identifier: Brophy, Kathleen M. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Brophy=3AKathleen_M=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2000) Nursing students' experiences of autonomy : a critical feminist approach.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore female nursing students' experiences of autonomy during their nursing education programs. The methodology was a critical feminist approach using qualitative methods. The participants were ten female nurses who had graduated from an undergraduate nursing program within the past two years. Results indicated that although the participants could describe experiences that both enhanced their autonomy and deprived them of autonomy, they described an overall lack of autonomy during their nursing education and they appeared to be an oppressed group. Autonomy, they found, was difficult to attain when the learning environment was controlling, inflexible, intimidating, and posed unrealistic expectations. Factors that enhanced their ability to be autonomous included collegial relationships, trust and independence, clinical competence, and constructive feedback. They revealed that a result of oppression was powerlessness, passiveness and an acceptance of oppression.


identifier: Coady, Charles F. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Coady=3ACharles_F=2E=3A=3A.html>   (1998) Nosocomial infections and antibiotic utilization in long-term care facilities : traditional versus protective care settings.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

type: Thesis NonPeerReviewed

format: application/pdf application/pdf

abstract: Retrospective surveillance for nosocomial infection and antibiotic utilization was conducted at three multi-skilled long-term care facilities in St. John's, Newfoundland. The average incidence of facility acquired infection, based on the units under study, was 9.1 infections per 1000 resident days. No significant differences in infection rates were found between the protective care units and the traditional ward units. The most common source of infection was respiratory tract infections (36.6%); eye, ear, nose and mouth infections (21.0%); and skin infections (19.2%). The four most common pathogens documented in culture results were Escherichia coli (31.3%), Pseudomonas aeuroginosa (17.6%), Enterococcus faecalis (9.8%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.8%). The most common treatments prescribed for infection were Sodium Salamyd (16.4%), Amoxil (12.7%), and Septra (10.3%). Among all residents surveyed, over the two year period, 70.1% received at least one course of antibiotics. In addition, antibiotic resistance was noted in 49.3% of all pathogens identified in the study. This study concludes that both nosocomial infections and antibiotic resistant pathogens are increasing in the long-term care environment.


identifier: Hashim, Mir Ali <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hashim=3AMir_Ali=3A=3A.html>   (1990) Premotoneuronal organisation of swallowing in the rat.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The overall aim of this research was to examine the role of the neuronal solitarial network in the neural organization of swallowing. The specific objectives were:  1) to map deglutitive premotor loci within the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), 2) to examine their pharmacological characteristics and 3) trace their intrabulbar connections. Experiments were done on anaesthetised rats utilising techniques which included micropneumophoresis, neuronal tracing and immunocytochemistry. Deglutitive loci were mapped by local applications of glutamate; the pharmacology of glutamate receptor subtypes involved in the various components of swallowing were examined; and both anterograde and retrograde tracing techniques were employed. -- The results indicate that, within the NTS, pharyngeal loci extend from the level of the obex to 900 pm rostrally overlapping the subnuclei ventralis and intermedialis; both cervical and distal oesophageal loci are coextensive with the subnucleus centralis of the NTS. -- Based on a comparison of excitatory amino acid agonist potency and the effects of Af-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-selective and non-selective antagonists on glutamate-evoked responses, kainate (KA) receptors were found linked to pharyngeal sites whereas NMDA receptors were preferentially associated with the subnucleus centralis.  Under physiological conditions, the response to NMDA receptor-activation in the subnucleus centralis appears to be dependent in part on an intact cholinergic input directed at muscarinic cholinoceptors. In contrast, the presumptive KA receptor-mediated responses at solitarial deglutitive loci appear independent of an excitatory serotoninergic input insofar as the involvement of excitatory 5-HT2 and/or 5-HT1c receptors is concerned. The 5-HT input to the pharyngeal territory of the solitary complex originates, at least in part, from cells in the raphe obscurus, magnus and pontis nuclei. -- Anterograde fibre tracing by the use of Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin revealed dense projections from the deglutitive loci to the pharyngo- and oesophagomotor portions of the nucleus ambiguus. In addition, solitarial efferents displayed a distinct pattern of projection to other motoneuronal pools controlling the muscles of deglutition viz., the hypoglossal, the facial and its accessory nucleus, the motor trigeminal and its accessory nucleus and the dorsal vagal motor nucleus. Thus, the pharmacological data together with the neuroanatomical evidence of direct neural projections from deglutitive loci in the solitary complex to the motor nuclei involved in swallowing lend strong credence to the hypothesized role of solitarial interneurons as generators of the deglutitive motor pattern. -- KEY WORDS: Swallowing Deglutition Nucleus tractus solitarii Glutamate NMDA receptors Acetylcholine Serotonin Nucleus ambiguus   Premotor neurons


identifier: Sawhney, Harinder <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Sawhney=3AHarinder=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Power system performance enhancement using unified power flow controller.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Electric power utilities in many countries around the world face deregulation and privatization. The utilities are often separated into generation, transmission and distribution companies in order to encourage competition and provide customers with the choice of selecting their electrical energy provider. Environmental concerns, right-of-way and cost have delayed the construction of new transmission lines. The demand for electric power has continued to grow and this must be met by increased transfer of power through available transmission lines. -- The overall aim of the research presented in this thesis is to examine the application of Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) in power system operation. For this device a general model is derived and used in power system analysis. This model is referred to as the injection model which is valid for load flow analysis. The model has been very helpful for understanding the impact of UPFC on power system operation. As a part of UPFC application, Available Transfer Capability (ATC) has been studied with different methods of calculating ATC. The impact of the UPFC in increasing the available transfer capability of the power system has been studied. Test results using different power system models are presented throughout the thesis to illustrate the effectiveness of Unified Power Flow Controller.


identifier: Leary, Del M. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Leary=3ADel_M=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Negative group velocity of ultrasonic pulses in a bubbly liquid.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: A wave pulse can propagate with a negative group velocity when it travels through a medium with anomalous dispersion, that is, when the derivative of the dispersion curve is negative. Here we report on the experimental observation of negative group velocities for pulses of ultrasound propagating ballistically through water containing gas bubbles. For frequencies near the resonant frequency of the bubbles, the absorption increases strongly and the group velocity becomes negative. Our experimental results are in good agreement with a theoretical model sound propagation in bubbly liquids if we assume a Gaussian distribution of bubble sizes.


identifier: El-Sherbiny, Aisha <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/El-Sherbiny=3AAisha=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Numerical integration of the electron density.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Abstract In quantum chemistry three-dimensional integrals of the type [special characters omitted], are common. In general, the integrand F(r) extends over all the molecular space. Sometimes, as occurs in density functional theory, the integrals can not be solved analytically and numerical approximations must be used. In molecules, the integrand F(t) is dominated by cusps at atomic nuclei. A popular solution to this multicenter integration problem is the nuclear weight function scheme proposed by A. D. Becke. Two algorithms based on Becke's approach were developed by P. M. W. Gill et al. and by Becke. The latter was slightly modified by O. Treutler and R. Ahlrichs. These two different algorithms were written in Fortran 90 and incorporated in MUNgauss.This work investigates in detail Becke's scheme and the application of the previous two algorithms to integrate the charge density of a set of test molecules.


identifier: Tittensor, Derek <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Tittensor=3ADerek=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Population distribution of the copepod Calanus finmarchicus in the Labrador Sea : a modelling study.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Calanus finmarchicus is a zooplankter that forms a critical part of the North Atlantic ecosystem, and provides a key link in the transfer of energy between trophic levels. The Labrador Sea contains a large population of Calanus finmarchicus, but existing data for the central and northern parts of this region are sparse. There are, as yet, few wintertime observations due to the difficulties of data collection. Modelling studies provide a useful method to assess ecological and oceanographic processes and can give insight into the spatial structure of populations. This study couples a biological model of Calanus finmarchicus with a circulation model of the Labrador Sea and its environs in an attempt to understand interactions between the physical oceanographic transport processes of the region and zooplankton behaviour, life-history and distribution. The study aims to produce a large-scale, comprehensive picture of the spatial distribution of Calanus finmarchicus in the Labrador Sea, along with an exploration of the timing of diapause, and an examination of transport processes and their effect on population sustainability. The modelled population structure matches reasonably well to temporal and spatial patterns in the Labrador Sea derived from available data sets. During an annual cycle, surface currents can cause a population to be advected onto shelf and slope regions from the deeper ocean. A latitudinally-dependent diapause emergence scheme with early emergence to the south ofNewfoundland provides the best fit to data.


identifier: O, Miriam <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/O=3AMiriam=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Multi-scale analysis of eelgrass habitat (Zostera marina) in Newman Sound, Newfoundland.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The scale of observation affects how we perceive all ecological patterns and processes. The problem of scale is in finding ways to relate observations across space and time. In this study. I quantified two measures of eelgrass (Zostera marina) habitat structure as a function of spatial scale. I determined a scaling law comparing perimeter- to-area ratios of eelgrass habitat over a range of resolutions. I then used this function to compute juvenile cod abundance across scales. I also investigated the effect of spatial scale on the frequency distribution of eelgrass patch sizes. Due to temporally and spatially lagged mechanisms within eelgrass systems, I hypothesized that the frequency distribution of patch sizes for eelgrass would fit a power law. My results support this hypothesis, regardless of observation scale. In this thesis, I demonstrate that measurements taken at coarse resolutions can be used to estimate eelgrass habitat structure and cod abundance at finer resolutions using a simple scaling law. Thus, the frequency distribution of patch sizes at one scale can be computed from the frequency distribution at a scale that may be logistically more convenient to obtain.


identifier: Young, Terry-Lynn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Young=3ATerry-Lynn=3A=3A.html>   (2000) Molecular genetics of Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) in the Newfoundland population.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Bardet-Biedi syndrome (BBS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by congenital dysmorphic extremities, infantile onset obesity, progressive retinal degeneration, renal abnormalities, and male hypogonadism. There are at least five genetic loci, four previously mapped (3p, 1 lq, 15q and 16q), that give the same pleiotropic BBS phenotype. The limited number of cases and the genetic heterogeneity of BBS have hindered efforts to positionally clone the BBS genes. Newfoundland, a genetic isolate, is enriched for BBS with a prevalence (1/17,500) that is ten times higher than the world estimate. The availability of DNA from 17 of the 22 identified BBS families provided an opportunity to study the molecular genetics of BBS in Newfoundland. -- Seventeen families were genotyped and linkage and haplotype analyses were conducted at each of the four mapped loci (BBSI-BBS4). Three families were assigned to the BBSl locus. The finding of linkage disequilibrium resulted in the assignment of three additional BBSl families and the refinement of the BBSl disease interval on chromosome 11q. One large family was linked to the relatively rare BBS3 locus and was used to confirm this locus and refine its map position on chromosome 3p. Six families were excluded from all previously mapped loci. A genomewide scan was used to successfully map the fifth locus, BBSS, to chromosome 2q31. In summary, of the 22 Newfoundland BBS families, six (27%) have been unambiguously assigned to BBSl, one to BBS3 (5%) • and one to BBSS (5%), suggesting that the relatively high prevalence of BBS in Newfoundland is the result of a minimum of three BBS genes and a BBSl founder.


identifier: Kilfoil, Maria <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kilfoil=3AMaria=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Molecular orientation and dynamics of flexible polymers in strongly deforming flow fields.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: A method of spatially resolved magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been developed to allow studies of order and dynamics in complex fluids having transverse relaxation times on the order of tens of milliseconds, studies which were otherwise not possible using existing techniques. The model of Doi and Edwards is a microscopic description for stress transmission in concentrated polymer solutions and melts under deformation. Central to the Doi-Edwards model is the dependence of the stress on bond orientational order of the chain segments. Different elements of the segmental alignment tensor for a polymer melt under strong shearing flow are measured here using localized deuterium NMR spectroscopy on a 61 OK molecular weight poly (dimethyl siloxane) melt in a concentric cylinder Couette rheometric cell. This approach provides a new means of testing the Doi-Edwards model and its refinements, in the important regime far from equilibrium where the entangled polymers exhibit nonlinear viscoelastic behaviour. -- The same rheo-NMR methodology is also used to test predictions of the model of Leslie and Ericksen which describes director dynamics in semi-flexible rod-like polymers subjected to viscous stresses. Director dynamics are studied in a lyotropic liquid crystal polymer PBLG (300K) in a highly ordered, nematic phase in a planar extensional flow around a stagnation point. In addition, bulk 2H NMR studies are carried out on PBLG under shear, in concentric cylinder Couette and cone and plate rheometric cells. Magnetic alignment (equivalent to the dynamic Freedericksz transition) is investigated in all three cells following deformation. Values are obtained for the Leslie viscosity coefficients a2 and a3, scaled by the diamagnetic susceptibility. Possible development of mesoscale structure under shear is discussed.


identifier: Mukhtasor <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Mukhtasor=3A=3A=3A.html>   (1998) Probabilistic ocean outfall design.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

title: Probabilistic ocean outfall design

abstract: Factors affecting initial dilution and bacterial concentration at an area near the outfall discharge, e.g. sewage flow rate, seawater currents and bacterial decay, are highly variable. Because of this, a probabilistic approach for ocean outfall design and analysis is essential in predicting the performance of the outfall and in reflecting the probabilistic nature of the initial dilution and bacterial concentration. -- The intention of this thesis is to develop and apply a design procedure using a probabilistic method to calculate initial dilution and bacterial concentration at a location of interest. The scope of the study is directed at design and analysis for a horizontal buoyant round jet in a density unstratified seawater environment. Uncertainty of five parameters of design, i.e. sewage flow rate, tidal height, seawater currents, decay parameter, and bacterial concentration in the sewage before discharge into seawater are taken into account in this study. -- A comparison of the probabilistic approach with the deterministic approach shows that the probabilistic approach may provide a full range of possible values of the parameters of interest other than a fixed value. Associated probability values for the parameters of interest can also be obtained using the probabilistic methods. The procedure for outfall design using a probabilistic approach is straight forward, and may work in practice because the analysis of an existing outfall (the Spaniard's Bay Outfall, Newfoundland, Canada) has resulted in good agreement with field data. -- Comparison among the various probabilistic methods studied shows that all methods generally give the same answers for the case of initial dilution, except for a small probability of failure which is typically less 4 %. It is found that First Order Second Moment ( FOSM), Improved Mean-First Order Second Moment (IM-FOSM) and Advanced First Order Second Moment (AFOSM) with assumed normal parameters work well for use in analysis of initial dilution. In practice, the use of FOSM is recommended for its simplicity. -- For the case of bacterial concentration, FOSM gives poor results because the performance function in this case is complex and non linear, but AFOSM with assumed non-normal parameters is recommended. Monte Carlo Simulations (MCS) may also be used if a fast computer and software are available. It should be remembered that the choice of the probability method should consider the problem under investigation as well as the cost and facilities available.


identifier: Sun, Limei <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Sun=3ALimei=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Probabilistic model designs and selection curves of trawl gears.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In this dissertation, two model designs for estimating selection curves of trawl fishing gears are studied. -- The first, a probabilistic model design is introduced in this dissertation. It is a Three- Part Model Design use in Trouser Trawl Experiments. In this model design, the problem of Greenland halibut (turbot) fish meshed in the forepart component of the fishing net is addressed and retention probabilities for all length classes are derived from specific experimental data. Furthermore, a bell-shaped selection curve is adopted for the forepart component of the gear. This model design will enable us to make more accurate assessment of fishing efficiency of trawl gears and their ability to release undersized fish. -- The second probabilistic model design introduced in this dissertation is the Modified Alternate Haul Model Design use in Trawl Experiments. In this model design, the control gear (which measures the total population) involved in traditional alternate haul experiments is eliminated.  By utilizing this model design, an arbitrary number of gear modifications (including standard gear) can be compared from limited experimental data. This model design will also enable the experimental data collected on fishing gears evaluation, to be used to produce their individual selection curves. Application of this model design has significant potential to reduce monetary costs and waste of undersized fish, and improve efficiency of future experimental work. -- In this dissertation, several examples are provided to illustrate applications of two proposed model designs. The results of applying the models to the experimental data sets collected in Phrase I study on Greenland halibut (turbot) in Canadian Waters are most encouraging.


identifier: Miceli, Mario <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Miceli=3AMario=3A=3A.html>   (1984) Neuroendocrine and autonomic regulation of ingestive behaviour in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Certain  prandially released peptide hormones have  been  proposed  to act  as physiological  satiety stimuli.  It has been  demonstrated  in  a variety  of  species  that  injection  of   these hormones reduces  feeding   in otherwise hungry  animals. These  peptides,  however, were  not   previously tested  in  Syrian  hamsters, a  species  known to have physiological feeding controls  different from those of many other animals. The first  series of  experiments  examined  whether  putative  satiety hormones  reduce  feeding in  this  species.  Feeding   in  fasted  hamsters  was measured  after peripheral   injections of   cholecystokinin  octapeptide   (CCK-8),   bombesin (BBS),   thyrotropin  releasing hormone  (TRH),   and  calcitonin  (CT) , Each of   these   peptides  reduced   feeding  in  hamsters,   but  with  varying  degrees of   specificity.     CCK-8 and  BBS,   but  not  TRH  and CT,   appeared   to reduce feeding   specifically.  Intraventricular CCK-8,   BBS,   and  CT also decreased   feeding  in  fasted  hamsters.     Effective central  doses  of   BBS and   CT were considerably   lower  than effective  peripheral   doses,   thus indicating   a central   site of action  for  these  peptides.  Comparable amounts  of CCK-8 were required  to  suppress  feeding  by   either intraventricular or  peripheral   routes of administration. -- In  a  second   series of   experiments  it  was   found   that   peripheral   CCK-8  injections also  reduced  gastric  emptying.  Since  gastric   distention   is a  well-known  satiety stimulus which  is  enhanced  by  reduced  gastric emptying,   it  was  possible  that  CCK-8  reduced   feeding   indirectly by facilitating  gastric  distention.  The  sham-feeding paradigm,   in which orally ingested  liquid diet  passes out   of a   gastric fistula (thereby eliminating  gastric   distention),   was  used  to  assess   this  possibility. The relative  efficacy  of  peripherally  injected CCK-8 was  tested   in hamsters with  chronic  gastric  fistulas during   sham- and  real-feeding (the   fistula  is closed  and   the  stomach  distends)   sessions.     Although CCK-8  did  decrease  sham-feeding,   the magnitude  of   the decrement   was small  and not   statistically  reliable.  In  contrast, peripheral injections of  CCK-8 produced  a  robust and reliable suppression of real-feeding.   It   is concluded  that  inhibition  of  gastric  emptying  and  the ensuing   gastric  distention  contribute to the satiety effect   of peripherally  administered CCK. -- A  third  series of  experiments   investigated   the role of  the abdominal  vagus  in CCK-8s  inhibition of  feeding.     Total  abdominal vagotomy completely  blocked   feeding   suppression  by a  relatively   low intraperitoneal  dose  of  CCK-8.  This  blocking effect  appeared  to  be specific to CCK-8,   as vagotomized  hamsters  showed   the usual   feeding suppression   in  response  to  peripherally administered  doses of   BBS,  CT, and TRH.  In  a  second experiment vagotomized hamsters were completely unresponsive  to relatively  low doses of CCK  (<_ 6.0 ug/kg)  but  did show feeding  suppression  in response to larger  doses   (_> 8.0 pg/kg). Selective gastric  vagotomy  also  attenuated     feeding  suppression   in response to CCK-8 but not as effectively as  total  abdominal  vagotomy. These   findings  suggest  that  vagal  fibres  (probably afferents)  are necessary for   feeding  suppression  following  low  doses of  exogenous CCK,  and  by   inference,  for   eeding  suppression by endogenous!y   released  gut-CCK.   The  gastric  division  of the  vagus  plays a major role  in CCK's inhibition  of   feeding,   but   other   abdominal   divisions are   also  relevant. Extra-vagal   sites of CCK  action  in  the control   of   feeding  (possibly   in the  brain)   are  indicated,   since  vagotomized   hamsters  reduced   feeding after  the  larger  CCK-8  doses. -- These findings in the hamster are discussed in relation to the sites and mechanisms of peptide action in the control of feeding in other  species.


identifier: Marshall, Hallie Rebecca <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Marshall=3AHallie_Rebecca=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Plutarch as a source for Empedocles.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

title: Plutarch as a source for Empedocles

abstract: The purpose of this thesis is two-fold: (1) to evaluate Plutarch's value as a witness to Empedocles' work, which survives only in fragments; and (2) to discuss whether it is possible to reconstruct Empedocles' Eis Empedoklea. It consists of five chapters. Chapter one is an introduction to the thesis topic and the previous scholarship on this subject. Chapter two gives a brief introduction to Plutarch and his interest in Plato. It examines how Plutarch cites Plato in Platonic Questions I-X (Moralia 999C-101 IF). Chapter three discusses what is known about the text of Empedocles' work and Plutarch's interest in that work. It examines the Empedoclean quotations found in Plutarch's Moralia. Chapter four discusses whether it is possible to reconstruct Plutarch's Eis Empedoklea. Chapter five is a brief summary which brings together the material from the previous chapters.


identifier: Knight, John Christopher <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Knight=3AJohn_Christopher=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Pharmacological evaluation of idazoxan-induced noradrenergic modulation of excitatory and inhibitory processes in the dentate gyrus of the anaesthetized rat.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Exogenous norepinephrine (NE) potentiates the evoked potential (EP) recorded from the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus in vivo (Neuman and Harley, 1983; Winson and Dahl, 1985) and in vitro (Lacaille and Harley, 1985; Stanton and Sarvey, 1985b). Endogenous NE released by activation of the locus coeruleus (LC) system by glutamatergic (Harley and Milway, 1986; Harley and Evans, 1988) or electrical stimulation (Dahl and Winson, 1985, Assaf et al., 1979; Washburn and Moises, 1989) of the LC or its input, the nucleus paragigantocellularis (Babstock and Harley, 1992) has similar effects. Evidence suggests that the initiation of these potentiations are mediated by ?-adrenergic activation and that local ?-receptors in the DG play an important role in this phenomenon (Lacaille and Harley, 1985; Stanton and Sarvey, 1985b; Babstock and Harley, 1992; Washburn and Moises, 1989; Harley and Milway, 1986). NE has also been shown to excite and inhibit interneurons recorded in the DG (Rose and Pang, 1989; Clarke 1995). -- Yet another method of releasing endogenous LC-NE and subsequent potentiation of the DG EP is via systemic application of the ?2-antagonist idazoxan (IDA) (Cedarbaum and Aghajanian, 1978; Richter-Levin, 1991; Sara and Bergis, 1991). IDA has also been shown to result in an increase in paired-pulse inhibition in the DG (Sara and Bergis, 1991). -- The present study utilized the paired-pulse paradigm and double pipette technique to examine the role of ?-receptor activation in IDA-induced NE modulation of excitation and inhibition in the local circuitry of the DG. Saline and timolol-filled micropipettes were placed in the DG of urethane-anaesthetized rats. The perforant path was stimulated with paired pulses spaced at short intervals and rats were given systemic injection of IDA after baseline recroding. Evidence was demonstrated for five distinct effects of NE in the local circuitry of the DG. These were: 1) enhancement of tonic activity of somatic inhibitory interneurons at baseline via low threshold p-receptor activation; 2) increased cell firing to a constant input supported by a high-threshold direct p-receptor action on granule cell membranes; 3) a decrease in EPSP size probably due to increased feed-forward dendritic inhibition; 4) inhibition of somatic feedback disinhibition circuits (rather than an increase in inhibition per se); and 5) enhancement of firing of feedback dendritic inhibitory interneurons possibly via  ?1 -receptor activation. Effects observed in the DG with IDA in the present study were compared to those observed during learning and exploration of a new environment in other studies.


identifier: Pepin, Marc <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Pepin=3AMarc=3A=3A.html>   (1999) Monte Carlo and mean field studies of polymers in solution.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This thesis presents a comprehensive study of the structure and physical properties of polymers in solution. The focus is on Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The results are compared with mean field theoretical predictions and used to study the limitations of the mean field theories. -- Four distinct systems are investigated. The first one consists of A-b-? diblock copolymer crew-cut micelles in .4 solvent. The relatively long B block is incompatible with the solvent and forms the core of the micelles, and the relatively short A block forms a thin corona. Results from simulations for the size of the core as a function of the molecular weight of the B block are compared with simple mean field theories in the literature and extensions in this thesis. They support the argument that the weaker dependence observed in recent experiments is a non-equilibrium effect. -- When a small amount of ? homopolyrncr is added to the block copolymer solution, it can be solubilized within the micelle cores and swell the micelles, or separate into a macrophase with the copolymers at the homopolvmer-solvent interface and/or in micelles. Results from Monte Carlo simulations show a threshold volume fraction of homopolymer below which the homopolymer is solubilized within the micelle cores and above which macrophase separation occurs. These results are in qualitative agreement with previous experiments and a simple mean field theory. -- In the third system, one end of each polymer is end-tethered to a surface and the remaining section of the polymer stretches into good solvent forming an end-tethered layer. The fourth system includes free polymer in solution. The focus of this work is on system regimes which correspond to those studied in most experiments. In both systems, the results of the MC simulations agree well with those of the numerical self-consistent field (NSCF) calculations for surface concentrations above a threshold. A scaling analysis of the layer thickness shows that the systems arc not in the limit of high molecular weight and highly stretched chains. Furthermore, in systems with relatively high molecular weight free polymers, the degree of penetration of the free polymer into the end-tethered layer is greater than predicted by asymptotic SCF theories, although still less than observed in recent experiments.


identifier: Hogan, Mary <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hogan=3AMary=3A=3A.html>   (2000) Phonological disorders in English speaking children : a nonlinear analysis.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Children with phonological disorders have difficulty acquiring some of the sound contrasts of their language, and this results in unintelligible speech. In the present study the speech of two children with phonological disorders is analyzed using a nonlinear phonological framework. Nonlinear phonology allows for the independent analysis of segmental and prosodic impairments that are commonly found among phonologically disordered children, while at the same time it allows for an analysis of phonological problems resulting from the interaction of the segmental and prosodic tiers. -- The data demonstrates that segmental and prosodic acquisition occur independently, although some tier interaction is also evident. Segments with a complex structure are acquired later than segments with a simple structure; as well, features found higher in the geometry are acquired before more deeply embedded features. Unmarked syllable and word templates are acquired before those with a more marked structure, such as those with complex onset and coda consonants. This study argues that children with phonological disorders show an acquisition sequence that proceeds along the same path as for children with normally developing phonological systems, but that acquisition occurs at a slower rate for the former group. Furthermore, the present study demonstrates the significance of the nonlinear approach to the analysis of phonologically disordered speech.


identifier: Laybolt, A. Dawn <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Laybolt=3AA=2E_Dawn=3A=3A.html>   (1999) Prehistoric settlement and subsistence patterns at Gaserpeau Lake, Kings County, Nova Scotia.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The initial goal of this project was to document the Archaic Period occupation (9,500 to 2,500 B.P.) at Gaspereau Lake, Kings County, Nova Scotia. After completion of an archaeological survey along its shores and an analysis of several private collections containing archaeological materials, the scope of the project was expanded to include the entire prehistoric occupational sequence for the Gaspereau Lake. -- The information amassed from survey and collection analysis documents a continuous occupational sequence for Gaserpeau Lake, from the Paleoindian Period (11,000 to 9,500 B.P.) to Historic times. Furthermore, additional analysis of site locations has revealed the preference for specific areas along the lake shore. Overall, it appears that site were placed according to their proximity to natural resources and, especially for easy access to seasonal anadromous fish runs.


identifier: Xiao, Wu <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Xiao=3AWu=3A=3A.html>   (1999) Potential of using low density lipoproteins (LDLs) as carriers of radioimaging agents for the early identification of atherosclerotic lesions and cervical cancer cells.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Atherosclerosis is the underlying factor leading to such cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as stroke, aneurysm, and myocardial infarction. The early detection of atherosclerotic plaques is considered to be crucial for successful prevention and/or therapeutic and dietary intervention of CVD. Current diagnostic practice, on the other hand, can only detect the problem at an advanced stage. The purpose of the work in this thesis was to examine the potential of using non-hydrolyzable radioimaging agents /acetylated low density lipoprotein (AcLDL) conjugates as diagnostic drugs for the early and non-invasive detection of atherosclerosis and for the monitoring of the effects of drug therapy. -- Cholesteryl iopanoate (CI), a cholesteryl ester analog, 1,3-dihydroxypropan-2- one 1,3-diiopanoate (DPIP), a diglyceride analog, and a new compound, cholesteryl 1,3-diiopanoate glyceryl ether (C2I), were synthesized, radiolabeled, and incorporated into AcLDL to use as radiotracers for testing their potential clinical use in the early diagnosis of atherosclerosis in experimental rabbits. Biodistribution of these agents was studied, and aortae of both atherosclerotic lesioned and control rabbits were removed for Sudan IV staining and autoradiography in order to confirm the formation of the atherosclerotic lesion and localization of radioactivity respectively. -- The injected drugs were found to be cleared from blood following a two compartment model. All of the three drugs were shown to be resistant to hydrolysis In vivo. Radioactivity in the atherosclerotic aorta was found to be significantly higher than that in normal aorta in terms of CI and C2I compounds, suggesting that both of the proposed diagnostic probes were selectively taken up by the atherosclerotic lesions. The autoradiography and staining results confirmed that the localization of the proposed probes was superimposed with the atherosclerotic lesion site. Work in this regard was published in part (Xiao et al., 1999a) and summarized in Chapter 2. -- Other work included in this thesis contains a method we developed in our lab to significantly enhance the drug loading efficiency into LDL using a microemulsion with seal oil as the major constituent (see Xiao et al., 1999b and Chapter 3 for details), and the research on the potential of using DPIP loaded LDL as a tumor imaging agent for the detection of cervical tumors (see Xiao et al., 1999c and Chapter 4 for details).


identifier: Yang, Xiaolong <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Yang=3AXiaolong=3A=3A.html>   (1999) Molecular cloning and characterization of human BAG-1.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In the past ten years, a tremendous amount of work has demonstrated that enhanced cell proliferation caused by activation of oncogenes or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes is one of the major causes of human cancer. However, recently, mounting evidence strongly suggest that decreased cell death by apoptosis via inactivation of pro-apoptotic genes or activation of anti- apoptotic genes may also play an important role in carcinogenesis. Inactivation of the pro-apoptotic gene p53 by mutations or DNA tumor viruses and overexpression of anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 have been found in the majority of human cancers. -- In an attempt to identify the transcription factors regulating JC virus expression, our lab isolated a protein called K1, which has an amino acids sequence identical to that of BAG-1. BAG-1 is a protein originally isolated from mouse embryonic cells as a Bcl-2 interacting protein. To understand the role of BAG-1 in human cancer, I isolated a 1.3 kb full length human BAG-l cDNA by screening a human cervical cell cDNA library using mouse BAG-1 cDNA as a probe. The amino acid sequence of human BAG-1 cDNA is identical to a hormone receptor-binding protein, RAP46, and has 75% identity and 84% homology with that of mouse BAG-1. BAG-1 RNA was expressed in a variety of human tissues and at higher levels in the heart and pancreas. Characterization of BAG- 1 protein in vitro and in vivo found that human BAG-1 protein is expressed as four iso forms, p50, p46, p33, and p29, by alternative translation initiation of the start codons through a leaky mechanism. Different BAG-1 iso forms have distinct subcellular localization. -- Like mouse BAG-1, overexpression of human BAG-1 can inhibit apoptosis induced by various apoptotic stimuli such as UV irradiation, heat shock, staurosporine, cisplatin and doxorubicin. The C-terminal BAG-1 sequence is responsible for its anti-apoptotic activity. However, BAG-1 sensitizes 4-HPR-induced apoptosis by activation of caspase-3 through the BAG-l central region. This result suggests that BAG-1 can be a pro- or anti-apoptotic protein, depending on the apoptotic inducer. -- Since Bcl-2 has been shown to be overexpressed in most human cancers, I examined whether the expression of Bcl-2-interacting protein, BAG-1, was also enhanced during tumorigenesis. In this study, enhanced expression of BAG-1 protein was detected in breast and cervical cancer ceil lines and tissues. The increased BAG-1 protein in cancer cell lines was due to enhanced transcription rather than genomic rearrangement of the BAG-1 gene. Correlated with that of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL, the levels of BAG-1 proteins increased progressively after immortalization and transformation during multistage carcinogenesis of cervical cells. The increased BAG-1 protein was correlated with progressively increased resistance to apoptosis induced by staurosporine. Moreover, the level of BAG-1 protein correlated with that of other BAG-1-binding proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bci-XL only in human breast and cervical cell lines but not tissues. -- To understand the molecular mechanism of overexpression of BAG-1 in human cancers, I cloned a 0.9 kb BAG-1 5'-flanking region from genomic DNA. Deletion analysis of this sequence localized the region of maximal BAG-l promoter activity from nucleotide positions -353 to -54, upstream of the first start codon CTG. Sequence analysis of the BAG-1 promoter region showed the absence of a TATA box but identified a CCAAT box, several GC boxes, a CpG island and several transcription factor binding sites, which may be important in the regulation of BAG-1 transcription. Most importantly, functional characterization of the BAG-1 promoter in vivo demonstrated that gain- of-function p53 mutants derived from human tumors upregulated the transcription of BAG-l RNA and the expression of a reporter gene from the BAG-1 promoter. These data indicated that overexpression of BAG-1 in some tumors may be due to upregulation of the human BAG-1 promoter by mutant p53. -- In summary, human BAG-1 cDNA and promoter/enhancer were cloned and characterized in this study. Further analysis of BAG-l RNA and protein demonstrated that enhanced expression of BAG-1 may play an important role in carcinogenesis.


identifier: Rieti, Barbara Gaye <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Rieti=3ABarbara_Gaye=3A=3A.html>   (1990) Newfoundland fairy traditions : a study in narrative and belief.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This is a study of fairy traditions in Newfoundland, based on material from the Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (mostly student collections made within the past twenty-five years) and on field research on the Avalon Peninsula.  It examines meanings and uses of concepts of the fairies, both as identified by informants and as suggested through the collation of texts.  I argue that on a textual level meaning can be found in explicit and implicit themes: the first refers to overt narrative content (stories of changelings or going astray, for example), the second to cultural concerns which, I suggest, find metaphorical expression in fairy traditions.  Analysis of this kind is subordinated, however, to consideration of the individual narrator and situation, for a contextual, ethnographic approach shows that emic interpretation varies widely, and the same content functions in different ways for different informants.  I have sought to avoid abstraction and generalization on the nature and functions of fairy traditions (especially in the matter of belief”) which, in ignoring the individuality of tradition bearers, can result in a partial picture at best, and a distorted one at worst. -- In accordance with this ethnographic emphasis, I have centered all chapters but the first on my informants and the issues their narratives raise.  The first chapter sets in international historical context the assertion that modern traditions are but faded remains of a moribund belief system, by showing that this view is both a folk and literary convention of long standing which has rhetorical uses; the proposition that everyone used to believe is shown to be dubious, for even when contextual information is unavailable, it can be seen from content alone that there have always been sceptics.  The next six chapters document what people told me, illustrate the complexities of dealing with belief, and conclude that the fairies, amorphous and polymorphous, have always been eminently adaptable and continue to lend themselves to a multiplicity of uses.


identifier: Hutton, Renaud <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hutton=3ARenaud=3A=3A.html>   (2000) Périple Aux Alentours Du Fantastique Hébertien : Tentative de classification et d'organisation du Fantastique.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Ce mémoire consiste en une tentative de définition et d'organisation du Fantastique en trois types différents, allant de ce que nous avons appelé le fantasque, jusqu'au fantasmagorique, en passant par le fantasmatique. Le lecteur doit être avisé que les propositions de definition et d'organisation du Fantastique qui sont faites s'inspirent de théories déjà etablies. L'optique principale durant la rédaction a été d'observer et d'analyser le Fantastique à travers les yeux des personnages de textes d'Anne Hébert. Les effets de la littérature fantastique sur le lecteur sont également considérés. II en ressort une conclusion qui propose que l'impression du lecteur face à la littérature fantastique ainsi que son interprétation du texte permettent de définir et de catégoriser le Fantastique en trois types de fantastique.


identifier: O'Brien, Tracy <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/O=27Brien=3ATracy=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Production of approximants as evidence for phonological deficits in dyslexia.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Production of Approximants as Evidence for Phonological Deficits in Dyslexia. This paper presents the results of an experiment conducted under the hypothesis that dyslexics have disordered phonology. The hypothesis was tested by investigating dyslexics' production and manipulation of the approximants /l, r, w, j/ in consonant clusters (such as [bl] and [tr]). Two tests were administered: 1) a remove-consonant (Rosner) test (subjects remove the T sound from 'plan' and pronounce the result-'pan'- for example) and 2) a nonsense-word repetition test (nonsense words included, for example, 'teglape'). Twelve reading-disordered individuals with a mean age of 14 years, 5 months took part in the study. They were compared to a control group consisting of seven grade 2 normally-reading children. Results showed that poor readers had difficulty with the remove-consonant test and with the repetition of nonsense words. They made more errors than the control group on these tasks. Implications of these findings concerning the causes of dyslexia are discussed.


identifier: Zhang, Wenkui <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Zhang=3AWenkui=3A=3A.html>   (1998) Numerical analysis of delay differential and integro-differential equations.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In this thesis, we analyze the collocation-based continuous Runge-Kutta methods for delay differential equations and delay Volterra integro-differential equations. We will look at the global convergence and local superconvergence properties of collocation solutions. We also consider the possible extensions of these results to neutral type delay equations and higher order equations. -- In Chapter 2, we give the resolvent representations for solutions to Volterra integral and integro-differential equations with constant delay, and discuss their relevance for the superconvergence order problem. We prove that the resolvent representation does not exist for the proportional delay case. We then analyze the impact of discontinuities in solutions on our numerical methods. We show that discontinuities occur in higher order derivatives for delay integro-differential equations than for delay differential equations. We also prove that discontinuities arising in solutions to neutral delay integro-differential equations are different from those for neutral delay differential equations. Similar results hold for delay Volterra integral equation and delay Volterra integro-differential equation. We also give the discontinuity properties for solutions to state-dependent delay equations. -- In Chapter 3, we discuss collocation solutions to various equations with constant delay, and survey global and local convergence results. Some extensions to neutral type constant delay problems are also described. -- In Chapter 4, we introduce collocation methods for differential and integro-differential equations with variable delay, especially proportional delay. We prove that the global convergence order equals the number of collocation parameters used for first order differential equations with proportional delay. We give concrete representations for collocation solutions after the first step, and conduct some numerical experiments which suggest that superconvergence does exist in the proportional delay case. An extension to second order DDE is also given. -- In Chapter 5 we suggest a new approach, standard embedding, to the superconvergence order problem of collocation solutions to differential equations with proportional delay, and are able to prove that superconvergence results again do exist under certain conditions.


identifier: Norman, Tony R. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Norman=3ATony_R=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Multi-age schooling : an information package for parents and educators.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This thesis has no abstract


identifier: Wu, Dongmei <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Wu=3ADongmei=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Modeling, analysis and design of the input controller for ATM switches.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In broadband communication networks, commonly used traffic rates are of the order of gigabits per second, or even terabits per second. The nodes of the networks, also known as switches or routers, are among the primary technology barriers that hinder the deployment of fast speed networks, while the modern optical fibre technology allows the transmission media to meet the application requirements. Within the switch itself, routing table lookup is the worst bottleneck. Among the proposed Multistage Interconnection Network (MIN) architectures for ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) switch fabric, the Balanced Gamma (BG) network has been shown to be reliable, fault-tolerant, efficient, scalable and superior in performance when compared with other MINs with similar hardware complexity. In this thesis, we provide the modeling, analysis and design of the input controller (IC) for ATM switches using BG networks. -- The IC temporarily stores the incoming cells in input buffers, performs routing table lookup, and forwards them to the switch fabric that delivers cells to outgoing lines. A cache-based IC architecture improves the efficiency by locally storing the frequently used forwarding information. We realize this purpose by high-speed cache attempts followed by slower routing table lookups, if necessary. -- We have developed a simulator to evaluate different schemes to construct the IC. The simulator has the capability of generating traffic following uniform random traffic (URT) and bursty traffic models. Simulation results show that the IC system works well and the system performance can be improved as cache hits occur most of the time. -- Encouraged by the good performance shown, we have developed the hardware implementation for the proposed IC system using Very High Speed Hardware Description Language (VHDL). This is simulated and synthesized using design tools supplied by Model Technology and Synopsys.


identifier: Willett, Marie Louise <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Willett=3AMarie_Louise=3A=3A.html>   (1993) Object preposed constructions in Malay.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

title: Object preposed constructions in Malay

abstract: This thesis is a study of the syntactic nature of Object Preposed constructions in Malay. Its purpose is to determine whether these constructions exhibit properties typically associated with a passive analysis or a topic analysis. The data elicited for this thesis reveals two pertinent properties: (i) the verb in Object Preposed constructions cannot bear any morphology (i.e. inflectional prefixing); (ii) the appearance of an aspectual marker, modal or adverb (with certain restrictions regarding adverbs) is a necessary requirement for acceptability.  The first of these properties has been widely recognized in the literature, whereas the second has not been acknowledged. -- The analysis put forward in this thesis is within a Government and Binding (Generative) framework. Various assumptions have been made with regard to constraints on A'-movement, licensing properties of INFL, and the availability of an alternate subject position. Based on these assumptions, this thesis argues that the properties exhibited by Object Preposing, with regard to morphology and required elements, are indicative of a syntactic structure typically associated with topicalization rather than passivization. -- Examples from Mandarin Chinese involving preverbal object NPs are discussed as they are remarkably similar to the Malay data found-in this thesis. These examples also require the appearance of an additional element. Mandarin, however, imposes further restrictions than Malay as the element is limited to a small group of aspectual markers and adverbs. -- Constructions sharing a similar syntactic structure with topicalization (e.g. wh-movement and focusing) are also examined and compared with those of Object Preposing. These provide further evidence that Object Preposed constructions are essentially topicalized constructions and not a second form of Passive in Malay.


identifier: Kotchetov, Mikhail V. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Kotchetov=3AMikhail_V=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Polynomial identities of Hopf algebras.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

title: Polynomial identities of Hopf algebras

abstract: In this dissertation we consider Hopf algebras that satisfy a polynomial identity as algebras or coalgebras. The notion of a polynomial identity for an algebra is classical. The dual notion of an identity for a coalgebra is new. -- In Chapter 0 we give basic definitions and facts that are used throughout the rest of this work. -- Chapter 1 is devoted to coalgebras with a polynomial identity. First we introduce the notion of identity of a coalgebra and discuss its general properties. Then we study what classes of coalgebras are varieties, i.e. can be defined by a set of identities. In the case of algebras, varieties are characterized by the classical Theorem of Birkhoff. Somewhat unexpectedly, the dual statement for coalgebras does not hold. Further, we give two realizations of a relatively (co)free coalgebra of a variety: one via the so called finite dual of a relatively free algebra and the other a direct construction using some kind of symmetric functions. -- In Chapter 2 we give necessary and sufficient conditions for a cocommutative Hopf algebra (with additional restrictions in the case of prime characteristic) to satisfy a polynomial identity as an algebra. These results generalize the well-known Passman's Theorem on group algebras with a polynomial identity and Bahturin-Latysev's Theorem on universal enveloping algebras with a polynomial identity. The proofs for the case of prime characteristic are given in Chapter 4. -- In Chapter 3 we dualize the results of Chapter 2 to obtain some criteria for a commutative Hopf algebra (assumed reduced in the case of prime characteristic) to satisfy an identity as a coalgebra. We also extend our result in charecteristic zero to a certain class of nearly commutative Hopf algebras (pseudoinvolutive Hopf algebras of Etingof-Gelaki). -- Finally, in Chapter 4 we use the interpretation of cocommutative Hopf algebras as formal groups to prove the results of Chapter 2. Our method also demonstrates that Bahturin-Latysev's Theorem in characteristic zero is in fact a corollary of Passman's Theorem. -- For the most part, this dissertation is based on my papers [19], [20], and [21].


identifier: Pinhorn, Lisa L. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Pinhorn=3ALisa_L=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Post-high school aspirations of rural Newfoundland and Labrador youth years after the cod moratorium : a new generation.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Rural Newfoundland and Labrador youth who live in communities experiencing economic uncertainty could be the first generation of their families to enroll in post-secondary programs. Literature describes such Potential First-Generation Post-Secondary Students” as less likely to aspire to post-secondary programs and gives eventual risks for attrition. Sixteen high school students from two isolated island communities of Newfoundland and Labrador were surveyed and interviewed to investigate post-high school aspirations of these youth. All participants reported wanting to attend post-secondary education and training programs and feeling that program cost was the greatest barrier to their successful completion. Recommendations are made to encourage the development of practical initiatives for student service departments in support of First-Generation Post-Secondary Students while attending programs.


identifier: Wanasundara, Janitha Priyakanthi Deepani <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Wanasundara=3AJanitha_Priyakanthi_Deepani=3A=3A.html>   (1995) Protein products and sprouts from flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.).  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Polysaccharides of flaxseed coat (flax mucilage) were removed by soaking of whole seeds in water or sodium bicarbonate solution or treatment with commercially- available carbohydrases. The extent of polysaccharide removal was determined by monitoring the concentration of total sugars and pentoses as well as viscosity values of the aqueous polysaccharide extracts prepared from treated flaxseed. A direct relationship existed between the amount of seeds dispersed in the extraction medium and the total contents of sugars and pentoses or viscosity values (correlation coefficients of 0.957, 0.974 and 0.921, respectively). These indicators served well in quantitating the content of polysaccharides in aqueous extracts. Soaking in a 0.10 M sodium bicarbonate solution for 12 h removed most of the mucilage from seed coats. Treatment of seeds with Viscozyme® L (22.5 mg protein/100 g seeds) for 12 h removed more polysaccharides from seed coat than Pectinex™ Ultra SP or Celluclast® 1.5L under similar conditions. Scanning electron microscopy provided evidence that polysaccharides were removed from seed coats by pre-treatments employed. Nitrogen solubility and protein recovery from meals of mucilage-reduced seeds was improved since there was less interference from seed coat polysaccharides which were co-extracted with proteins. Sodium hexametaphosphate-assisted protein isolation from mucilage-reduced seeds was optimized under laboratory conditions for pH, meal-to- solvent ratio and concentration of sodium hexametaphosphate using response surface methodology with a central composite rotatable design. Maximum nitrogen solubility and protein recovery were obtained at pH 8.89 and 9.04, meal-to-solvent ratio of 1:33.5 and 1:33 and sodium hexametaphosphate concentration of 2.75 and 2.85%, respectively. The prepared flax protein isolate contained 78% protein. Lysine was the first limiting amino acid of the protein isolate. The computed protein efficiency ratio and biological value indicated a reasonably good quality of protein in the isolate. The isolate contained elevated levels of phytic acid and total phosphorus. Electrophoretic results showed that the isolate was composed of total proteins of flaxseed. -- The isolated flax proteins were acylated with acetic or succinic anhydride. Approximately 84.5 and 56.9% of the free amino groups of protein isolates were acylated when 0.2 g anhydride/g protein was used. The colour and solubility of the protein isolate were improved due to acylation. Emulsifying activity and stability were enhanced by succinylation, but acetylation had a negative influence. Furthermore, foaming ability and fat binding capacity of succinylated products were less than those of their acetylated counterparts. Acylation reduced the in vitro digestibility of flax proteins. -- In another study flaxseeds were germinated for 8 days. Germinated seeds had lowered content of dry matter due to the use of their reserve components as an energy source for the developing seedlings. The crude protein content did not show a significant (p<0.05) change but the content of non-protein nitrogen compounds including free amino acids as well as agmatine and spermidine increased during the germination period. The in vitro digestibility was lowered but the calculated values for protein efficiency ratio and biological value of seeds did not change upon germination. Lipid content of seeds was reduced by 58% during germination but their fatty acid composition did not change. The content of neutral lipids, accounting for 96% of total flax lipids, was significantly (p<0.05) decreased while those of glyco and phospholipids increased. There was also a decrease in the content of triacylglycerols and an increase in the diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols and free fatty acids of the neutral lipid fraction. The content of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidyiserine and phosphatidylethanolamine in the phospholipid fraction was decreased while that of phosphatide acid and lysophosphatidylethanolamine increased significantly (p<0.05) due to germination. The quantities of raffinose and sucrose in the seeds were reduced while those of fructose and glucose increased after germination. The mineral composition of the seeds was not affected by germination. The content of known antinutrients of seeds namely, cyanogenic glycosides, phytic acid and trypsin inhibitors were lower in the germinated seeds as compared to those in their ungerminated counterparts.


identifier: Atherton, John Norman <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Atherton=3AJohn_Norman=3A=3A.html>   (1977) Proton exchange in aqueous solutions of polyfunctional electrolytes.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The adiabatic half passage experiment was used  to measure the rates  of proton exchange reactions in acidified  aqueous  solutions of piperazine, N,N'-dimethylpiperazine and histamine.  All  of the reactions which were detected -involved participation by  water molecules. Reactions detected for piperazine included (a) the transfer of a proton from a piperazine species to a water molecule and  (b)  the transfer of a proton from one piperazine species  to another piperazine species via at least one water molecule.      For N,N'-dimethylpiperazine,  reactions of type (b) could not be detected. -- In the case of histamine, proton exchange from two different types of N-H  site was distinguished. Reactions of types  (a) and (b) were detected for proton transfer from both imidazolium and ammonium sites. An intramolecular proton exchange was also  found  in which a proton was transferred from an ammonium site to an-imidazole  slte of the same histamine molecule with one or two water molecules participating.  The rate costant  for this reaction is j1 = (1 .87 ± 0,09) x 10 to the power of 5 sec.-1. -- Since, the distances between active  centers in enzymes is  sometimes comparable to that in histamine, it follows that intramolecular proton transfer in enzymes is possible and  perhaps even probable.  If such an intramolecular reaction does  occur in enzymes at about the same rate as it occurs in histamine then it will compete favourably with bi molecular reactions  at physiological pH.  The ability of the hydrogen bonded water molecules  to fit the contours  of the  enzyme,  could result in an intramolecularproton transfer even between centers which are severely sterically crowded.


identifier: Morris, Joanne B. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Morris=3AJoanne_B=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2000) Reflective thinking in early childhood education.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This study considers the reflective thinking of early childhood education students at the end of the first year of a two-year diploma program at the provincial college in Newfoundland and Labrador. Reflective thinking has been found to be a means of internalizing theory, reflecting on practice, and learning meaningful ways to improve and change practice. Graduates are expected to demonstrate knowledge of theories and practices necessary to plan and implement curriculum for individual children and groups in early childhood settings. A qualitative research design was selected to determine descriptive evidence of reflective thinking levels and behaviours for the 7 early childhood education students who comprised the study group. The students, who were selected from a population of 72, ranged in age from 20-58 with an average age of 37 years. There were 6 females and 1 male. Data were collected while students were engaged in discussion groups, guided journal writing, and discussions of observations of practice. There was evidence of 622 reflective thinking responses in total. The researcher concludes that these early childhood education students, at the end of the first year of a two-year diploma program, engaged in reflective thinking. The researcher recommends further research and provides recommendations to faculty involved in early childhood education.


identifier: Myles, Sharon B. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Myles=3ASharon_B=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Reading disability conceptualization, identification and intervention : a review of the literature.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: This paper folio provides a review of the current literature on reading disability in an effort to bring together relevant information for parents and practitioners who work with reading disabled children. The first section. Reading and Reading Disability, will begin with a definition and analysis of normal reading development and then use this as a point of reference to conceptualize reading disability, its development as well as its distinction from garden variety poor reading. The second section of this folio. Definition and Identification of Reading Disability, will discuss the emergence of reading disability from the field of learning disabilities, the identification and measurement of reading disability as well as problems with current definitions and identification procedures. The final section of this folio. Early Identification. Intervention and Remediation, will focus on prevention, early intervention and/or remediation of reading disability in young children. Additionally, it will make suggestion for parents and professionals who work with reading disabled children.


identifier: Xu, Kangcheng <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Xu=3AKangcheng=3A=3A.html>   (1997) Raman spectroscopic studies of phase equilibria in binary monovalent metal nitrates.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Raman spectroscopy has been developed as a complementary tool to X-ray and thermal methods for phase equilibrium studies of new materials. Raman measurements for mixtures as a function of mole fraction can give the composition for congruently and incongruently melting compounds. Stable and metastable compounds may be identified by comparison to the characteristic spectra obtained from the rapidly quenched or slowly cooled samples from the melts. The presence of longitudinal optic ( LO ) modes in the Raman spectrum provides a method to identify non-linear crystals. Temperature induced phase transitions can be followed by the measurement of the Raman spectra as a function of temperature. Kinetic information may be obtained for phase transitions with slow conversion. -- For the first time Raman spectroscopy has been applied to systematically investigate the structural phase transitions in binary nitrate systems. The binary nitrate systems studied in the present work are KNO3-RbNO3 , NaNO3-KNO3 , LiNO3-MNO3 ( M = K, Rb, Cs ), and AgNO3-MNO3 ( M = K, Rb, Cs ). -- Raman studies of the KNO3-RbNO3 system indicated that rubidium ion may substitute for potassium ion up to 67 mol% in the KNO3 II crystal and up to 80 mol% in the KNO3 III crystal. The substitutional crystals retained the transitions of phase I to III to II of KNO3 on cooling and the metastable property of KNO3 III at room temperature. Chemical substitution of this type was used for a lattice dynamical analysis of potassium nitrate to assign the bands in the external vibrational region. The results supported the assignment of the 52 cm-1 band in KNO3 II to a mode primarily due to translatory motion of cations against anions. A transition of the KNO3 III structure to the RbNO3 IV structure was observed for crystals containing 80 and 90 mol% RbNO3. The R3m microscopic structure in the KNO3 III solid solutions seemed to become disordered when Rb￣ was more than 50 mol% in the substitutional crystal. These structural details offer a possible explanation for the abnormal solid solubility in the KN03-RbN03 system. -- Raman spectra were measured for mixed crystals of NaNO3-KNO3 quenched from different temperatures. Temperature dependent Raman spectra were measured to actually follow the phase transitions. The Raman studies indicated that there existed limited solid solutions Nal1-xKxNO3 (NaII) and (KIll) as well as the R3m solid solution and there existed structural phase transitions of the R3m solid solution to these limited solid solutions in addition to exsolution of the components from the R3m solid solution. It was suggested that two vertical lines be added to the published phase diagram, one to indicate the solid solution Na0.95K0.05NO3 (NaII) and the other to indicate the solid solution N0.15K0.85NO3 (KIll). Three slightly different structures were found for the R3m solid solution below the solidus: in the NaN03 terminal phase the solid solution behaved like NaNO3 I, in the KNO3 terminal phase the solid solution behaved like KNO3 I, in the intermediate concentration phase the solid solution was in a new disordered state. The new disordered state was quenchable and the Raman studies suggested that it was caused by phase separation of the NaNO3 I and KNO3 I structures on a microscopic or submicroscopic scale. The existence of the three slightly different structures suggested that NaNO3-KNO3 was a limited solid solution system rather than a continuous solid solution system. -- Raman studies of the LiNO3-KNO3 system revealed a new compound KLi(NO3)2 which could exist in a narrow temperature range just below the solidus and in the vicinity of equimolar point. The existence of the new compound suggested that LiNO3-KNO3 is a simple syntectic system with a congruently melting compound instead of a eutectic system. -- The fact that the congruently melting compounds KLi(NO3)2, RbLi(NO3)2 and CsLi(NO3), had very similar Raman spectra in both external and internal vibrational regions suggested that they have the same structure. A detailed analysis of the Raman spectra revealed that in the crystals the lithium ion was tetrahedrally coordinated by the nitrate ions to form polymeric complexes in which part of the nitrate ions acted as unidentate ligands and the other part acted as bidentate ligands. The heavier alkali metal ions acted as counterions. -- Raman studies of the compounds KAg(NO3)2 and RbAg(NO3)2 were consistent with the published crystal structure. There existed polymeric complexes of silver and nitrate ions and the nitrate ions acted as both unidentate and bidentate ligands. Potassium or rubidium ions acted as counterions. Raman studies suggested that the Li-NO3 complexes in KLi(NO3)2, RbLi(NO3)2 and CsLi(NO3)2 were similar to the Ag-NO3 complexes in KAg(NO3)2 and RbAg(NO3)2. However, the nature of the bond in the lithium complexes was predominately ionic while the nature of the bond in the silver complexes was considerably covalent. -- Judged by the notable differences in Raman spectra, the coordination geometry of Ag-NO3 changed dramatically in CsAg(NO3)2. The weak Rayleigh wing and a well separated band at 224 cm-1 suggested that the polymeric complexes in KAg(NO3)2 may have broken down to form simple and discrete entity in CsAg(NO3)2.


identifier: Neupane, Rajendra <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Neupane=3ARajendra=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Regression analysis for longitudinal hemoglobin data for premature infants with outcomes subject to non-response.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: In analyzing longitudinal hemoglobin data for low-birth-weight infants, it is of interest to examine the effects of iron fortification and other covariates such as gender and gestation weeks on the hemoglobin status of the infants over the months. As the hemoglobin data are collected repeatedly over a period of time, the longitudinal correlations of the responses must be taken into account in finding the covariate effects. Further problems get mounted when some of the responses are missing. In this practicum, we conducted a regression analysis after accomodating the longitudinal and missingness nature of the data into account. Also, several non-parametric tests were applied to examine any possible monotonic trend in the longitudinal hemoglobin data.


identifier: Colbourne, Frederick <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Colbourne=3AFrederick=3A=3A.html>   (1995) Protracted mild hypothermia provides long-term histological and behavioral protection following global cerebral ischemia.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Global cerebral ischemia (cardiac arrest) often results in profound, but selective, hippocampal CAI injury. This cell death, which normally occurs hours to days later, induces profound anterograde amnesia in humans with habituation and working memory impairments in rodents. -- In this thesis, the gerbil model of global ischemia was used. Under Halothane anesthesia, both carotid arteries were isolated and briefly occluded. Without intervention, near-total CAI loss ensues with resultant memory impairments. -- In the first experiment a novel brain temperature system was compared to rectal and skull measurements. Brain temperature dropped during ischemia even though rectal and skull temperatures were maintained. Subsequently, prolonged Halothane anesthesia was found to enhance this dissociation. Thus, rectal and skull readings are not reliable indices of brain temperature during ischemia and anesthesia. Brain temperature must be controlled to avoid the confounding protective effects of intra-ischemic hypothermia. -- While the protective effects of mild intra-ischemic hypothermia are well documented, the value of postischemic cooling is less clear. Therefore, rigorous brain temperature measurement, lengthy survival times and behavioral tests were used to clarify the effects of postischemic hypothermia. Prolonged cooling (32°C for 12 hr) initiated 1 hour after normothermic ischemia was highly neuroprotective at 10 and 30 day survival against 3 minutes of ischemia, but provided only a mild, transient savings against a 5 minute episode. Habituation impairments, in open field tests, were also reduced in cooled gerbils. Notably, 24 hours of hypothermia initiated 1 hour after a 5 minute occlusion rescued almost all CAI neurons (90%) with 30 day survival. -- More recently, significant CAI savings were found with clear reductions in habituation (open field) and working memory (T-maze) impairments for up to 6 months postischemia (5 min) with 1 hour delayed hypothermia (32°C for 24 hr). While CAI protection at 6 months (-70%) was less than with 1 month survival it nonetheless showed effective and very persistent benefit. Hypothermia (32°C for 24 hr), when started 4 hours postischemia, saved ?12% of CAI cells at 6 months with mild behavioral benefit. Hypothermia (34°C from 1-25 hr postischemia) also reduced habituation impairments and rescued ?60% of CAI neurons with 1 month survival. -- In summary, these data indicate that delayed mild postischemic hypothermia is an efficacious and persistent neuroprotectant deserving of clinical investigation. -- [Key words: cerebral ischemia, postischemic hypothermia, open field, T-maze, CAI, delayed neuronal death]


identifier: Bajzak, Krisztina <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Bajzak=3AKrisztina=3A=3A.html>   (1999) Randomized comparison of oral misoprostol and oxytocin in the third stage of labour.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Objective: To test the null hypothesis that misoprostol, an oral prostaglandin El analog, is not worse than oxytocin intravenous bolus in minimizing blood loss in the third stage of labour. -- Method: One hundred and fifty-six women, having vaginal delivery and at low risk of postpartum hemorrhage, were stratified by oxytocin use in labour and randomly assigned to receive either misoprostol 200µg orally with the anterior shoulder, or oxytocin intravenous bolus after placental delivery, the standard at our institution. Sample size was calculated using a one-tailed α=0.05 and a power of 80%, with change in pre-delivery to 1st day postpartum hematocrit as the primary outcome. -- Results: Baseline demographic data were similar. There was no significant difference in the change in hematocrit between the misoprostol (0.046% packed cell volume[PCV]) and the oxytocin (0.048% PCV) groups (P=0.49). More women in the oxytocin stratum received additional oxytocin postpartum (P=0.002). There were no differences in the frequency of clinical estimate of postpartum blood loss greater than 500mL, use of other uterotonic agents, manual removal of placenta, dilation and currettage, transfusion, gastrointestinal side effects, or maternal satisfaction. There were no differences in frequency of maternal fever postpartum. After delivery, more women in the misoprostol group strongly preferred to have a medication in the form of a pill, rather than an intravenous injection, at the time of delivery of their baby (82.8% versus 42.2%, P<0.00001, Mann Whitney test) -- Conclusions: Oral misoprostol is a safe and effective option to minimize blood loss in the third stage of labour, for women at low risk of postpartum hemorrhage.


identifier: Hiscock, John E. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Hiscock=3AJohn_E=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2000) Quantitative flow visualization system for gas-liquid two phase flows.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The main objective of this research was to develop a quantitative flow visualization technique to measure gas bubble size and velocities of vertical-up gas-liquid flows. A system to acquire high-speed digital images was designed and integrated with a hot-film anemometry system in the test section of the 76 mm flow loop at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Digital image processing algorithms were developed to obtain the gas bubble size and velocity information from the high-speed flow images. The gas slug and bubble velocities were estimated using two separate image processing algorithms: a supervised motion tracking algorithm and an edge detection cross-correlation algorithm. The supervised motion tracking algorithm allows the user to identify and track the movement of distinguishable gas bubbles and slugs. The edge detection cross-correlation algorithm uses standard edge detection routines to identify the boundaries of the slugs and bubbles. The bubble size information is obtained through morphological operations on the edge-detected images. The displacement of the bubbles between two frames is obtained through a cross-correlation analysis between the frames. Measurements were performed in the slug flow regime at several gas and liquid superficial velocities. Results obtained from the quantitative noninvasive flow visualization and image analysis techniques are in good agreement with results from simultaneous hot film anemometry measurements.


identifier: Spurvey, Sharon A. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Spurvey=3ASharon_A=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Production of structured lipids via enzymatic interesterification of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and marine oils.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The importance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in human nutrition and disease prevention has long been recognised. Both ω3 and ω6 PUFA serve as precursors of eicosanoids, which are involved in many important biochemical processes in the human body. -- Omega-3 fatty acids, which are present in marine oils, play an important role in the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, and other inflammatory and autoimmune disorders as well as cancer. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an ω6 fatty acid, is present in oils from borage and evening primrose seeds at 17-25% and 8- 10%, respectively. GLA has been reported to be important for the prevention and/or treatment of skin diseases, pre-rnenstraal syndrome, diabetes, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, and cancer. -- Urea complexation of borage oil resulted in the concentration of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in the non-urea complexed fraction thus allowing easy separation of GLA from the hydrolysed borage oil. The process parameters such as the mole ratio of urea-to-fatty acid, reaction temperature and reaction time were optimised by response surface methodology (RSM) using a 3-factor-3-level face-centred cube design to achieve the maximum amount of GLA in the borage oil concentrate. The optimum conditions for production of GLA concentrate were: urea-to-fatty acid ratio of 3.7, reaction temperature of -7°C and reaction time of 16 h, which yielded a 91% GLA concentrate. -- The GLA was subsequently enzymatically reacted with seal blubber oil and menhaden oil to produce a structured lipid. The process variables studied for the lipase-esterified reaction were the concentration of enzyme (100-700 units/g of oil), reaction temperature (30-60°C), reaction time (0-48h) and the mole ratio of GLA to triacylglycerols (TAG) (1:1-5:1). Two lipases chosen for the interesterification reaction were from Pseudomonas sp. and Mucor miehei. The lipase from Pseudomonas sp. was chosen over that from Mucor miehei to catalyse the interesterification reaction due to higher incorporation of GLA. For the interesterification reaction, the best conditions were 3:1 mole ratio of GLA to TAG, reaction temperature of 40 °C, reaction time of 24 h and an enzyme concentration of 500 units/g of oil. Under these conditions, incorporation of GLA was 37.1% for seal blubber oil (SBO) and 39.6% for menhaden oil (MO). The resultant oils containing both ω3 and ω6 fatty acids are considered important for clinical as well as nutritional purposes. -- Stereospecific analysis was carried out to establish the positional distribution of fatty acids in the triacylglycerols (TAG) of the modified seal blubber oil (MSBO) and modified menhaden oil (MMO). In MSBO, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) were located mainly in the sn-l and sn-3 positions of the TAG molecules. In MMO, EPA, DHA and DPA were equally distributed amongst the sn-l, sn-2 and sn-3 positions of the TAG. GLA was also present in all positions of the TAG of MMO and MSBO. This indicates that lipase from Pseudomonas sp. (PS-30) was able to involve the middle position of the TAG in the acidolysis process. Thus, structured lipids containing EPA, DHA, DPA and GLA were successfully produced; consumption of these products is expected to render health benefits. The structured lipids (MSBO and MMO) produced were assessed for their autoxidative and photooxidative stability toward accelerated oxidation under Schaal oven conditions at 60°C, or storage at room temperature under fluorescent lighting. Conjugated diene (CD), 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TB ARS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) determinations were employed to monitor progression of the oxidation of the oils. During autoxidation, the modified oils were least stable due to their high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and loss of natural antioxidants during the acidolysis process. In the case of photooxidation, both the modified and unmodified seal blubber oils (SBO and MSBO) were more stable than their MO counterparts. The presence of highly polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the latter oils as well as photosensitizers, such as chlorophyll in MO, might be responsible for this observation.


identifier: Liyanapathirana, Chandrika M. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Liyanapathirana=3AChandrika_M=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2001) Quality characteristics of green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) gonads as affected by the season and dietary factors.  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The eating quality of sea urchin gonads from Strongyiocentrotus droebachiensis harvested in the Newfoundland coasts as affected by the season and an artificial diet was assessed. Evaluations were performed on the basis of biochemical and fatty acid composition, total and free amino acid contents, and contents of nucleicacids and pigments, among others. -- Noticeable changes occurred in the biochemical composition of wild and cultured sea urchin gonads. Moisture and lipid contents showed an inverse relationship in all samples examined. Sea urchin gonads had the highest amount of lipid and the lowest amount of moisture in the spring. Lipid content of cultured sea urchin gonads decreased with increased feeding time while the moisture content increased. Protein content, on the other hand, was highest in the fall in the wild sea urchins. The corresponding value for cultured sea urchins was observed 9 weeks after feeding on an artificial diet. Relative proportions of lipid and protein were quite low in the wild as well as cultured sea urchin viscera. -- There were no qualitative differences in the lipid class composition between gonads and viscera of wild and cultured sea urchins. Major non-polar lipid classes were triacylgiycerol (TAG), free fatty acids (FFA) and sterol (ST) while major polar lipid classes were phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Triacylgiycerol content was highest in the spring and fall in gonads and viscera, respectively. On the other hand, TAG content in cultured sea urchins was increased with length of feeding period. Phosphatidylcholine was the dominant polar lipid class in wild sea urchin tissues. However, PE became dominant in cultured urchins on week 9 after feeding on an artificial diet. -- The fatty acids 14:0 and 16:0 were the major saturated fatty acids (SFA) consistently present in total, polar and non-polar lipids of sea urchin gonads and viscera irrespective of their origin while 20:4n-6 and 20:5n-3 were the major polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). However, in cultured sea urchins 18:2n-6 became dominant with increasing feeding period with a concurrent decrease in the content of 20:1n-3. The fatty acid 20:In-15 was the dominant monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) in wild sea urchin tissues. The content of PUFA increased during cold climatic conditions with a simultaneous decrease in the content of SFA. These changes were reversed during warm seasons. In cultured sea urchins PUFA content increased with increasing feeding period with a concurrent decrease in SFA content. -- Glycine was the dominant amino acid in the total amino acids (TAA) of wild sea urchin gonads and viscera. On the contrary, TAA of cultured sea urchin gonads was dominated by tyrosine on week 9 after feeding on the artificial diet. However, there were no qualitative differences in the TAA between wild sea urchins and their cultured counterparts. Glycine was also the dominant amino acid in the free amino acid (FAA) profiles of both wild and cultured sea urchins. The relative content of glycine was highest in the spring in both gonads and viscera of wild sea urchins. This was reduced considerably with increased feeding period in cultured sea urchins. There was a marked increase in the total FAA content of cultured sea urchin gonads and viscera. Furthermore, the content of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was higher than that of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in wild as well as cultured sea urchin tissues. -- Total carotenoid content was highest in the spring in the gonads of wild sea urchins. However, this was reduced to a minimum in the viscera in the spring. Further, total carotenoid content was decreased in cultured sea urchin gonads and viscera with increased feeding period. Major carotenoids were echininone and fucoxanthin in gonads and viscera, respectively, irrespective of their origin. The relative proportion of echininone was highest in the spring and was lowest in the summer in the wild sea urchin gonads. In addition, (J-carotene was present in all samples examined. In wild sea urchin gonads a maximum amount of (3-carotene was detected in the summer. In cultured urchins the relative proportion of echininone increased with length of feeding period with a simultaneous reduction in (3-carotene levels. -- The study reported here thus demonstrates the importance of seasonal variations and feed supply on the quality characteristics of sea urchins. A number of biochemical indices will be examined to ascertain the eating quality of sea urchin aonads.


identifier: Penney, Tracy F. <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Penney=3ATracy_F=2E=3A=3A.html>   (2002) Reading Recovery (TM) implementation in Labrador : a two-year longitudinal study of the long-term effects of Reading Recovery (TM).  Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: The effectiveness of the Reading Recovery™ program for students who are identified at-risk of reading and writing failure was evaluated in a two-year longitudinal study involving 36 participants within the Labrador School Board. The study not only demonstrated the effectiveness of Reading Recovery™, W also the implications for effective programming to meet the needs of children such as those of a multi-cultural background and isolated environments. To evaluate the impact of Reading Recovery™, the study consisted of three groups: the Treatment group, consisting of participants who were successfully discontinued from Reading Recovery™ in grade 1 the previous year, the Reference Group consisting of participants considered to be average-achieving within the classroom, and a Comparison Group consisting of students considered to be at-risk of reading and writing failure who were unable to access Reading Recovery™. Participants were assessed over a two-year period from fall, 1998 to the spring, 2000. There were four testing trials, two in the fall and two in the spring using dependent measures to assess reading instructional levels, instructional comprehension levels, spelling, word recognition skills and fluency development ratings. A repeated measures analysis of variance research design was implemented to determine significant differences for within-group and between-group differences. The results suggested the Reading Recovery™, participants demonstrated significantly higher scores than their at-risk peers who did not participate in Reading Recovery™ and also demonstrated comparable achievement to that of their average-achieving classmates. Despite the significant differences in the Comparison Group and both the Treatment Group and the Reference Group, all groups made positive gains over the two-year study period on all five-dependent measures (i.e. Diagnostic Reading Inventory: Reading Passages, Lhagnostic Reading Inventory: Reading Comprehension, Burt Word Reading Test, Gentry Spelling Assessment, and Fluency Rating). On three of the five dependent measures (i.e. Diagnostic Reading Inventory: Reading Comprehension, Gentry Spelling Assessment, and Fluency Rating) the Comparison Group demonstrated a similar pattern of progress as the Treatment Group and the Reference Group. Questionnaires and Student Record Forms were also provided to classroom teachers, Reading Recovery™ teachers, and school administrators to determine the impact of Reading Recovery™ on teaching and school development. The questionnaires were analyzed both qualitatively, to examine written responses and quantitatively, to determine percentages and mean averages of responses that validate research finding and to investigate other areas of the Reading Recovery™ program as identified in the literature.


identifier: Ratnam, Shobhitha <https://research.library.mun.ca/view/creator_az/Ratnam=3AShobhitha=3A=3A.html>   (1999) Regulation of nitric oxide synthesis and superoxide generation by C-reactive protein.  Doctoral (PhD) thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

abstract: Activated macrophages utilize both nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O2˙￣) for defense against microbes. During periods of inflammation, cells of the immune system are activated by microbial products and/or cytokines, triggering the induction of immune/inflammatory nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the assembling of NADPH oxidase complex resulting in the generation of NO and O2˙￣. However, simultaneous generation of NO and O2˙￣ could be harmful to host cells since this may lead to the production potentially toxic molecules. Therefore, the regulation of the production of NO and O2˙￣ is critical to host survival. Biological response to tissue injury or infection is characterized by an acute phase response that includes the amplified synthesis of C-reactive protein (CRP). Previous reports have indicated that CRP modulates O2˙￣ generation. Therefore, this thesis has examined the role of CRP in the regulation of NO synthesis and O2˙￣ generation in a macrophage model. -- CRP stimulated NO synthesis in rat peritoneal macrophages and in the murine 264.7 cell line alone or in synergy with interferon-γ. The CRP-induced increase in NO production was due to an increased synthesis of the inducible isoform of iNOS preceded by an increase in steady state iNOS mRNA level. -- CRP decreased the production of O2˙￣ by stimulated macrophages, and activated phosphatidylcholine-directed phospholipase C (PC-PLC). Decreased production of O2˙￣ corresponded with the activation of PC-PLC. In contrast, PC- PLC activation was found to be necessary in CRP-mediated signaling leading to iNOS transcription. Increased PC hydrolysis may be one mechanism cells use to avoid simultaneous generation of NO and O2˙￣. -- CRP also activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling cascade and increased the phosphorylation of I-κB. Studies with various cell- permeable inhibitors of PC hydrolysis and tyrosine kinases suggested that PC- PLC activation and tyrosine phosphorylation are essential for CRP-mediated phosphorylation of ERK and I-κB. Furthermore, the induction of iNOS by CRP was shown to be at least partly mediated by the activation of ERK signaling pathway resulting in I-κB phosphorylation and the ensuing iNOS transcription. -- The specific role of CRP in host defense was examined by using Chlamydia trachomatis, an intracellular pathogen. CRP decreased the viability of C. trachomatis , and this effect was reversed by blocking NO production with NG- monomethyl L- arginine (NMMA), a competitive inhibitor of iNOS. This suggested that the CRP-induced increase in NO production during inflammatory periods plays an important role in the protection against microbial pathogens.