McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 2005

Uveal melanoma has a high mortality rate, with approximately 45% of patients dying due to liver metastasis within 15 years of initial diagnosis and local treatment. As the eye lacks lymphatics, there is no staging of uveal melanoma according to lymph node metastasis. The search for new prognostic factors and therapeutic targets is therefore crucial to the advancement of uveal melanoma research. The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been investigated in human malignancies such as cutaneous melanoma. Immunohistochemical studies were therefore used to show that uveal melanomas do express COX-2 and that this expression is associated with various histopathological markers …  Read more

The folding and assembly of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen and membrane are monitored by ER quality control (ERQC) mechanisms. This thesis focuses on two elements of ERQC: the unfolded protein response (UPR) and ER-associated degradation (ERAD), essential processes that prevent the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the cell. The mechanisms of both are well studied but only partially characterized and additional pathways are conjectured to exist. We have created the ERQC database that contains protein interactions, gene expression data, sub-cellular localization and orthologies for all genes involved in the UPR and ERAD. Using this highly curated database, …  Read more

Research suggests that athletes are at greater risk of disordered eating than their non-athletic counterparts. However this literature is limited primarily to female, college-aged populations. The objectives of this study were to develop and validate a screening tool (the Questionnaire of Eating Attitudes and Behaviors, Q-EAB) designed to assess disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in male and female athletes and to estimate the prevalence of disordered eating in a sample of Masters Athletes. A sample of 63 females and 48 males (mean age = 45.4+/-6.6 years, range = 35-65) completed a series of 6 eating questionnaires online as well as …  Read more

Optical isomers (enantiomers) are chiral molecules, which are commonly used in the drug and food industry. The major difference between the two D and L enantiomers is the spatial arrangement of atoms around a central carbon. During normal chemical synthesis a mixture of L and D enantiomers are formed in equally proportion (racemic mixture). Currently, the most common technique for resolution of a racemic mixture is chromatography using chiral specific columns. However, this method is limited in scale and is rather costly. This work studies the possibility for the resolution of racemic glutamic acid by crystallization. Since the solubility of …  Read more

This thesis presents a new method of solution for incompressible flow analysis past airfoils in the presence of the ground. The present method uses velocity singularities to derive the pressure distribution and the aerodynamic forces and moments acting on the airfoils subjected to ground effect. The method of velocity singularities has been originally developed by Mateescu for the analysis of the steady flow past airfoils and wings in supersonic regime, making use of special singularities associated to the leading edge and ridges, which are characterized by sudden changes in the boundary conditions. In this approach, the presence of the ground …  Read more

Our work is a feminist biography of Gabrielle Duchene (1870-1954), feminist activist, unionist, pacifist, antifascist, fellow traveller of the French Communist Party and an innovator as a propagandist. She represents one of the few personalities of the interwar period to symbolize the ideological congruence of these movements and to have tried to find a solution, another way, to the clash of their contradictions. All along her engagement, Gabrielle Duchene will make non-conventional choices. The objective of our research is to analyze her atypical reactions in order to put the multi-marginalization process into context and to understand all the influences in …  Read more

Salmonella cause a broad spectrum of diseases in humans ranging from asymptomatic carriage to life-threatening sepsis. The disease outcome depends partly on the host genetic background. The contribution of genes controlling the late phase of a Salmonella infection was studied using a model based on the inoculation of a sublethal dose of S. Enteritidis in 129S6 and C57BL/6J mice. C57BL/6J mice were able to eliminate completely S. Enteritidis from their RES, whereas 129S6 mice could not. Linkage analysis of 302 (C57BL/6J X 129S6) F2 progeny identified three QTLs, Ses1, Ses2, and Ses3. They were associated with disease susceptibility in 129S6 …  Read more

This doctoral thesis describes the development of novel rapid deposition hydrogel platforms that serve as biointerfaces for real-time immunoassay using quartz crystal microgravimetry (QCM). Biointerface development was undertaken with the goal of developing a simple system relying on affordable technology to achieve real-time immunoassay performance equivalent to more complex and involved protocols. The primary advantage of the hydrogel biointerfaces developed herein lies in their rapid preparation using affordable, non-toxic reagents. Compositions developed over three sequential development cycles rely on chemically cross-linking carboxymethylcellulose, which serves to covalently immobilise recognition elements through amine coupling, to polyethyleneimine. The various compositions require 10 minutes …  Read more

The negative consequences (especially urban smog and global warming) of the heavy dependence on motorized vehicles of residents in urban areas across Canada and the United States have rightly motivated a great deal of research into potential policies aimed at reducing car ownership and use. This research focuses on the potential role of neighborhood and regional urban form and land use pattern in reducing car-dependency in cities. The study relies primarily on an origin-destination travel survey collected by the Agence Metropolitaine de Transport (AMT) in 1998, consisting of a 5% representative sample of residents living in the Montreal CMA. The …  Read more

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is considered an important neuromodulator in the regulation of emotional behavior. NPY consistently modulates anxiety-related behaviors and there is increasing support for a role for this peptide in mood disorders such as depression. There is also evidence that NPY promotes neuroplasticity in the central nervous system. Recent studies suggest that chronic depression is associated with neuronal loss and abnormalities in neuroplasticity (such as neurogenesis) in the hippocampus. Consequently, the aim of this study was to elucidate the role of the NPY Y1 and Y2 receptor subtypes in anxiety- and depression-like behaviors using NPY knockout and transgenic animals …  Read more

Telomeres are protective structures at the end of eukaryotic chromosomes essential for indefinite cell proliferation. Their disruption causes activation of DNA repair pathways, growth arrest and/or cell death. In normal cells telomere shortening during cell division has been proposed to act as a tumor suppressor mechanism to block the proliferation of cells at risk of undergoing malignant transformation. Overcoming this proliferative block by activating a mechanism to maintain telomeres is a necessary requirement for unlimited proliferation and tumor progression. Human cells have two mechanisms for telomere maintenance: a more common one based on telomerase and a rarer one based on …  Read more

The human adenoviral protein E4orf4 has been shown to induce p53-independent cell death in cancer cells. Interaction with the Balpha subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is essential for E4orf4-mediated cell death. PP2A is a trimeric serine/threonine phosphatase, consisting of a structural A subunit, a catalytic C subunit and a regulatory B subunit. Four families of regulatory subunits have been identified to date: B, B', B" and B"'. The B-family subunits, of which there are 4 isoforms, contain 7 WD-repeats and are predicted to fold into a beta-propeller structure with 7 blades. Recent studies have shown that E4orf4 induces death …  Read more

A hand gesture interface allows for seamless interaction with both virtual and physical objects in computer augmented environments. However, developing a reliable hand-pose detection and recognition system using computer vision remain to be a challenging problem. In this thesis, two tracking systems relying on different image features are described and compared. The first system employs skin color to extract skin regions from an image. Then, a user's hand is located by using a circle fitting algorithms inside the largest skin blob. To find fingertips, a circular Hough transform is applied to the hand contour and followed by a filtering process …  Read more

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is an emerging problem among Inuit of Circumpolar Countries. However, Canadian Inuit health surveillance data are limited. Data from the Nunavik Health Survey were used to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity using the observed body mass index (BMIob) and the standardized BMI adjusted for sitting height (BMIstd). Also, data from Pangnirtung, Nunavut in the Baffin Region pilot health screening were used to evaluate anthropometric correlates of indices of insulin resistance. Obesity among the Nunavik study population (29.8%) is more prevalent than among general Canadians (23.1%), but the prevalence rates are more comparable when …  Read more

In this inquiry, I use ethnographic research methods to uncover the tensions that a selected group of military officers and students from Central and Eastern Europe and Asia experienced learning English in Canada and in Europe. In both settings, I use a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach to the inquiry to critically explore with the participants their experiences using computers for second language learning. We negotiate changes to their current perceptions of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) through the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC). This communication involved writing-based exchanges at the Canadian site and using state-of-the-art audio video transferring technology, in …  Read more

This thesis relates to the reconstitution and the definition of the Northeast of America's territorial space. The main objective is the reconstruction of the Abenaki's territorial map, one of the aboriginal nations who live in this region. Supported by the essence of identity expressed through the original Abenaki toponymy within le territoire quebecois, it was possible to trace their historical territory, the W8banaki . By examining systematically the historical, cartographical and geographical sources available, it was possible to collect more than 1000 toponyms of Abenaki origin; they referring to more than 800 geographical entities. Based on this gazetteer the toponymic …  Read more

This thesis explores autobiographical practices and their relationship to autofiction, by focusing on practices of identity construction and artistic performance, as well as identity construction through performance. Emphasis is given to the ways gender and sexuality enter into, and shape, these practices by examining, in particular, the way they are expressed in Diana Thorneycroft's photographic performances. Chapter 1 discusses the history and key debates in autobiography theory, the ways gender has been introduced into the analysis of autobiography, and non-literary forms of autobiography. Chapter 1 also briefly discusses the (Western) history of art by women. Chapter 2 examines Thorneycroft's oeuvre …  Read more

Research on the putative health benefits has indicated that kefir, a traditional fermented milk, might have antimutagenic and antitumor properties. The major objective of the present thesis was to isolate and identify antitumor compounds in cow's milk kefir and investigate the possible mechanisms involved. High speed centrifugation (HSC), molecular weight cut-off filtration (MWCO), size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (SEC-HPLC) and reverse phase-HPLC (RP-HPLC) were utilized for fractionation of kefir and a cell culture model was developed to screen for the antiproliferative effects of the kefir fractions. The antiproliferative effects of bacteria-free extracts from different fermentation stages of kefir production, …  Read more

Iron is indispensable for cell proliferation and growth, but it is potentially toxic when present in excess. Two homologous iron regulatory proteins (IRP1 and IRP2) control cellular iron homeostasis by binding to iron-responsive elements (IREs) and post-transcriptionally coordinating the expression of transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and ferritin. We have previously reported that overexpression of IRP1C437S, a constitutive IRP1 mutant, inhibits H1299 human lung cancer cell growth in vitro. In current study, we investigated the potential role of IRPs in tumor growth in vivo by the injection of H1299 cells expressing IRP1C437S or wild type IRP1 or IRP2 into the flanks …  Read more

The partially linear model (PLM) is a flexible extension of both the linear model and nonparametric model of time series. The vector partially linear model (VPLM) is an extension of PLM when there are a set of observations at one time point from several sources. Smoothing spline is one of the popular approaches for PLM estimation. This thesis extends the smoothing spline approach to a few VPLMs and presents algorithms to compute the estimates. Then, we apply the smoothing spline based vector partially linear model (SSBVPLM) approach to Global Positioning System (GPS) applications. In an unfavorable environment, the accuracy of …  Read more

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of confinement on the response of ductile shear walls subjected to reversed cyclic loading. Two shear walls, with identical dimensions, were designed in accordance with the Canadian Standard Association A23.3-04, except that a greater amount of confinement was provided in boundary elements. One specimen used normal-strength concrete, and the other used high-strength concrete. A number of confinement analytical models were selected to predict the behaviour of each specimen. The test data of two moderately confined shear walls (Liu 2004) was used to compare the responses of ductile shear walls at different …  Read more

The buckling behaviour of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) sheet pile panels subjected to a uniform lateral pressure was investigated. Based on the previous full scale tests by Shanmugan in year 2003 (Shanmugan, 2004), the critical load at buckling initiation was first determined through experimental data analysis, and the theoretical modeling was then followed in an attempt to predict the buckling initiation and understanding the failure mechanism. The behavior of the panels loaded in upright position and inverted position was studied. The local buckling of the compressive flanges was monitored by the strain measurements, which demonstrated that when tested in upright …  Read more

This thesis presents the steps and design decisions followed to develop the architecture of a low-power wireless systems design platform. The design tradeoffs are based on the following characteristics: easy to program interfaces, flexibility, expandability, low cost and low power. The intended users are researchers or students interested in using a robust and reliable platform that enables rapid validation of ideas. A method to integrate printed planar antennas directly on the PCB is also presented along with the analysis of its performance and benefits that it provides to the architecture. Applications using the design platform are also detailed.  Read more

In the packaging industry, cushioning products are usually made of plastic materials, such as polystyrene. The insulation and lightweight character make it more popular and convenient to use. However, the extensive use of it creates more waste leading to an environmental problem. Usually the cushioning foams are discarded after being used for inbox protection as packaging material; eventually they end up in a landfill. Most plastic foams are not biodegradable, which cannot be composted and will create more and more waste that affects the ecological system. In the mean time, foams made up of bio-degradable materials are considered. In general, …  Read more

Alice, a secondary teacher from Quebec, Canada is the focal point of this qualitative case-study research. She is a Caucasian, 37 year-old, married woman with three children. Alice is selected for the following reasons: primarily, she is a science teacher, who has received a provincial award Prix de merite de la conservation de la faune for a project, that is a demonstration of creativity in her field. Secondarily, I share many attributes with her including being married with children, and being a science teacher. Data were gathered from July, 1998 to July, 2001. Data sources included five one-to-one interviews with …  Read more

Filamentary samples were cut from ingots of the chalcopynte semiconductor CuIn1-x,GaxSe2, grown by a vertical Bridgman method for compositions x = 0, 0.2, and 0.3. On these, room-temperature measurements were made of thermoelectric power (alpha), Hall coefficient (RH), and electrical conductivity (sigma). Analysis of the measured results was made on a two-carrier basis, taking the minority electrons into account. Assuming dominant acoustic lattice scattering and an effective hole mass ratio, m p/m0 = 0.7, the only common acceptable value for the electron-to-hole mobility ratio, b, was found to be b = 5, for all filamentary samples. Using this value, hole …  Read more

Personal computers (PC) and high level programming techniques have been developing so rapidly during last decade leading to new and exciting opportunities in the field of education. The purpose of this research was to develop food processing virtual labs as efficient teaching and study tools for food processing courses using user-friendly computer languages (VC++, MFC and OpenGL). A 3D graphic technique was employed in this study as a specific objective to generate 3D graphics in the visualization mode. According to functionalities, virtual labs were designed for three basic simulations: (1) Calculation simulations, which perform various calculations related to food processing. …  Read more

This thesis examines the varied and contradictory ideas about rural women and their needs that are produced and circulate within development discourses and projects. It pays particular attention to the multiple actors involved in the production of such ideas and the relations of power that determine which ideas gain authority. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, India, it looks at women's participation in three different development projects: a women's savings and credit group, a broad-based development NGO, and the women's village organizations (mahila mandals ). These case studies demonstrate how development organizations engage with local …  Read more

Bismuth (Bi) is a unique electronic material with small effective mass (~0.001me) and long carrier mean free path (100 nm at 300K). It is particularly suitable for studying nano scale related phenomena such as size effect and energy level spacing. In this thesis work, bismuth based nanoelectronic devices were studied. Devices were fabricated using a combination of electron beam (e-beam) writing and thermal evaporation techniques. Dimensions of the fabricated devices were in the order of 100 rim. All structures were optimized for individual electrical characterization. Three types of devices were studied: Bi nanowires, Bi nanowires with dual side-gate structures and …  Read more

Public debt incurred by developing countries has become an ardently debated issue in international relations. The competing interests of creditors and debtors, combined with the increasing necessity of advancing welfare worldwide, make it difficult to establish a workable scheme that provides adequate assistance to needy countries. Foreign aid is evidently part of the solution to development problems. However, conditions imposed by international lenders bring about certain discontents. The World Bank's negative pledge clause forbids a public borrower from securing external debt that is preferential to that of the Bank. This covenant also includes several exceptions: short-term secured banking transactions and …  Read more

Control strategies for retention and formation processes are developed in order to stabilize the wet end operation and to reduce variations in the machine direction properties of paper without deteriorating formation of paper. The papermaking process using a microparticulate retention aid system is focused. The main factors affecting retention and formation were investigated with a CPAM (cationic polyacrylamide)/bentonite retention aid system and on a Fourdrinier pilot paper machine. The deposition efficiency model and the bridging strength model were developed to express the effects of the dosages of microparticulate retention aids on retention and paper formation, respectively. Effects of the pulp …  Read more

In eukaryotes, the initiation phase of protein synthesis or translation is a multi-step process that culminates in the positioning of the SOS ribosome at the initiation codon of a messenger RNA (mRNA). Recognition of the cap structure by eukaryotic initiation factor 4F (etF4F; composed of three subunits: the cap-binding protein e1F4E, the RNA-helicase eIF4A and the scaffolding protein eIF4G) facilitates this process. The ability of eIF4F to bind to the cap, as a result of the Cap:eIF4E interaction is of particular importance, as it is the major target of translational regulatory mechanism. Early embryogenesis requires the activity of various maternal …  Read more

Properly assembled elastic fibers play an important role in providing skin with the properties of elasticity and resilience to allow for considerable mobility, but the mechanisms involved in elastic fiber assembly remains unknown. Fibulin-5 is an extracellular 66kDa glycoprotein synthesized and secreted by fibroblasts in skin, and has the ability to bind to tropoelastin. This study addresses (1) the role of fibulin-5 in the ultrastructure of elastic fibers in skin, and (2) its function in the cutaneous mechanical properties by using wild type and fibulin-5 null mice. In the first part, skin of fibulin-5 null mice as well as wild …  Read more

Most recent Canadian studies on the mental health and behavioural problems of Canadian immigrant children have focused on the impact of various socioeconomic and demographic factors. To better understand the emotional and behavioural problems of immigrant children, it is important to look beyond the children's family demographics and to assess the broader social context. The current study explored the effects of immigrant children's social relationships within families and peer groups, as well as the effects of their demographic backgrounds, on the children's behavioural problems. This paper is based on the data for 182 Chinese immigrant children aged 11 to 13 …  Read more

The objective of this study was to apply the WEND model, a nutrient mass balance model, to the Castor watershed in southern Quebec to evaluate phosphorus movement, storage and export over time. The WEND model was customized to run on a field-scale and then individually applied to 266 fields on the watershed for a 30-year simulation period. Field-specific information for the period of 1997-1999, was used as basic inputs to the model. Climatic information was obtained from local sources. The additional information required to run the model was derived from the literature. Model outputs were analysed at three different levels: …  Read more

Little information is available on the structure or mechanical properties of the human ascending aorta (AA). Most studies to date have assumed homogeneous tissue mechanical properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the local variation in AA tissue structure and mechanics. Healthy and pathologic tissue samples of human AA were obtained at autopsy and surgical pathology. Each aortic ring was sectioned into quadrants; anterior, posterior, medial (inner curvature) and lateral (outer curvature). Samples from each quadrant were processed for histological analysis and biaxial tensile testing. The results from this study indicate that regional differences are present in both …  Read more

A number of brain regions have been implicated in the recovery process after stroke. Yet, we still do not understand how these brain regions may influence each other. To overcome this problem, I used a perturb-and-measure approach, by combining transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and positron emission tomography (PET), to examine effective connectivity of the motor system in healthy individuals and stroke patients. This doctorate thesis encompasses three studies. Together, the three studies provide new knowledge about effective connectivity and the function of the primary motor (M1) and dorsal premotor (PMd) cortices, and insights into rehabilitation-mediated recovery. The first two studies …  Read more

Using the reflectivity and Doppler data of the Carvel radar, located near Edmonton, Alberta, for the summer of 2000 to 2004, we produced a mesocyclone climatology for a region within 120 km from the radar using the mesocyclone detection algorithm of the McGill Radar data Analysis, Processing and Interactive Display (RAPID) software system. The Upper level Vertically Integrated Liquid water content (UVIL) algorithm of the same software package has been used to detect strong convection. Two datasets were built. The first one consists of dates when mesocyclones occurred while the other includes dates characterized by strong convection but without mesocyclonic …  Read more

Statistical downscaling (SD) procedures have been frequently used for assessing the potential impacts of climate change and variability on hydrological regime. These procedures are based on the empirical relationships between large-scale atmospheric variables (predictors) and surface environment parameters (e.g., precipitation and temperature). The present research work is hence concerned with the development of new predictor climate variables that could be used for improving the accuracy of downscaling of daily precipitation process at a local site. The new predictors should be able to provide a more accurate simulation of the local variable since they could describe more accurately the physical characteristics …  Read more

Folate is required for the synthesis of nucleotides, the regeneration of methionine, and methylation reactions. The one-carbon tetrahydrofolate (THF) pathways in higher organisms are separated into the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial compartments. Studies in both yeast and tumour cells suggest that mitochondria produce formate for use in de novo purine synthesis in the cytoplasm. Yeast have a mitochondrial NADP-dependent methyleneTHF dehydrogenase-cyclohydrolase-synthetase (DCS), however, the only known homolog in mammals was the bifunctional NAD-dependent methyleneTHF dehydrogenase-cyclohydrolase (NMDMC). The cloning of the gene and cDNA of the murine DCS allowed the comparison of the 3'-untranslated region of NMDMC with the synthetase coding region …  Read more

With their planar structure and compatibility with the printed circuit fabrication techniques, printed dipole antennas present one of the best options for future wireless networks. Although they have existed for a long time, printed dipole antennas are not vastly in use due to their relatively large size. In this thesis, new design techniques are proposed to miniaturize these antennas. Other major improvements such as pattern correction and bandwidth enhancement are also presented. The resulting antenna is then integrated with an IEEE 802.15.4 wireless transceiver on the same printed circuit board to show its functionality in future wireless networks.  Read more

Color and luminance perception both rely on the different combinations of the three cone types, termed L, M, and S cones. Each of the color opponent mechanisms can be defined by their cone weights with (L-M) for Red-Green, (S-0.5(L+M)) for Blue-Yellow, and (2L+M) for the luminance mechanism. My project investigates two aspects of peripheral color vision. One looks at the spatial summation of the three mechanisms across eccentricity and the other one looks at the selective loss of red-green cone contrast sensitivity in the periphery. In the spatial summation experiment, we have used two kinds of horizontal gratings for the …  Read more

The signaling peptide Indian Hedgehog (Ihh) is secreted by prehypertrophic chondrocytes of the growth plate, the growth center of long bones. It functions to negatively regulate differentiation and positively regulate proliferation of chondrocytes. Thus, Ihh ultimately controls the rate of bone growth. The transcriptional regulation of the Ihh gene, however, remains uncharacterized. In order to study the gene's regulation, the genomic Ihh sequences from several species were aligned to identify conserved regions that may contain regulatory sites. Two putative Stat transcription factor binding sites were identified, one of which is conserved across all species studied while the other is rodent-specific. …  Read more

The aviation industry is undeniably playing a very significant role in our day-to-day life. A vast and inter-connected web of flights ensures swift passenger travel and cargo traffic. However, in the name of security, otherwise intrinsic technicalities tend now not only to hinder on further development of aviation facilitation but also take over and lead towards the exact opposite result. What are the current measures taken by the international community to streamline passenger travel? What are the new initiatives which ought to be implemented? How is the future of aviation facilitation going to look like? How is it going to …  Read more

Gravity-Recoverable-Gold (GRG) is defined as gold present in a particle in sufficient quantities as to be selectively recoverable from gangue via gravity methods. The McGill standard GRG test is an ore characterization test using three stages of sequential liberation and recovery with a Knelson KC-MD3 centrifuge to determine the size distribution of GRG. This thesis describes the development and testing of two simplified versions of the GRG test, using two and one stages of recovery respectively. Both tests use a feed mass of 20 kg, as opposed to the 40 to 100 kg normally used for the standard test. Eighteen …  Read more

The development of media and academic debate on "the crisis in masculinity" has led to a growing focus on the lives of teenage boys. Studies done on teenage girls have revealed the physical, emotional, and educational costs of cultural expectations. It is important that similar studies be done to examine the cultural forces which influence the development of a teenage boy's sense of self. This thesis looks at one of these cultural influences---the books boys read. Using Robert Connell's theoretical approach of hegemonic masculinity and sociologist Blye Frank's work with a group of teenage boys, criteria have been developed for …  Read more

The main objective of this thesis is to present an analysis of the issue of hate crimes and the manner in which the Canadian criminal justice system is currently addressing this problem. In doing so, certain inherent concerns with the current Canadian criminal legislative response to hate crimes will be highlighted and discussed in detail. More precisely, the introduction of how recent Canadian criminal legislation has dealt with hate crimes will serve as the basis for the consideration of two of the main areas of concern as they relate to the effective application of hate crime legislation, namely the areas …  Read more

Collinear fast-beam laser spectroscopy is a method of studying atomic and ionic hyperfine structure where a particle beam and a laser beam are superposed along the same line. Such a facility exists at ISAC, TRIUMF, Vancouver, BC, and was designed especially for polarising radioactive beams of alkali metals. In order to produce polarised fluorine for the use in NMR, the hyperfine structure of the 3s 4P 5/2 and 3p 4D 7/2 states has to be known. The hyperfine coefficients for those two levels are measured for the first time to be A = 2645.6(6) MHz and A = 1565.6(4)MHz respectively. …  Read more

Obstruction of the urinary tract activates apoptotic pathways in collecting duct cells and leads to loss of renal parenchyma prior to surgical intervention. It has been suggested that development molecular programs may be reactivated to offset acute organ damage. One such molecule, Pax-2, is expressed throughout the fetal collecting duct and was recently shown to suppress apoptosis during kidney development. We hypothesized that during urinary tract obstruction (UTO), PAX-2 expression is reactivated in the mature kidney, partially suppressing apoptosis; and that mice with PAX-2 mutations will have increased susceptibility to parenchymal damage during UTO. Wildtype (C3H) and heterozygous PAX-2 mutant …  Read more

Let S and T denote sets of points on the line with the total number of points equal to n. In this thesis the focus is on computing distance measures between S and T as defined by different types of assignments . An assignment is a function, F, which pairs elements of the two sets together. In particular, we are interested in the distances given by two types of assignment. When F is a surjection between the sets, the surjection distance minimizes the sum of the costs of the pairings. When the assignment is restricted only by the property that …  Read more