VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
An exploration of the facilitating effects of graphical user interfaces (GUI) and character user interfaces (CUI) on the design of expert systems

The maxim of developers with respect to the design and use of expert systems (ES) is that "a system is only as good as it is useful." Practically speaking, the value of an expert system resides in its continued usage and this continued exposure to the knowledge base that is embedded in its underlying structure. User access is, in turn, directly related to interface design and related to user preferences. The present study examines an expert system developed by the author, called CAAD (Computer-Assisted Automotive Assistant) with respect to user interface preference. CAAD was designed to address and diagnose automotive failures for General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler products. Performance and preference data were collected from 230 participants, each having operated CAAD under a Character-based User Interface (CUI) and a Graphically-based User Interface (GUI). Central to this study are the following questions: (1) Do inexperienced computer users prefer using a ES equipped with a graphical user interface over the same system equipped with a character user interface? (2) As a user's level of computer experience increases, will there be a shift in preference for an ES equipped with a character user interface? (3) Is it possible for people to be equally effective solving problems related to the contents of the ES given one interface or the other? The thesis provides a naturalistic context for this inquiry, namely, an automotive repair shop. Participants visited this shop to have their car repaired, and were asked to volunteer to use the expert system while waiting. Participants ranged from age 16-66, with approximately equal numbers of males and females. In addition to examining interface preferences the thesis also explores gender and age differences in the data set. In the concluding section of the thesis, general regarding the design of expert systems are discussed.
David Ricardo's macroeconomics, a study in historical perspective

This thesis confronts the tendency in the literature of the history of economic thought to criticize Ricardo's macroeconomics, specifically his knowledge of contemporary events, his analysis of postwar crises, and his monetary and fiscal policies. To this end, the historical introduction in Chapters One and Two is critical, for it dispenses with the traditional view that the postwar decade was a period of chronic depression caused by underconsumption and, to a lesser extent, by monetary contraction associated with the 1819 Resumption Act. Chapter Three completes the foundation of our study by showing that Ricardo was well informed regarding Britain's economic and political situation. That he used this knowledge as a basis for his analysis of contemporary events is established in Chapters Four and Five, which chapters also refute the view that his treatment of postwar crises was merely a rationalization of the crude quantity theory and the strict law of markets in the face of overwhelmingly contradictory evidence. Chapter Six argues the merits of his monetary policies, particularly his insistence on the gold standard as a means to curb abuses by the Bank of England and the Government, which together were responsible for gross mismanagement of the currency. The chapter further examines whether Ricardo accepted "Treasury View" of fiscal policy, and whether his position implies adherence to a doctrinaire version of Say's Law. My conclusions differ from those of authors critical of Ricardo largely because I have adopted a methodological approach to the history of economic thought that differs from theirs. My methodology has no merit of originality, but it does incorporate two tenets of sound scholarship: first, that primary texts should be interpreted in an accurate historical context; and second, that textual exegesis involves more than piecing together scattered quotes, but should entail the interpretation of an author's complete position.
Kinetic analysis of cell division cycles in early development of Xenopus laevis

To investigate changes in cell cycle patterns during development of ' Xenopus laevis,' cell divisions of dissociated animal cap blastomeres of blastulae were observed 'in vitro' at 22 ± 1°C by means of a time-lapse video recorder. '1.' During cleavage, blastomeres divided unequally to give birth to daughter cells of unequal sizes before as well as after the midblastula transition (MBT) which corresponds to the 12th cell cycle. Before MBT, cells divided synchronously at constant intervals (30min). Cell cycle duration remained independent of cell size and ploidy, up to the 12th cleavage in diploid cells, and up to the 13th cleavage in haploid cells. '2.' The distribution of cell cycle durations among blastomeres became multimodal when the cells became smaller than the critical size after MBT. Cells divided more frequently at intervals close to multiples of a unit time (30 to 35 min) than intermediate intervals, suggesting "quantizement" of cell cycle durations. Probabilistic analyses of the cell cycle were carried out by constructing Ã- and ß-curves defined by Smith and Martin (1973) from the data obtained from this study. '3.' When protein synthesis of blastomeres was partially inhibited in the presence of cycloheximide at low concentrations (0.1-0.18 [mu]g/ml), cell cycle durations lengthened about 2 fold, but the cell cycle synchrony was maintained up to the 11th cycle. '4.' Cell cycle patterns were compared between blastomeres in different regions of an embryo, as well as between untreated and growth factor-treated blastomeres. Cell cycle asynchrony appeared in the order of the vegetal, followed by equatorial and animal region. However, no significant difference in the timing of cell cycle asynchrony was found between the dorsal and ventral regions. Treatment with xbFGF, the growth factor known to act on the animal cap cells as a ventral mesoderm inducer, caused immediate cell cycle lengthening in dissociated blastomeres, and asynchronization of cell cycles was delayed until the 15th cell cycle. '5.' To explain the results summarized above, the following hypothesis was proposed. Blastomeres of 'Xenopus' embryos undergo cycles of cytoplasmic activity that produces mitosis-promoting factor (MPF) or cyclins periodically at intervals of about 30min. MPF activity arises in the cortex or near the blastomere cell surface when synthesis of cyclin B occurs near the cell surface. On the other hand, MPF is neutralized stoichiometrically by an inhibitor in the nucleus, whose quantity is proportional to the genome size or DNA content of the cell. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Overexpression of the integrin-linked kinase (ILK) promotes anchorage-independent cell cycle progression

Overexpression of ILK in rat epithelial cells results in decreased cell adhesion and anchorage-independent growth. I hypothesized, therefore, that overexpression of ILK would directly or indirectly affect the cell cycle machinery. Cell adhesion to substratum has been shown to regulate cyclin A expression as well as cyclin D and E-dependent kinases. Here, I demonstrate that stable transfection and overexpression of the Integrin Linked Kinase (ILK) induces anchorage-independent cell cycle progression but not serum-independent growth of IEC18 rat intestinal epithelial cells. ILK overexpression results in increased expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin A, activation of cdk4 and cyclin E-associated kinases, and hyperphosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. In addition, p21 and p27 cdk inhibitors display altered electrophoretic mobilities, with p27 having reduced inhibitory activity. These results indicate that, when overexpressed, ILK induces signalling pathways resulting in the stimulation of G1/S cyclin-cdk activities which are normally regulated by cell adhesion and integrin engagement.
Measurement of oxygen levels in murine tumours

Evidence exists for hypoxia (low oxygen levels) in human tumours. There is also data to suggest that it can influence the response of these tumours to radiation therapy and may possibly be associated with more aggressive tumours (i.e., those more likely to metastasize). The development and testing of techniques to measure hypoxia in human tumours is therefore of significant interest. The aim of much of the work described in this thesis was to compare clinically applicable techniques of oxygen measurements with standard radiobiological measurements of hypoxia. The first data chapter, chapter 2, examines the use of biopsies for a standard assay in the field of radiation biology, the paired survival assay. We found that biopsies are a feasible option for estimating cell survival, and that intertumour variability in cell survival was greater than intratumour variability. We compared, in individual KHT-C tumours, the paired survival assay with the growth delay assay, another radiobiological standard, and found a significant correlation between these two techniques. In chapter three, comparisons were made in individual KHT-C tumours between three clinically applicable techniques of measuring oxygen levels, the Eppendorf pO2 Histograph, the comet assay, and EF5 binding, and the paired survival assay and the growth delay assay. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the hypoxic: proportions calculated from the paired survival assay with those from EF5 binding. The comet assay was found to have a statistically significant correlation with the paired survival assay and the growth delay assay. No statistically significant correlation was found between the Eppendorf pO2 Histograph measurements and those made using the other techniques. Chapter four describes experiments which examined interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) measurements and compared them with measurements of oxygen levels in individual KHT-C tumours. No correlation was found between the mean IFP levels and the measurements of oxygen levels made using the comet assay, the paired survival assay or the growth delay assay. A weak correlation was found relating higher IFP levels with increasing oxygenation as measured by the Eppendorf pO2 Histograph. A similar correlation was found between the mean IFP levels and EF5 binding.
King's College, purpose and accountability in higher education, the dilemma of King's College, 1827-1853

The first university in Upper Canada to receive a royal charter was King's College at York. Although petitions for a university in the colony are recorded in the late eighteenth century, it was not until 1827 that a charter was actually acquired and it was only in 1843 that the university opened its doors to students for the first time. In the meantime, three other universities had opened in the province: Victoria, sponsored by the Methodists, in Cobourg (1842); Queen's sponsored by the Church of Scotland (1842) and Regiopolis by the Roman Catholics (1837) both in Kingston. The story of King's College has been told in part and in varying ways by a number of writers and historians. W. J. Alexander and Stewart Wallace have provided brief, objective, chronological outlines of the major developments in their histories of the University of Toronto in 1906 and 1915 respectively. More recently, historians such as John Moir, Gerald Craig, William Westfall, and Brian McKillop have dealt with the history of King's College in connection with denominational history, the economic, social and political development of Upper Canada, and the transition from constitutional to responsible government. No one, however, has written a full book or dissertation with a primary focus on the history of King's College. This paper is presented in an attempt to provide an account of the founding of King's College and the quandary surrounding its development and ultimate transformation into the University of Toronto. The chronicle is focussed primarily on the political and denominational context and on legislative attempts to resolve the university dilemma. It also examines the roles played by leading political, religious and provincial administrators touching on the university question. The paper traces the history of King's College through the adoption of three university models: John Strachan's pedagogical model, Robert Baldwin's political model and Francis Hincks' compromise model. The discussion encompasses the rationale for the adoption of each and the rejection of the Strachan and Baldwin options.

Keywords: Universities and colleges
History
Universités
Histoire
Effects of oxidative stress induced by glutathione depletion on the expression of endothelial-derived vasomediator genes

The endothelium plays an important homeostatic role in vascular physiology. Important diseases of the blood vessel, such as atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus, evidence a common phenotype best summarized as a dysfunctional endothelium. A major component of this endothelial phenotype is an impaired ability to appropriately regulate local vascular tone. It is of interest that these diseases are associated with oxidative stress. Surprisingly however, the vascular endothelium is richly endowed with antioxidant defense mechanisms. The aim of this thesis is to address the role of oxidative stress in perturbations in the gene expression of endothelial-derived vasomediators. Intracellular glutathione is a prominent antioxidant defense against oxidative stress. We hypothesized that depletion of glutathione, a non-protein sulfhydryl, would lead to decreased vasodilator and enhanced vasoconstrictor gene expression. To examine the molecular mechanisms implicated in diethyl maleate (DEM)-mediated changes in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression we evaluated the relative contributions of transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
An examination of centralized educational policy processes and their impact in Guatemala City, 1976-1995

This thesis analyzes the educational policy process in Guatemala City between 1976 and 1995. Its main finding is that much of the failure in educational policy reform has been due to the internal weaknesses of the Guatemalan State rather than excessive centralization of the decision-making process. Through an analysis of representative educational reforms and of the activities of the organizations entrusted with carrying out such reforms, the roles of different actors in the policy process are examined. Using three closely linked visions of decision-making processes, i.e., Satisficing Behavior, Loosely-coupled Systems and Diffuse Decision-Making, it is argued that, in Guatemala, administrative behavior in the educational policy processes does not conform to standard Weberian organizational notions of bureaucracy. Thus, while the outcomes of the policy process and the behaviors of those entrusted to carry them out may seem irrational from a standard bureaucratic analysis perspective, they are in fact highly rational actions undertaken by individuals or institutions whose ability to act as change agents is drastically limited by Guatemala's societal expectations [Philosophical Matrix]. Chiefly among these expectations--which are the result of long-standing socioeconomic disparities--is the expectation of social inequality. That is to say, the expectation that social change will only improve the outlook for some members of society rather than for the majority of its members. These organizational and social forces tend to shape the content and form of what constitutes permissible educational reform. At the bureaucratic level, the Loyalty Principle which establishes that employees are not expected to work within the bureaucracy but for the people who appointed them, also plays an indirect role in the implementation of educational policy. Another finding of this study is that political structures in Guatemala, in particular, the country's long-standing tradition of Caudillismo or strong man politics, also play a role in shaping the educational policy process by closing the space to alternative policy options. In Guatemala's case, Caudillismo has resulted in authoritarian behaviors which further reduce society's interest or participation in educational reform efforts. Caudillismo has also created the impression that the repressive nature of the State apparatus is based on centralizing traditions rather than on its own internal weaknesses. Lastly, this study argues that in order to apply modern technocratic decision-making models to the policy process and administration in Guatemala, such models must be adequately combined within an analytical framework that includes both the modern and pre-modern features of the Guatemalan State.
Cognitive and affective learning in outdoor education

The goal of this study was to determine whether an outdoor education experience would have a more positive impact on the cognitive achievement and environmental attitudes of junior-level students than in a traditional classroom setting. During the spring of 1997, six classes of junior-level students attended a half-day programme in beaver ecology at the Nonquon Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre near Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada (treatment group). Another six classes of junior-level students were taught a half-day programme in beaver ecology in traditional classrooms (control group). The learning outcomes for both programmes were very similar. A total of 184 students participated in this study. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were administered to the students, one day before they participated in the programmes (pre-test), one day after they had finished the programmes (post-test), and two weeks later (retention). The questionnaire consisted of four sections. The first section asked students for demographic information such as name, gender, grade, teacher's name and the school's name. The second section consisted of survey items that derived information from the student about his/her prior experience with nature. Section three consisted of Likert-style items and measured attitudes towards nature. Section four of the questionnaire measured cognitive achievement and consisted of 12 short-answer questions on the topic of beaver ecology. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations and reliabilities) for all student variables were compiled using SPSS, a statistics software programme. The effects of the treatment were determined using univariate analysis of variance. The results from the data analysis indicate that: (1) neither treatment nor the control programmes had an impact on changing environmental attitudes. (2) both the control and treatment groups made gains in cognitive learning. However, the programme offered by the Nonquon Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre made a greater contribution to cognitive learning compared to the classroom programme. The results of this study demonstrate that outdoor education programmes are effective for promoting cognitive changes in students. Most outdoor educators continue to believe that their programmes have a positive impact on environmental attitudes. The results of this study have been unable to confirm this claim.
Reactive iminoquinone metabolites of indomethacin and carbamazepine, implications for drug-induced idiosyncratic reactions

Indomethacin is a potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Its use has been limited because of a relatively high incidence of adverse reactions including agranulocytosis. Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant and its use is associated with a range of serious idiosyncratic adverse reactions including blood disorders. We postulated that indomethacin and carbamazepine can be oxidized to reactive intermediates by myeloperoxidase in activated neutrophils, which may be responsible for the adverse effects caused by these two drugs. We found that desmethyldeschlorobenzoylindomethacin (DMBI), a major metabolite of indomethacin, was oxidized to a reactive iminoquinone intermediate. This iminoquinone intermediate could be trapped with glutathione (GSH) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to form conjugates. The same oxidation was observed when DMBI was oxidized by the MPO system or hypochlorous acid. The iminoquinone intermediate with a MH+ ion at m/z 204 was directly detected by mass spectrometry in the reaction between DMBI and hypochlorous acid. In the urine of patients taking carbamazepine, we detected 2-hydroxyiminostilbene as its glucuronide conjugate and found that it is a major metabolite of carbamazepine. We have also demonstrated that 2-hydroxyiminostilbene can undergo autoxidation to a reactive iminoquinone intermediate. The iminoquinone intermediate reacts with sulfhydryl-containing nucleophiles, such as GSH and NAC. To further investigate the role of the iminoquinone intermediate in carbamazepine-induced adverse reactions, we developed a polyclonal antibody against the iminoquinone epitope and used it to study covalent binding of the iminoquinone to proteins. The antibodies were able to detect covalent binding in bone marrow cells of rats treated with carbamazepine 'in vivo'. This binding was inhibited by 2-hydroxyiminostilbene but not by carbamazepine or iminostilbene, which suggested that the polypeptides recognized by the antibodies were likely to be covalently modified by the iminoquinone reactive intermediate. Furthermore, we also observed increased protein oxidation in the liver from carbamazepine-treated rats compared to that of control rats. This implied that the iminoquinone, as an oxidizing agent, may undergo redox cycling and lead to protein oxidation ' in vivo'. Our studies suggest that the iminoquinone intermediates may react with protein sulfhydryl groups 'in vivo' and play an important role in indomethacin- and carbamazepine-induced idiosyncratic reactions.
Non-circular slope stability analysis using the generalized wedge method with modifications and extensions for application in rock engineering

The stability of a slope, either natural or artificial, is of considerable importance. The purpose of this thesis is to find a method that is suitable to analyze slopes using a non-circular failure surface, where the failure mechanism is governed by structural weaknesses of the slope material. The Generalized Wedge Method was modified and extended to handle the requirements posed by rock slopes. The method was updated and several features were added to improve the application to stability analysis problems. Once implemented, the method was tested on a large number of test problems to validate its accuracy with success. The modified method was found to be accurate in modeling and analyzing problems commonly encountered in rock slope engineering.