Age-related declines of androgens and libido in males have been observed for decades. This dissertation sought to elucidate the mechanisms by which hormones may act differentially upon their receptors in the hypothalamus of aging compared to young males. I also examined how sexual experience modulates the ability of hormones to facilitate sexual behavior with aging. Experiment one measured androgen receptors (AR) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) cells in male rats at young, middle-aged and old age. I found that AR cell numbers in hypothalamic regions studied underwent significant age-related increases. Numbers of heavily ERα labeled cells, but not total ERα cells, increased with age. This study demonstrates that the aging brain has the capacity to synthesize hormone receptors which is increased possibly due to decreased testosterone concentrations. Experiment two examined the effect of sexual experience on serum hormones and cells of AR and ERα in hypothalamic regions in young and middle-aged males. The results showed that AR cell numbers increased with aging but did not change with experience. No age- or experience-related alteration in ERα expression occurred. However, serum testosterone increased and estradiol decreased with age. Experience increased total and free testosterone. Interactions of age and experience on total testosterone, estradiol, and luteinizing hormone were found. These results show long-lasting effects of sexual experience on hormones, but not on their receptors in the hypothalamus. Experiment three investigated effects of exogenous testosterone on sexual behavior in young and middle-aged males. The results showed a decline in sexual behavior parameters with age. After castration with testosterone treatment, there were few differences in sexual behavior measures between young and middle-aged males. AR cell numbers were higher and ERα cell numbers lower in testosterone compared to vehicle-treated males of both ages, and few effects of age occurred. These findings indicate that testosterone and aging interact in a complex manner to control numbers of cells expressing hormone receptors in the brain and on the subsequent control of sexual behavior. This insight provides a better understanding of the relationship between molecular changes in the brain and behavior, and suggests new therapeutic targets to human testosterone treatment. / text

This study has been conducted as a literary analysis of four chapter books for children in the early years of compulsory school: Magister Tutnäsa, Vilken fullträff, Astrakan, Sune och tjejhatarligan, and Alva och Dum-Julia. The aim has been to analyse four teacher characters from a gender perspective. The study has focused on the teachers’ personal characteristics and whether these are typically female or male. Another aim has been to study how the character reinforces or runs against stereotyped gender patterns. Stephens’s and Andræ’s matrices of femininity and masculinity in literature have been used. The result shows that all the teachers in the analysed books are portrayed in a nuanced way. The characters display examples of both gender stereotypes and gender-transgressing characteristics. Stereotyped gender patterns are something that school is supposed to counteract. This can be done by working with literature. For this reason, another aim has been to show how teachers can purposefully use literature in the school’s work for gender equality.

This study is about how bodybuilders in the 1960s are produced in the Swedish media image. The purpose of the study is to clarify how the male, muscular, body and identity is portrayed in the media image. Through an analysis of how daily- and evening newspapers reported, negotiated and linguistically produced bodybuilding and its practitioners, I hope to access these representations which together can be considered to form a specific discourse about bodybuilding. The language used by journalists, columnists, muscle bodybuilding and other people represented in the material formed the analogies, dichotomies and symbols that shape bodybuilding's identity in the 1960s. I have tried to show how the creation of meaning about bodybuilding and its practitioners construct the bodybuilder’s identity during the period in question as well as what the bodybuilder represented and what value the practitioner and his activities were attributed by and also how the gender norms can be distinguished from the actual material. I have chosen to call this period the legitimation phase of bodybuilding and by this I do not mean whether bodybuilders become an authorized representative of a masculine ideal, but rather the fact that through the media image of meaning negotiation he receives specific characteristics and cultural connotations that are maintained and renegotiated through language. Through the 1960s media image the bodybuilder is neither intelligent, beautiful and he has no soul, he also has feminine attributes and a passive muscularity. On the other hand, because of the positive qualities emphasized in his defense he is also handsome, intelligent, he has a soul and he has an active male body. This is also a part of his identity.

L’infertilité affecte jusqu’à 15-20% des couples en âge de se reproduire. C’est pourquoi, mieux comprendre les mécanismes à la base de la fécondation est essentiel pour l’identification de nouvelles causes d’infertilité et l’optimisation des techniques de reproduction assistée. La capacitation est une étape de la maturation des spermatozoïdes qui se déroule dans le tractus génital femelle. Elle est requise pour la fécondation d’un ovocyte. Notre laboratoire a démontré que des protéines du plasma séminal bovin, appelées protéines Binder of SPerm (BSP), se lient aux phospholipides portant des groupements choline à la surface de la membrane des spermatozoïdes lors de l’éjaculation et promeuvent la capacitation. Ces protéines exprimées par les vésicules séminales sont ubiquitaires chez les mammifères et ont été étudiées chez plusieurs espèces dont l’étalon, le porc, le bouc et le bélier. Récemment, l’expression de gènes homologues aux BSP a été découverte dans les épididymes d’humains (BSPH1) et de souris (Bsph1 et Bsph2). Notre hypothèse est que les BSP chez ces deux espèces sont ajoutées aux spermatozoïdes lors de la maturation épididymaire et ont des rôles dans les fonctions spermatiques, similaires à ceux des protéines BSP bovines. Les protéines BSP humaines et murines représentent une faible fraction des protéines totales du plasma séminal. Pour cette raison, afin d’étudier leurs caractéristiques biochimiques et fonctionnelles, des protéines recombinantes ont été produites. Les protéines recombinantes ont été exprimées dans des cellules Escherichia coli origami B(DE3)pLysS en utilisant un vecteur d’expression pET32a. Suivant la lyse cellulaire, les protéines ont été dénaturées avec de l’urée et purifiées par chromatographie d’affinité sur ions métalliques immobilisés. Une fois liées à la colonne, les protéines ont été repliées à l’aide d’un gradient d’urée décroissant avant d’être éluées. Cette méthode a mené à la production de trois protéines recombinantes (rec-BSPH1 humaine, rec-BSPH1 murine et rec-BSPH2 murine) pures et fonctionnelles. Des expériences de chromatographie d’affinité et de co-sédimentation nous ont permis de démontrer que les trois protéines peuvent se lier à des ligands connus des protéines BSP comme la gélatine et l’héparine en plus de pouvoir se lier aux spermatozoïdes. Nos études ont également révélées que les deux protéines rec-BSPH1 peuvent se lier aux liposomes de phosphatidylcholine (PC) et sont capable de promouvoir la capacitation des spermatozoïdes. À l’opposé, rec-BSPH2 ne peut ni se lier aux liposomes de PC, ni stimuler la capacitation. Finalement, les protéines recombinantes n’ont aucun effet sur la réaction acrosomique ou sur la motilité des spermatozoïdes. Chez les bovins, les protéines BSP induisent la capacitation grâce des interactions avec les lipoprotéines de haute densité (HDL) et les glycosaminoglycanes. Puisque le HDL est également un joueur important de la capacitation chez la souris, le rôle de la protéine native BSPH1 murine au niveau de la capacitation induite par le HDL a été étudié. Les résultats obtenus suggèrent que, in vivo, la protéine BSPH1 de souris serait impliquée dans la capacitation via une interaction directe avec le HDL. Comme les protéines BSPH1 humaines et murines sont orthologues, ces résultats pourraient aussi s’appliquer à la fertilité humaine. Les résultats présentés dans cette thèse pourraient mener à une meilleure compréhension de la fertilité masculine et aider à améliorer les techniques de reproduction assistée. Ils pourraient également mener au développement de nouveaux tests diagnostiques ou de contraceptifs masculins. / Infertility can affect as much as 15-20% of couples of reproductive age. Therefore, elucidating mechanisms occurring during fertilization is needed to resolve cases of infertility and optimize assisted reproductive technology procedures. Sperm capacitation is a maturation step that takes place in the female genital tract and is deemed to be essential for sperm to fertilize an oocyte. Our laboratory has demonstrated that proteins from bovine seminal plasma called Binder of SPerm (BSP) proteins bind to choline phospholipids on the sperm membrane upon ejaculation and promote capacitation. These proteins expressed in seminal vesicles are ubiquitous amongst mammals and have been studied in many species including stallion, boar, ram and goat. More recently, the expression of BSP-homologous genes has been discovered in the epididymis of humans (BSPH1) and in mice (Bsph1 and Bsph2). We hypothesized that the BSP homologs in these two species are added to sperm during epididymal maturation and play similar roles in sperm functions as bovine BSP proteins. BSP proteins in humans and mice constitute only a minute percentage of the seminal plasma proteins. Thus, to study their biochemical and functional characteristics recombinant proteins were produced. Recombinant proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli origami B(DE3)pLysS cells using a pET32a expression vector. Following cell lysis, proteins were denatured using urea and purified by immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. Once bound to the resin, proteins were refolded using a decreasing urea gradient after which they were eluted. This method led to the production of three pure, functional recombinant proteins (human rec-BSPH1, mouse rec-BSPH1 and mouse rec-BSPH2). Using affinity chromatography and co-sedimentation experiments, we were able to demonstrate that all three recombinant proteins bind known ligands of BSP proteins including gelatin, heparin and have the ability to bind to sperm. Studies also revealed that both rec-BSPH1 proteins bind to phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes and promote sperm capacitation. However, rec-BSPH2 neither binds to PC liposomes nor stimulates capacitation. Recombinant proteins had no effect on acrosome reaction or sperm motility. In bovine, BSP proteins promote sperm capacitation through interactions with high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and glycosaminoglycans. Since in mice HDL is also a major factor implicated in capacitation, the role of the native murine BSPH1 protein in HDL-induced capacitation was investigated. Results obtained suggest that, in vivo, murine BSPH1 protein could act in capacitation via a direct interaction with HDL. As human and murine BSPH1 are orthologs, these results could possibly also apply to human fertility. The results presented in this thesis could lead to a better understanding of male fertility and help improve assisted reproduction technology procedures. They could also lead to the development of diagnostic tests as well male contraceptives.

Ce mémoire est l'occasion d'établir une courte généalogie des femmes vampires au cinéma, en mettant en avant la manière dont la figure de la femme vampire résonne avec celle de la femme fatale, dans la mesure où elle constitue à la fois une vision négative de la femme émancipée, tout en offrant une manière d’échapper au modèle féminin traditionnel. En me demandant si le vampirisme peut être une source de pouvoir émancipatoire pour les femmes, j’analyse attentivement Byzantium (2012) de Neil Jordan. À travers l’étude successive des deux personnages principaux, Clara et Eleanor, je montre comment le film résonne avec la généalogie des femmes vampires établie préalablement, ainsi qu’avec certains enjeux féministes. Surtout, l’accent est mis sur la manière dont les personnages féminins contestent le pouvoir masculin, à travers la performance des stéréotypes, pour Clara, et la prise de contrôle du récit, pour Eleanor. Enfin, je me concentre sur la manière dont, à travers des mouvements de devenirs, ces personnages sortent du cycle fatal de l’oppression masculiniste, qui mène habituellement à l’extinction de la femme vampire en fin de récit, mais qui ici aboutit à une tentative de réconciliation entre les sexes. Mon travail s’appuie sur de larges recherches concernant la figure du vampire, ainsi que sur les études féministes et gender studies relatives aux textes vampiriques. Je m’appuie également sur les réflexions de Judith Butler, les travaux deleuziens sur la notion de « devenir », et les considérations de Derrida sur le don. / This master thesis is the opportunity to establish a short genealogy of vampire women on screen, highlighting how the figure of the vampire resonates with that of the femme fatale, since it is both a negative vision of the emancipated woman, while also providing a way to escape the traditional female model. Wondering if vampirism can be a source of emancipatory power for women, I analyze carefully Byzantium (2012, Neil Jordan). Through successive study of the two main characters, Clara and Eleanor, I show how the film resonates with the genealogy of vampire women established previously, as well as some feminist issues. Above all, the emphasis is on how the female characters are challenging male power, through the performance of stereotypes, for Clara, and through the takeover of the narrative, for Eleanor. Finally, I focus on how, through movements of becomings, these characters come out of the fatal cycle of masculinist oppression, which usually leads to the extinction of the female vampire at the end of the story, but here leads to an attempt at reconciliation between the sexes. My work is based on extensive research on the figure of the vampire, and women and gender studies relating to vampiric texts. I also rely on Judith Butler’s work, the deleuzian concept of “becoming”, and considerations on the gift by Derrida.

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

The goal of this master's thesis, "The usage of generic masculines in Czech text," is to present aspects of Czech generic masculines and the concept of gender-correct communication. First, the theoretical portion of the thesis presents the historic background of the concept of gender and the category of grammatical gender with a view to the theory of reference. The research part probes the relationships between the grammatical gender of an expression denoting person or group of people and its reference. There is also a questionnaire illustrating the attitudes of a group of Czech native speakers towards the necessity of gender correctness.

Esta dissertação analisa comparativamente textos cabo-verdianos de autoria masculina e feminina à luz do tema Literatura e representação social das mulheres em Cabo Verde, com o objetivo de demonstrar como constroem a historicidade das mulheres naquele contexto, com base na abordagem de gênero e numa hermenêutica do cotidiano feminino. Diante do exposto, centramos as leituras nas personagens femininas das narrativas, especialmente as protagonistas, no intuito de acompanhar suas trajetórias de objetos a sujeitos históricos, tendo em conta a complexidade do fenômeno da emancipação feminina em Cabo Verde e a entrada um pouco tardia, todavia decisiva, de produções de mulheres no cânone literário. Buscamos demonstrar, em nossa pesquisa, como a escritura literária masculina de António Aurélio Gonçalves, Baltasar Lopes, Manuel Ferreira, Oswaldo Osório, Teobaldo Virgínio e Virgílio Pires apreende e apresenta realidades femininas, sobretudo por meio da exposição, ao passo que as escrituras literárias femininas de Camila Mont-Rond, Dina Salústio, Fátima Bettencourt, Ivone Aída e Maria Margarida Mascarenhas revelam subjetividades femininas que lançam novos olhares e novos recortes que dialogam o universo representado pela ótica masculina. / This dissertation analyses comparatively Cape Verdean texts of masculine and feminine authorship by the light of the subject Literature and social representation of the women in Cape Verde, with the objective to demonstrate how they build the historicity of women in that context, based on the approach gender and a hermeneutics of everyday women. Given the above, the readings have focused on female characters of the narratives, especially the protagonists in order to follow their paths of objects to historical subjects taking into account the complexity of the phenomenon of female emancipation in Cape Verde and coming a little late, but decisive , productions of women in the literary canon. We demonstrate in our research, such as male literary writings of António Aurélio Gonçalves, Baltasar Lopes, Manuel Ferreira, Oswaldo Osório Pires Teobaldo Virgínio and Virgílio Pires learns and presents women\'s realities, especially through the exhibition, while the female literary writings of Camila Mont-Rond, Dina Salústio, Fátima Bettencourt, Ivone Aída and Maria Margarida Mascarenhas and reveal female subjectivities that cast new visions and new cuts that dialogue the universe represented by the male perspective.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:47:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao ALINE DA SILVA PEDROSA.pdf: 244300 bytes, checksum: a3d674d977a6c84ad20ff219890cc3e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-05-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Masculine aging and grandparenthood are poorly studied themes. Geronthology presents itself as an instigative area for these thematics to be more explored. However, the presence of grandfathers in the educational and formative process of the grandchildren is a fact and refers us to a reorganization of the family nucleus. This research is intended to apprehend how the elderly interprets the grandfather-grandchild relationship, the exchange of experiences between generations, and the feelings which become evident on the daily routine. Considering that grandparenthood is a singular and personal phenomenon, by means of interviews this research was intended to gain some comprehension of meanings, values, and expressions. The research revealed that grandparenthood is associated to a strong feeling of parenthood. Grandfathers demonstrate great satisfaction in the relationship with their grandchildren / O envelhecimento masculino e a avosidade são temas pouco estudados. A Gerontologia mostra-se como uma área propiciadora para que estas temáticas sejam mais exploradas. No entanto, a presença dos avôs no processo educativo e formativo dos netos é um fato e remete-nos a uma reorganização dos núcleos familiares. Pretende-se apreender como o idoso interpreta a relação avô-neto, o intercâmbio de experiências entre gerações e os sentimentos que se evidenciam no dia-a-dia. Considerando que a avosidade é um fenômeno é singular e pessoal, por meio de entrevistas pretendeu-se uma compreensão dos significados, valores e expressões. A pesquisa revelou que a avosidade está associada a um forte sentimento de paternidade. Os avôs demonstram uma enorme satisfação na relação com os netos

Dans ce travail de thèse, nous avons confronté l’explication du fitness model à celle du stéréotype beautiful is good, afin de mieux saisir l’influence de l’attractivité faciale d’un homme sur les préférences d’une femme. Selon le fitness model, une femme interprèterait l’attractivité faciale d’un homme comme l’indice de sa bonne santé (bonne condition génétique), profitable à la survie et au succès reproducteur de la progéniture. Mais selon des travaux en lien avec l’aisance cognitive (prototype, stéréotype beautiful is good), les traits attractifs et l’attention qu’une femme manifeste pour l’attractivité faciale d’un homme n’auraient pas de valeur reproductive, et s’expliqueraient plutôt en termes de facilité de traitement et d’économie cognitive, qui génèrent des réactions positives. Nous avons eu recours à un logiciel de ‘morphing’ afin de créer des visages artificiels d’hommes dont le genre, la correspondance à une moyenne et la symétrie variaient, et les avons fait évaluer par des femmes françaises et marocaines sur différents points : attractivité faciale, santé, revenus, rencontre, partenaire sur le long terme. Les résultats mettent en évidence que l’influence de l’attractivité faciale sur les préférences des femmes n’aurait pas seulement une valeur reproductive, et que l’économie cognitive permise par le recours au stéréotype beautiful is good expliquerait aussi les préférences. / In this work of thesis, we compared the fitness model explanation with the beautiful is good stereotype point of view to better evaluate the influence of men’s facial attractiveness on women preferences. According to the fitness model, a woman would interpret men’s facial attractiveness as an indicator of their good health (good genetic condition), profitable for the offspring’s survival and reproductive success. But according to studies in the field of cognitive ease (prototype, beautiful is good stereotype), the attractive facial features and the attention that a woman pay to men’s facial attractiveness is explained in terms of easy processing and cognitive economy, which generate positive reactions and would have no reproductive value. We used a software of morphing to create artificial men’s faces among which the masculine vs feminine, the averageness and the symmetry were manipulated. After, we submitted these faces to the evaluation of french and moroccan women on several aspects : facial attractiveness, health, income, meeting, long-term mate. The results suggest that facial attractiveness’s influence on women’s preferences would not only have a reproductive value, and that the cognitive economy allowed by the beautiful is good stereotype would also explain the preferences.