This Masters thesis conducts an ideological critique of the way 'the global' is constructed conceptually, particularly by transformative politics and the anti/alter global left. In addition it attempts to foreground the importance of ontological inquiry as an essential component of effective ideological critique. It has four chapters(plus an intro and conclusion); The first chapter looks at the ways that globality is currently constructed conceptually, both as an object of study by academia, and as an object of intervention by the global left. The analysis and critique in this chapter will establish the need for an ontologically informed approach to globality. The second chapter explores the precise meaning of the term 'ontology' as well as some of its common misuses by social science. It will focus on examining the ways that ontology is inherently political, and can be infiltrated by ideology. The third chapter draws heavily from the work of Zizek to develop a theoretical model for understanding the ontological production of globality, and how ideology is implicated. The fourth chapter attempts to take the conclusions from the theoretical model and use them to suggest alternative approaches to globality which might better the prospects for an effective transformative `global` politics. In particular this chapter draws heavily upon the Deleuzean notion of Immanence.

The general purpose of this thesis was to investigate new cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) optimization techniques and to assess their reliability when compared to invasive measurements of left ventricular contractility (LV dP/dtmax).We first assessed whether cardiac output (CO) measured by trans-thoracic impedance cardiography could correctly identify the optimal interventricular (VV) pacing interval while using invasive measurements of LV dP/dtmax as reference. We did not find any significant statistical correlation between the two optimizing methods when their corresponding optimal VV intervals were compared. We also tested the hypothesis that measurements of right ventricular contractility (RV dP/dtmax) could be used to guide VV delay optimization in CRT. The comparison of optimal VV intervals obtained from the left and right ventricular dP/dtmax did not show a statistically significant correlation; however, a positive correlation was found when broader VV intervals were evaluated and we concluded that this finding deserves further investigation. An interesting alternative for CRT optimization is the use of device integrated algorithms or sensors capable to adapt the CRT settings to the current needs of the individual patient. In this respect we investigated the use of cardiogenic impedance (CI) measurements obtained through the CRT-D device as a method for CRT optimization with invasive measurements of LV dP/dtmax as a reference. Our results showed that CI could be measured through the device after implantation and that a patient-specific impedance-based prediction model was capable to accurately predict the optimal AV and VV delays. To follow up on these positive results we re-evaluated the patient-specific impedance-based prediction models 24 hours post implantation and investigated the possibility of calibrating them using parameters derived from non-invasive measurements of arterial pressure obtained by finger pelthysmography at implantation.The results showed that the patient-specific impedance-based prediction models did not perform as well on the follow-up data as they did on the data from implantation day and that they correlated poorly with plethysmographic parameters. Our studies suggest that novel methods for CRT optimization should be thoroughly evaluated and compared to established measures of left ventricular function prior to introduction into clinical practice.

Networks at various levels of the nervous system coordinate different motor patterns such as respiration, eye or hand movements and locomotion. Intrinsic rhythm-generating networks that are located in the spinal cord generate motor behaviors that underlie locomotion in vertebrates. These networks give a continuous and measurable coordinated rhythmic motor output and are referred to as locomotor central pattern generators (CPGs). Characterization of the mammalian locomotor CPG and its molecular control is depending on the identification of participating neurons and neuronal populations. In this thesis I present work where we have studied the significance of subpopulations of neurons in the formation and function of the left-right circuitry. In summary, we show that the axon guidance receptor DCC has a central role in the formation of spinal neuronal circuitry underlying left-right coordination, and that both Netrin-1 and DCC are required for normal function of the locomotor CPG. Commissural interneurons (CINs), which send their axons across the ventral midline in the spinal cord, play a critical role in left–right coordination during locomotion. A complete loss of commissural axons in the spinal cord, as seen in the Robo3 null mutant mouse, resulted in uncoordinated fictional locomotor activity. Removing CIN connections from either dorsal or ventral neuronal populations led to a shift from alternation to strict synchronous locomotor activity. Inhibitory dI6 CIN have been suggested as promising candidate neurons in coordinating bilateral alternation circuitry. We have identified that Dmrt3, expressed in inhibitory dI6 CINs, is a crucial component for the normal development of coordinated locomotor movements in both horses and mice. We have also concluded that the prominent hopping phenotype seen in hop/hop mice is a result of abnormal developmental processes including induction from the notochord and Shh signaling. Together, these findings increase our knowledge about the flexibility in neuronal circuit development and further confirm the role of dI6 neurons in locomotor circuits.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Univ. , 2007. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2002. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1990. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [187]-208).

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of Toledo, 2008. / Typescript. "Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for The Doctor of Philosophy in History." Bibliography: leaves 244-249.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2005. / Title from title screen (viewed 22 May 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Economics and Business. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.