McGill University Theses and dissertations published in 1993

Yule, W. N. (Supervisor)  Read more

The effect of composition on the mechanical properties of high Al content Al-Y-Ni metallic glasses has been studied. Nine samples in all were prepared with a composition of ${ rm Al sb{85}Y} sb{x}{ rm Ni} sb{15-x}({ rm x}=3, ...,11).$ The amorphous alloys were first tested using both XRD and DSC. The DSC runs revealed that the samples were made up of two different types: one showing no glass transition and a lower crystallization temperature, and the other showing a distinct glass transition with a higher crystallization temperature indicating that they are truly homogeneous glasses. The samples showed a Young's modulus …  Read more

Liposomes. I.e., uni- or multilamellar lipid vesicles which can carry hydrophilic material in their interior and hydrophobie materiai within their bilayers, are an interesting potential vehicle for delivery of biologically active materials. Liposomes offer several potential advantages as carriers of various types of drugs in a variety of pharmacological applications.  Read more

Corticostatins (CS's) are members of the CS/defensin peptide family that inhibit ACTH-mediated glucocorticoid release from rat adrenal cells in vitro. Human corticostatin HP4 and rabbit corticostatin CS-6 have been cloned. Both cDNA clones encode full length precursor peptides. Comparison of the cDNA sequences of the CS/defensins that have been cloned to date indicate that the individual members of the CS/defensin peptide family within each species have diverged following recent gene duplications. Rabbit CS-6 and CS-5 mRNA's and rabbit CS-4 and CS-3 mRNA's have been detected in bone marrow at high levels, in spleen at moderate levels, and in thymus at …  Read more

This study places the evolution of journalistic ethics in Quebec between 1960 and 1990 in its socio-political context. The thesis starts with a discussion of the philosophical and legal foundations that are the basis of journalistic activity. It then features a social history of Quebec journalism which allows an analysis of the various interacting factors that have influenced the ethical and deontological issues raised during that period. These factors develop along four main axes: socio-political and historical events, press organizations, the journalistic community, and professional practices. From this analysis, the author is able to draw a theory of displacements that …  Read more

Dwarf apple tree growth and yield under several non-herbicidal ground management systems were compared. Six ground cover systems were established in two newly planted orchards. After two growing seasons, trees in the straw mulch and geotextile mulch treatments had larger trunk cross-sectional areas and more shoot growth than trees in the red fescue and insectary plant cover treatments. Growth of trees under the manure mulch and cultivation treatments was intermediate. When four of the systems were established along rows of five-year old trees in an existing orchard, the increase in trunk cross-sectional area over two growing seasons was greatest for …  Read more

This thesis offers a feminist analysis of women and gender in the novels of Buchi Emecheta, Ama Ata Aidoo, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Delphine Zanga Tsogo, Calixthe Beyala, Werewere Liking, Mariama Ba, Miriam Tlali and Bessie Head. My analyses appropriate and rethink western feminist theories of gender and post-colonial literary theory. I maintain that the texts analyzed are also theoretical, since feminist theory is embedded in the polysemy of the texts themselves. The study demonstrates that identity and sexuality are not static sites of oppression for women. They are contesting terrains where the subversion of difference, and the construction of identity, subjectivity …  Read more

In this study, six annual legumes and the perennial, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) were monocropped (MC) and intercropped (IC) with barley in a field study with three N levels, 0, 30 and 60 kg N ha$ sp{-1}$. At O kg N ha$ sp{-1}$, N$ sb2$-fixation and N transfer were estimated by the $ sp{15}$N isotope dilution (ID) method. At 60 kg N ha$ sp{-1}$, a direct $ sp{15}$N labelling method was employed to study N transfer. The hypotheses were that the annual species would be more productive within one growing season than red clover, that increased N levels would …  Read more

The nonlinear viscoelastic properties of a series of blends of linear polyethylene were studied using the McGill sliding plate rheometer. A more reliable and sensitive shear stress transducer for this rheometer was designed, built and used in this work. The molecular weight dependence of a variety of nonlinear viscoelastic properties was investigated. It was determined that, as with steady state properties, the sensitivity of such properties to molecular weight diminishes with increasing shear rate. The behavior of these materials in large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) was also studied. By using harmonic analysis, the frequency content of the nonlinear stress response …  Read more

The $ sp3$H thymidine incorporation (TTI) method has been frequently used to estimate benthic bacterial production rates in well oxygenated marine and river sediments, but not in the frequently more reduced lake sediments. In chapter 1, I evaluate the published sediment production literature and examine useful predictors of in situ bacterial production in mostly marine and riverine sediments. In chapters 2 and 3, I estimated and compared benthic production rates by TTI, frequency of dividing cells (FDC), the dilution method (DIL) and sediment respiration (SR) in 13 Quebec lakes to assess the reliability of the TTI based production rates. The …  Read more

The primary intention of this research is to elaborate guidelines for bilateral air transport agreements which can be entered into by Macau, a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration. In order to achieve this, a comprehensive comparative study of other countries' bilateral air transport agreements is undertaken. This involves carrying out a detailed examination of, inter alia, the theoretical, doctrinal and institutional features of the said agreements in general, and a practical study of various concrete agreements. Macau's current and future political and legal status is outlined with special consideration being paid to the unique status of the Territory vis-a-vis Portugal …  Read more

The Na,K-ATPase is a ubiquitous plasma membrane enzyme which is responsible for the establishment of Na+ and K+ homeostasis in animal cells. In the small intestine, the establishment of an electrochemical Na+ gradient at the apical membrane of the villus absorptive cell is crucial for net nutrient and electrolyte absorption. Na,K-ATPase is made up of a large (112KDa) catalytic $ alpha$ subunit, and a glycosylated (35KDa) $ beta$ subunit. Thus far, 3 isoforms for both the $ alpha$ and $ beta$ subunit have been described. We sought to characterize both age-related changes and regional changes in levels of small intestinal …  Read more

This study examines problems of escape in the fictional writings of E. L. Doctorow. It makes clear that the characters in the stories as well as their creator frequently try to break free from restrictions or control--the protagonists physically, the author more theoretically. A description of the nature of the confinements as well as the difficulties associated with getting away reveals much about Doctorow's perception of 20th century American reality and the writer's place in it. Thus, the study moves from a relatively straightforward assessment of the kinds of escape featured in Doctorow's narratives and the way in which these …  Read more

The hydraulic dimensions and planform character of a river channel are very much affected by the channel gradient and the calibre of the bed materials. One of the two major objectives of this study is to analyze these effects on selected reaches along the Bulstrode River, near Victoriaville. The second objective is to relate the variations in gradient, sediment calibre and channel geometry to the changes in floodplain character along the river valley. The river is about 85 km long and flows across the Appalachian highlands and foothills in southern Quebec. This study focuses on six alluvial reaches along the …  Read more

The parish churches of Paris rebuilt between 1489 and 1590 are defined as an important group late Gothic monuments. They were each modeled after the Cathedral of Notre-Dame and given many of the same characteristics. The architectural features used in the rebuilding of the parish churches are part of a well-defined architectural vocabulary of both classical and flamboyant forms. The building histories show that the stylistic qualities of these monuments are the result of the constant application and reception of prevailing architectural ideas. The architectural arrangements and iconographic programs reveal the role of patrons; the monarchs, in particular, used the …  Read more

Yale, Jean-Francois (Supervisor)  Read more

The development of resistance of malignant tumors to the chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of neoplastic disease is a major factor responsible for treatment failure. Rat mammary adenocarcinoma cells (MatB) which model the human disease in their pattern of growth were studied to elucidate mechanisms of drug resistance. Cell lines that have acquired drug resistance in vitro as a result of continuous exposure to increasing concentrations of drug have been utilized to this effect. Two separate cell lines were selected for resistance to either a "natural product" (AdrR) or an alkylating (MlnR) antineoplastic drug. Each line displayed phenotypic changes …  Read more

Understanding the mechanical properties of the respiratory system is an important task in pulmonary physiology. Current research often involves small mammals (mice, rats or guinea pigs) which are easily obtained in large numbers as pure bred strains, thus allowing statistically reliable results with minimal inter-animal variation to be obtained. However, due to the small flow amplitudes involved, the input impedance of common flow measurement devices is often too low to reliably measure tracheal flow. Furthermore, experimental setups are usually very limited in the types of volume, pressure or flow perturbations they can apply to the respiratory system. The computer controlled …  Read more

This thesis investigated the speech-gesture relationship of chronic adult stutterers in comparison to fluent controls based on previous work by McNeill (1979, 1986). Significant differences were found in the speech and gesture characteristics of the narratives of stutterers as compared to fluent controls on a cartoon retelling task. Stutterers produced fewer cartoon details in their speech and fewer meanings per gesture. As well, stutterers were unable to begin a representational gesture at the same moment as a stuttered disfluency resulting in the freezing of gestures or maintaining the hand at rest. A second experiment showed that stutterers were able to …  Read more

The thesis examines aspects of the construction of methylmercury as an authoritative object of knowledge for Chisasibi, a Cree community on the James Bay coast in northern Quebec. I describe the evolution of a particular set of spheres of exchange which mediate economic relations between the Cree communities, the governments of Quebec and Canada, and state and corporate structures tied to the state. Knowledge claims about mercury can be seen as situated among claims of injury in a moral economy which is based on conflict over the James Bay hydro-electric project. The politicization and subsequent medicalization of these knowledge claims …  Read more

Combined X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to identify and characterize the clay mineral assemblages in 0.05-0.1 $ mu$m and ${<0.05} mu$m size fractions separated from shales of three depths (4800, 8700-8750, and 12500-12550 ft) from the Reindeer D-27 well in the Beaufort-Mackenzie area, Arctic Canada. Ethylene-glycol solvated samples indicated a two-component mixed-layer I/S system, whereas glycerol solvation suggested an additional high-charge expandable component. Exchange with octylammonium (n$ rm sb c$ = 8) and octadecylammonium (n$ rm sb c$ = 18) ions revealed the presence of five distinct types of layer structures: (1) low-charge …  Read more

High-moisture ear corn (HMEC) was untreated, treated with propionic acid (PA) or inoculated with a mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus faecium, and then ensiled in both tower and laboratory silos. Ensiled HMEC was evaluated for fermentation quality, silage microbiology, and aerobic stability. In control and inoculated ensiled HMEC, maximum pH reduction was observed within 7 d; such pH reduction was observed only after 21 d of ensiling with PA-treated HMEC. Irrespective of treatment, ammonia concentration increased with storage time. The lactic acid content increased up to 42 d of ensilage; between 138 d and 202 d of ensilage, there …  Read more

Mammalian alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a 70 kD tumor-associated embryonic serum glycoprotein whose precise biological function(s) is not known. The distribution of AFP during ontogenic development and its abnormal reappearance in certain diseases is consistent with an immunoregulatory function. In vitro studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory properties of AFP, prompting investigations into the relationship of molecular structure to biological function, which is not yet fully understood. The present thesis examines and compares the immunoregulatory activities of recombinant murine AFP (rMoAFP) with the fetal derived protein. The cDNA of mouse AFP was overexpressed by a modified baculovirus transfer vector, resulting in the …  Read more

Epidemiologic cohort studies often require a follow-up of and obtaining exposure and confounder information for several thousand subjects. This process can be time consuming and expensive. A sampling scheme which reduces costs is the case-cohort design. It involves obtaining exposure and confounder information for all cases and a random sample of the remainder of the cohort. In this thesis we consider the analysis of data from a case-cohort sample under the assumptions of a proportional hazards model. Specifically we review and describe techniques for point and interval estimation of parameters and tests of hypotheses first for a full cohort, then …  Read more

Hasan, M. (Supervisor)  Read more

At the retinal level, the strategies utilized by biological visual systems allow then to outperform machine vision systems, serving to motivate the design of electronic or "smart" sensors based on similar principles. Design of such sensors in silicon first requires a model of retinal information processing which captures the essential features exhibited by biological retinas. In this thesis, a simple retinal model is presented, which qualitatively accounts for the achromatic information processing in the primate cone system. The computer retina model exhibits many of the properties found in biological retinas such as data reduction through non-uniform sampling, adaptation to a …  Read more

We have studied the effect of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) on tail flick latency in the rat. We also studied the effect of methionine the immediate precursor of SAM. Administration of methionine to the rat increases brain SAM, but little is known about its behavioral effects. Long-Evans rats were given SAM and methionine orally at different doses and tail-flick latency was measured at various times. Both methionine and SAM increased tail-flick latency, but methionine did so at a lower dose. A biochemical study showed that methionine was more effective than SAM in raising brain SAM probably because it is transported better into …  Read more

The problem of speech recognition is one that lends itself to parallelization. A common method used for speech recognition is the Viterbi algorithm. Unfortunately, this method is computationally expensive for large vocabularies. A new two pass method has been proposed, using the Viterbi algorithm as the first pass and the A$ sp *$ algorithm as the second, making use of the results of the Viterbi algorithm. Both these algorithms can be made faster by parallelizing them. This thesis report describes the design and implementation of a parallel version of these algorithms on a BBN Butterfly multi-processor machine, and it also …  Read more

The Brazilian Wilms' Tumor Study Group carried out a case-control study of Wilms' tumour (WT) to identify risk factors for the development of WT. Two controls per case, matched for sex, age (${ pm12}$ months), hospital and interviewer, were chosen. Controls were children admitted to hospital for conditions other than neoplasms. Pediatricians interviewed parents of 109 cases and 218 controls. Increasing levels of parental education and family income were associated with the diagnosis of WT, probably the result of selecting a hospitalized control group. The positive association between high family income and WT was strongest among the cases diagnosed early, …  Read more

A basic principle of object individuation--that predicables (or adjectival, verbal, or prepositional expressions) do not individuate--gives rise to a competence theory related to their interpretation. It is that we interpret predicables as sub-kinds of the kinds that type them. Evidence of children's competence in this matter is reviewed. Two experiments are presented, exploring the sensitivity of 20 children, aged 2;11 to 3;11 (mean 3;6), to changes in adjective interpretation across unrelated and related kinds. For instance, children were tested on their understanding that a nonsense adjective picked out sub-kinds of toy bears and balls on the basis of unrelated attributes. …  Read more

Research on AIDS and women is recent and focuses almost exclusively on the heterosexual population. Despite research on the sexual behavior of young women which asserts that lesbians are at low risk for exposure to HTV, many lesbians engage in high risk practices and are therefore at risk for infection. In order for AIDS education for this population to be effective, it must be designed spedfically to meet identified needs. [...]  Read more

Multi-channel, multi-dimensional geophysical data models are explored in this thesis. The basic data model we develop, the one-pass, multi-channel, multi-dimensional autoregressive (OPMCTDAR) data model, describes data as the linear superposition of a causal, multi-channel, two-dimensional, deterministic AR filter with a stochastic innovation which is assumed to have minimum-variance, and to be uncorrelated and Gaussian. Two-pass and four-pass extension of this basic model (TP or FPMCTDAR) are also developed in this work as a generalization of the AR data models described by Gregotski (1989), Gregotski et al. (1991) and Jensen et al. (1990, 1993). Direct inversion for the parameters of the …  Read more

In this thesis, a new approach to an understanding of the harmonic language in Scriabin's final compositions is presented. The analytical methods used draw significantly upon previous work done by Varvara Dernova, as well as some of the concepts of Manfred Kelkel. The thesis presents a qualified vindication of the structural importance of the quartal spacing in Scriabin's harmonic language. (This characteristic feature of the composer's pitch organization tends to be regarded by most contemporary theorists as merely an idiomatic spacing that the composer favoured.) The thesis proposes that a structural, ten-note, harmonic matrix (formed through the summation of the …  Read more

There is little doubt that the current Warsaw System should be modified, mainly because the compensation limit is too low. The most trenchant problem has been to maintain the concept of uniformity while different economic conditions have become increasingly the order of the day and to cope with the increasing disparity between industrialized and developing nations. Overview of the problems of the current system is made, using the KAL flight 007 case. This thesis explores the relationship between passengers and air carriers, which should be interpreted as a common interest. It also examines the term "unlimited" which, frequently, leads to …  Read more

Nepal had promulgated its first domestic Civil Aviation Act on 12 April 1959, more than a year before it became a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization on 29 July 1960. Since then it has adhered to a number of international air law conventions. But on the domestic front very few regulations have been made under the Act to deal with only certain aspects of civil aviation. This thesis explores Nepal's obligations under the international air law conventions and analyzes the extent of domestic legislation in Nepal. […]  Read more

Magder, Sheldon (Supervisor)  Read more

Coffee production in Costa Rica has brought prosperity to many small farmers, but conflicts of interest with the companies which process and market coffee are still a problem. In addition, producers and processors are plagued by the periodic market cycles of agricultural commodities. Various agencies have promoted cooperatives to help small farmers deal with these problems, but they often fail due to poor management and lack of participation. This thesis, a multi-layered study of coffee production, processing, and marketing, examines how household producers manage the constraints and opportunities posed by the international market, the Costa Rican state, and the coffee …  Read more

Aeration of LHM with MCP was successful in reducing ammonia volatilization by 62.4%. However, for both soils, neither of the treatments; LHM amended and aerated with MCP and applied at 32 t ha$ sp{-1}$ LHM containing 513 kg $ rm P sb2O sb5 ha sp{-1}$ from MCP nor LHM aerated without MCP applied at 32 t ha$ sp{-1}$ LHM, plus 513 kg $ rm P sb2O sb5 ha sp{-1}$ from MCP, significantly affected ryegrass yields compared to the lone addition of MCP fertilizer (513 kg $ rm P sb2O sb5 ha sp{-1}).$ Total P uptake in ryegrass was significantly higher …  Read more

The amount of heritable variation and the pattern of genetic covariation in traits are the chief determinants in the evolution of a population, at least over the short term. A preponderance of heritability (h$ sp2)$ and genetic (r$ rm sb g)$ experiments are performed under laboratory conditions which are characterized by low levels of environmental variability. This thesis describes the investigation of the effects of environmental heterogeneity on phenotypic components of variance and covariance. Full-sib families of the field cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus, were split between a homogeneous laboratory environment and a more variable field environment. The values of h$ sp2$ …  Read more

Previous results indicated that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Bacillus spores were the predominant spoilage microorganisms in minimally processed products after 35 days storage at 15$ sp circ$C. Furthermore, most packages were swollen due to carbon dioxide production by the LAB. The fact that spores survived mild heat treatment is of concern since it implies that other more pathogenic spores, e.g. Clostridium botulinum would also survive and may pose a public health problem in products stored at 15$ sp circ$C. As such, the influence of combination treatments (viz., mild heat processing treatment, pH, water activity, storage temperature, lactic acid bacteria) …  Read more

The swelling equilibrium and kinetics of weakly crosslinked, non-ionic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gels were studied in water at a constant temperature of 298 K. The gel structure was varied by changing the monomer concentration, the proportion of crosslinker, and the temperature at gel formation. The relationship between the fractional approach to equilibrium (F) and the square root of time ($ surd t$) was sigmoidal. A model was developed to describe the kinetics of gel volume change for swelling or collapse. The model was based on Fick's first law and accounted for the movement of the boundary of the gel. Numerical computations for …  Read more

Radiosurgery is characterized by high radiation doses, delivered via small diameter radiation beams in a single session, placing stringent requirements on the numerical and spatial accuracy of dose delivery to the target volume within the brain. In this thesis, physical and clinical aspects of radiosurgery are discussed, including a method for the production of cylindrical dose distributions with rectangular beams using cylindrical dynamic rotation. The measurements of radiosurgical x-ray beam parameters are presented. Monte Carlo simulations determine that a measured increase depth of dose maximum with increasing field size is a result of primary dose deposition in phantom for small …  Read more

This thesis focuses on the design of two software packages to support the study of acoustic waves and acoustic wave grating devices. The first package deals with fundamental properties of acoustic waves. The bulk acoustic wave program calculates bulk acoustic wave (BAW) propagation properties in materials of arbitrary anisotropy and piezoelectricity. The surface acoustic wave program calculates surface acoustic wave (SAW) and plate-mode propagation properties in multilayers of arbitrary anisotropy and piezoelectricity. These two programs provide the basis for the study of specific bulk-wave and surface-wave devices and structures. The second package deals with SAW grating geometries consisting of gratings, …  Read more

Foster, William F. (Supervisor)  Read more

The Batemi are an agropastoral group who inhabit a semi-arid area in Northwestern Tanzania. The group lives a traditional subsistence lifestyle and are therefore dependent on the resources that surround them. This study: (1) investigates their use of woody vegetation; (2) studies the abundance and distribution of woody vegetation in the area; and (3) experiments with assigning use values to species and with employing these use values to identify conservation priorities. The Batemi utilize over 100 woody species, in 37 families' and 58 genera, from the environment surrounding their villages for construction, fuel, implements, services, food and medicine. Random sampling …  Read more

The complex panorama of the Mediterranean area in the fourteenth century compelled Venice to modify its economic patterns. The city started to pay attention to the Italian mainland, developing its agriculture and other industries. But the Veneto was marshy and needed to be drained and improved. The Venetian and mainland aristocracy gradually abandoned commerce for agriculture and land reclamation. Andrea Palladio built many villas for them from which they could administer their estates, transforming the marshes of the Veneto into sites for the villas. Those villas became the perfect place for retirement and contemplation.  Read more

The distribution of photosystem I (PS I) and photosystem II (PS II) in a primitive green alga Tetraselmis subcordiformis, which belongs to Prasinophyceae and does not have grana in its chloroplast, was studied by immunoelectron microscopy. Two PS I antibodies were used: one against a PS I component of maize, the other against the 60 and 62 KDa PS I reaction centre proteins of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus. Both antibodies showed that 76-78% of the labelling is on the appressed thylakoid membranes and only 22-24% is located on the unappressed membranes. Use of antiserum against cp-47 of PS II from …  Read more

Ferrie, Frank (Supervisor)  Read more

Melchiorre Cesarotti (1730-1808) produced a blank verse translation into Italian of the rhythmic prose of James Macpherson's Ossian. On the basis of the numerous amendments to be found the three subsequent Italian editions of the Ossian (Padoa 1763 and 1772, Pisa, 1801), it could never be ascertained which English editions had served as source text for Cesarotti's translations and whether Italian variations could be led back to similar variations in the the English texts, or whether they were rather the independent and unwarranted work of the Italian translator. Our first successful search enabled us to clarify the nature of Cesarotti's …  Read more

This study is a theoretical and historical study of the combined issues of destabilizing speculation and financial crises. First, we critically examine the orthodox mathematical theory of a speculative bubble. This model, we determine, is inadequate for the empirical purposes of identifying and fully explaining a bubble. Next, we examine the 19th-century British Classical view of the mania-crisis phenomenon and compare it with some of the leading early 20th-century views. We find that the 20th-century writers maintained a distinctly Classical view of the issues and that this view is fundamentally different from the orthodox mathematical theory. We also find that …  Read more