VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Myths and metaphors of authenticity, perceptions of Friedrich Nietzsche in the writings of Andre Gide and Volodymyr Vynnychenko

This dissertation examines two modernist prose writers, André Gide and Volodymyr Vynnychenko, and their respective debts to (or deformations of) the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. What is central to all three is the idea of authenticity, expressed as the problem of reconciling the demands and aspirations of the individual against those of society. Gide and Vynnychenko work out an ethic of authenticity, which considers the effects of alienation and ambivalence on the choice between the privileges and rights of an independent authenticity pursued in isolation, on the one hand, and the commitments and responsibilities of an interdependent authenticity defined in community, on the other. Four chapters explore four social questions posed by Gide and Vynnychenko as well as Nietzsche: race, gender, revolution, and reproduction. Each of these is accompanied in turn by four concepts, proposed as constituent elements of the idea of authenticity: purity, intensity, totality, and audacity. Four sets of myths and metaphors further emerge from these analyses. Thus the first chapter considers the principle of audacity as it relates to the persistently troubling associations and ambiguities surrounding the myth of Nietzsche himself; the second chapter investigates the idea(l) of purity as it relates to the example of Nietzsche's most successful mythological creation, Zarathustra, in 'Les nourritures terrestres, L'Immoraliste', "&Pcy;&ocy;&scy;&vcy;i&jcy;!", and &Bcy;&ocy;&zhcy;&kcy;&icy;; the third chapter examines the issue of intensity as it relates to the legacies of two mythical fire bearers, Prometheus and Nietzsche's Dionysus, in 'Le Prométhée mal enchaîné ' and "&Dcy;&icy;&mcy;"; and the fourth chapter analyzes the notion of totality as it relates to the myth of the Devil and his domain of money and compulsive sexuality, in 'Corydon, Les Faux-Monnayeurs ', &Zcy;&acy;&pcy;&ocy;&vcy;i&tcy; &bcy;&acy;&tcy;ª&kcy;i&vcy;, and &Zcy;&acy;&pcy;&icy;&scy;&kcy;&icy; &kcy;&icy;&rcy;&pcy;&acy;&tcy;&ocy;&gcy;&ocy; &Mcy;&iecy;&fcy;i&scy;&tcy;&ocy;&fcy;&iecy;&lcy;&yacy;. There is a chronological shift between the early Gide and Vynnychenko who claim purity-intensity-audacity as a single social, spiritual and individual necessity, and their older selves who move towards embracing the more complex and conciliatory value of totality. But this movement ultimately re-inscribes itself in the same contradictory configuration of self versus society that produced it in the first place, and in so doing, it points to a discrepancy that invites further analysis.
Competition or colonialism?, an analysis of two theories of ethnic collective action

The internal colonialism and ethnic competition theories provide contrasting predictions about the effect of cultural and economic characteristics on ethnic group collective action. Studies comparing the two theories have considered political mobilization by the Quebecois, the Flemish, the Basques, the Irish, the Scottish, and the Welsh. This dissertation re-examines these theories by using First Nation people's political mobilization at the band level in Canada from 1981-2000 as cases of ethnic collective action. To date, no study of these theories has used political mobilization by indigenous/Native peoples as cases. This study extends previous work on the internal colonialism and ethnic competition models in three important ways. First measures of the wider regional context (provincial location) within which the bands are located are included as variables. Second, in addition to cultural and economic characteristics, this study also includes socio-demographic characteristics of the bands. Third, this study measures the economic, cultural, and socio-demographic characteristics at the group level rather than at the regional level. Results from a series of negative binomial equations demonstrate that the most important predictors of band-level collective action between 1981 and 2000 are band population size, unemployment, previous events, and regional context. Some support is provided for the ethnic competition theory. Future studies of ethnic collective action should give greater consideration to socio-demographic factors, the time period, and the regional context within which political mobilization takes place.
Maternal control reframed, a longitudinal study of hearing mother-deaf child interaction from a Vygotskian perspective

This study examined hearing mother-deaf child interaction during early school age and adolescence. Previous quantitative research, which has consistently focused on conversational control, has found hearing mothers of deaf children to be more controlling than hearing mothers of hearing children and deaf mothers of deaf children. The current study sought to: (a) use qualitative methods to examine maternal control from a Vygotskian perspective and develop a more comprehensive framework for describing how hearing mothers and deaf children interact; (b) examine hearing mother-deaf adolescent interaction to determine if maternal control extends into this developmental period; (c) uncover any longitudinal trends related to maternal control that may exist. Using videotaped data, this study examined the interactions of 10 hearing mothers and deaf children (81-97 months) during free play. When the children reached adolescence (16-17 years old), the same mothers and children worked on a block design puzzle. Both data sets were transcribed, coded and scrutinized for patterns of interaction. Results indicated that mothers and children had two distinct play styles. Narrative play occurred when mothers actively played with their children, providing structure and creating stories which their children enacted. Episode play occurred when mothers involved themselves in the interaction indirectly. They exerted control by tracking play, asking questions, suggesting ideas and responding to their children's enactments. While narrative children often responded by following their mothers' lead, episode children frequently acted independently of their mothers' suggestions. All mothers used play to teach their children. Teaching was central for episode moms while, for narrative moms, it was secondary to the development of the story. Findings indicated that narrative moms operated in their children's zones of proximal development and provided them with enriched play experiences. Episode mothers allowed their children to play at their existing developmental level. The adolescent data revealed two styles of interaction: Working together (collaborative interaction) and working separately (cooperative interaction). Although many mothers exerted control by initially deciding the style of interaction, mothers and adolescents generally shared control during the puzzle construction. No longitudinal trends were found. Implications for future research were discussed.
Revegetation trials in degraded coastal marshes of the Hudson Bay lowlands

Intense foraging by an increasing population of lesser snow geese, Anser caerulescens caerulescens L., has led to the conversion of former salt-marsh swards, dominated by Puccinellia phryganodes and Carex subspothacea to hypersaline mudflats, and the conversion of former fresh-water sedge meadows, dominated by Carex aquatilis, to moss carpets. This study reports the potential for natural and assisted revegetation by the dominant graminoids of the former plant communities at La Perouse Bay, Manitoba in the absence of goose foraging. Natural recolonization by P. phryganodes was observed within five years where edaphic conditions were suitable. Transplants of P. phryganodes established readily in an intertidal marsh, and growth was enhanced by amelioration treatments of peat mulch and fertilizer to the soil surface. Natural recolonization by Carex subsparhacea was not observed. Transplants of the sedge did not establish readily in an inland marsh and amelioration treatments showed no effect. In fresh-water areas, tillers of Carex aquatilis established readily in moss carpets and growth was not enhanced by fertilizer application. The potential for revegetation is discussed within the context of vegetational succession and the ongoing degradation processes.
Impact of dental insurance on oral health status of older adults in Durham Homes for the Aged

The purpose of this study was to describe oral health status and to assess the influence of dental insurance on oral health. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in older adults in Durham's Regional Homes (n = 788; mean age = 81.9 years) for the Aged. Oral health status was assessed with a composite patient-based measure. The [chi]2, ANOVA, odds ratios, and the Cochran and Mantel Haenszel's odds ratio were used to assess the influence of dental insurance on oral health. 504 residents participated in the interview and 275 completed both the interview and the clinical examination. Among interviewed participants 26% were in a poor oral health state (composite measure), 56% were edentulous and 28% had had dental insurance continuously since 1974. Given the many statistical tests conducted, we found only a tendency for the effect of dental insurance on oral health status to be modified by gender, marital status, and residents' access to a regular source of dental care.
Circadian rhythms in lung ventilation in wakefulness and sleep

Sleep exerts important modulating influences on breathing such that a decline in lung ventilation in sleep predisposes individuals to respiratory impairment. Recent data from awake humans also suggest that the circadian system influences breathing. This circadian influence may be potentially important because a decline in ventilation due to circadian effects may exacerbate the decline due to sleep, although this has not been tested. Therefore, by measuring sleep-wake states (using electroencephalography and electromyography), lung ventilation (using barometric plethysmography) and metabolic CO2 production across 24 hour periods in six freely behaving rats, the present study tested and confirmed the hypotheses that: (1) there are circadian rhythms in lung ventilation in wakefulness, non rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and REM sleep (all p < 0.001), and (2) the magnitude of the change in ventilation from wakefulness to NREM sleep is the same across time of day (p = 0.58).
A unified framework for TDT analysis of complex traits in families

Statistical methods provide a means to draw inferences from genetic data, which can be done by looking at the association between a person's genetic makeup and their disease status. Many disease genes have been identified via statistical methods such as linkage analysis and transmission disequilibrium testing. The majority of these genes are involved in monogenic disease with simple patterns of inheritance. Now human genetics is beginning to study the genetics of complex diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, cancers, and obesity. As their search for human disease genes progresses, investigators of complex traits are often interested in particular candidate genes and in the possibility that it is genes and environment in combination that determine the expression of discrete and continuous traits. This thesis presents a unified statistical approach to the evaluation of candidate genes in this context. A new transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) for the analysis of complex traits is developed in this thesis. A general score test is derived which applies to any member of the exponential family of distributions, which includes the Normal, Poisson, Binomial, Gamma, and Inverse Gaussian distributions. We can thus model normally distributed, positive-valued skewed, and binary traits. The genetic and environmental effects are modeled using a generalized linear model. Generalized estimation equations and random effect models are used to extend the method to arbitrary sibships and multiple traits. The approach provides great flexibility; in addition to handling both discrete and continuous traits, it can test alternative models which include dominance effects, gene-gene interaction, and gene-environment interaction. This provides the potential to detect complex genetic influences on a phenotype. A real dataset on Cystic Fibrosis disease is used to illustrate different applications of the new TDT method. A simulation study was performed to examine the power and the false positive rates of the new methods under various circumstances.
Study of woody fibre in papermill sludge

In order to determine the role that papermill sludge plays in the organic carbon cycle of the forest products industry, a global model of sludge generation has been created. Analysis of mixed sludge output of six Ontario papermills derived fundamental data on the characteristics of sludge. A methodology to identify and quantify the woody organic material present in the sludge matrix was developed. The wood chemical composition of the woody organic fraction of each sludge stream was investigated. The results of physical and chemical testing were then compared to validate the proposed methodology. On the basis of this analysis, mill outputs were divided into three categories related to mill parameters. The physical properties of sludge fibres were found to be linked to the presence or absence of recycled fibres, and showed little correlation to the pulping technique or recovery method employed. The chemistry of the organic fraction of sludge was found to be more closely related to mill process. It is shown that the basic holocellulose and lignin compositions follow a normal distribution for each of the three mill categories. Sludges produced at primary installations, which use primarily virgin fibre, were found to have the largest component of woody organic material. Recycling and deinking operations had a lower proportion of fibre in the sludge stream. In order to understand global patterns of papermill sludge production, trends in paper and paperboard production, consumption, and recovery were analyzed and projected until the year 2050. Parameters used in describing trends included population parameters (size, density, and literacy rate), as well as fibre supply parameters (forest, plantation, and nonwood fibre supply). The model accounted for 80% of paper consumption, 94% of paper production, and 96% of paper recycling at high correlation coefficients. A major shift in the global pattern of sludge production is predicted, with Asia emerging as the second largest sludge-producing region. Global production of papermill sludge will rise to 4,800,000 metric tons in 2050. The fraction of sludge material deriving from wood fibres will decline, reducing potential for fibre recovery and lowering the possible contribution of sludge towards carbon sequestering.
Assessment of wood pulp fibres using labelled enzymes

The present work demonstrates a reliable and reproducible technique for qualitative analysis of xylan distribution in pulp fibres, based on the fluorescence intensity of a xylanase-Alexa Fluor probe attached to the fibres, detected using confocal laser. Reproducible qualitative information about the distribution of xylan in unbleached aspen pulp and delignified aspen pulp fibres was obtained. However the technique could not detect xylan in bleached aspen pulp despite the known presence of xylan based on chemical analysis. Following deposition of xylan onto the surface of fully bleached pulp fibres, the xylanase-Alexa Fluor probe was able to detect xylan both on the surface and within the interior of fibres. Tests to identify the action of concentrated xylanase during biobleaching indicated that the enzyme acted preferentially on xylan at the outer surface, then hydrolyzed interior xylan as the incubation time was increased. Overall this technique shows promise as a method to characterize xylan in pulp, and to identify the effect of pulping and bleaching processes on xylan and other pulp constituents.
Identification and characterization of the tantalus gene from Drosophila melanogaster

One long-standing and thought-provoking question in developmental biology is how an early egg achieves asymmetry, and how this asymmetry is interpreted to produce pattern in the adult organism. By choosing to study development in the fruit fly 'Drosophila melanogaster', I had hoped to understand and contribute to the growing field of knowledge that was unraveling these basic questions. My original goal of understanding the interpretation of asymmetry has been extended to encompass the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of this asymmetry. This thesis concerns the discovery and analysis of the 'tantalus ' ('tan') gene identified in a yeast two-hybrid screen as a protein interactor for the 'fushi tarazu' protein, a pair-rule gene involved in asymmetry interpretation. 'tan' was also independently identified in the lab of Dr. Hugh Brock at the University of British Columbia as an interactor for the 'Additional sex combs' ('Asx ') protein, a gene involved in asymmetry maintenance. Approximately 50% of 'Drosophila' genes appear to be unique to this species and 'tan' would seem to fall into this category, as 'tan' is not homologous to any other identified genes. To understand the role of 'tan' during development, the expression of both the and protein have been followed, and a null 'tan' allele was created. Studies of over- and under expression of 'tan' suggest that the gene functions in a tissue-specific manner. Interestingly, Asx also has tissue-specific activity, and a collaboration between our lab and Dr. Brock's lab has demonstrated a physical and genetical interaction between 'tan' and 'Asx'. These results have led to the proposal that TAN acts as a tissue-specific cofactor for ASX.
New chemical approaches for the investigation of RNA structural dynamics

RNA is intimately involved in many vital biological processes involved in gene expression. Investigation of the role of RNA in these processes is complicated by structural dynamics during these processes. New approaches for the characterization of structural dynamics of RNA are necessary for a complete understanding of the function of RNA in these systems. This thesis describes new chemical approaches for investigating RNA structural dynamics. Caging of the RNA 2' hydroxyl allows control of RNA reactivity or structure associated with the functionality. This strategy was used to separate spliceosome assembly from spliceosome catalysis. The second approach, footprinting with peroxynitrous acid, allows the detection of folded RNA structures. Application of this reagent in a kinetic footprinting experiment allows the detection of structure formation or change in real time. This methodology was used to characterize the folding pathway of the Group I ribozyme. A third set of experiments established the suitability of 'N'-hydroxypyridine-2(1' H')-thione as a source of hydroxyl radicals for protection footprinting of RNA structure. Extension of these methodologies should provide valuable information regarding the structure and function of RNA in diverse systems.
An experimental study of preheated liquid fuel injection in a port injected engine

An experimental investigation was performed in order to determine the effects of pre-heating liquid fuel during injection in a multi-port fuel injected engine configuration. Iso-octane, a pure research grade fuel, has been injected through a modified fuel injector at upstream temperatures ranging from 20$\sp\circ$C to 220$\sp\circ$C. An increase in fuel spray cone angle and the amount of fuel atomization was observed to occur with increasing fuel preheats. A rapid transition was observed in measured cone angle at a reduced temperature of 0.73.
Spatio-temporal analysis of net primary production across Ontario using an ecoregionalization

Indicators of general ecosystem functioning are important in understanding and managing natural resources. A synthesis of factors affecting the state of an ecosystem is vegetation, where composition and productivity, and their extent and spatial pattern, reflect a combination of geo-climatic, ecological, and anthropogenic factors, as well as ecological function such as succession and competition. Net primary production (NPP), predicted at medium resolution (8km) over large areas and many years, is a potential measure of the magnitude of vegetation productivity. To generate landscape NPP across Ontario, a methodology is developed using the relationship between the amount of incident photosynthetically active solar radiation (PAR), the fraction that is absorbed (derived from the remotely sensed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)), and the light use efficiency (LUE) of the ecosystem at utilising this energy. Landscape-level predictions of LUE are calculated using a relationship between long-term climate normals, which characterise the spatial variability between ecosystems, and monthly climate data, which capture the seasonal variability within an ecosystem. Photosynthetically active radiation is generated across Ontario, and it is shown that the commonly used Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite dataset over-predicts solar radiation across the province. This methodology is used to generate sixteen years (1981 to 1996) of monthly NPP, which are explored for trends using aggregation ecounits from the National Ecological Framework of Canada ecoregionalization. Across Ontario these results show increases in both seasonal and annual NDVI and NPP, although increases in NPP are not distributed evenly across the growing season. These results support other reported evidence for changing climatic conditions. Summary statistics of both NDVI and NPP characterise differences between ecounits. NDVI is used to develop spatio-temporal signatures, which summarise the seasonal structure of climate and NDVI within each ecounit. The suitability of the ecoregionalization for exploring NPP is also assessed, by examining both the internal homogeneity of ecounits and the strength of the ecounit boundaries. Bridging the gap between local and global studies, this research provides a useful methodology to generate a multi-year series of 8km NPP, and analysis techniques for the spatio-temporal exploration of this series using an ecoregionalization.
Time optimal control of a high-dimensional nonlinear binary distillation column using the Luus-Jaakola optimization procedure

The dynamic model of a methanol-isopropanol binary distillation column is set up from first principles with the aim of performing a time optimal control study. With 21 stages, the state of each being described by 2 variables, the time optimal control problem is 42 dimensional in its state space, with two control variables: the reflux flowrate and the reboiler heat duty. The model poses many computational challenges in its complex formulation and the nature and number of constraints on the control and the state variables. It is desired to take the system from an initial steady state to a desired steady state in minimum possible time. The Luus-Jaakola (LJ) optimization procedure is used to solve this time optimal control problem using piecewise constant control and flexible time-stage lengths. The complex model is directly used without any simplifications or transformations. In light of the special computational challenges involved, the LJ optimization procedure is found to perform very well: the best result obtained takes the system to within 4.319 * 10-4 (1-norm) of the desired state in 52.494 minutes employing a 6-stage control policy. The large computation time requirements limit experimentation with this model and possible avenues for improvements are identified.