McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1995

Rowley, Robin (Supervisor)  Read more

This thesis explores the use of efficient acoustic modeling techniques to improve the performance of automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems. The principal idea behind this study is that the pronunciation of a word is not only affected by the variability of the speaker and the environment, but largely by the words that precede and follow it. Hence, to accurately represent a language, one should model the sounds in context with other sounds. Furthermore, due to the large amount of models produced when every sound is represented in every context it can appear in, one needs to use a clustering technique …  Read more

A group of 21 HIV-positive gay or bisexual men was compared with a matched group of 22 HIV-negative individuals. All subjects were sexually active gay or bisexual males matched for age, as well as age at first intercourse with males. Subjects completed a detailed sexual history questionnaire as well as a series of standardized measures of psychosocial functioning. Results indicated that subjects engaged in a wide range of unsafe sexual behaviours, and frequently combined drugs with sex. Scores on the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) were significantly correlated with lifetime condom use. Social support was also found to be significantly …  Read more

Harpp, David N. (Supervisor)  Read more

The goal of this research is to explore the feasibility of building management information gateways that relay management information at regular intervals between the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and the Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP). This management information is stored in an object-oriented Management Information Base (MIB) that can be accessed by Common Management Information Service (CMIS) management applications. An approach for polling based on a variable polling frequency is proposed. A stateful model for a simple version CMIP proxy agent for SNMP which requires management information collected from SNMP agents to be stored in the proxy agent's MIB …  Read more

One of the outstanding scholars of his time, Sayyid Haydar Amuli (719-787/1319-1385) played an important role in the development of Shii 'Irfan, a tradition which traces its roots back to the Prophet Muhammad and the Imams. He gave his attention to the subject at a time when the Shia Islam began to develop its characteristic set of doctrines through the efforts of 'Allama Hilli and his son Fakhr al-Muhaqqiqin in Iran and Iraq. Sayyid Haydar lived at a time of great political and social upheaval. This thesis places Amuli within this context and describes his life in some detail. Moreover, …  Read more

The purpose of this study is to describe, apply and critique an assessment framework, namely, 'Student-Centred Assessment' based on concepts presented by Stiggins (1994). The theoretical basis is found in the literature dealing with multiculturalism and education, the forces promoting change in assessment, and the current status of assessment methods. The analysis of the 'Student-Centred Assessment' reveals that in such a framework there is a constant interaction between the student and the assessor leading to student engagement and that there is a need for changes in the assessment practices. Of the weaknesses noted, adapting tools for assessment is an ongoing …  Read more

From the beginning and throughout Islamic history, mut-c-a marriage has been a controversial issue, the subject of constant dispute between the jurists of the different legal school in Islam. The view that mut-c-a marriage was permitted by the Prophet and practised by the most prominent Companions in the early period of Islam is not disputed by any Muslim jurist. Rather, the debate between Sunnî and Shî-c-î jurists centers around its legality after that early period.  Read more

This thesis presents a study of the ultimate strength capacity of two offshore platforms located in the Gulf of Mexico. The objective of the study was to validate existing non-linear finite element models for estimating the loads and strength of offshore platforms. From August 24 to 26 1992, hurricane Andrew moved through the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. Thirty-six major platforms suffered significant damage, of these, ten were completely toppled and twenty-six were leaning significantly or had significant topside damage. Structures "H" and "K" were bridge-connected platforms, located in the ST151 field of the …  Read more

The current study was designed to examine preschool girls' physical and verbal assertion in the presence of varying numbers of boys. Two girls from each of 12 classes were asked to play in three play groups: One that contained six girls (all girls playgroup), one that contained four girls and two boys (majority girls playgroup), and one that contained two girls and four boys (minority girls playgroup). The frequency of episodes of physical and verbal assertion were analyzed across the three playgroups. Unexpectedly, there was no significant difference in the frequency of physical and verbal assertion between the three playgroups. …  Read more

This paper undertakes to develop an in-depth interpretation of Piranesi's Il Campo Marzio. While drawing heavily from specific details in both the text and images, the study retains a contextual outlook, speculating that Vico's New Science can lend meaning to Piranesi's work. Based primarily on Vico's concept of the Ideal Eternal History, parallels are drawn between the two works. While this provides the key to entering into Piranesi's work, it reveals only its inner horizon, merely describing in different terms what is already there. The insights provided by this exercise, however, demonstrate that the making of architecture as promoted by …  Read more

The conception of the unity of God in al-Juwayni, one of the latest thinkers in the early Islamic kalam, is the subject of this thesis. Al-Juwayni, though an Ash'arite thinker was quite often open to Mu'tazilite thought, particularly that of Abu Hashim al-Jubba'i. He was also influenced by the philosophers. With al-Juwayni the kalam's theory of the unity of God reached its ultimate resolution. That is to say, the theory of the unity of God was based on specific epistemological grounds, in the early period of the kalam. It had assumed its shape, and was therefore open to the possibility …  Read more

La formation des pyrazines et leur contribution à la saveur du sirop d'érable a été étudiée. À cet effet, du sirop d'érable a été préparé au laboratoire. Le pH de la sève en ébullition passait d'une valeur initiale de pH 7.2 a une valeur de pH 9.2, puis diminuait jusqu'à une valeur de pH 7.7. La diminution de pH coïncidait avec une hausse de la teneur en solides dissouts. L'analyse chromatographique en phase gazeuse et la spectrométrie de masse d'extraits de sirops d'érable authentiques, de sirops ne provenant pas de l'érable, et d'échantillons d'arôme artificiel d'érable ont démontré la présence …  Read more

Groffier, Ethel (Supervisor)  Read more

From 1991 to 1994 inclusively, a field and laboratory study was undertaken on egg parasitoids of the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) to determine their potential in controlling their host. Five species were found to parasitize Lygus eggs in southwestern Quebec. They were three mymarids: Anaphes iole Girault, Polynema pratensiphagum (Walley), and Erythmelus miridiphagus Dozier (Mymaridae) and two scelionids: Telenomus nysivorus Huggert and Telenomus n.sp. (a new species near strelzovi Vasiliev) (Scelionidae). The maximum levels of field parasitism by these parasitoids were 20, 70, 35, and 70% (for both species of Telenomus), respectively. The field parasitism was …  Read more

Consider L to be a graded free Lie algebra over a principal ideal domain, and r a nonzero element of L such that its leading term s, i.e. its homogeneous component of highest order, is not a proper multiple. The main result we show in this thesis is that the graded ideal of leading terms of elements in R = (r) is equal to the ideal generated by the element s. As a consequence we prove that the center of L/R is trivial if the rank of the free Lie algebra L is greater than two.  Read more

Airfoils with structural nonlinearities subject to two-dimensional subsonic flow may undergo aeroelastic instabilities even below the linear flutter boundary. This thesis studies the aeroelastic behaviour of airfoils accounting for structural nonlinearities. The feasibility and potential of a modern nonlinear dynamics approach to the understanding of the underlying dynamics is investigated. Extensive numerical simulations were performed for a two-degree-of-freedom air-foil with a freeplay nonlinearity in the structural pitch moment and subject to two-dimensional incompressible inviscid flow. Different types of attractors were identified well below the linear flutter speed via numerical simulations of the system, and the existence of chaotic attractors was …  Read more

Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) is used as a functional ingredient in many food products. To increase the applicability of WPC as well as other food proteins, it is often necessary to enhance the functional properties of the protein. Various protein modification techniques can be used for this purpose; this includes chemical, physical and enzymatic modification. In present study acid hydrolysis, a chemical modification, was investigated as a means to improve functionality of WPC, emulsifying, foaming and gelatin. Most of the previous work on WPC has been directed at enzymatic hydrolysis. Dispersions of WPC (8%) in organic acids (0.5 N, 1 …  Read more

Ceramic fibers are one of the most important categories of reinforcements for composite materials. This study deals with a novel melt extraction system which has been developed to produce fine oxide ceramic fibers. Four oxide compounds were selected for the production of fibers and characterization of the extraction system. These compounds were CaO-$ rm Al sb2O sb3$ (CA), ZrO$ sb2$-$ rm Al sb2O sb3$ (ZA), ZrO$ sb2$-$ rm Al sb2O sb3$-SiO$ sb2$ (ZAS), and ZrO$ sb2$-$ rm Al sb2O sb3$-TiO$ sb2$ (ZAT). Using a 150 W CO$ sb2$ laser, these materials were melted to obtain a small molten drop, and …  Read more

Agarwal, Vinod K. (Supervisor)  Read more

Common urban development patterns have given Middle Eastern cities their distinctive character. This identity is partly due to the climatic and regional similarity. The remarkable degree of unity and homogeneity amongst Islamic cities is also attributed to the common religious backgrounds and the behavioural expectation of Islamic society in its urban context. In the past, when religion and politics acted as one body, the Islamic building principles played a major role in shaping the traditional settlement of Damascus. Political, economic, social and cultural changes introduced a new system of government. The reform movements changed the structure of the administration and …  Read more

Let A be an $n times n$ stochastic matrix with rank($A) leq r (1 leq r leq n$). A reformulation of the Boyle and Handelman Conjecture is det($I-tA) leq1-t sp{r}$ for all real numbers t satisfying $0 leq t leq1$. In this thesis, we prove that this conjecture is true for $n times n$ stochastic matrices whose rank exceeds ${n over2}$.  Read more

This thesis is based on recent work by Paige which gave a formalism for presenting and analyzing the class of algorithms which manipulate an appropriate Krylov subspace in solving large sparse systems of linear equations. This formalism--a way of dividing a method of solution into a Krylov process and an associated subproblem--is described and then applied to several of the more popular algorithms in use today including the methods of Conjugate Gradients and BiConjugate Gradients. The aim is to clarify these algorithms to make them easier to understand, analyze and use. Several of the methods presented in this thesis were …  Read more

A model for microwave heating is considered. The behaviour of the solution is analysed and a procedure to calculate the solution is presented. This procedure is based on an eigenfunction expansion. Combining both analytical argument and numerical results, it is then shown that the qualitative behaviour of the solution can be deduced from the fundamental-mode. An extension to a model of porous medium combustion is presented. It is again shown that the qualitative behaviour of the solution is captured by the first eigenmode. The corresponding model for traveling combustion waves is examined and a numerical solution is sought. The algorithm …  Read more

This thesis is an exploratory study of the factors that account for the construction of a local social world around a frontier medical technology. The analysis is based on participant-centred accounts of the structuring of a PET world in the MNI&H. According to local actors, the following factors can be identified to have played a role in the birth, promotion, structuring, and maintenance of the local PET world: the personalities; the institution; the resulting tradition; the assessment of PET; the sense of quality; the size of the local PET world and of the institution; elements of the environment such as …  Read more

Modern cancer therapy has explored the use of enzymatically acting toxins coupled to specific binding proteins in an attempt to destroy specific cell populations. In light of these new therapies we have synthesized two hormonotoxins (HTs): (i) composed of the ribosome inactivating plant protein gelonin conjugated to luteinizing hormone (LH), (ii) gelonin conjugated to human chlorionic gonadotropin (hCG), both through a disulfide bond. Characterization of both conjugates was carried out by SDS-PAGE analysis, radioimmunoassay and Western blotting (using polyclonal antibodies against both the hormone and the toxin). In addition, bioactivity of the hormonotoxins was determined by their ability to bind …  Read more

This dissertation argues that a pervasive ethical vision underlies the work of Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900): a concern for the possibility of human flourishing, in the modern world. Notwithstanding Nietzsche's celebrated claim to be "beyond good and evil", and against the standard interpretation of his "perspectivism", it is argued that Nietzsche makes qualitative, normative distinctions between higher, admirable modes of human existence and lower, contemptible ones, and that he wishes through his writings to foster the former and discourage the latter. Furthermore, it is argued that Nietzsche believes human excellence to be the property of a small minority of "higher" human …  Read more

This thesis describes a new framework for parametric shape recognition. The key result is a method for generating classifiers in the form of conditional probability densities for recognizing an unknown from a set of reference models. Our procedure is automatic. Off-line, it invokes an autonomous process to estimate reference model parameters and their statistics. On-line, during measurement, it combines these with a priori context-dependent information, as well as the parameters and statistics estimated for an unknown object, into a conditional probability density function, which represents the belief in the assertion that the unknown is a particular reference model. Consequently, the …  Read more

This thesis is an attempt to question the established thesis of Joseph Schacht that Islamic law, as we know now, did not exist during the greater part of the first century of the Hijra. His argument rests on the notion that the Qur'an was only utilized as a secondary source in legal matters, and the Prophet's works were out of legal context. Thus, Muslims at that time mostly relied on customary law which was practiced in pre-Islamic Arabia. Consequently, he claims that Islamic law began to develop at the end of the first century of the Hijra, as a result …  Read more

This study examines impediments to dynamic moral awareness. Following the understanding of knowledge developed by Michael Polanyi and Bernard Lonergan, ethics is presented not as a science of abstract norms and principles, but as a transformative science of reflection on moral activity. Drawing from the social sciences, negative structural patterns which corrupt transformative awareness are examined under the rubrics of self-deception, social ignorance, ideology, dependency and social conformity. These investigations identify and analyze sociological and psychological features of dynamic relationships preventing or corrupting processes of personal transformation and the building up of moral human community. At each stage of the …  Read more

The primary goal of this study was to investigate the effect of the density of positively charged groups on the binding of bile acids by poly(acrylamide) resins with amine-containing pendent groups. For this purpose, lightly cross-linked poly(methyl acrylate) beads were functionalized by the reactions with diamines using two different methods, one of which eliminated additional cross-linking during the functionalization procedure. A comparison was made between the swelling characteristics, the isotherms for the binding of cholate anions, and the degree of cooperativity of these resins. Interestingly, the elimination of additional cross-linking not only improved the capacity of the resins to bind …  Read more

"L'influence des enzimes endogènes dans la détérioration de la texture des produits de la mer fut étudiée, le principal but étant de développer des techniques pour contrôler la détérioration durant la conservation. L'action de la pression, du pH et de l'a2-macroglobuline, un inhibiteur de protéase à large spectre, seuls ou combinés, sur l'apparence, la texture et l'activité de protéases de muscle de poissons (cathepsine C, collagénase, enzyme de type chymotrypsine ou trypsine) fut étudiée. Pour observer ces effets sur la structure, des études en microscopie électronique furent réalisées. Les resultats indiquèrent que les effets de la pression sur l'activité enzymatique …  Read more

The following study is an analysis of the initial steps of the process of characterization of Dorotea and Fortunata. This comparative study will illustrate the similarities in the techniques both Cervantes and Galdos employ to create two female characters who, although begin as irrelevant secondary characters, end as protagonists and heroines of their respective story. The first chapter is dedicated to the two male characters, Cardenio and Juanito. Both authors begin each story with a male character and lead the reader to believe falsely that they will be the protagonists. We conclude that these false protagonists only serve as contrasts …  Read more

Schreiner, John (Supervisor)  Read more

The idea of exploring the topic of the thesis has been promoted by the revival of Islam as a legal system in a number of Islamic nation states, as an assertion and part of their identity. This development is regarded by some as adversely affecting non-Muslim citizens in such states when looked at in the light of international principles. Sudan, a multireligious state, declared the application of Sharia laws in 1983. The thesis addresses the impact of the application of Sharia law on non-Muslims within the historical, political and legal context of Sudan. This is examined in the light of …  Read more

Researchers have linked resin and fatty acids (RFAs) to acute toxicity, especially in thermomechanical and chemithermomechanical pulp and paper mill effluents. Thus, the measurement of total RFAs may be a rapid, inexpensive alternative to standard methods of toxicity monitoring, such as 96-hour rainbow trout testing. Current procedures for the analysis of RFAs typically involve solvent extraction and concentration, derivatization, and analysis by GC, HPLC, or TLC. These procedures are far too expensive, complicated, and time-consuming for implementation at mill sites. This thesis reports the development of a rapid, colourimetric assay based on the dye methylene blue (MB) for the quantification …  Read more

Jonas, John J. (Supervisor)  Read more

This thesis comprises a re-evaluation of the feminist theological critique, as given by Valerie Saiving, Judith Plaskow, Daphne Hampson and Susan Nelson Dunfee, of Reinhold Niebuhr's doctrine of sin. The re-evaluation proceeds from a contextual interpretation of Niebuhr's theology in general and a contextual reading of his doctrine of sin in particular. My argument is that Niebuhr is deliberately and consistently a contextual theologian. I locate his contextual methodology in the open-ended approach of Christian realism. The feminist critique is based on the assumption that Niebuhr universally defines the primary sin as pride. It is argued that pride is in …  Read more

Aluminum nitride ceramics are in high demand for applications involving substrate materials for high speed, high capacity, and complex integrated circuits requiring high thermal conductivity. Hot pressing and liquid-phase sintering are the most common processing techniques used to fabricate AlN ceramics. Liquid-phase sintering involves the use of additives to enhance the sinterability, and in the case of AlN, the thermal conductivity. The function of the additives is to react with an oxide layer on the powder surface and form a liquid phase. The presence of this liquid phase aids densification and the removal of oxygen from the AlN lattice, the …  Read more

Cumming, Julie E. (Advisor)  Read more

This thesis is an analysis of medical and popular views toward female sexuality in late seventeenth century England (1660-1696), based on the study of learned vernacular medical texts, personal sources and popular literature. In that period, women's subordinate social status to men was largely determined by their 'inferior' biology; "female illnesses" were considered to be a product of women's innate physiological 'weakness' as defined by humoral medical theory, and their reproductive organs were linked to their less restrained (than men's) sexual desires. This research examines those medical and social ideas that defined the female sex in late seventeenth century England, …  Read more

Yong, Voon Wee (Supervisor)  Read more

Malignant gliomas represent over 50% of the tumours which originate within the central nervous system. Current treatment modalities are in large part unsuccessful, and less than 10% of patients with high grade glioblastomas survive beyond 2 years. Understanding the cause of the rapid growth rate of malignant gliomas would be useful in devising new therapeutic strategies to treat this disorder. Previous work from this laboratory suggested that the enzyme protein kinase C (PKC) was a critical regulator of the hyperproliferative state of glioma cells. The results presented in this thesis demonstrate that (1) PKC activity was differentially increased in glioma …  Read more

Harris, Richard (Supervisor)  Read more

The convulsant and K$ sp+$ channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine (4AP), induces two types of synchronous, spontaneous field potentials in the stratum radiatum of the CA3 subfield, in an in vitro hippocampal slice obtained from adult rat. The first type of activity is a positive-going interictal-like potential that corresponds to a burst of population spikes, and is abolished by non-NMDA receptor antagonists; the second type of field potential is a low frequency, negative going synchronous event which is sensitive to GABA$ rm sb{A}$ receptor antagonism. Knowing that in the hippocampus, adenosine A1 receptors are located presynaptically, on the terminals of excitatory neurons, …  Read more

This dissertaion comprises three related papers. The first paper reports a historical cohort mortality study which was carried out among 21,744 electrical utility workers in the province of Quebec. A total of 1582 deaths were observed at the end of follow-up (1970-1988). A job exposure matrix (JEM) was used to estimate the exposure to 60 Hz electric, magnetic, and pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) from the code of the last job held by each worker. The results showed no evidence of excess of cause specific or general mortality relative to provincial death rates in the cohort overall. The ratios of Standardized …  Read more

A randomized clinical trial was undertaken to compare the effectiveness and direct costs of shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for the treatment of symptomatic gallbladder stones. Over a period of 24 months from a total of 468 patients screened, 35 patients were randomized to ESWL, and 25 to LC. 32 ESWL patients were treated, all as out-patients, with a mean convalescence post-ESWL of 0.5 $ pm$ 1.2 days. In contrast, all LC patients were admitted to hospital for a mean duration of 2.8 $ pm$ 1.5 days with a mean post-operative convalescence of 18.2 $ pm$ 16.8 …  Read more

This qualitatively-oriented thesis explores, describes, and interprets the emergence of Quebec's environmental movement, placing it in its proper historical and socio-political setting. The environmental movement was one of the myriad of new social movements that arose in the 1960s and '70's in western nations. Although it transcended national boundaries, development of environmental movements in Europe and North America differed, just as they did at more regional levels, depending on cultural distinctions, the structures of opportunity, and the amount of available resources, among other things. With its Quiet Revolution, Quebec society gained a new pluralism, secularism, and liberalism that gave the …  Read more

In the mouse, the trait of innate resistance or susceptibility to infection with several species of Mycobacteria, including M. bovis BCG, M. lepraemurium, M. intracellulare and M. smegmatis, is controlled by the expression of the single gene on chromosome 1, designated Bcg. In this thesis, macrophage cell lines derived from the bone marrow of B10.A (B10S macrophages) and B10A.$Bcg sp{r}$ (B10R macrophages) were used to study functional parameters associated with Bcg gene activity. We have discovered that there is a significant difference in the production of NO$ sb2 sp-$ of B10S as compared with B10R macrophages in response to IFN-$ …  Read more

Mannoproteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker's yeast) were extracted in high yield. The crude extract was resolved into two components, $ alpha$ and $ beta$, using capillary electrophoresis. These were both shown to be fragments from the cell wall mannoproteins. The $ alpha$ component consisted mainly of the protein portion of the mannoproteins and the $ beta$ component consisted of the long highly phosphorylated mannan chains. Fragmentation occurred when the covalent bonds between the mannans and the asparagine residues were hydrolysed during the hot citrate extraction procedure. The $ alpha$ component was identified as the active emulsifying agent. Although the $ …  Read more