The Lil’ Bastard’s Guide to Love is a compilation of poems I have written during two years of study in the creative writing program at the University of Texas. These poems mostly concern themselves with love. They also deal with the inadequacies of naming and language, and coming to terms with the fact that sometimes the best thing you can do is to not ruin everything with words. Words will disappoint you sometimes, but they are necessary, so at least try to be square with people if you absolutely must say something. As George Carlin put it, “You can't be afraid of words that speak the truth. I don't like words that hide the truth. I don't like words that conceal reality. I don't like euphemisms or euphemistic language. And American English is loaded with euphemisms.” / text

Thesis (master's)--Maʻhad al-ʻĀlī lil-Ṣiḥāfah, Cairo. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-179).

Les nanostructures périodiques jouent un rôle important dans le domaine des nanotechnologies, en particulier dans le contrôle des photons. Bien qu'il existe de nombreuses techniques d'usage général pour la fabrication et la simulation optique, nous avons développé une technique de fabrication sur mesure et une méthode de simulation optiques pour les structures périodiques pour accélérer le prototypage à l’échelle du laboratoire et la conception optique. Dans la première partie de cette thèse, nous décrivons une technique lithographique nommée « Laser Interference Lithography » (LIL) à faible coût pour la fabrication de nanostructures périodiques. La technique LIL est combinée avec gravure sèche, gravure humide et technique de gravure électrochimique pour réaliser, respectivement, des trous cylindriques, des pyramides inversées et des réseaux taux de pores bi-périodiques à facteur d’aspect élevé sur le substrat à base de silicium. Les modèles unidimensionnels sur des substrats en verre sont également utilisés comme nanofiltres dans la réalisation de la puce de pré-concentration à faible coût. Dans la deuxième partie, nous décrivons d'abord une méthode de calcul électromagnétique rigoureuse Rigorous Coupled-Wave Analysis (RCWA) conçu pour les structures périodiques. Une description détaillée est donnée pour expliquer la méthode numérique. Ensuite, nous combinons la méthode RCWA et une nouvelle approche proposée de la conception des modèles pseudo-désordonnée pour améliorer le piégeage des photons. A titre d'exemple, nous démontrons que, en ajoutant des structures désordonnées à petite échelle sur des arrangements périodiques à grande échelle, la performance quant à l’absorption des couches minces de silicium peut être grandement améliorée. / Periodic nanostructures play an important role in the domain of nanotechnology, especially in photon control. While there exist many general purpose techniques for fabrication and optical simulation, we show tailored fabrication and optical simulation methods for periodic structures to accelerate lab-scale prototyping and optical design. In the first part of this dissertation, we describe a low-cost lithographic technique named Laser Interference Lithography (LIL) for fabricating periodic nanostructures. LIL technique is combined with dry-etching, wet-etching and electrochemical etching technique to realize, respectively, cylindrical holes, inverted pyramids and high aspect ratio pore arrays on silicon based substrate. The one-dimensional patterns on glass substrates are also used as nanofilters in realizing low-cost preconcentration chip. In the second part, we first describe Rigorous Coupled-Wave Analysis (RCWA), a rigorous electromagnetic calculation method designed for periodic structures. A detailed derivation is given to explain the numerical method. Then, we combine the RCWA method and a new proposed pseudo-disordered patterns design approach to investigate photon control. As an example, we demonstrate that by adding ‘appropriate’ engineered fine stripes to each long period the absorption performance of thin silicon slab can be largely enhanced.

The light-harvesting like (LiL) proteins are a widely spread group of proteins within photosynthetic organisms. They are membrane proteins composed of one to four transmembrane helices and – in homology to the light-harvesting complexes of algae and higher plants – at least one of these transmembrane helices contains the chlorophyll a/b-binding (CAB) domain. Opposite to the light-harvesting antenna complexes, LiL proteins are stress induced and they have been shown to be involved in protection of the photosynthetic apparatus. The work presented in this thesis is focused on understanding the function of one-helical LiL proteins of the cryptophyte algae Guillardia theta and the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. G. theta contains two genes encoding LiL proteins, one is localized in the plastid (hlipP), the other in the nucleomorph (HlipNm). Both genes are expressed in normal growth condition, but they are not induced by high light. Immunostaining indicated that HlipNm is translated, but not light-induced. These proteins therefore seem not to be involved in photoprotective mechanisms of G. theta. In the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 four one-helical LiL proteins were identified, they are called Small CAB-like Proteins (SCPs); a fifth LiL (ScpA) is fused with the ferrochelatase (FC), an enzyme involved in the heme synthesis. Our analysis revealed that SCPs are involved in the de novo assembly/repair cycle of Photosystem II, stabilizing the chlorophyll pigments at their protein scaffold. The in vitro characterization of the recombinant FC showed that ScpA is involved in the product-release of the catalytic domain of the enzyme, thereby regulating substrate availability for chlorophyll- or heme- biosynthesis. Finally, using a transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches, I was able to show that deletion of all SCP genes has profound impact on the cell organization and metabolism. In SCP-depleted cells, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is increased, while the amount of Photosystem II per cell volume is decreased, causing a macronutrient-deficient phenotype. Therefore, SCPs are important for stress protection and help to maintain a metabolic equilibrium within the cell.

Recent events suggest Islamism is a relatively new trend; however, Islamist organizations have functioned in the Middle East as entrenched social movements, religious groups, and even political parties since the onset of the 20th century. Moreover, the portrayal of these organizations as stagnant or reified is inaccurate; these groups often display both verbal and behavioural signs of tactical, strategic, and in some cases, ideological change over time. This study explores if and how Islamist organizations change their platforms and pattern of action in the context of the state-led liberalization (and its aftermath) that swept the Middle East in the 1970s and 80s. This period of time is quite revealing with respect to state-Islamist relations due to economic constraints compelling the state to negotiate with domestic social forces that it would have otherwise repressed. In many of these phases of controlled liberalization, the state and prominent Islamist groups entered into an informal 'pact', which delineated the demands, promises, and boundaries involved in this process of 'opening'. This study suggests that it is not solely the violent or non-violent approach by the state to these groups that determines whether Islamists employ conflictive or cooperative patterns of action. Instead, this study hypothesizes that it is the convergence or divergence of the state from the 'pact' that determines the Islamist response; this allows us to better understand Islamist activity that seems 'unexpectedly' cooperative or conflictive vis-a-vis the state. The case studies of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan and Egypt, and the Front Islamique du Salut in Algeria allow for a comparative exploration of this phenomenon.

Thèse (M.A.) -- Université Laval, 1997. / Bibliogr.: f. 122-127. Publié aussi en version électronique.

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<p>Post-operative sore throat is a common minor complication following general anaesthesia via endotracheal intubation. Pharyngeal packing has often been implicated in this minor anaesthetic complication. In maxillo-facial and oral surgery, two types of throat packs are commonly used namely ribbon gauze and tampons. In order to establish the efficacy of these two types of throat packs a prospective, randomised, clinical study was conducted. The objectives of the study were threefold: to investigate the effect of the two different types of throat packs on the incidence of post-operative sore throat, to determine the quality of seal provided by the two different types of throat packs and finally, to formulate a faculty protocol. The study consisted of 70 patients undergoing third molar surgery. All the patients were intubated via endotracheal intubation and had a throat pack placed. Patients were also randomly selected and allocated to two groups. One group had ribbon gauze while the other group had a tampon as a throat pack. The study reflected no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative sore throat between the two groups. It was interesting to note that the symptoms of sore throat resolved quicker with the use of tampons. On the other hand, the ribbon gauze provided a better pharyngeal seal.</p>

Les propietats insecticides d’una sèrie d’esters d’al•lil va ésser avaluada en diferents insectes mitjançant diferents modes d’aplicació. L’acció per aplicació tòpica va variar en funció de l’ester d’al•lil aplicat. El cinamat i el naftoat d’al•lil van ser els compostos més actius front a ous i larves neonates de C. pomonella, G. molesta i L. botrana, mentre que el salicilat d’al•lil no va produir mortalitat a la major dosi assajada (10 mg/mL). El cinamat d’al•lil va ser l’únic ester actiu per aplicació tòpica en adults de A. pisum, mentre que tots els esters d’al•lil testatsvan ser actius en adults de T. castaneum. Els esters d’al•lil assajats van produir una pèrdua de la viabilitat cel•lular en les línees cel•lulars d’insectes quan va èsser mesurda mitjançant dos metodologies diferents (MTT i Blau de tripà), degut a una disrupció de les membranes cel•lulars. El cinamat d’al•lil va ser el compost més actiu i les cèl•lules procedents de l’aparell digestiu de Choristoneura fumiferana (Lepidòpter) les més sensibles. L’acció insecticida per ingestió va ser confirmada en larves de S. littoralis i C. pomonella, i en nimfes de A. pisum, senyalant l’aparell digestiu com a principal punt d’acció dels esters d’al•lil. Els corresponents àcids i dicloropropilesters van mostrar una menor o igual acció insecticida que els corresponents esters d’al•lil, deguda també, a una acció en la membrana cel•lular. Les diferències en l’acció dels compostos seria deguda a diferències en les propietats lipofíliques dels compostos i la seva interacció amb les membranes cel•lulars. Pel que fa a l’efecte dels esters d’al•lil en la comunicació química dels insectes, aquesta va tenir lloc en T. castaneum però no en A. pisum, el que es podria utilitzar per a mantenir els productes enmagatzemats lliures de T. castaneum. Pel que fa a C. pomonella i a L. botrana, tots els esters d’al•lil assajats van produir una resposta en les antenes dels mascles de C. pomonella, però tan sols el cinamat d’al•lil la va provocar en les femelles de C. pomonella i en mascles i femelles de L. botrana. Aquesta acció no es va veure reflexada en un increment de l’atracció de mascles cap a fonts amb l’ester d’al•lil i feromona en assajos en túnel de vent, però si en l’atracció de femelles. Aquest fet podria utilitzar-se per a incrementar el nombre de captures de femelles en trampes de feromona. Aquests resultats suggereixen un paper dels esters d’al•lil en el control de plagues, especialment del cinamat d’al•lil. / La acción insecticida de varios esteres de alilo fue testada en diversos insectos y mediante distintos modos de aplicación. La actividad por aplicación tópica varió en función del éster de alilo. El cinamato de alilo y el naftoato de alilo fueros los compuestos más activos en huevos y larvas neonatas de C. pomonella, G. molesta y L. botrana, mientras que el salicilato de alilo no produjo mortalidad a la dosis más alta testada (10 mg/mL). El cinamato de alilo fue el único éster activo por aplicación tópica en A. pisum mientras que todos los esteres testados lo fueron para T. castaneum. Los esteres de alilo estudiados produjeron pérdida de viabilidad celular en todas las líneas celulares de insectos cuando dicha viabilidad fue analizada mediante dos metodologías distintas (MTT y Azul de Tripano), y siendo ésta debida a la disrupción de la membrana celular. El cinamato de alilo fue el producto más activo, y las células del aparato digestivo de Choristoneura fumiferana (Lepidoptera) las más sensibles. La acción insecticida por ingestión en larvas de S. littoralis y C. pomonella, y en ninfas de A. pisum, fue confirmada y el aparato digestivo fue señalado como principal punto de acción de los esteres de alilo. Los correspondientes ácidos y dicloropropilesteres presentaron una menor o igual acción insecticida que los esteres de alilo siendo dicha acción también debida a un efecto en la membrana celular. Las diferencias en la acción de los distintos compuestos podrían ser debidas a diferencias en las propiedades lipofílicas de los compuestos y su interacción con las membranas celulares. Los esteres de alilo produjeron un efecto en la comunicación química de T. castaneum pero no en A. pisum, lo que podría utilizarse para mantener los productos almacenados libres de T. castaneum. En cuanto a C. pomonella y L. botrana, todos los esteres de alilo probados produjeron una respuesta en las antenas de los machos de C. pomonella, mientras que tan solo el cinamato de alilo la produjo en las antenas de hembras de C. pomonella y en machos y hembras de L. botrana. Esta respuesta no se tradujo en un aumento de la atracción de machos hacia cebos con mezclas de ester de alilo y feromona en ensayos de túnel de viento, pero si aumentó el número de hembras atraídas. Este hecho podría utilizarse par incrementar el número de hembras capturadas en trampas de feromona. Estos resultados, sugieren el papel de los esteres de alilo en el control de plagas, especialmente del cinamato de alilo.

<p>Post-operative sore throat is a common minor complication following general anaesthesia via endotracheal intubation. Pharyngeal packing has often been implicated in this minor anaesthetic complication. In maxillo-facial and oral surgery, two types of throat packs are commonly used namely ribbon gauze and tampons. In order to establish the efficacy of these two types of throat packs a prospective, randomised, clinical study was conducted. The objectives of the study were threefold: to investigate the effect of the two different types of throat packs on the incidence of post-operative sore throat, to determine the quality of seal provided by the two different types of throat packs and finally, to formulate a faculty protocol. The study consisted of 70 patients undergoing third molar surgery. All the patients were intubated via endotracheal intubation and had a throat pack placed. Patients were also randomly selected and allocated to two groups. One group had ribbon gauze while the other group had a tampon as a throat pack. The study reflected no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative sore throat between the two groups. It was interesting to note that the symptoms of sore throat resolved quicker with the use of tampons. On the other hand, the ribbon gauze provided a better pharyngeal seal.</p>