VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The electrification of Nova Scotia, 1884--1973, technological modernization as a response to regional disparity

This dissertation investigates local attempts to use technology as a force for regional rehabilitation in the economically-depressed Maritime region of Canada. At the time of Confederation in 1867, the Maritime province of Nova Scotia was prosperous, progressive, and cultured. By the end of the 1910s, the province had entered a long period of economic and social decline. Recent historiography has shown that, far from passively accepting their fate, Nova Scotians and other Maritimers, actively resisted marginalization with political, cultural, or social action. The thesis expands upon that literature by exploring technology-based strategies of provincial rehabilitation using Thomas P. Hughes's systems perspective and David E. Nye's semiotic approach. In doing so, it applies methods from the social constructivist school of the history of technology to the larger concerns of Maritime Canadian historiography. In large part, the North American culture of technology determined the ways in which Nova Scotians applied technological solutions to provincial concerns. Technology has long been central to the Western idea of progress. As the "high technology" of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, electricity reinforced that view: its ephemeral nature and silent efficiency led people to endow it with transformative, even mystical, powers. As a result, Nova Scotians, adopted a program of electrical modernization in the late 1910s as a remedy for regional disparity. The Nova Scotia government's first step was the creation of an Ontario-style hydroelectric commission designed to bring order to the province's fragmented and inefficient electrical network. Over the next few decades, the Nova Scotia Power Commission implemented rural electrification, home modernization, and regional system-building models that had already proven successful in Ontario and the United States. The system-building philosophies behind these programs were adapted to local conditions and disseminated throughout the province by politicians, engineers, businesspeople, and social reformers. Although electrical modernization failed to address the structural reasons for the province's decline, Nova Scotians continued to include it in their provincial rehabilitation plans until the 1960s. In sum, the electrification of Nova Scotia was not merely a technical event, but was shaped by the province's aspiration to regain its prior position in Confederation.
Chemical and structural modification of polyurethaneureas by surface-modifying macromolecules

Surface modifying macromolecules (SMMs) have been developed which migrate to the surface of polyurethaneureas and inhibit hydrolytic degradation. The physical and chemical properties of the pure SMMs were related to chemical interactions at the surface of the blended polymers. These interactions were used to explain differences in the inhibition of oxidative and hydrolytic biodegradation. The stability of two of the SMMs at the blend surface was assessed with the goal of identifying SMM-related degradation products. SMMs based on several chemistries were synthesized and incorporated into polyester and polyether polyurethaneureas in a 4 wt% concentration. Surface modification was effected with minimal change to the bulk polymer structure. The ability of the SMMs to reduce hydrolysis was related to hydrogen bonding interactions with the base polymer and the response of the surface to hydration. The SMMs were stable at the surface and did not release detectable levels of SMM-related degradation products.
Evaluation of technetium-99m-labelled nitroimidazoles as markers of tumour hypoxia

Hypoxic cells in tumours are resistant to radiation, and correlate with an aggressive and metastatic phenotype. A technique to measure hypoxia would be a useful diagnostic tool, allowing the selection of patients who might benefit from therapies to treat hypoxia. BRU59-21, a 99mTc-nitroimidazole, is selectively metabolized in hypoxic cells, and is under investigation as a hypoxia, marker. Determining the properties affecting the accumulation of BRU59-21 allows an assessment of the utility of BRU59-21 as a hypoxia marker. BRU59-21 was compared to the 99mTc-nitroimidazole, BMS181321, BRU59-21 was less lipophilic and more stable than BMS181321. In cell suspensions, BRU59-21 was selectively accumulated in hypoxic, cells, and these effects were similar to those observed with BMS181321. In murine tumours, BRU59-21 exhibited increased tumour:blood ratios compared to BMS181321. These results suggest that compared to BMS181321, BRU59-21 is a superior compound for imaging tumour hypoxia. BRU59-21 is used at picomolar concentrations, and metabolic depletion may limit its ability to reach hypoxic cells. The cellular multilayer system, which is an 'in vitro' model of the extravascular space, was used to assess the flux of BRU59-21. Flux of BRU59-21 through the multilayer is dependent on oxygen concentration, with decreased flux observed under hypoxia. Analysis of the radioactivity that diffused through the hypoxic multilayer revealed that a significant proportion is BRU59-21. This suggests that complete metabolic depletion of BRU59-21 is not occurring, and will not be a significant limitation for its use. Nitroimidazoles require enzymatic reduction for retention in hypoxic cells. if enzyme levels affect the absolute accumulation of BRU59-21, an inaccurate assessment of the hypoxic function could occur. The effect of increased P450 reductase activity on BRU59-21 metabolism was determined. Cellular lysates with increased P450 reductase activity show increased hypoxic metabolism of BRU59-21 compared to control lysates. Similarly, in stirred suspensions, cells over expressing this enzyme show higher hypoxic accumulation and metabolism than control cells. Thus, P450 reductase is important in the metabolism of BRU59-21. These studies provide insight into the factors affecting the accumulation of BRU59- 21 and further investigation into the use of BRU59-21 as a hypoxia marker is warranted.
Additive Incorporation in the Polyethylene Orientation-Crosslinking Process

The subject of this work is additive incorporation into polyethylene to further the development of a new polymer orientation-cross linking process. Two additives, a photo-initiator (benzophenone, BP) and a cross-linker (tri allyl cyanurate, TAC) are involved. The objectives were to devise a continuous method for incorporating the additives, to develop a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) method of characterizing the additive concentration in the polymer and to investigate the effect of processing variables on additive concentration. Discovering the source of additive loss during processing was an important motivation for the work. All three objectives were accomplished. To incorporate the additives continuously (one of which was a liquid and the other a sticky solid) the phase diagram for their combination was elucidated. It was found that a 50:50 mixture was a stable liquid at room temperature that could be pumped into the process and provided the needed concentration level. An FTIR method was developed that permitted both average concentration of each additive and the concentration profile of additive across the diameter of the extruded strand to be determined. Finally, the additive incorporation method and the FTIR analytical technique were used together with processing runs to examine the effect of processing variables. Additive loss was found to be due to accumulation of the additives on the wall of the extruder. Evaporation of additive was found a distant secondary factor. Based on this result, higher additive concentrations that had ever previously been obtained (1.3 wt.% BP and 1.5 wt.% TAC) were accomplished by incorporating the additive in two stage processing. Experimental residence time distributions were obtained using BP and TAC mixed with silicone oil (a completely non-volatile additive) as tracer. These provided additional evidence that additive losses are not due to evaporation.
Prior Learning Assessment, an investigation of nonsponsored learning for college credits

Since 1993, Ontario Community Colleges have systematically incorporated a framework for recognizing non-traditional learning through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). PLA allows students to obtain credits towards their. formal education for nonsponsored learning, that is material they have learned through nontraditional settings such as work experience or the home. Within the PLA framework Community colleges have implemented the portfolio development process as a way to assess prior learning through organizing and presenting their nonsponsored learning in a document which can satisfy the requirements of a college course. The research on PLA has been limited to surveys which examine the number and types of assessment used in PLA and procedures on preparing portfolios. There has been no research to date which examines how learners perceive their prior learning. This exploratory case study examines how learners make meaning of their prior learning. The portfolio development process is used as a point of focus because it best represents the transition from nonsponsored learning to the institution's interpretation of experiential learning. For this study, I chose a setting which supported PLA, particularly the portfolio process. Data from interviews, a sample of portfolios and classroom observations were initially analyzed according to five conceptual interpretations: (a) perception of learning; (b) learning style; (c) metacognitive abilities; (d) cognitive development; and (e) learners, needs. An emergent design allowed for other interpretations to be explored as the study progressed. A purposeful sample consisted of four adult learners who were taking a community college portfolio development course. I also interviewed two adult learners who had taken the portfolio development course and had successfully challenged a number of college credits. Since not all mature students take the portfolio development course or challenge college courses through the portfolio development course I interviewed three students who were eligible for the PLA process but did not take this option. The findings from this study showed that all of the students made meaning from their prior learning and applied it to their college studies. Since PLA is no longer funded to the same extent as it was in the past, advocates of PLA at community colleges will need to address the benefits of the portfolio development. This could include both the acquisition of credits and personal development.
Molecular regulation of myometrial activation during labor

The onset of labor has been classically viewed as being initiated by an endocrine-induced activation of the myometrium, involving increased expression of a cassette of genes encoding "contraction-associated proteins" (CAPs), such as connexin-43 (Cx-43), oxytocin receptor (OTR), and prostaglandin receptors. I hypothesize that myometrial expression of these CAPs is also subject to regulation by mechanical stretch. In this thesis I show that stretching one uterine horn in nonpregnant ovariectomized rats with a polyvinyl tube induces increases in Cx-43 mRNA and protein in the myometrium, an effect that was abolished by progesterone. In unilaterally pregnant rats, I demonstrate that mechanical strength is required to increase myometrial expression of Cx-43 and OTR but not of prostaglandin <math> <f> <rm>F<inf>2<g>a</g></inf></rm></f> </math> receptor (FP) during labor, and that hormonal mechanisms, while necessary, are not sufficient to activate the expression of these genes. Stretch does not increase expression of these CAPs on day 20 of pregnancy (term = day 23) likely due to high circulating level of progesterone. My finding that nuclear run-on assay reveals an approximately 50% increase in transcription of Cx-43 mRNA during labor in the rat myometrium compared to day 20 leads me to investigate the role of mRNA stability in regulating Cx-43 mRNA levels. Different cell lines display distinct half-lives for Cx-43 mRNA, which correlate with the steady-state mRNA levels in these cell lines. Transfection of chimeric constructs containing various fragments of the 3 '-UTR of rat Cx-43 mRNA downstream of the luciferase coding sequence into two cell lines identifies a 146-nucleotide region (nucleotides 2511-2656) within the 3'-UTR that strongly upregulates luciferase activity under basal conditions. These data suggest that both transcription and mRNA stabilization may participate in determining the expression of Cx-43, and that sequences within the 3'-UTR of Cx-43 mRNA regulate its gene expression, possibly through affecting mRNA stability.
Community partnerships that include people with disabilities, power, culture and values

Partnerships have been proposed as an empowering method of addressing a variety of disability-related issues in fields such as health, research, technology design, and policy development. However, people with disabilities remain frustrated by a lack of power sharing. This study examined the involvement of people with disabilities in community partnerships. In particular, the impact of social constructions of disability (medical, charity and independent living) and beliefs regarding knowledge were investigated. Dominant power structures and how they were internalized, accepted or challenged were also examined. This study incorporated elements of both participatory action research and critical pedagogy. Two groups of multiple stakeholders were observed during their involvement in intensive 4.5 and 3-day workshops designed to explore and facilitate partnership development. Six participants from each of these workshops then engaged in an in-depth, semi-structured interview about their experience and ideas related to disability and partnership. Ten disability leaders involved in community partnerships across Canada were then brought together over a 4-day period to explore themes derived from the earlier interviews. Through creative methods including story telling, role play, and metaphor analysis, participants verified and elaborated upon these themes and tested their applicability within a variety of settings. These participants were involved in pre and post interviews and discussions were tape recorded. People with disabilities reported that they felt their capacities and contributions were often devalued and that their full participation was systematically hampered by commonly held beliefs about expertise, communication and work. The act of representing people with disabilities in a partnership was described as challenging because of the diverse nature of the group and internalized discriminatory practices. Benefits of partnerships and suggestions for supporting them were also documented. Partnerships were found to frequently replicate elements of oppressive relationships and on occasion, foster the development of innovative collaborative relationships. Without challenging the dominant relations of power and beliefs that affect the interactions and outcomes of partnerships, people with disabilities may experience partnerships as oppression. This study suggests a need for all partners to develop a greater awareness of power, accept responsibility for reducing barriers, and work to create new ways of relating.
Understanding the role of Bcl-2 subcellular localization in the inhibition of apoptosis in rat-1 fibroblasts

Bcl-2 is a key inhibitor of a broad range of apoptotic pathways, yet neither the mechanism of action nor the role of Bcl-2 subcellular localization are well understood. The subcellular localization of Bcl-2 includes the mitochondrial membrane as well as the contiguous membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum and outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. Most studies suggest that the ability of Bcl-2 to confer cell survival is dependent upon its localization to the mitochondria. In this thesis, I show that Bcl-2 targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum can inhibit Myc- but not etoposide-induced apoptosis in the Rat-1 fibroblast cell line. By contrast, wild type Bcl-2 can inhibit apoptosis triggered by either death agonist. We further showed both Myc and etoposide triggered disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and induced poly-ADP ribose polymerase cleavage, but release of calcium was not evident. Bcl-2 abrogates apoptosis at or upstream of MMP depletion demonstrating that Bcl-2 does not have to reside at the mitochondria to prevent apoptosis. These results further elucidate the biochemical events associated with Myc- and etoposide-induced apoptosis and advance our understanding of Bcl-2 function.
The nuclear testing policies of the Eisenhower administration, 1953-1960

This thesis focusses on the nuclear testing policies of the Eisenhower administration in the period 1953-60. Specifically, it analyses the decisions made by the president, the secretary of state, and key bureaucracies: the Atomic Energy Commission, the Department of Defence, the State Department, and the Central Intelligence Agency. This study also examines the international implications of these policies, including the impact of American nuclear explosions on countries like Japan. In addition, it analyses the influence of other nuclear powers, notably Great Britain and the Soviet Union, on the U.S. decision-making process. The dissertation challenges the view held by some historians that the United States seriously pursued a comprehensive test ban treaty in the 1950s. It concludes that the U.S. policy underwent very little change during this period, despite mounting international pressure in favour of a halt to testing. American inflexibility resulted from a divided administration. Increasingly aware of the international political advantages to be gained from a treaty, the State Department, led by John Foster Dulles, and the President's Special Assistant for Disarmament, Harold Stassen, advocated a change in the U.S. policy. From 1955 to 1957, Stassen proposed a moratorium during the UN Disarmament Subcommittee negotiations in London. Similarly, during the Test Ban Talks, which took place in Geneva from 1958 to 1960, State representatives urged the administration to support British and Soviet proposals calling for a treaty banning all nuclear explosions. In contrast, the military bureaucracies consistently blocked any accord which would limit the American nuclear weapons program. Throughout the negotiations in London and Geneva, the Pentagon and the Atomic Energy Commission fought a successful rearguard action against a test ban agreement. As president, Eisenhower had the authority to shift the American policy in favour of an accord but he proved unwilling to do so. Reinforced by the American public and Congress, Eisenhower invariably supported the arguments presented by the defence bureaucracies. Distrustful of the Russians and worried that an agreement with the U.S.S.R. might lead to "our Munich," the president, like many of his military advisors, preferred the risks involved in proliferation and a nuclear arms race to those involved in a comprehensive test ban treaty.
The myth of Don Quixote, Galdós' depiction of the Isabeline era, 1833-1868

This thesis represents a study of Benito Pérez Galdós' vision of Isabeline Spain from 1833 to 1868 through a critical analysis of the twenty novels that constitute the third and fourth series of the ' Episodios nacionales'. By tracing Galdós' particular use of the myth of Don Quixote in these twenty 'episodios', one gains a greater understanding of the socio-political vision that the preeminent Spanish writer of the nineteenth century shared vis-à-vis his own country, a vision that increasingly occupied his mind and soul. The thesis is divided into five chapters. The first two are exclusively historical in nature, as they deal with the rise and decline of liberalism, respectively. The objective of these two chapters is to put into context the historical, political, and social background that formed the setting of the ' Episodios nacionales'. The third chapter deals with Galdós political ideology, primarily through a study of his newspaper articles. His political stance as an ardent liberal is an essential aspect, since this ideology lies at the very heart of the perspective from which the 'episodios' were written. Thus this chapter serves as a link between the first two and the last two. The last two chapters essentially treat Galdós' special use of the myth of Don Quixote in each of the twenty 'episodios'. This great myth, in fact, took on a negative connotation in Galdós' view. The quixotic characters are portrayed as retrogressive and anachronistic fools. By contrast, those characters who are depicted as anti-quixotic, liberal, and progressive function as exemplary models for Galdós' readers to emulate. Thus Galdós endowed these 'episodios' with a national regenerationist spirit in his attempt to provide a remedy for a country that was in the midst of a profound national crisis.
Line broadening and shifting of the Raman Q branch in D¦2 and D¦2-He mixtures at low temperatures

We have accurately measured the Q(0), Q(1) and Q(2) Raman lines in D 2 and D2-He mixtures over a range of densities at 100.7 K, 150.0 K, 200.0 K, and 250.0 K The profiles were assumed to be composed of a strong symmetric Lorentzian component and a weak asymmetric component. For Q(1) and Q(2) allowance was also made for the weak symmetric depolarized Q branch component the widths, ã, and shifts, [Delta], of the strong component were extracted for all of the lines. Broadening and shifting coefficients were determined by fitting the results to the standard expressions, <math> <f> <g>G</g>=A/<g>r</g>+<g>g</g><sup>1</sup><g>r</g>,</f> </math> and <math> <f> <g>D</g>=<g>d</g><sup>1</sup><g>r</g>,</f> </math> where 'A' is related to the mass diffusion constant, ã 1 is the broadening coefficient, [delta]1 is the shifting coefficient, and [rho] is the gas density. By examining the residuals (the difference between the data and the best standard fits) we showed that this model is wrong and cannot be used to characterize our measured widths and shifts. This was unexpected. We found that the measured widths and shifts could be characterized mathematically if we divided the data into a high density regime (>10 amagat) and a low density regime (<1.5 amagat). At low densities the results obeyed the standard model. At high densities our precise widths and shifts satisfied two new empirical models, <math> <f> <g>G</g>=<g>G</g><sup>0</sup>+<g>g</g><sup>1</sup><inf>h</inf> <g>r</g>,</f> </math> and, <math> <f> <g>D</g>=<g>D</g><sup>0</sup>+<g>d</g><sup>1</sup><inf>h</inf> <g>r</g>,</f> </math> where ã0 and [Delta]0 are constant offsets for the width <math> <f> <g>g</g><sup>1</sup><inf>h</inf></f> </math> and <math> <f> <g>d</g><sup>1</sup><inf>h</inf></f> </math> are the now broadening and shifting coefficients, respectively. We interpreted the offsets ã0 'and' [Delta] 0 'as the inhomogenous width and shift arising from a speed dependence to the relaxation of the optical coherence'. Experimentally, the values of these offsets were found to be functions of 'temperature, line', and 'mixture ratio'. At each temperature, for each line the values of <math> <f> <g>g</g><sup>1</sup><inf>h</inf></f> </math> and <math> <f> <g>d</g><sup>1</sup><inf>h</inf></f> </math> were obtained for different D2-He mixtures with a typical accuracy of 0.5% and 1%, respectively. These values could be extrapolated linearly to the case of infinite dilution of D2 in He and the results compared with the calculated values of Brezina et al. (1995).