No description available.

The tumor suppressor Breast Cancer Susceptibility Protein 1 (BRCA1) protects our cells from genomic instability in part by facilitating the efficient repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Other functions of BRCA1 include transcriptional regulation, apoptosis, DNA damage signaling, chromatin remodeling and protein ubiquitination. The major contribution of BRCA1 to maintaining genomic stability is thought to be through its role in DNA repair. BRCA1 promotes the error-free repair of double-strand breaks by homologous recombination, and is also implicated in the regulation of non-homologous end joining repair. Here we investigated the role of BRCA1 in maintaining the fidelity of non-homologous end joining repair following a double-strand break. We also examined the frequency of microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) and the fidelity of double-strand break repair relative to BRCA1 protein levels in both control and tumorigenic breast epithelial cells. In addition to altered BRCA1 protein levels, we tested the effects of cellular exposure to mirin, an inhibitor of Meiotic recombination enzyme 11 (Mre11) 3' to 5' exonuclease activity. Knockdown or loss of BRCA1 protein resulted in an increased frequency of overall plasmid DNA repair mutagenesis and MMEJ following a double-strand break. Inhibition of Mre11 exonuclease activity with mirin significantly decreased the occurrence of MMEJ, but did not considerably affect the overall mutagenic frequency of plasmid double-strand break repair, although some of our data indicate that the size of sequence deletions may be reduced by mirin inhibition. The results suggest that BRCA1 protects DNA from mutagenesis during non-homologous double strand break repair in plasmid-based assays. The increased frequency of double-strand break mutagenesis and MMEJ repair in the absence of BRCA1 suggests a potential mechanism for carcinogenesis.

The purpose of this project is to bring to light three concert works by Theodor Albin Findeisen (1881-1936), namely Nixenreigen, Elegie, and Romantische Suite, and prepare them for use by modern double bassists. Save for Findeisen's compositions, which are largely out of print and unknown, the Late Romantic Austro-German school of composition is not represented in the double bass concert repertory. To establish the historical significance of Findeisen's concert works for double bass, this document includes background information on the composer and his work. This research culminates in the creation of newly arranged, transposed, transcribed, and edited performance editions that are informed by Findeisen's methodology and by modern performance techniques. This document addresses editorial decisions in creating these new editions.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Abstract <br /> This thesis deals with the numerical investigation of the upper section of a building-integrated photovoltaic/thermal double-fa??ade. The upper section consists of an airflow window with a between-the-panes roller blind. The purpose of this thesis is to develop and validate a numerical model in order to optimize the design of the system. The lower section, which consists of building-integrated photovoltaics, has already been modelled at Concordia University. The results from the lower section will be used as inputs to the upper section. <br /><br /> The validation of the model was carried out in three stages. In the first stage, the model was validated for forced convection between parallel plates using analytical data as benchmarks. In the second stage, a radiation analysis was performed for single, double and triple-glazed closed system with natural convection only. In the third and final validation stage, experimental data gathered from the Solar Lab at Concordia University was compared to the numerical model. The model included the effects of radiation for an open system with forced convection and a between-the-panes roller blind. For all three stages of validation, the results from the model were in excellent agreement with the benchmarking data. <br /><br /> Once the model was validated, a parametric analysis was used to determine the effects of varying key model parameters. The outlet temperature, the useful energy gain, and the net energy gain of the system were plotted as a function of inlet velocity. It was concluded that as the flow rate through the cavity was increased, the air temperature at the outlet approached that of the outdoor ambient air. By computing the heat generated from advection as well as the total losses from the system, including the heat lost from the indoor environment as well as the power consumed by the fan, the net useful heat gain of the system was calculated as a function of insolation level. Operating points (of the fan) for the upper section were therefore determined as functions of insolation level. A second order polynomial equation provided an excellent fit to the data and could therefore be used to determine the ideal operating point of the upper section for any insolation level.

No description available.