An examination of the geographic and socioeconomic spaces of ethnic groups in Toronto a core-periphery perspective

The main interest of this study is the urban ethnic mosaic within the context of the core-periphery concept: its historical and spatial expressions of ethnic groups in Toronto. The study will focus on the socioeconomic contrasts—income, education, and occupation—between the major ethnic group and the subgroups. Two dimensions, those of ethnic mobility and socioeconomic characteristics, have been set up to inquire into geographic changes in ethnic groups over time and into the degree of socioeconomic polarity between the ethnic groups at one time. The basic data sources relevant to this study are both published and unpublished Canadian census data, from 1951 to 1976. It was found that the “urban ethnic mosaic” is still vertical in the sense that socioeconomic differences are closely linked to ethnicity. Also, traditional ethnic segregation in the city core tends to be perpetuated in the suburbs. Clearly the persistence of ethnic dimensions over time in a metropolitan structure reflects a complicated integration process of spatial, social and ideological elements

Effects of practice variability on learning of relaxed phonation in vocally hyperfunctional speakers

Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 2008.Also available in print.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 27-30).A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, June 30, 2008.published_or_final_versionSpeech and Hearing SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science

Overexpression, purification and characterization of potential iron-trafficking proteins from a phenol-degrading pseudomonad

Frataxin is a small protein implicated in intracellular and mitochondrial iron trafficking. Some studies of frataxin have suggested that it can act as an iron donor for iron-sulfur cluster assembly and heme assembly. We are interested in iron-binding proteins involved in phenol degradation by Pseudomonas sp. strain CF600, and the possible involvement of frataxin and other proteins in their assembly. One of the goals of this research was to overexpress, purify, and to characterize the stability, metal iron binding properties, and subunit structure of CyaY, the frataxin homologue from Pseudomonas sp. strain CF600. CyaY was successfully overexpressed and CyaY purified to homogeneity using Fast-Flow DEAE-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-300HR Gel Filtration, and High-Performance Phenyl Sepharose chromatographies. Analytical ultracentrifugation studies indicated that CyaY exists mainly as a monomer and that it does not aggregate in the presence of Fe(II). Isothermal titration calorimetry results were consistent with the binding of 1 Fe(II) or 1 Mn(II) per monomer of CyaY, with Fe(II) binding with a higher affinity. These and other results were similar to the reported iron-binding properties of CyaY from E. coli . Additional studies showed that CyaY significantly retarded oxidation of Fe(II), helping to keep it available for incorporation into other proteins. A second goal was to overexpress and purify a putative iron-sulfur protein (CyaZ) that is encoded in the Pseudomonas putida genome adjacent to CyaY. This was successfully accomplished, and the resulting preparation appears to contain an iron-sulfur cluster. As was demonstrated for CyaY, CyaZ significantly retarded oxidation of Fe(II) in the presence of both proteins. CyaY and CyaZ are currently being tested for their ability to affect assembly of iron-containing proteins involved in phenol degradatio

Composing race and nation: intercultural music and postcolonial identities in Malaysia and Singapore

This thesis examines the process of hybridity in intercultural music and its deployment as sites for the politics of identity, of both racial and national, in a cross-cultural context in contemporary Malaysia and Singapore. To demonstrate this process, this thesis analyses four pieces of contemporary music written for mixed and vocal ensembles by composers in Malaysia and Singapore. These four case studies reflect the differences in identity formation by different races, and varying notions of belonging and not-belonging. The 'speaking' positions of the composers (with regard to issues of majority/minority, class and race) are the essential starting points for the inference of any identity construction. The analyses reveal that new identities or new interpretations of racial identities are performatively constructed through the citations of(and 'play' on)fixities and such established norms. To successfully argue my case, I use Bakhtin's (1981) concept of intentional hybridity and dialogism to explain the process of inter-culturalism. In polyglossic societies such as Malaysia and Singapore, hybridity and dialogism naturally take place in the day-to-day interactions between races. Within the framework of a composition, differences(of cultures)are not smoothed over but are allowed to come up against each other, to, virtually, fight it out. This is demonstrated in my analysis of the musical works: the ways in which different textures, discordant timbre and tuning systems, performance styles and assortments of rhythms are incongruously juxtaposed to each other. This thesis also examines these compositions within their performance contexts to better apprehend the process of identification, arguing that it is the concerted effort of composer, performer and audience that produce meaning

BRANDS ARE MY LIFE, IT'S IN MY BLOOD: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF BRAND CONSUMPTION ON FACEBOOK FOR THE EXPRESSION OF IDENTITY

This research predominantly surrounds three crucial tenets of the postmodern consumer: the consumption of brands, identity formation and the use of social networking sites (SNSs). Since these three issues combined present an unexplored area, this empirical two-part study contributing to identity theory and being conducive to industry explores the use of Facebook and brand consumption for the expression of one’s identity. The study is based on the literature in the uses and gratifications theory, identity theory and brand symbolism. In this study, a conceptual framework is proposed to understand the rationales of consuming brands on Facebook and how their views on their congruency of brands determine their construction of identity. The qualitative interpretative research enabled the interrelated issues being explored by thematically analysing 27 interviews, from social networking site (SNS) users perspective and consultancy perspective. Findings indicated that Facebook is used to serve many user gratifications, which can resonate from cognitive and learning, social, personal or hedonistic reasons. Users associate with brands that are of significance to them, by perceiving high brand congruency with their image of self-concept. The ‘ideal self’ is portrayed more succinctly than the ‘actual self’ and the ‘social self’ holds more saliency than the presentation of the individual within this social platform. All the considerations of the possible selves and the exhibition of identity on such a platform create tensions with the antitheses of users various front and back stage identities. Managerial implications reveal industry experience and recommendations to brands in approaching social media to engage with users

Re-imagining ‘openness’ in Review of Education : Methodological standards, open science, and nurturing the next generation of researchers

Peer reviewe

Comparison of darbepoetin alfa dosed weekly (QW) vs. extended dosing schedule (EDS) in the treatment of anemia in patients receiving multicycle chemotherapy in a randomized, phase 2, open-label trial

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) is responsive to treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) such as darbepoetin alfa. Administration of ESAs on a synchronous schedule with chemotherapy administration could benefit patients by reducing clinic visits and potentially enhancing on-time chemotherapy delivery. METHODS: This phase 2, 25-week, open-label study evaluated the noninferiority of darbepoetin alfa administered weekly vs. as an extended dosing schedule (every 2 or 3 weeks) in patients with CIA. Patients were randomized 1:1 to an extended dosing schedule (EDS: darbepoetin alfa 300 μg Q2W if chemotherapy was QW, Q2W, or Q4W or darbepoetin alfa 500 μg Q3W if chemotherapy was Q3W) or weekly (150 μg QW regardless of chemotherapy schedule). Stratification factors included chemotherapy cycle length, screening hemoglobin (<10 g/dL vs. ≥10 g/dL), and tumor type (lung/gynecological vs. other nonmyeloid malignancies). The primary endpoint was change in hemoglobin from baseline to Week 13. RESULTS: Seven hundred fifty-two patients (374 QW patients; 378 EDS patients) received ≥1 dose of darbepoetin alfa and were included in the analysis. Demographics and disease state were similar between groups. Seventy-one percent of patients in the EDS group and 76% in the QW group achieved the target hemoglobin of ≥11.0 g/dL. There was a minimal difference in the primary endpoint of mean change in hemoglobin (baseline to Week 13) between the QW and the EDS groups (-0.04 g/dL; 95% confidence interval: -0.26, 0.17 g/dL). The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval was less than the prespecified limit of <0.75 g/dL, supporting noninferiority of the EDS dosing schedule. Reported adverse events were similar between groups. A slight increase in transfusions was reported in the QW group. CONCLUSION: Darbepoetin alfa, when administered synchronously with chemotherapy, on an EDS appears to be similarly efficacious to darbepoetin alfa weekly dosing with no unexpected adverse events. This study provides prospective data on how multiple dosing regimens available with darbepoetin alfa can be synchronized with chemotherapy administered across a range of dosing schedules. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00144131