McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1993

Madhauji, Nazim (Supervisor)  Read more

Multiculturalism eludes any simple and straightforward definition. It has come to mean different things to different people. In particular, four broad approaches have been advanced as ways in which to assess the goals and objectives of multiculturalism in Canada. These four approaches are multiculturalism as a social reality, an ideology, a policy, and as a resource. This paper examines how multiculturalism is viewed as a resource. As a resource, multiculturalism constitutes a vehicle by which various stakeholders can advance their particular goals and objectives. Since there are three primary stakeholders (the government, non-visible minorities, and visible minorities); each group seeks …  Read more

A water table management field experiment was established and conducted on a sandy loam soil in 1991 and 1992. The effects of two water tables levels, as well as conventional drainage, on nitrate levels in drainage outflow were studied. The controlled water table levels were 25 and 50 cm above the drain. The experimental setup consisted of 9 monitored drains and 6 buffer drains. Plots were centred over the drains and were 115 m long by 18.69 m wide. Drain outflow, nitrate concentration in the drainage water, soil temperature, rainfall, and water table elevations were measured during the 1992 growing …  Read more

This thesis presents the development and evaluation of a real-time monitoring and warning expert system developed for the patient data management system (PDMS) of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Montreal Children's Hospital. The principal objective of the Expert Monitoring System (EMS) is to provide basic physiological trend analysis and interpretation and generate warnings in the event of critical patient conditions. The thesis begins with a literature survey of the impact of patient data management systems, the attitudes of medical professionals toward computerization, as well as the needs, the difficulties and the methodologies of evaluation. This is followed by …  Read more

Thin films of InSb are important for modern electronic applications. When these films are prepared by vacuum evaporation, a precise control of the substrate and source temperatures is needed to obtain the required stoichiometry. It is therefore interesting to study a simplified vacuum evaporation method which does not need the precise control of substrate and temperatures. In the present work, a thermal evaporation technique has been adopted for the deposition of the Sb/In metallic sandwich layers. The composition of the films was controlled by regulating the amount of elemental material introduced to the boats. Using this method, multilayer films of …  Read more

The reputation given to Adolf Loos and Gustav Klimt as opposites, as well as the understanding of Loos's writings as supporting this reputation, correspond less to the works as such than to the general dichotomic mode of understanding that we inherited from the so-called platonic dichotomy of being and appearance. Indeed, common to their respective work are the relationships in which stand the elements forever understood as antagonistic. Neither opposition nor transparency, their work bring forth an intermediary state, the state of coexistence of difference. By questioning the relationships between elements taken as opposites, Loos and Klimt are challenging the …  Read more

Housing typologies based on the traditional family no longer satisfy the needs of the majority of households. Woman-led families are impeded in their search for appropriate housing by their low wages and family responsibilities, compounded by the blindness of housing-policy makers to their existence. Historical models of collective dwellings are steeped in the ideology of the period and yield few direct practical solutions to the current dilemma. The richness of this housing, however, which evolved during a time of dramatic social change underscores the blandness of current housing solutions. Feminists insist that housing and urban design solutions should challenge the …  Read more

This study is an evaluation of a self-instructional version of the Couples Communication Programme (CCP) in terms of its effect on marital and parent-child communication. Twelve families completed self report measures of marital and family life (the Marital Communication Inventory and the Family Environment Survey). As well an audio tape of a family discussion was rated by observers using the Sequential Analysis of Verbal Interaction. The mothers and fathers in each family then completed the self-instructional CCP over a one month period, following which the same measures were repeated. Fourteen additional families served as a wait-list control group, completing the …  Read more

The primary objective of this experimental research program was to define the characteristics of microfine cement-based grouts at different ambient temperatures using the following parameters: (1) Ten cements: 2 Portland cements (Type 10 and Type 30) were used as reference cements, 1 Portland with 8% of silica fume, and 7 microfine cements: Microcem 650SR, Microcem 900, Lanko 737, MC500, Spinor A12, Spinor A16 and Spinor E12. (2) Thirteen characteristics: 3 rheological properties (viscosity, bleeding, setting time) and 10 mechanical properties (grain size, modulus of elasticity and Poisson's ratio, compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, bond strength (direct tensile), shrinkage/expansion, ultrasonic pulse …  Read more

The effects of maternal dietary glucose restriction on reproductive performance were investigated by feeding pregnant rats isocaloric diets containing graded levels of dietary glucose (0, 12, 24 and 60%) during pregnancy and during pregnancy and lactation, and by measuring the effects of glucose restriction on (1) maternal, fetal and neonatal metabolism, on (2) growth and composition of the mammary glands and placentas, and (3) on milk composition. Carbohydrate restriction induced maternal metabolic adaptations that were proportional to the severity of the glucose restriction. Placental growth and composition as well as mammary gland composition were not affected by dietary glucose restriction, …  Read more

Transparent low resistivity CdS films have been evaporated on p-Si and n-p Si monocrystalline substrates to form heterojunction solar cells. Electrical and optical properties are investigated by I-V, C-V and quantum efficiency measurements. By comparing to conventional n-p Si cells, it is found that CdS/n-p Si configuration has the advantage of homojunction cells with a high V$ sb{ rm oc}$, and the advantage of heterojunction cells with a high I$ sb{ rm sc}$. The high V$ sb{ rm oc}$ is due to the electrical property domination of the homojunction of this configuration and the high I$ sb{ rm sc}$ is …  Read more

A particular kind of gaseous particle detector, called resistive plate counter, has been built and tested with cosmic rays. It is composed of two parallel highly resistive electrode plates between which circulates an ionizing gas, and of capacitively coupled readout pads. The tests look at the pulse shape, efficiency, charge distribution, time delay, and time resolution of the counter. It is shown that these characteristics are dependent upon the voltage applied to the electrodes, the gas mixture ratio (argon/butane/freon), and the surface irregularities of the electrodes. The counter exhibits a 98% efficiency and a time resolution of approximately 1 ns. …  Read more

A stress, appraisal, and coping framework was used to explore the sources of stress for adult children of elderly parents residing in long-term care facilities and their perceived self-efficacy in managing the stressful events of caregiving. Sixty-four daughters and sons of parents in three long-term care facilities completed interviews and questionnaires. Events related to the parents' behaviour and cognitive status were more frequently appraised by their children as stressful and were appraised as more stressful than those related to assisting parents with activities of daily living or to events associated with the long-term care facility itself. Characteristics of the parent …  Read more

The choice of subject for a history painting, long considered motivated by dramatic considerations, appears to be also, in the light of numerous documents, the expression of the painter's craft. The following study will attempt to demonstrate this aspect in the oeuvre of Jacques-Louis David and, in particular, in The Oath of the Horatii.  Read more

A recursive least-squares algorithm was developed to estimate respiratory mechanical parameters with high temporal resolution. This algorithm was used to investigate the time course of bronchoconstriction induced by intravenous histamine injection in the dog. The onset of the response of lung tissue resistance and elastance demonstrated a different time course than airway resistance. This was interpreted in terms of the sequential delivery of the drug first through the pulmonary and then the bronchial circulations. The time course of respiratory mechanical parameters among various alveolar capsules revealed two patterns of inhomogeneity development. The first one was random whereas the second one …  Read more

The present study was designed to further characterize the role of insulin and glucagon in the regulation of glucose fluxes during two hours of mild to moderate intensity exercise in postabsorptive healthy male subjects. Endogenous insulin and glucagon were suppressed by somatostatin (SRIF) infusion and the pancreatic hormones were then replaced singly or in combination to match the hormonal concentrations observed during similar exercise in control subjects. Glucose kinetics were determined using stable isotopes of glucose. The exercise protocol was sufficient to induce a 26% decrease in insulin and a 20% increase in glucagon. In all conditions, there were a …  Read more

In Nunavik, the question of self-determination in health care is becoming increasingly embedded in the community health discourse, which is used by both health planners and Inuit alike to negotiate diverging positions. While health planners envision northern health care as a subset of the Quebec system, Inuit perceive it as a vehicle to ends that transcend conventional health issues. This thesis will provide an overview of the development of Nunavik health services since the James Bay agreement, focusing on how the use of the community health discourse serves to promote, but also shapes and limits regional and community self-determination.  Read more

Toope, Stephen (Supervisor)  Read more

During the last 20 years, ceramic fiber reinforced metal matrix composites, referred to as MMCs, have provided a relatively new way of strengthening metals. High specific modulus and a good fatigue resistance in dynamic loading conditions or for high temperature applications make these composites very attractive for replacing classic alloys. The first requirement for the fabrication of MMCs, especially by processes involving liquid metals, is a certain degree of wetting of fibers by the liquid metal which will permit a good bonding between the two phases. The conventional experimental approach to wettability consists of measuring the contact angle of a …  Read more

In the central Canadian Rocky Mountain thrust-fold belt, three types of first order decollements are outlined within or along the border of the present orogenic wedge: one basal decollement, three intermediate or internal decollements and one upper decollement. Structural relationships suggest that each internal decollement is the result of one of the successive forward shifts of early basal decollements to new positions within the stratigraphic pile. Two computer programs have been developed to analyze the propagation of multiple thrust faults and their influence on the geometry of a thrust belt. The computer programs generate graphical simulations used to demonstrate a …  Read more

A protocol is presented for the rapid (28 days) induction of microtubers on micropropagated layered potato plantlets of 'Kennebec', 'Russet Burbank' and 'Superior' in medium devoid of growth regulators. With this method the addition of coumarin, 6-(2-chloroethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride and 6-benzylamino-purine to the microtuberization medium either had no effect or significantly reduced microtuber weight per plantlet. Increasing the incubation period from 28 to 56 days significantly increased the weight of microtubers per plantlet and the proportion of microtubers heavier than 1 gram. Increasing the volume of microtuberization medium from 50 to 100 ml significantly increased the number of microtubers per plantlet. …  Read more

Cashman, Neil (Supervisor)  Read more

Whereas most research on writing in the workplace examines writing from writers' perspectives, this study focuses on readers' responses to writing. The central issue in this study is the relationship between readers' responses to writing and the goals and values of an organization. The particular focus of the study is managers' responses while reading their subordinates' reports. Conducted over two years in a large company that develops and markets health care products, this study used a variety of qualitative methods. Observations, interviews, and the critical incident method revealed that organizational expectations for writing were closely tied to the organization's mission …  Read more

Prp20, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homolog to the mammalian regulator of chromosome condensation, RCC1, binds to double-stranded (ds) DNA in vitro through a multi-component complex. Three members of this complex bind GTP in vitro. The Prp20 complex specifically loses its ability to bind dsDNA during DNA replication as determined by an in vitro assay using cell extracts from arrested cdc mutants. This loss of dsDNA-binding activity does not affect the proper organization of the nucleoplasm as was the case for the prp20-1 and prp20-7 mutants, suggesting a segregation exists in the biochemical activities of the Prp20 protein. Detailed analysis of Prp20 …  Read more

Determination of the 9.6 kbp nucleotide sequence of Photobacterium leiognathi DNA containing the genes responsible for luminescence showed that the order of the lux genes was luxCDABEG. In contrast to other Photobacterium species, the luxF gene, located between luxB and luxE, was absent. Three genes immediately downstream of luxG in P. leiognathi have also been identified and shown to correspond in sequence and organization to the second, third, and fourth genes of the riboflavin operon of Bacillus subtilis. In Photobacterium phosphoreum, four genes involved in riboflavin synthesis were also found immediately downstream of luxG and their functions identified. These rib …  Read more

Neufeld, R. J. (Supervisor)  Read more

A quantitative texture analysis has been done on silicon steel specimens having different precipitate distribution in order to understand the texture development and the role of precipitates during secondary recrystallization. To improve the size and distribution of precipitates, several annealing treatments were done on specimens obtained at different stages in the production of silicon steel. Tests for magnetic properties such as core loss and permeability, were done on final product specimens which had different precipitate distribution before secondary recrystallization. It is proposed that good precipitate distribution in the sheet before secondary recrystallization leads to a higher quality final product. Grain …  Read more

Statin, a 57 kilodalton (kDa) protein expressed specifically in nuclei of non-proliferative cells (Wang, 1985a, c), is a phosphoprotein, phosphorylated at serine residues. By comparing immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting analyses, I find that p57$ sp{ rm statin}$ in vivo associates with other cellular proteins with molecular masses of 45 kDa (p45) and 110 kDa (p110). The p45 statin-associated protein is a serine/threonine kinase. The specificity of the association of statin and p45 kinase is strongly supported by the fact that the kinase activity of p45 correlates both qualitatively and quantitatively with the amount of statin present in immunoprecipitates from cultured fibroblasts …  Read more

Elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1$ alpha$) is a ubiquitous, highly conserved protein, that functions in peptide elongation during mRNA translation. A cDNA, S1, was isolated in rat; its predicted amino acid sequence shares high similarity (92.6%) with mouse and human EF-1$ alpha$. The principal objective of this thesis is the molecular characterization of S1, a member of the mammalian EF-1$ alpha$ gene family. We have cloned an EF-1$ alpha$ cDNA in rat, and showed that rat S1 and rat EF-1$ alpha$ are two different mRNAs that share extensive sequence similarity in the coding region, but differ considerably in their noncoding regions. …  Read more

The liability regime of the air carrier is regulated by the Warsaw Convention of 1929. The latter establishes a certain uniform set of regulations in the field of international carriage by air. This universally accepted Convention was gradually amended and supplemented by later instruments in order to adjust and adapt this uniform set of rules to the changing and rapid growth of the aviation industry. Thailand, however, is one of the few countries who have not yet become a party to this beneficial system. This results in conflicts of laws and jurisdictions. The purpose of this dissertation is to explain …  Read more

The Belcher Islands of eastern Hudson Bay expose a continuous sequence of Proterozoic continental and shallow-marine sediments, and volcanics. The latter are represented by two sequences of continental basalts, the older Eskimo Formation and the younger Flaherty Formation. The lavas of both formations are tholeiitic basalts (MgO, $<$ 9 wt%) which, in each formation, can be divided into two groups based on their high field strength element concentrations. Both groups of Eskimo lavas have anomalously low Nb concentrations and fractionated rare earth element (REE) patterns. The Flaherty lavas have relatively flatter REE profiles and higher Nb contents. The chemical variations …  Read more

This thesis studies the effects of colonization in Asia Minor on the cult of the Hellenic Artemis, as the Greek goddess comes into contact with and is influenced by her Asian counterparts. The result of this contact is a goddess whose nature both remains unchanged and is changed, being at the same time both Greek and Oriental, and whose new image, reshaped after the Asiatic Mother Goddess, reflects the religious needs of her new worshippers, who were themselves a mixture of Greek and indigenous peoples. The first part of this work investigates the nature and functions of Artemis in Greece, …  Read more

A key problem in the interpretation of visual form is the partitioning of a shape into principal components that correspond to the parts of an object. This thesis presents a method for partitioning a set of surface estimates obtained with a laser range finding system into subsets corresponding to such parts. The strategy employed makes use of two complementary representations for surfaces: one that describes local structures in terms of differential properties (e.g. edges, lines, contours) and the other that represents the surface as a collection of smooth patches at different scales. It is shown that by enforcing a consistent …  Read more

Dorsinville, Max (Supervisor)  Read more

Efficacy of a sustained-release formulation of bST was evaluated for two consecutive lactations. Response in milk and milk component yield was positive and very consistent for multiparous cows between lactations. Average responses in milk production for the first lactation and for the 320-, 640-, and 960-mg$ cdot$28d$ sp{-1}$ doses of bST were 4.3, 5.2 and 5.9 kg$ cdot$d$ sp{-1}$, respectively. Response was 4.9 kg$ cdot$d$ sp{-1}$ for the average of the second lactation with 640 mg bST$ cdot$28d$ sp{-1}$. Primiparous cows responded with the same numerical magnitude as multiparous cows but with higher variability. BST caused a response in milk …  Read more

Cyathocotyle bushiensis and Sphaeridiotrema globulus were previously implicated in the annual mortality of wild ducks in southern Quebec. Of 21 snail species collected from nine aquatic communities in southern Quebec and southeastern Ontario, May to October 1989 and 1990, only Bithynia tentaculata was heavily and consistently infected with C. bushiensis metacercariae. Although infection levels varied spatially, a consistent concave seasonal pattern of prevalence and abundance was found which may be due to overwintering metacercariae and the almost simultaneous onset of cercarial transmission and recruitment of new snails in mid-summer. Even though S. globulus metacercariae were found in 18 of 21 …  Read more

This thesis explored whether interpretations of the reinforcing effect of stimulation trains used in the self-administration of brain-stimulation (SABS) paradigm were artifacts of the reinforcement schedule chosen or whether it represented a genuine attempt by animals to maintain optimal levels of reward. Results demonstrate that stimulation trains used in SABS are reinforcing and that animals regulate pulse frequency to optimize the level of reward. The thesis then explored whether pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) lesions blocked the acquisition or maintenance of SABS, and the acquisition of eight-arm radial maze learning. Results showed that lesions confined to the PPTg block acquisition and …  Read more

In this study, biochemical techniques were used with immunological techniques to dissect the specific T cell reactivities to the PG molecule. Two T cell lines and two T cell hybridomas that belong to the T helper subset TH1 were isolated. The line JY.A recognized only the human fetal PG while the other line (JY.D) and the two T cell hybridomas (TH5 and TH14) recognized PG of all the different origins tested, except the rat chondrosarcoma and the mouse PG. The three latter T cells were found to recognize immunodominant T cell epitopes on the G1 domain of PG and cross-reacted …  Read more

For the past twenty years, taxonomy has been in a state of turmoil. This confusion brings along with it four distinct schools of thought, each of which offers a different concept of biological species. The thesis will show that these concepts are purely operational and have only a weak theoretical force. In turn, it will be argued that a sound definition of species uses the notion of natural kinds, which is itself defined in term of non-causal nomological regularities.  Read more

Textual repetitions abound in verses of the Seven Penitential Psalms of Lassus and this research attempts to discover their function. A total of one hundred and thirty-two verses were analyzed. The results of this investigation exhibit numerous mathematical figures underlying the entire work's structure, and the influence of repetitions is conspicuous in each figure's organization. Moreover, this study shows, in a smaller measure, the mutual influence between form and text expression. A detailed method of calculation is also provided which may eventually be applied to other works of the repertoire of the sixteenth century.  Read more

Field plots under organic and conventional management system were investigated to detect the effects of soil management practices on their soil physical, chemical and microbiological properties. The 16 farms studied, located in France, were arranged into eight matched pairs (organic/conventional). The study revealed that in comparison with the conventionally managed soils, the organically managed soils tended to have equal to higher pH, buffering capacity, Ca, organic matter and moisture contents, and lower potential acidity values, as well as higher numbers of aerobic mesophyle and lactobacilli, and more intense alkaline phosphatase activity. The differences in soil properties between the members of …  Read more

Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of scale invariance in the study of geophysical fields. However, very little attention has been paid to the anisotropy that is invariably present in these fields, in the form of stratification, differential rotation, texture and morphology. In order to account for scaling anisotropy, the formalism of Generalized Scale Invariance (GSI) was developed. Until now, only a single analysis technique has been developed which incorporates this formalism and which can be used to study the differential rotation of fields. Using a two-dimensional representation of the linear approximation to GSI, a new, …  Read more

Merrett, Tim (Supervisor)  Read more

This thesis focuses on the functional roles of adenosine on neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in the rat hippocampal CA1 region in vitro. Hippocampal slices were placed in an interface recording chamber and constantly superfused with oxygenated artificial cerebral fluid at $30 sp circ$C. Intracellular (current-clamp) recording techniques were used to measure the spontaneous and evoked inhibitory and excitatory synaptic potentials as well as resting membrane potential and input resistance. Our findings indicate that adenosine induces the opening of potassium channels in the postsynaptic membrane of CA1 neurones, including $ rm K sb{ATP}$ channels. Adenosine-induced attenuation of EPSPs and poly-synaptic …  Read more

Thin film solar cells of CdS/CuInSe$ sb2$ fabricated on electrodeposited CuInSe$ sb2$ films were studied to determine the diffusion length of minority carriers. The relationships between capacitance versus voltage, capacitance against frequency were first investigated. A dispersion effect of the capacitance-voltage curves was observed, confirming the presence of either interface states or deep levels in the depletion region. The minority carrier diffusion length was measured by two different methods, namely the photocurrent and capacitance method and the differential photocurrent method. For a cell with an efficiency of about 5% with a doping concentration in the order $10 sp{16}$ cm$ sp{-3}$ …  Read more

Effects of superheated steam drying were determined for surface properties and pore structure of paper, properties which are important in the end use of paper. Two furnishes were investigated, thermomechanical pulp (TMP) and a TMP/kraft pulp blend. Drying of handsheets under matched conditions in air was used as the basis of comparison. TMP paper dried in superheated steam has a slightly higher surface roughness, by about 0.5 $ mu$m at a roughness around 8 $ mu$m. This difference decreases with drying fluid temperature. It is also reduced by about half after a very light blade coating. Surface roughness of paper …  Read more

In order to establish a method of assessing the degree of inbreeding within herds of cattle, we constructed a calibration index relating kinship and the degree of DNA band sharing in DNA fingerprints. Firstly, chickens were used as a model system to test the possibility of using microsatellite DNA as a probe for DNA fingerprinting in inbreeding analysis. Six genetic groups of chickens with estimated coefficients of inbreeding ranging from 0.026 to $>$ 0.98 (pedigree analysis) were fingerprinted using the minisatellite probe derived from M13 and the microsatellite probe (CAC)$ sb5$. The degree of band sharing using either probe increased …  Read more

The primary objective of this paper is a focused introduction to the logistic regression model and its use in methods for modeling the relationship between a dichotomous outcome variable and a set of covariates. The approach we will take is to develop the model from a regression analysis point of view. Also in this paper, an estimator of the common odds ratio in one-to-one matched case-control studies is proposed. The connection between this estimator and the James-Stein estimating procedure is highlighted through the argument of estimating functions. Comparisons are made between this estimator, the conditional maximum likelihood estimator, and the …  Read more

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation in response to injury leads to the development of a neointima, which resembles, in many aspects, atherosclerotic lesions. Studies on experimental atherosclerosis have highlighted the role of SMC in atherogenesis. To gain further knowledge on the behaviour of SMC after arterial injury, SMC were cultured from neointimal explants with or without a covering of regenerated endothelium, 15 weeks after a single balloon catheter deendothelialization. Proliferation of these cells was studied by the examination of the cell growth curve, $ rm lbrack sp3H rbrack$-thymidine incorporation and determination of the cell cycle. The growth factors released from …  Read more

Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is becoming a widely used method to determine volumetric soil water content ($ theta$) and bulk soil electrical conductivity (EC$ sb{ rm a}$). It has been found that the $ theta$ and EC$ sb{ rm a}$ values obtained by this method, on certain soils, require calibration. The purpose of this study was to monitor the effects of soil texture (most particularly the clay type and clay content) on $ theta$ and EC$ sb{ rm a}$ estimated by TDR. Water content was measured, gravimetrically and by TDR, on packed columns of nine soil mixtures, composed of three …  Read more