Measuring the impact of short and lending practices using the DGTW benchmarks

Mutual fund managers increasingly lend their holdings and/or use short sales to generate higher returns for their funds. This project presents a first look into the impact these practices on performance using the performance measures: i) Characteristic Selectivity (CS), the ability of the fund's managers to choose stocks that outperform their benchmarks; ii) Characteristic Timing (CT), the ability of the manager to time the market; iii) and Average Style (AS), the returns from funds systematically holding stocks with certain characteristics. These returns are computed through the DGTW benchmarks. The effect of other variables that have also been shown to impact fund���s returns ��� total net assets under management, investment styles, turnover and expense ratios ��� will also be analyzed. I find that managers who use short-sales do not exhibit better stock picking abilities than those who do not, while mutual funds that lend do present higher CS returns. In addition, while lending is not significant for the total performance of a fund, the employment of short-sales and of both short-sales and lending has a negative impact on the fund���s performance.

Three essays on the psychology of investment and financial markets

Pr��face My thesis consists of three essays where I consider equilibrium asset prices and investment strategies when the market is likely to experience crashes and possibly sharp windfalls. Although each part is written as an independent and self contained article, the papers share a common behavioral approach in representing investors preferences regarding to extremal returns. Investors utility is defined over their relative performance rather than over their final wealth position, a method first proposed by Markowitz (1952b) and by Kahneman and Tversky (1979), that I extend to incorporate preferences over extremal outcomes. With the failure of the traditional expected utility models in reproducing the observed stylized features of financial markets, the Prospect theory of Kahneman and Tversky (1979) offered the first significant alternative to the expected utility paradigm by considering that people focus on gains and losses rather than on final positions. Under this setting, Barberis, Huang, and Santos (2000) and McQueen and Vorkink (2004) were able to build a representative agent optimization model which solution reproduced some of the observed risk premium and excess volatility. The research in behavioral finance is relatively new and its potential still to explore. The three essays composing my thesis propose to use and extend this setting to study investors behavior and investment strategies in a market where crashes and sharp windfalls are likely to occur. In the first paper, the preferences of a representative agent, relative to time varying positive and negative extremal thresholds are modelled and estimated. A new utility function that conciliates between expected utility maximization and tail-related performance measures is proposed. The model estimation shows that the representative agent preferences reveals a significant level of crash aversion and lottery-pursuit. Assuming a single risky asset economy the proposed specification is able to reproduce some of the distributional features exhibited by financial return series. The second part proposes and illustrates a preference-based asset allocation model taking into account investors crash aversion. Using the skewed t distribution, optimal allocations are characterized as a resulting tradeoff between the distribution four moments. The specification highlights the preference for odd moments and the aversion for even moments. Qualitatively, optimal portfolios are analyzed in terms of firm characteristics and in a setting that reflects real-time asset allocation, a systematic over-performance is obtained compared to the aggregate stock market. Finally, in my third article, dynamic option-based investment strategies are derived and illustrated for investors presenting downside loss aversion. The problem is solved in closed form when the stock market exhibits stochastic volatility and jumps. The specification of downside loss averse utility functions allows corresponding terminal wealth profiles to be expressed as options on the stochastic discount factor contingent on the loss aversion level. Therefore dynamic strategies reduce to the replicating portfolio using exchange traded and well selected options, and the risky stock.

Exploring the use of prediction and summarization to increase students' listening and reading comprehension /

This study examined the effect of expHcitly instructing students to use a repertoire of reading comprehension strategies. Specifically, this study examined whether providing students with a "predictive story-frame" which combined the use of prediction and summarization strategies improved their reading comprehension relative to providing students with generic instruction on prediction and summarization. Results were examined in terms of instructional condition and reading ability. Students from 2 grade 4 classes participated in this study. The reading component of the Canadian Achievement Tests, Second Edition (CAT/2) was used to identify students as either "average or above average" or "below average" readers. Students received either strategic predication and summarization instruction (story-frame) or generic prediction and summarization instruction (notepad). Students were provided with new but comparable stories for each session. For both groups, the researcher modelled the strategic tools and provided guided practice, independent practice, and independent reading sessions. Comprehension was measured with an immediate and 1-week delayed comprehension test for each of the 4 stories, hi addition, students participated in a 1- week delayed interview, where they were asked to retell the story and to answer questions about the central elements (character, setting, problem, solution, beginning, middle, and ending events) of each story. There were significant differences, with medium to large effect sizes, in comprehension and recall scores as a fimction of both instructional condition and reading ability. Students in the story-frame condition outperformed students in the notepad condition, and average to above average readers performed better than below average readers. Students in the story-frame condition outperformed students in the notepad condition on the comprehension tests and on the oral retellings when teacher modelling and guidance were present. In the cued recall sessions, students in the story-frame instructional condition recalled more correct information and generated fewer errors than students in the notepad condition. Average to above average readers performed better than below average readers across comprehension and retelling measures. The majority of students in both instructional conditions reported that they would use their strategic tool again.

Changing roles of nurse educators employed in acute and chronic care settings : the impact of professional and statutory mandates in Ontario at four sites of one hospital corporation /

The role of the hospital-employed nurse educator is evolving. Factors influencing this change include the introduction of standards for nurse educators by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), a change in the way nurses are educated, the emergence of nursing as a profession, and hospital restructuring as a result of budgetary constraints. Two of these influencing factors: the introduction of the updated Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses (1996) and hospital restructuring occurred over the last 7 years at several hospitals in southern Ontario. Current literature as well as the Standards of Practice (1996) were utilized to examine the current roles and responsibilities of nurse educators and subsequently develop a questionnaire to study the impact of these influencing factors on the role of the nurse educator. This questionnaire was piloted and revised before its distribution at 4 hospitals in southern Ontario. Twenty-five of the 41 surveys (61%) distributed were returned for analysis. The data reflected that the Standards of Practice had a positive influence on the role of the nurse educator, while hospital restructuring had a negative impact. In addition, many of the roles and responsibilities identified in the literature were indeed part of the current role of nurse educators, as well as several responsibilities not captured in the literature. The predictions for the future of this role in its current state were not positive given the financial status of the health care system as well as the lack of clarity for the role and the current level ofjob satisfaction among practicing nurse educators. However, a list of recommendations were generated which, if implemented, could add clarity to the role and improve job satisfaction. This could enhance the retention of current nurse educators and the possibility of recruiting competent nurse educators to the role in the future.

An investigation of the nature and role of historicality in the thought of Dilthey and Heidegger

Introduction The question of the meaning, methods and philosophical manifestations of history is currently rife with contention. The problem that I will address in an exposition of the thought of Wilhelm Dilthey and Martin Heidegger, centers around the intersubjectivity of an historical world. Specifically, there are two interconnected issues. First, since all knowledge occurs to a person from within his or her historical age how can any person in any age make truth claims? In order to answer this concern we must understand the essence and role of history. Yet how can we come to an individual understanding ofwhat history is when the meanings that we use are themselves historically enveloped? But can we, we who are well aware of the knowledge that archaeology has dredged up from old texts or even from 'living' monuments of past ages, really neglect to notice these artifacts that exist within and enrich our world? Charges of wilful blindness would arise if any attempt were made to suggest that certain things of our world did not come down to us from the past. Thus it appears more important 2 to determine what this 'past' is and therefore how history operates than to simply derail the possibility for historical understanding. Wilhelm Dilthey, the great German historicist from the 19th century, did not question the existence of historical artifacts as from the past, but in treating knowledge as one such artifact placed the onus on knowledge to show itself as true, or meaningful, in light ofthe fact that other historical periods relied on different facts and generated different truths or meanings. The problem for him was not just determining what the role of history is, but moreover to discover how knowledge could make any claim as true knowledge. As he stated, there is a problem of "historical anarchy"!' Martin Heidegger picked up these two strands of Dilthey's thought and wanted to answer the problem of truth and meaning in order to solve the problem of historicism. This problem underscored, perhaps for the first time, that societal presuppositions about the past and present oftheir era are not immutable. Penetrating to the core of the raison d'etre of the age was an historical reflection about the past which was now conceived as separated both temporally and attitudinally from the present. But further than this, Heidegger's focus on asking the question of the meaning of Being meant that history must be ontologically explicated not merely ontically treated. Heidegger hopes to remove barriers to a genuine ontology by II 1 3 including history into an assessment ofprevious philosophical systems. He does this in order that the question of Being be more fully explicated, which necessarily for him includes the question of the Being of history. One approach to the question ofwhat history is, given the information that we get from historical knowledge, is whether such knowledge can be formalized into a science. Additionally, we can approach the question of what the essence and role of history is by revealing its underlying characteristics, that is, by focussing on historicality. Thus we will begin with an expository look at Dilthey's conception of history and historicality. We will then explore these issues first in Heidegger's Being and Time, then in the third chapter his middle and later works. Finally, we shall examine how Heidegger's conception may reflect a development in the conception of historicality over Dilthey's historicism, and what such a conception means for a contemporary historical understanding. The problem of existing in a common world which is perceived only individually has been philosophically addressed in many forms. Escaping a pure subjectivist interpretation of 'reality' has occupied Western thinkers not only in order to discover metaphysical truths, but also to provide a foundation for politics and ethics. Many thinkers accept a solipsistic view as inevitable and reject attempts at justifying truth in an intersubjective world. The problem ofhistoricality raises similar problems. We 4 -. - - - - exist in a common historical age, presumably, yet are only aware ofthe historicity of the age through our own individual thoughts. Thus the question arises, do we actually exist within a common history or do we merely individually interpret this as communal? What is the reality of history, individual or communal? Dilthey answers this question by asserting a 'reality' to the historical age thus overcoming solipsism by encasing individual human experience within the historical horizon of the age. This however does nothing to address the epistemological concern over the discoverablity of truth. Heidegger, on the other hand, rejects a metaphysical construel of history and seeks to ground history first within the ontology ofDasein, and second, within the so called "sending" of Being. Thus there can be no solipsism for Heidegger because Dasein's Being is necessarily "cohistorical", Being-with-Others, and furthermore, this historical-Being-in-the-worldwith- Others is the horizon of Being over which truth can appear. Heidegger's solution to the problem of solipsism appears to satisfy that the world is not just a subjective idealist creation and also that one need not appeal to any universal measures of truth or presumed eternal verities. Thus in elucidating Heidegger's notion of history I will also confront the issues ofDasein's Being-alongside-things as well as the Being of Dasein as Being-in-the-world so that Dasein's historicality is explicated vis-a-vis the "sending of Being" (die Schicken des S eins).

The role of personality and situational factors in forgiveness /

This study deals with personality and situational variables that influence forgiveness. The relations between empathy and forgiveness were studied, followed by the examination of the relation of these two variables to the Big Five personality traits, as well as honesty, absorption, the propensity to mystical experiences, and dissociation. Empathy was then tested as a mediating variable between the personality variables and forgiveness. Empathy and forgiveness were then studied in relation to childhood maltreatment. Finally, the effects of six different motivations to forgive were examined in relation to the personality variables. Participants were 142 undergraduate students recruited from the ftrst year psychology class at Brock University; 75% were either 18 or 19 years of age, and 84% were female. All of the variables were measured using self-report questionnaires. The relation between empathy and forgiveness was only partially replicated. In terms of personality, forgiveness was found to be related to honesty, emotionality, and agreeableness. Empathy at least partially mediated the relations between forgiveness and agreeableness, honesty and emotionality. Childhood maltreatment was negatively related to forgiveness, and positively related to openness to experience, absorption, and dissociation from reality, but not to the propensity for mystical experiences. Six different motivations for forgiveness emerged from an exploratory factor analysis. Out of these, Forgiveness to Promote Reconciliation was related to emotionality and dispositional empathy. Religious Forgiveness was related to honesty, emotionality, and mystical experiences. Forgiveness to Feel Better was related to honesty, emotionality, agreeableness, conscientiousness, absorption, mystical experiences, and empathy. Forgiveness to Assert Moral Superiority over the Injurer was negatively related to honesty, empathy, and positively related to extraversion. Forgiveness out of Fear was related to agreeableness. Finally, Altruistic Forgiveness was related to honesty, emotionality, and agreeableness, absorption and the propensity to mystical experiences. Altruistic Forgiveness correlated most highly with all the measures of forgiveness, followed by Forgiveness to Feel better. Altruistic forgiveness was also the motivation for forgiveness that correlated the highest with absorption.

The role of microRNAs and retinoid signaling during spinal cord regeneration in the adult newt.

The molecular events after spinal cord injury that lead to the establishment of a permissive environment and epimorphic regeneration remain unclear. Two molecular pathway regulators that may converge to create a spinal cord regeneration-permissive environment in the urodele are retinoic acid (RA) and microRNAs (miRNAs). Recent evidence suggests that RAR��-mediated signaling is necessary for tail and caudal spinal cord regeneration in the adult newt. MicroRNAs are attractive candidates as mediators of retinoid signaling during regeneration, as their pleiotropic effects are vital in situations where global changes in gene expression are required. Thus, the overall aim of this thesis was to determine if miRNAs are involved in tail and caudal spinal cord regeneration in the adult newt, and if they act as regulators and/or effectors of retinoid signaling during this process. I have demonstrated here, for the first time, that multiple miRNAs are dysregulated in response to spinal cord injury in the adult newt, as well as in response to inhibition of retinoid signaling. Two of these miRNAs, miR-133a and miR-1, appear to target RAR��2 transcripts both in vivo and in vitro. Inhibition of RA signaling via RAR�� with a selective antagonist, LE135, alters the pattern of expression of these miRNAs, which leads to an inhibition of tail regeneration. These data are indicative of a negative feed back loop, albeit potentially an indirect one. I also aimed to examine which miRNAs are affected by inhibiting RA synthesis during regeneration, and provided a long list of miRNAs that are dysregulated. These data provide the foundation for future studies on the putative roles of these miRNAs, as well as their function in retinoid signaling. Overall, these studies provide the first evidence for a role for miRNAs as mediators of retinoid signaling during caudal spinal cord regeneration in any system.

The role of sleep and dreaming in the processing of episodic memory

La pr��sente th��se examine les liens entre le sommeil, la m��moire ��pisodique et les r��ves. Dans une premi��re ��tude, nous utilisons les technologies de la r��alit�� virtuelle (RV) en liaison avec un paradigme de privation de sommeil paradoxal et de collecte de r��ve en vue d'examiner l'hypoth��se que le sommeil paradoxal et le r��ve sont impliqu��s dans la consolidation de la m��moire ��pisodique. Le sommeil paradoxal a ��t�� associ�� au rappel des aspects spatiaux des ��l��ments ��motionnels de la t��che RV. De la m��me fa��on, l'incorporation de la t��che RV dans les r��ves a ��t�� associ��e au rappel des aspects spatiaux de la t��che. De plus, le rappel des aspects factuels et perceptuels de la m��moire ��pisodique, form�� lors de la t��che VR, a ��t�� associ�� au sommeil aux ondes lentes. Une deuxi��me ��tude examine l'hypoth��se selon laquelle une fonction possible du r��ve pourrait ��tre de cr��er de nouvelles associations entre les ��l��ments de divers souvenirs ��pisodiques. Un participant a ��t�� r��veill�� 43 fois lors de l'endormissement pour fournir des rapports d��taill��s de r��ves. Les r��sultats sugg��rent qu'un seul r��ve peut comporter, dans un m��me contexte spatiotemporel, divers ��l��ments appartenant aux multiples souvenirs ��pisodiques. Une troisi��me ��tude aborde la question de la cognition lors du sommeil paradoxal, notamment comment les aspects bizarres des r��ves, qui sont form��s gr��ce aux nouvelles combinaisons d'��l��ments de la m��moire ��pisodique, sont per��us par le r��veur. Les r��sultats d��montrent une dissociation dans les capacit��s cognitives en sommeil paradoxal caract��ris��e par un d��ficit s��lectif dans l'appr��ciation des ��l��ments bizarres des r��ves. Les r��sultats des quatre ��tudes sugg��rent que le sommeil aux ondes lentes et le sommeil paradoxal sont diff��remment impliqu��s dans le traitement de la m��moire ��pisodique. Le sommeil aux ondes lentes pourrait ��tre implique dans la consolidation de la m��moire ��pisodique, et le sommeil paradoxal, par l'entremise du r��ve, pourrais avoir le r��le d'introduire de la flexibilit�� dans ce syst��me mn��monique.

Support for renewable energy and WTO Law : the actionability of Ontario and Qu��bec renewable energy support mechanisms

Le Trait�� de Marrakech stipule que le commerce et le d��veloppement ��conomique devraient ��tre orient��s de mani��re �� permettre l���utilisation optimale des ressources mondiales, conform��ment �� l���objectif de d��veloppement durable. Combin�� aux dispositions du Protocole de Kyoto et du Trait�� de Copenhague, les gouvernements poursuivent de politiques nationales favorisant les producteurs nationaux au d��triment des ��trangers. Cette m��moire propose une analyse des r��gles de l���OMC, dans le but de d��terminer les mesures disciplinaires possibles contre le Canada �� l'��gard de ses m��canismes de support de l�����nergie renouvelable. Une analyse des r��gles ��nonc��es dans le GATT, l���Accord sur les subventions et les mesures compensatoires et divers accords multilat��raux conclus dans le cadre de l���OMC permet de d��terminer si elles pourraient s���appliquer aux m��canismes de support de l�����nergie renouvelable. Une analyse des programmes du Qu��bec et de l���Ontario permet une prise de position quant �� leur conformit�� aux r��gles commerciales de l���OMC.

The role of EphB6 and ephrinbs in blood pressure regulation

L���hypertension art��rielle est le facteur de risque le plus important dans les maladies cardiovasculaires (MCV) et les accidents vasculaires c��r��braux (AVC). L���hypertension art��rielle essentielle est une maladie complexe, multifactorielle et polyg��nique. M��me si on a identifi�� de nombreux facteurs de risque de l���hypertension art��rielle, on ne comprend pas encore clairement les m��canismes qui la r��gissent. Les kinases h��patocytes produisant l�����rythropo����tine (Eph) constituent la plus grande famille des r��cepteurs tyrosine kinase qui se lient �� des ligands de surface cellulaire appel��s ��phrines sur les cellules avoisinantes. On sait que les interactions de Eph et des ��phrines sont essentielles aussi bien dans les processus de d��veloppement que dans le fonctionnement des organes et des tissus adultes. Cependant on n���a pas encore ��tudi�� la relation entre Eph/��phrines et l���hypertension art��rielle. Nous avons cr���� des mod��les de souris knockout (K.O.) Ephb6-/-, Efnb1-/- et Efnb3-/- pour cette ��tude. Dans le mod��le EphB6-/-, nous avons observ�� que les souris K.O. Ephb6 castr��es, mais pas les femelles, ainsi que les souris m��les non castr��es pr��sentaient une tension art��rielle ��lev��e (TA) par rapport �� leurs homologues de type sauvage (TS). Ceci sugg��re que Ephb6 doit agir de concert avec l���hormone sexuelle m��le pour r��guler la TA. Les petites art��res des m��les castr��s Ephb6-/- pr��sentaient une augmentation de la contractilit��, une activation de RhoA et une phosphorylation constitutive de la cha��ne l��g��re de la myosine (CLM) lorsque compar��es �� celles de leurs homologues TS. Ces deux derniers r��sultats indiquent que la phosphorylation de CLM et de RhoA passe par la voie de signalisation de Ephb6 dans les cellules du muscle lisse de la paroi vasculaire (CMLV). Nous avons d��montr�� que la r��ticulation de Efnbs mais non celle de Ephb6 aboutit �� une r��duction de la contractilit�� des CMLV. Ceci montre que l���effet de Ephb6 passe par la signalisation invers��e �� travers Efnb. Dans le mod��le Efnb1-/- conditionnel sp��cifique au muscle lisse, nous n���avons observ�� aucune diff��rence entre Efnb1-/- et les souris de TS concernant la mesure de la TA dans des conditions normales. Cependant, la TA des souris K.O. Efnb1 lors d���un stress d���immobilisation est sup��rieure �� celle des souris de TS. Dans les petites art��res des souris K.O. Efnb1, le r��tr��cissement et la phosphorylation de CLM ��taient ��lev��s. In vitro, la contractilit�� et l���activation RhoA de la CMLV des souris TS ��taient augment��es quand leur Efnb1 ��tait r��ticul��. Ces r��sultats corroborent ceux des souris KO Ephb6 et prouvent que l���effet de Ephb6 dans le contr��le de la TA se produit au moins par l���interm��diaire d���un de ses ligands Efnb1 dans les CMLV. Dans le mod��le Efnb3-/-, on a observ�� une augmentation de la TA et du r��tr��cissement des vaisseaux chez les femelles Efnb3-/-, mais non chez les m��les; l�����chographie a aussi r��v��l�� une r��sistance accrue au d��bit sanguin des souris K.O. femelles. Cependant la mutation de Efnb3 ne modifie pas la phosphorylation de la CLM ou l���activation de RhoA in vivo. Dans l���exp��rience in vitro, les CMLV des souris femelles Efnb3-/- ont pr��sent�� une augmentation de la contractilit�� mais pas celle des souris m��les Efnb3-/-. La r��ticulation des CMLV chez les m��les ou les femelles de TS avec solide anti-Efnb3 Ab peut r��duire leur contractilit��. Notre ��tude est la premi��re �� ��valuer le r��le de Eph/��phrines dans la r��gulation de la TA. Elle montre que les signalisations Eph/��phrines sont impliqu��es dans le contr��le de la TA. La signalisation inverse est principalement responsable du ph��notype ��lev�� de la TA. Bien que les Efnb1, Efnb3 appartiennent �� la m��me famille, leur fonction et leur efficacit�� dans la r��gulation de la TA pourraient ��tre diff��rentes. La d��couverte de Eph/Efnb nous permet d���explorer plus avant les m��canismes qui gouvernent la TA.

R��gulation de l'hepcidine et le r��le de la lipocaline 2 dans l'hom��ostasie du fer / Novel insights into the regulation of hepcidin and the role of lipocalin 2 in iron homeostasis

Le fer, un m��tal de transition, est requis pour la survie de presque tout les organismes vivant �� cause de son habilit�� �� accepter ou donner un ��lectron et donc �� catalyser plusieurs r��actions biochimique fondamentales. Cependant, la m��me propri��t�� permet aussi au fer ionique d���acc��l��rer la formation de radicaux libres et donc le fer peut potentiellement avoir des effets n��fastes. Cons��quemment, l���hom��ostasie du fer doit ��tre ��troitement r��gul��, tant au niveau cellulaire que syst��mique. Notre ��tude met l���emphase sur deux mol��cules importante pour r��gulation du m��tabolisme du fer : la lipocaline 2 (Lcn2) et l���hepcidine. Lcn2, une prot��ine de phase aigu��, est impliqu��e dans le transport du fer par les sid��rophores. Lcn2 est un candidat potentiel comme transporteur du fer qui pourrait ��tre responsable de l���accumulation excessive du fer non li�� �� la transferrine dans le foie des patients atteints d���h��mochromatose h��r��ditaire (HH). Nous avons g��n��r�� des souris double-d��ficiente HfeLcn2 pour ��valuer l���importance de Lcn2 dans la pathogen��se de surcharge en fer h��patique dans les souris knock-out Hfe (Hfe -/-). Notre ��tude r��v��le que la d��l��tion de Lcn2 dans les souris Hfe-/- n���influence pas leur accumulation de fer h��patique ou leur r��ponse �� une surcharge en fer. Le ph��notype des souries HfeLcn2-/- demeure indiscernable de celui des souris Hfe-/-. Nos donn��es impliquent que Lcn2 n���est pas essentiel pour la livraison du fer aux h��patocytes dans l���HH. L���hepcidine, un r��gulateur cl�� du m��tabolisme du fer, est un petit peptide antimicrobien produit par le foie et qui r��gule l���absorption intestinale du fer et son recyclage par les macrophages. L���expression de l���hepcidine est induite par la surcharge en fer et l���inflammation, tandis que, �� l'inverse, elle est inhib��e par l'an��mie et l'hypoxie. Dans certaine situations pathologique, l���hepcidine est r��gul��e dans des directions oppos��es par plus d���un r��gulateur. Nous avons, en outre, analys�� comment les diff��rents facteurs influencent l���expression de l���hepcidine in vivo en utilisant un mod��le de souris avec un m��tabolisme du fer alt��r��. Nous avons examin�� la r��gulation de l���hepcidine en pr��sence de stimuli oppos��s, ainsi que la contribution des m��diateurs et des voix de signalisation en aval de l���expression de l���hepcidine. Nous avons d��montr�� que l'��rythropo����se, lorsque stimul�� par l�����rythropo����tine, mais pas par l���hypoxie, diminue l���expression de l���hepcidine d���une fa��on d��pendante de la dose, m��me en pr��sence de lipopolysaccharides ou de surcharge de fer alimentaire, qui peuvent agir de mani��re additive. De plus, l���entra��nement ��rythropo����tique inhibe tant la voix inflammatoire que celle de d��tection du fer, du moins en partie, par la suppression du signal IL-6/STAT3 et BMP/SMAD4 in vivo. Au total, nos donn��es sugg��rent que le niveau d���expression de l���hepcidine en pr��sence de signaux oppos��s est d��termin�� par la force du stimulus individuel plut��t que par une hi��rarchie absolue. Ces d��couvertes sont pertinentes pour le traitement de l���an��mie des maladies chronique et les d��sordres de surcharge en fer.

Arab Women in Translation : the Dynamics of Representation and the Construction of Alterity

Cette recherche examine la traduction et la r��ception en France, en Grande Bretagne et aux ��tats-Unis de la litt��rature contemporaine d���expression arabe ��crite par des femmes, afin de r��pondre �� deux questions principales: comment les ��crivaines provenant de pays arabes perdent-elles leur agentivit�� dans les processus de traduction et de r��ception? Et comment la traduction et la r��ception de leurs textes contribuent-elles �� la construction d���une alt��rit�� arabe? Pour y r��pondre, l���auteure examine trois romans pr��sentant des traits th��matiques et formels tr��s diff��rents, �� savoir Faw����� al-���aw��ss (1997) par Ahlem Mosteghanemi, Innah�� Lundun Y�� ���Az��z�� (2001) par Hanan al-Shaykh et Ban��t al-Riy����� (2005) par Rajaa Alsanea. L���analyse, bas��e sur le mod��le �� trois dimensions de Norman Fairclough, vise �� d��couvrir comment les ��crivaines expriment leur agentivit�� �� travers l�����criture, et quelles images elles projettent d���elles-m��mes et plus g��n��ralement des femmes dans leurs soci��t��s respectives. L���auteure se penche ensuite sur les traductions anglaise et fran��aise de chaque roman. Elle examine les d��placements qui s���op��rent principalement sur le plan de la texture et le plan pragma-s��miotique, et interroge en quoi ces d��placements ��branlent l���autorit�� des ��crivaines. Enfin, une ��tude de la r��ception de ces traductions en France, en Grande Bretagne et aux ��tats-Unis vient enrichir l���analyse textuelle. �� cette ��tape, les critiques ��ditoriales et universitaires ainsi que les choix ��ditoriaux relatifs au paratexte sont scrut��s de fa��on �� mettre en lumi��re les processus d��cisionnels, les discours et les tropes sous-tendant la mise en march�� et la consommation de ces traductions. L���analyse des originaux r��v��le tout d���abord qu����� travers leurs textes, les auteures sont des agentes actives de changement social. Elles s���insurgent, chacune �� sa mani��re, contre les discours h��g��moniques tant locaux qu���occidentaux, et (r��-)imaginent leurs soci��t��s et leurs nations. Ce faisant, elles se cr��ent leur propre espace discursif dans la sph��re publique. Toutefois, la th��se montre que dans la plupart des traductions, les discours dissidents sont neutralis��s, l���agentivit�� et la subjectivit�� des ��crivaines min��es au profit d���un discours dominant orientaliste. Ce m��me discours semble sous-tendre la r��ception des romans en traduction. Dans ce discours r��ifiant, l���expression de la diff��rence culturelle est inextricablement imbriqu��e dans l���expression de la diff��rence sexuelle: la �� femme arabe �� est la victime d���une religion islamique et d���une culture arabe essentiellement misogynes et arri��r��es. L�����tude sugg��re, cependant, que ce sont moins les interventions des traductrices que les d��cisions des ��diteurs, le travail de m��diation op��r�� par les critiques, et l���int��r��t (ou le d��sint��r��t) des universitaires qui influencent le plus la mani��re dont ces romans sont mis en march�� et re��us dans les nouveaux contextes. L���auteure conclut par rappeler l���importance d���une ��thique de la traduction qui transcende toute approche binaire et se fonde sur une lecture ��thique des textes qui fait ressortir le lien entre la po��tique et la politique. Enfin, elle propose une lecture bas��e sur la reconnaissance du caract��re situ�� du texte traduit comme du sujet lisant/traduisant.

Do romantic partners' responses to entry dyspareunia affect women's experience of pain? : the roles of catastrophizing and self-efficacy.

Introduction Entry dyspareunia is a sexual health concern which affects about 21% of women in the general population. Characterized by pain provoked during vaginal penetration, introital dyspareunia has been shown by controlled studies to have a negative impact on the psychological well-being, sexual function, sexual satisfaction, and quality of life of afflicted women. Many cognitive and affective variables may influence the experience of pain and associated psychosexual problems. However, the role of the partner's cognitive responses has been studied very little. Aim The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between partners' catastrophizing and their perceptions of women's self-efficacy at managing pain on one side and women's pain intensity, sexual function, and sexual satisfaction on the other. Methods One hundred seventy-nine heterosexual couples (mean age for women = 31, SD = 10.0; mean age for men = 33, SD = 10.6) in which the woman suffered from entry dyspareunia participated in the study. Both partners completed quantitative measures. Women completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and the Painful Intercourse Self-Efficacy Scale. Men completed the significant-other versions of these measures. Main Outcome Measures Dependent measures were women's responses to (i) the Pain Numeric Visual Analog Scale; (ii) the Female Sexual Function Index; and (iii) the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction scale. Results Controlled for women's pain catastrophizing and self-efficacy, results indicate that higher levels of partner-perceived self-efficacy and lower levels of partner catastrophizing are associated with decreased pain intensity in women with entry dyspareunia, although only partner catastrophizing contributed unique variance. Partner-perceived self-efficacy and catastrophizing were not significantly associated with sexual function or satisfaction in women. Conclusions The findings suggest that partners' cognitive responses may influence the experience of entry dyspareunia for women, pointing toward the importance of considering the partner when treating this sexual health problem.

Dopamine D1 and D2 Receptor Functional Regulation:Glutamate Receptor Gene Expression in the Brain of Hypoglycaemic and Hyperglycaemic Rats

In the present study a detailed investigation on the alterations of dopamine and its receptors in the brain regions of streptozotocin induced diabetic and insulin induced hypoglycaemic rats were carried out. Glutamate receptor, NMDARI gene expression in the hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic brain was also studied. EEG recording in hypoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic will be carried out to measure brain activity. in vitro studies on glucose uptake and insulin secretion, with and without specific antagonists were carried out to confirm the specific receptor subtypes - DA D1, DA D2 and NMDA involved in the functional regulation during hyperglycaemic and hypoglycaemic brain damage. The molecular studies on the brain damage through dopaminergic and glutamergic receptors will elucidate the therapeutic role in the corrective measures of the damage to the brain during hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia. This has importance in the management of diabetes and antidiabetic treatment for better intellectual functioning of the individual.

Gender discrimination in the law of divorce and succession among christians

The present work deals with the Gender discrimination in the law of divorce and succession among christians.Inquiries Into the personal laws bereft of the historical develcpment of the concerned communities will be extremely inadequate as they may not help the researcher to Identify the laws' real source.In this view, the origin and development of Christian law In india has not so far been adequately gone into. Keeping In view the Importance of such a study calling for an exploration of the origin and development of the Christian community and its branching out In india as a prelude to the inqury into the Christian laws, the history of the conmunity in india was examined and the present study IndIcates that christianity In india has a diverse origin in dIfferent parts of India.And this diversity has resulted in the development of different systems of personal law for different sects among them. At present Christians in India constitute a minority but their numerical strength is not negligible. Yet they have not been able to act as an Influential group either socially or politically.The social changes and developments that swept away the community of its feet have overturned the position and the liberals in the community inspired by the changes elsewhere could bring in some statute law to govern the arena traditionally held by the customs.The history of reception of canon law concepts In different parts of India throws some light on the differences In the personal laws applicable to Christians In India.