VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The comparison of obstetric complication histories of individuals with childhood-onset schizophrenia vs. adult-onset schizophrenia, a multi-site feasibility study

The present study examined the feasibility of conducting a comparative study of obstetric complication (OC) histories among individuals with childhood-onset schizophrenia and adu.lt-onset schizophrenia. Using a retrospective case-control design, subjects were identified from facilities in the Greater Toronto Area and their psychiatric charts and/or hospital birth records were examined with respect to diagnostic, demographic, and OC information. Research questions pertaining to issues of sample size requirements, data quality, and potential for measurement bias served to address the feasibility of the proposed study. The results showed that sample size requirements were met for the adult-onset schizophrenia group, but not for the childhood-onset schizophrenia group. The findings also demonstrated poor quality of OC data from psychiatric charts, difficulty in obtaining patient birth records, and the potential for bias with respect to the ascertainment of OC data in psychiatric charts and birth records, and in the reporting of OC information in the psychiatric charts. The findings suggest that based on the design and resources used in this study, the comparative study would not be feasible.
Women's reverse retirement

Thirty women ranging in age from 55 to 77, with diverse socio-economic backgrounds and work histories, were interviewed about the experience of returning to paid employment after retirement. Following initial analysis, the interview transcripts were analyzed in four cohorts, according to participants' birth years. The cohorts were designated, “Children of the Roaring Twenties”, “Children of the Depression”, “Depression Babies” and “Wartime Babies”. Most of the study participants belonging to the first cohort viewed work as part of their identities, and expressed negative attitudes towards retirement. All but one indicated that they intended to work as long as they were capable of doing so. Most of those in the second cohort also expressed negative attitudes towards retirement. They worked after retirement to avoid boredom and to remain socially and mentally active. Few had specific plans to retire permanently. A high proportion of those in the third cohort had retired after losing full-time jobs during economic restructuring in the mid-1990s. Their attitudes towards retirement were less negative, but most had no specific plans to retire. Those in the fourth cohort expressed somewhat more positive attitudes towards retirement. The relatively advantaged members of this group planned to retire permanently at a specific age, or after achieving specific goals. Those without such resources worked to support themselves, but even they planned to retire permanently at a specific age. Three patterns of combining work, study and family responsibilities across the life span were identified: ‘traditional’ and ‘multiple role’ for mothers, and ‘career’ for childless women. These were found to vary across the four cohorts, with more mothers in successive cohorts adopting multiple role patterns. Mothers with multiple role patterns and childless career women were more successful than mothers with traditional patterns in finding work after retirement that matched their needs. Almost all participants engaged in part-time or temporary work after retirement, for which most expressed a preference. It remains unanswered whether this was a genuine preference or an accommodation to the non-availability of better-compensated and regular employment for older women.
The investigation of turbulent statistics of a fibre suspension undergoing mixing

This thesis investigates the statistical properties of a fibre suspension in a turbulent flow. An experiment in a mixing jar was performed using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) optimized with particle tracking and refractive index matching. The experimental Reynolds numbers range from 13,300 to 53,400 (Re = 'NR'2/[nu], where N is the rotation speed of the impeller in that tank, R is the radius of the impeller which is 0.0125m, [nu] is the kinetic viscosity which is 15.6 x10-6 m 2/'s'). The effect of various mass concentrations of fibres on the flow properties were investigated and the flow patterns in the mixing tank were analyzed. Turbulence quantities were strongly influenced by the existence of the fibres in the liquid.
France, the Allies and Franco's Spain, 1943-1948

The end of the Second World War in Europe meant that the appearance of new security arrangements coincided with the arrival of transformed states. Emerging from the collaborationist Vichy era, rebuilding from the devastation of war, and facing the development of the Western bloc behind the United States and, to a lesser extent, Great Britain, France was one such country. The question of relations with Franco's Spain engaged the various forces that in the aftermath of the Liberation were in the process of rebuilding France as a democracy at home and as a power with influence and prestige abroad. Prominent Government officials argued that maintaining relations with Spain would be beneficial for France's own economic reconstruction and its re-emergence as an equal western ally. By contrast, those who were determined anti-fascists, particularly those from left-wing organizations of the internal Resistance, were set on developing a new policy fashioned by the experience of defeating fascism in war. They were opposed to any sort of diplomatic or economic relationship with Franco's Spain. Over the course of 1944-1945, these two visions competed, until the Government attempted to reconcile them in a new policy, from 1946 to 1948. Chapter One examines the wartime relations of the French government-in-exile with Spain. Chapter Two is a study of the Resistance position from Liberation in August, 1944 through 1945. Chapters Three and Four focus on the Government's various attempts to create a policy which appeased domestic opinion while not isolating France from its western Allies, initiatives which resulted in the closure of the Franco-Spanish border. Finally, Chapter Five assesses French relations with the Spanish opposition and the 1948 decision to end sanctions against Spain. The experience of war and resistance did not offer the French one single legacy. Rather, different visions of France and its role in postwar Europe competed. The effort to reconcile domestic and international concerns, however, faced even greater constraints imposed by the onset of the Cold War and by France's position within the Western Alliance. The history of French relations with Franco's Spain in this period highlights the narrow boundaries within which policy could be made in postwar Europe.
Assessing the putative role of astrocytes in attenuating kainate-induced serum extravasation across the blood brain barrier

The proximity of astrocytes to the endothelial wall of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has predicated the role of glia in mediating permeability factors of the blood-brain interface, despite conflicting results. However, a recent discovery of enhanced BBB functioning and astrocyte hypertrophy following high doses of chloroquine (CHL) administration, resurrected the astrocyte premise for BBB functioning. It is hypothesized that if reactive glia are responsible for this BBB effect, then ablation of astrocytes should attenuate this CHL phenomenon. Conversely, if BBB changes by CHL are mediated by non-glial mechanisms, diminution of astrocytes should have little effect on BBB integrity. Two groups of rats received daily administration of CHL or sucrose for seven days. On the fifth day, astrocytic damage induced by stereotaxic methods, was followed by excitotoxic challenge of the BBB on day seven. Damage varied as a function of astrocyte reactivity and not drug treatment (CHL vs. sucrose). These results suggest that protection of the BBB by CHL is a function of astrocytic response and not pharmacological conditions.
Oxidation of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, UHMWPE, containing traces of cobalt ion

Wear of metal and UHMWPE implant components generates sub-micron particles contaminated with metal ions. The associated particles have been shown to be phagocytosed by human macrophages. This thesis is focused on the study of UHMWPE particle degradation products and the process by which these products may be generated under simulated thermal and oxidative/hydrolytic pathways of the implant environment. Oxidation of particles was measured using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was shown that metallic ion (i.e., cobalt) accumulation into the particles (at trace levels of 10 ppm) can dramatically accelerate their oxidative degradation at relatively low temperatures (i.e. 60°C). Degradation products were isolated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and characterized using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and attenuated total reflectance FTIR (ATR-FTIR). The analysis of the isolated products showed that the degradation of the UHMWPE could be further propagated by the particle interaction with macrophage associated oxidants, such as H2O2. It is postulated that the generation of degradation products from phagocytosed UHMWPE particles and their uptake intra-cellularly could mediate cellular responses. Such considerations have not been previously investigated for implant derived UHMWPE particles.
The three potential glycolipid binding sites of the Verotoxin 1 B subunit, their function in toxicity induction and cytokine release

'Esherichia coli'-elaborated Verotoxins (VT) consist of a single enzymatic A subunit and a pentamer of B subunits. The pentamer mediates toxin binding to the glycolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3). The aim of our studies was to determine the contribution of the three proposed Gb3 binding sites (known as sites 1, 2, and 3) of the B subunit to toxicity and cytokine induction. By mutating the three sites singly and in combination, we found that, in contrast to the site 3 mutant W34A, site 1 and site 2 mutants were significantly impaired in their ability to cause toxicity 'in vitro' and 'in vivo' as well as induce TNFÃ from human monocytes 'in vitro'. Our findings show the importance of Gb3 binding through sites 1 and 2 in mediating toxicity and cytokine induction as well as provide a correlation between the toxicity of the protein and its ability to induce cytokine release.
Empowerment, quality of life and art with adults with disabilities, a descriptive analysis of an holistic arts approach

This thesis describes a holistic model for teaching art to adults with cognitive and/or psychiatric disabilities, and evaluates whether it empowers and enhances their quality of life. Grounded theory was used to generate valued indicators and categories from data collected over six years from eight participants belonging to a community arts group. This was used to describe the Holistic Arts Model that was then compared to other models of empowerment and quality of life. The research revealed that the model does empower and enhance quality of life. It also revealed issues such as the impact of poverty, and the divisions between empowerment and quality of life, that would be of value to any discussion on art and adults with disabilities. It is also useful in defining concepts of excellence and developing further theories and practices for teaching, learning and evaluation in art for this population.
Treatment dose verification in stereotactic radiosurgery quality assurance

In this project, the current state of knowledge in dosimetry and quality assurance measures in stereotactic radiosurgery was reviewed. In particular, ferrous sulphate-agarose-xylenol orange was investigated to assess its ease of preparation, sensitivity to external factors, dose response, method of analysis and possible application to dosimetry in SRS. An adequate method of preparation was obtained, and absorbance was measured spectrophotometrically below 8.5 Gy resulting in a linear dose response between 1 and 8.5 Gy. Radiochromic film was investigated for its ease of use, dose response and method of dose read-out. The film was found to be quite simple to use, with no processing required. Optical density values were obtained at 660 nm using a densitometer. The absolute doses were determined using calibration data for the 60Co machine at a field size of 5 cm. FAX gel has the most potential for measurement of dose distributions within a head phantom.
Nature storytelling, the importance of binary opposites

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of binary structuring in storytelling when used as a teaching strategy for adult environmental education. This investigation builds on curriculum theory where binary structuring is used to design curriculum for young children (Egan, 1986). A field test provides an experience that people are invited to participate in and comment upon. A number of major findings emerged from the study: (1) Participants recognize the change-event and associated binary opposites in an oral story; (2) Adult and children groups identify the same scene as representing the change-event and binary opposites in an oral story; (3) Curriculum for adult learning may be based on a story structured on binary opposites; (4) Participants are able to express the meaning of a story in words, drama form and in artwork. Many of the findings from this study support the existing story/curriculum literature for young children. The findings may extend this theory into the realm of adult education. The research supports Egan's (1986) work while offering suggestions for researching how people find meaning that has not previously been reported in the literature. For example, using tableau as a way of determining what a story means is a new technique. Some of the data has been collected using a quantitative method, a procedure not previously employed on this topic. This study validates adult educators who use stories in their practice. It may encourage adult educators to research further uses of stories in adult education.
Expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 in multiple myeloma causes II-6-independence and enhanced survival

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common hematologic malignancy. A t(4;14) chromosomal translocation has been identified in 25% of multiple myeloma which results in dysregulated expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) on der(14) and an IgH-MMSET hybrid mRNA on der(4). Activating mutations of the translocated FGFR3 have been identified in MM cells suggesting that FGFR3 plays an important role in tumor development. In this thesis the potential role of FGFR3 in myeloma was investigated in an interleukin-6-dependent murine myeloma cell line. Overexpression of wild-type FGFR3 stimulated with ligand or mutant FGFR3 resulted in interleukin-6-independence, decreased apoptosis in the absence of interleukin-6 and an enhanced proliferative response to interleukin-6. These findings provide an explanation for the mechanism by which 'fgfr3' contributes to both the viability and propagation of the myeloma clone and may provide a basis for the development of therapies targeting myeloma. patients harbouring the t(4; 14) translocation.
Making meaning in medicine, the role of narrative and storytelling in Clinical Ethics

The project of the Clinical Ethics enterprise ought to be to pay attention to the moral quality of the life lived in the health care community. In the thirty or so years that the Clinical Ethics enterprise has been around (in this incarnation), it has developed a dominant discourse. Called "principlism" it is a model which attempts to reach resolution of the ethical dilemmas by adhering to a set of articulated principles. In this thesis I make the claim that the principlist approach is not adequate to the Clinical Ethics project. Further, I make a claim that story and storytelling within the health care community are a means to furthering the Clinical Ethics project. In this discussion I utilize theory, story and personal experience to support this claim. Drawing the thesis to a close, I discuss an example of the praxis of storytelling within the health care community.
Characterization of the D87G and Q286R mutations of human ASL and their complementation

The enzyme argininosuccinic acid lyase (ASL) catalyzes the reversible cleavage of argininosuccinate into fumarate and arginine in the urea cycle. Mutations in the argininosuccinate lyase gene result in argininosuccinic aciduria, an autosomal recessive disorder with considerable clinical and genetic heterogeneity. The disease results in a decrease in ASL activity which disrupts the urea cycle, and interferes with other metabolic processes, causing metabolic acidosis, respiratory alkalosis and other related symptoms. ASL is a homotetrameric protein of approximately 50 kDa subunits. To date, thirteen different mutations have been identified and intragenic complementation has been demonstrated to occur at the ASL locus. Intragenic complementation occurs when monomers with different mutations combine to form hybrid tetramers, giving a partial recovery of activity. The most successful complementation event observed to date occurs when mutants containing the D87G and Q286R mutations combine. While homotetramers of each mutant have decreased activity, the heterotetramer exhibits approximately 25% of the wild type activity. In order to understand how these mutations can complement to recover activity, we have characterized the kinetic and thermodynamic effects that the D87G and Q286R mutants have on the structure and function of the protein. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
The Schwartz space in U(n,C) and its image under Fourier transform

This thesis describes the Schwartz space in the compact, connected Lie group 'U'('n',<math> <f> <blkbd>C</blkbd></f> </math>) and calculates its image under the Fourier transform. This problem is motivated by first examining the better-known Schwartz space in <math> <f> <blkbd>R<sup><it><mit>n</mit></it></sup></blkbd></f> </math>. The necessary background in the theory of Lie groups, representation theory and harmonic analysis is presented, and many intermediate calculations pertaining to 'U'('n',<math> <f> <blkbd>C</blkbd></f> </math>) are performed.
Logical foundations of shape-based object recognition

It has become evident in computational vision that there is a need to formalize the intuitions of existing vision systems. Any such formalization must allow the designer to explicitly reason about the capabilities and limitations of different representations and techniques. This thesis presents a logical axiomatization of shape-based object recognition in 2D scenes with occlusion and errors in edge detection, in a domain known as CardWorld. In particular, we introduce a family of eight theories which axiomatize the image and scene domain, polygonal shapes, depiction of shapes, reasoning about surface interiors, the depiction of surfaces as planar regions, the obscuring of surfaces in a scene, and the relationship between occlusion and depiction. We then introduce shape and depiction assumptions which allow us to restrict our attention to finite models of the CardWorld theories, and consequently specify propositional theories which are logically equivalent to the CardWorld theories. In the final part of the thesis, we consider the computational complexity of finding models of these propositional theories. We show that in general, these tasks are NP-hard, but by examining restricted classes of images, we can identify tractable subclasses of the problems.
Tyrosinase inactivation in non-aqueous media

Tyrosinase has practical utility in the preparation of ' o'-diphenolics, 'o'-quinones, or products requiring such precursors for synthesis. Such compounds are more easily prepared in organic solvents, and thus, a further understanding of tyrosinase performance in non-aqueous media is advantageous. The inactivation of the catecholase activity of mushroom tyrosinase was studied under partially aqueous and non-aqueous conditions. Partially aqueous conditions were investigated using a perfluorochemical emulsion. Fully non-aqueous studies were conducted in chloroform, toluene, amyl acetate, isopropyl ether and butanol. The effect of product partition coefficients on tyrosinase stability was investigated. Also, the relative effects of reaction inactivation and solvent denaturation on tyrosinase performance were quantified. At least two forms of tyrosinase contributed significantly to product formation. Kinetic models were developed to account for reaction inactivation, solvent denaturation and the two observed forms of tyrosinase. The stability of soluble tyrosinase in a 30v/v% perfluorochemical emulsion consisting of perfluorooctane, buffer and pluronic-F68 was investigated. Catechol was used as a substrate. Tyrosinase performance in the perfluorochemical emulsion was statistically the same as in aqueous buffer. The stability of tyrosinase in fully non-aqueous systems was investigated. The enzyme was immobilized on glass beads, and assays were conducted over a range of substrate (4-methylcatechol) concentrations. The solvent/water and solvent/salt hydrate partition coefficients of 4-methylcatechol and 4-methyl-o-benzoquinone were found independently. The reaction components were pre-equilibrated for two weeks with a saturated salt solution. No distinct relationship was observed between the product partition coefficients and enzyme stability. The initial reaction velocity varied between 1.3 * 103 mol product/((mol enzyme)(min)) in toluene and 8.7 * 103 mol product/((mol enzyme)(min)) in amyl acetate. The turnover number varied between 8.1 * 103 mol product/mol enzyme in toluene and 7.2 * 10 4 mol product/mol enzyme in amyl acetate. There is evidence that more than one enzymatic form exists. The first form demonstrates a greater inactivation rate than the second and contributes to the majority of turnover in amyl acetate (~70%) and toluene (~90%), whereas the second form is responsible for the majority of turnover in chloroform (~60%). Both forms are subject to reaction inactivation and denaturation by the solvent.
Oscillatory behavior in an ocean general circulation model of the North Atlantic

Coarse resolution ocean general circulation models are known to produce oscillatory behavior in a variety of forms and over a spectrum of timescales. There are four main potential sources for this behavior: internal model parameters (diffusivities, viscosities), external forcing (wind stress, thermal forcing, freshwater forcing), topography, and initial conditions. After imposing enhanced salinity fluxes with mixed boundary conditions, the model simulations produced a spectrum of oscillatory behavior as a function of the internal modeling parameters alone. In this study, the experiments with idealized topography generated a wider range of model behavior than reported in other studies. In general, this work has shown that two dimensional salinity fluxes produced a broader range of behavior than described in the literature where idealized salinity fluxes trivialized the variability of the diagnosed salt flux field. The initial conditions were the least important of the factors effecting the thermohaline circulation.