No description available.

This thesis explores the idea of a liminal space, as being dreamlike, suspended in time and physically unlocatable. It questions and exploits the boundary between abstraction and figuration in painting. This investigation has been considered from a subjective viewpoint allowing a distancing of space to illuminate new perceptions and experiences through the language of painting. The project has sought to explore the relationship between the natural world and seeing, to deepen and emphasize the other worldliness of an in-between space. This third space has been evoked by a process of abstracting pictorial content, juxtaposition of elements, colour and composition. The thesis is constituted of practice-based 80%, accompanied by an exegesis 20%.

In an unpublished study in Toronto it was observed that cases were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium at a locus whereas their family members were in Hardy-Weinberg Disequilibrium (HWD). This led to an investigation of relatives of affected individuals to see whether the multiplicative model could be revealed by a nonzero HWD coefficient in relatives. Genotypic frequencies and HWD coefficients were derived for affected individuals and their affected and unaffected relatives. Methods were also developed to test for association using data from affected individuals and their relatives. In addition, a model was developed to assess whether the HWD observed in a data set from a stratified population can be explained by both genetic association and stratification. Parameter estimates for these models can be obtained using maximum likelihood methods, and used to deduce the mode of inheritance of the disease. / Departure from HWE (HWD) in a sample may indicate genotyping error, population stratification, selection bias, or some combination thereof. Therefore, loci exhibiting HWD are often excluded from association studies. However, it has been shown that in case-control studies HWD can result from a genetic effect at the locus, and HWD at a marker locus can be interpreted as evidence for association with a disease. In an unpublished study in Toronto it was observed that cases were in Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium at a locus whereas their family members were in HWD. It has been shown that the HWD coefficient for a multiplicative genetic model is zero. This led to an investigation of relatives of affected individuals to see whether the multiplicative model could be revealed by a nonzero HWD coefficient in relatives. Genotypic frequencies and HWD coefficients were derived for affected individuals and their affected and unaffected relatives. A substantial HWD was found in both individuals in dominant and recessive genetic models but HWD is only slightly nonzero for additive and multiplicative models. Methods were also developed to test for association using data from affected individuals and their relatives. Parameter estimates for these models can be obtained using maximum likelihood methods, and estimates provide valuable information regarding the mode of inheritance of the disease. The methods were applied to 112 discordant sib pairs with Alzheimer’s disease typed for the ApoE polymorphism and a significant association was observed between the "4 ApoE allele and Alzheimer’s disease. Case-control studies may indicate spurious association with a marker locus in a stratified population. Methods were developed to determine if the HWD observed in a data set from a stratified population can be explained by both genetic association and stratification. Parameter estimates for these models can be obtained using maximum likelihood methods, and used to deduce the mode of inheritance of the disease. Applying the model to the R990G SNP of the CASR gene, it was found that the HWD was adequately explained by a recessive genetic association and a stratification proportion of 10%, consistent with the population of Toronto.

This thesis explores the idea of a liminal space, as being dreamlike, suspended in time and physically unlocatable. It questions and exploits the boundary between abstraction and figuration in painting. This investigation has been considered from a subjective viewpoint allowing a distancing of space to illuminate new perceptions and experiences through the language of painting. The project has sought to explore the relationship between the natural world and seeing, to deepen and emphasize the other worldliness of an in-between space. This third space has been evoked by a process of abstracting pictorial content, juxtaposition of elements, colour and composition. The thesis is constituted of practice-based 80%, accompanied by an exegesis 20%.

Figures du sujet dans le roman fin de siècle des années 1990-2000, interroge, dans une perspective socio-poétique, les dispositions que prend le sujet dans deux espaces littéraires et culturels, à partir d’une étude synchronique de quelques romans tunisiens et français contemporains : Hayet ou la passion d’Elles d’Anouar Attia, Un an de Jean Echenoz, Monsieur L… d’Azza Filali, La Télévision de Jean-Philippe Toussaint et Dondog d’Antoine Volodine. Notre point de départ a été le constat d’une orientation post-formaliste dans les discours critiques littéraire et philosophique qui marquent un « retour spectral » du sujet historique. Des problèmes esthétiques, épistémologiques et poétiques sont mis en relation. Plus qu’une crise du personnage, une déficience ludique du narrateur est notée dans le corpus français. Dans une perspective sociocritique, le déficit du narrateur renvoie à une crise des institutions plutôt qu’à un abandon du projet politique de la modernité. Dans les romans tunisiens, la crise du sujet personnage est isolée. L’autorité du narrateur est maintenue, tout en étant déjouée pour signifier un écart et un désir : créer les conditions de possibilité d’une ouverture de l’expérience. La « narration discordante » est l’expression d’un problème de lisibilité du monde de la fiction. Toutefois, d’un point de vue pragmatique, les stratégies narratives de la discordance deviennent ce qui aiguise la présence du sujet lecteur, sollicité pour une contribution à la lisibilité de l’histoire. Nous y lisons, dans les deux cultures, une invitation du discours littéraire au sujet historique à tenter de tracer les contours d’une modernité politique inédite. / This thesis which is based on a socio-poetic study tries to examine the space the subject occupies in the literary and cultural spheres through an exploration of some contemporary French and Tunisian novels, namely Anouar Attia’s Hayet ou La passion d’Elles, Jean Echenoz’s Un An, Azza Filali’s Monsieur L…, Jean-Philippe Toussaint’s La television, and Antoine Volodine’s Dondog. The starting point is the result of a post-formalist analysis of the critical discourses of literary and philosophical documents revealing a “spectral comeback” of the historical subject. A playful deficiency of the narrative voice is to be noticed in the French corpus and it is not due to a crisis within the characters. From a socio-critical perspective this deficiency is the outcome of a crisis within the institutions and not a removal of a political project from the modern era. In the Tunisian case, on the other hand, the crisis within the subject is an isolated case. The authority of the narrator is maintained but it is thwarted to represent a deviation and a desire, they are meant to pave the way for creating an experience. The discordant narrative is a manifestation of failure to read the world inside fiction. Yet, from a pragmatic perspective, the discordant narratives try to invite the reading text who is to participate in the reading of history. In both cultures, we find that there is this invitation of the literary discourse to try to trace the outline of an original political change.

No description available.

Clinical practice, public health, and policy guidelines should be developed based on a systematic approach that uses the best available evidence. The advent of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework has facilitated this, resulting in a transparent approach to guideline development. GRADE suggests that guideline developers seldom make strong recommendations based on low or very low confidence in effect estimates (strong l/vl). The World Health Organization (WHO) produces recommendations that guide public health policy and, in 2003, WHO adopted the GRADE approach to guideline development. Initial anecdotal evidence suggested that WHO issues a large number of strong recommendations and particularly strong l/vl. Our research team evaluated the nature of WHO recommendations and conducted a qualitative study using interviews of guideline panel members. Key findings included: i) WHO makes a large proportion of recommendations as strong l/vl ii) many strong l/vl are inconsistent with GRADE guidance iii) reasons guideline panel members offered for strong l/vl included skepticism about the value of making conditional recommendations; political considerations; a high confidence in benefits despite formal ratings of low confidence; and long-standing practices, funding, and policy; iv) methodologist interviewees indicated panelists’ lack of commitment to conditional recommendations; a perceived tension between methodologists and panelists due to resistance to adhering to GRADE guidance; both financial and non-financial conflicts of interest among panel members as explanations of strong l/vl; and the need for greater clarity of, and support for, the role of methodologists as co-chairs of panels. The understanding of when and why strong l/vl are formulated at WHO is an important methodological issue that has implications not just for WHO, but for a wide range of guideline developers elsewhere. Our findings offer insights that may guide interventions to enhance trustworthiness of practice guidelines. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

No description available.

The phenomenon of HIV discordance has been in existence for a long time along with HIV. However, very limited attention has been given to HIV discordance. This phenomenological study aimed at gaining a deeper understanding on the lived experiences of sero-discordant couples in Botswana. Reports show that discordance in Botswana is around 17%. The main objectives of this study were to identify HIV discordant couples living in Botswana and explore their knowledge and understanding of the situation, explore the psychological, social and sexual experiences of the HIV discordant couples and determine its impact in their lives, and examine the meaning they attach to such experiences and challenges they face as well as their coping strategies. A qualitative phenomenological approach using face to face in-depth interviews was used to explore and describe meanings and experience as lived by the HIV discordant couples. The study sample consisted of forty-six (N=46) (twenty-nine (n=29) females and seventeen (n=17) males) participants selected using purposive sampling from three cities in Botswana. The Inclusion criteria were that participants should be aged 21 years and above; with no known diagnosis of mental illness; having been in a discordant relationship for at least six months at the time of data collection; living in Botswana and willing to participate in the study. The findings were that there are three forms of discordance, which are: discordant unaware which are couples who went into the relation unaware of their HIV status. Discordant aware; those who got into the relationship already knowing each other’s HIV status and discordantly discordant which are those with differing HIV status and differing motives of going into the relationship. These are the couples that conceal their status from one another. The results revealed intense emotional/psychological, sexual and social stresses as experienced by couples. HIV discordant goes through three phases of initial shock, conflict and resolution. The researcher recommends the OPEN DESK MODEL to be integrated in the health facilities to encompass the concept of a family or couple and as a unit. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

This study was an attempt to investigate the influence of socio-cultural factors on HIV prevention strategies among HIV discordant couples in Harare, Zimbabwe. HIV sero-discordance is a scenario whereby one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative. HIV sero-discordant couples are a unique and vulnerable population that encounters many peculiar challenges. When dealing with this population, researchers have to deal with contradictory ideas and perceptions presented by each partner making up the couples and also understand the relationship in the context of cultural values, norms and the dynamic of power and oppression. In addition to this, the concept of HIV sero-discordance and the frequency of its occurrence are poorly understood in most African communities. Despite the growing evidence of HIV discordance, HIV prevention strategies have largely focused on clinical aspects at the expense of socio-cultural issues that impact on HIV prevention strategies targeted at HIV sero- discordant couples. The study seeks to contribute to the conceptualization and design of intervention programs dealing with sero-discordance. The study is underpinned by the symbolic interactionism theory and was qualitative in design involving 13 HIV discordant couples in heterosexual relationships enrolled in the HIV Preventions Trials Network 052 Study (HPTN 052 Study) being undertaken by the University of Zimbabwe’s department of medicine. The study utilized 2 Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and 10 in-depth interviews (IDI) to collect data. The study’s findings indicate that discordant couples are in fact critical stakeholders in the uptake of all the available HIV prevention strategies. Failure to acknowledge this tenet is self-defeating as evidenced by the perception of viewing condom use within a marriage as humiliating for a woman. The study further noted that practitioners in the HIV prevention domain must guard against over-relying on the scientifically demonstrated efficacy of the strategies. The study recommends that HIV prevention strategies must be socially and culturally acceptable and embedded for them to be more efficacious. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS)