VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The dialectics of affection: Trace and temporality in the restaging of historical images

This dissertation analyzes contemporary art practices that employ historical imagery in terms of how they disrupt modernist time and shift how viewers conceive their relationships to the past. Examining the figures of the ghost and the junk collector, who both materialize this disruption, this research addresses how they both propose community with the past. Considering the ethical limits and possibilities of these figures, this project then advances a model of community that occurs on non-identificatory terms. In addition, this dissertation articulates a way of enlisting images to shift the nature of attention, addressing how we might attend to those who are excluded from or who exist outside of our own present. While this dissertation discusses the ethical possibilities that visual culture practices propose for a social life around the trace of the past, it argues that this engagement must be constituted via the terms of the trace whereby the image is neither static nor reified, but creates an opening in time that is the viewer's unique present. This structure of possibility is modeled through several videos produced as part of this dissertation. Juxtaposing still and moving images that depict the same scene at different points in time, they enable viewers to experience a form of presence in which they attend to absence, duration and temporal multiplicity.*This research focuses on artistic and curatorial strategies that facilitate an affective engagement with traces that been discarded either physically or epistemologically. Examining photographic projections by Shimon Attie, the exhibition of Ydessa Hendeles's photographs of teddy bears, the presentation of the Without Sanctuary photographs of lynching, and the dialectical staging of images of Socialist utopia by Susan Buck-Morss in her Dreamworld and Catastrophe project, this dissertation addresses how each of these works produce an alternate social life around the recovered trace and create an opening to the past. It argues that such critical re-stagings occur through several conditions: the clearing, or a site where one realizes affective continuity with the past, and the interval, the divide across which perception and memory extend themselves, constituting unique and multiple experiences of time.*This dissertation is a compound document (contains both a paper copy and a DVD as part of the dissertation). The DVD requires the following system requirements: Windows MediaPlayer or RealPlayer.
The muddying of the wells: twentieth-century British opera and the literary librettist

Twentieth-century British opera is characterized by its conscientious approach towards the adaptation of literary sources which emphasize psychological instability, social ostracization, and the ambiguity of the narrative voice. While tradition customarily accords artistic primacy to the composer, British opera grants a creative and interpretative authority to the librettist, often apparently necessitated by the increasingly esoteric nature of the literary source. The involvement of such novelists, poets, and dramatists as W. H. Auden, E. M. Forster, and Christopher Hassall has resulted in the redefinition of opera in twentieth-century Britain as a musico-dramatic form characterized by the literary status of its source, librettist, and adaptation. This involvement is often inspired on the part of literary figures by the recognition of the potential to realize in opera the literary aesthetics articulated by such writers as Auden, Forster, Aldous Huxley and Virginia Woolf. Recognizing this influence of literary aesthetics, composers such as Michael Tippett, who write their own libretti, attempt to assert the artistic and intellectual achievement of their operas less in their music than in the pronounced literary self-consciousness of their libretti. Composers such as Hans Werner Henze articulate a resistance to the attempts of their librettists to determine musical style and structure, but do not enforce an alternate interpretation. Others such as William Walton attempt to assert a musical independence by offering dramatic prominence to characters and themes not dramatically emphasized in the libretto. Benjamin Britten attempts to assert his own interpretation of the source while faithfully representing those of his librettists. The librettists themselves exist in subtle conflict not only with the frequently resistant influence of the composer, but also with the literary reputation, perceived achievement, and existing adaptations of their original source. Operas such as Gawain (David Harsent-Harrison Birtwistle), Troilus and Cressida (Christopher Hassall-William Walton), King Priam (Michael Tippett), The Bassarids (W. H. Auden-Chester Kallman-Hans Werner Henze), The Beach of Falesá (Glyn Jones-Alun Hoddinott) and Billy Budd (Eric Crozier-E. M. Forster-Benjamin Britten) manifest these tensions between source, adaptation, librettist, and composer in such a way as to translate (often inadvertently) the narrative ambiguity of their original source.
Episodic memory for personally relevant information: evidence from aging, divided attention at retrieval, and positron emission tomography

Three components of episodic memory are retrieval content, retrieval success, and retrieval experience. These components, as they relate to episodic memory for personally relevant information, were investigated in two behavioral experiments and in a positron emission tomography (PET) experiment; the PET study investigated the neural correlates of the three components with particular attention paid to changes in frontal activity. In each experiment retrieval content was investigated by comparing the retrieval of adjectives that were processed in one of four ways: in terms of the self, another person, social desirability, or phonological structure. Retrieval success was investigated by comparing recognition performance across the four conditions and/or between groups. Retrieval experience was investigated by using a “remember/know” (R/K) recognition procedure; R responses index retrieval that is accompanied by a “re-experiencing” of aspects of the encoding episode whereas K responses index retrieval based on a feeling of familiarity. The retrieval content results suggest that the retrieval of category specific information engages anterior cortical areas when the category is personally or socially relevant. The retrieval success results support previous suggestions of right frontal involvement. The retrieval experience results suggest that increases in frontal activity are more correlated with K responses than R responses. Additional frontal regions may be recruited for K responses to verify and monitor the output, and to engage additional strategic search processes to try to change K responses to R responses. R responses primarily engaged limbic regions and anatomically related structures that may deliver their output to right frontal regions or be “switched on” by them. The PET results converge with the results of the two behavioral studies. Relative to young adults under full attention, the R scores of old adults were smaller in only the self-reference and social desirability conditions, and young adults who divided their attention at retrieval performed similarly to old adults; previous studies have suggested that divided attention and aging affect frontal function. The present series of experiments shed light on the neuro-cognitive system that mediates the retrieval of self-referential information. The experiments revealed different components of episodic memory that contribute to the cognitive processes and patterns of neural activity associated with episodic memory for personally relevant information.
The dynamic roles of Tbx5 in murine cardiac development: A spatiotemporal and dosage-dependent analysis

Dominant mutations in the T-box transcription factor TBX5 cause Holt Oram syndrome (HOS), an inherited human disease characterized by upper limb malformations and congenital heart defects (CHDs) of variable severity. While occurrences of HOS are rare, the spectrum of CHDs related to TBX5 haploinsufficiency (septal and conduction defects) occur frequently within the general population. Moreover, the discovery of human somatic mutations of TBX5 in non-HOS syndrome patients presenting with CHDs underscores the importance of developing a detailed understanding of the roles of TBX5 during cardiogenesis. Using a temporally-inducible Cre, I proceed to show that Tbx5 acts initially to specify gross atrio-ventricular patterning, and later to refine boundary elements between cardiac chambers. This shows an uncoupling of early differentiation from later fine morphogenesis of distinct cardiac structures and supports a role for Tbx5 in directly patterning specific structures during later cardiogenesis. Using a previously generated Tbx5 conditional mouse mutant, I have dissected the dosage-dependent requirements for, and the spatiotemporal roles of Tbx5 during early cardiogenesis. Analysis of a Tbx5 allelic series shows an inverse correlation between Tbx5 dosage and abnormal cardiac morphogenesis, which is likely underpinned by differential sensitivities of downstream genes to varying levels of Tbx5. These differences in dosage, due to slightly different genetic backgrounds, likely account for the variation in severity of HOS clinical presentation. These initial studies identified a critical requirement for Tbx5 in the outgrowth of the interventricular septum (IVS) between E9-10, which was investigated using two different ventricle-restricted Cre lines. I demonstrate that Tbx5 is necessary to specify ventricular chamber identity and is required explicitly at the interventricular midpoint for IVS outgrowth and the development of the distal conduction system. The defects caused by the ventricular disruption of Tbx5 expression further underscores the pleiotropic nature of this transcription factor in establishing chamber boundary element identity and shows a direct role for Tbx5 in positioning and outgrowth of the IVS. The studies presented here extend the understanding of the role of Tbx5 in cardiogenesis, arguing that CHD manifestation is influenced both globally by dosage considerations, and locally through spatiotemporal changes within chamber precursors.
Japanese university students' perceptions and attitudes toward native and non-native English speaking teachers: a case study of English major students in Japan

This case study examined Japanese university students' perceptions and attitudes toward native English speaking teachers (NESTs) and non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs). Their preferences for NESTs or NNESTs were explored by a questionnaire (n = 56) and in-depth interviews with a sub-sample of students (n = 6). Two university English teachers (NEST and NNEST) were also interviewed. Factor analysis and descriptive statistics of the questionnaire responses showed a clear distinction regarding students' preferences. NESTs were preferred for phonological and oral skills, and NNESTs for grammar instruction and literacy skills. Student interviews highlighted the relationship between their NEST NNEST preference and individual factors such as motivation for learning English. Overall, English learners have a more sophisticated and probably realistic perception of the strengths and weaknesses of NESTs and NNESTs than is common in society.

Keywords: English language, Study and teaching
Native language and education, Japan
English teachers, Japan
College students, Attitudes
College students, Japan
Sweep visual evoked potentials in children with west syndrome before and during vigabatrin treatment

Vigabatrin (VGB) is associated with visual complications in 30–40% of adults with epilepsy taking the drug. Here, sweep visual evoked potential (VEP) was used to assess peak contrast sensitivity (CS) in children taking vigabatrin. In the longitudinal study subjects (n = 15) with West Syndrome (childhood epileptic disorder) before VGB (baseline) were tested. Six were tested 5-months after and five after 10-months taking vigabatrin. A significant peak CS deficit was found in the baseline group. Little change was seen in peak CS 5- and 10-months after starting VGB. In the cross-sectional study, 11 subjects (VGB-exposed) were compared with a control group (typically developing children) and with children on anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) other than VGB. A significant deficit in peak CS was found in the VGB-exposed group when compared with the control and the AED group. Peak CS is poorer in children with West Syndrome. VGB may be associated with an impaired ability to detect low contrasts.
Models of democratic dialogue the justification for judicial review

Under the Charter, scholars have obsessed over the idea of reconciling judicial interpretations of the constitution with democracy. Dialogue theory postulates that judicial review is undemocratic but that, because of mechanisms found in the Charter, there is room for the legislature to respond to decisions striking down legislation. Dialogue theory suggests that judicial review is reconcilable with democracy because the word of an undemocratic group of judges is rarely final. In this thesis, the author critically examines dialogue theory and rejects it as a valid democratic defense to judicial review. He demonstrates how the Charter does not produce real dialogue and shows how dialogue theory both fails to provide an adequate definition to indicate what is democratic or dialogic about the legislative response process and incorrectly focuses on the nature of the legislative actors to justify judicial review. The author concludes with his own theory reconciling the Charter with democracy.

Keywords: Constitutional law, Canada
Susceptibility of pine plantations to attack by the pine shoot beetle (Tomicus Piniperda L.) in southern Ontario

Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), was discovered in Ohio in 1992 and spread throughout southern Ontario, Quebec, and the United States. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine the relationships between tree and site characteristics and the number of stem and shoot attacks by T. piniperda in southern Ontario; and (ii) determine if T. piniperda is an aggressive beetle in southern Ontario. Forty-three sites of varying pine species compositions were surveyed across southern Ontario. An abundance of dead and low-vigour pine trees increased susceptibility of sites to attacks by T. piniperda . Significant negative relationships were detected between the number of attacks and the mean height, age, dbh, basal area, canopy cover, duff depth, and radial growth increments of the sites. Pure red pine sites had significantly fewer attacks than sites of pure scots pine and mixed jack pine, which was attributed to differences in tree vigour, and management.
Neutrophil epithelial interactions modulate innate pulmonary defenses: The role of proteinase activated receptors

Pulmonary epithelial cells and neutrophils play critical roles in the innate immune system of the lung. Communication between these cells through proteinase activated receptor (PAR) activation can alter cell function and hence alter inflammation and innate defenses. From the "perspective" of the neutrophil, these interactions can be categorized as paracrine, autocrine or neutrophil independent; in this thesis we provide examples of each. First, we demonstrate that PAR1 activation on lung epithelium results in a rapid change in cell bioelectric properties but does not reduce epithelial integrity in the absence of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) production. This refines an existing hypothesis in the literature suggesting that TGF-beta induced epithelial permeability is mediated through PAR1 activity. Second, we examined PAR2-/- mice and found that loss of PAR2 signaling results in reduced bacterial clearance from the lung. This in vivo defect may in part be related to defects we describe in interferon gamma (IFN-y) production and/or in phagocytosis seen in PAR2-/- phagocytes. Finally we demonstrate that airway surface liquid produced from cystic fibrosis (CF) epithelial cells does not alter neutrophil function but does have an inherent bacterial killing defect independent of neutrophils. This killing defect may in part explain the predisposition to bacterial colonization seen in lungs of people with CF. This thesis underscores that the neutrophil and lung epithelial cell, both key cells of the pulmonary innate immune system, can be modified through interactions involving proteinases and PARs. This work supports the growing literature attributing hormone-like signaling capabilities to proteinases. Understanding these processes will aid in our endeavors to understand inflammatory lung disease and design rational therapies to boost immune function while minimizing host damage.
Surface tensiometry at high temperatures

Surface tension is the dominant parameter in many fundamental studies in fluid mechanics and plays a major role in many industrial processes. Methods for measuring surface tension of liquids may vary according to different temperature ranges. The objective of this study is to propose a new methodology for measuring surface tension of materials with high melting point. In this new containerless method, an atmospheric radio-frequency Inductively Coupled Plasma (RF-ICP) torch melts horizontal metallic rods, and a high-speed camera records the drop formation process caused by melting. The drop shapes are fitted by the theoretical Young-Laplace (YL) profiles to determine the surface tension. In addition to the measurements based on the drop shapes, this methodology provides the possibility of validating the results with three other methods for measuring surface tension: the drop weight, pendant drop, and drop oscillation method. The drop oscillation method was used to measure the surface tension and viscosity, based on the resonance frequency and damping rate of the oscillations, respectively. From the photographs of the melting process, the solid-liquid interface was found to be inclined at an angle to the horizontal. The effect of this inclination on surface tension measurement is investigated. The dynamics of drop formation are modeled numerically as drop ejection from a nozzle. The numerical model solves the axisymmetric Navier-Stokes equations, for both the melt and the surrounding gas. The numerical pendant drops are compared with the theoretical YL profiles. A detailed study of the differences between numerical and theoretical profiles demonstrates some of the hydrodynamic effects influencing the surface tension measurement methods that are based on drop profiles. Good agreement between the numerical and the theoretical drop profiles validated the procedure of fitting YL profiles on dynamic drop profiles during drop formation. In addition, using the proposed methodology, surface tension values measured based on the drop shapes can be incorporated into the numerical code. Therefore, experimental drops and numerical drops can be compared and the viscosity of the melt can be determined. This method is established based on copper and nickel; however, it can be applied to metals, alloys, and ceramics.
Moral disengagement in processes of organizational corruption: The effect of moral disengagement on unethical decision making, moral awareness, and organizational advancement

This dissertation explores Albert Bandura's concept of moral disengagement (Bandura, 1990a, 1990b, 1999a, 2002) in the context of organizational corruption. First, the construct of moral disengagement is defined and elaborated upon. Moral disengagement is then hypothesized to play a role in the initiation of organizational corruption by both easing and expediting individual unethical decision making that advances self and organizational interests. Moral disengagement is hypothesized to be a factor in the facilitation of organizational corruption through dampening individuals' awareness of the ethical content of the decisions they make. Finally, it is hypothesized to contribute to the perpetuation of organizational corruption in organizations, because if individuals who have a greater propensity to morally disengage are more likely to make decisions that advance organizational interests, regardless of the ethicality of those decisions, they may be rewarded for those decisions in terms of organizational advancement. Three studies empirically investigate these hypotheses. Study 1a develops and conducts preliminary validation efforts on the first general scale of moral disengagement for adult samples. Study 1b finds that moral disengagement, by dampening moral awareness, increases the likelihood that individuals will make unethical decisions; this finding is particularly robust for women. Study 2 find that individuals who have a greater propensity to morally disengage achieve more promotions and have a greater number of subordinates than individuals with middle range levels of moral disengagement, but that low levels of moral disengagement also predict these advancement outcomes. Together, these studies form an argument that moral disengagement---the propensity of individuals to suspend the self-regulatory processes that typically compel us to behave morally---plays an important role in processes of organizational corruption.

Keywords: Personnel management
Dissertations, Academic, Canada
Kinetics and mechanism of the fragmentation of thiamin benzaldhyde conjugates

2-(1-Hydroxybenzyl)thiamin (HBT) is a conjugate of thiamin and benzaldehyde and an analogue of the enzymic intermediate 2-(1-hydroxybenzyl)thiamin diphosphate (HBTDP). In aqueous solution N1′ protonated HBT fragments to give [5-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-4-methyl thiazol-2-yl]-phenyl-methanone (PTK) and 4-amino-2,5-dimethyl-pyrimidin-1-ium (DMP). The corresponding enzymic intermediate has not been reported to be subject to the same fragmentation reaction. This thesis reports the synthesis and kinetic study of N1 ′-benzyl-2-(1-hydroxybenzyl)thiamin (NBnHBT) as a model to study the mechanism of fragmentation of N1′ protonated HBT. The fragmentation of NBnHBT is general-base catalyzed. The source of the general-base catalysis is removal of the C2α proton to generate a carbanion/enamine. A Brønsted study of catalysis and isotopic substitution at this position show the acidic behaviour of NBnHBT to be typical of other carbon acids with delocalized conjugate bases. This is consistent with studies of the acidity of HBT model compounds like 2-(methoxy-phenyl-methyl)-3,4-dimethyl-thiazol-3-ium and 2-(1-hydroxybenzyl)oxythiamin. Non-linear buffer dependence was found in the fragmentation of NBnHBT. This observation was exploited to estimate the rate constant ratio of protonation to fragmentation of the C2α conjugate base. Fragmentation of the conjugate base was found to compete significantly with protonation by buffer acid. This was confirmed by the study of fragmentation from the compound α-mandelylthiamin (the non enzymic analogue of the precursor to HBT). It was found that a higher concentration of buffer acid lowers the yield of PTK from α-mandelylthiamin. Several different para substituted N1′ -methyl-2-(1-hydroxybenzyl)thiamin molecules were synthesized and used in a Hammett substituent effect study. The study revealed that proton transfer from C2α is subject to significant substituent effects in the transition state. It was also found that the transition state for fragmentation of the C2α conjugate base is likely not sensitive to substituent effects. Mechanisms of fragmentation of the C2α conjugate base involving carbocationic intermediates and a stepwise mechanism involving ionization of the hydroxyl proton of C2α prior to C-N cleavage were ruled out by experiment. Several other interesting mechanistic possibilities remain. This has led to possible mechanisms the enzyme benzoylformate decarboxylase might use to avoid fragmentation of HBTDP. They include: suppression of protonation of N1′, fast proton transfer to C2α and conformational restriction of the enamine.