McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par A

Le cancer de la tête et du cou (CTC) est un groupe hétérogène de cancers qui touche des régions telles que la cavité buccale, le pharynx et le larynx. Il est bien établi que l’inflammation et le microenvironnement tumoral (MET), incluant les cellules immunitaires, les cellules stromales et diverses molécules de signalisation, jouent un rôle crucial dans le développement et la progression du cancer. Au cours des dernières années, un intérêt croissant s’est manifesté pour comprendre l’impact des facteurs spécifiques au sexe dans la biologie du cancer, y compris les différences dans la réponse inflammatoire. Cependant, notre compréhension des variations …  Read more

Estradiol-17β-6,7-3H was administered to pregnant women both normal and diabetic. The specific activities of estrogen metabolites (estrone, estriol, 16-epiestriol, 16α-hydroxyestrone and 16-ketoestradiol- 17β) were measured following β-glucuronidase hydrolysis. The specific activity of urinary estriol was one-sixth and one-tenth that of estrone in two normal pregnancies and the specific activity of estrone was slightly greater or almost equal to those of 16-epiestriol, 16α-hydroxyestrone and 16-ketoestradiol-17β. The latter three were equal to each other, in normal pregnancy. In two diabetic pregnancies, the specific activity of estriol was 30% and 50% that of estrone and the specific activity of estrone was not as …  Read more

Ibn Sina has been the object of many contemporary studies, all of which have attempted to examine various angles of the possible connection between Ibn Sina and mysticism. These studies, however, have not fully explored Ibn Sina's understanding of mysticism; he is generally seen as the most rational philosopher who ever lived and, therefore, unlikely to have been a mystic in any sense. In response to this claim, the present study aims to reconsider Ibn Sina's connection with mysticism and to examine his own perception of this tradition. This thesis first looks at the various factors which may possibly have …  Read more

Geldart, L. P.  Read more

In this thesis, we present two new methods to overcome the effects of both camera calibration errors and partial emptiness of surface voxels in voxel-coloring. Voxel-coloring is a relatively new volumetric method for 3D scene reconstruction from multiple calibrated views. The quality of reconstruction is affected by the presence of errors in the estimated calibration parameters. Furthermore, a voxel forming a scene surface may be partially empty as there is no prior knowledge about the scene surface. Both of these sources of error result in outlier pixels in voxel projections in the input images. These outlier pixels affect the photo-consistency …  Read more

Hassani, F. P. (Supervisor)  Read more

En se focalisant sur l’Etat Islamique, et Al-Shabaab en Somalie, cette thèse examine les raisons sous-jacentes des variations de stratégies et objectifs des groupes militants islamistes dans leur quête d’établir une administration civile et des institutions de gouvernance par l’ordre et la loi. Plus particulièrement, l’étude se penche sur le degré avec lequel ces organisations islamistes militantes ont atteint un succès relatif dans la génération de soutien parmi des segments de la population civile, exerçant un contrôle hégémonique sur du territoire et des communautés locales, et consolidant le pouvoir par l’utilisation stratégique de certaines formes de violence. La violence est …  Read more

Background: Sexually and/or gender diverse (SGD) youth report experiencing poorer mental health than their cisgender heterosexual peers; however, longitudinal evidence for differences in mental health service use remains limited. This study examined outpatient, emergency, and inpatient service use for mental health problems among SGD youth compared to cisgender and heterosexual youth from ages 1 to 23.Methods: A total of 1,326 participants from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development were followed from birth in 1997/98 until age 23 in 2021. Sexual orientation and gender identity were self-reported at age 23. Data on mental health-related outpatient (ages 1–23 years), emergency (ages …  Read more

La maladie d'Alzheimer (AD) est un trouble neurologique qui altère la mémoire et les capacités de réflexion, et finalement, la capacité à effectuer les tâches quotidiennes les plus simples. La majorité des cas d'AD sont des cas d'AD sporadique (sAD), qui surviennent tardivement et impliquent plusieurs gènes dans l'augmentation du risque. Avec la montée en puissance de la population âgée de la génération des baby-boomers, la recherche est urgente pour aider à identifier les marqueurs de la phase symptomatique précoce du déclin cognitif, voire encore plus tôt. Une direction de recherche potentiellement prometteuse consiste à trouver des marqueurs de dysfonctionnement …  Read more

Leveille, Richard (Supervisor2)  Read more

The Simple View of Reading (SVR; Gough & Tunmer, 1986) provides a conceptual framework for describing the processes involved when readers comprehend text and strong evidence for the SVR comes from factor analytic studies showing dissociation between decoding and comprehension skills. The aim of the present study was to investigate if pre-decoding and comprehension components exist in Canadian English-speaking pre-readers (n = 36) with the use of Principal Components Analysis and to create a parent literacy questionnaire that contains parent literacy practices that may predict children's pre-decoding and comprehension skills. All children were administered a battery of pre-reading measures and …  Read more

Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing unexpectedly stops during sleep. This condition is a common medical problem affecting infants that can result in serious complications if left untreated. Anesthesia can increase episodes of post-operative sleep apnea in infants. Therefore, the monitoring of infants after surgery is of utmost importance. The standard for diagnosing apnea events remains the visual scoring of cardiorespiratory data by trained personnel. This process is time consuming and prone to human error. In this thesis, we present automated off-line algorithms for the detection of pauses, asynchrony and movement artifact in cardiorespiratory data. These algorithms were implemented …  Read more

Une série d'essais a été réalisée sur des poteaux de taille réelle soumis à des charges axiales. Les échantillons, qui avaient des quantités variables d'armature transversale, ont été construits en utilisant un béton auto-plaçant qui contenait une quantité variable de fibres métalliques. Les résultants de cette étude expérimentale démontrent que la présence des fibres influence positivement la capacité portante des poteaux. De plus, les résultats montrent que l'utilisation d'un béton renforcé de fibres métalliques (BFM) peut s'avérer une solution appropriée pour assurer une ductilité adéquate aux poteaux. L'auteur propose des modèles analytiques pour prédire le comportement de poteaux chargés uniaxialement. …  Read more

The research work presented in this thesis deals with flight control problems. Based on robust control techniques such as H infinity control and mu-synthesis, we develop control laws that are efficient in reducing gust loads on flexible aircraft. Uncertainty models for flexible aircraft are proposed and shown to be well adapted for robust control design, while tightly covering unknown but bounded variations of flexible mode parameters. One of the models presented introduces a new complex-rational controller design methodology that takes advantage of the uncertain plant structure and achieves good performance criteria. Other uncertainty models are presented for the first time …  Read more

This thesis extends signal generation techniques using sigma-delta encoding principles for synthesizing test signals of all types. In fact, sigma-delta encoding is used to generate repeatable and programmable noise-like signals; phase domain signals such as accurate phase offsets, sinusoidal and Gaussian jitter; and frequency domain signals used for accurate frequency synthesis. For the synthesis of noise-like signals, a Gaussian noise with the desired frequency characteristic is encoded in the voltage/amplitude domain in software using sigma-delta modulation. The resulting sequence of bits is then captured and applied cyclically to an analog filter to reconstruct the noise-like signal with the desired frequency …  Read more

This thesis presents a robust programmable analog Gaussian noise generator suitable for mixed-signal test applications. Unlike conventional methods, noise generators employing a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) or resistor thermal noise amplification techniques, the user has full control over the characteristics of the Gaussian signal. Indeed, the frequency band, the mean, and the variance of the distribution are fully programmable over the voltage range within the supply rails. The method consists of digitally encoding the specified Gaussian signal in a random access memory (RAM), using pulse-density modulation, followed by filtering the output bit stream using an analog low-pass filter. It …  Read more

The purpose was to examine the ball catching strategies of 15 children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) compared to 15 of their peers without DCD, and 15 younger children matched on ball skills. A ball catching activity (catching 10 consecutive balls in five different positions) and the developmental sequences proposed by Haywood and Getchell (2005) were used to evaluate movement patterns. Children with DCD caught significantly fewer balls than their peers at the chest and above the head. Children with DCD demonstrated delayed arm action catching on the right and delayed body actions when balls were projected away from body …  Read more

Garcia, Sergio Freire (Supervisor2)  Read more

Ten trained male track athletes (VO2max = 64.7 ml·kg·min -1) performed three workouts (conditions) with repeated 400-m runs. The intensity and number of repetitions varied among conditions. Condition 1 consisted of two all-out 400-m runs. Condition 2 was 4 x 400-m runs with the first three reps performed 4 s slower than condition 1 and the 4 th rep was all-out. Condition 3 consisted of 8 x 400-m runs with the first seven reps performed 8 s slower than condition 1 and the 8th rep was all-out. Dependent variables were HR, blood lactate and run time for the final rep …  Read more

Who is that man who, in spite of his fumbling Oriental cloak and heavy turban, was destined to play the most important role in the last century of Islamic history? Who is that villager who opened wide his mind and eyes to what was taking place not only in Egypt or the other Arab and Muslim countries but also in Europe and America, not only with respect to political and historical developments but with respect to intellectual and scholarly trends as well? [...]  Read more

The purpose of this thesis is to present an annotated bibliography of materials available in North America for the further study of the Muhammadijah movement in Indonesia. Since such materials have been found to be very limited, it has not in fact been possible to make the bibliography as selective as was in principle to be desired. Besides books, pamphlets and reports, some newspaper and magazine articles with a direct bearing on the Muhammadijah are included.  Read more

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of common prediction equations, the Harris-Benedict and the Mifflin St. Jeor equations, for estimating resting energy expenditure among people with spinal cord injury against actual resting energy expenditure measurements. The secondary aim was to cross-validate Buchholz et al. energy prediction equation created for people with spinal cord injury. Methods: A metabolic cart with canopy was used to measure the actual resting energy expenditure. The Harris-Benedict, Mifflin St. Jeor and the Buchholz et al. equations were used for the prediction of resting energy expenditure. Results: Thirty-nine participants (31 males …  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

Background: Transcript quantification is an ongoing problem in biomedical research, which is not fully solved. RNA-sequencing with short reads (SRs) is currently the leading approach due to low cost, high depth, and many available software tools for downstream analysis. Short reads, however, are often unable to resolve complex splicing events among highly similar transcripts. On the other hand, long reads (LRs) provide full-length transcript sequences, allowing unambiguous assignment of reads to transcripts, but usually at lower depth due to high cost. New computational methods are needed for joint analysis of SR and LR data to leverage the capabilities that are …  Read more

Cyclical thrombocytopenia (CT) is a rare hematological disease characterized by periodic oscillations in the platelet count. Although first reported in 1936, the pathogenesis and an effective therapy remain to be identified. Since besides fluctuations in platelet levels the patients hematological profile have been consistently normal, a destabilization of a peripheral control mechanism might play an important role in the genesis of this disorder. In this thesis, we investigate through computer simulations the mechanisms underlying the platelet oscillations observed in CT. First, we collected the data published in the last 40 years and quantified the significance of the platelet fluctuations using …  Read more

Genetic switches are prevalent in nature, and provide cells with a strategy to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This thesis focuses on an intriguing example which is not understood in complete detail: the GAL switch. The GAL switch allows organisms to metabolize the sugar galactose, and controls whether the machinery responsible for the galactose metabolism is turned ON or OFF. Currently, it is not known exactly how the galactose signal is sensed by the transcriptional machinery. Moreover, there are two contradictory hypotheses concerning the regulatory mechanism at GAL promoters in galactose induced cells: the dissociation and non-dissociation models. This work …  Read more

Une approche biocatalytique basée sur la réaction de transfructosylation de saccharose catalysé par endo-inulinase dans un milieu non-conventionnel a été étudiée pour la synthèse de fructooligosaccharides bien définies. Endo-inulinase d'Aspergillus niger a été purifiée par une chromatographie d'échange d'anion. Les réactions de transfructosylation ont été effectuées dans un milieu biphasique composé d'une phase organique/tampon (3: 1, v: v) à 35/40°C sous une agitation de 150 trs par minute. L'heptane, l'heptanone, le cyclohexane, l'acétate de butyle et l'acétate d'éthyle ont été utilisés comme solvants organique dans le milieu biphasique. Les composantes de la réaction ont été analysées par la chromatographie d'échange …  Read more

Mayo, Nancy (Supervisor2)  Read more

"Cette étude a évalué la consommation et le contenu en lipides et toxaphènes d'aliments traditionnels dans l'alimentation du peuple Sahtu (Hareskin) Dene/Métis de Fort Good Hope et Calville Lake des Territoires de Nord-Ouest. Quatre-vingt-sept des 126 ménages et 79 des 100 ménages et campements ont été interviewés durant les saisons d'été et d'hiver respectivement. Ces interviews ont permis de recueillir des informations sur les caractéristiques du ménage, et sur leur consummation alimentaire. La composition alimentaire et le contenu d'acides gras et de toxaphènes ont été analysés sur des échantillons de 67 différrents aliments traditionnels. La composition alimentaire de 38 de …  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

Canada, enmeshed in the 'China tangle' since 1949, has made only a few, haphazard attempts to cut through the web. The web itself has been spun out of material of almost bewildering complexity: the diplomatic problem of recognition of a Communist government, and in this case, one which replaced a régime friendly to the 'West'; concomitant to recognition, the questions of Chinese admission to the United Nations, a body, incidentally, which has branded the Peking government an aggressor, as well as the future of the former government of China - now in exile on Formosa - and in fact, the …  Read more

This thesis explored the influence of fish behavior and distribution on the accuracy and precision of quantitative estimates of fish biomass and abundance as assessed by hydroacoustic techniques. Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), a pelagic fish known to undertake diel vertical migrations and to exhibit changes in aggregation intensity associated with these movements was used as the model species for this study. The diel vertical migrations of smelt resulted in their potential inaccessibility to the acoustic gear. To obviate this problem a model of the diel migration of smelt based on observations of their behavioral responses to ambient light and water …  Read more

The present dissertation is a multi-disciplinary project that examines the relationship between human rights and development in Africa, with specific focus on Ghana. The proposition, which is expressed in a theory of community emancipation, is that human rights hold the key to the attainment of sustainable holistic development. The theory of community emancipation represents the Akan notion of rights which speak to the lived experiences (traditional, colonial and post-colonial) of Akan peoples. It is offered as a contribution to the evolution of distinct African notions of rights. The Akan perspective on rights aims at making human rights a more accessible …  Read more

The first part of this thesis presents a translation into English of Jacques Renaud’s 1964 novel Le cassé, a novel twice translated in the past, firstly by Gérald Robitaille (Flat Broke and Beat, 1964), then by David Homel (Broke City, 1984). Our own translation is largely based on Henri Meschonnic’s notion of poetics. In its second part, this thesis examines the reasons leading us to propose a third translation for this novel. We suggest that transposing literary joual into an English slang merely prolongs its minority language situation. In this vein, we offer another possibility for its translation that would …  Read more

This is a case study, based on fieldwork research carried out in 1980-1981 and 1986-1987 among the inhabitants of Haouch Moussa ('Anjar)--a Lebanese Armenian community in the Beka'a valley of Lebanon. The study itself constitutes a reconstruction of the practices and experiences (and their genesis) of the people in question, as Lebanese and Armenians (and therefore, of my own history as a Lebanese and an Armenian (and a woman)). The settlement itself was established in 1939 by Armenian refugees deported from their original habitat in Mount Moussa, the Sanjak of Iskandaroun (Turkey). When relocated in the Central Beka'a the inhabitants …  Read more

In order to understand and control the deportment of common impurity elements in the Pt(IV)-Pd(II)-HCl-8-hydroxyquinoline (TN 1911)$ sp{ rm a}$ system, their solvent extraction chemistry in chloride solution has been studied. The investigated elements were Fe(III), Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Sn(IV), Ag(I), As(V), Sb(V), Bi(III), Se(IV) and Te(IV). Extraction experiments carried out using multi-element and single element feed solutions helped to elucidate the extraction behaviour of the elements with the extractant TN 1911. From the collected data it was deduced that the majority formed anionic chlorocomplexes and extracted via the ion-pair mechanism involving the protonated extractant. Consequently, scrubbing procedures were …  Read more

Cette thèse présente TimedGRL, une extension de la norme GRL (Goal-oriented Requirement Language) qui permet de modéliser et d'analyser un ensemble complet de modifications à un modèle orienté but au fil du temps.L'analyse orientée but, en général, consiste à trouver une solution au problème modélisé, qui tente de satisfaire les qualités souhaitées du système tout en considérant simultanément les besoins des parties prenantes. Cette analyse peut être utilisée pour influencer les décisions de conception car elle permet d'analyser les compromis entre solutions alternatives en déterminant la solution proposée qui offrira l'équilibre le plus approprié entre objectifs des parties prenantes et …  Read more

Jabado, Nada (Supervisor2)  Read more

β,β-dimethylacrylic acid (I, β-methylcrotonic acid, DMA) has been prepared by a variety of methods, none of which give a good yield. Several routes involve α-halo-isovaleric acid derivatives as intermediates, from which the unsaturated acid is obtained by elimination of the halogen atom together with one of the β-hydrogen atoms (1, 2, 3).  Read more

Swine manure creates much public resentment in Quebec due to nutrient overloading, potential water pollution and odour. Anaerobic digestion is one of the solutions that allows to lessen the odour problem. Anaerobic bacteria in manure produce methane. The latter can be burnt to produce heat and electricity on farms. Moreover, there is a potential for receiving carbon emission reduction credits for the capturing of methane. Investment analysis was performed to assess the economic feasibility of a potential anaerobic digestion system on a grower-to-finisher hog operation. The study was conducted for a case farm, which had plans to expand from 2000 …  Read more

Pax3 is a gene that encodes for a transcription factor involved in embryogenesis. Pax3 heterozygote mutants in mice (Splotch) and humans (Waardenburg Syndrome) exhibit pigmentary disturbances. Also, neural tube defects (spina bifida) develop in homozygous splotch mice. Pax3 has 2 DNA binding domains, a paired Domain (PD), and a paired-type homeodomain (HD). We have used site-specific modification of single Cys Pax3 mutants (in a Cys-less backbone) to probe structure: function relationships. N-Ethyl maleimide (NEM) modification of a single Cys in the PD (C82) abrogates DNA binding by the PD but also by the HD. Likewise, NEM modification of V263C in …  Read more

Schuster, Tibor (Supervisor1)  Read more

Differential-algebraic equations over the past years have become a widely accepted tool for the modeling and simulation of constrained dynamical systems in numerous applications, such as mechanical multibody systems, electrical circuit simulation, chemical engineering, control theory, fluid dynamics, and many other areas. In this thesis, we have explored the theory and numerical methods for solving complex DAEs. In particular, we provide a systematic and detailed analysis of initial and boundary value problems for differential-algebraic equations. We also discuss numerical methods and software for the solution of these problems. This includes linear and nonlinear problems, over and underdetermined problems as well …  Read more

Mitochondria play an important role in cellular energetic metabolism during all stages of life, including oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryonic development. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication occurs in growing oocytes, but stops once the oocyte reaches its full size (E. Mahrous et al., 2012). The timing and regulation of mtDNA accumulation in the embryo, however, remain poorly understood. Thus, the objectives of this study are to identify the precise timing of mtDNA replication resumption during mouse embryonic development and to investigate the molecular mechanisms controlling mtDNA accumulation during embryogenesis. In this study, we performed qPCR-based assays to estimate the quantity of …  Read more