VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Digital terrain analysis and landform segmentation for spatial variability of forest soil and litter properties in a deciduous forest stand in southern Ontario

Intensive forest management requires spatial information of land properties at scales finer than those depicted in most conventional surveys, maps, and databases. Landform segmentation, a branch of Digital Terrain Analysis that groups similar topographic attributes into larger spatial units called landform element complexes (LECs), may provide an efficient, quantitative approach for modeling spatial variability at the scales relevant to land planners and managers. Landform segmentation was used in a deciduous forest stand on the Oak Ridges Moraine in southern Ontario, Canada in order to examine effects of topography on soil and stand properties used in indices of soil quality and stand productivity. Significant differences were recorded between the LEC spatial units in what is conventionally considered to be a homogenous forest stand on one soil unit. Fine-scale spatial maps of the results were constructed to demonstrate improvements over conventional sources of soil and land information such as coarse-resolution 2-D maps.
Warlords, prophets, and high priests: effective control and superior responsibility in contemporary armed groups

Superior responsibility in international criminal law is a mode of liability arising from control. The criminal liability of superiors for subordinates' actions originates in, and is justified by the control characteristic of relationships of subordination. Despite superior responsibility's origin in the military context, the manner in which commanders exercise control over soldiers in conventional armies is irrelevant to identifying relationships of subordination in differently organized contemporary armed groups. Where control exists, whatever its nature and form, superior responsibility may be established. This paper challenges the militaristic assumptions about relationships of subordination argued to underlie interpretation of the law of superior responsibility as incapable of accurately and effectively accounting for superiors' involvement in, and culpability for international crimes. A flexible interpretation of control based on empirical evidence of armed groups' internal dynamics is argued to be necessary and appropriate for superior responsibility's effective application and legitimacy as an international legal doctrine.
Strategies for diversification, selection and differentiation in mouse B lymphocytes

B cell differentiation is characterized by a series of regulated events and checkpoints. Both the pre-B cell receptor and the B cell receptor play important roles in deciding the fate of an emerging B cell. The diversity that is inherent in the development of these receptor genes, as well as the timing of differentiation signals and developmentally regulated events, impacts on the successful production of a mature B cell clone. The studies described here examine diversification processes that can modify the BCR genes, developmental programs that are tightly regulated surrounding pre- and mature BCR expression, and checkpoint assessments that occur upon formation of the pre-BCR. Using the MB mouse model system, my findings reveal that the mechanisms of V gene replacement and gene conversion do not contribute significantly to the diversification of Ig receptor genes in the mouse system. However, a somatic mutation mechanism can target Ig genes in the absence of overt immunization. My studies also reveal the significance of precise regulation of pre-BCR components. Maintained expression of the λ5 component of the pre-BCR, in both the MB system and a retroviral expression system, result in a blockage or delay of B cell maturation. The importance of the pre-B cell transition and pre-BCR function is further demonstrated by experiments characterizing the Ig heavy chains that comprise the developing repertoire. My findings reveal specific constraints on Ig heavy chain CDR3 regions that persist in the mature repertoire, and these restrictions are mediated by the pre-BCR. One aspect of these studies reveals an interesting paradox; while the potential for diversification is greater than previously recognized due to the recruitment of mutational mechanisms, there is also a level of restriction placed on Ig heavy chains as the cells bearing them cross the pre-BCR transition. In all, these investigations indicate that the differentiation of a B cell depends on the strict implementation of developmental programs, and that the shape of the repertoire has implications for cell fate.
A negative-refractive-index metamaterial for incident plane waves of arbitrary polarization

A left-handed artificial dielectric is proposed in this thesis. Resonating broadside coupled patches generate negative permeability while thin strips generate negative permittivity. Together they produce a negative index of refraction that is matched to free space. The structure is fabricated from a single dielectric sheet printed on both sides by metal patterns that couple to externally incident plane waves of any linear polarization. Unlike many previously published microwave implementations, the waves interact through perpendicular incidence to the surface. The structure was characterized for loss, polarization independence, off-normal transverse-electric incidence, and anisotropy. An experiment was carried out at 10 GHz to verify the left-handed behavior with an extracted index of refraction of -1.04 matched to free space with 26.0 dB return loss and 0.77 dB insertion loss. A multi-layer version was also designed that achieved fractional dispersion bandwidths comparable to those of transmission-line implementations.
Modelling snowline migration and runoff response for Place Glacier basin

A spatially distributed glacier surface melt model is applied to the analysis of snowline migration and discharge patterns for Place Glacier basin during 2002 ablation season. The model is initialized with a snowpack estimated from winter mass balance measurements and driven by meteorological data recorded at the base camp station. Spatially variable parameters are derived from satellite images and the digital elevation model. The hourly discharge from the two basin reservoirs, fast and slow, is calculated using an energy balance approach, where radiative and turbulent energy fluxes are considered. The snowline migration patterns display a qualitative agreement with the snow extent derived from satellite images. The discharge patterns follow those observed at the Place Creek. The main factors responsible for the discrepancies are the snowpack initialization, meltwater storage and, as sensitivity analyses indicate, the turbulent transfer coefficient and fresh snow albedo.
Factors affecting the rates of oxidation and reduction of liquid copper during fire refining

The results from top blowing of CO/N2, H 2/N2 and CO/H2/N2 mixtures show that hydrogen is a more efficient reducing reagent than carbon monoxide. The rate of reduction is proportional to the flow rate of either H2 or CO 2. From these results the rate of reduction with top blowing reducing O2/CH4 flames can be estimated and are in good agreement with experimental results. For the first time, it was observed during the reduction of liquid copper with top blowing CO/H2/N2 mixtures a sudden acceleration in the rate of reduction due to the dissolution of hydrogen into the melt and its reaction with dissolved oxygen to form H 2O gas bubbles inside the liquid bath. The rates of liquid copper oxidation and reduction plays an important role in the separation of impurities from copper during fire refining. However, the importance of the different factors affecting the rate of oxygen uptake by liquid copper and the rate of reduction with combustion gases is not clear. In this investigation, both oxidation and reduction with top blowing combustion gases were studied experimentally. Top blowing oxidation of molten copper shows that the rate of oxidation is almost independent of the average oxygen concentration in the copper and proportional to the oxygen flow rate of the gas mixtures used. A pressure monitoring technique was used to determine the effect of the presence of a carrier gas such as N2, He and CO2, the effect of the lance distance from the liquid surface and on the partial pressure of oxygen in the gas phase. At large separations between the tip of the lance and the liquid surface, the rate depends on the presence of a carrier gas and on the partial pressure of oxygen in the gas phase. When the lance is close to the surface, the rate increases dramatically and becomes independent of the other factors. This is explained by surface tension driven flows due to a gradient of oxygen concentration along the surface. A transient finite elements analysis, considering fluid flow coupled with mass transfer, was developed to help understand the mechanism of oxygen mass transfer into the molten copper.
Identification of CDH11 as a candidate tumor suppressor in retinoblastoma and characterization of its role in retina and retinoblastoma

Since Kundson's two hit hypothesis of the retinoblastoma tumor susceptibility gene in 1971 and the subsequent cloning of RB1 in 1986 and 1987, pRB has been the highlight of cancer research. It represents the prototypical model for inherited cancers and has since lead to better understanding of cancer genetics. The disease is unique in that its initiating mutational events are known, loss of both alleles of RB1, mutational events 1 and 2 (M1 and M2). Investigation of mutational events, M3-Mn, that lead to its progression will be useful for better understanding of retinoblastoma tumorigenesis, which can ultimately translate to the development of new and better therapeutics that can be used to halt retinoblastoma progression at a very early stage. Loss of chromosomal region 16q22 is a significant genomic change recognized not only in retinoblastoma but in numerous other cancers. Using loss of heterozygosity (LOB) and quantitative multiplex PCR (QM-PCR) techniques on a total of 76 retinoblastoma tumors we were able to narrow down the genomic region of loss on chromosome 16q22. We identified a gene, CDH11, to be a candidate tumor suppressor in retinoblastoma, as it was found to display copy number loss in 58% of 71 tumors and protein expression loss in tumors of both human and murine retinoblastoma. To study the role of cadherin-11 in retinogenesis, I compared developing retinae of Cdh11+/+, Cdh11+/- and Cdh11-/- mouse littermates, and report that Cdh11 plays a subtle role during murine retinogenesis, whereby it supports the development of the retinoblastoma susceptibility cells in the transgenic SV40 large T-antigen mouse model of retinoblastoma (TAg-RB). I also report that retinoblastoma tumors in mice with mutant alleles of Cdh11 grow faster than tumors in mice with normal Cdh11 alleles. These results herein, concur with characteristics identifying tumor suppressor genes. Thus, I provide compelling evidence to support a tumor suppressor role for Cdh11 in retinoblastoma progression.
Stories and the simulation of social experience: Neuropsychological evidence and social ramifications

The processing of stories can be viewed as a simulation of experience that is specifically social in nature. Chapter 1 explores evidence for this proposal from a neuropsychological perspective. Neuroimaging and lesion research on the processing of narrative is reviewed and brain areas commonly associated with the comprehension of stories are discussed. These include a subset of brain areas that are also employed during social cognition, or the understanding of others. Chapter 2 uses this finding---that story- and social-processing appear to share a neural substrate---as a basis for the hypothesis that frequent readers of narrative fiction may improve or maintain their social abilities by simulating fictional social experiences and engaging social-cognitive brain processes. In testing this hypothesis, it is demonstrated that frequent readers of stories tend to have better social skills (in contrast to the bookworms stereotype), whereas frequent readers of expository nonfiction tend to have poorer social skills. Chapter 3 reveals that this important association between narrative fiction and social abilities cannot be explained by differences in personality. When Big Five personality traits are controlled, along with the tendency to become deeply involved with stories, the positive association between lifetime exposure to fiction and social ability remains. The bookworm stereotype is further explored in Chapter 3 by examining whether frequent readers report less social support, a smaller social network, and more loneliness, stress and depression as a result. On the whole, frequent fiction readers report more social support, whereas frequent nonfiction readers report less social support, and more stress and depression. This was especially true of male readers. In Chapter 4, the possibility that reading involves social-cognitive processes was examined more directly. Individuals randomly assigned to read a piece of narrative fiction performed better on a subsequent social-reasoning test, but not an analytical-reasoning test, compared to those assigned to read a piece of expository nonfiction. Over these four studies, then, the evidence is most consistent with the idea that reading stories leads readers into a mental simulation of social experience that involves social-cognitive processing, which may then have consequences in the actual social world.
Territoriality at the crossroads of international trademark law

The purpose of this research is to examine the past, present and future value of the territoriality doctrine in the field of international trademark law. When countries initially adopted the concept of territoriality, the primary intention was to respond to the existing territory-bound nature of trade and commerce. As a result trademark law confers on the trademark owner rights that are limited by national boundaries. Trademark rights cannot be infringed outside the jurisdiction of the country recognizing registration. However, things have changed, so much so that today's realities are anything but territorial. Present developments at both the national and international markets made territoriality less responsive and aligned to today's realities and needs. Both the public and private sectors must place greater emphasis on trademark protection to a much greater extent. Thus, there is a need to revaluate our traditional conception of trademark and its established doctrines
Expression allosteric regulation of calcium channel and effect of Ulip-1 on neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus

This thesis is an investigation of factors involved in the processes of neurodegeneration and neurogenesis in the brain. Three aspects of research were chosen for study in detail. Voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) are diverse heteromeres that mediate various cellular functions. One major VDCC—the L-type (L-VDCC), is thought to play a role in neurodegeneration and is essential in regulating the influx of calcium into the aging neurons. The expression level of L-VDCCs was investigated in rat aged hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum using specific antibodies, and 3H-isradipine binding assay. The expression level of the α2δ subunit was increased in the aged hippocampus. However, the expression levels of β 3 did not change significantly in the studied regions. The overall density of L-VDCCs did not change. The second topic in this thesis is, the allosteric regulation of calcium channels. Affinity chromatography in conjunction with other techniques such as spectrofluorimetry, radiolabelling, and circular dichroism were used to detect ATP binding and allosteric regulation of the channel. The results indicate that there is no affinity between the fusion protein and Mg-ATP. The third topic in this thesis is the mechanism underlying adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus of Ulip-1 knockout mouse. Ulip-1 protein is highly expressed during neurogenesis in hippocampus. Immunolabelling with Ki67 (a proliferative marker) revealed differences in hippocampal cellular proliferation between −/−, −/+ and +/+ mice. An increased number of Ki67+ cells was found within the proliferative zone (SGZ) of the DG of Ulip-1 knockout mice. Using doublecortin, a marker of immature neurons, it was shown that the number of the cells was markedly increased in −/− mice. Calbindin a marker for mature neurons, showed that intrapyramidal mossy fibers have a defasiculated appearance in CA3 region in −/− mice. These results suggest the involvement of Ulip-1 in cell proliferation and axonal development within the hippocampus.
Dynamics of woody vegetation under grazing by domestic goats in the Tamaulipan matorral of northeastern Mexico

Following a static temporal approach, three different goat grazing regimes were studied on two landscape units with different morphology, and soil type (Regosols on medium slopes and Vertisols in low plains) in the Tamaulipan matorral of northeastern Mexico. Vegetation attributes and surface soil properties were measured at the site level to identify effects of browsing and trampling on the dynamics of this plant community. Results provided evidence that the degradation of rangelands in the Tamaulipan matorral occurred through changes in major plant community attributes. These included shifts in floristic composition, structure, reproduction potential and perpetuation, as well as changes in functional soil properties, mainly those affecting soil water content. Soil moisture emerged as the most influential soil factor and was tightly associated with different soil properties at each unit. In the Regosol unit decreased soil moisture was apparently explained by high soil stoniness and low organic matter content. In the Vertisol unit, changes in moisture content were highly correlated with compaction, increased bulk density and low infiltration. Soil feedbacks were important to either enhance or overcome the effects of browsing on plants, which depended largely on the soil type. Degradational phases, represented by grazed sites, are considered transitional stages within the context of state-and-transition models. Although differences amongst grazing regimes were significant, they did not involve substantial physiognomic changes. The community still persists as a matorral (sensu lato), particularly in the Regosol unit, though rather disturbed, simpler and more open on grazed sites of the Vertisol unit. Therefore, no evident floristic and physiognomic thresholds were identified. These results provided descriptions of the degradation status and predictions of the pattern of trends in dynamics of this plant community under grazing. Management implications within the socioeconomical and political framework of the Mexican ejido are also discussed. This study provides a scientific and practical basis to infer on vegetation dynamics in grazing systems of the Tamaulipan matorral from original site-level field measurements.
Functional MRI of memory encoding and retrieval in mild cognitive impairment: functional and structural neuroimaging correlates

As our population ages and therapies become available to retard Alzheimer's Disease (AD), it will be increasingly important to identify individuals at risk for progression to AD. Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a term used to describe individuals who have objective loss, do not meet criteria for dementia and yet are at high risk for progressing to AD. The purpose of this thesis was threefold: (1) to characterize behavioural performance and patterns of fMRI activation during encoding and retrieval while manipulating levels of processing in normal elderly; (2) to characterize differences between amnestic MCI (n = 14) and normal controls (NC) (n = 14) using the same memory manipulation; and (3) to utilize in-vivo, multimodal, functional and structural brain imaging techniques and neuropsychological profile to discriminate MCI from normal aging. Results. fMRI in NC revealed that the medial temporal lobe (MTL) is important for establishing new memories and successful retrieval. Although MCI did not show differences in MTL activation during deep encoding compared to NC, bilateral inferior frontal activation was decreased, suggesting early compromise in this region or in its connection to the MTL. Planimetric tracing on MRI of MCI showed reduced volume of the left entorhinal cortex, right superior temporal gyrus and the width of the MTL (MTLT) bilaterally. SPECT perfusion measurements referenced to the cerebellum, showed a reduction in perfusion ratios in regions that are connected to the MTL, such as the right posterior cingulate and lateral anterior temporal lobe bilaterally, as well as in the left inferior frontal gyrus and precuneus bilaterally. These regions may be undergoing neuropathological changes due to a reduction in neuronal input from the MTL or may be degenerating themselves. Finally, models that include measures such as the left MTLT with a perfusion ratio in the right posterior cingulate, along with performance on confrontational naming was differentiating MCI from NC by 100%, as was a model including delayed non-verbal recall and confrontational naming. These findings will be important in determining which measures may be best at predicting progression to AD in MCI, which was not possible in this small sample.
Pseudo-Boolean satisfiability and quantified Boolean formulas in CAD for VLSI

The significant advancements in modern Boolean satisfiability (SAT) solvers have encouraged the encoding of many computer aided design (CAD) for VLSI problems as SAT instances. Recent developments in solvers for two powerful extensions of SAT, namely pseudo-Boolean satisfiability (PB-SAT) and quantified Boolean formula (QBF) satisfiability, have made these new platforms attractive candidates for encoding CAD problems. We investigate applications of modern satisfiability techniques in CAD. We encode the maximum circuit activity estimation problem as a PB-SAT optimization instance. Then, we propose a general-purpose platform for encoding the Iterative Logic Array, which is widely used to model sequential circuit behavior, using QBF. This encoding is used for three popular CAD problems, namely bounded model checking, design and silicon debugging, and sequential test generation. Experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed formulations in reducing run-time and memory requirements, making our QBF encodings one of the first to outperform state-of-the-art SAT-based approaches.
Biochemical studies on the trafficking pathways of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) protein

Mutations affecting the CFTR protein (a cAMP-regulated chloride channel expressed on the apical surface of epithelial cells) can cause cystic fibrosis. The characteristics of DeltaF508-CFTR (the most common mutation) suggest that trafficking pathways play a vital role in the functional expression of CFTR protein. Small molecules increase cell surface expression of DeltaF508-CFTR, but the mechanism is uncertain due to lack of assays that measure trafficking in living cells. I attempted to examine the effects of VRT-325, a small molecule, on trafficking by devising assays that measure CFTR expression in living cells. The in-cell Western assay monitors cell surface expression of CFTR by virtue of an exo-facial HA epitope and an infrared secondary antibody. I found this assay could: (1) detect surface expression of WT and DeltaF508-CFTR mediated by endocytosis; (2) show VRT-325 increases cell surface expression of DeltaF508; (3) show VRT-325 decreases endocytosis of WT-CFTR.