McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1995

Boutin, Maurice (Supervisor)  Read more

The author describes meditative practice in some of its historical and cultural contexts. She then reviews the literature and research on meditation pertinent to attention, the brain, stress, spirituality and personal development. She discusses the implications of meditation research for education. Finally, she presents suggestions and comments concerning the feasibility of implementing meditation in the schools.  Read more

La présente étude vise à élucider davantage les besoins et les attentes linguistiques des diplômés d'-immersion. Pour ce faire, un questionnaire a été distribué à trois groupes d'étudiants, issus d'un pr-Ogramme immersif au niveau -CPO, de différentes écoles secondaires en Ontario. Le questionnaire sollicitait -des infermatieflS portant sur 4 domaines principaux chez les étudiants: la formation particulière de l'étudiant; leurs sentiments par rapport à l'expérience en immersion; leurs attitudes envers le français, et leur désir de poursuivre des études en langue seconde (français) au niveau universitaire. En conjonction avec ce questionnaire, les résultats d'une enquête non publiée menée en 1988 …  Read more

Three known mammalian endothelins, ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3, are each encoded by separate genes and expressed in a variety of vascular and nonvascular tissues. Two subtypes of endothelin receptors have been identified and termed endothelin-A and endothelin-B receptors (ET-A and ET-B). In the first part of this study, the ET-A gene was disrupted in mouse embryonic stem cells to generate mice deficient in ET-A. In the second part of this study, we investigated a targeted disruption of the mouse ET-B gene that results in aganglionic megacolon associated with coat color spotting, resembling a hereditary syndrome of mice, humans and other …  Read more

Le but de cette thèse est de faire progresser la connaissance des manières dont les contexts discursifs de la lecture, de l’alphabétisation et de la culture étaient utilisés en Amérique, au milieu du vingtième siècle, afin de réifier la stratification sociale. Des exemples tels que la revue The Reader ‘s Digest et la bande dessinée Classics Illustrated seront utilisés, dans ce projet, pour illustrer l’adaptation et les idéologies autour de la forme textuelle. Cet ouvrage examine comment ceux qui proclamés par eux-mêmes élites culturelles, ont tenté d’identifier et de dénigrer les habitudes de lecture du lecteur moyen par des critiques …  Read more

The objective was to analyze the effects of logging and prescribed burning on carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) at a jack pine stand and white spruce plantations in order to assess short-term impacts of these forestry practices on the diversity of this beetle group. In addition, soil scarification was also included at the jack pine stand. Based on previous reports on forest disturbance influences on carabids, it is hypothesized that short-term effects of studied forestry practices do not reduce carabids' diversity. Four carabid assemblage characteristics were compared: (a) number of catches; (b) dry mass; (c) species richness; and, (d) diversity index. …  Read more

Part I of this thesis explores the interrelationship between the law of privacy and the technology of surveillance by satellite. International, United States and Canadian laws are examined leading to the conclusion that governmental agencies are more likely than private entities to be restricted in their attempt to violate the right of privacy of their nationals. Part II examines protection of data generated by remote sensing satellites in international treaties and in United States and Canadian legislations. It appears that neither copyright laws of Canada and the United States nor treaties provide adequate protection for unenhanced data obtained by satellite. …  Read more

Previous reports have identified the need of a quality-of-life measure for use with persons with low back pain (LBP) in order to verify treatment efficacy. The Spitzer Quality-of-Life Index (QL-Index) has proven to be valid and reliable in various clinical studies. However, it has shown a lack of responsiveness when used with low back pain patients. In an attempt to improve responsiveness, a disease specific module was developed to complement the QL-Index. Patients, their significant others, and health professionals were interviewed to determine the contents of the LBP-Module, A prospective design was employed in the preliminary psychometric study (n = …  Read more

Thailand and Taiwan have indigenous minority populations which central authorities have sought to assimilate into the national mainstream. In both countries public education has served as an important tool of assimilation. This study examines the political ideology of the moral education curricula as applied to state primary schools serving indigenous populations in three localities in each country. The direct and indirect implementation of moral education was observed and interviews were carried out with teachers, students, parents and community leaders. The results show that as the indigenous minority children become more familiar with the national culture and its value system, they …  Read more

The trust of the new Civil Code of Quebec of 1994 relies on the innovative juridical framework of "patrimony by appropriation". The present thesis analyzes the new trust and situates it within a broader perspective through comparisons with the Common law trust and an examination of the alternative approaches to fiduciary institutions in Civil law jurisdictions. The notion of patrimony by appropriation implies that the corpus of the Quebec trust constitutes ownerless property. Despite its novelty, we find that the concept is compatible with the civilian theories of droit subjectif and patrimony, as well as with the other parts of …  Read more

Least squares linear regression is a common tool in ecological research. One of the central assumptions of least squares linear regression is that the independent variable is measured without error. But this variable is measured with error whenever it is a sample mean. The significance of such contraventions is not regularly assessed in ecological studies. A simulation program was made to provide such an assessment. The program requires a hypothetical data set, and using estimates of S$ sp2$ it scatters the hypothetical data to simulate the effect of sampling error. A regression line is drawn through the scattered data, and …  Read more

Lowland rice production is expanding throughout South-East Asia necessarily onto soils of poorer nutrient status with a resulting decrease in yields. An understanding of the nutrient status of the rice rhizosphere is essential for the development of appropriate management practices to increase rice yields. Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one aspect of rice nutrition. Increased rice root respiration and P uptake efficiency, and an increase in H$ sp{+}$ released from roots and enhanced solubility of calcium phosphates are two possible mechanisms of tolerance to low P levels. These mechanisms were evaluated but could not be used as single tests to differentiate …  Read more

Grassino, Alejandro E. (Supervisor)  Read more

A research version of the Canadian regional finite-element (RFE) model is used to evaluate the capability of the operational model in reproducing the meso-$ beta$-scale structure and evolution of three different types of midlatitude squall-line systems, and to advance our understanding on the development of these features. In this thesis, we use the well-documented 10-11 June 1985 squall line as a test bed to examine the appropriate incorporation of various physical representations and their coupling with RFE's model components. It is demonstrated through a series of sensitivity studies that the operational prediction of squall lines can be improved if more …  Read more

Bennett, Hugh (Supervisor)  Read more

After having reached a level of influence unmatched by any other element of Soviet government under Stalin and Beria, the security organs of the Soviet Union proved difficult to tame. While it has been argued that the KGB was made subservient to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union after the ascent of Khrushchev in the late 1950's, this essay will attempt to show that the security police apparatus was able to maintain a high level of prominence and even autonomy throughout the history of the Soviet Union and beyond. While it may have appeared that the organs were under …  Read more

Four fundamental principles constitute the basis of international regulations pertaining to the operational aspects of telecommunications, and communications satellites in particular. Firstly, provision of global distress and safety service should be provided globally on a priority basis. Secondly, global telecommunications coverage and connectivity should be achieved. Thirdly, basic telecommunications services should be established within every national jurisdiction, including developing areas, and should be accessible to all individuals. Finally, universal access to telecommunications services on a non-discriminatory basis should be guaranteed. At the outset, governments have not only chosen to foster and closely regulate the development and operations of communications satellites, …  Read more

Bell, Graham (Supervisor)  Read more

A critical culture requires that the site of appearance, the temporal coincidence of the subject, the object and the site, be acknowledged as a ground for meaning. Through a built investigation and a theoretical address this thesis examines the site of appearance for contemporary creative practice; the extent to which it continues to be defined by and contained within the conceptual frame of the Enlightenment aesthetic as the privileged discourse of the object. In a detailed analysis of the architecture of the exhibition, the 18th century Academy Salon and the Parisian bourgeois hotel are juxtaposed with examples from the late …  Read more

Venturia inaequalis, the causal agent of apple scab, overwinters in apple leaves on the orchard floor. To develop a control strategy based on the prevention of the maturation of overwintering pseudothecia, a sampling of fungi colonizing dead apple leaves was conducted from different orchard floors in Quebec during the spring and fall of 1993. A total of 345 different isolates were obtained, from which fifteen genera have never been previously recorded as colonizers of apple leaves in North America. Small differences were detected in genera richness among orchards but the fungal composition of each orchard was fairly unique. Different tests …  Read more

Optimization of multimodal functions is hard for traditional optimization techniques. Holland's genetic algorithm combined with the concept of niche and speciation already showed success in such difficult problems. Some implementations of this concept exist, but the effective ones all lack flexibility by requiring either previous knowledge about the function to optimize or by imposing some fixed external schedule of exploration. We present an implementation of this concept using minimum spanning trees that is compared with a previous algorithm on random choices of input parameters. Our proposal does not require any a priori knowledge about the function. Two approaches using the …  Read more

The distribution of Photosystems (PS) I and II was studied in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and compared to that found in the higher plant Pisum sativum. Two antibodies were used; one, anti-CP1-e, was raised against the two reaction center proteins of PS I from Synechococcus elongatus, and the other, anti-CP40, was raised against the 40 kDa protein of PS II from the same organism. Immunogold labelling of C. reinhardtii sections showed that both appressed and non-appressed thylakoid membranes were labelled by each antiserum, with labelling on the non-appressed membranes being somewhat (1.7-1.8 times) higher than that on the appressed …  Read more

Canadian hard rock mine extraction practices have commonly created shallow stopes, 12% of which have caved to surface, from instabilities originating from stope hangingwalls, crowns or footwalls. To date, however, mine operators have applied few of the available data gathering and design tools to strike a balance between maximum economic excavation dimension and stope viability. The preference has been to use personal mining experience. Several common rock mass environments are surveyed as well as the various ways in which shallow stopes have failed. It has been found that these rock masses develop gravity-induced movement in the form of plug failures, …  Read more

The fundamental properties of dust flame propagation have been studied experimentally and theoretically. Experiments were carried out in a Pyrex tube having a 5 cm inside diameter and a length of 1.2 meters. The dust dispersion system in the present experiment has been demonstrated to produce a laminar flow with uniform dust concentration. It is observed that the propagating flame exhibits a truly laminar character of propagation. Propagation and quenching of dust-air flames were measured for aluminum dust for a relatively wide range of dust concentration. It was observed that the process of the dust flame propagation in the tube …  Read more

Brawley, Mark R. (Supervisor)  Read more

Often debates over literary meaning can get swept up into larger discussions about social significance, political responsibilities, identity struggles and deification of cultural objects. Literary meaning becomes, in these deliberations, not just a theoretical entity but a powerful social force. All of these queries, however, inasmuch as the literary enterprise is a part of human interaction, are dependent on the brute fact of communication. Any notion of literary meaning must ultimately rest upon a concept of meaning that explains, or attempts to explain, how communication is possible. This, in turn, leads down the dark path into human psychology and the …  Read more

Szpunar, J. A. (Supervisor)  Read more

NF-$ kappa$B proteins regulate the transcription of numerous genes involved in the immune response, transcription control and viral pathogenesis. To examine the effect of ectopic expression of NF-$ kappa$B proteins on DNA binding activity and transcription control, individual NF-$ kappa$B subunit genes were introduced into NIH 3T3 cells via retrovirus mediated gene transfer. Expression of NF-$ kappa$B subunits p65, p105, p100 or c-Rel increased the basal level of nuclear NF-$ kappa$B DNA binding in NIH 3T3 cells, whereas expression of p65$ Delta$ and p52 subunits did not affect basal level activity. TNF-$ alpha$ treatment of the NF-$ kappa$B expressing cells …  Read more

The present work is an endeavour to gain an understanding of the Mantel-Haenszel (MH) estimator beyond that which can be garnered from textbook consultation. To this end, I explore two aspects of the estimator which cannot be fully understood from the textbooks: the rationale for its weights, and its performance. The first one has to do with the basis for the particular choice of the estimator's weights, and the second one with the estimator's distributional properties and their assessment. The approach to each of the topics is, first, to identify and understand what is presented in the original literature; and …  Read more

All athletes dream of competing to their full potential. Experimenters have shown that mental preparation can enhance performance. Self-efficacy and self-confidence have also been shown to have a direct relationship with performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of team highlight videotapes as mental preparation tools designed to enhance feelings of self-efficacy and sport-confidence, which in turn might lead to enhanced performance. Three-minute video montages of successful shot-making were set to music, with key words (words chosen to encourage or to emphasize a good shot) added throughout. Forty-seven competitive female tennis players were randomly assigned to …  Read more

Kalff, Jaap (Supervisor)  Read more

To develop a coherent conceptual framework regarding selection biases in studies evaluating diagnostic tests, we analyzed the joint impact of the selection processes and the nature of the relationships among relevant variables on traditional and alternative analytic strategies. For the simplest situation involving a dichotomous disease status and diagnostic test and a single dichotomous covariate, we considered selection based on the test, the covariate, the test and the covariate independently and non-independently, and the disease status. […]  Read more

Life for nineteenth century American women was full of restrictions and limitations. Frowned upon or simply not permitted to enter "male" spheres of activity such as professions, business and politics, many middle class women turned to philanthropy and reform work as the sole acceptable outlet for their energy, talents, and time. American Jews of German descent adopted the "Victorian ideal of womanhood" popular in the United States at this time, propelling many German-Jewish women to engage in charitable Zionist activity despite the general lack of support for Zionism in America earlier in this century. Among this group of bourgeois German-Jewish …  Read more

Holland, Paul (Supervisor)  Read more

In order to study the subcellular localization of the protein-tyrosine phosphatase MPTP, indirect immunofluorescence microscopy experiments were performed. The enzyme was thereby determined to localize almost exclusively to the nucleus. The nuclear localization signal was mapped by further immunofluorescence experiments performed with deletion mutants and $ beta$-galactosidase fusion constructs. The sequence $ rm sp{345}RKRIRED sp{351}$ was found to be capable and sufficient to localize MPTP and unrelated proteins to the nucleus, and a secondary domain was identified that is likely involved in mediating the nuclear retention of MPTP. To determine the in vivo functions of MPTP, its substrate specificity was …  Read more

Commercial undertakings to arbitrate and arbitral awards are commonly recognized and enforced in both Canada and the United States. Chapter Eleven of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Investor-State Arbitration, now gives new meaning to the established arbitral regime. For the first time in any trade pact in the world to date, the NAFTA provides a mechanism by which a private investor may submit a claim against NAFTA Party government to dispute resolution through "binding" arbitration. This system not only established an innovative solution to a bureaucratic quandary by raising the investor onto a level playing field with a …  Read more

The separation of minerals by flotation depends on the effectiveness of the reagents used. The performance of depressants is paramount in rejecting the undesirable minerals while maintaining acceptable recoveries of the desired mineral. Iron-bearing minerals are the main contaminants in many ores: their removal is critical. Several different types of depressants have been used for this purpose, many of which are toxic. A shift has been made toward more environmentally friendly reagents including starch and dextrin. The purpose of this thesis was to determine the depression mechanism of dextrin on pyrite. A number of techniques were applied to give insight …  Read more

An indirectly heated solar drier fitted with a flat plate collector and a directly heated solar drier were compared with open air sun drying of cocoa beans under field conditions in St. Lucia. Sun drying was conducted on two surfaces, perforated steel and non perforated wood. The methods were examined for the ability to adequately dry fermented beans and effect on quality. Loading rates of 13.5, 26.9 and 40.4 kg/m$ sp2$ were examined. Temperature increases of 15$ sp circ$C and 20$ sp circ$C above ambient were achieved in the indirect and direct drier, respectively. The solar driers were more efficient …  Read more

De Mori, Renato (Supervisor)  Read more

Tropper, Carl (Supervisor)  Read more

The present study investigated bilingual lexical organization in two groups of French-English bilinguals: (1) Compound bilinguals, who acquired both languages in early childhood and speak both with high proficiency; and (2) Subordinate bilinguals, who started speaking their second language during or after adolescence and have reduced L2 proficiency. Subjects were tested on a cross-language auditory primed lexical decision task containing translations and associated words with both cognate and noncognate equivalents. Both subject groups demonstrated significant translation and associative priming, indicating that both groups of subjects had access to a conceptual route of processing. However, no significant facilitation was found for …  Read more

Misra, A. K. (Supervisor)  Read more

Hekimi, Siegfried (Supervisor)  Read more

Watt, D. (Supervisor)  Read more

Scoble, Malcolm (Supervisor)  Read more

This thesis examines traditional and contemporary perspectives on the nature of spirituality. Its aim is to provide a basis for a programme or course on spirituality that would be relevant and meaningful for students in multicultural settings. The main theme unifying the diverse traditions and perspectives examined in the thesis relates to the interconnectivity of all life within the Universe. Other related themes include: the importance of living in the present, the unity between body, spirit, and earth, and the importance of contemplative solitude and silence.  Read more

The gelling characteristics of whey proteins is governed by factors which affect the structural properties of the protein. To understand this structure gelling relationship, the following factors were investigated; protein concentration, heating temperature and time, pH, NaCl and sugars. The effect of these factors on the molecular structure and gelatin properties of whey protein concentrate (WPC), $ beta$-lactoglobulin ($ beta$-lg), $ alpha$-lactalbumin ($ alpha$-lac) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, HPLC, mass spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that protein concentration affected textural properties without affecting the molecular structure …  Read more

The flux of soil C is linked to soil nutrient cycling and plant uptake but the exact nature of these relationships is unclear. Interactions between labile-C and humus form in controlling microbial and nutrient dynamics were studied. A new kinetic parameter was derived to reliably assess the potential energy supply to soil microbes. A bioassay study demonstrated that the rhizosphere of paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) seedlings increased soil available-C and microbial biomass but decreased microbial nutrient limitation; results suggest an alternative conceptual model for N cycling termed "co-metabolic N mineralization". Go-metabolic N mineralization occurred in a mull but not …  Read more

Enamel proteins are extracellular matrix proteins expressed throughout enamel formation. However, questions concerning their numbers and origins are still somewhat ambiguous. To characterize the nascent enamel proteins, cell free translation and immunoprecipitation procedures were performed using poly(A)$ sp{+}$RNA isolated from freeze-dried segments of rat incisor enamel organs at the secretory, early maturation, and mid maturation stages of amelogenesis. Phosphoimaging revealed that the enamel organ produces enamel proteins continuously throughout enamel development albeit in decreasing number and intensity. Ten enamel proteins were translated at the secretory stage and ranged in molecular weight from 80 to 18 kDa, resembling the number (Simmer …  Read more