VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The efficacy of strategy in the competition for research funding in higher education

This thesis is concerned with the strategic management of research in research intensive universities (RIUs). RIUs have a huge economic footprint and research is at their core. Competition for the funds that support research is fierce, and RIUs must increasingly engage in strategic activities to maximize their share of the available research funding. Widely accepted portfolio theories underpin a quantitative model that exposes the research strategies of a group of 39 RIUs and measures the results of their strategies in terms of the change in the share of federally funded research expenditures they performed during the decade that ended in 2000. It was determined that there was a .62 correlation between the RIU research strategies and the corresponding change in their share of federally funded research expenditures. A modified specialization strategy was most closely associated with the greatest gain in share, and any RIU that does not pursue this strategy does so at its peril. The ideal strategy is the most efficient in the sense that it represents a research portfolio configuration that generated the highest rate of growth in the value of research performed among the 39 RIUs. For the first time, an RIU can determine the exact dollar value of research that it should perform in each of its research portfolio components in order to achieve the ideal portfolio configuration. When all RIU portfolio configurations, or when a peer group of RIU portfolio configurations, are viewed, environmental opportunities or threats may become apparent. In addition, the new research-related performance indicators introduced in this thesis enhance the ability to measure research operations. Improved measurement capability enhances both research accountability and institutional accountability. This thesis contributes to the literature pertaining to the management of research in higher education and, more generally, to the literature related to the efficacy of strategy.

Keywords: Federal aid to higher education, United States
Research, Finance
Research, United States
Research grants, United States
Research, Economic aspects
Research, United States
Competition, United States
Universities and colleges, Finance
Universities and colleges, United States
Gene expression profiling of a CpG-ODN-dependent antiviral system in RAW 264.7 cells

CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) confer local antiviral properties when delivered to the genital mucosa of mice. CpG-ODN treatment also prevents the replication of the herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) in the murine macrophage cell-line RAW 264.7. We hypothesized that this CpG-dependent antiviral system is the result of alterations in gene expression. In this study we used high density cDNA and oligonucleotide microarrays to survey the gene expression of the mouse genome over seven time points within a 24h period in order to elucidate a program of genes responsible for the antiviral effect. We used hierarchical and/or K-means clustering to reveal similarly regulated genes. Interferon-related genes including Stat-1 and -2, IRF-3 and -7, and several members of the powerful antiviral oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) family were regulated by CpG-ODN. We also inhibited NFkappaB activation and showed that CpG-dependent cytokine secretion requires NFkappaB, but that the antiviral effect persists independently of NFkappaB activity.
Developmental and individual correlates of mother-daughter attunement in early adolescence

Although past research has concentrated on problem behaviours and the development of psychopathology during the early adolescent transition, the present study looked instead at three aspects of normative adolescent development: the relationship of pubertal (physical) development, autonomy, and mother-daughter familiarity to the emotional quality of mother-daughter interactions. Fifty-six mother-daughter dyads filled out questionnaires that were analyzed for measures of pubertal development, autonomy, and mother-daughter familiarity. Ten of these dyads were video-recorded while participating in three discussions: two positive collaborative discussions and a conflict discussion. The discussions were analyzed for emotional variability as well as mother-daughter attunement, using a new dynamic systems method—state space grid techniques. The findings revealed a relationship between physical development and mother-daughter positive attunement, but no relationship between (a) either autonomy or mother-daughter familiarity and pubertal development, and (b) either autonomy or mother-daughter familiarity and the emotional quality of mother-daughter interactions.
An analysis of the criminalisation of cartel activity in the United Kingdom

This thesis considers the criminalisation of individual participation in cartel activity in the UK under the Enterprise Act 2002. It presents an analysis of the relevant sections of the Act, considers the impact of criminalisation, and highlights problematic areas that the legislation invokes in this specialised and complex area of legal regulation.

Keywords: Restraint of trade, Great Britain
Cartels, Criminal provisions
Cartels, Great Britain
Competition, Unfair, Great Britain
Antitrust law, Criminal provisions
Antitrust law, Great Britain
Modular robotics - conceptual design and geometry optimization

The two objectives of this research were: (1) the conceptual design of a set of self-contained, independent units (modules) that are connectable to any other unit regardless of type to form a desired robot geometry, and (2) the development of an optimization procedure to select an optimal robot geometry to best suit the task at hand. The conceptual robot modules presented in this thesis have hollow-cylindrical-shell structures with standard connection devices on both ends of the modules. The individual modular robot modules that are presented include: one degree-of-freedom (dof) main joints (rotary and prismatic) and one dof end effector joints, all with DC servomotors and harmonic type transmissions to provide necessary joint motion; links to provide the necessary reach; and, connectors (base, in-plane, and out-of-plane) to allow the robot to be configured in more than one plane. The optimization procedure presented in this thesis primarily aims at selecting a manipulator geometry type (number and type of joints, and their sequence) with a minimum number of dof (number of joints) for the task at hand. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Biological, biochemical and molecular anti-tumour mechanisms of curcumin and resveratrol in neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a highly aggressive childhood cancer of the peripheral nervous system arising from neural crest sympathoadrenal progenitor cells. Despite current rigorous treatment protocols, there remains a need for more effective, less cytotoxic treatment for high stage 4 NB with a poor prognosis. Curcumin and resveratrol possess chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties with most studies showing efficacy in cell culture and negligible toxicity in normal cells. Treatment of stage 4 NB cell lines with curcumin and resveratrol induced morphological features resembling apoptosis, including cell rounding, detachment and fragmentation. Treatment induced a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability, cell cycle arrest in G2/M by curcumin and in S-phase by resveratrol, and dose-dependent apoptosis. In NB, endogenous wild-type p53 is frequently localized in the cytoplasm in a non-functional state. Treatment with curcumin and resveratrol transiently up-regulated p53 expression, induced nuclear translocation of p53, followed by induction of p21WAF-1/CIP-1 and Bax expression. Our observations suggest that cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by curcumin and resveratrol in NB cells may be mediated via functionally activated p53.
Conversational experience in computer-mediated and face-to-face encounters: A direct comparison

Synchronous text-based computer-mediated communication (STCMC) provides a heightened degree of control, personalization, and privacy that distinguishes it from face-to-face (FTF) communication. The discursive implications of these differences are considered, generating the hypotheses that STCMC conversation differs from FTF conversation in providing greater informational clarity, topical depth, and interpersonal comfort, while producing less relationship interest, topical breadth, and sensitivity to one's conversation partner. Comparative examination of student perceptions of their 30-minute conversational experiences in either a STCMC or FTF environment failed to support any of the hypotheses in full. The compromised nature of the STCMC analogue used in the study is discussed as a possible cause of the disconfirmation.
Design of a balanced scorecard to measure emergency department patient flow in a Canadian teaching hospital

The ability to quantify patient flow and the degree of crowding in emergency departments (ED) is essential to solving patient flow delays. There is currently no consistent standard for doing so. The objective of this thesis was to design a framework and identify a set of metrics to measure ED patient flow in Canadian acute care hospitals. Recognizing the diversity in culture and processes between different hospitals, the goal was to create a framework of metrics upon which different hospitals can build their own measurement system. The proposed balanced scorecard and its metrics provide a framework from which practitioners can draw. In particular, the Emergency Department Work Index (EDWIN) score, hospital occupancy, ED above capacity are recommended to be included in future ED patient flow measurement systems. Finally, the analysis suggests that the EDWIN score is a useful real-time indicator of ED crowding in Canadian acute care hospitals.
Transit headway control through conditional signal priority: a micro-simulation based approach using reinforcement learning

An innovative conditional transit signal priority algorithm, based on the concept of Reinforcement Learning (RL), is used to optimize transit operations through headway control. The proposed algorithm has the ability to mimic an intelligent agent which can determine the best combination and duration of each signal phase. The objective of the single agent is to maintain a regular headway between streetcars, while the multiple agents are trained to deal with the onset of streetcar bunching. The microscopic traffic simulation software Paramics was employed to simulate transit and traffic operations along the King Streetcar route. Simulation results show that the control policy learned by the single agent could effectively reduce the transit headway deviation and causes smaller disruption to crossroad traffic compared with the existing unconditional transit signal priority algorithm. Furthermore, the multiple agents could split up a streetcar bunch and prevent it from forming again with a high success rate.
The effect of folic acid supplementation on the progression of preneoplastic colorectal lesions in sporadic and familial animal models of colorectal cancer

Folic acid supplementation has significantly reduced the rate of NTDs, however folic acid may promote the progression of already existing, undiagnosed preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions in the colorectum. Prior animal studies have shown that the dose and timing of folate intervention are critical in providing safe and effective chemoprevention. The AOM rat model and Min mouse model were used to determine the potential tumor promoting effects of folic acid supplementation. We demonstrated that folic acid supplementation increased the multiplicity and size of neoplastic lesions in the rat colorectum and increased the number of small intestinal adenomas in mice. In both studies, plasma Hcyst concentrations were a better indicator of folate status than the plasma folate concentrations, and as expected, we consistently observed an inverse correlation between tumor parameters and Hcyst concentrations. In both studies, folic acid supplementation did not affect the incidence of tumorigenesis. These findings support our hypotheses that folic acid supplementation promotes the progression of tumor development in both the AOM rat and Min mouse models.
The nature and meaning of occupational engagement for forensic clients living in the community

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature and meaning of occupational engagement for individuals diagnosed with a major mental illness, charged with committing a crime according to the Criminal Code of Canada, and living in the community. Criterion sampling was used to ensure that all participants experienced the phenomenon in question and were able to provide descriptions of their experience of the phenomenon. Ten participants, 5 males and 5 females were interviewed using an interview guide. Descriptive phenomenological methods adapted from those described by Giorgi (2003; 2005) were used in data analysis. Trustworthiness was ensured via triangulation, peer review, clarification of researcher's biases, member check, and thick rich descriptions. The overall structure of the nature and meaning of occupational engagement for forensic outpatients living in the community consisted of four essences: doing the right thing, connecting with others, importance of freedom and responsibility, and meeting the challenges to occupational engagement.
Genetic consequences of plate tectonics: cytonuclear discordance in phrynosomatid lizards of Baja California, Mexico

The peninsula of Baja California of northwestern Mexico has a complex geological history. Since the early Miocene, intense plate tectonic activity, volcanism, and sea level changes have combined to form a diverse landscape. The geological history has had profound effects on the regional biota. I evaluated the genetics of three common phrynosomatid lizards in relation to data from geology, paleontology, and stratigraphy to provide a better understanding of the historical biogeography of this region. I also addressed the evolutionary significance of temporary population fragmentation and the genetic interactions of reunited populations. Using sequence data from three mitochondrial genes (ca 2,000 bp), I reconstructed the genealogical histories of the zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) and the black-tailed brush lizard (Urosaurus nigricaudus) based on samples spanning the entire peninsula and insular populations from the Gulf of California. The genealogies revealed several deep divergences (up to 11% sequence divergence in cytochrome b), supporting the existence of temporary seaways across the mid-peninsular, Isthmus of La Paz, and Cape regions, and extensive inundation of the peninsula in the vicinity of Loreto. My results also suggest a significantly deeper time frame for the historical biogeography of Baja California than currently postulated. This includes evidence of a mid-peninsular seaway of late Miocene age (ca 7 million years ago). This event is also a more parsimonious explanation for the geographically congruent mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) breaks of numerous species than the effects of climate on genetics, such as the cyclic pattern of Quaternary glaciation events. The deep divergences in mtDNA strongly contrast with variation in allozyme loci, which suggests limited population differentiation consistent with gene flow along the peninsula. This cytonuclear discordance stems from the different modes of inheritance of mtDNA and nuclear DNA (maternal versus biparental inheritance) and lack of recombination in mitochondria. Accordingly, mtDNA differentiation is a poor proxy for biparental population differentiation. Cytonuclear discordance is particularly strong in old secondary contact zones in the black-tailed brush lizard and the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana). These contact zones show very little geographical overlap of divergent mtDNA lineages, suggesting some form of selection against mtDNA dispersal across contact zones.
Modulating propofol anesthesia and hepatotoxicity with monoterpene alcohols: molecular basis

Propofol is an intravenous anesthetic that is rapidly metabolized by glucuronidation and P450 catalyzed oxidation. The goal of this research was to determine whether monoterpene alcohols could be used to prolong the anesthetic effect of propofol by inhibiting propofol metabolism and modulate its hepatotoxicity; the molecular hepatotoxic mechanism of propofol in isolated hepatocytes. This research shows that most monoterpene alcohols administered intraperitoneally to mice prolonged the anesthetic effect (>3 times) of propofol. However, mouse plasma alanine aminotransferase levels also increased indicating that propofol was hepatotoxic. Propofol hepatotoxicity in vivo or hepatocyte cytotoxicity in vitro were increased by UGT inhibitors ( - )-borneol or alpha-terpineol but may have been decreased by trans-sobrerol or P450 inhibitors. Moreover, hepatocyte cytotoxicity was also increased by catalase and quinone reductase inhibitors. These results suggest that 2,6-diisopropylbenzoquinone and phenoxy radicals contributed to propofol toxicity and monoterpene alcohols could be used to modulate propofol metabolism in vivo and in vitro.
Hoberman's Twiddlestix as a paradigm for multi-vehicle formation control

In this thesis we study the problem of multi-vehicle formation control. We use the so called "Hoberman's Twiddlestix" as a paradigm to investigate problems of controller synthesis. The design of a distributed controller that drives multiple nonholonomic vehicles to achieve a Hoberman formation is the primary goal of our controller synthesis. The main tools we employ in this thesis are graph rigidity theory and nonlinear control theory. We apply graph rigidity theory to the Hoberman structure to obtain the overall distributed control structure. We employ nonlinear control theory to design the local controllers. The local controller is a switching type controller. It is shown by simulations that the overall controller reaches the control synthesis goal: to stabilize a group of non-holonomic vehicles to a formation defined only in terms of distance constraints between the vehicles.
Identification and characterization of mPAR-3: potential roles in ephrin B function and in a multi-protein complex implicated in cell polarity

The murine orthologue of the polarity protein PAR-3 (mPAR-3) was identified in a screen to obtain interacting partners for the C-terminal sequence of the B-type ephrins. In addition to mPAR-3, the PDZ domain-containing proteins FAP-1, syntenin and GRIP were isolated as potential B-class ephrin binding proteins. In vitro studies determined that the fifth PDZ domain of FAP-1, the third PDZ domain of mPAR-3 and the PDZ domains of syntenin bound ephrin B1 via the C-terminal motif. These results indicate that the carboxyl-terminal motif of B-class ephrins provides a binding site for specific PDZ domain-containing proteins, which might localize the transmembrane ligands for interactions with Eph receptors or participate in signalling within B-type ephrin-expressing cells. In addition to its possible role as a B-class ephrin interacting protein, PAR-3 was further characterized in mammalian systems. Three isoforms of mPAR-3 that arise from alternative splicing of the transcript were identified. The proteins differ in their localization, expression pattern in mouse embryonic and adult tissues, and the protein interaction domains they contain. The smallest isoform, 100 kDa in size, localizes to the microtubule cytoskeleton, and alters its arrangement and dynamics. The N-terminal region of mPAR-3 encompassing the PAR-3 homology (P-3H) region and the first PDZ domain are both necessary and sufficient for these functions of the 100 kDa isoform. Studies of the interactions engaged by mPAR-3 determined that the protein functions as a molecular scaffold to organize a multi-protein complex consisting of mPAR-3, activated forms of the small molecular weight GTPases Cdc42 and Rac1, atypical PKC isoforms, and a murine orthologue of the polarity protein PAR-6 (mPAR-6C). Results of in vitro assays suggest that one function of the complex is to regulate aPKC activity. Taken together, this work reveals possible mechanisms through which the polarity protein mPAR-3 may function in mammalian systems.
Variational inference methods for signal processing in wireless communications

The transmission of information over a wireless medium often introduces additional unknown variables corrupting the primary signal of interest. These unknowns originate from different sources (e.g., channel distortions or inultiuser interference) and possess different characteristics (additive or multiplicative, static or time-varying). A consequence of this phenomenon is that the extra unknowns need to be taken into consideration at the receiver when detecting the desired signal. The factor graph depiction of this problem setting is straightforward. Yet performing exact inference on the graph to optimally remove the effects of distortion via direct belief propagation is often computationally prohibitive. This thesis aims to establish a new framework, based on variational inference, to guide the design of near-optimal algorithms for joint detection and estimation in such a scenario. The application of this framework in the OFDM area results in a novel detector with phase noise cancellation capability. The proposed algorithm generates near optimal soft estimates of the desired OFDM signal in the presence of unknown phase noise. To provide accurate channel information for this detector, we also propose an optimal (maximum a posteriori) joint estimator for the channel impulse response, carrier frequency offset amid phase noise. This implies that the frequency synchronization and channel estimation algorithms for OFDM can be derived from statistical estimation theory even in the presence of phase noise. This variational inference framework is also used to established a unified approach for studying joint detection and decoding in multiple-access and ISI channels. It produces low-complexity, near-optimal detector/estimator designs for turbo receivers, including the built-in capability to deal with channel uncertainty. Various existing turbo receivers can be seen as its special cases, leading to insights on how new improvements can be made.
Internal lining of high viscosity fluid in pipes: An experimental study

The internal lining of pipes uses compressed air to propel high viscosity fluids such as epoxy into the pipe and forms a liquid film on the pipe wall. Flow visualization of transient start-up motion as well as thinning of high viscosity fluid film during lining was investigated. Epoxy lining experiments focused on the progression of overall fluid travel and quality assessment of lining results: film thickness and variability under various experimental parameters. Experiments of lining around 90 degree bends were also conducted for the understanding of different fluid motion occurring inside.