VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The evolving practice of the internal and external organizational development consultant

This qualitative study explores the evolution of the practice of Organizational Development over the last decade. Eight OD practitioners with ten or more years of experience were interviewed. An equal number of internal and external consultants were chosen so that comparisons could be made where appropriate. Using in-depth interviews, participants were asked to reflect upon: how the practice had changed over the decade; what factors have caused this change; the professional activities they currently engage in; the values they espouse; and how to train practitioners entering the field. Participants identified the following factors as having had a significant impact on the role of the OD consultant: the globalization of the economy, technological change, shifts in the employee/employer contract, and evolution within the OD field itself. Participants in this study demonstrate a pattern of adaptation to these changing circumstances. They have increasingly focused on organizational effectiveness and now tend to use a systemic focus when resolving organizational problems. While they are still using many of the traditional activities associated with OD, such as training and teambuilding, they have adapted them to meet current organizational needs. There are also some new developments within the field at the level of large-scale change, transorganizational development, and organizational teaming. Humanistic values still remain fundamental to the OD consultants in this study. Some differences emerge between the internal and external consultants. Internal consultants are more adamant about the importance of focusing on organizational effectiveness. Although all participants use a wide range of activities, external consultants are more involved with large-scale change, transorganizational development, and intergroup relations while internal consultants are more focused at the individual and group level. OD still faces some hurdles in reaching its full potential as a distinct discipline. The OD community needs to find effective ways to resolve the tensions and differences that exist within the field. More work needs to be done to professionalize the discipline. This would involve achieving a consensus on a clear statement of values and ethics, a defined curriculum to educate new consultants, and effective monitoring of practitioners.
The effects of dietary folate on intestinal tumorigenesis in genetically predisposed murine models

Epidemiologic and animal studies have shown dietary folate intake to have a dose-responsive inverse relationship with the risk of colorectal neoplasms. 'Apc'+/- (Min) and 'Apc'+/-' Msh'2-/- mouse models, which develop spontaneous intestinal tumors that are genotypically and phenotypically similar to human CRC, were used to study the effects of dietary folate on intestinal and colonic tumorigenesis. This study indicates that dietary folate supplementation at 10x and 4x the basal requirement respectively, provided prior to neoplastic foci development, suppresses intestinal tumorigenesis. In contrast, in the 'Apc'+/-' Msh'2-/- model only, dietary folate deficiency, provided after the development of neoplastic foci, significantly reduces intestinal tumor number. DNA methylation and impaired mismatch repair, as mechanisms for the observed effects of folate, appear to not play major roles in this model. Therefore, timing and dose of folate intervention is critical in providing safe and effective chemoprevention in these models.
The effect of chloride concentration and temperature on the partitioning of Cd, Cu and Pb between the dissolved and solid phases of an urban stormwater detention pond

Detention pond sediment and water from Harding Park, Richmond Hill, were used to assemble experimental microcosms. Effects of chloride concentration (100 to 5000 ppm Cl) and temperature (4°C and 25°C) on sorption and desorption of Cd, Cu and Pb were examined. Although metal sorption was rapid under all treatments, it was generally slower at lower temperatures with higher equilibrium dissolved metal concentrations maintained. This effect is speculated to be caused by inhibited periphyton growth and microbial activity and/or slower sorption reactions at lower temperatures. Microcosms with highest chloride levels tended to have higher dissolved metal concentrations, perhaps due to formation of soluble metal-chloride complexes. All conditions revealed minima desorption. The experimental systems were shown to have a high metal capacity over the short-term, implying detention ponds are efficient modes of stormwater treatment. However, over time metals may become concentrated in the site, posing potential risks to wildlife and humans.
Bilingual narrative development among school-age Hispanic-Canadian children

This thesis explores narrative structure (the way information is selected and organized in a narrative) among bilingual immigrant children. Its primary concern is to increase understanding of the process of mother tongue attrition among bilingual children and to devise appropriate strategies for its prevention. The student sample consisted of 120 Spanish-English speaking children living in Toronto equally divided between Grades 1 to 8. The children were selected on the basis of their high proficiency in Spanish. The results of a questionnaire on language use indicated that the children considered Spanish the language of their homes, but that English was the language of the popular media and the community. Standardized bilingual proficiency tests (Woodcock) were used to establish a general context of Spanish language attrition--noticeable at the early grades, and accelerating at the higher grades. The children were asked to tell narratives of personal experience in both English and Spanish. An analysis of the length of the narratives added further evidence of increasing deterioration of Spanish. The structure of the children's narratives was analyzed (using High Point, Episodic and Dependency analyses) in order to determine how closely they conformed to the North American English language ideal. All three techniques indicated that the children's English language narratives conformed closely to the developmental pattern of English language ideal. All three techniques indicated that the children's English language narratives conformed closely to the developmental pattern of English monolinguals. Their Spanish narratives, however, deviated widely from the North American ideal in the earliest grades but conformed closely in the higher grades. Because of the general context of Spanish attrition, it is suggested that these results indicate a deterioration in the narrative style/s native to the various Spanish language cultural milieu from which the children were drawn. In order to confirm and clarify these results a call is made for considerably more research into linguistic and cultural variations in narrative structure both in monolingual and bilingual contexts. It is suggested that a sensitivity to variations in narrative structure would help prevent conflict and misunderstanding between teachers and minority students. It is further suggested that to help prevent the loss of immigrant languages, bilingual school programmes need to be actively promoted and should include authentic narratives. Finally, it is stressed that parents must play a crucial role in their children's mother tongue maintenance by using it systematically at home, by maintaining contact with the mother country and community members, by participating in community events, and by patronizing community media.
Using ammonia to inhibit bromate formation during ozonation

The mechanism by which ammonia inhibits bromate formation when ozonating drinking water was investigated. A kinetic analysis of the chemistry of bromate formation supported earlier hypotheses that ammonia acts by blocking two bromate formation pathways that require free bromine as an intermediate. A third pathway, the so-called Indirect/Direct pathway, does not require free bromine and is not affected by ammonia. Some bromate will therefore continue to form regardless of ammonia concentration. Ammonia blocks the free bromine pathways by reacting with free bromine to form bromamines, which do not participate in bromate formation. Bromamines are unstable, and their decay opens up the free bromine pathways once more. The stability of bromamines is therefore a key factor in ammonia's ability to inhibit bromate formation. A study of the possible routes of bromamine decay indicated that autonomous decay in water was likely insignificant, while reaction with ozone and natural organic matter (NOM) would lead to substantial bromamine decomposition in an ozone contactor. Ammonia may therefore be more effective at inhibiting bromate formation if the water were first clarified to remove NOM prior to ozonation. The impact of hydroxyl radicals on bromarnine stability could not be assessed due to a lack of a reported reaction rate. Factors affecting the rate of bromate formation and ammonia depletion when ozonating water containing ammonia were investigated both experimentally and using a deterministic model. Less bromate is predicted to be formed for lower ozone and bromide concentrations, lower pH, and lower temperature. (Bi)carbonate alkalinity may also work synergistically with ammonia to inhibit bromate formation more effectively than either compound alone, due to hydroxyl radical scavenging. In contrast, conditions which promote hydroxyl radical formation (such as hydrogen peroxide formation from reaction between ozone and NOM) may render ammonia less effective. Of important practical significance is evidence that only a very small amount of ammonia (&ap;0.05 mg/L as N) is required to block the free bromine pathways of bromate formation. Adding more ammonia will not further limit bromate formation under typical conditions, however greater ammonia doses would be needed to account for ammonia depletion during ozonation. In practice, selection of an appropriate ammonia dose may be best determined by monitoring concentrations in the ozone contactor effluent. An ammonia dose that can provide a contactor effluent residual in the range of 0.05 mg/L is likely sufficient; applying more may not result in further bromate reduction.
Defining fluoropolymer surfaces for enhanced nerve cell interaction

Fluoropolymers are modified in an attempt to enhance their interaction with nerve cells for the purpose of modelling biomaterial-cell interactions for eventual application in spinal cord injury repair. Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-' co'-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP) was modified with oxygen and nitrogen-containing functional groups and subsequently coupled with cell-adhesive peptides to mimic the laminin basal lamina environment of the peripheral nervous system. The surface chemistry of the modified surfaces were fully characterized. Hippocampal neurons were cultured on all the modified surfaces to study for neurite outgrowth and cell adhesion. FEP surfaces were initially functionalized by reduction with sodium naphthalide followed by either hydroboration oxidation (to alcohol) or oxidation (to carboxylic acid). Functionalized surfaces were then coupled with individual peptide: YIGSR, IKVAV or RGD. The initial cell-material interaction study showed that hippocampal neurons responded to the peptide-modified surfaces in a quantitatively comparable manner to positive controls consisting of poly(L-lysine) (PLL) and laminin coated surfaces. However, qualitative differences in cell response were observed. To further study the neuron-surface interaction, a new method of surface modification was developed. The novel mercat amination reaction was used to functionalize FEP surfaces by exposing films to a UV-activated mercury in ammonia system. Relative to hydroxyl and carboxylic acid chemistries, the mercat reaction is simpler, involving only one step and uses less reactive chemicals. The modified surfaces were defined to have amines, nitriles, hydroxyl, carboxylic acids, and carbon-carbon double bonds, which allowed for the coupling of cell-adhesive peptides. Initial cell culture studies of hippocampal neurons on these surfaces showed that the neuronal response was comparable to PLL/laminin surface even though the peptide concentrations were lower. An in-depth study of cell-material interaction was developed to better distinguish the surfaces by neuronal response. Neurite number and length were investigated in conjunction with cell adhesion and viability. The results indicated that the hippocampal interaction was best on PLL/laminin surfaces, but was closely approximated by FEP surfaces coupled with both YIGSR and IKVAV. Surfaces with a single peptide showed significantly lesser response. The specificity of the cell-peptide interaction was demonstrated with a competitive assay. These well-defined fluoropolymer surfaces confirmed that nerve cell interaction was enhanced by the coupling of cell-adhesive peptides.
Modeling seasonal hydrologic response to forest harvesting and road construction, the role of drainage organization

This study addresses several challenges in the application of hydro-ecological models as tools for studying the spatially distributed pattern of soil moisture and runoff production in the context of land use change. This research is comprised of two components: (a) The development and assessment of a methodology used to model hillslope drainage organization at the small basin scale and (b) application of this methodology for assessing forest harvesting and road construction effects on hydrologic response. This investigation focuses specifically on the Pacific Northwest region where the impact of forest harvesting on hydrologic response is an important and controversial issue. This work presents modifications to the Regional Hydro-Ecological Simulation System (RHESSys) modeling framework and discusses specific issues related to modeling landscape drainage organization in hydro-ecological models. Within RHESSys, tradeoffs between using a spatially explicit routing approach versus a less detailed statistical approach to modeling distributed hydrology are explored. Results from this study illustrate the limitations of using a statistical approach in modeling drainage organization and the sensitivity of both routing methods to calibration and errors in topographic and soil input data. Different strategies for landscape representation are also compared. Results highlight the significant role played by fine scale topographic variability in areas adjacent to streams, and the importance of these local areas in controlling watershed hydrologic response. Application of the RHESSys modeling tool is further developed by incorporating a conceptual model of forest harvesting and road construction effects on hydrology. Comparing simulations with observed streamflow for a study catchment in the Pacific Northwest provides an illustration of forest harvesting and road construction effects on hydrologic response. The model illustrates how the effects of these disturbances are dependent upon road construction characteristics and the spatial distribution of vegetation and its water use. Road construction characteristics include both culvert drainage topology and the position of the road relative to hillslope drainage organization. Effects on downslope soil moisture and the spatial and temporal dynamics of seasonal runoff production illustrate the potential ecological significance of different disturbance scenarios.
Involvement of reactive oxygen species and cytokines in nitric oxide production and apoptosis in bovine chondrocytes

Cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF-Ã are known to elicit responses from chondrocytes that are destructive to articular cartilage during arthritis. It has become apparent that some of these effects are mediated through their induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In particular, nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in several processes that lead to the development of arthritis. Various inflammatory mediators, including cytokines such as IL-1, TNF-Ã, and IFN-ã, and microbial products such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been shown to stimulate the expression of iNOS, which produces large amount of NO that is believed to mediate various inflammatory reactions involving both osteoarthritis (OA) and especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Both OA and RA are characterized by loss of chondrocytes during their late stages. Apoptotic cells have recently been discovered in OA cartilage. Inflammatory cytokines and ROS are well-known inducers of apoptosis in various cell types, suggesting that they may be responsible for the cell death observed in arthritis. In this study, we first demonstrate that IL-1 can stimulate production of NO in bovine chondrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Secondly, we have shown in the present study that chondrocytes are quite resistant to individual treatments of cytokines (IL-1, TNF-Ã) and ROS (H2O2 and NO), regardless of their proliferative state. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Exploring critical citizenship in a community-based ESL program

This thesis reconceptualizes the problems and purposes of English as a Second Language by way of a case study and series of lessons on the 1995 Quebec referendum on sovereignty. Central to this study is a dialogic engagement between various critical, postmodern, and applied linguistic theories for the purposes of enhancing participatory citizenship skills through ESL pedagogy. Throughout this thesis, the relative (in)compatibilities of these diverse conceptual models are evaluated through the specific classroom events, student experiences, and sociopolitical contexts of the local community centre where these lessons took place. Chapter one outlines several key concepts for critical practice in community-based ESL programs. Chapter two takes up the issue of citizenship education and explores the complex ways in which the dominant discourses of ESL shape the democratic expectations of both teachers and students. In chapter three, the function of teacher research in the context of citizenship education is appraised. Data collection for the thesis is framed by alternative validity criteria sensitive to the ideological factors that are central to issues of politics and identity negotiation in public life. Chapter four describes the program and community setting where the case study takes place. Chapter five describes the actual lessons on the Quebec referendum, interspersed with short theoretical discussions which provide a rationale for the teaching strategies chosen. In chapter six and seven, the possibilities for theoretical hybridity or paradigmatic dialogue are explored in depth in the contexts of L2 pedagogical grammar and vocabulary teaching, respectively. Aspects of poststructural discourse and subjectivity are appraised alongside Hallidayan systemic-functionalism in a discussion of pedagogical grammar. In a discussion of vocabulary teaching, several poststructural semiotic concepts are evaluated in relation to applied linguistic research on morphology, word motivation and compositionality. The final chapter of the thesis examines future trends in Canadian multicultural policy to anticipate their influence on community-based programs and to suggest directions for teaching in support of social justice in increasingly multicultural and multiracial contexts.
Cyclin D1 gene amplification and protein overexpression in dysplastic oral mucosa and oral cancer

Amplification of 'cyclin D1' gene has been identified in 17-55% of HNSCC where this change is associated with poor prognosis. In oral precancerous lesions, the frequency of gene amplification is not known. We examined 59 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue biopsies of oral epithelial dysplasias (OED) and 25 oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) from the floor of the mouth for 'cyclin D1' gene amplification by duplex PCR and protein expression levels by immunohistochemistry. 'Cyclin D1' gene was amplified in 41% of mild, 45% of moderate, 24% of severe OEDs, and in 36% of SCC. Overexpression of cyclin D1 protein was identified in 29% of mild, 47% of moderate, 24% of severe OEDs, and in 32% of SCC. There were statistically significant correlations identified between gene and protein levels in all categories of disease. We concluded that amplification of the 'cyclin D1' gene is frequent in OED and that duplex PCR is a reliable method to detect this change in routinely processed biopsies.
Community analysis of an anaerobic tetrachloroethene, PCE, degrading bacterial consortium

The community structure of an anaerobic microbial consortium, capable of dechlorination of saturation levels of tetrachloroethene in an continuous-flow column was examined via biomass analysis, comparative 16S rRNA analysis, ARDRA, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Biomass in the column was heterogeneously distributed, with high levels of chemical oxygen demand, DNA and protein located near the inlet and a community structure that varied along its length. Microbial diversity was, at minimum, 34 members, with a number of organisms exhibiting close phylogenetic: relationships with known dechlorinators, in particular, 'Dehalococcoides ethenogenes, Trichlorobacter thiogenes' and 'Dehalobacter restrictus'. Furthermore, seven consortium members had their closest relatives detected in other environments containing chlorinated compounds. Based on DGGE and cloning of 16S rRNA genes and phylogenetic analysis dominant Bacterial taxa were deemed to be ' Dehalococcoides ethenogenes, Shewanella putrefaciens, Acetobacterium psammolithicum ', a putative member of the 'Clostrideaceae', the ' Anaerobaculum thermoterrenum' group, the CFB group, 'Trichlorobacter ', and 'Pseudomonas putida'.
Isolation of Achlya ambisexualis genomic and cDNA clones encoding the 60 kDa mitochondrial chaperone (Hsp60/GroEL) and characterization of the corresponding transcript and protein levels during steroid hormone-induced hyphal differentiation

In the oomycete 'Achlya ambisexualis', the differentiation of specialized gamete-bearing structures, as well as several subsequent events in sexual reproduction, are mediated by the steroid hormones antheridiol and oogoniol. When antheridiol is added to vegetative cultures of the male strain, the hyphae begin to develop male gametangia (antheridia). Mitochondria would be expected to play a role in providing energy for antheridial branching, and it is known that the respiratory rate of antheridiol treated male mycelia, increases up to 400% relative to non-hormone treated controls. Since the mitochondria) chaperone Hsp60 is required for mitochondrial function and biogenesis, it was of interest to determine if Hsp60 transcript or protein levels were regulated during antheridiol-induced development. To investigate this, degenerate primers, designed from a consensus 'hsp60' sequence, were used in PCR with 'A. ambisexualis' genomic DNA, to produce a 756 bp amplicon. This probe was used to screen 'A. ambisexualis' cDNA libraries and a cDNA, JS 149, was isolated. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Construction and screening of a combinatorial shiga toxin library

Shiga-like toxin I (SLTI) is a bacterial toxin that is able to penetrate and kill mammalian cells. In this project, a library of SLTI mutants with altered receptor specificity was constructed using a synthetic oligonucleotide that varied 9 amino acids in the specificity-determining region of the B subunit. A high throughput screening procedure based on the cytotoxic activity of the toxin mutants was used as a direct approach to assay for toxins that killed SK-BR-3, a breast cancer cell line resistant to native SLTI. Seventeen out of the 1000 bacterial lysates screened were found to be cytotoxic towards SK-BR-3 cells. Analysis of the mutants revealed that receptor expression and cellular morphology of SK-BR-3 cells changed over time, underscoring the importance of the Shiga-like toxin I library as a potentially valuable source of therapeutic agents.