McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1993

The overall aim of this thesis was to determine the relative importance of heterotrophy and autotrophy in lake plankton. Empirical analyses using extensive surveys of literature data revealed three specific patterns in metabolism and biomass structure in freshwater plankton. First, the ratio of phytoplankton production to plankton respiration (P/R ratio) tends to be low in unproductive lakes ($<$1), and increases along gradients of enrichment. Second, the contribution of planktonic heterotrophs (bacteria and zooplankton) to community respiration is highest in oligotrophic lakes. Third, planktonic heterotrophs dominate community biomass in oligotrophic lakes, whereas phytoplankton increasingly dominate plankton biomass along gradients of enrichment. …  Read more

The existing literature on childhood bereavement reactions and sequelae is integrated within the Stress and Coping Paradigm to demonstrate its functional utility. The coping resources (i.e., psychological and social resources) and coping efforts of seventeen (8 male, 9 female) children who experienced the death of a loved one were assessed and compared with standardized norms. Results suggest that children who experienced bereavement did not significantly differ from typical children on measures of psychological resources (Self-Perception Profile for Children and Assessment of Coping Style) and on measures of coping effort (Coping Inventory). However, differences were found on a measure of social …  Read more

The relationship between the number of daily hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses and ambient air pollution in Montreal, Canada, was investigated for cold and warm periods between 1983 and 1988. The comprehensive hospital discharge database of the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services was used to derive daily counts of hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses, and for certain non-respiratory illnesses not expected to be related to air pollution levels. The reliability of this database was assessed by reviewing 1,270 hospital discharges. Routinely monitored independent variables, derived from various government databases, included temperature, relative humidity, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, …  Read more

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) encodes an essential trans-activating protein termed Tat. Tat trans-activates viral gene expression via the interaction with a RNA stem-loop structure termed TAR, which is localized in the 5$ sp prime$-untranslated region of all viral mRNAs. Tat specifically interacts with a three-nucleotide bulge in TAR through its arginine-rich RNA-binding domain. A minimum of six arginine residues as well as the position of one critical arginine residue within this basic domain are essential for the binding to TAR RNA. In the TAR RNA stem-loop, two basepairs directly above the three-nucleotide bulge are essential for interaction …  Read more

Interfacial tension is one of the most important parameters that influence the morphology of polymer blends. However, few data are available regarding interfacial tension between polymers due to experimental difficulties. Two devices, one based on the pendant drop method and another based on the spinning drop method, were constructed in this work to conduct an experimental study of interfacial tension between polymers. With both instruments, it was possible to view the drop in real time and to calculate the interfacial tension on-line. The following aspects were considered: special syringe design, the necking and capillary effects, in the pendant drop method, …  Read more

The appearance of the contemporary suburb is one of its most criticized and problematic features. Architects find themselves challenged by its increasing size and complicated planning issues. These challenges are compounded because traditional methods of control do not specifically confront these issues. A less comprehensive method of control, design codes, has recently emerged to address some of the limitations associated with traditional forms of control. This thesis is a survey of five design codes used in contemporary suburbs. Specific focus is given to examining the organization and objectives of design codes, and what architectural elements are regulated. The survey suggests …  Read more

The portrayal of the middle eastern woman in Le voyage en Orient of Nerval and Les notes de voyage en Orient of Flaubert is the written representation of a personal experience. The transposition of observations to literary images is subject to cultural and personal constraints that the present thesis aims at deciphering and analysing. We have entitled Informational intent the first section of our research, in which we have discovered that intelligible descriptions tend to the fragmentation and the categorization of the middle eastern woman. This approach has led us to find that the authors' perceptions are often limited to …  Read more

This thesis considers government finances in New France during the first half of the eighteenth century. By looking directly at government accounts from Canada and l'Ile Royale, and at the administrative structures which gave rise to them, it seeks to reconcile ostensibly rival quantitative and 'administrative' approaches to the literature on France's Ancien regime finances. Evidence is found to suggest that colonial finances emerged as an integral part of French naval finances, not as a result of deliberate policy, but as a by-product of the continued presence of naval troops in the colonies and of the early failure of the …  Read more

The 19th century French novel has a well-know model called Bildung Novel. The inspiration for this name comes from Wilhem Meister by Goethe published in 1795. In this type of writing we witness the education (Bildung) of a hero or a heroin who has to face and overcome a series of difficulties. In this memoire we will analyze the theme of education in the works of two authors Stendhal and George Sand. We have chosen two novels from each author, one dating back to the beginning of their career, and the other to the end. For Stendhal we have selected …  Read more

The following essay is the result of approximately two years of research and fieldwork on the Bon religious community of the Songpan Prefecture in the Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. The research was carried on between September 1991 to Spring 1993. The candidate uses translations of Tibetan Bon historical texts and information provided during field work by Bonpos informants to summarize the view of the Bonpos and contrast it with the historical data available in Western writings to establish a provisional definition of Bon. Translations from a Chinese historical report on the major events of Tibetan religion in Songpan …  Read more

Radioreceptor binding studies were carried out in broiler chickens in order to characterize adrenergic receptors on their abdominal fat adipocytes. The radioligands ($ sp3$H) DHA and ($ sp3$H) YOH were used to identify $ beta$- and $ alpha sb2$-adrenoceptors respectively. The determination of receptor criteria indicated that the optimal protein concentration for the simultaneous binding of both receptor types was between 0.35 and 1.0 mg/ml. Pharmacological specificity for both $ beta$- and $ alpha sb2$-adrenoceptors was demonstrated using receptor specific antagonists and an agonist. Saturation isotherms indicated that ($ sp3$H) DHA and ($ sp3$H) YOH labelled with high affinity, a …  Read more

The photodegradation of lignin has been investigated using milled wood lignin (MWL) as a model. Solutions of MWL were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Changes in the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the lignin were assessed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). To elucidate the chemical changes induced in the lignin by irradiation, infrared (IR) and UV spectra of the irradiated solutions were also studied. Irradiation under nitrogen causes the formation of both high molecular weight (MW) condensation products and low MW fragments; whereas, irradiation under oxygen yields only low MW fragments, similar to those found …  Read more

An uncoupled, modified Hibler ice model has been applied to the Gulf of St. Lawrence for three different winters of varying severity, in order to examine interannual sea ice variability. The simulation was initialized with observed November sea surface temperatures, and forced by weekly geostrophic winds, monthly averaged meteorological data and model geostrophic surface currents. Results showed a general correlation with observations, reproducing differences in the sea ice cover between the years chosen. Neglecting oceanic effects caused excessive ice formation in the northwest Gulf and produced discrepancies between the observed and modelled ice edge. Sensitivity studies revealed a high sensitivity …  Read more

Full-scale exterior beam-column-slab sub-assemblages were tested under reversed cyclic loading to investigate the role or the spandrel beam in the overall response. Results from specimens having different spandrel beam sizes and different amounts of torsional reinforcement in the spandrel beams provided a better understanding of their behaviour. The test specimens were heavily instrumented to enable detailed strain measurements in the slab bars, the joint region and the spandrel beam. These strains together with the crack pattern provide some insight into the flow of forces from the slab and spandrel beam into the joint region. The tests show that the effective …  Read more

This thesis examines the role of judicial control of arbitration with specific reference to the differing positions adopted in England and Scotland. Chapter I examines the historical patterns in each of these jurisdictions in relation to judicial review of arbitration, concluding that current differences are largely due to divergent economic and social conditions persisting over a substantial period of time. Chapter II outlines the thinking behind the UNCITRAL Model Law on International and Commercial Arbitration, contrasting the theories which attract support in other States with those in favour in England and Scotland. Chapter III examines the conclusions of the Mustill …  Read more

Upon inundation, the soils in a hydroelectric reservoir are subjected to several years of physical, biological, and chemical changes as the transition from a terrestrial to an aquatic ecosystem is achieved. Changes in Eh, pH, and microbial activity are believed to alter the metal binding capacity of solid substrates (e.g., organic matter, reactive Fe and Mn oxides, and clay minerals) within the soil profile, leading to the remobilization of mercury associated with these phases. Four cores were collected along a transect from an unflooded forest soil to a pre-impoundment lake bottom sediment in the La Grande-2 (LG-2) Reservoir and watershed. …  Read more

The effects of repeated, once daily exposure to either tail pinch or restraint stress on extracellular DA levels in nucleus accumbens (NAcc), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and striatum (STR) was monitored in conscious rats using high-speed chronoamperometry, an electrochemical detection technique. The first exposure to either stress reliably and consistently elevated DA levels in the extracellular space of NAcc, PFC, and STR; the increases observed in PFC were of a greater magnitude than those observed in NAcc and STR. These data are consistent with those of previous studies suggesting a higher responsiveness of the meso-PFC system to stress. However, with repeated …  Read more

A prospective, randomized, blinded to the surgeon, clinical trial was used to compare the quality of the surgical field, blood loss and operative time when using either hypotensive or normotensive anesthesia during LeFort I osteotomies. Twenty-three patients were randomized into one of the two groups. Video imaging was used to assess operative time along with the quality of the surgical field. Intra-evaluator and inter-evaluator reliabilities were confirmed, intra-evaluator reliability being greater and scoring being more consistent. There was a very highly statistically significant correlation (p $<$.0001) between surgeon's perception of the quality of the surgical field and blood pressure. There …  Read more

The crystallites of rat incisor enamel resemble human enamel crystallites and high resolution lattice images agree with computed lattice images of theoretical hydroxyapatite. Lattice imaging revealed steps on crystallite surfaces predicted to be potential sites for growth in thickness and width. Freeze-fracture replica, isolation of individual crystallites and high resolution lattice imaging, demonstrated bending of crystallites to accommodate changes from rod to interrod positions. Apparent crystallite fusion and crystallite continuity were shown by goniometric tilting to be artifacts of overlapping. Coat-like structures attributed to crystallite-binding proteins were shown to be artifacts caused by stain adhering to the Epon space vacated …  Read more

The structure of rat hepatic prolactin (PRL) receptors was examined in various subcellular fractions by immunoblotting. In all subcellular fractions, a single 42 kDa species was identified. Tri- and/or tetrantennary complex carbohydrates compose $ sp sim$7 kDa of the weight of the receptor. Enzymatic deglycosylation of the mature receptor does not appreciably reduce ligand binding or antibody recognition of the receptor. However, core glycosylation of the receptor is necessary for the acquisition of binding capacity and antibody recognition. The intracellular distribution of PRL receptors was determined by Percoll gradient centrifugation and application of the diaminobenzidine (DAB)-shift methodology. There was a …  Read more

In a three year study, the applicability of the cortisol response to capture as a biomarker of the health of fish from areas chronically exposed to pollution was assessed. Northern pike (Esox lucius) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) captured from an area contaminated by bleached kraft pulp mill effluent (BKME) were initially found to be incapable of elevating their blood cortisol concentration to reference levels. Following a reduction of the amount of absorbable organochlorines (AOX) in the BKME, fish downstream of the mill regained their normal cortisol response to capture. The time frame for this recovery was from between 6 …  Read more

Dolomitization of Leduc Formation (Upper Devonian) along the southern part of the Rimbey-Meadowbrook trend in central Alberta occurred early by pervasive replacement, and later by minor cementation. Replacive dolomitization postdates submarine cementation and deposition of overlying shales, overlaps stylolitization, and produces $ delta sp{18}$O values indicating precipitation between 45 and 75$ sp circ$C. Therefore, this dolomitization likely originated at burial depths of more than 500 m. Strontium isotope ratios suggest that dolomitizing fluids were slightly more radiogenic than Upper Devonian sea water. Dolomite cements, however, are slightly depleted in oxygen-18, and contain primary fluid inclusions with high homogenization temperatures and …  Read more

The Battle Cruiser was the result of the naval arms race and the realisation that England's undisputed mastery of the seas was over. The ship was the next logical step in the evolution of the Cruiser. Historians have generally considered this type of warship as an expensive mistake. While it was not as successful as its creators might have hoped, neither was it the disaster claimed by many of its critics. Once the British chose to build these ships, not only did they have no choice but to keep building more of them, but they also had to build larger, …  Read more

In Azotobacter chroococcum the hydrogenase gene (hup) cluster spans about 14 kb of DNA. In this study about 12 kb of the hup region beginning immediately downstream of the structural genes (hupSL) were sequenced. This revealed 14 additional open reading frames (ORFs) which we designated hupZMNOQRTVABYCDE. All of them are transcribed from the same strand as hupSL and are closely linked. The polypeptides predicted from all these genes are homologous to products of the gene clusters of membrane-bound (NiFe) hydrogenases from other bacteria, including Azotobacter vinelandii, Alcaligenes eutrophus, Rhodobacter capsulatus, Rhizobium leguminosarum and Escherichia coli. The products of hupR and …  Read more

To arrive at a definition of the new CAD, the thesis is divided into four chapters, accompanied by a conclusion, permitting an analysis of the current CAD situation and the technology available today or in the near future. This analysis leads to the definition of a work station adapted to design so as to bridge the existing gaps.$ sp4$ The first chapter consists of an introduction which illustrates the approaches that were used to complete this thesis. Several methods and analyses support the development of approaches upon which future research into the philosophy of design using new computer tools should …  Read more

The c-myc gene was previously shown to be regulated by a conditional block to transcription elongation and sequences from its promoter were implicated in this regulation. The objective of this project was to define the promoter elements involved in the control of transcription elongation. Using heterologous promoter constructs, the ME1a1 protein binding site located in the c-myc promoter was shown to be required for the block to transcription elongation. From mutation analysis, a correlation was established between the binding of nuclear factors to ME1a1 sites in vitro and the ability of these sites to confer block to transcription elongation in …  Read more

Jacques Derrida's lecture entitled "How to Avoid Speaking: Denials", given in Jerusalem in 1986, responds both to those who subsume his project within negative theology and to those that ignore their interrelation. The former fail to see that while negative theology is oriented towards ineffable union with the divine, deconstruction radically denies the possibility of this union. The latter, however, read negative theology solely in the context of this ineffable union, ignoring the possibility of a second apophatic language whose critique of language is itself so radical that it engages in a paradoxcical self-critique that denies, if not union itself, …  Read more

This study examined the effect of interdisciplinary discharge planning rounds on timing of social work intervention, length of stay (LOS), and readmission for patients aged 65 and over. Data sources were the medical charts of 449 patients discharged during two corresponding 28 day periods (one before end one after the implementation of rounds) supplemented by Discharge Planning Committee minutes (DPCM) and interviews with four key informants. No significant differences in the timing of social work intervention, LOS, or readmissions were found between the two samples. Qualitative research revealed that essential components were either missing (physician participation), or not uniformly included …  Read more

The intensity returns obtained by a radar from precipitation are well known to fluctuate violently in space and time. We present a systematic study of the resolution dependence time series with overlapping time resolutions spanning 10 orders of magnitude (0.77 ms to 4 months), of the fluctuating radar echo from precipitation. The results undermine the current assumptions of homogeneity of rainfield at scales smaller than the radar resolution, due to Marshall and Hitschfeld (1953), by showing that the only length scales identifiable in the time series are those of the radar pulse volume, the wavelength, and a very small inner …  Read more

This thesis presents a new approach based on a spline formulation for the analysis of thin aerofoils using the velocity singularity method. The method of velocity singularities was originally developed by Mateescu and Newman in conjunction with a polynomial representation of the normal perturbation velocities. The present method uses a cubic spline representation of the aerofoil contour, which led to improvements in the accuracy and stability of the solution, especially in the case of the jet-flapped aerofoils. This method has been first validated for the cases of rigid and flexible aerofoils. The pressure distributions obtained with the spline formulation have …  Read more

The purpose of this paper is to examine the international regime governing aircraft accident investigation while focusing on its various shortcomings and weaknesses. Weakened by the international legal nature of the Chicago Convention and by limitations voluntarily inflicted by its authors, Article 26 of the Convention and Annex 13 are unable to offer aircraft accident investigation a sufficient basis for a reliable and unified legal regime. Consequently, the questions pertaining to accident investigation are regulated by the various domestic laws, which leads to unavoidable conflicts of interests and tends to ruin the effort of co-operation. Although envisaged under a bilateral …  Read more

The shift in paradigm which gave rise to relativism has brought about a number of reconsiderations of the critical act--reconsiderations which question in a fundamental way the objectivity of the subject, the autonomy of the object of study, and the neutrality of language. Recent advances in the field of translatology participate in this shift in paradigm, insofar as they dismantle the discourse of transparency and restore to translators their primary role in the reception/re-enunciation of the source text. A study of the production and reception of Anne Cameron's Daughters of Copper Woman (1981) demonstrates the extent to which the translator, …  Read more

In conclusion, this study has shown that the combined effect of several "barriers" can be used in conjunction with low oxygen modified atmosphere and high barrier packaging films to inhibit or reduce aflatoxin to safe and acceptable levels, particularly at abusive temperatures encountered during storage.  Read more

Accurate alias analysis is a crucial phase of optimizing/parallelizing compilers for languages which support pointer data structures. The result of the alias analysis is used by most of data-flow analyses and optimizing phases in a compiler to produce efficient code. In this thesis, we introduced a new approach for interprocedural alias analysis which determines the explicit points-to relationships between locations in an abstract stack at each program point. Two variables have a points-to relationship if one of them points, or may point, to the other one. To perform our interprocedural analysis, we have designed a new representation to capture the …  Read more

Abstract not available.  Read more

The thesis focuses on what impact the use of idealizations has on the realism/anti-realism debate concerning the fundamental laws of physics. My aim is modest. It is not to present an argument for either the realist or the anti-realist position but rather to show where the debate stands once we have considered recent arguments by Laymon and Cartwright which have made use of the notion of idealization assumptions. My intent is to point out the difficulties of Laymon's argument for realism in the hope of showing what must be accomplished in providing a more convincing argument for realism. I will …  Read more

Adams, Annmarie (Supervisor)  Read more

Trasler, D. (Supervisor)  Read more

Despite significant improvements in total knee replacement surgery, loosening of the tibial prosthesis remains a major cause of failure of the procedure. Because of the limited fatigue life of the earlier fixation method which used PMMA as a bonding cement, biological fixation obtained by growth of bone into porous surfaces of the replacement prosthesis has become an attractive alternative. It is well established that bone ingrowth is strongly dependent on the relative displacement at the bone-prosthesis interface. Therefore, adequate immediate fixation is required to achieve durable biological fixation. In the absence of bonding cement, screws and press-fitted pegs are commonly …  Read more

The time is ripe for a re-examination of the doctrine of humanitarian intervention, and in particular, of its legal basis in international law. This thesis attempts to draw attention to the significance of the decision to justify humanitarian intervention in a certain way, and to some of the implications of that decision. The thesis compares the two justificatory options which seem to be most appropriate to the multilateralism of the post-Cold War era: collective humanitarian intervention under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and mulitilateral humanitarian intervention under customary international law. It reviews recent state practice, arguing that a mulitilateral …  Read more

In this thesis, I analyze literary histories published between 1845 and 1914 to demonstrate a pattern of reception regarding the works of Bettine von Arnim. I will ask how this writer was able to express her radical social-political attitude in writing--relatively unscathed by the repressions of restoration. It will be apparent that a female political author, considered less of a risk to society, faced fewer dangers of censorship than her male counterparts. At the same time, 19th century definitions of Bourgeois women's behavior also served to marginalize her work. She was called a "child" not to be taken seriously, placed …  Read more

This thesis is an attempt at an analysis of Andrzej Wajda's political films, Man of Marble, Man of Iron and Danton in a broad cultural and historical context. The manuscript is divided into five chapters. The first chapter, "The Political Film of Andrzej Wajda--Issues of Methodology", presents a theoretical basis for the discussion of political film. Bakhtin's dialogism complemented by linguistic pragmatics provides the methodology used in the thesis to illustrate the dialogical process of meaning formation in political films of Andrzej Wajda. Chapter two discusses Wajda as the carrier of the political message, while chapters three, four and five, …  Read more

Fertilizer applications of urea and triple superphosphate (TSP) suffer from low efficiency for corn production. Band or broadcast application of urea with acidic-P fertilizers may increase fertilizer efficiency. Urea and acidic-P fertilizer interactions in soil-fertilizer microsites were investigated using two Quebec soils. Adding acidic phosphates such as TSP and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) to urea reduced pH in microsites, urea hydrolysis, NH$ sb3$ volatilization, and increased soil NH$ sb4$- and NO$ sb3$-N contents. Ammonia loss decreased as P$ rm sb2O sb5$: urea-N ratios increased. Adding urea to P fertilizer increased soil pH and P sorption when using CaCl$ sb2$ as the …  Read more

Regeneration and transformation protocols for 'Comet' red raspberry were optimized with the purpose of making the Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer system efficient for this crop. Adventitious shoot regeneration from leaf discs was improved using explants 10 mm in diameter and transferring to fresh medium at the fourth week of incubation. Additions of liquid medium to solid medium during incubation decreased regeneration and attempts to release the suppressive influence of larger shoots on initials (apical dominance) did not succeed. The presence of claforan did not affect shoot regeneration, but inoculations with Agrobacterium and the presence of kanamycin decreased regeneration moderately or considerably, …  Read more

A risk analysis of drought and an assessment of irrigation requirements were ascertained for a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop in Parana, Brazil, using 28 years of historical weather data. Two soil moisture models, The Versatile Soil Moisture Budget (VB4) and SWACROP models, were compared using data from six wheat cropping periods. The models showed good performance in predicting soil moisture contents, but SWACROP underpredicted soil evaporation and runoff, and VB4 did not separate evapotranspiration into its components. Therefore, a new soil moisture model was proposed. In the new model, a Darcy type equation was used to calculate fluxes in …  Read more

Cartan's method of equivalence is used to prove that there exists two fundamental tensorial invariants which determine the geometry of systems of n ($ ge$ 2) second order ordinary differential equations. These invariants allow us prove that there exist a unique equivalence class of second order equations which admit a Lie point symmetry group of maximal dimension, the dimension being $n sp2 + 4n + 3$. For third order systems of ordinary differential equations, we prove that the possible dimension of the point symmetry group is bounded by $n sp2 + 3n + 3$. As well we find that there …  Read more

Vox Machina, for soprano, chamber ensemble, real-time digital signal processing and digital sounds, deals with the historical relationship between humanity and machines. The text uses excerpts drawn from a variety of sources, all in the public domain, as well as material written especially for the piece by the composer. The instrumental ensemble consists of 8 performers: flute, b-flat clarinet, horn, violin, viola, cello, guitar and percussion. A conductor is required, as well as a technician to control a mixing board and the performance of computer-generated sections of music. Digital sounds may be performed directly from computer, or may be played …  Read more

Some business corporations create unacceptable harm to the collectivity in which they evolve. We shall hereafter enumerate several of these "social injuries" to show that they have very serious effects. Depending on their frequency, cumulative impact and pervasiveness, they may indeed be socially ruinous and must be prevented. These are some of the reasons for promoting corporate social responsibility. This thesis contains several proposals aimed at improving corporate social responsibility, including possible amendments to the criminal code, penal statutes and tort liability, targeted specifically on business corporations and of a preventative nature. Our proposals also include wide public disclosures of …  Read more

While writing in English by Hispanas has been in publication for decades, it is only in the last few years that the writing and its attendant criticism have attracted mainstream attention in the United States. The purpose of this work is to provide an introduction to different facets of Hispana writing. The first section of the work, an essay titled, "Emerging Criticism and Themes in Hispana Literature," provides an up-dated overview of issues within Hispana literary criticism and major themes within the writing itself. The latter part of that essay uses as its framework Tey Diana Rebolledo's 1985 essay, "The …  Read more

Cells of complex organisms communicate with each other by sending molecular signals. These signals can be classified by their solubility properties. Hydrophilic signals, in the form of peptides or small hydrophilic molecules, interact with extracellular receptors located on the surface of target cells. Binding of ligand to its receptor leads to transduction of an intracellular signal via a second messenger. Lipophilic signals (steroids, vitamin D$ sb3$, thyroid hormone, and retinoids) traverse the plasma membrane and bind to specific intracellular proteins, known collectively as nuclear receptors, rendering them active. These ligand-receptor complexes then regulate the transcription of target genes. In this …  Read more