VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
High temperature oxidation of copper and copper aluminium alloys: impact on furnace side wall cooling systems

Alloy oxidation is also dependent on the temperature. As temperature increases, more aluminium is required to protect copper from being oxidized. It was shown that if the amount of oxygen that dissolves in the alloy exceeds the solubility limit of oxygen in copper, an internal oxidation layer will develop, leading to the formation of a tarnishing scale. On the other hand if the oxygen content in the alloy lies below the solubility limit of oxygen in copper, no oxidation products will form since a tight protective alumina layer will form on the alloy surface. Surface phenomena may affect the oxidation behaviour of dilute Cu-Al alloys. The high temperature oxidation behaviours of copper and dilute Cu-Al alloys were investigated. Experiments were carried out by: (i) Oxidizing under various oxygen potentials at different temperatures using a combined TG-DTA apparatus. (ii) Oxidizing in a muffle furnace (in air) at different temperatures for extended periods of time. The oxidation mechanisms were evaluated based upon the kinetic data obtained as well as by X-ray diffraction and microscopical (SEM and optical) analyses. Immersion tests in molten copper matte and copper converting slag, using laboratory scale cooling elements with various copper based materials, were conducted. Results from these tests showed that alloying copper with 3 to 4 wt% Al decreases the oxidation rate of pure copper by 4 orders of magnitude; however due to a significant drop in thermal conductivity, the ability to extract heat is compromised, leading to possible failures. Composite coolers were also tested and although their thermal conductivity is limited, they still are able to extract heat at a considerable rate. It was found that oxidation of copper strongly depends on the temperature. Two distinct mechanisms were encountered. Between 300 and 500°C, the oxidation rate is controlled by lateral growth of the oxide on the metal surface, whereas between 600 and 1000°C oxidation is controlled by lattice diffusion of copper ions through the oxide scale. On the other hand, the partial pressure of oxygen only has a small effect on the oxidation of copper.
Crush behaviour of foam-filled columns subjected to oblique loading

In this thesis we examine the influence of oblique loading upon the crush behaviour of foam-filled square aluminium columns subjected to quasi-static collapse loads. Theoretical and experimental work are undertaken to study the effect of the loading angle, friction, and the aluminium foam filler on the collapse behaviour of the composite structure. Three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element analysis of oblique loading using LS-Dyna is conducted. The effect of loading angle, column geometry, and foam-density on the crush behaviour of columns are studied and compared with crush tests using electro-hydraulic servo-controlled test facility. The work was also extended to account for partial filling of the column. The results show that partial foam-filling of columns resulted in the most SEA-efficient collapse response for the widest range of angles considered.
Bone morphogenetic proteins -2 and -7 exert dose-dependent control over cellular and morphogenetic events during mammalian renal branching morphogenesis

Mammalian kidney development requires the formation of a patterned, branched network of collecting ducts, a process termed renal branching morphogenesis. Disruption of this process during human kidney development results in Renal Dysplasia, the major cause of renal failure in young children. Genetic evidence, combined with in vitro data, have implicated secreted peptide growth factors, including the developmentally important bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), as critical regulators of renal branching morphogenesis. Specifically, mRNA for Bmp7 and Bmp2 are expressed in a spatiotemporal pattern consistent with essential functions in kidney development, and Bmp7 is required for normal mouse kidney development in vivo. In this thesis, I report the morphogenetic, cellular, and molecular effects of BMP2 and BMP7 during renal branching morphogenesis in vitro. In embryonic kidney organ culture and three-dimensional cell culture models of collecting duct development, BMP7 exerted dose-dependent, stimulatory and inhibitory effects on collecting duct growth and branching, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. In contrast, BMP2 only exerted inhibitory effects on embryonic collecting duct morphogenesis and cell survival. A SMAD-dependent signaling mechanism was identified for specifying the inhibitory activity of BMPs during collecting duct development, while a SMAD-independent mechanism evoked their stimulatory effects. This research identifies novel functions for BMPs during mammalian kidney development. It contributes to our understanding of the effects of BMP2 and BMP7 in experimental models of renal collecting duct development. In addition, it advances our knowledge of the developmental role of these BMPs during embryonic kidney morphogenesis.
Cost of illness study of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in Canada

Background. Nausea with or without vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) is the most common medical condition in pregnancy. NVP, even with mild symptoms, is associated with costs to society, patients and the health care system. Methods. A cost of illness study was performed to estimate the cost per woman-week associated with the onset of NVP in Canada, stratified according to the severity of NVP. Data were collected from 139 pregnant women, who called the Motherisk Program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Conclusion. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in Canada is associated with substantial costs to society, patients, and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Results. From the perspective of society, the total cost per woman-week was $124, $334 and $610 for women with mild, moderate and severe NVP, respectively. Costs from all perspectives increased with increasing severity of NVP.
Density of states in hydrogenated and tritiated amorphous silicon thin films obtained using the constant photocurrent method

The constant photocurrent method (CPM) was implemented to determine the density of states in amorphous silicon below the Fermi level. Hydrogenated (a-Si:H) and tritiated (a-Si:H:T) amorphous silicon thin films, grown using the DC saddle-field deposition system, where analyzed with CPM. Tritium incorporated in amorphous silicon samples increases the defect state density over time. The results showed an exponential valence band tail and a peak of doubly occupied dangling bonds (D- ) positioned 1.24 eV below the conduction band. The defects in a-Si:H:T were monitored in time showing an increase of defect concentration of about two orders of magnitude. This trend evolved following the theoretical decay of tritium. The a-Si:H samples featured a valence band tail and a peak of singly occupied dangling bonds (D0). A halogen lamp was used to age the samples inducing the Staebler-Wronski effect. Upon illumination the defect density increased by one order of magnitude before saturating.
Le concept de paradigme et la morphologie verbale

In this thesis it is proposed that a morphological distinction between parasitic paradigms and true paradigms exists in natural languages. The distinction is based on the specific assumption that the notion of «paradigm» is relevant in the organization of inflectional affixes in verbal systems (cf. Williams 1981, 1994, Carstairs 1987, Wunderlich 1995, di Sciullo 1999) and on the empirical observation that, in the verbal paradigms of the Romanian language, one can notice that some paradigmatic patterns of different moods are very similar (e.g. present subjunctive and present indicative paradigms, present imperative and present indicative). An examination of the paradigms for the present of the subjunctive and indicative in standard romance languages (Romanian, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Latin) then leads me to propose that it is only when there are distinct realizations (with respect to other paradigms) for the second person singular and plural that a true paradigm pattern is to be expected. Assuming that there is an interface between syntax and morphology and that some morphological information is pertinent for the syntactic module, I make the hypothesis that the paradigmatic pattern is pertinent for the interface between syntax and morphology: it is proposed that this pattern is in correlation with the functional make-up of the phrase, in particular with the tense representation. A detailed analysis of Romanian subjunctives and imperatives is undertaken in which I propose that those moods, which display parasitic paradigms, lack a syntactic tense representation. It is proposed that the subjunctive is only a MoodP and the imperative only a vP and that the agreement affixes are obtained through a minimal checking mechanism for the subjunctive and through a default morphological mechanism for imperatives. Various consequences are discussed. For subjunctive: the status of the NP subject, the past subjunctive, the representation of a complex future which uses the subjunctive verb form. For imperative: the illocutionary force, the imperatives with theme vowel. The inflected infinitives in Portuguese and Hungarian are shown to provide further support for the main hypothesis: the correlation between parasitic paradigms and the lack of tense in the syntactic representation.
Antagonistic utopias: A cultural approach to Mughal polity and Muslim nationalism

This is a history of the idea of 'Muslim India.' It is anchored in a growing body of literature that suggests the thought and institutions of the Mughal state (1526--1858) played a role in the rise of Muslim nationalism in 'British India.' Approached through the lens of Paul Ricoeur's theses on ideology and utopia, the central question posed is whether the idea of a religio-political community encompassing the Muslims of South Asia---an idea integral to the Muslim nationalist thesis---was a feature of the ideologies and utopias of the Mughal period. Thus, textual sources chosen are best suited to enunciating the ideologies of the Mughal state and the utopianism of Muslims from a variety of classes and locales. These sources include the Arabic, Persian and Urdu Writings of Muslim jurists, mystics, philosophers and historians, Urdu prose, poetry and journalism, Punjabi folk literature, travelogues from South Asian and European authors, and a selection of English colonial sources, including bureaucratic records and Orientalist scholarship. Based on the above theoretical approach and textual sources, this study argues that an idea of 'Muslim India' first entered Muslim discourse in the reign and under the patronage of Jalal al-Din Akbar (r. 1556--1605), wrapped in the cloak of an ideology hailing the Mughals as Caliphs in the formal Islamic sense. The utopianism in this is explained through consideration of the Islamic legal and mystical ideals underlying Mughal ideological and institutional initiatives. Given this regime's enduring legacy, despite the demise of Mughal political authority by the 18th century, the idea not only formed a significant part of the political rhetoric of this period, it also spread from the writings of the political elite to such independent and influential scholars as the Wali Allahis. Furthermore, the expansion in rhetorical domain was accompanied by the grafting of alternate intellectual and institutional ideals to the idea than those symbolized by the Mughals. It is these alternatives, held by the political and scholarly elite, that are ultimately introduced to the ascendant classes of Muslim 'capitalists' in the 19th century, reinforcing the notions of 'Muslim India' being conjured under British Raj.
Dynamic finite-element analysis of a planar high-speed, high-precision parallel manipulator with flexible links

This thesis performs a dynamic finite element analysis of a planar fully parallel robot with flexible links. The governing equations of motion are based on the linear theory of kineto-elastodynamics. Results show that: (1) Convergence of the responses is achieved when each link is modeled with only one axially extendible high-order beam element, resulting in twelve flexible degrees-of-freedom; (2) The first mode's natural frequency (ω1) varies significantly with the configuration, from zero Hertz to more than 500 Hertz. A large ω 1 is associated with stiff configurations and warrants small amplitude dynamic vibrations. In contrast, a low ω1 can lead to relatively large amplitude vibrations, provided that this mode is excited by the input motion; (3) The additional terms included in the governing equations of motion, namely Coriolis damping, and centrifugal and geometric stiffnesses, have a negligible contribution to the vibratory response in the present analysis.
Incorporation of microspheres into nerve guidance channels for drug delivery purposes

Implantation of nerve guidance channels has been shown to be a promising strategy for repair of spinal cord transection injuries; however, regeneration is limited and may be improved by the long-term delivery of therapeutic agents. To enable localized, controlled and sustained delivery of NGF to the lumen of poly(HEMA-co-MMA) channels, NGF-loaded PLGA microspheres were incorporated into a polymer layer on the inside of the channels. Channels loaded with NGF were also prepared by soaking their interior in NGF solution or by entrapping NGF directly in a polymer layer on the inside of the channels. Only low microsphere loadings could be achieved in the channels with microspheres, and as a result of this, and an imperfect microsphere formulation, these channels released limited amounts of NGF in in-vitro release studies. Channels with NGF entrapped directly in the inner layer were able to deliver the largest amount of NGF in a sustained manner.
Murine model of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia mediated by anti-GPIbalpha antibodies versus anti-beta3 integrin antibodies

Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAITP) results from maternal anti-platelet antibodies that cross the placenta and destroy fetal platelets. Although GPIbalpha is highly expressed on platelets and is a major autoantigen in Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), the reported cases of anti-GPIbalpha antibody mediated FNAITP are rare compared to anti-beta3 integrin antibody mediated FNAITP. This may be due to: (1) the GPIbalpha antigen being less immunogenic, or (2) anti-GPIbalpha antibodies mediate a less severe pathology. To test these hypotheses, we generated anti-GPIbalpha and anti-beta3 antibody mediated models of FNAITP. The anti-GPIbalpha antibody titers were significantly lower than those with the anti-beta3 integrin model. Naive (Group I), 2-time-platelet-immunized (Group II), or 4-time-platelet immunized (Group III) female GPIbalpha-/- or beta3-/- mice were bred with WT male mice. In Group II, anti-beta3 integrin antibody mediated FNAITP was more severe than anti-GPIbalpha antibody mediated FNAITP. However, when the anti-GPIbalpha antibody level was increased (Group III), severe FNAITP was observed. Fewer FNAITP cases reported with alloantibodies against GPIbalpha may be due to GPIbalpha being less immunogenic.
Improving markov chain monte carlo estimators using overrelaxation and coupling techniques

Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms have been used to explore complicated distributions in physics, chemistry, and most recently Bayesian and classical statistics. The computation time needed to obtain estimates for the parameters of the target distribution can sometimes be extremely large. In this thesis, we propose three Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms that reduce the computational effort for obtaining estimates at a given precision. The first two extend the scope of overrelaxation methods. The first algorithm, random sequence overrelaxation, suppresses random walks for Gaussian distributions with highly negatively-correlated components. The second algorithm, Jacobian overrelaxation, is applicable to non-Gaussian distributions for which the components are highly positively-correlated. The last method is based on coupling two chains, one sampling from the target distribution and one from an approximating distribution. By exploiting the correlation between these two chains we can obtain more precise estimates for a given computational effort. To demonstrate empirically the performance of these algorithms, we perform a simulation study for each and we compare their performance with the performance of an appropriate existing algorithm. These simulations show that the proposed algorithms improve the efficiency of the Markov chain Monte Carlo estimators.
Natural regeneration of bigleaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) in unlogged and selectively logged forests and Kayapó forest tree knowledge and taxonomy in southern Pará, Brazil

Issues related to the sustainability of resource extraction were examined in the Kayapó Indigenous Area of southeast Pará, Brazil, including selective logging of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and the nature of Kayapó indigenous knowledge of the forest tree flora. Results of regeneration surveys in 28 plots around 14 trees in unlogged forest and 14 stumps in logged forest indicated that logging created conditions favourable to the survival and growth of mahogany offspring, but diminished the reproductive potential of the remaining population. During forest interviews on the identity and utility of 331 pre-identified trees (82 species), Kayapó informants named over 80 scientific species from 41 botanical families. The Kayapó had extensive knowledge of trees and their uses, especially among older individuals, and classified trees in a way that was similar to that used by other indigenous cultures. The Kayapó also grouped many trees into the same categories as Western science.
Ontogeny of renal P-glycoprotein expression in mice: correlation with digoxin renal clearance

Digoxin is eliminated by the kidneys through P-gp, a drug efflux pump. Young children require higher doses of digoxin than adults, due to a higher clearance rate of the drug. We hypothesized that there is an increase in P-gp expression in young children, leading to higher tubular secretion of the glycoside. We tested this hypothesis in mice. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was conducted to analyse mdr1a and mdr1b ontogeny in the kidney at: birth, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 45-day old FVB mice. Clearance studies were conducted in parallel. At 21 days, which is the period of weaning in mice, we observed the highest mdr1b expression, and the highest clearance rate of digoxin. The renal ontogeny of P-gp is likely an important mechanism of age-dependant digoxin clearance in young children. Our study documents an ontogeny of renal P-gp, explaining why younger children need substantially higher doses of this drug.
Standards of impartiality, independence and neutrality for arbitrators in international commercial arbitration

Traditional standards used in litigation to deal with judicial ethics are not appropriate in the context of this alternative method of dispute resolution, that seeks a more flexible set of rules, opposed to the rigid norms surrounding the judicial system. Therefore, an alternative standard should be adopted to govern arbitral ethics. This standard ought to be responsive to the needs of the parties and take into account the particular ethics, usages and customs within this field, abandoning old paradigms used in traditional litigation, which do not fit well in this alternative method of dispute resolution. The search for an appropriate standard to assess the independence and impartiality of arbitrators in international commercial arbitration has become increasingly important, due to the increased number of claims against arbitrators based on suspicions of bias. Considering the particular features of the arbitral process, including party-autonomy, freedom of choice, and self-determination, this paper suggests that any rules attempting to deal with this issue need to be approached with a flexible view, in order to assure the integrity of the process without violating the governing principles of arbitration.

Keywords: Arbitration and award
The role of inattention, working memory, and phonological decoding in children's computational fluency

In two studies, the current thesis examined the utility of various cognitive and behavioural measures in predicting concurrent and end-of-year computational fluency in a community sample of children in grades 1-4. Children completed measures indexing the auditory-verbal and visuo-spatial storage components of working memory, phonological decoding, and non-verbal IQ, while their parents and teachers completed rating scales on their inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive behaviours. Results of the first study indicated that teacher-rated inattention was strongly, and uniquely linked to poorer concurrent computational fluency. Other variables considered did not emerge as significant predictors once inattention had been explained. The second study confirmed the findings of the first study, and showed that teacher-rated inattention also predicted computational fluency across time. These results are consistent with previous research linking teacher-rated attention to computational accuracy. The present findings suggest a possible role for measures of inattentive behaviour in the identification of children with mathematical difficulties.
The crucible of culture: ethnicity and the second generation Italian-Canadian woman in Toronto

This essay examines the nature and persistence of ethnicity among a group of university educated, second generation Italian Canadian women. It explores those factors, both external and internal, that contribute to the formation and maintenance of their ethnic identity. While no two women had identical experiences or views, as a whole they feel at odds with the duality of cultures they are forced to balance because they lack a sense of belonging to either their native community or their ethnic community. Those of the second generation have no definable place as they are not immigrants, and they do not feel themselves Canadian beyond their legal citizenship. As Italian Canadian women, they are reduced to mythological constructs of society's imagination. Ultimately, they are labelled "typical Italian women", indicating both a feeble attempt at understanding and contempt for a "foreign" group. The "crucible", both a melting pot for metal, and a trial, is a metaphor for the Italian Canadian woman expected to assimilate into one culture or another. Unable to assimilate she faces judgement and condemnation to a social role she may not otherwise have chosen.

Keywords: Italians, Social conditions
Italians, Ontario
Minority women, Social conditions
Minority women, Ontario
Italians, Ethnic identity
Italians, Ontario
Culture conflict, Ontario