VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The new reproductive and genetic technologies: stories told in The Globe and Mail, 1978-1997

This thesis analyzes The Globe and Mail newspaper coverage from 1978–1997 regarding the new reproductive and genetic technologies of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), pre-conception agreements, and multiple births due to fertility drugs. Using content analysis, it was determined that the coverage is presented in particular ways. Coverage pertaining to females' experiences is limited while coverage pertaining to males' experiences, particularly those of male doctors and academics is vast. The new reproductive and genetic technologies are promoted through the language used to cover the stories, the orientations of the stories, the sources quoted, and the visuals. The technologies' failures, possible consequences, and impact upon women are rarely covered in any detail. It is shown that feminist coverage within The Globe and Mail allows a wider range of stories to be told and gives voice to the groups of women silenced in the mainstream coverage.

Keywords: Human reproductive technology
Genetic engineering
Women, Press coverage
Investigating physician bias as a possible explanation for gender disparity in the utilization of knee arthroplasty surgery

Background. Underuse of total joint arthroplasty is more than three times as great in women as in men. When surveyed, physicians indicate that patient gender has no effect on their decision making. The purpose of this study was to determine if physicians provided the same recommendation regarding total knee arthroplasty for standardized patients presenting blind to physicians' offices with otherwise identical clinical scenarios differing only in gender. Methods: Two standardized patients (one man and one woman) with moderate knee osteoarthritis visited 38 family physicians and 33 orthopaedic surgeons in Ontario, Canada. Four surgeons did not consent to including their data. Standardized patients recorded physicians' final recommendations (yes/no) to refer for, or perform, TKA and elements of informed decision making (IDM) present in their interaction with the physician. Results. Of the 67 physicians, 42% of physicians recommended TKA to the man but not to the woman and 8% of physicians recommended TKA to the woman but not to the man. The odds of being recommended for TKA was 4 times higher (95% CI 2.4 to 7.3; P
Human kallikrein 14 (hk14)proteomic aspects and preliminary clinical applications

Human kallikrein gene 14 (KLK14) is a recently discovered member of the tissue kallikrein family of secreted serine proteases, which includes hK3/PSA, the best cancer biomarker to date. Given that KLK14 is hormone-regulated and differentially expressed in endocrine-related cancers, we hypothesize that its protein, hK14, like hK3/PSA, may constitute a new biomarker for endocrine-related cancers. To investigate this hypothesis, recombinant hK14 was produced in P. pastoris, polyclonal antibodies were generated and an immunofluorometric assay was developed. hK14 was quantified in human tissue extracts and biological fluids. Highest levels were observed in the breast, skin, prostate, seminal plasma and amniotic fluid, with almost undetectable levels in normal serum. hK14 concentration was higher in 40% of ovarian cancer tissues compared to normal. Serum hK14 levels were elevated in a proportion of patients with ovarian (65%) and breast (40%) cancers. We conclude that hK14 is a potential biomarker for breast and ovarian cancer.
Human leukocyte antigen and T cell receptor transgenic models of xeno- and allogeneic graft rejection and neonatal tolerance induction

Success in xenotransplantation will depend on the development of strategies that induce transplantation tolerance. Classic protocols of neonatal tolerance induction, which are extremely effective in allogeneic model systems, have failed in xenogeneic models. To determine whether failure results from an intrinsic property of the xenogeneic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules or, instead, is caused by some limitation in species-specific molecular interactions distinct from the polymorphic domains of xenogeneic MHC molecules, we have established a panel of Tg mice that express a hybrid human MHC class I molecule in which the polymorphic α1 and α2 domains are derived from either the human HLA-A2, -B7, or B-27 alleles and the remainder of the molecule is derived from the mouse H-2Kb protein. Initial experiments (Chapter 2) evaluated the function of the Tg HLA class I molecules as transplantation antigens. Hybrid HLA class I molecules induced a strong xeno-CD8+ T cell response as assessed by in vitro cell mediated lympholysis assays and were rapidly rejected by non-Tg recipients when presented as skin grafts. This rejection did not depend on CD8+ or CD4+ T cells or B cells. In vitro and in vivo allorecognition of locus-matched Tg hybrid HLA-B alleles was CD8-dependant. In chapter 3, we addressed the requirement for clonal deletion of alloreactive CTL in an MHC class I-disparate model of neonatal tolerance. Neonatal T cell receptor Tg recipient mice in which the majority of CD8+ T cells expressed a single α/β TCR alloreactive to H-2Ld were pretreated with semi allogeneic, H-2Ld expressing cells. These neonates were unresponsive to H-2Ld-expressing targets in vitro and were tolerant to H-2Ld skin grafts. Their peripheral lymphoid organs demonstrated a profound reduction of Tg CD8+ T cells and the mice were chimeric. To evaluate the potential for the induction of neonatal tolerance to xenogeneic MHC in the hybrid HLA Tg model system in which species-specific molecular interactions had been optimized, we injected newborn H-2 matched, non-Tg mice with splenocytes from HLA-B7hyb Tg mice (Chapter 4). HLA-B7hyb injected neonates were unresponsive to B7 hyb-expressing targets in vitro. They specifically accepted B7 hyb-expressing skin grafts and demonstrated peripheral chimerism. These experiments suggest that providing species-specific molecular interactions are conserved, xenogeneic MHC does not pose an insurmountable barrier to xenograft tolerance.

Keywords: Medicine
Immunology
Activities and cooperation of Lef1 and Alx4 during mouse embryogenesis

The Wnt-signalling mediator, Lymphoid enhancer factor, Left1, regulates gene expression in response to Wnt signals and integrates a number of signalling cascades required for the development of embryonic and postnatal tissues. Lef1 facilitates the integration of multiple signal transduction pathways by virtue of its ability to complex factors and regulate transcription of target genes. Specifically in this thesis, I have identified a novel molecular and genetic interaction with the paired-like homeodomain protein, Aristaless-like 4, Alx4. This thesis demonstrates that through their coordinate activities, these proteins cooperate in the transcriptional regulation of target genes and subsequent development of the mouse embryo. I have established that Alx4 interacts with Lef1 and that these transcription factors synergize in the regulation of the NCAM promoter. Furthermore, Lef1 transcriptional activity can be regulated by Alx4 in a dose-dependent manner. This molecular interaction is supported by subsequent genetic studies in mice where loss of function of both of these transcription factors results in early embryonic lethality. Finally, I examined the role of Left1 during embryonic mammary gland development. I demonstrated that mesenchymal-epithelial Wnt-signalling is required during embryonic mammary gland development in the absence of Lef1. These studies provide novel insight into potential mechanisms by which Lef1 activities can regulate and be regulated by different pathways during normal embryonic development and cancer.
Parasitism of Pikonema alaskensis, a dispersing herbivore on black spruce (Picea mariana) in central Newfoundland

The yellowheaded spruce sawfly, Pikonema alaskensis Rohwer (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), is a destructive defoliator of young spruce trees. Early-instar larvae feed predominantly in the lower crown, while late-instar larvae disperse upwards to complete feeding and development in the upper crown. The role of larval parasitism with respect to this dispersal behaviour was investigated. Both early and late-instar larvae had reduced parasitism in the upper crown as opposed to the lower crown, indicating that this region was enemy-free space. Despite parasitism costs in the lower crown, early-instar larvae had better overall survival in this crown level due to better quality resources. The role of parasitism and resources changed as larvae aged and dispersed within the tree crown, therefore, stressing the need to examine both bottom-up (i.e. resources) and topdown (i.e. natural enemies) factors when exploring their influence on the behaviour of insect herbivores.

Keywords: Yellow-headed spruce sawfly, Larvae
Yellow-headed spruce sawfly, Newfoundland and Labrador
Parasitism
Black spruce, Diseases and pests
Black spruce, Newfoundland and Labrador
Defining democracy: women and human rights organizations in Argentine democratization

Initially, scholars and activists were optimistic that the return of electoral democracy in Latin America would lead to the protection of human rights. Unfortunately, the abuse of human rights continues. A major obstacle to the protection of human rights during the democratization process is the establishment of a minimal agreement between the state and society regarding the definition of human rights. In Argentina there is little agreement among various state and society political actors regarding the rights that must be protected. However, this dissertation argues that by focusing on the need to protect the family, women participants in human rights organizations (HROs) are facilitating debates with the state and society in favour of a broad definition of rights (civil, political and social) and their enforcement. Argentine HROs have drawn on the nation's historical experience with women's political participation in order to successfully frame these debates. I adapt the collective action frame literature to include the concept of "historical frames", defined in the following manner. In countries with irreconcilable differences between various state and society political actors, state leaders have very forcefully interpreted and "framed" historical, political and cultural experiences. These leaders have been able to capture the common, although often vague, vision of the world held by most political actors. Some of these frames endure and become integrated into political culture. These frames are what I call "historical frames". Historical frames are often reused and transformed by the state, society and social movements. Women have used these frames to facilitate their political integration into the process of democratization and to broaden the debated definition human rights. The dissertation introduces and presents the development of the historical frames of "women's political participation" and "differential and un-enforced rights" in Argentina. The dissertation proposes that the use and misuse of the historical frame of "women's political participation" by the last military regime contributed to the adoption of the vocabulary of this historical frame by women in HROs. In order to examine the persuasiveness of this strategy, the dissertation analyses the response of the Argentine state and society.
Use of water soluble pharmaceuticals in the synthesis of bioactive fluorinated surface modifiers

Bioactive Fluorinated Surface Modifiers (BFSMs) are additives that serve to provide biological functionality onto biomedical polyurethane surfaces. They contain fluorinated end-groups that enable their migration to the surface of a film by means of surface energetics and thermodynamic incompatibility. Bioactive compounds were immobilized onto the backbone of the fluorinated additive using a carbodiimide/succinimide coupling mechanism suitable for the bioconjugation of water-soluble agents, namely low molecular weight heparin. The additives were analyzed using gel permeation chromatography, water contact angle, acid group titration, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and toluidine blue colorimetric assays. The coupling mechanism was successful in immobilizing norfloxacin and heparin molecules onto the surface modifying additives. Analyses showed that the uppermost region of the film's surface hosted the drug, indicating that the migration of the bioactive additive was feasible. Future work will involve optimization of the coupling reactions and biological/bioactivity testing on the heparin-BFSMs.
Characterization of sivS/R, a two-component signal transduction system in Streptococcus iniae

Streptococcus iniae causes invasive disease and death in fish, as well as soft-tissue infections in humans. A two-component signal transduction system (TCS), sivS/R, was identified using Tn917 transposon screening. This TCS was characterized using a deletion-insertion mutant, termed 9117Deltasiv, which was constructed using a PCR ligation technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that 9117Deltasiv exhibited aberrant asymmetric septae that resulted in clumps of irregularly shaped cells. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) was present on the surface of the parent strain but not 9117Deltasiv. Whole human blood killing assays demonstrated that the mutant, unlike the parent strain, was susceptible to phagocytosis. Mutant 9117Delta siv also exhibited reduced virulence when injected subcutaneously in a mouse and caused only transient bacteremia compared to the parent strain. Real-time PCR showed that in the mutant, transcription of cpsA, the first gene in the S. iniae capsule operon, was reduced, indicating a role of sivS/R in the regulation of this gene. In addition, real-time PCR studies indicated that SivS/R regulates expression levels of the streptolysin S structural gene, sagA, as well as the CAMP factor gene, cfi. Furthermore, SDS-PAGE of the S. iniae spheroplast revealed downregulation of three surface proteins in the mutant strain compared to the parent strain. These proteins were identified by mass spectrometry to be a putative lipoprotein, a hyaluronate associated protein and a pyruvate kinase. In addition to exhibiting attenuated virulence, 9117Deltasiv, unlike its parent strain, was unable to grow using malate as a carbon source. Real time PCR demonstrated that unlike the parent strain, which was upregulated twenty fold when induced by malate, 9117Delta siv did not upregulate expression of the malate permease gene malP in response to malate, indicating that SivS/R controls malate metabolism through transcriptional control of malP. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that SivS/R regulates a number of genes in S. iniae, including those involved in both virulence and malate metabolism.
Structure function studies of SLAM: Use of site specific mutagenesis to map regions of SLAM which interact with measles virus

Although measles is a disease not often seen in the developed world, it is the leading cause of child mortality due to an infectious agent in the developing world. Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule (SLAM), also known as CD150, was recently discovered to be a MV receptor along with the previously known CD46. To determine important amino acids in the binding of SLAM to MV, out lab first identified the V region of SLAM to be the essential one for infection through infectivity studies. We then compared the permeability of human, mouse dog and tamarin SLAM to MV infection, and found that only human and tamarin SLAM allow MV infection. For this thesis, The hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues of SLAM which were different between human and mouse were mutated to evaluate the importance of each for SLAM and MV H protein binding. These results were then compared with a computer-generated model of SLAM. Our results reveal a hydrophilic region of the molecule that is very important for binding.
Nostalgic (re)construction of the Central European cultural space

Central Europe today is a space of nostalgia. On one hand, Prague and Budapest are full of Western tourists in search of the feeling of the "old world," slightly dusty and technologically slightly behind. On the other hand, in part of the Contemporary Central European cultural production, this space is represented as a borderland where cultures and populations mix freely, and where the ideals of democracy and tolerance are reactualized through the fantastic structure of nostalgia. This study addresses the question of nostalgia in relation to history, memory and culture. It explores the origins of nostalgia and its manifestations in the contemporary Central European cultural production through close reading of a novel, film and a website. It seeks to understand the historical and social conditions behind the fantastic structure of the nostalgic reconstruction of Central Europe, contradictions and limitations of such projects, as well as their emancipatory potential.

Keywords: East European literature
Nostalgia, Europe, Eastern
Nostalgia, Europe, Central
Nostalgia in literature
Nostalgia in motion pictures
Soot formation in laminar diffusion flames of gas mixtures

Understanding the factors that effect soot formation is essential to development of predictive models and the design of combustion processes that reduce the formation of particulates. Synergistic effects in flames of gas mixtures, increases in soot volume fraction that are higher than would be expected based on the soot volume fractions in the pure gas flames, have been observed in previous studies. The two isomers of butane were chosen to eliminate changes in flame carbon content, mass flow rate, and adiabatic flame temperature that are normally encountered when comparing flames of pure gases to flames of gas mixtures, and which also effect soot formation. A co-flow annular burner and a line-of-sight attenuation apparatus were used to produce radially-resolved soot volume fraction measurements. The experimental results give further insight into the sooting propensities of isobutane and n-butane, as well as their effect soot formation in ethylene and methane flames.

Keywords: Soot
Flame
Diffusion
Gases
Combustion
Design of a Markov decision process system to guide people with moderate-to-severe dementia through the activity of handwashing

To support the growing population of people with dementia in Canada, technologies are being developed to assist with the completion of activities of daily living. A Markov decision process (MDP) based planning system was designed for a device that guides people with moderate-to-severe dementia through the activity of handwashing. The effectiveness of the MDP system was evaluated through an efficacy study by 30 professional caregivers. Participants observed and rated three scenarios of an actor portraying dementia being guided through handwashing by a human caregiver and three scenarios guided by the MDP system. Human guidance was rated statistically significantly higher than MDP guidance, however, based on qualitative data, participants were unaware that computer guidance was involved. Several limitations of the current system have been identified which require improvement in future stages of research. This research has shown that MDPs can potentially be applied to the guidance of activities of daily living.
America online and offline: The relationship of personal networks to email and other communication media

This dissertation examines email's utility for maintaining contact with large numbers of ties. I argue that although email lacks the rich sensory feedback that is available through synchronous communication, this apparent weakness makes it a useful medium for those who are highly connected. Email's asynchronous nature helps these people avoid scheduling conflicts and keeps them in close contact with their many social ties. I further argue that the extent to which highly connected individuals use email is shaped by the kinds of ties that they have in their networks, the extent to which they use email in conjunction with other communication media, the strength of their ties, and their demographic characteristics. I examine these issues by analyzing data collected from a national telephone survey of 2,200 Americans. In general, my analysis shows that the more ties people have in their networks, the more they use email. However, the association between the number of ties that people have and their use of email is stronger when ties permit high amounts of choice in determining who is contacted and how that contact takes place. For example, friendship and work ties tend to be more strongly associated with email use than do kin ties, and ties that live outside of the neighborhood are more strongly associated with email use than are neighbor ties. This analysis also suggests that when ties permit high amounts of choice, email is used both as the primary mode of contact and as a supplement to contact that takes place in-person and by telephone. By contrast, when ties do not permit high amounts of choice, email is used mainly as a supplement. Finally, this analysis shows that although demographic characteristics lead people to become email users, it is network size that affects the extent to which they use email. I conclude by discussing the implications of these findings for the social affordance approach, the concept of media multiplexity, and digital inequality.
Transcriptional potential of the promyelocytic leukaemia nuclear body

The promyelocytic leukemia nuclear body (PML NB) is a multi-functional protein based nuclear sub-compartment. The contribution of the PML NB to transcriptional regulation is not clearly defined. Here I have demonstrated that plasmid DNA artificially tethered to PML or the targeting domain of Sp100 became localised to PML NBs in the nuclei of SK-N-SH cells. Targeting SV40 promoter driven reporter constructs to PML NBs resulted in repression of transgene activity whereas CMV promoter driven reporters were upregulated. A minimal eukaryotic promoter was unaffected when targeted to PML NBs. Alteration of the local concentration of PML NB components, including Sp 100 and isoforms of the PML protein, resulted in changes in gene expression of targeted reporters. Moreover, the herpes simplex virus trans-activator, ICP0, increased efficiency of transgene activation of plasmid DNA when tethered to the PML NB. 1 conclude that the PML NB affects gene regulation in a promoter dependent fashion.
Smart card, weak effort?: consultation in the Ontario Smart Card Project

This thesis is a case study of the consultation strategy of the Ontario Smart Card Project (OSCP), an initiative to implement a microchip-based identity and access card for all Ontarians. The research focuses on OSCP records obtained through broad-based freedom of information requests. Records are used to develop a description of the OSCP's consultation strategy. This description is then analysed to develop a preliminary understanding of whether the consultation strategy was effective using three categories of criteria: provision of information about the project and its plans, soundness of methodologies, and whether consultation was genuine. This study found that the OSCP did not design its consultation strategy to be effective. The project did not provide information to the public and focused its activities on business and industry.

Keywords: Smart cards, Planning
Smart cards, Ontario
Identification cards, Planning
Identification cards, Ontario
Administrative agencies, Public meetings
Administrative agencies, Ontario
Political participation, Ontario