VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The evolution and maintenance of monoecy and dioecy in Sagittaria latifolia (Alismataceae)

The evolution of separate sexes (dioecy) from combined sexes (hermaphroditism) is a central problem in evolutionary biology. Determining the conditions under which unisexual individuals replace individuals with two sexual pathways to reproductive fitness has attracted considerable theoretical interest. However, the use of experimental approaches to address this problem has been limited by the overall rarity of plant species comprised of both dioecious and hermaphroditic populations. Here, I investigate experimentally the selective mechanisms responsible for the evolution of dioecy in the aquatic herb Sagittaria latifolia (Alismataceae) and also provide the historical, geographic and ecological context for this evolutionary transition. In S. latifolia both monoecious (hermaphrodites with unisexual flowers) and dioecious populations occur, often in close geographic proximity. This variation in sexual strategy not only raises questions about the origin of dioecy, but also about how the contrasting sexual systems are maintained. Theoretical models indicate that selection for dioecy in S. latifolia should be favoured in monoecious populations with substantial selfing and strong inbreeding depression. Empirical estimates of these parameters indicate that in some monoecious populations the conditions for the evolution of dioecy (s x delta> 0.5) are indeed satisfied. Extensive clonality restricting outcross pollen dispersal by the generalist pollinators of S. latifolia is likely to be the principal cause of high geitonogamous selfing rates in monoecious populations. Distinct sexual systems are maintained in S. latifolia because monoecious and dioecious populations possess contrasting life-history traits adapted to wetland habitats differing in disturbance and competition, respectively. Thus, ecological selection maintains reproductive isolation of the two sexual systems in S. latifolia .Using variation in chloroplast DNA from 76 populations distributed across eastern North America, I found that dioecy likely evolved from monoecy in the southeastern U.S.A. with populations of both sexual systems migrating northwards following deglaciation. An analysis of variation at allozyme loci in populations from southern Ontario indicated that restricted gene flow promotes the maintenance of the two sexual systems in areas of geographic overlap. Formal genetic analysis revealed that dioecy in S. latifolia is governed by the segregation of alleles at two putatively linked loci with males heterozygous at both female- and male-sterility loci. In monoecious populations, individuals are homozygous for sex-determining alleles, but there is also quantitative genetic variation for sex allocation. Dioecy probably evolved via the gynodioecy pathway in S. latifolia and involved genes of both large and small phenotypic effects.
Elucidation of Met receptor tyrosine kinase signaling events through activation by the Listeria surface protein Inlb: 1. Differential signaling and receptor fates through activation of Met by mutant InlB proteins. 2. Characterization of the unusual SH3 domain of the host adaptor CrkII and its role in Listeria entry

Bacterial pathogens have become a common and extremely useful tool in elucidating host defence mechanisms as well as other biological processes, such as cytoskeletal rearrangements, endocytosis, phagocytosis, and trafficking. The gram positive food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes has not only sparked interest in scientists for its role in human infection but also because it is relatively amenable to experimental analysis making it a powerful tool for identifying and elucidating several different cellular processes. A significant amount of research has focused on the ability of L. monocytogenes to force its own uptake in non-phagocytic cells. The two main mechanisms by which it does this, is through the InlA and InlB surface proteins which bind to E-cadherin and Met, respectively.

Keywords: Molecular biology
Cytology
Microbiology
The relationship between zero-span strength of paper and the strength of individual fibres

In this study, the validity of employing the theory of Cox (1952) to predict the zero-span strength of paper was investigated. Fully-oriented sheets of paper were tested at different angles under the zero-span jaws. The results obtained from zero-span testing of handsheets and fully-oriented sheets were compared with the strength of individual fibres obtained from single fibre tests. A comparison between the experimental results and those predicted by the theory led to the conclusion that under "true" zero-span conditions, the observed difference between the zero-span results and the strength of single fibres is not entirely due to the reduced contribution of inclined fibres. Other fundamental factors that could lead to a non-uniform distribution of applied stress under the zero-span jaws which would in turn cause a reduction in the zero-span tensile strength of paper, were identified and their effects were studied.
Classification of aerosol LAMS mass spectra using discriminant analysis

The identification of ambient particulate matter emission sources was the objective of this study. Discriminant analysis (DA) was applied to aerosol mass spectra obtained by a laser ablation mass spectrometer (LAMS). The spectral data was obtained between January 2002 and February 2003. Data collected in on an hourly basis was used to determine the classification variables. Statistical and mathematical packages calculated the classification functions and discriminant scores. Two databases were used to determine the feasibility of discriminant analysis (DA) to classify aerosol mass spectra into nine pre-defined sources. The accuracy of DA to classify data correctly was determined by using a dataset that was previously classified by positive matrix factorization (PMF). The acquired results demonstrated the potential of the DA for source identification.
Voyager en Roumanie (1791--1945): Le domaine français

Le XIX e siecle est la grande epoque du recit de voyage en Roumanie. Cette litterature de voyage qui vehicule un discours sur le pays a un impact reel a son epoque. Les recits sont remarques et lus autant en Roumanie qu'a l'etranger. Tout en representant et en interpretant le pays, ils alimentent les reflexions des historiens et des journalistes et inspirent parfois la production d'autres ecrits (Michelet, Quinet). Cette etude porte principalement sur les differents recits de voyage ecrits par des voyageurs francais au XIX e siecle. On y ajoute aussi le reportage litteraire de Morand (1935), important pour les qualites narratives d'un texte palimpseste qui reussit une incursion dans l'histoire du voyage en Roumanie, ainsi que par ses qualites esthetiques et symboliques. En effet, Bucarest est un texte-somme qui tient a la fois de l'esprit d'aventure du XIX e et du pessimisme de l'avant guerre. En outre, il marque un moment de rupture, etant un des derniers recits de voyage avant l'avenement du communisme totalitaire qui interrompt en grande partie les projets viatiques francais et un certain dialogue franco-roumain dont les recits anterieurs en temoignent. La premiere partie propose une necessaire historicisation de ces relations. Les cadres historiques et politiques sont precises afin de mettre en parallele les realites de l'epoque et leurs representations (images) dans les textes. Une ample bibliographie est etudiee dans les aspects documentaires (apport et comparaisons des faits, des evenements) et ideologiques (histoires des idees). Il s'agit aussi de mettre en lumiere la diversite des types de discours employes (ethnographique, scientifique, ideologique, romantique, orientaliste, journalistique, etc.), mais surtout de recuperer "les images" du pays. La deuxieme partie, plus analytique, porte sur quatre figures emblematiques de voyageurs Marsillac (1867), Hugonnet (1875), Bellessort (1905) et Morand (1935) et leurs relations avec les realites roumaines telles qu'elles se traduisent dans leurs recits. Ils utilisent des genres viatiques differents (guide, recit politique, reportage-enquete, reportage litteraire) dont les trois derniers sont representatifs d'un discours moderne du voyage, ne vers la fin du XIX e sous l'influence de la presse. Ils attestent ainsi au niveau de la forme et du contenu une evolution du discours sur le pays. En outre, ces recits de voyage, genre mixte par excellence, offrent de nombreuses possibilites de lecture: sociologique, comparatiste, socio-culturelle, histoire des mentalites, critique naturaliste.
Context-based evidence-based decision-making: case study of evidence utilisation in the development of cancer screening policy

This thesis examines the impact of the decision-making context on the determination of what constitutes evidence and how that evidence is utilised in the development of health policy. Four cases were studied where expert groups were tasked with developing cancer screening policy recommendations for either breast, cervical, colorectal or prostate cancer in Ontario, Canada. A conceptual framework for evidence-based health policy was developed based on a process model of utilisation, consisting of three stages, including the introduction, interpretation and application of evidence. The decision-making context was divided into both an internal (where decision is made) and an external (where decision is applied) context, to more clearly distinguish how context can impact on evidence utilisation. Qualitative methods were employed to determine the nature of the evidence, the key components of both the internal and external decision-making contexts and how evidence was utilised for each of the four cases studied. Analysis of the empirical data led to refinement of the conceptual framework to better explain how the decision-making context impacted on evidence utilisation. Rather than a single three-stage process model of evidence utilisation, the process could be better described by three distinct phases, addressing efficacy/effectiveness (can/does it work?), feasibility (should we do it here?) and implementation (how do we do it here?) issues. Evidence hierarchies and stakeholder representation were the two main methods employed by the expert groups to utilise evidence. Evidence hierarchies focused attention on the quality of evidence, and were most appropriately applied to efficacy/effectiveness issues where experimental evidence was more likely. Stakeholder representation did not provide a clear mechanism for assessing the quality of evidence but did allow greater consideration of external contextual factors, which facilitated the assessment of the generalisability of evidence, making stakeholder representation more appropriate for assessing feasibility and implementation issues. The development of health policy needs to recognise the distinct features of each phase and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two methods of evidence utilisation. This will allow a broader conception of evidence and encourage more active assessment of the generalisability of evidence while maintaining an appropriate focus on the quality of evidence.
The experience of carers of individuals with anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa (AN), a psychiatric disorder characterized by emaciation and body image disturbance, is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Among the most devastating but least studied consequences of this illness are its effects on family members, who are often required to act as caregivers. This dissertation aims to empirically test the Stress Process Model in order to better understand the effects of AN on family functioning and psychological distress of caregivers. This theoretical model was used to identify the ways in which various factors including problematic eating behaviours, caregiver burden, conflict regarding AN and the caregiving role, attitudes and actions toward the person with AN and stigma toward both the individuals with AN and the family and social support are associated with family functioning and caregiver psychological distress. Using a cross-sectional design, self-report measures were disseminated to a convenience sample of 120 family members of individuals with longterm anorexia nervosa, of which 83 met the inclusion criteria for the study. Multiple regression analysis of family functioning resulted in a model which predicted 37% of the variance. Significant predictors in this model included problematic eating behaviours, caregiver burden, conflict regarding AN and the caregiving role, attitutes and actions toward the person with AN, stigma towards both the individual and the family, and social support. The strongest individual predictor of family functioning was stigma towards the family. In contrast, caregiver psychological distress was poorly predicted by the independent variables, with only 8% of the variance explained. Female caregivers reported greater difficulty with illness-related characteristics, increased burden and increased conflict regarding caregiving. However, female caregivers had increased social support compared with male caregivers. These findings demonstrate the utility of the stress process model for predicting family functioning in this population. Based on the results of this study, a number of clinical and policy recommendations were suggested to improve family functioning, enhance the psychological well being of caregivers and reduce family stigma. Furthermore, recommendations were suggested for clinical interventions that address gender differences with respect to the caregiving experience. An anti-stigma campaign is endorsed to challenge misconceptions about families of individuals with AN.
Scheduling algorithms for TDMA wireless multihop networks

Current and future wireless standards use TDMA to provide guaranteed Quality-of-Service (QoS) in the network. While these standards specify how transmissions should occur, they do not discuss scheduling algorithms to find when transmissions should occur (transmission schedules). Despite the technological advances, the question of finding transmission schedules has existed for the past twenty years without a satisfactory answer. This thesis presents a new class of scheduling algorithms for Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) wireless multihop networks. These algorithms have three major advantages. First, they take into account overhead and delay. With reduced overhead, transmission schedules have much higher throughput than what is possible with previous approaches. The algorithms can also be customized to produce schedules with specific delay properties. Scheduling to achieve a specific delay opens up a new dimension in wireless scheduling that was previously not possible. Second, the algorithms provide a simple and computationally efficient way to specify exact constraints on end-to-end flows in the network. These constraints provide us with a way to solve two important cross-layer design problems in TDMA wireless multihop networks. Third, the algorithms can be distributed in a very natural way. The distributed versions of the algorithms achieve the same performance as the centralized algorithms. The practical value of the algorithms is shown by simulating their usage in two different types TDMA wireless multihop networks.
Myths of war and nation: towards an understanding of culture and citizenship in Canada

Although liberalism claims that citizenship is a universal status that is extended equally to all members of the national community, in reality individuals experience their citizenship differently depending on their social identities. Recently, in an effort to address these inequalities, attention has shifted to the terrain of culture as a key site for the conditioning of political subjects and, as a result, relations of governance. This development has influenced citizenship theorists to consider expanding their conception of rights to include cultural rights. However, many of these attempts reflect an inadequate understanding of how culture is implicated in ruling relations. The first chapters of this thesis investigate the limitations of liberalism, particularly with regards to its proven inability to deal effectively with difference, as well as the theories of Gramsci, Althusser and Foucault in an attempt to plot an alternative theoretical framework; one that promotes a more expanded notion of the political and is therefore more conducive to recognising all the sites and means in/by which power operates. This theoretical review is undertaken in preparation for the research that lies at the centre of this thesis, which consists of a cultural analysis of a particular moment in public culture, the honour rituals that marked the interment of Canada's Unknown Soldier in May 2000, in which common sense knowledges of Canadian-ness are produced and promoted. By undertaking a discourse analysis of the texts that accompanied the ceremonies, I demonstrate the extent to which the representations that are generated therein are very particular expressions of race, gender and class power and thus, are instrumental in conditioning unequal relations of citizenship. I conclude the work by offering recommendation towards a re-definition of citizenship, particularly in the area of cultural rights, as well as some suggestions for the policy and practice of civic education. As a sustained discussion of the cultural origins of political relations, this thesis represents a valuable contribution to citizenship theory, particularly with regards to the issue of cultural rights.

Keywords: Minorities, Civil rights
Minorities, Canada
Citizenship, Canada
War and society, Canada
Unknown military personnel, Canada
War memorials, Canada
Towards an examination of theory and method in diversity education in clinical and counselling psychology programmes

Scholarship in the area of diversity studies has flourished in counselling and clinical psychology over the past four decades. However, a literature review suggests that current diversity training approaches are insufficient for then marginalization of certain oppressed groups and their exclusive focus on the American context. To investigate these issues, the objectives of the present study were: (a) to identify approaches to diversity education used by diversity educators in counselling and clinical psychology programmes; (b) to identify barriers and problems associated with different approaches to diversity education; and (c) to propose a new model for diversity competence that could guide the future development of diversity studies in counselling and clinical psychology. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with diversity educators from counselling and clinical psychology programmes across Canada. The themes that emerged in interviews were compiled to form a more comprehensive picture of diversity education in counselling and clinical psychology.

Keywords: Psychologists, Training of
Multiculturalism, Study and teaching
Characterization of the C-domain of the Escherichia coli transcriptional repressor NikR

NikR is a 15 kDa protein that negatively regulates transcription of the nikABCDE operon, which encodes for an ATP-dependent Ni(II) permease in Escherichia coli. The C-terminal domain of this protein contains the metal binding residues arranged in a novel square planar nickel binding site. In order to further characterize this metal binding activity the C-terminal domain of NikR containing residues 49--133 was cloned, expressed and purified. The metal selectivity of this fragment was then examined using electronic absorption spectroscopy and small molecule competitors. The affinity of the C-domain for metals parallels the Irving-William series of metal complex stabilities, Co(II)
Representing the nature of science in a science textbook: exploring author-editor-publisher interactions

Current reforms in elementary and secondary science education call for students and teachers to develop more informed views of the nature of science-a process in which learning materials like science textbooks play a significant role. This dissertation reports on a case study of the development of representations of the nature of science in one unit of a senior high school chemistry textbook by the book's author, editor, and publisher. The study examines the multiple discourses that arose as the developers reflected on their personal and shared understandings of the nature of science; squared these understandings with mandated curricula, the educational needs of chemistry students and teachers, and the exigencies of large-scale commercial textbook publishing; and developed and incorporated into the textbook representations of the nature of science they believed were the most suitable. Analyses of the data in this study indicate that a number of factors significantly influenced the development of representations of the nature of science, including representational accuracy (the degree to which suggested representations of the nature of science conformed to what the developers believed were contemporary understandings of the nature of science), representational consistency (the degree to which similar representations of the nature of science in different parts of the textbook conveyed the same meaning), representational appropriateness (the age-, grade-, and reading-level suitability of the suggested nature of science representations), representational alignment (the degree to which suggested representations of the nature of science addressed the requirements of mandated curricula), representational marketability (the degree to which textbook developers believed suggested representations of the nature of science would affect sales of the textbook in the marketplace), and a number of "Workplace Resources" factors such as the availability of time, relevant expertise, effective channels of communication, and opportunities for professional development. The developers of the unit of the textbook studied in this thesis made judicious decisions in the face of competing interests as they endeavoured to represent the nature of science in their science textbook. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Understanding the barriers and facilitators to HIV drug adherence among adolescents: An exploratory study

Background. Previous research demonstrates that HIV+ adolescents are sub-optimally adherent to their HIV medications. Objectives: (1) to understand the obstacles to adherence and the factors that influence optimal adherence as perceived by HIV+ adolescents; (2) to explore their understanding of the disease and their medical therapy; (3) to understand the beliefs, values, and processes underlying behavioural patterns in relation to adherence; and (4) to measure self-reported adherence. Methods. 9 HIV+ adolescents were interviewed 3 times over 4 months. Qualitative data was reviewed for themes related to the impact of living with HIV in relation to drug adherence. Self-reported adherence rates were measured. Results. Most study participants were highly adherent to their HIV regimen ( ge; 95%). Conclusions. Access to medication, family support, self-efficacy, integration of HIV status in to identity, high health literacy, and perceived adherence benefits outweigh the burden of managing their lives as HIV+ persons facilitates optimal adherence in HIV+ adolescents.