Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-06, Section: A, page: 2299. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 232-240).

Thesis (M.S.V.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-140). / Composition, in time and space is discussed as a general problem in graphics, music, film/video, landscape architecture and architecture. This discussion serves to introduce the primary sources which motivate the design of the labyrinth. These sources contribute to an interest in the definition of paths, pattern, and networks. This interest leads to the comparison between sequential composition and random access composition. The exploration of nonlinear composition is a primary motivation in the design and the construction of the labyrinth. The opposition between the romantic and classical (Rubenistes and Poussinistes) representation of space and treatment of light in Western painting is examined. The rational articulation of space is contrasted to the indefinite, 'irrational' depiction: the comprehensible with the incomprehensible. A brief survey of the present day and historical forms of labyrinths is followed by a discussion of the more salient artistic contributions, and then with a discussion of the labyrinth as a popular icon in media and in video games. The way in which the eye traces a composition in painting is compared to the path a stroller might take across a real landscape. The problem is the same for the graphic artist, the architect and the composer: how to break up space and time in order to maximize the interest in and the comprehension of the layout, environment or composition . The nature of this perception is explored in examples taken from graphic design, architecture, painting, urban landscaping, the networks of the Sewers of Paris, the catacombs, the configuration of paths and walkways, modular design and the role of change and variation in generating intrinsic interest in each. The Chinese Garden, recent playground design as "learning environments", the M.I.T. Architectural design studios and other examples are mentioned to show the convergence of a variety of intentions. Change ringing and serial music show too the interest in the use of combinatorial techniques to generate unity and variety. This interest in variation is shown to be an essential part of learning and play. In literature the metaphor of the labyrinth again contrasts the opposition between the rational and the irrational. Forms in nature, mathematical proportion and series, Artificial Intelligence, maze solving and generating algorithms are suggested as sources for design. The Thesis Labyrinth is discussed in detail as well as the formulations that led to it. Future speculations concerning the labyrinth as a sonic installation occupy the final section and the thesis concludes with Greg Bright's Caveat. / by Gregory Patrick Garvey. / M.S.V.S.

Thesis (M.L.A.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Not available / text

Thesis (M.A.)--Villanova University, 2008. / English Dept. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. A.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [61]-62).

This thesis cover two separate topics related to the function of the mammalian inner ear. Acoustic sensitivity of the vestibular system. Data are presented showing facilitation of the auditory startle response by tones outside the range of the mouse cochlea. The sensation of these low frequency tones is demonstrated to be mediated via the acoustically sensitive sacculus of the vestibular system by data collected from Nox3-/- mice. These mice lack the otoconia of the vestibular system and, unlike the wild-type mice, only show facilitation to tones within the range of the mouse cochlea, and not in response to tones <4 kHz. The mechanical properties of the tectorial membrane (TM). The mechanical properties of the TM are investigated using a laser interferometer-based method for tracking the longitudinal propagation of a radially shearing travelling wave in segments of TM isolated from the basal and apical regions of the wild-type cochlea. The properties of these travelling waves (wave propagation velocity and wave amplitude decay) are tracked over a range of stimulus frequencies (1-20 kHz). The viscoelastic properties, shear storage modulus (G') and shear viscosity (η), are estimated over this frequency range and are found to be lower in the apical TM segments compared to the basal TM segments, indicating the apical region of the TM is less stiff than the basal region. These data are compared to data collected from TM segments isolated from the basal cochlear region of three mutant groups, each lacking expression of TM-specific proteins; α-tectorin (TectaY1870C/+), β-tectorin (Tectb-/-) and otoancorin (OtoaEGFP/EGFP), using the same laser interferometer-based method. The viscoelastic properties are estimated for each of the mutants and indicate varying degrees of loss of structural integrity in their respective TM segments. Reflective difference between the wild-types and mutants are also observed and compared.

Alpha- and beta-tectorin (Tecta and Tectb) are major non-collagenous components of the tectorial membrane (TM). The presence of a zona pellucida (ZP) domain in both tectorins suggests that Tecta and Tectb can form hetero- or homopolymers. It is unclear, however, how these proteins assemble to form the TM matrix. The mechanisms of apical targeting, secretion and processing of the tectorins are also unexplored. I used fluorescently-tagged tectorin constructs for stable transfection into polarised epithelial MDCK cells or transient expression in mouse cochlear cultures to develop an in vitro model of TM matrix assembly. Significant amounts of matrix were not observed with stable tectorin expression in monolayer cultures of MDCK cells. In contrast, I observed substantial amounts of dense extracellular matrix on the apical surfaces of outgrowth zone cells when cochlear cultures were transiently transfected with either Tecta or Tectb. When ectopically expressed in hair cells, Tecta and Tectb locate to the distal tips of the hair bundle. To study the role of the inner-ear protein Ceacam16 in hearing, we generated a Ceacam16 functional null mouse model. The Ceacam16 gene was inactivated by targeted replacement of exons 2-5 with the bacterial lacZ gene. β-gal staining I performed reveals that Ceacam16 is expressed in the epithelial cells of the spiral limbus and inner sulcus, and in both the pillar cells and Deiter's cells. I first detected the presence of Ceacam16 in the TM at P12, four days before the defined striated-sheet matrix is observed. Transmission electron microscopy reveals a complete loss of striated-sheet matrix in Ceacam16 null mice in comparison to the wild-type. The results of this thesis suggest neonatal mouse cochlear cultures as a model for studying tectorin-based extracellular matrix production and also reveal that Ceacam16 is required for normal formation and/or maintenance of striated-sheet matrix.

Thesis (M.A.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2007. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Michael Sexson. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-90).