Rôle des tachykinines et de leurs récepteurs dans la régulation centrale de la fonction cardiovasculaire chez le rat normotendu et hypertendu

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Étude des effets cardiovasculaires et comportementaux des tachykinines dans l'aire tegmentale ventrale chez le rat

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Rôle des tachykinines dans la modulation de l'apoptose des lymphocytes T CD4+ induite par l'activation de Fas

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Emulsion-Based RIR-MAPLE Deposition of Conjugated Polymers: Primary Solvent Effect and Its Implications on Organic Solar Cell Performance.

Emulsion-based, resonant infrared matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (RIR-MAPLE) has been demonstrated as an alternative technique to deposit conjugated polymer films for photovoltaic applications; yet, a fundamental understanding of how the emulsion target characteristics translate into film properties and solar cell performance is unclear. Such understanding is crucial to enable the rational improvement of organic solar cell (OSC) efficiency and to realize the expected advantages of emulsion-based RIR-MAPLE for OSC fabrication. In this paper, the effect of the primary solvent used in the emulsion target is studied, both experimentally and theoretically, and it is found to determine the conjugated polymer cluster size in the emulsion as well as surface roughness and internal morphology of resulting polymer films. By using a primary solvent with low solubility-in-water and low vapor pressure, the surface roughness of deposited P3HT and PCPDTBT polymer films was reduced to 10 nm, and the efficiency of P3HT:PC61BM OSCs was increased to 3.2% (∼100 times higher compared to the first MAPLE OSC demonstration [ Caricato , A. P. ; Appl. Phys. Lett. 2012 , 100 , 073306 ]). This work unveils the mechanism of polymer film formation using emulsion-based RIR-MAPLE and provides insight and direction to determine the best ways to take advantage of the emulsion target approach to control film properties for different applications.

Rôle des tachykinines et de leurs récepteurs dans la régulation centrale de la fonction cardiovasculaire chez le rat normotendu et hypertendu

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Étude des effets cardiovasculaires et comportementaux des tachykinines dans l'aire tegmentale ventrale chez le rat

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Rôle des tachykinines dans la modulation de l'apoptose des lymphocytes T CD4+ induite par l'activation de Fas

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

A Generic Model of Execution for Synthesizing Domain-Specific Models

Software engineering researchers are challenged to provide increasingly more pow- erful levels of abstractions to address the rising complexity inherent in software solu- tions. One new development paradigm that places models as abstraction at the fore- front of the development process is Model-Driven Software Development (MDSD). MDSD considers models as first class artifacts, extending the capability for engineers to use concepts from the problem domain of discourse to specify apropos solutions. A key component in MDSD is domain-specific modeling languages (DSMLs) which are languages with focused expressiveness, targeting a specific taxonomy of problems. The de facto approach used is to first transform DSML models to an intermediate artifact in a HLL e.g., Java or C++, then execute that resulting code. Our research group has developed a class of DSMLs, referred to as interpreted DSMLs (i-DSMLs), where models are directly interpreted by a specialized execution engine with semantics based on model changes at runtime. This execution engine uses a layered architecture and is referred to as a domain-specific virtual machine (DSVM). As the domain-specific model being executed descends the layers of the DSVM the semantic gap between the user-defined model and the services being provided by the underlying infrastructure is closed. The focus of this research is the synthesis engine, the layer in the DSVM which transforms i-DSML models into executable scripts for the next lower layer to process. The appeal of an i-DSML is constrained as it possesses unique semantics contained within the DSVM. Existing DSVMs for i-DSMLs exhibit tight coupling between the implicit model of execution and the semantics of the domain, making it difficult to develop DSVMs for new i-DSMLs without a significant investment in resources. At the onset of this research only one i-DSML had been created for the user- centric communication domain using the aforementioned approach. This i-DSML is the Communication Modeling Language (CML) and its DSVM is the Communication Virtual machine (CVM). A major problem with the CVM’s synthesis engine is that the domain-specific knowledge (DSK) and the model of execution (MoE) are tightly interwoven consequently subsequent DSVMs would need to be developed from inception with no reuse of expertise. This dissertation investigates how to decouple the DSK from the MoE and sub- sequently producing a generic model of execution (GMoE) from the remaining appli- cation logic. This GMoE can be reused to instantiate synthesis engines for DSVMs in other domains. The generalized approach to developing the model synthesis com- ponent of i-DSML interpreters utilizes a reusable framework loosely coupled to DSK as swappable framework extensions. This approach involves first creating an i-DSML and its DSVM for a second do- main, demand-side smartgrid, or microgrid energy management, and designing the synthesis engine so that the DSK and MoE are easily decoupled. To validate the utility of the approach, the SEs are instantiated using the GMoE and DSKs of the two aforementioned domains and an empirical study to support our claim of reduced developmental effort is performed.

Expression of high amounts of the CD117 molecule in a case of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma carrying the t(14:18) translocation.

The c-kit proto-oncogen (CD117) has been described to be present in normal and neoplastic hemopoietic cells including both myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Among the normal lymphoid cells CD117 expression would be restricted to a small subset of NK-cells, and to early T-cell precursors and it is not expressed by normal B-cells. Regarding chronic lymphoproliferative disorders the only data provided up to now suggests that CD117 expression is restricted to cases of Hodgkin's disease and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. In the present paper we describe a case of a B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorder carrying the t(14:18) translocation as demonstrated by molecular studies, in which the flow cytometric immunophenotypic analysis of both peripheral blood and bone marrow samples revealed the expression of high amounts of the CD117 antigen in the surface of the clonal B-cell population. Further studies are necessary to explore both the functional role of c-kit expression in the neoplastic B-cells from this patient and its potential utility for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Contact dermatitis from shoes: an update

Contact dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin condition characterized by erythematous and pruritic skin lesions that occur after contact with a foreign substance. There are two forms of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic. Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by the non–immune-modulated irritation of the skin by a substance, leading to skin changes. Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction in which a foreign substance comes into contact with the skin; skin changes occur after reexposure to the substance. A medical condition referred to as “shoe dermatitis” is a form of contact dermatitis caused by the contact of the foot with parts of the shoe due to these materials. Shoe dermatitis is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge and is a common type of contact dermatitis. It is imperative the foot and ankle physician become familiar with recognizing signs and symptoms of shoe dermatitis so that their patients can be accurately diagnosis and appropriately treated to avoid secondary infections and disability. This review will first present causative factors for the etiology of shoe contact dermatitis supported by clinical-based evidence as found in the medical literature. Secondly, a description of the signs and symptoms of shoe contact dermatitis will be presented in a narrative fashion. Finally, both treatment options and preventative measures to avoid shoe.

Eosinophilia is a favourable prognostic marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Suusyöpä on yleisin pään ja kaulan alueen pahanlaatuisista kasvaimista. Niistä yli 90 % on levyepiteelikarsinoomia. Koska suusyöpäpotilaan viisivuotisennuste on vain noin 50 %, on jatkuva tarve löytää keinoja ennustamaan potilaan selviytymistä ja ohjaamaan hoitoa. Suun levyepiteelikarsinooman ympäristössä havaitaan säännöllisesti eosinofiilejä. Eosinofiili on ihmisen immuunijärjestelmän erikoistunut solu, joiden määrä lisääntyy sekä tulehdusreaktioissa että syöpien läheisyydessä. Toistaiseksi ei tiedetä, miten eosinofiilit liittyvät suun levyepiteelikarsinoomaan, mutta oletuksena on, että suusyöpään liittyvällä eosinofilialla, TATE (tumor-associated tissue eosinophilia), voisi olla vaikutusta suun levyepiteelikarsinoomapotilaan ennusteeseen. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää TATE:n ilmenemistä ja vaikutusta potilaan ennusteeseen suun levyepiteelikarsinoomassa. Lisäksi tutkimus käsittelee potilaan ennusteen kannalta optimaalista eosinofiilimäärän raja-arvoa, jota voitaisiin käyttää patologin työkaluna ennusteen arvioinnissa. Tutkimusaineisto koostui Turun yliopiston Suupatologian laitoksella vuosina 2002-2010 tutkituista 122 suuontelon ja huulen limakalvokoepalasta, jotka oli otettu diagnostisia tarkoituksia varten 99 potilaalta. Tutkimuksen potilaista 44 oli naisia ja 55 miehiä, ja heidän keski-ikänsä oli 65,3 vuotta. Seuranta-aika oli keskimäärin 40,7 kk. Kaksi tutkijaa analysoivat hematoksyliini-eosiinilla värjätyt näytteet suurentamalla ne 400-kertaisiksi valomikroskoopilla. Eosinofiilien määrä laskettiin yhteensä kuudelta edustavimmalta syövän ja strooman alueelta. TATE:n suhde potilaan kliinispatologisiin piirteisiin ja selviytymiseen selvitettiin Turun yliopistollisen keskussairaalan potilastiedoistoista ja analysoitiin tilastollisesti käyttämällä Fischerin testiä. Työllä oli Varsinais-Suomen sairaanhoitopiirin eettisen toimikunnan lupa (nro T10/2011, päätös O31/11). Levyepiteelikarsinooman kliininen kuva vaihteli haavaisen muutoksen ollessa yleisin. Yleisin sijainti levyepiteelikarsinoomalle oli kieli. TATE:a löydettiin 61,5 %:sta (78/122) levyepiteelikarsinoomanäytteitä. Mikäli TATE:a ei löydetty tai sen määrä oli korkea, oli potilaan selviytyminen tilastollisesti merkitsevästi parempi kuin potilailla, joilla TATE oli matala. Lisäanalyyseissä havaittiin, että potilaan ennuste oli tilastollisesti merkitsevästi huonompi, mikäli TATE:n raja-arvo oli vähemmän kuin neljä eosinofiiliä per tutkittu mikroskooppinäkymä (HPF). TATE on täten merkki suun levyepiteelikarsinoomapotilaan paremmasta ennusteesta erityisesti, kun havaitaan enemmän kuin neljä eosinofiiliä/HPF. Tutkimustulosten varmistamiseksi tarvitaan kuitenkin jatkossa laajempia tutkimuksia.

Unfolding the Archive (Group Exhibition)

Unfolding the Archive, an exhibition of new work by the international artists’ group Floating World, is the result of a collaboration between the National Irish Visual Arts Library (NIVAL) and the F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio in partnership with the NCAD Gallery at the National College of Art & Design. The exhibition takes its title from the tangible starting point for engagement with an archive – the simple act of unfolding – and the practice of appraisal, valuation and interpretation that is inherent in this process.

The Ballets Russes connection with fashion.

This paper examines the influence that the costume designers of the Ballets Russes, many of whom were important artists from significant art movements of the day, had on contemporaneous fashion. It looks at why in particular the 'Ballets Russes' artists Leon Bakst and Natalia Goncharova went on to involve themselves in actual fashion production and the similarities between their work and the fashion designers producing work at the same time, principally Paul Poiret, Mariano Fortuny and Coco Chanel. Overall, this paper investigates the significance of the cultural times and of the distinct characteristics of the separate art forms, that may have encouraged avant-garde art and fashion to crossover and collaborate so unreservedly.

Evaluating the conservation of graffiti based on cultural significance.

Purpose – Graffiti, both ancient and contemporary, could be argued to be significant and therefore worthy of protection. Attaching value is, however, subjective with no specific method being solely utilised for evaluating these items. The purpose of this paper to help those who are attempting to evaluate the merit of graffiti to do so, by determining “cultural significance”, which is a widely adopted concept for attaching value to the historic built environment. The current Scottish system utilised to assess “cultural significance” is the Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP) which shares many common features with other determinants of cultural significance in different countries. The SHEP document, as with other systems, could however be criticised for being insufficiently sensitive to enable the evaluation of historic graffiti due, in part, to the subjective nature of determination of aesthetic value. Design/methodology/approach – A review of literature is followed by consideration of case studies taken from a variety of historical and geographical contexts. The majority of examples of graffiti included in this paper have been selected for their relative high profile, previous academic study, and breadth of geographic spread. This selection will hopefully enable a relatively comprehensive, rational assessment to be undertaken. That being said, one example has been integrated to reflect commonly occurring graffiti that is typical to all of the built environment. Findings – The determination of aesthetic value is particularly problematic for the evaluator and the use of additional art‐based mechanisms such as “significant form”, “self expression” and “meaning” may aid this process. Regrettably, these determinants are also in themselves subjective, enhancing complexity of evaluation. Almost all graffiti could be said to have artistic merit, using the aforementioned determinants. However, whether it is “good” art is an all together different question. The evaluation of “good” art and graffiti would have traditionally been evaluated by experts. Today, determination of graffiti should be evaluated and value attached by broader society, community groups, and experts alike. Originality/value – This research will assist those responsible for historic building conservation with the evaluation of whether graffiti is worthy of conservation.