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The purpose of this essay is to study the role and function of literature and literary texts in Dragon Age, the fictive world experienced through computer games, novels, comics, movies and other media, created by the video game developer company BioWare. My starting point is the question of how history of literature and literary canon are created and depicted in the games and the novels. From there, I examine what the concepts of ‘history of literature’ and ‘canon’ implicate in the real world, and how they can be translated into the fictive world of Dragon Age, and the different media of computer games and novels. The width and depth of the fictive world’s literature is shown through a study of different types of texts and how they appear in the games and novels respectively, but also through an examination of how real world genres are represented in the games. The issue of representation is also brought up in a discussion about how the in-world literary canon excludes socio-economical classes, as well as the issue of religion restricting the availability of literature free from religious or political bias. Nearing a conclusion, I argue that given the parallels between the literature of the real world and fictive world respectively, the literature and literary texts in the Dragon Age games and novels should be understood as canonical representations of the history of literature of the real world. I also suggest that the literature and literary texts of Dragon Age can be used as prompters of memory: while we explore a fictive world, we also have a chance to reexamine our knowledge of the real world.

Serpent and dragon symbolism are ubiquitous in the art and mythology of premodern cultures around the world. Over the centuries, conflicting hypotheses have been proposed to interpret this symbolism which, while illuminating, have proved insufficient to the task of revealing a singular meaning for the vast majority of examples. In this dissertation I argue that, in what the symbolist Rene Guenon and the historian of religions Mircea Eliade have called ‘traditional' or ‘archaic' societies, the serpent/dragon transculturally symbolizes what I term ‘matter,' a state of being that is constituted by the perception of the physical world as ‘chaotic' in comparison to what traditional peoples believed to be the ‘higher' meta-physical source of the physical world or ‘nature.' What is called ‘nature,' I argue, is also considered in ‘Tradition' to be a perception of, from a certain state of consciousness, that aspect of existence that is called samsara in the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta, which Guenon equivalently describes, from a broadly traditional perspective in The Symbolism of the Cross, as "the indefinite series of cycles of manifestation." ‘Chaos,' according to Eliade in The Sacred and the Profane, is "the amorphous and virtual…everything that has not yet acquired a ‘form.'" The following elements have been useful in discerning the specified meaning of the serpent/dragon symbol: 1) Guenon's interpretation of the terminology of the ‘Hindu Doctrines,' as well as his interpretation of the ‘language' of traditional symbolism and the metaphysics that underlies it; 2) Eliade's interpretation of ‘traditional'/‘archaic' societies by means of his concepts of ‘chaos,' ‘creation,' Axis Mundi (‘World Axis'), and ‘Sacred and Profane'; and 3) the insights of various other researchers of serpent/dragon symbolism. Beyond purporting to resolve some of the mystery of the ancient and varied symbolism of the serpent/dragon, my dissertation strives, to a lesser degree, to serve two related functions: 1) informing the interpretation of the symbolic meanings of a wide variety of premodern artifacts and narratives and 2) providing a rough outline for a proposed prolegomenon to the study of the origination, and ancient human awareness, of the mentioned state of ‘matter.'

The groupers are vital fish in the market of over 350 million dollars, while grouper nervous necrosis virus (NNV) has caused mass mortality at about 100% in larvae and juveniles, which impacts on economic of marine cultured fish. The monoclonal antibody is one of the best methods to identify the epitopes on the 3D structure. For evaluation, the Balb/c mice were injected with DGNNV and virus-like particles (VLPs) in this study. The results showed that ascite of mAb-cells produced 1200 times higher than the cell secretion in the medium whereas our best clone hAb_VLP8 can only produced 100 times less antibody than the cell secretion. In the meantime before the monoclonal producer is established, the hAb_VLP8 could be used for ascite production to gain high antibody production.

<p> In this dissertation the author provides an analysis of three separate but interrelated aspects of the experiences of women who have been treated for breast cancer and who participate in survivor dragon boat racing.</p> <p> In the first analysis the author addresses the multiple meanings and functions that this physically intense competitive team sport has for the women. The paper explores some of the reasons why this activity appealed to them and the kinds of impacts and effects that participation in this activity had on their lives. The second analysis offers a critical look at the ways in which breast amputation has been characterised within the medical and breast cancer literature as a threat to women's self identity as female or feminine. The data from this study however demonstrates that women's experiences of breast amputation is much more complex and nuanced than characterised. Also included is an examination of women's own perspectives on this experience, as well as the mediating role that dragon boat racing had on this aspect of self identity. The third analysis focusses on a major theme that emerged from the data which was the transformative effect that competitive dragon boat racing had on women's bodies and on their sense of self. Discussed here are the impacts and effects that participation in competitive dragon boat racing had on women's self identities and bodies and that enabled the women to see themselves as strong, fitter, healthier and "better" than what they were prior to their breast cancer illness experience. Finally, the author concludes with a discussion of how regular participation sport, and especially for women living with a critical illness, can empower women at the individual, group and societal levels.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

As of writing this thesis there are two detectors at TRIUMF’s DRAGON facility which directly measure the kinetic energy (E) of heavy ions at the focal plane of its recoil separator. These are an ionization chamber and a double-sided-silicon-strip detector (DSSSD). The ionization chamber has in- ferior resolution to the DSSSD but can discriminate isobaric contaminants in a E-∆E spectrum. A DSSSD has superior energy resolution and timing but cannot discriminate isobaric contaminants in many cases. A hybrid ioniza- tion chamber / double-sided-silicon-strip detector has been designed using the GEANT4 simulation package that combines the strengths of both these detec- tor types. This hybrid detector design consists of an ionization chamber set in front of a DSSSD positioned at the end of the beamline of the recoil separator. The design presented here is specific to DRAGON’s needs but can conceiv- ably be re-purposed in other environments requiring heavy ion detection and identification and may be useful in fields such as health physics. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Robert Lepage’s play The Dragons’ Trilogy stretches across space and time, travelling through three generations and three major Canadian cities, each section named for a dragon in the Chinese game Mahjong. The Blue Dragon continues the story of Pierre Lamontagne twenty years later, and in doing so, rounds out and completes the cycle of the three Dragons of The Dragons’ Trilogy. This thesis studies the evolution of Lepage’s treatment of the Other and the Self in The Dragons’ Trilogy and The Blue Dragon. Grouping these two plays together should be a foregone conclusion, because of the titles of each section and the character of Pierre Lamontagne, who appears in both plays, but it has in fact been discussed very little. This thesis thus examines the transformation of characters such as Pierre, who, from one play to the other, and through language and space, find the Other in the Self. To address this issue, the second chapter explores the question of plurilingualism, in order to show how the plurality of languages in the plays and among the characters promotes the ideal of communication and communion with the Other. In the third chapter, the thesis examines the theatrical space of the two plays; from the closed-off city of Québec during the 1930s in The Green Dragon to Pierre Lamontagne’s intimate and modern loft in The Blue Dragon, the imagined worlds perfectly mirror the interior journeys of the characters. Finally, the last chapter, which studies the characters, focuses on the question of stereotypes, the quests for identity, and the role artistic creation plays within these quests. Ultimately, this thesis demonstrates that in The Dragons’ Trilogy and The Blue Dragon, although Otherness may at first appear to be the opposite of Self, it is in fact found within identity. / Thesis (Master, French) -- Queen's University, 2012-12-20 17:04:10.317

A pesquisa organizada em quatro partes a partir do sistema de planejamento denominado Dragon Dreaming teve como objetivo a elaboração de um modelo de diretrizes para o desenvolvimento de ecovilas urbanas que possam ser utilizadas como opção para a transformação de bairros existentes ou a criação de novos assentamentos urbanos sustentáveis. Para isso foram abordados aspectos teóricos, visitas técnicas e participação em eventos sobre o tema que, a partir de métodos colaborativos, fundamentaram o processo de criação e implantação de um estudo de caso denominado Ecovila Urbana Sta. Margarida no município de Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil, como parte experimental da pesquisa. A parte I SONHO apresenta as aspirações individuais que, expressas de forma teórica na pesquisa, estabelecem o referencial coletivo incluindo os conceitos do termo Ecovila e das Dimensões da Sustentabilidade; a parte II PLANEJAMENTO foi estruturada para adequar a teoria ao ambiente referente à parte experimental da pesquisa a partir de estratégias e alternativas; a parte III REALIZAÇÃO apresenta os conceitos e ideias viáveis e possíveis de serem postos em prática a partir da consolidação do projeto da Ecovila Sta. Margarida e dos resultados não previstos; e a parte IV CELEBRAÇÃO estabelece o fechamento do ciclo acrescentando, a partir da prática, uma nova experiência, possibilitando a reprodução do experimento e da pesquisa ampliando, desta forma, a rede de ecovilas e consequentemente a qualidade de vida. Os elementos e sistemas fundamentados na Permacultura e Avaliação de Ciclo Fechado previstos para a constituição da Ecovila Sta. Margarida, em processo de aprovação pelos órgãos públicos, que complementam a legislação urbana, levando-se em conta as normas da Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas - ABNT, caracterizam o assentamento como uma Ecovila e formam as diretrizes pretendidas organizadas em formato de um projeto de Lei Municipal, criando parâmetros para o planejamento, avaliação e aprovação de novas ecovilas. / This research, organized into four parts, based on a planning system called Dragon Dreaming, aims at creating a guideline model for the development of urban ecovillages. This model can be used as an option for transforming existing neighborhoods or creating new sustainable urban settlements. For that, technical visits, participation in events on the subject, and addressing theoretical aspects led to collaborative methods, that substantiated the process of creating and implementing a case study called Santa Margarida Urban Ecovillage in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, as part of the experimental research. Part I, DREAM, presents individual aspirations that, expressed theoretically in the research, establish the collective reference that include the concepts of the term \"ecovillage\" and the Dimensions of Sustainability; Part II, PLANNING, was structured to ensure suitability between theory and environment as presented in the experimental part of the research and was based on strategies and alternatives; Part II, PLANNING, was structured to ensure that the theory was adequate to the environment, as presented in the experimental part of the research and based on strategies and alternatives; Part III, ACHIEVEMENT, presents feasible concepts, as experienced in the consolidation of the project Santa Margarida Ecovillage, in which unanticipated results were also considered and, Part IV CELEBRATION establishes the closing of the cycle, and, based on practice, adds a new experience, that enables future reproduction of the experiment and the research, thus contributing to the expansion of ecovillage networks and consequently the quality of life. The elements and systems based on the Permaculture and Evaluation of Closed Cycle planned for the creation of the Santa Margarida Ecovillage (today undergoing government approval procedures) complement the urban legislation, that takes into account the regulations established by the Brazilian Association for Technical Standards - ABNT, characterize the settlement as an ecovillage and constitute guidelines in a format of Municipal Law project, thereby creating parameters for planning, assessment and approval of new ecovillages.

A pesquisa organizada em quatro partes a partir do sistema de planejamento denominado Dragon Dreaming teve como objetivo a elaboração de um modelo de diretrizes para o desenvolvimento de ecovilas urbanas que possam ser utilizadas como opção para a transformação de bairros existentes ou a criação de novos assentamentos urbanos sustentáveis. Para isso foram abordados aspectos teóricos, visitas técnicas e participação em eventos sobre o tema que, a partir de métodos colaborativos, fundamentaram o processo de criação e implantação de um estudo de caso denominado Ecovila Urbana Sta. Margarida no município de Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil, como parte experimental da pesquisa. A parte I SONHO apresenta as aspirações individuais que, expressas de forma teórica na pesquisa, estabelecem o referencial coletivo incluindo os conceitos do termo Ecovila e das Dimensões da Sustentabilidade; a parte II PLANEJAMENTO foi estruturada para adequar a teoria ao ambiente referente à parte experimental da pesquisa a partir de estratégias e alternativas; a parte III REALIZAÇÃO apresenta os conceitos e ideias viáveis e possíveis de serem postos em prática a partir da consolidação do projeto da Ecovila Sta. Margarida e dos resultados não previstos; e a parte IV CELEBRAÇÃO estabelece o fechamento do ciclo acrescentando, a partir da prática, uma nova experiência, possibilitando a reprodução do experimento e da pesquisa ampliando, desta forma, a rede de ecovilas e consequentemente a qualidade de vida. Os elementos e sistemas fundamentados na Permacultura e Avaliação de Ciclo Fechado previstos para a constituição da Ecovila Sta. Margarida, em processo de aprovação pelos órgãos públicos, que complementam a legislação urbana, levando-se em conta as normas da Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas - ABNT, caracterizam o assentamento como uma Ecovila e formam as diretrizes pretendidas organizadas em formato de um projeto de Lei Municipal, criando parâmetros para o planejamento, avaliação e aprovação de novas ecovilas. / This research, organized into four parts, based on a planning system called Dragon Dreaming, aims at creating a guideline model for the development of urban ecovillages. This model can be used as an option for transforming existing neighborhoods or creating new sustainable urban settlements. For that, technical visits, participation in events on the subject, and addressing theoretical aspects led to collaborative methods, that substantiated the process of creating and implementing a case study called Santa Margarida Urban Ecovillage in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, as part of the experimental research. Part I, DREAM, presents individual aspirations that, expressed theoretically in the research, establish the collective reference that include the concepts of the term \"ecovillage\" and the Dimensions of Sustainability; Part II, PLANNING, was structured to ensure suitability between theory and environment as presented in the experimental part of the research and was based on strategies and alternatives; Part II, PLANNING, was structured to ensure that the theory was adequate to the environment, as presented in the experimental part of the research and based on strategies and alternatives; Part III, ACHIEVEMENT, presents feasible concepts, as experienced in the consolidation of the project Santa Margarida Ecovillage, in which unanticipated results were also considered and, Part IV CELEBRATION establishes the closing of the cycle, and, based on practice, adds a new experience, that enables future reproduction of the experiment and the research, thus contributing to the expansion of ecovillage networks and consequently the quality of life. The elements and systems based on the Permaculture and Evaluation of Closed Cycle planned for the creation of the Santa Margarida Ecovillage (today undergoing government approval procedures) complement the urban legislation, that takes into account the regulations established by the Brazilian Association for Technical Standards - ABNT, characterize the settlement as an ecovillage and constitute guidelines in a format of Municipal Law project, thereby creating parameters for planning, assessment and approval of new ecovillages.

Ségurant ou le Chevalier au Dragon est le titre que nous avons attribué à un ensemble romanesque médiéval ignoré de l’histoire littéraire et dispersé dans une tradition manuscrite abondante. Ce roman arthurien en prose, en langue française, qui a sans doute vu le jour entre 1240 et 1279 en Italie du Nord, ne subsiste qu’à l’état lacunaire dans des compilations et des sommes romanesques postérieures. C’est à partir de tous les manuscrits qui en ont conservé des fragments que nous proposons une reconstitution de ses diverses versions, qui s’échelonnent du XIIIe au XVe siècle. Cette thèse comprend l’édition en deux volumes de Ségurant ou le Chevalier au Dragon : le premier est consacré à la « version cardinale », conservée par le ms. 5229 de la Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal ; le second aux versions que nous appelons « complémentaires » et « alternatives ». L’édition est accompagnée d’une étude de cette œuvre qui en éclaire les divers aspects philologiques et littéraires. La première partie de l’étude analyse la tradition de ce roman à partir de ses sources jusqu’à sa fortune littéraire en Europe. La deuxième a pour objet la structure du roman, ses enjeux narratifs, son univers romanesque, ses modalités de réécriture. La troisième étudie l’imaginaire à l’œuvre dans Ségurant ou le Chevalier au Dragon, notamment le héros et ses valeurs, les éléments comiques et le traitement du merveilleux. / Ségurant ou le Chevalier au Dragon is the title I proposed for an Arthurian prose romance, unknown to literary history and scattered into many manuscripts. It dates back to 1240-1279, it was written in French but its origins can probably be located in Northern Italy. Today it exists only in pieces found in later compilations. Collecting all the available fragments, I propose a reconstruction of its various versions which go back to between the XIIIth and XVth centuries. My thesis includes the edition of Ségurant : the first volume of this edition is dedicated to the « core version » found in manuscript 5229 of the Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, whereas the second volume is dedicated to the « complementary » and « alternative » versions. The edition is completed by a critical essay which focuses on philological and literary issues. The first part deals with the tradition of this novel from its sources to its fortune across Europe. The second part analyzes its structure, its narrative issues, its fictional world and its rewriting modes. The third part addresses its imagery, mainly the hero and his values, the comical aspects, and the marvellous ones.