This thesis uses critical theory to examine animal–human relationships in the zhiguai tales [志怪小说], using Deleuze and Guattari as the theoretical framework alongside which I draw on aspects of queer theory and animal studies to think through several intersecting ‘othernesses,’ including the ‘queer,’ the ‘animal,’ and the ‘strange.’ Zhiguai is a well-known transliteration for “Tales of the Strange,” a genre of writing featuring ghosts, magical animal–human shapeshiftings, dreams that intervene in reality, and other supernatural characters and events. In this thesis, the strange comes to the forefront in the figure of the non/human – a two-fold figure made up of both ‘human’ and ‘animal.’ Throughout this thesis I appropriate the term ‘queerkind’ to foreground this ‘strange’ figure, which cannot be wholly generalized as ‘the animal,’ but is instead a magical creature most often existing between ‘human’ and ‘animal.’ The traditional scholarly approach to the zhiguai tales has been to understand the non/humans in these tales as purely allegorical representations of humans and human society. This thesis, however, does not only consider the figurative potential of non/human figures as questioning social and political issues, but also approaches them from the perspective of their distinct supernatural qualities, or the importance of “non/human” bodies in the stories, to complicate anthropocentric readings of the zhiguai tales. In this thesis, while broadly informed by queer theory and animal studies, I am specifically using Deleuze and Guattari’s theories of becoming, affect, and assemblage to argue for a rhizomatical reading and approach to the zhiguai tales, aimed at exploring the affects of ‘queerkind’ ‘animals.’ I therefore also use Noreen Giffney and Myra Hird’s concept of “queering the non/human” as a foundation which finds an affable conjunction with Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari’s theories, to provide a space for thinking about the fragile and porous boundary between human and animal in the zhiguai tales. I suggest that the blurring of the boundary between animal and human is crucial in shaping the non/human realm of zhiguai through the strange animal-human kinships and erotic encounters we discover there. I specifically argue that affects of these ‘queerkind’ are firstly within the text, as figures of boundary-crossing and ambiguity (humans/animals, alluring/dangerous, just/violent, strange/familiar); secondly beyond the text, affecting the reader through enchantment, anxiety, and titillation. I contextualize kinship and erotic relationships through the competing classical Chinese philosophies of naturalistic Daoism and humanistic Confucianism, which I read alongside Deleuze and queer theory.

The study investigates present-day public events and ceremonies in Cardiff, and how they reflect, illustrate or employ traditional forms of communal activity. It employs the theoretical and empirical approaches of folkloristics, which deals with the identification, documentation and analysis of traditional material and expressive forms. Unusually, the study considers activities of popular origin and habitual practices of institutional origin on the same basis. It is framed largely by practice theory both generally and as applied within folkloristics, but with appropriate recognition given to the significance of performance theory. The topic is addressed through the observation of a range of activities and their associated forms of public engagement. The study was limited to activities taking place outdoors in daylight within the city centre and Cardiff Bay, with most fieldwork between 2010 and 2013. Three themes are addressed: socialising, protesting and remembering. A few activities are largely unorganised, but the majority are organised by public authorities and/or commercial bodies or by members of the public acting together. Many events have been launched in the past decade, and have become established within a recognisable cultural calendar, albeit the concept of a present-day ‘ritual year’ cannot be justified. As the capital city of Wales, certain institutional activities associated with the state, i.e. United Kingdom, are enacted. In contrast, there are few formal celebrations of Cardiff or Wales as such. Informal expressions tend to illustrate the cultural norms of the mainly English-speaking south-east, but the increasing presence of Welsh-speakers is becoming more noticeable, although there are few regular events centred on the language.

No description available.

Le stress chronique apparait comme une cause importante de troubles de la fertilité chez la femelle. L’hypercorticisme (sécrétion excessive de glucocorticoïdes (GC) surrénaliens) induit par le stress agit sur l’axe de reproduction pour perturber le cycle œstrien et l’ovulation. Chez la femelle, l’axe de reproduction comprend 3 grandes structures : l’hypothalamus, l’hypophyse et l’ovaire. Pour bloquer l’activité de cet axe, les GC agissent via un récepteur spécifique (GR) pour induire une signalisation rapide non génomique et/ou une signalisation génomique tardive. Malgré de nombreuses recherches, les connaissances sur le mode d’action des GC sur cet axe restent fragmentaires. Au cours de ce travail de thèse, l’utilisation de différents modèles cellulaires et animaux nous a permis de mettre en évidence des mécanismes d’action des GC originaux sur l’axe hypothalamo-hypophysaire. Au niveau hypothalamique, nous avons décrit un nouveau dialogue entre les œstrogènes et les GC, qui favorise l’expression d’un neuropeptide hypothalamique inhibiteur, la dynorphine A. Ce neuropeptide pourrait ainsi participer au blocage des sécrétions pulsatiles de la GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone) hypothalamique et des gonadotropines hypophysaires indispensables à l’ovulation. Au niveau hypophysaire, nous avons mis en évidence une action paradoxale des GC sur les cellules gonadotropes. En absence de GnRH, les GC stimulent une nouvelle voie de signalisation non génomique, initiée à la membrane plasmique par un GR palmitoylé. Cette signalisation rapide implique la calcium/calmoduline kinase II (CaMKII) ainsi qu’une de ses cibles, la synapsine-Ia. Néanmoins, en présence de GnRH, les GC bloquent la signalisation induite par la GnRH, en empêchant l’activation de la CaMKII, pouvant être à l’origine de l’inhibition de la sécrétion de la gonadotropine LH (Luteinizing Hormone).De nouvelles recherches sont à poursuivre pour approfondir nos connaissances sur les différents modes d’action des GC pouvant être spécifiquement mis en jeu au sein de chacune des cellules, et à l’origine des effets variés des GC au sein de l’organisme. Une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires responsables de l’altération de la fertilité, en particulier durant un stress chronique, est essentielle pour envisager l’émergence de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques innovantes. / The chronic stress is an important cause of fertility disorders in female. Stress-induced hypercorticism (excessive secretion of glucocorticoids (GC)) acts on the reproductive axis to disrupt the estrous cycle and ovulation. In female, the reproductive axis comprises 3 structures: the hypothalamus, the pituitary and the ovary. To block the activity of this axis, GC act through a specific receptor (GR) to promote rapid non genomic and/or late genomic signaling. Despite extensive researches, knowledge on the mechanism of action of GC on this axis remains elusive. During my PhD, the use of different cellular and animal models allowed to highlight new mechanisms of GC actions on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. At the hypothalamic level, we described a new genomic cross-talk between estrogen and GC to promote the expression of an inhibitory hypothalamic neuropeptide, dynorphin A. This neuropeptide could then participate in disrupting the pulsatile secretion of GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone) and pituitary gonadotropins which are essential for ovulation. At the pituitary level, we demonstrated a paradoxical action of GC on gonadotrope cells. In the absence of GnRH, GC stimulate a new non genomic pathway initiated at the plasma membrane through a palmitoylated GR. This rapid signaling involves calcium/calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) as well as one of its targets, synapsin-Ia. Nevertheless, in the presence of GnRH, GC interfere with GnRH-induced signaling by preventing CaMKII activation, which may be responsible for the inhibition of LH (Luteinizing Hormone) release.Further researches are required to improve our knowledge on cell-specific mechanisms of action of GC that could explain the diversity of their activities. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for fertility dysfunction, especially during chronic stress, is essential for the development of new and innovative therapeutic targets.

Despite the late stage of modernity we live in, urban legends, an already prolific form of folklore, have become even more prone to retransmission within the internet. This thesis aims to understand why and how these contemporary folk tales are so widely believed and disseminated. Two crime legends that spread in Mexico City through email from 2005 to 2007 will be studied as narratives that address some of the most pressing problems as perceived by a given population, engaging human beings principally by helping to make sense of hostile environments, binding together human groups through fear and collective reassurance, and fulfilling a basic, atavistic compulsion in human beings towards conflict and its representations. Urban legends about ongoing crime seem to give momentary relief to the people engaging with them, but may ultimately aggravate the vision they hold of their surrounding reality and erode their context at large. Metaphorically, they can be compared to the use of cigarettes to alleviate stress. As a result, such urban legends may be regarded as negative and deluding stories leading a culture, as the title suggests, deeper into the 'labyrinth' it most fears. The thesis concludes that this ongoing narrative construction of social fears may thus indeed have detrimental consequences, such as lessening the living standards of whole communities and deteriorating their social fabric.

Recent efforts in science education have focused on making the curriculum more relevant. Many discourses maintain that relevance improves the teaching and learning of science. This study attempted to identify a relationship between content that learners thought was relevant to them and how they actually performed in the examination. An evaluation was also done to determine whether there was a gender difference in choices regarding relevant content, and whether gender differences existed in the performances of learners in the year-end examination. The study involved forty-six learners from a low socio-economic school. Data from questionnaires and examination scripts were statistically analysed to determine if there was any correlation between relevance and performance. Results showed firstly that the most relevant topics were equation of motion and inorganic chemistry, with vectors being least relevant; secondly that there was no correlation between what learners regarded as relevant and how they actually performed in relation to content they identified as relevant; thirdly that there was no gender difference in performance in physical science, with regard to the year-end examination and the trend of boys favoring physics and girls preferring chemistry identified in other research, was shown to be true for these learners as well.

Submitted by Caroline Xavier (caroline.xavier@pucrs.br) on 2017-07-26T12:28:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TES_MARCOS_WERNER_COMPLETO.pdf: 4983787 bytes, checksum: c225e563acba72bee8aa18ccf79172cd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-26T12:28:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TES_MARCOS_WERNER_COMPLETO.pdf: 4983787 bytes, checksum: c225e563acba72bee8aa18ccf79172cd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-26 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / This paper aims to elaborate and develop an elastomeric compound able to be used in an industrial complex system as a grain harvester machine in order to reduce the grain breakage (seed) and/or mechanical damage in self-propelled harvesters through its energy absorption capabilities, energy produced by the material loading and transportation within the machine system. The compound was developed with Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer (EPDM) and natural rubber (NR), loaded with silica (S), carbon black (CB) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in predefined proportions. From the evaluated compounds, three samples were chosen based on tear resistance, abrasion resistance and rubber hardness tests results, and then shaped in its original format (metallic geometry) for performance field tests and a more detailed material analysis. Field tests were done in two steps, one material assessment, and another one to assess the material performance in normal harvest conditions in two different crops (edible beans and soybeans), these tests also were used to evaluate the harvested grain quality in relation to the rubber compound used for harvesting and, therefore, the conclusions attained from the material usage. At the end of the tests, a significant improvement in grain quality was evidenced, and the differences in the compositions were noticed in the laboratory tests, and the application was the most critical to the materials in terms of resistance. / Este trabalho tem por objetivo elaborar e desenvolver uma composi??o elastom?rica apta a ser aplicada no sistema industrial de uma m?quina colheitadeira de gr?o visando reduzir a quebra de gr?o (semente) e ou dano mec?nico em colhedoras automotrizes atrav?s da sua capacidade de absor??o de energia, gerada pelo carregamento do trilhamento de material no sistema da m?quina. Foi trabalhado com matrizes de Etileno-Propileno-Dieno (EPDM) e borracha natural (NR), carregadas com s?lica (S), negro de fumo (CB) e nanotubos de carbono de paredes m?ltiplas (MWCNT) em propor??es predefinidas. A partir das composi??es analisadas, foram escolhidas tr?s formula??es com base nos resultados de resist?ncia ao rasgamento, resist?ncia ? abras?o e dureza, e ent?o elaboradas em seu formato original (geometria met?lica) para testes de desempenho em campo e an?lises mais detalhadas do material. Os testes de campo foram elaborados em duas etapas, uma de avalia??o do material em si, e outra para avaliar a performance do material em condi??es normais de colheita em duas culturas diferentes (feij?o e soja), onde a partir do mesmo, foi mensurada qualidade da semente colhida em rela??o ao material proposto, e obtidas as conclus?es da utiliza??o do mesmo. Ao final do teste foi evidenciada uma melhora significativa na qualidade de gr?o, e percebida as diferen?as nas composi??es nos ensaios laboratoriais, e a aplica??o foi a que exigiu mais dos materiais em termos de resist?ncia.

The thesis investigates both how and why many of the best post-war poets have moved back to use myth and legend just when they seemed finally discredited. Chapter One briefly discusses the various scholarly theories of myth, and sharpens the critical terminology to be employed. It describes the personal myth-systems of Yeats, Graves and Lawrence and, conversely, the four systems most generally used by modern poets. The following four chapters study, in turn, four major approaches to the use of myth in poetry. Chapter 2 shows how Seamus Heaney' s work employs legend as archetype; the history of Ulster being erected as a timeless metaphor to illuminate the present Troubles. Chapter Three takes the poetry of Geoffrey Hill as an example of the development of newly created legend, culminating with that centred on King Offa of Mercia. Chapter Four examines Thom Gunn' s use of myth as archetype, showing how the timeless can be given contemporary force, either through existential philosophy or Californian psychedelia. Chapter Five explores Ted Hughes' creation of a new myth, a new reality, the crowning achievement. Chapter Six discusses why myth is still relevant, distinguishing its careful adoption into four modern stylistic traditions and its four major modes of relevance. Legend is seen as a form of place, myth as a form of time, and the best new poetry is recognised as utilizing both, a surprise invocation of the White Goddess.

This research looks at the textuality of hiplife – the Ghanaian version of hip hop – by investigating the hiplife discursive and non discursive practices. The thesis is that hiplife is a major platform for Ghanaian youth cultural expression. I choose the qualitative methodology because it meets the subtle demand of an enquiry on expressive culture like hiplife. Using focus group discussion, interviews and participant observation to collect data from the whole country with emphasis on the four main cities, the research analyses transcribed data and comes up with various findings. These include the fact that hiplife started with the quest of Ghanaian youth for a syncretic culture, the combination of local and foreign cultures, mediated by DJs, artistes and sites. It also reveals that it is the rhythm of the Akan drum language that provides the rhythmic complexion of hiplife. Again, as a platform for youth expression, hiplife expresses new values – new social truths, a common destiny and protest against hegemony. Furthermore, hiplife appropriates the “looking glass” concept to circulate its cultural expression and ideologies in and out of Ghana. Such a visibility is also taken advantage of by the Ghanaian women to address their gender concerns.

名古屋大学博士学位論文 学位の種類 : 博士(医学)(課程) 学位授与年月日:平成25年3月25日 原真由氏の博士論文として提出された