McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1966

The mamalian visual system contains a limited number of receptors, which project to a limited number of cells in the visual cortex. This projection provides a point-to-point representation of the retinal stimulation onto the visual cortex. Data reported by Marshall and Talbot (1942) suggest that contours in the environment are represented on the visual cortex by a process involving the summation of neural activity around the area receiving the retinal projection. Such anatomical and physiological evidence suggests a simple mechanism by which forms are perceived; the perception of form should correspond to retinal stimulation by form. [...]  Read more

This dissertation reports the syntheses of three classes of aromatic heterocycles having a bridgehead nitrogen namely, the thiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazoles, the imidazo- [2,1-b]benzothiazoles and the imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles. Although various derivatives of these compounds were known, the parent compound of each series had not been synthesized. Therefore, this investigation was undertaken. [...]  Read more

The measurement of the electron mobility in Cadmium Sulphide was attempted using a transit-time method in which the carrier transit time is determined from the waveshape of the transient current associated with the drift of electrons photo-generated at one electrode by a short pulse of strongly absorbed light. [...]  Read more

Several basic papers have been written by students at the Institute of Islamic Studies dealing with political-religious movements in Indonesia during the twentieth century. This study of the Persatuan (abbreviated Persis) is not intended to take issue with these studies, but rather to supplement them and provide a fuller picture of Indonesian Islam in the twentieth century. [...]  Read more

The areal coverage of echoes from snow as a function of height and intensity has been measured using an automated method, for 183 hours of records from the winter of 1963 - 64. The shape of these plots against height averaged over the whole winter season is found to be identical to the shape measured previously for a season of rain echoes whose tops were below 40 thousand feet. [...]  Read more

The work described in this thesis is a part of a larger project on the metabolism of mammalian tissues in vitro and the effect of hormones thereon, which is under progress at the McGill University Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal. The original intention had been to first establish parameters for the utilization of glucose for lipid synthesis by human adipose tissue, and then to extend the investigations to tissue from obese and diabetic patients. [...]  Read more

The discipline of hydrology encompasses all studies of the occurrence, origins, properties, and distribution of the earth's waters. It is a branch of physical geography, but forms indistinct boundaries with other earth sciences. [...]  Read more

Previous investigations have shown that treating a bridge as a single simple beam is inadequate in the analysis of most multi-girder highway bridges. The transverse distribution of deflection must be considered as well as the longitudinal distribution. [...]  Read more

The apportionment of revenue sources between the federal government and the provinces in accordance with the responsibilities of each level of government is the central problem in federal-provincial relations today. [...]  Read more

The independent yields of l35XE, 133mxe and 133gxe and the cumulative yields of l35I and 133I have been measured for twenty-seven fission systems, consisting of the targets 232Th, 238u, 235u and 233u with protons of energies from 20 to 85 MeV. [...]  Read more

The problem of reliable near-field measurements with the basic free-space method in the illuminated region between a source of sound waves and a scattering obstacle is studied. In order to delineate the probe effects and estimate their significance, a brief yet comprehensive outline of probe behaviour is given initially. [...]  Read more

A student of the history of Islam in India is soon confronted with the name of Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi (1563/4-1624). He was a contemporary of the emperors Akbar and Jahangir, was given by his disciples the honorific title of the Renewer of the Second Millennium (mujaddid-i alf-i thani) and is the author of a celebrated collection of letters that came to be known as Maktubat-i Imam-i Rabbani. [...]  Read more

The intent of this thesis is to set out new data relating to the climate of the savanna in the Rupununi district of Guyana, and to comment thereon with reference to the causes and continuing existence of that savanna. To indicate the significance of the data and the pertinence of the comments it will be necessary to review recent discussion of the nature and causes of savanna in general. [...]  Read more

A diversity of plants ranging from completely rosette types to completely floral types can be found during the seedling year in Dollard red clover. Bird (1948) described five plant types (called 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4) based on the degree of floral stem development in the year of establishment. [...]  Read more

In September 1960 the Subject Promotion system was established in Mount Royal High School and Rosemount High School. The system was establisbed in these two schools to allow the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal to make an evaluation of Subject Promtion. [...]  Read more

Aus dem Wandel des Bildes, das die Kritik in den letzten 120 Jahren von Gotthelf entworfen hat, haben wir heute zumindest so viel gelernt, dass Gotthelf nicht leicht einzuschätzen ist. Zwar muss sich jede Epoche ihren eigenen Zugang zu einem Dichter erschliessen; bei Gotthelf liegt der eher seltene Fall vor, dass ein Schriftsteller erst hundert Jahre nach seinem ersten Auftreten als erstrangiger Dichter anerkannt wird. [...]  Read more

The relative contributions of constitutional and experiential factors to the etiology of schizophrenia is as yet an unsolved problem. It has become increasingly clear, however, on the basis of genetic data (Kallmann, 1946; Slater, 1953), that a predisposing constitutional factor is at least partially involved in this severely disabling behavioral syndrome. [...]  Read more

There is evidence that the long-term memory of an event is established by processes that continue in the nervous system for a period of time after the event has occurred. Muller and Pilzecker (1900) postulated the existence of such a consolidation process as an explanation for retroactive inhibition, which is caused by the learning of interpolated material. [...]  Read more

Cushman, A.J. (Supervisor)  Read more

A test of preference for accepting or rejecting electrical stimulation of the rat's septal area revealed individual differences: "positive" reactors sought the stimulation; "negative" reactors escaped from it. All animals escaped from electrical stimulation of the dorsal tegmental area. [...]  Read more

Experimental animal studies on the effects of drugs on the coronary circulation have usually been employed to provide quantitative and qualitative data for clinical trials of this group of agents in humans. Species variations in the responses to these drugs have been largely overlooked. [...]  Read more

Yukawa introduced the hypothesis of heavy quanta in 1935 in order to account for nuclear forces. His "heavy quantum" the π-meson, was found in 1947 and it was discovered subsequently that it existed in three charge states with slightly different masses. [...]  Read more

Depuis la production artificielle de pions par Lattes et Gardner à Berkeley, un nombre considérable d'expériences de diffusion de Meson par des nucléons a été réalisé. Nombre de théories, en particulier dans le domaine de la théorie des champs ont été mises sur pied pour expliquer l'interaction pions-nucléons. [...]  Read more

Ce portrait de Stendhal tracé par lui-même dans La Vie de Henri Brulard, offre, probablement, le cadre le plus exact où placer le futur écrivain à son arrivée à Paris. Henri Beyle a 16 ans et demi lorsqu'il part, le 30 octobre 1799, de son Grenoble natal. Préparé par une forte éducation mathématique, enhardi par les résultats brillants qu'il a obtenus aux examens de l'Ecole Centrale de Grenoble, il arrive dans la capitale sous le prétexte de se présenter au concours d'entrée à l'Ecole Polytechnique. [...]  Read more

Acute pancreatitis is a disease of variable intensity, from mild oedema to a generalized fulminant necrosis; usually it is defined as an acute inflammatory response of pancreatic tissue to various types of injury. The first accurate and comprehensive description of acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis was given in 1889 by Fitz (1), a Boston pathologist, and since that time this form of the disease has been widely discussed in the medical literature. [...]  Read more

The evidence is quite conclusive from animal studies that hypothyroidism induced by surgical thyroidectomy or by the administration of antithyroid drugs results in adrenal atrophy, and that an excess of circulating thyroid hormone results in adrenal enlargement. In guinea pigs, thyroid feeding has resulted in a 25 per cent increase in adrenal size (37).  Read more

The aim of Historical Geography is essentially twofold - the elucidation of the present geographical reality of an area by the fuller understanding of its past development, and the attainment of some knowledge of the processes of geographical change. Most contributions to Historical Geography have fallen into one of two groups, as far as approach is concerned, the one largely horizontal, where cross-sections of different dates are constructed to show the overall geography at that time, and the other vertical, where individual themes are pursued throughout their development.  Read more

The use of physiological concepts in psychological theory has led to attempts by psychologists and physiologists to establish neurophysiological correlates of behaviour (Hebb, 1955; John & Killam, 1959). While studies of the effects of lesions and electrical or chemical stimulation of cerebral tissue have provided useful insights into the physiological basis of behaviour, attempts to observe the ongoing activity of the central nervous system in an awake, behaving organism have encountered serious problems. [...]  Read more

Early ideas ef the cell membrane as a structural sac that permitted the passage of molecules en the basis of their size, lipid selubility, and charge have been extensively revised in the past few decades. The cell membrane is new regarded as a dynamic part ef the cell itself with specialized roles to play in the regulation of the composition of the cell interior and in the supply of nutrients to the cell's metabolic machinery. [...]  Read more

Within the C57BL/Fr inbred mouse strain, microphthalmia, the reduction in eyeball diameter, occurred spontaneously among 14.68% of the newborns. Microphthalmia was commoner and more severe in the right eye and was more frequent among females. Maternal age and parity, month or season of birth and litter size did not influence the microphthalmia frequency. [...]  Read more

Heuser, A. (Supervisor)  Read more

Social scientists have concerned themselves with the role of the career trade unionist since Sidney and Beatrice Webb first foresaw the development of a "civil service" in the labour movement. The staff expert role has been treated by scholars in the context of trade union development and maturation and from the broad sociological perspective of organizational life in general. [...]  Read more

The Canadian lobster catch is worth approximately twenty-five million dollars annually. Of this total, two-thirds is from live shipment to distant markets. Prior to shipment the lobsters are held in tidal pounds, crates, tanks and cars. During this holding prior to shipment, the lobsters are susceptible to a number or factors such as temperature extremes, low salinity, low oxygen tension, cannibalism and disease. [...]  Read more

Proteins containing carbohydrates are widely distributed in animal tissues. Such diverse compounds as serum proteins, mucins, blood group substances, pituitary hormones and connective-tissue elements are protein-carbohydrate complexes. The carbohydrate part of these complexes are aminopolysaccharides, that is polysaccharides containing hexosamine.  Read more

Erratics and perched boulders in the summit areas indicate total glaciation of the eastern Mealy Mountains. The widespread absence of frost-weathered detritus and the smoothed bedrock of several summits suggest a complete ice cover during the last major glaciation in southern Labrador. [...]  Read more

With the improvement of cytological techniques more detailed and accurate studies of nuclear behaviour in fungi have been made possible. Using modern staining methods and squash preparations many detailed investigations have been made in recent years of the meiotic prophase nucleus, which is the largest in the life cycle of many fungi. [...]  Read more

It has been shown by various investigators that reserpine and certain other rauwolfia alkaloids can antagonize digitalis-induced cardiac arrhythmias (Boyaji and Nash, 1965; Takagi et al., 1965). [...]  Read more

The release and uptake of copper was studied in many tissues of the rat in vivo and in vitro in copper deficiency and loading experiments. Severe to moderate depletion of the metal was observed in the tissues of deficient animais. Liver, heart and blood were found most sensitive to lack of dietary copper. [...]  Read more

Organized socialism was conceived and born in Canada during the last decade of the nineteenth century; however the forces which led to this conception can be traced back into the late 1860's. From this time, it is possible to race a fairly intelligible line to the first socialist organizations of the 1890's. [...]  Read more

The induction of hyperaminoaciduria and hyperphosphaturia was investigated in Long Evans and Holtzman rats, using rachitogenic diets low in Vitamin D and calcium or phosphorus. Hyperexcretion of free amino acids and phosphaturia resulted from diminished net tubular absorption and occurred only in animals fed low calcium diets who developed severe hypocalcemia. [...]  Read more

A new equation of state for gases at high densities and temperatures is formulated. This is based on Monte-Carlo calculated compressibilities for rigid non-attracting spheres determined elsewhere. The equation of state for a gas mixture is taken to be that of a pure hard sphere gas with a temperature-dependent diameter. [...]  Read more

Inadequate drainage is a challenging problem in both humid and arid regions of the world. In arid regions water logging is the basic cause of salinity and alkalinity, and they go hand in hand. One of these conditions usually indicates the presence of the other. [...]  Read more

Examinations have been known since the earliest times. Many of them were in the form of oral examinations, or disputations, but there also exist records of the written examination of candidates for official positions in China at least two thousand years ago. However, written examinations were seen as necessary in North America as the number of candidates availab1e for examination increased beyond the ability of examiners to examine in one day. [...]  Read more

"The fundamental problem facing the world to-day is the rapidly increasing pressure of population on physical resources, particularly on resources of land," said Professor Dudley Stamp (77:13). In 1830, Reverend Thomas Malthus, in his "A Summary View of the Principle of Population" stated that the population tends to grow in a geometrical progression. [...]  Read more