areas, but documents modern behaviour in lithic acquisition, production and distribution, which may be crucial for understanding how lithic craftsmen worked in the past. During the course of my survey work, it became apparent to me that observer bias had a profound effect on the identification, collection and interpretation of the archaeological data. A major part of this thesis focusses on ways to identify and correct for a number of these types of biases. Taking into account these limitations on the results from the surveys, my research suggests that the early Neolithic inhabitants were not optimizing costs in lithic raw material selection, but were intentionally exploiting distant sources, despite having excellent quality sources much closer to their habitation sites. Based on the ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological studies, I suggest that this was the result of intentional strategies of risk management.
The lived experience of learning to teach in inner city schools: negotiating identity and agency in the figured worlds of teacher candidates

What is the experience of teacher candidates learning to teach in inner city schools? To explore this question, I used qualitative research methodology strategies. The participants in this inquiry are elementary teacher candidates in an inner city teacher education cohort within a larger one year B.Ed. program. This particular program is designed to "focus on social justice through an anti-oppression agenda which addresses the systemic power imbalances both in the educational system and society as a whole" (Stewart Rose, 2007). I attempted to arrive "pre-suppositionless" (van Manen, 2003, p. 29), to embrace a discovery-orientation to this inquiry. I considered the teacher candidates' experiences as the curriculum under investigation. It is their lived experiences that inculcate their understanding of learning to teach. I involved the voices in an original "chanter le monde" (singing of the world), (Merleau-Ponty, 1973, p. 187) presenting here the primal incantations (van Manen, 2003, p. 13) of the teacher candidates. Listening carefully to their stories, I challenged my existing assumptions, highlighted the complexities of their experience, asked new questions and brought new understandings about what it means to learn to teach for those committed to inner city schools. Data revealed the teacher candidates experiences of negotiation throughout their journey of learning to teach in inner city schools, including negotiation of learning in a cohort, of their understandings of equity, diversity and social justice, of personal identity, of positionality within an oppressive educational system, of conflict and of living for the future. The theoretical framework of figured worlds (Holland, Lachicotte, Skinner, & Cain, 2003) highlights the constant negotiation of the expectations of multiple and conflicting discourses, of their positionality within their worlds, of the ways they self-author their identities and of agency in their journey of learning to teach. Misleading assumptions, barriers and supportive contexts for agency are drawn forward to guide future research and initial teacher education program development in new figured world making.
Music cognition as musical culture: a philosophical investigation of cognitivist theory of music

In the field of cognitivist theory of music, the major philosophical thesis that has emerged is that music cognition is caused by a dedicated information processing system which manipulates musical symbolic codes. These codes are said to be neurally encoded, musically evaluable representations of an external musical reality that mediate cognitively between a knowing subject and a world of known musical objects. Cognitivist theory of music is premised on the formalist philosophical view that music consists of a set of aesthetic objects to be comprehended solely in terms of the audition and subsequent cognition of its tonal, rhythmic and structural properties. This thesis is a philosophical investigation and critique of cognitivist theory of music and its correlative theory of mental representation as cognitive mediators. Using Wilfrid Sellars' framework of the manifest and scientific images of "man" in the world, salient features of the aesthetic point of view are analyzed in order to bring out the irresolvable difficulties that have been inherited in cognitivist theory of music due to an adherence to a representationalist theory of the nature of mind. I argue that the difficulties inherent in the cognitivist "scientific-image" theory of music are compounded by an outmoded conception of science (and of causality in particular) which leads to a rejection of the person for a theory of the musical mind. I claim that cognitivist theory of music cannot ignore the priority of the manifest image of music as a continuing context for scientific theorizing. As a positive alternative to the representationalist notion of the cognitive mediator, I advance the beginnings of a theory which regards the musical mind as involving a direct, dynamic, cognitive interaction between persons as subjects and the familiar, "manifest-image" world of musical culture. This kind of interaction is an interpretive one which is conditioned by a socio-cultural set of concepts and practices, including those of scientific theorizing. It is within this context that a theory of the musical mind relevant to music education research must be set.

Keywords: Music, Psychological aspects
Cognition
Music, Philosophy and aesthetics
Reconstructing transparent objects by refractive light-path triangulation

This thesis presents a method for reconstructing the shape of specular, transparent objects from multiple viewpoints. This method works on scenes where light refracts through the object twice, entering and exiting the object's surface. Scenes are reconstructed by determining the 3D path light takes through each pixel on a camera's image plane. Triangulating this light path is accomplished by finding the one that is consistent with known light rays from multiple viewpoints of the scene, determined using an environment-matting based approach. It is shown that this method requires at least three viewpoints to triangulate light paths in general, four if the index of refraction is unknown. Also, shapes and camera configurations for which light-path triangulation fails regardless of the number of viewpoints are explored. Results of our method applied to several glass objects are analyzed.