VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Empires of the historical imagination

This dissertation deals mainly with Victorian through Modern works which dwell on the careers of three famous Elizabethan adventuring heroes, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Ralegh, and Sir Richard Grenville. The first chapter touches on a debate over the meaning of "Imperialism" in 1899 numbers of the Contemporary Review. Based on my assessment of this debate, I propose qualifications to prevalent academic views, such as those of Edward Said, regarding the nature of imperialism as it touched political and literary affairs near the turn of this century. The second chapter considers Charles Kingsley's massively influential and successful 'Westward Ho!', as well as J. A. Froude's controversial and frequently republished essay which did so much re-enliven Victorian imaginations of the Elizabethan period, "England's Forgotten Worthies." At the close of the section, I examine Kingsley's 'At Last: Christmas in the West Indies' and Froude's 'Oceana' and ' The English in the West Indies'. These works are of interest because they depict both of these significant writers, historians, and political and religious commentators (and brothers-in-law), who had invested vast personal energies into England's imperial prospects, finally getting to the colonial regions that had been important to them throughout their lives, near the ends of their fives. The third chapter studies several late nineteenth-century novels involving the lives of Drake and Ralegh, and the influence of 'Westward Ho!' on Victorian-Elizabethan adventure novels is examined. The final section discusses Henry Newbolt's work on Grenville and Drake, and John Buchans on Ralegh and Grenville. By bringing the dissertation up to 1920, all while retaining an Elizabethan focus, I am able to ponder emerging nuances in the opinions of two authors (Newbolt and Buchan) who were ardent promoters of empire during and in the immediate aftermath of the Great War which in many ways tested imperial ideals inculcated and entrenched in the decades leading up to it. The Epilogue points to the persistence of Elizabethan and fiction of empire motifs in modern British literature in works by Evelyn Waugh, George Orwell, and Graham Greene.
Strategies for optimizing the treatment of behavioural disorders associated with dementia

The behavioural disorders of dementia (BDD) cause significant problems. The goal of this work was to optimize the pharmacotherapy of BDD. The approach taken was first, to assess the safety and efficacy of current pharmacotherapies for BDD (Study 1). The results of Study 1 lead directly to the next 2 studies: one dealing with improving safety (Study 2) and the next with improving efficacy (Study 3). '1'. The safety and efficacy of typical neuroleptics for BDD have not been well established. A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled, double-blind trials was conducted. This study demonstrated that neuroleptics have small but significant efficacy over placebo with equivalent efficacy and side-effect rates. Further study to decrease drug-induced morbidity and to determine more specific drug-responsive behaviours is needed to maximize benefits of these drugs. '2'. The demented patient is at high risk for drug-induced behavioural disorders (BD), yet these may remain unrecognized. A Bayesian approach was developed and tested for the assessment of BD suspected of being related to psychotropic medications. Drug-induced BD occurred in 3.7% (4/107) of patients. The drug-attributable risk was 5.4% over 3 months. These results suggest that drug-induced BD are present and should be considered following behavioural change in demented patients. '3'. Although Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known to be associated with a significant serotonergic deficit, the clinical correlates remain unknown. The hypothesis that altered central serotonergic activity is related to impulsive aggression in AD patients was tested in 22 patients with severe cognitive impairment. Neuroendocrine challenge was used as an index of central serotonergic function. Following this, patient response to sertraline was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design. Aggression scores were positively correlated to markers of central serotonergic functioning. Out of 21 study completers, 8 (38%) were sertraline responders. Female gender, serotonergic function, gender x aggression, and serotonergic function x aggression predicted response to sertraline. These results suggest a link between aggression in AD and central serotonergic dysfunction. In conclusion, this research illustrates that existing methodologies can be modified and applied to optimize safety and efficacy of pharmacotherapies for BDD.
La validite de la theorie triadique de l'interpretation selon Donald Davidson, la théorie de la pertinence et le cas des Fous de bassan d'Anne Hebert

Le point de vue de cette thèse est pratique, pragmatique et cognitiviste. Par conséquent, un des buts de ce travail est de mettre en cause la thèse principale de la tradition continentale à propos de l'interprétation, c'est-à-dire que l'interprétation littéraire et l'interprétation ordinaire sont foncièrement différentes. À l'heure actuelle, Donald Davidson est une des figures les plus respectéés en philosophie analytique. En tant que théorie communicative de l'interprétation, la triangulation de Davidson s'annonce comme une ressource potentielle permettant d'expliquer le processus interprétatif impliqué par la lecture de textes littéraires. La théorie de la triangulation repose sur un fondement théorique sous-jacent qui précise la raison de sa constitution et qui justifie sa généralisation à tout type de communication humaine. La théorie de la pertinence de Dan Sperber et de Deirdre Wilson, théorie pragmatique et cognitiviste, offre la meilleure explication du processus par lequel l'interprète exploite les trois types de connaissances postulés par la triangulation davidsonienne et de la ligne directrice que l'interprète suit dans ses choix interprétatifs. La mise en place de cette théorie cognitiviste comme support méthologique à la triangulation de Davidson se justifie, selon nous, par les maints points de rencontre entre les deux théories. La théorie hybride qui en résulte nous servira d'outil d'analyse textuelle et théorique. 'Les Fous de bassan' d'Anne Hébert thématise, de par son contenu linguistique, les même procédés qui servent à déterminer ce contenu linguistique. Mais nous soutenons que les même procédés inférentiels s'appliquent également à tout énoncé de fiction littéraire quelque soit son contenu linguistique. Enfin, nous postulerons une relation entre la pratique de la lecture des énoncés de fiction et la capacité d'une personne de comprendre le monde et d'autres esprits.
Cloning and characterization of Drosophila Nedd4 as a putative binding partner of the proline-rich region of Inscuteable

In 'Drosophila', the protein Inscuteable has been identified as controlling several aspects of asymmetric mitosis in neuroblasts and muscle progenitor cells. In an effort to elucidate how Inscuteable performs these roles, a PY motif-containing region of Inscuteable was used as bait in yeast two hybrid and expression screens for protein:protein interaction partners, in hopes of finding WW domain-containing proteins involved in mediating Inscuteable's function. Clone 211, the 'Drosophila' homologue of ' epsin', was cloned in a yeast two hybrid screen. Thorough investigation of 211 was not pursued because the interaction detected could not be duplicated in 'in vitro' mixing experiments. The 'Drosophila' homologue of the E3 ubiquitin ligase protein 'Nedd4', ' dNedd4', was cloned in an expression screen. My results show that dNedd4 and Inscuteable can interact in a WW domain:PY motif dependent fashion, and that Inscuteable is a potential ubiquitination substrate, suggesting a possible role for dNedd4 in regulating Inscuteable.
Language planning and bilingual education for linguistic minorities in China, a case study of the policy formulation and implementation process

The issues of minority language policy and planning in contemporary China (1949present) are pursued in this study within a theoretical framework derived from three related areas of research: language planning, educational policy studies, and bilingual education. The aim is to achieve an understanding of the nature and the characteristics of Communist language policies and their impact on the life and education of over 90 million people. They are labelled as the Chinese national minorities consisting of 55 ethnic groups with extremely diversified languages and cultures. Chinese policy making and implementation processes are examined including relationships between macro-policy goals and micro-implementations within a complicated bureaucratic structure. Employing the combined methods of documentary reviews, intensive interviews, and field observations, a series of case studies are conducted through research at various levels from the Centre (Beijing), to the region/province (Xinjiang and Gansu), and the local (prefectures, counties, and schools). Several minority groups (the Uygur, Kazak, Xibo, Yi, Dai, and Tibetan) and their languages and education situations are examined closely. The study illuminates a process within which minority language policy decisions are determined, conditioned, influenced and implemented. Important factors in policy making are identified including the Communist ideology, the CPC's political agendas, the strategic positions of the minorities, the deeply rooted imperial traditions, and the changing world environment. An examination of how these factors interact, restrain and reinforce one another reveals the close relationships between the use of a language and political power, nation building and cultural identity. The study seeks to contribute to empirical and conceptual knowledge on international studies of minority language policy, planning, education, and social change. It also provides an insight into current research in the fields of bilingual education, language planning and educational policy studies.
A feasibility study of noninvasive cerebrospinal fluid shunt flow measurement by Doppler ultrasound using ultrasonically excited bubbles

A new Doppler ultrasound method is described for measuring the flow in a fluid that normally contains no ultrasound scatterers. The ultimate objective of this work is to enable the non-invasive measurement of flow within small diameter (1.3 mm, ID) implanted CSF shunt tubes. Towards this end, low-frequency (28.8 kHz) ultrasound was used to generate and control a bubble population within a fluid media such as distilled water and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The system described uses a sequence of three different kinds of acoustic cavitation processes: transient, stable and cyclic. In the final step of the sequence, low-duty cycle (~10%) and low-pressure (~30 kPa) ultrasound is used to maintain a microbubble population whose mean diameter is ~12 [mu]m, that can be used as Doppler ultrasound scatterers. Using a 5-MHz pulsed Doppler ultrasound system it has been possible to detect the presence of the flow down to a mean flow rate of 3 ml/hr (mean velocity ~0.6 mm/s). The Doppler velocity estimates are highly correlated ('r' > 0.99) with the actual flow velocities in the tube. Results of the preliminary clinical trial on the externalized CSF shunts have indicated the feasibility of this scheme to determine realistic CSF shunt flows, though some practical problems remain before the technique is ready for clinical use. To understand and measure the behavior of bubbles during three different kinds of cavitation processes in the tube, a CCD imaging system and a synchronized short duration flash were used to capture movie frame sequences. Subsequent analysis of the frames enabled the following bubble parameters to be measured: size distributions, fractional volume concentration, flow characteristics, rise velocity, dissolution time, growth rate and various bubble formation processes. In addition, the cavitation threshold of distilled water inside the tube was determined. Techniques were also developed to identify successful bubble initiation and excitation by either detecting the harmonic components of the bubble emission power spectra or by detecting the power level of the Doppler spectrum.
The gendered citizen, women in Santiago, Chile, 1850-1925

This dissertation examines the history of women in the Chilean capital, Santiago, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It investigates the relations between men and women in the new republic and uses gender analysis to examine the ideology of gender that developed in the latter half of the last century. The standards of femininity found in the works of European, and especially French, writers, proved attractive to the intellectual and political leadership of the nation. The efforts of the intellectual elite of the city to promote an idealized image of motherhood and a feminine cult of domesticity played a significant role in determining the pattern of national identity offered to Chileans. Gender and descriptions of sexual difference featured prominently in the emerging portrait of republican identity utilized by the elite to unite the population. However, the economic circumstances of the capital forced Chileans to modify the European program for women. The domestic environment demanded by a cult of domesticity was too expensive for the majority of Chilean to enjoy. Eliminating women's work could not be seriously entertained in a city where men's wages were exceedingly low and women's labour was indispensible both to the majority of households as well as the vast number of self-supporting women of the city. In order to comply with the modern standards abridged from foreign authors, Chileans stressed women's biological function. Intellectuals in Santiago insisted that women were sexually dependent upon male partners and commentators turned a blind eye to the paid labour in which women engaged. This stress on the physical character of women, while it acted as a unifying element to address all the nation's women, regardless of their income, also made women responsible for achieving a harmonic balance with their male counterparts and left men largely fire from social scrutiny.
The functional diversity of dystrophin

The Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene is complex, encoding multiple tissue specific isoforms of unknown function. The hypothesis that dystrophin isoforms are functionally distinct, and perform specialized roles in the tissues in which they are expressed is tested. Specifically, the role of Dp71, a small isoform of dystrophin that is expressed in many tissues, is examined to determine how its function is distinct from that of the full length isoform, Dp427. In Chapter II, it is demonstrated that there are a series of isoforms of Dp71 in most tissues that arise from inclusion or exclusion of exons 71. and 78. The changes introduced through alternative splicing of these exons may modulate protein interactions and hence the function of Dp71 in different tissues. It is demonstrated that Dp71 is expressed in the early stages of muscle development, the primary tissue affected in DMD. In primary myogenic cells, Dp71 has a cellular localization distinct from Dp427 supporting a distinct cellular role (Chapter III). It is hypothesized that this difference in localization may be due to protein binding site to Dp71 via a distinct binding motif not present in Dp427. In Chapter IV, an actin binding site within the unique N-terminus of Dp71 is shown to be sufficient for localization to stress fibres. In Chapter V, the distribution of dystrophin isoforms in the retina was examined. Dp427 and Dp260 are expressed at the outer plexiform layer of the retina, whereas Dp71 is localized to the inner limiting membrane of the retina. The non-overlapping expression pattern in the retina, suggests that both Dp71 and Dp260 are required for proper signal transduction through the neural retina.
Prevalence and characterization of the mechanisms of macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin resistance among isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and viridans streptococci

'Background'. With the emergence of penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, there has been an associated increase in resistance to the macrolide (M), lincosamide (L), and streptogramin B (S B) antimicrobials. Previously, ribosomal modification due to an ' ermB'-encoded methylase was the only known mechanism of MLSB resistance in pneumococci, resulting in cross-resistance to all three classes. Recently, however, a macrolide-specific active efflux mechanism, encoded by the 'mef' gene, has been reported. 'Objectives'. Using a large collection of 'S. pneumoniae ' isolates from across Canada, we determined the prevalence of these mechanisms, and how they may be best detected in the clinical laboratory. 'Methods'. Of 5029 isolates tested, 147 (2.9%) were found to be erythromycin resistant and 64 (1.3%) clindamycin resistant by broth microdilution. All erythromycin resistant isolates were screened for MLS resistance mechanisms by disk susceptibility testing and by PCR, using primers specific for the 'ermA'-, 'B'-, 'C'-, and 'mef' genes. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Caught in the web of relations, giving voice to abused Portuguese-speaking immigrant women

This dissertation examines the experiences of ten Portuguese-speaking women who have immigrated to Toronto, Canada (either from Portugal, including the Azores, or from Brazil), and who, on experiencing abuse at the hands of their male partners, have subsequently sought social services. This qualitative research study is informed by both feminist and social constructivist theories, as well as by a central metaphor--'the web of relations'--which is the network of 'institutional relations' in which, I argue, the women in my study are 'embedded'. The 'threads' of this 'web' may be said to represent the social constraints these women experience in their relations with the various institutions that surround them, and with which they 'share the web'. When the constraining 'threads' of this web are loosened, however, then various 'rights' and 'opportunities' (symbolized by the 'spaces' in the web)'open up' to them, empowering them and improving their options in society. Thus the web has a dual potential: on the one hand, restrictive, on the other, enabling. The 'institutional relations' I specifically explore include those that exist between the women in my study and, respectively, immigration, welfare, the labour market, the family, the church, and, finally, the social service agencies these women access. The data were collected through interviews with the ten selected women. Additional data (concerning abused immigrant women in general, and abused Portuguese speaking immigrant women in particular), were obtained from a second group recruited both from within and outside the Portuguese-speaking community. Of this particular group, 14 are 'service providers' (whose professional experience has included working with abused immigrant women) and 8 are 'other key informants' (who work in an administrative capacity in various social service agencies in Toronto). I conclude that if society is to respond more appropriately to the needs of abused Portuguese-speaking immigrant women in particular, and abused immigrant women in general, then policy makers, community leaders, and service providers must become more aware of the vast web of relations in which the fives of such women are pushed and puffed in multiple and often erratic ways, specially given the combined impacts of a neo-agenda, government cutbacks, funding guidelines, and professional ideology (among other factors) which have affected the potential of social services to empower such women and improve their options in society.
Educating women for the future, a cohort analysis of professional women and their attitudes toward retirement

This study investigated the differences that exist between four different cohorts of professional women born between the years 1931-1945, 1946-1955, 1956-1965, 1966-1973, in their attitudes toward retirement, presence of children, employment status, retirement income security, and retirement planning knowledge. A sample of 320 was drawn from four cities in Ontario including, Windsor, London, Toronto and North Bay. Respondents were asked to complete a 65 item questionnaire, and were asked questions about whether or not they were financially prepared for retirement, and how much they liked the idea of retirement. Differences between the cohorts were examined. Distinctions were also analyzed for those with or with or without children, marital status, those with or without changes in marital status, income, and education. Using Multivariate Analysis of variance it was found that significant differences only existed for cohort group and those with or without children in employment status. Marital status showed distinctions in retirement planning knowledge. Between women with or without changes in marital status, differences were displayed in retirement attitudes, retirement income security, and retirement planning knowledge. Conclusions were that young women, following in the footsteps of older women, would continue to have intermittent work careers and financial problems in retirement if they experienced a change in marital status. Solutions to this problem included education in communities through women, s groups, and government legislation in companies to allow short, unpaid work leaves.
Forms of mesoporous silica, fibers, films, curved shapes and patterns

Oriented mesoporous; silica films have been synthesized at air-water and solid-water interfaces by a surfactant-based supramolecular templating technique under quiescent aqueous acidic conditions. Solid substrates include freshly cleaved Muscovite mica, pyrolytic graphite, and sputter-deposited gold. Convergent evidence from PXRD, SEM, TEM, AFM, POM and gas adsorption isotherms have shown that the silica films are mesoporous; and in closely packed hexagonal phase. Registry of silicate-surfactant assemblies on atomically flat substrates, mica and graphite, has been established by AFM, SEM and POM studies. Control of film properties such as the degree of polymerization of silica, film thickness, and hexagonal packing order has been demonstrated by adjusting acidity, temperature, and post-treatment conditions. Mesoporous silica has also been synthesized with a range of spectacular curved shapes. Optical birefringence has been observed for some of the shapes and the origin has been traced to the hexagonally close packed arrangement of silica channels. The mesostructure-morphology relationship of gyroid, discoid and fiber shapes have been established by TEM, SEM, AFM and POM studies. The channel structure of mesoporous silica films and some curved shapes are thought to be initiated by defects in the growth liquid crystalline seed. A distinct mode of formation has been found for micron size mesoporous silica spheres. Low acidity and high temperatures favor sphere formation and the growth process is based on colloidal flocculation. The main factors that contribute to the nucleation, growth and form of mesoporous silica morphologies have been identified. Proof-of-concept for building hierarchical mesoporous structures has been illustrated through the use of patterned self-assembled monolayers (SAM) on gold. Mesoporous silica is found to preferentially grow on SAM patterned regions of the film.