VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Role of the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor in the suppression of cytochrome P450 2C11 by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediates the induction of cytochromes P450 (CYP) of the CYP1A subfamily caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). CYP1A induction by PAHs is accompanied by down-regulation of CYP2C11, the predominant CYP expressed constitutively in the liver of male rats. We performed a structure-activity relationship study with a series of PAHs of the anthracene class in order to determine if the AHR is involved in CYP2C11 down-regulation. Anthracene, benz (a) anthracene, dibenz (a,c) anthracene, dibenz (a,h) anthracene, 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene, as well as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 3-methylcholanthrene decreased CYP2C11 immunoreactive protein levels to varying degrees in primary rat hepatocytes cultured on a laminin-rich extracellular matrix. The binding affinity of the PAHs for the rat liver cytosolic AHR correlated with the potency for transforming the cytosolic AHR to its DNA-binding form. In addition, the ability of the PAHs to suppress CYP2C11 correlated with both the AHR binding affinity and the AHR transformation potency. These results suggest that the AHR plays a role in the down-regulation of CYP2C11 caused by PAHs.
Life printed on dollar bills, the idea of the marketplace in the work of Clifford Odets

Though arguably one of the most talented modern American playwrights, Clifford Odets (1906-1963) has been pigeonholed as a minor writer of the 1930's. The purpose of this study is to re-examine Odets' entire career in the light of these assumptions, to tie his own experience as a writer in the film and theatre industries to the expressions of economic struggle expressed in his plays. It situates his work within the context of the Depression and the Group Theatre, arguing that the economic pressures on Odets as writer influence the shape and content of his plays. It draws parallels between his ambivalence towards the financial rewards of screenwriting and the plight of his dramatic characters. The thesis uses a methodology grounded in cultural anthropology to examine the final shift from production capitalism towards consumer capitalism, a "culture of abundance." Occurring as it does alongside unprecedented economic catastrophe, this shift gives shape to the structure and to the metaphorical content of his plays. Odets' vision is deeply utopian, but in his work demonstrates continuing ambivalence toward consumer culture as a means to achieve abundance. Odets' fascination with the idea of abundance expresses itself in an obsession with the marketplace. He allegorizes the marketplace in language which embodies the consumerist/utopian hopes of his characters, and at the same time as a force which systematically denies those hopes. Far from being implacably opposed to consumer capitalism, Odets is nevertheless aware of the contradictions of the system. Thus, his plays as often subvert and ironize traditional utopian imagery (fruit trees, vegetal and human abundance) as glorify it. Furthermore, for Odets, the most significant commodity in modern capitalism is the human body; his plays are often concerned with the effects of the market upon the physical body. Thus, a discussion of the metaphors of sickness and health, food and comfort are topics central to this discussion of his plays. The last chapter expands the discussion of the marketplace to look at the use of popular culture in Odets' plays, exploring the connections between mass culture and the marketplace in Odets' plays.
Interactions between excitotoxicity and lysosomal inhibition: Implications for Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis

The peptide ß-amyloid (Aß) is believed to be the crucial element in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, being terminally responsible for neuronal death and ensuing dementia. Lysosomal inhibition alters the processing of the ß-amyloid precursor protein (ßAPP), from which Aß is derived, such that potentially amyloidogenic fragments (fßAPP) accumulate intracellularly, largely within lysosomes. Although it has been hypothesized that the lysosomal dysfunction accompanying normal aging (and modeled with lysosomal inhibitors) may be connected to AD, the consequences of this manipulation on the CNS are not known, nor is the potential importance of intracellular Aß (iAß) understood. Hence, monkeys, rats and ßAPP transgenic mice received direct brain infusions (i.c.v.) of the lysosomal inhibitors leupeptin or chloroquine (CHL) for up to 2 months. Both chemicals caused an increase in iAß, but did not cause significant neuronal death. Both also caused a strong astrocytic response, and CHL caused blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. These changes do not resemble major aspects of AD pathology. It has been shown that AD is associated with neurotrauma, such as head injury, and that excitotoxic processes cause similar degenerative changes. Also, Aß renders cultured neurons vulnerable to excitotoxic damage. Therefore, if dysfunctional lysosomes and iAß represent a risk factor for AD, excitotoxins such as kainic acid (KA) may combine synergistically with lysosomal inhibitors. Hence, CHL (over a range of systemic doses and i.c.v.; 1 week, mice and rats) was combined with KA followed by a 1 week survival period; multiple behavioral and histological analyses were conducted at several time points. Accumulation of iAß was evident at high doses, as was astrocytic activation. No deficits in sensorimotor ability (balance, muscle strength, vision, exploratory behavior) were detected. However, animals given KA and doses of CHL sufficient to cause iAß accumulation were markedly impaired on the Morris watermaze test of spatial learning and exhibited increased limbic system damage, particularly in the amygdala. These results indicate that although iAß may not be immediately harmful, it may nevertheless be coupled to a pathogenic process relevant to the development of AD and should be further examined in the context of the development of appropriate treatment strategies.
The effects of a balanced literacy programme including phoneme awareness and alphabetic code training on the development of primary students' spelling skills

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a balanced literacy programme, including a systematic phonics component, on the acquisition of primary students' spelling skills. More specifically, the research asked whether an overt focus on alphabetic coding, phonemic training and real reading and writing result in improved spelling performance. This longitudinal study looked at the attempts to spell twenty WRAT-R1 (1984) list words by 347 Grade 1, 2 and 3 students attending a lower-middle-class school in Metro Toronto during 1994, 1995 and 1996. Testing was undertaken prior to an in-service teacher education programme (Baseline Data, Year 0), at the end of programme year one (Implementation-Year Data, Year 1), and after programme year two (Follow-Up Data, Year 2). In order to analyze incorrect spellings a schema (0-10) was developed to score responses according to their level of phonemic, and/or orthographic precision. Two-way univariate ANOVAS were performed on scores for all words. Results indicate that a highly positive relation exists between the number of years of a balanced literacy programme including phoneme awareness and alphabet code training and the production of correct spellings and errors that are qualitatively more sophisticated. Significant improvements were found in the performance of students in both the Implementation-Year and the Follow-Up Year compared with the results achieved by students in the Baseline Year on nineteen of the twenty words tested (one word was at ceiling). The results also indicate that the differences between the spelling attempts produced by students in programme year one and year two were significant on the more challenging words, due to ceiling effects on simpler words by the end of the Implementation Year.
Cyclic plasticity of 17-7 precipitation-hardenable semi-austenitic stainless steel

Since their development in the 1940s, precipitation-hardenable stainless steels have been used predominantly in sheet form. In more recent times there has been renewed interest in these alloys from the aerospace and automotive industries as candidates for spring materials as current economies dictate a much higher strength to weight ratio. This requires a more thorough understanding of their cyclic deformation and sag resistance or stress relaxation behaviour. The present research is carried out to investigate the cyclic plasticity of 17-7 precipitation-hardenable semi-austenitic stainless steel in terms of the Bauschinger effect, cyclic hardening and/or softening behaviour and cyclic creep or ratchetting behaviour. Asymmetrical loading of the material revealed that miniscule forward and reverse ratchetting could occur under certain loading conditions during the initial fatigue life, while compressive creep dominated the latter stage. Prior strain hardening in the form of tensile pre-strain did not cause cyclic softening which was observed in most materials. Instead cyclic hardening was found to be prevalent and the underlying mechanism for this behaviour is suggested to be the partial plastic deformation of the martensitic phases. The cyclic stress ratio, R, was found to have no significant effect on the cyclic hardening or softening behaviour but was found to have a prominent effect on the cyclic creep behaviour. From transmission electron microscopy study, it was found that elongated-cell dislocation structures existed in the material regardless of the R ratio and peak stress amplitudes. These dislocation structures were inherited from the pre-strain conditions, and cyclic loading only changed the wall width of these cells but the general layout appeared to be largely unaffected. Two major types of dislocation cell morphologies are observed, and a mechanism is provided for explaining the cyclic hardening and creep behaviour in the material. The accommodation and release of energy by the material during cycling were examined and results have proven that the Bauschinger effect alone could not account for the cyclic creep behaviour of the material.
Vae mundo a scandalis, the sin of scandal in medieval England

The word "scandal" has always carried multiple meanings, including "shocking behaviour" and "disgrace". In medieval theology, scandal was defined as the act of committing a sin in front of another, causing that person to sin because of the bad example provided. This definition (which, articulated by Thomas Aquinas, remains part of Roman Catholic theology) was a refinement of the Old Testament definition of scandal as a snare or a stumbling block. New Testament references to scandal emphasized the responsibility of Christians for each others' spiritual welfare. Patristic and early medieval writers did not ignore scandal, but it was with the Paris master Peter the Chanter (d. 1197), his circle, and their successors, that the theology of scandal underwent detailed, nuanced treatment. Peter was the first to pronounce that the triple truth of life, justice, and doctrine might not be abandoned on account of avoiding scandal; those who came after him expanded on this doctrine. By the end of the fourteenth century, though, as reputation and good name became increasingly important, discussions of scandal began to emphasize other aspects of its meaning, such as "shame", "disgrace", and "gossip". The multiple meanings of scandal are evident in bishops' registers--the records of bishops' working lives--and in literary sources. Both kinds of sources are dealt with here. Bishops knew the theological meaning and often spoke of transgressions as "a scandal to many and a pernicious example", but they tended to find most scandalous those sins which might damage the reputation and prestige of the church and its institutions. Because of their unique position as bridges between the ecclesiastical establishment and the lay community, bishops were the locus for the meeting of all meanings of scandal from the theological definition to those generated in the lay world. Literary sources reinforce and reflect this range of meanings, also illustrating the shift in emphasis towards reputation.
Powerfully reciprocal, a feminist analysis of nursing's role in enabling self esteem growth in women

This feminist qualitative research project explored current community health nurse (CHN) interventions with groups of individuals who define as having "low self esteem." Through participant observations in three CHN-led community based self esteem groups, one to one interviews and focus groups with participants and CHNs, insights into women's self esteem were gained. Recommendations for CHN practice included the development of critical consciousness, rooting low self esteem in its political context, building community development principles into practice, exploring feminist approaches to enabling self esteem growth in women, eliminating power differentials in nurse-client relationships, and embracing reciprocity. To join together with clients in a broader movement of social change would have far reaching health and social benefits. A partnership towards ending all forms of oppression would benefit clients, society, and finally nurses themselves. And as women, nurses need to acknowledge that all these benefits are both legitimate and desirable.
The lithic assemblage from Tabaqat al-Bûma, a late neolithic site in Wadi Ziqlab, Northern Jordan

Studies of Late Neolithic stone tools from the Levant have concentrated on the formed tools and morphological typology, and typically pay little attention to retouched flakes or unretouched used flakes (Cauvin 1968; Stekelis 1972; Noy 1976; Crowfoot-Payne 1983; Gopher 1985), even though the latter represent a fundamental shift in the perception and application of technology. Throughout the history of the study of prehistoric stone tools, formed or shaped lithics have received far more attention than ones produced with simpler technologies, such as bipolar or other "expedient" tools (Hayden 1977, Parry and Kelly 1987, Gero 1991 and Casey 1993). The objective of this thesis is to examine a sample of chipped stone tools from Tabaqat al-Bûma, a Late Neolithic site in northern Jordan, and use the findings of this analysis to investigate the marked shift in lithic technology that occurs during this period. This change in technological orientation is characterised by a reliance on flake tools as opposed to the blade-dominated industries of preceding Neolithic periods. I will argue that Late Neolithic stone tools are often a reflection of the degrees of risk that new activities entailed.
Modulation of integrin function by calreticulin

Integrins are commonly referred to as mediators of both "outside-in" and "inside-out" transmembrane signal transduction. To fulfill these functions, integrins regulate cell adhesion by binding to extracellular ligands and also form specific associations with both structural and regulatory proteins inside cells. Several studies presented here support the conclusion that integrins bind the intracellular protein calreticulin in response to integrin stimulation and that this interaction is required for normal integrin function. The interaction between integrins and calreticulin can be observed in normally adherent cells and in response to a physiological integrin stimulus, i.e. attachment of epithelial cells to extracellular matrix proteins. Importantly, it is shown that the interaction can be induced in a ligand-specific manner; calreticulin is found in association primarily with occupied integrin receptors. Furthermore, the interaction between integrins and calreticulin is demonstrated to be transient and occurs early in the process of adhesion. The association of these proteins is also found to be regulated by the activity of intracellular kinases and phosphatases. Studies of calreticulin-null cells, indicate that calreticulin is a physiological modulator of integrin function but that its calcium storage function is not essential. Along with observations that calreticulin is required for integrin-mediated Ca2+ influx, the results suggest that calreticulin both responds to and is necessary for integrin activity, and that the interaction between integrins and calreticulin is an important mediator of transmembrane signalling.
A study of Apollonius of Tyre, three english adaptations of an ancient Greek romance

This thesis involves three English versions of 'Apollonius of Tyre': the Old English translation ('OE') of the ' Historia Apollonii Regis Tyri' ('HA'), John Gower's version ('CA') in the 'Confessio Amantis', and Shakespeare's 'Pericles'. I discuss the social climate surrounding the production of each work and then concentrate on the tale's restorative property, particularly as it relates to gender issues. Because 'HA' represents the "architext" of all subsequent versions, my Introduction focuses on it. I compare ' HA' to five extant Greek romances of an earlier period to ascertain what features they share, and to determine what distinguishes 'HA'. ' HA''s affiliation with hagiography proves especially instructive. The story's Providential motif is the source of the story's restorative power. However, along with this motif comes the potential for subversive content. This thesis examines the extent to which each text handles these seemingly divergent aims. 'OE' contains additional Christian resonances. As a result, the Providential motif becomes more evident. However, 'OE' also retains the emphasis 'HA' places on female rights, and therefore proves subversive of the norm. In contrast, Gower's text seeks to restore a Golden Age, one saturated in patristic ideals. The Providential motif is elaborate, but since 'CA' seeks to reclaim past order, the subversive element gets quelled. Shakespeare revitalizes it. He gives voice to orthodoxy by means of his choric figure, but also raises questions about the adequacy of this figure and insists upon the value of femininity. In the final analysis, all three versions prove restorative. ' CA' offers hope by giving a clear message about the truth of Providence: despite the vagaries of fortune, Appolinus's life has meaning in the end. ' OE' and 'Pericles' have a restorative effect, too, only these works achieve this effect in a different way. Both contain Providential overtones, but more importantly, by presenting a liberal view towards women's rights and by projecting current institutions as harmful to the welfare of a nation, both inspire a healthy rejection of patriarchal norms.
A bootstrap approach for constructing superconvergent interpolants

Continuous approximations to boundary value problems in ordinary differential equations (ODEs), constructed using collocation at Gauss points, are more accurate at the mesh points than at off-mesh points. From these approximations, it may be possible to construct improved continuous approximations by extending the high accuracy that is available at the mesh points to off-mesh points. One possibility is the 'Bootstrap' approach, which improves the accuracy of the approximate solution at the off-mesh points in a sequence of steps until the accuracy at the mesh points and off-mesh points is consistent. In this thesis, a Bootstrap approach for systems of mixed order ODEs will be developed to improve approximate solutions produced by 'COLNEW', a Gauss collocation based software package. An implementation of this approach will also be discussed. The numerical results presented, will confirm that the improved approximations satisfy the predicted error bounds and are relatively inexpensive to construct.
Consuming school in the 90s, youth, popular culture and education

In this period of rapid and ruptural social and cultural change, the education of young people is increasingly mediated by extramural forces. This thesis explores the pedagogical nature of contemporary popular culture forms in the lives of youth, particularly in relation to the "culture of consumption." To research the culture of consumption in relation to youth is to link economic questions with cultural ones, and hence to investigate the impacts on youth of both the changing global economy and the shifting nature of knowledge in a media age. My study begins with an historical overview of the gradual emergence of a trope of consumption in the societies of the global North and the eventual rise of advertising and the "pedagogy of consumption" associated with it. The heart of my study explores the cultural and economic implications of three current examples of the pedagogy of consumption oriented to youth: the marketing of the basketball superstar Michael Jordan, the advertising campaigns of the United Colors of Benetton and the attempt by advertisers to market to Generation X. In the process, I develop a number of theoretical approaches to the study of consumption and youth including a model for cultural studies which embraces economic questions, an expanded definition of the commodity which includes the social semiotic associated with the "commodity-sign," a post-Fordist perspective on global economic change and a "contradictory politics" for critical pedagogues to take into the classroom. My study concludes with an investigation of the current interests of the corporate sector in education. I discuss the "marketization of education" and the pedagogy of consumption in relation to the Pepsi sales agreement with the Toronto Board of Education and a Coca-Cola business curriculum for Canadian high schools. This thesis will be of interest to educators struggling to keep up with the social, cultural and economic conditions faced by their students and to theorists of media, advertising and consumption investigating the educational dimensions of their fields.
Studies of bubble growth and departure from artificial nucleation sites

A simulation of bubble growth and departure from an artificial nucleation site was developed using a numerical model. The generalized model was applied to both slow growing gas diffusion bubbles, and fast growing nucleate boiling bubbles. Dynamic effects due to the motion of the fluid surrounding the growing bubble as well as the pressure gradient due to gravity caused the bubbles to develop non-spherical shapes throughout the growth period. The profile of a gas bubble adjusts the interface curvature to balance the internal gas pressure with the surrounding fluid pressure. The changing bubble shapes lead to the onset of a necking formation at the bubble base causing detachment from the nucleation site. The numerical results were confirmed by experiments using carbon dioxide bubbles produced by gas diffusion at an artificial cavity on a horizontal plate. The simulated shapes of a growing bubble illustrate the importance of surface tension in the overall process as well as being the controlling factor in determining bubble departure diameters. The necking process during the bubble departure from the surface caused the remaining portion of the bubble to be pushed into the cavity. This caused a significant waiting time during which the bubble grew inside the cavity before reappearing on the surface. The restricted growth inside the cavity affected the boundary layer development surrounding the bubble and consequently the bubble growth on the surface as well. The role of buoyancy as defined by the common force balance type of analysis was examined and found to be inadequate in explaining trends for bubble departure diameters in micro-gravity. Buoyancy was often thought to be the sole driving force that pulls the bubble off the surface and surface tension as the major downward force that keeps the bubble attached to the surface. In micro-gravity, buoyancy is greatly reduced, yet bubbles can still depart from the surface and at a much smaller size than would be predicted using a force balance analysis. The numerical model showed that the surface tension aided departure by causing the neck formation which collapsed leading to the bubble departure from the surface.