McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1988

This study examines the effects of maternal teaching style on the developing problem-solving abilities of deaf and hearing preschool children. Mothers and children from three matched groups, hearing mother-deaf child, hearing mother-hearing child, and deaf mother-deaf child, were videotaped while the mother taught the child to construct a small pyramid from 21 interlocking blocks and again when the child attempted the task independently. The tapes were coded and analyzed to examine maternal instructional style and subsequent independent child performance. The mothers in the deaf mother-deaf child and hearing mother-hearing child dyads used appropriate scaffolding behavior significantly more often than the …  Read more

A diagnostic study using the CASP (Canadian Atlantic Storm Program) dataset and available precipitation data is performed to examine the thermodynamics of melting-induced mesoscale circulations. Various terms of the thermodynamic equation were evaluated. The horizontal and vertical advection terms were calculated using the rawinsonde data while the diabatic term due to melting was parameterized using surface precipitation observations. The effects of evaporation and dissipation were neglected in the calculation of the diabatic terms. The importance of the melting term was clearly shown although direct evidence of a melting-induced circulation was not found due to the relatively low resolution of the …  Read more

This thesis investigates the dynamical behavior of spinning and/or axially moving beams. An analysis of the effect of appendage root offsets (distance between the mounting point and system center of mass) on the dynamics of constant length spinning appendages is carried out. The stability and response characteristics of the system configuration are investigated taking into account the role played by the non-linear axial shortening effect, when the system is undergoing a steady spin, spin-up or angular slew maneuvers. It is observed that due to the root offset, large static deflections of the beams may result during steady spin of the …  Read more

Solid modeling studies how to represent geometric properties of solids by computer. A fundamental operation is the construction of representations of solids. Algorithms for set operations construct boundary representations of solids from boundary representations of other solids. A correct and efficient intersection algorithm for polyhedral solids that uses boundary representations is described. A finite-precision implementation of the algorithm uses incidence tests that use symbolic inference in order to limit errors due to finite-precision approximations. The incidence tests are described and experimental evidence is presented to show that the incidence tests are both empirically reliable and practical. The intersection algorithm uses …  Read more

The genera Spongia and Hippospongia include all of the commercially important bath sponges of the Caribbean fishery. This study examined the uniform presence of immense symbiotic bacterial populations of four of these species: Hippospongia lachne, Spongia barbara, S. cheiris and S. graminea. The nutritional characteristics and antibiotic sensitivities of bacteria isolated from the four species were also examined. A combined light and transmission electron microscopic investigation outlined the reproductive processes and larval development, behaviour, settlement and metamorphosis in these four species. Symbiotic bacteria in these four sponge species are specific to the sponges and different from ambient seawater bacteria. Populations …  Read more

Framed by the sociocritical concept of incipit that sets forth the conditions of readability and the narrative contract, our hermeneutics applies a theoretical and methodological praxis to three fictive texts. To determine readability as mediation of the social discourse, the application of an intertextual reading has been undertaken. Focusing specifically on the feminist discourse, our critical point of view foregrounds those elements that deconstruct the patriarch as positive value.  Read more

The effect of silica on the crystallization and melting behavior of a highly isotactic, well characterized isotactic polystyrene (i-PS) have been investigated. The origins of the various endotherms obtained upon heating have been defined by partial scanning experiments and by a study of the effect of heating rate using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The presence of 1 part silica in 100 parts polymer (1 pph) decreases the maximum degree of crystallinity considerably but has a minimal effect on the rate of crystallization. Analysis by the Avrami method shows that the silica does not affect the overall rate of crystallization significantly. …  Read more

The solution chemistry and statistical modelling of the O$ sb2$-CaCl$ sb2$-HCl leaching of a high-grade arseniferrous uranium ore (Key Lake, N. Saskatchewan) were studied with the objective of optimizing the co-extraction of uranium and radium. To this end, two types of experiments were carried out: (a) those designed to study arsenic speciation under simulated U-leaching conditions, with the use of model arsenide minerals, namely niccolite (NiAs), rammelsbergite (NiAs$ sb2$) and gersdorffite (NiAsS); and (b) statistically designed tests involving actual leaching of samples of the Key Lake ore. Niccolite and rammelsbergite were found to yield H$ sb3$AsO$ sb3$ in solution as …  Read more

This study was designed to examine the ability to use prior knowledge in text comprehension and knowledge integration. The focus of the research was on effects of different degrees of subjects' theoretical knowledge in the domain of biochemistry on their comprehension of written technical materials describing experimental procedures and results, and the ability to integrate such new text derived information with prior theoretical knowledge considered by experts to be relevant to the topic. Effects of cues on the accessibility and use of prior knowledge were also examined. Pre-test questions testing the extent of subjects' prior knowledge of photosynthesis, and a …  Read more

Geography is being more and more reduced to only one form of rationality, i.e. technical control. Such narrowness threatens all spiritual life and creativity. It calls on us to find new ways of thinking. Notwithstanding some refreshing break-throughs, especially its opening into literature, humanistic geography cannot be considered an adequate alternative to technical rationality. On the contrary, from a metaphysical perspective, humanism seems to be bordering on the very essence of technology. Its propositions partake of the system of metaphysical oppositions which determine the technological world. From a position which can be defined as a radicalization of phenomenology, and which …  Read more

In this work we describe a category of domains, whose objects are in general categories instead of posets, such that J.-Y. Girard's category of qualitative domains and stable functions is contained in it as a full subcategory. We describe two ways of interpreting Martin-Lof type theory in this category, the first one allowing $ Sigma$ and $ Pi$, the second one only $ Pi$. Finally we show how to extend the second interpretation to a model of the theory of constructions.  Read more

The purpose of the study was to examine factors related to identification with organizational goals in two Centres of re-education in Quebec. The personnel of these Centres are semiprofessionals with specialized training related to re-education. In a pretest it was found that identification of educators with the organizational goals was similar in both Centres in spite of a greater number of role conflicts in one Centre. This result was contrary to what could be expected. Therefore the question raised was what additional factors enter into the relationship between the organizational goals and educators. Factors examined in this study are based …  Read more

Experiments were conducted to examine the role of dietary selenium (Se) and changes in antioxidant capacity during DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis. Weanling rats were fed graded amounts of Se in an AIN-76 diet, modified to approximate the amount and type of dietary fat consumed in Canada. Animals fed 3-4 ppm Se had a reduced tumor incidence but there was evidence of chronic Se toxicity. Low Se did not elevate tumor incidence. Thus, supplemental dietary Se did not offer any protection in reducing the incidence of cancer when rats were fed a diet representative of North American intakes of fat. Blood GSHPx …  Read more

The present Master's thesis aims to clarify the legal notion of sub-contracting, both in civil and common law, through a study of the subject as regards French and Quebec law, on the one hand, and according to the laws in force in England, in the Canadian common law provinces and in the United States, on the other hand. To this end we have described the development process of sub-contracting and worked out a typology of this notion. Subsequently, we have shown how the legal systems under study have defined sub-contracting, and in which manner their definitions of sub-contracting differ from …  Read more

Solid residues are generated at various stages of metal production. Some of these residues still contain significant quantities of metals. In determining possible process routes for residues a detailed knowledge of the mineralogy (i.e. the minerals or phases present) is required. This thesis examines the mineralogical characteristics of four residues: copper smelter dust, jarosite residue and hot-acid-leach residue all from the metallurgical plant of Kidd Creek Mines Ltd., and low-acid-leach residue from the Canadian Electrolytic Zinc plant. The methodology of characterization included the fractionation of the residues based on particle size, magnetic susceptibility and leachability in sulphuric acid. The fractions …  Read more

This thesis examines the use of conjunctions in texts, and in particular their function as a marker of text type. Children's acquisition of this aspect of conjunction usage is the main focus. An examination of the characteristics of various text types and the nature of coordinate and subordinate conjunctions in English serves as a framework within which the experimental evidence from adults and children (aged three to five) is considered. Three types of texts--conversation, narratives, and game explanations--were collected. It was found that both the types of conjunctions used and the frequency of conjunctions as a class vary according to …  Read more

Mouse L cell mutants defective in receptor mediated endocytosis were isolated using selection with modeccin followed by screening for loss of mannose 6-phosphate (Man 6-P) dependent uptake or for resistance to Pseudomonas exotoxin. Mutants L146 and L15D were resistant to modeccin, lacked 215 kD Man 6-P receptor, were defective in Man 6-P dependent uptake and binding, and oversecreted several lysosomal enzymes. Mutant LEFIC was resistant to modeccin, Pseudomonas exotoxin and ricin. The mutant exhibited delayed (1) oligosaccharide processing of VSV G protein, (2) transport of VSV G to the cell surface and (3) release of radiolabeled VSV G into virions. …  Read more