McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1989

This thesis examines the positive role of evil in select Old English Poetry, namely The Junius Book, "Guthlac", "Vainglory", "The Whale", "Juliana", "Judith" and "Beowulf". Using a background of Augustan and Boethian thought, each adversarial character is discussed with regard to role and imagery, but specifically in relationship to the protagonist. Evil plays a surprisingly positive role when it offers the protagonist the opportunity to defeat it. The protagonists' honour at the poem's conclusion is necessarily defined by the extent of resisting the antagonists. The hero must fight evil on two levels: the temporal in humans and the metaphysical in …  Read more

$ beta$-Galactosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.23) or lactase was produced by the growth of a selected Bacillus subtilis strain (KL88) which was adapted to grow at 10$ sp circ$C. The growth and enzyme production were maximal at 2% (w/v) lactose supplemented with 0.2% (w/v) yeast extract. A Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography system (FPLC) was used for $ beta$-galactosidase purification. The enzyme was purified to 44-fold over the crude extract with a recovery of $ sim$54%. Native-PAGE and SDS-PAGE using "PhastSystem" showed the presence of two isoenzymes having molecular weights of 88 and 170 kD. The purified enzyme showed high activity at low …  Read more

Physical analogs to the statistical properties of a theoretical flicker noise model are extracted from published accounts of the character of the record. Analogies are drawn between the temporal scales of variability of sedimentary processes, and the spatial scales of acoustic impedance variability. A linear model is proposed as a first approximation. It is consistent with both impedance characteristics and the dual, cyclic spatial and episodic temporal, nature of the sedimentary record. This model consists of the superposition of independent random processes having logarithmically distributed correlation times. Processes occurring over some discrete frequency range define distinct scales of 'stability' in …  Read more

The effects of various steroid hormones on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) production and placental viability were investigated using an explant culture model of human placenta. Placental hCG production was assessed using two different methods: (a) hCG concentrations in media recovered from cultures were measured by radioimmunoassay and (b) tissue levels of hCG in cultured placentae were determined immunohistochemically; both were evaluated before and after exposure to steroid hormones. In first trimester placentae, progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) increased hCG concentrations both in collected medium and levels in cultured placentae. Estradiol increased the levels of hCG in tissues but not in media. …  Read more

The hypothesis that aquatic biomass is uniformly distributed over logarithmic size classes was evaluated with samples from epilimnetic plankton communities. Although the hypothesis is true for oligotrophic lakes, biomass increases between successive size classes in mesotrophic and eutrophic lakes. The abundance of organisms in logarithmic size intervals is strongly negatively correlated with size. The relationship between organism size and physiological performance in mixed communities was examined by testing the hypothesis that limnoplankton respiration rates are predictable functions of mean body size. The equation governing this relationship was found to be similar to those obtained with laboratory cultures. The total epilimnetic …  Read more

The thesis indicates how central Canadian Methodists came to terms with Christian perfection in the years 1828-1884. It demonstrates that the concept was a matter of constant and considerable concern, and that the primary force in determining how it was attended to was the influence of John Wesley. The main elements of the concept are set out--an experience possible through momentary faith and resulting in cleansing from sin and the ability to love God with pure love. Influences upon Canadian Methodism are probed and, in particular, the thought of John Wesley on the subject is investigated. Lines of influence from …  Read more

Berk, D. (Supervisor)  Read more

Chlorination of kraft black spruce pulp was studied in a fixed bed reactor. Breakthrough curves of the reactant chlorine and the products TOC, chloride and methanol were measured. The flow residence time distribution was determined by performing a stimulus response tracer experiment preceding chlorination of each pulp pad. The chlorine and methanol break-through curves were well described by a parallel plug flow model and instantaneous chlorine-lignin and first order chlorine-carbohydrates reactions. The representation of the residence time distribution by plug flow through segregated channels rather than by axial dispersed plug flow was confirmed by the effect of operating variables on …  Read more

Picone, Michelangelo (Supervisor)  Read more

This is a case study, based on fieldwork research carried out in 1980-1981 and 1986-1987 among the inhabitants of Haouch Moussa ('Anjar)--a Lebanese Armenian community in the Beka'a valley of Lebanon. The study itself constitutes a reconstruction of the practices and experiences (and their genesis) of the people in question, as Lebanese and Armenians (and therefore, of my own history as a Lebanese and an Armenian (and a woman)). The settlement itself was established in 1939 by Armenian refugees deported from their original habitat in Mount Moussa, the Sanjak of Iskandaroun (Turkey). When relocated in the Central Beka'a the inhabitants …  Read more

In this thesis, the problem of estimating the autoregressive (AR) parameters of a wide sense stationary process is studied for the application of spectrum estimation of short data records. The approach taken is to first estimate a structured covariance matrix satisfying an optimality criterion and then map the estimate into the AR parameter estimates. Most covariance estimators are based on a least squares prediction error criterion. The new approach taken in this thesis is the use of a maximum likelihood (ML) criterion to obtain better covariance estimates. Both approximate and exact ML algorithms are developed based on an iterative Newton-Raphson …  Read more

A two year study was conducted to investigate the effect of intercropping corn with alfalfa or red clover with or without an initial application of the herbicide EPTC$ sp+$ (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate + R-25788 antidote) on the weed yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.). EPTC$ sp+$ applied prior to crop seeding in 1984 significantly reduced yellow nutsedge shoot growth in the first year but did not significantly reduce tuber populations. EPTC$ sp+$ significantly improved corn silage and grain yield and alfalfa establishment in the first year but did not significantly improve red clover establishment. In the second year, a trend of superior …  Read more

We divided 640 consecutively live-born newborns into two overlapping groups: a traditional very low birthweight (BW) cohort (500-1500 g, mean BW 1055 g) and a gestational age (GA) cohort (23-30 weeks, mean BW 1070 g). We showed: (1) An illusory protective effect of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) for in-hospital mortality in the 500-1500 cohort: odds ratio (OR), 0.55. In the 23-30 cohort the crude OR was 1.19; adjusting for differences in GA between IUGR and non-IUGR infants resulted in an odds ratio of 3.15 (95% C.I., 1.57-6.32). (2) Confounding by growth status was demonstrated in a hypothetical observational study of …  Read more

The Standard Model is discussed in general and the predicted (but as yet unobserved) Higgs-boson and top-quark described. Detection of a top-quark at electron-positron colliders and hadron colliders is considered for $m sb t < 80GeV$. The detection of the Higgs-boson is considered at the Z peak in electron-positron annihilation for $m sb H leq 60GeV$, as well as in the continuum for 100 $ leq m sb H leq 200GeV$ (intermediate mass range). For this range of the Higgs-boson mass, consideration is also given to its detection at the Superconducting Supercollider through the tau-lepton decay mode. A dispersive approach …  Read more

This dissertation examines mother-daughter relationships in six novels written by German speaking women authors in the decade after the "Year of the Woman." Three novels depict positive mother-daughter relations: Ausflug mit der Mutter (1976), by Gabriele Wohmann, Gestern war Heute (1979), by Ingeborg Drewitz, Die dreizehnte Fee (1983), by Katja Behrens. Three others portray a negative mother-daughter relationship: Die Eisheiligen (1979), by Helga Novak, Die Zuchtigung (1985), by Waltraud Anna Mitgutsch, and Die Klavierspielerin (1983), by Elfriede Jelinek. Common to all novels is a strong autobiographical tendency and the central importance of the mother in the development of the daughter's …  Read more

Firstborns' behaviours were examined at different weeks of the mother's pregnancy. Their behaviours were compared to those of preschoolers whose mothers were not expecting. Eighty preschoolers participated: 20 from each trimester of the mother's pregnancy and 20 in a comparison group. At 16 and 20 weeks, first trimester firstborns had fewer difficulties with separation, insecurity, and dependency than at 12 weeks. At 24 and 28 weeks, second trimester firstborns were less dependent than at 20 weeks, and at 28 weeks less insecure than at 20 weeks. At 38 weeks, third trimester firstborns exhibited fewer separation and dependency behaviours than at …  Read more

The efficiencies of many rigidly held cis-aquahydroxotetraazacobalt(III) complexes in promoting the hydrolysis of phosphate esters (BDNPP, BNPP, NPP) have been compared. The phosphate diester bond in ((trpn)Co(OH)(BNPP)) $ sp{+}$ is hydrolyzed at about the same rate as BNPP bound to a real enzyme from Enterobacter aerogenes and about 10$ sp{10}$ times more rapidly than free BNPP. The dramatic increase in the activity of the Co(III) complex with change in the tetraamine ligand structure can be explained in terms of a detailed mechanism of the reaction. Co(III) complexes, ((tren)Co(OH$ sb2)$(OH)) $ sp{2+}$ and ((trpn)Co(OH$ sb2)$(OH)) $ sp{2+}$ have been shown to …  Read more

This is an expository thesis covering the area of matrix-variate statistical distributions. A survey of functions of one matrix argument and the allied one matrix-variate statistical distributions is carried out first. Then functions of several matrix arguments and generalized statistical distributions are surveyed. Recent contributions to hypergeometric functions of several matrix arguments are also examined. These results are collected, compiled, classified and presented in various chapters. Some minor simplifications and alternate derivations are also considered at various places.  Read more

This study examines references to foods mentioned in elementary school texts used in Montreal English schools. A study of 58 language arts and math texts used in grades 1-6 revealed a total of 4,391 references to foods in words and/or pictures. A large proportion of these references were to sugar-rich foods. A higher percentage of adult females prepared foods, followed closely by adult males. Boys were shown as eating food more frequently than any other group. Eating with one's peers was far more frequent than eating with the family, while a surprising number of children depicted in texts used in …  Read more

The feasibility of using time-domain airborne electromagnetic and ground resistivity methods in geological mapping in tropical terrains is investigated. The investigation is based upon evaluation of the linear inverse theory in the determination of physical parameters of the weathered layer necessary for interpretation of underlying lithology. Inversion of ground resistivity sounding data from the greenstone belt in western Kenya yields conductivities and thicknesses that are consistent with geology. A similar inversion of modelled time-domain airborne electromagnetic data shows that conductivity, thickness and depth to the top of the conductive weathered layer can be uniquely determined if its response does not …  Read more

Pseudomonas saccharophila could fix N$ sb2$ under micro-aerobic conditions, heterotrophically and chemolithotrophically. Uptake hydrogenase activity under heterotrophic conditions had no effect on the O$ sb2$ sensitivity of nitrogenase. H$ sb2$ induced whereas sucrose and O$ sb2$ repressed hydrogenase synthesis. Sucrose and O$ sb2$ did not inhibit hydrogenase activity. Hydrogenase and urease were located in the membrane and soluble fractions, respectively. Nickel stimulated growth, hydrogenase expression, and nitrogenase activity under N-limited chemolithotrophic conditions. Hydrogenase synthesis specifically required nickel and its repression by O$ sb2$ was alleviated by increasing the nickel concentration. Incorporated $ sp{63}$Ni$ sp{2+}$ was about 3 times higher in …  Read more

Hechtman, Peter (Supervisor)  Read more

The application of phenomenological methods to the analysis of musical time is a recent development in the field of music theory. Phenomenological analyses of music take as their point of departure music as a "heard" phenomenon. This thesis provides a critical survey of the differing ways music theorists have applied phenomenology to the investigation of musical time. After presenting a general overview of the philosophical discipline of phenomenology itself, the thesis considers the work of three theorists, Judy Lochhead, Thomas Clifton, and David Lewin, who adopt a phenomenological approach to issues of time in music. The final chapter considers some …  Read more

The corresponding isoperoxidases from the flax genotrophs L and S have different molecular weights. Since further structural analysis will rely on knowledge of the primary structures of these molecules, the isolation of a molecular clone of this enzyme was attempted. Probing a cDNA library with a synthetic oligonucleotide was not successful, but a partial cDNA sequence was isolated by probing an S genotroph stem $ lambda$gt11 library with polyclonal antibodies raised against anionic plant peroxidases. Its longest reading frame sequence is divergent from those of other peroxidases, but contains some related segments. Genomic Southern analysis of the clone is presented, …  Read more

Indium Phosphide epitactic layers grown by MOCVD and lightly doped with Zn and Mg (p-type) have been studied by Hall effect measurements and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). The Zn-doped samples showed a uniform distribution of the acceptor concentration as a function of depth. Mg doped samples showed strong Mg concentration gradients, with substantial diffusion into the substrate. An electrical transport model has been developed for each of the previous cases. These models provided excellent agreement with experiment. The uniformly Zn-doped samples have been used for a detailed study of hopping conduction. Excellent quantitative agreement can be reached between theory …  Read more

The centrist theory of the lower middle class is widely used to explain the Social Credit movement in Alberta. The theory assumes that members of this class are ultimately conservative, if not reactionary, in both outlook and behaviour. However, the application of the theory to the Alberta movement is shown to be problematic for several reasons. Those offering this explanation do not back up their claims with evidence. Empirical analyses of the provincial elections of 1935 and 1940 present findings which are at odds with the conventional interpretation. A review of the Social Credit philosophy and the party's first term …  Read more

Negative effects of oophorectomy (castration, or removal of the ovaries) on a woman's sexual functioning, mood and body image have been documented in previous studies, but these studies did not measure vaginal blood flow and often did not include a non-surgical control group. Five groups of women aged 35 to 55 years were studied, a non-surgical control group (CTL), a hysterectomy-only group (TAH, at least one ovary intact) and three oophorectomy groups: an untreated group (BSO), women on estrogen-replacement therapy (ERT) and women on androgen-estrogen replacement therapy (HRT). The interview/questionnaire assessed mood, body image and sexual functioning (sexual desire, arousal, …  Read more

The purpose of our study was to examine if there is an ERG component (a-wave, b-wave, or OPs) that could be used as an estimate of the intraretinal time of visual processing. To investigate that matter, we proceeded to simultaneous recordings of the ERG and of single cell unit activity at the geniculate level in paralyzed and anesthetized rabbits. Our results show that 86.4% of the geniculate cells (n = 162) responded to the flash before the peak of the b-wave. One of the oscillatory potentials, the OP2, was preceding the geniculate activity in 77.8% of the cases. Furthermore, the …  Read more

Estrogen and progesterone receptors were localized in fresh frozen sections of human endometrial tissues, in both health and disease, using the ER-ICA kit and a mouse monoclonal antiprogesterone receptor antibody ($ alpha$PR6), respectively. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were detected exclusively in the nuclei of epithelial and stromal cells of the endometrium. Their highest levels in both components were found during the late proliferative phase of the normal menstrual cycle. Estrogen receptors decreased faster in the stroma than in the epithelium throughout the post ovulatory phase, whereas progesterone receptors decreased more rapidly in the epithelium during the mid and late secretory …  Read more

We present PARVO, a computer vision system which addresses the problem of fast and generic recognition of unexpected 3D objects from single 2D views. After more than twenty years, the field of computer vision has still not produced any clear understanding of how this complex high-level visual capability is even possible. On the other hand, the human visual system is an existence proof that such a competence is attainable, as demonstrated informally by everyone's daily experience, and more formally, by the results of various psychological studies. Recently RBC, a new human image understanding theory, has been proposed on the basis …  Read more

Self-consistent field multiple scattering (SCF-MS) calculations have been performed on the aluminium trihalides, AlX$ sb3$ (X = F, Cl, Br, I) and their dimers, Al$ sb2$X$ sb6$ and on the large organometallic compounds diphenyltin(IV) dichloride and diphenyllead(IV) dichloride monomers and dimers. All these molecules have nuclear quadrupole resonance (n.q.r.) active nuclei and strong or weak intermolecular halogen interaction. In addition, diphenyltin(IV) dichloride has a Mossbauer active $ sp{119}$Sn nuclei to study the isomer shift and quadrupole splitting. Calculations used the Vosko-Wilk-Nusair(VWN) exchange-correlation potential in addition to Slater's X$ alpha$ exchange potential and also a quasi-relativistic wavefunction for the heavy nuclei …  Read more