McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par B

The mechanisms involved in morphine tolerance are poorly understood. It was reported that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity was increased in the spinal dorsal horn during morphine tolerance and an in vitro repetitive morphine treatment was able to mimic the in vivo results by inducing increases in CGRP- and substance P (SP)-immunoreactive (IR) neurons in cultured dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The aim of this study was to validate the DRG cell culture model by establishing which subtypes of opioid receptors are involved in the induction of CGRP and SP in cultured rat DRG neurons and to examine the signaling pathway …  Read more

Vidal, Silvia (Internal/Cosupervisor2)  Read more

The purpose of the analytical part of this master's paper is to specify the signification of the voyage motive considered as the theme of some of the stories in Jacques Ferron's Contes. This theme consists in being at the basis of both travel narratives and tales structure. It is a matter of studying, on the one hand, how the author is spiritually in line with these stories and on the other hand, how he distinguishes himself by his singular use of them. Two tales, "La vache morte du canyon" and "Cadieu" are analyzed, in the first part, according to literary …  Read more

Several evidence indicate that presenilin-2 gene is rhythmically regulated in the mouse suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), which is the master circadian clock in mammals, as well as in the liver. We investigated the mechanism of circadian modulation behind presenilin-2 oscillation. CLOCK and BMAL1 are the two major transcription factors for circadian gene expression. We demonstrated that CLOCK and BMAL1 partially modulate presenilin-2 gene expression in vitro. In vivo, we showed that the gene does not oscillate in the muscle, spleen, thymus, heart and kidney. On the other hand, we demonstrated a circadian oscillation of presenilin-2 in the liver. We suspect another …  Read more

In order to address problems caused by widespread squatting, the government of Trinidad and Tobago has recently introduced legislation which grants a leasehold title to squatters on State lands, subject to certain conditions. The adoption of such regularization measures rests on the belief that granting squatters legal title to the land they occupy, and thus providing them with security of tenure, will create an incentive for squatters to invest in their dwellings and in their community, and will facilitate access to credit. This thesis critically examines these assumptions, bringing to bear on this reflection the results of a survey conducted …  Read more

The DO experiment at Fermilab records the results of high energy collisions between protons and antiprotons. These high energy particle collisions often result in the production of collimated jets of secondary particles. The trigger system selects, in real time, collision events to be analysed via a detailed reconstruction. A fast reconstruction and identification of particle jets and other physics objects is done in the trigger system in the event selection process. Two possible improvements to the jet reconstruction software algorithm for the trigger system were implemented. The improvement that emulates the offline reconstruction software was found to yield a jet …  Read more

Intrapersonal knowledge is a component of coaching knowledge that concerns the understanding of oneself and the use of introspection (Côté & Gilbert, 2009). Although intrapersonal knowledge is a key component of coaching expertise and effectiveness (Côté & Gilbert, 2009; Gilbert & Côté, 2013), previous evaluations of coaching effectiveness have primarily focused on professional and interpersonal knowledge. In order to gain insight into the development, application, and perceived benefits of intrapersonal knowledge, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six experienced female university team sport coaches. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was used to organize data into themes and subthemes, …  Read more

This thesis is concerned with problems of current interest in the computer-aided simulation of synchronous machines. It deals with the application of the finite element method in the computation of generator terminal parameters and the simulation of steady-state operation. A linear transformation is described which is shown to be very useful in the modeling of electric machines as well as post processing the data obtained from a finite element program. Using this transformation, the space and time harmonic content of the waveforms are considered in the computations. […]  Read more

L'élevage des chevrettes est à la base de la productivité et de la rentabilité des troupeaux de chèvres laitières. La croissance des chevrettes pendant les périodes de pré-sevrage et de sevrage est essentielle pour maximiser la croissance future et la rentabilité à vie d’un troupeau laitier, et est largement déterminée par les pratiques de gestion des chevrettes en début de vie. L’industrie caprine laitière est relativement petite, mais en croissance au Canada. Cependant, peu de papiers scientifiques publiés sur l’élevage des chevrettes laitières sont disponibles, ce qui limite la quantité de références disponibles pour guider les producteurs dans l'optimisation de …  Read more

Les orexines (OX-A, OX-B) sont impliquées dans le sommeil, l'alimentation et la récompense. Leur action est médiée par les récepteurs aux orexines 1 et 2 (OX1R, OX2R). Pour comprendre les mécanismes découlant de leur activation, nous avons identifié les chaînes légères de la dynéine 1 et 3 (Dynlt1/3) comme partenaires de ces récepteurs. Notre hypothèse est que les Dynlt1/3 sont importantes pour réguler les récepteurs. Après avoir identifié une forte interaction entre OX1R et Dynlt1 et l'importance du domaine C-terminal d'OX1R, l'importance fonctionnelle de cette nouvelle interaction a été caractérisée. Le départ d'OX1R de la membrane n'est pas affecté par …  Read more

The animal metaphors of Germinal represent a well enough distinct framework to be considered as a global and significant entity. A concise survey of the history of rhetoric does establish the present importance of the metaphor which far from being a simple ornament of the speech has extended its meaning into new perspectives. Applied to other areas of knowledge, as semiotic, sociology, mythology and speech subconscious processes, the metaphor represents newer ways of thinking and assists in grasping the soul of the written word. The present work aims at being an analysis of the text and not of the style.In …  Read more

Alexander Pushkin devoted the last five years of his life to research in the imperial archives in St. Petersburg publishing a number of works dealing with such historical figures as Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Boris Godunov, and the rebel leaders Mazepa and Pugachev. This thesis examines Pushkin's historiographical methodology and conclusions and considers Pushkin's writings from the viewpoint of the historian rather than the literary critic. It offers a chronological study of the four fictional and non-fictional works in which Pushkin analysed major figures and events in Russian history and traces the importance he attributed to them for …  Read more

Ethiopia's climate variability coupled with the country's heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture make it vulnerable to the impacts of drought. This vulnerability is evident in the Awash River Basin, where a significant proportion of the population is dependent on international food assistance for survival. Given this vulnerability to drought, effective drought forecasts are an essential tool for effective water resource management as well as mitigation of some of the more adverse consequences of drought. This study forecast the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) on both short-term and long-term lead times. For short-term forecasts this study computed SPI 1 and SPI 3, …  Read more

Bennett, Hugh (Supervisor)  Read more

Stereotactic radiosurgery with several static conformal beams shaped by a micro multileaf collimator (muMLC) is used for treating small irregularly shaped brain lesions. Specific requirements for this technique are a precise localization and positioning of the target (1mm) and a precise (1mm) and numerically accurate (+/-5%) dose delivery. In this work, a pencil beam algorithm based treatment planning software BrainScan 5.2 (Brainlab, Germany) is validated against measurements (diode, radiographic films) and Monte Carlo simulations (BEAMnrc and XVMC codes). The latter is required because of difficulties in obtaining precise and accurate dose measurements for small fields. A dedicated muMLC component module …  Read more

Le lactoserum est un sous-produit hautement polluant lors de la fabrication fromagere. Une levure lactique. Kluyveromyces marxianus, est capable d' hydrolyser Ie lactose. Dans la presente recherche cette levure a ete mise it profit afin de reduire Ie potential polluant de ce derive et de produire des bioingredients it haute valeur ajoutee, teis que: oligonucleotides (ON), oligosaccharides (OS) et oligopeptides (OP). Lorsqu' ajoutes aux produits alimentaires, ces composes (i) rehaussent la saveur; (ii) stabilisent les emulsions; (iii) stimulent Ie systeme immunitaire; (iv) abaissent Ie taux de lipoproteines de basse densite (un facteur de risque qui peut provoquer des maladies cardiovasculaires) …  Read more

One strategy to overcome intrinsic or acquired resistance of cancer cells to ionizing radiation (IR) and genotoxic chemotherapeutic agents is to modulate DNA repair. IR and some of these agents induce DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) that are primarily repaired in mammalian cell via the nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway. NHEJ is a crucial process that has been conserved highly throughout eukaryotic evolution. A DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) multi-protein complex plays an important role in NHEJ, and its increased level or activity is associated with acquired drug resistance of several human tumors. The core protein of the DNA-PK multi-protein complex …  Read more

Attempts by the international community to establish a comprehensive global framework for protection of foreign investment have not yet succeeded. The Russian Federation has remained aloof from these efforts. Its attention instead has been focused on the need to redesign its internal legal framework to accommodate the transition to a market economy. The first aim of this thesis is to identify the major policy issues that inform the multilateral investment protection debate and to identify the motives that have influenced Russia not to participate. The second aim is to provide an analysis of the progress that the Russian Federation has …  Read more

Diet recommendations to achieve target metabolic control for prevention of micro and macrovascular complications have been outlined. Although previous studies in individuals with type 2 diabetes have identified certain factors associated with adherence to diet recommendations, adherence is multi-factorial in nature and includes demographic, biological and psychosocial variables. Our main objective was to identify factors associated With dietary behaviour among individuals with type 2 diabetes attending an out-patient clinic. Furthermore, we attempted to identify factors associated with frequency of seeing the dietitian and stages of change far lower fat intake. Principal hypothesis: those who are younger, female, lower in body …  Read more

We present a novel approach for motion planning with rigid body objects, with a focus towards solving disentanglement puzzles. Common planning algorithms have difficulty in solving such problems due to narrow tunnels in the configuration space of the puzzles. Unlike conventional planners, which immediately begin growing and connecting trees in C-space, our method first identifies geometric features on the objects themselves, such as narrow gaps and notches. It then uses these features to generate key configurations in C-space. We then propose a planner that can take advantage of these key configurations. Our planner, RDT Forest, grows many trees in parallel …  Read more

The dynamics of airline deregulation have resulted in significant changes in airline competition and network structure. This dissertation examines airline competition and network structures in the presence of low-cost entry in a deregulated environment. The first chapter investigates the effect of low-cost entry on the equilibrium network choice of a monopolistic air carrier. This essay differs from previous analyses in that it incorporates asymmetric city sizes, and distances as a determinant of costs into the model. Numerical exercises illustrate that the threat of entry may result in an entry accommodating, an entry deterring or even an interlining equilibrium, depending on …  Read more

The following thesis presents the results of six full scale beams tests as part of a research program conducted at McGill University on the effect of steel fibres on the shear capacity of a beam with an aid ratio greater than 2.5. The test specimens had the following dimensions: 4400 mm long, 300 mm wide and 500 mm long. The beams had 4-25M bottom reinforcing bars and 2-20M top reinforcing bars. Two series were designed with different reinforcing details: the "BA" series contained transverse reinforcement spaced at 275 mm center to center while the "BB" series had no transverse reinforcement. …  Read more

Dans le domaine de la mécanique des fluides numérique (MFN), l’approche la pluspopulaire pour prédire le comportement d’un écoulement turbulent est de faire usage à uneméthode de moyennage temporel des équations de Navier-Stokes. Les effets turbulents sontdonc pris en compte par un modèle de turbulence. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, le modèleconçu par Spalart et Allmaras, lequel est reconnu pour sa fiabilité pour les écoulementsexternes, est implémenté dans deux logiciels MFN, l’un étant académique et l’autre étantcommercial. Les détails de l’implémentation ainsi que des résultats de validation sont présentés.  Read more

Group II introns are self-splicing introns found in bacterial, archaeal and organellar genomes. Some group II introns are also mobile retroelements that are capable of invading DNA using an RNA intermediate. Group II introns are the subject of several evolutionary hypotheses. It was suggested that these mobile elements are able to spread via lateral (horizontal) transfer. The association of many bacterial group II introns with other mobile elements further strengthened this theory. Moreover, group II introns are hypothesized to be the progenitors of nuclear spliceosome-dependent introns, as well as the five small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) part of the spliceosome. The …  Read more

La présente dissertation cherche a déterminer si des consignes linguistiquement trompeuses données en salle de classe peuvent avoir un effet sur l'acquisition d'une langue seconde (L2). On s'intéressera en particulier aux règles pédagogiques qui sont superficiellement logiques mais linguistiquement fausses. Un cas illustratif est fourni par les verbes réfléchis et réciproques du français, qui se forment avec le clitique se. Ce pronom réfléchi/réciproque ne se comporte pas de la même manière que les pronoms clitiques objets, tel que le suggèrent de nombreux diagnostiques syntaxiques fiables (Kayne 1975, Reinhart & Siloni 2005). Superficiellement, toutefois, le se ressemble globalement aux pronoms clitiques …  Read more

La dualité AdS/CFT est aujourd'hui notre meilleur atout pour comprendre la gravitéquantique et sa nature holographique. Depuis une dizaine d'années, l'importance de l'intricationdans l'émergence d'un espace-temps classique à partir d'une théorie de gravité quantique estdevenue claire. Au travers de la formule proposée par Ryu et Takayanagi reliant une mesurecompliquée d'intrication en théorie des champs à un objet géométrique simple dans la théoriegravitationelle, nous avons approfondi notre compréhension du dictionnaire d'AdS/CFT etavons franchi plusieurs étapes cruciales pour comprendre l'émergence de l'espace-temps. Lebut de cette thèse est d'étudier l'importance de mesures d'information telles que les entropies(chargées) de Rényi dans le dictionnaire d'AdS/CFT …  Read more

The nutritional and sociocultural significance of Canada Goose was documented through field research in Wemindji, Quebec and laboratory analyses (proximate composition, trace elements, fatty acids and heavy metals) at McGill University. Consumption of different parts varies by age/gender groups. Cooked flesh samples contained 25.04--36.46 g/100g protein, 6 19--26.35 g/100g fat, 5.58--11.68 mg/100g iron, 2.77--4.81 mg/100g zinc, 4.91--27.59 mg/100g calcium and 0.22--0.75 mg/100g copper. Lung and liver samples contained high amounts of iron (44.24 and 49.18 mg/100g, respectively). Canada goose provides lower amounts of saturated fatty acids and higher amounts of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids as compared to lard. Heavy …  Read more

The objective of this thesis is to present the fabrication of a multiphoton microscope and the underlying theory responsible for its proper functioning. A basic introduction to nonlinear optics will give the necessary knowledge to the reader to understand the optical effects involved. Femtosecond laser pulses will be presented and characterized. Each part of the microscope, their integration and the design of the microscope will be discussed. The basic concepts of laser scanning microscopy are also required to explain the design of the scanning optics. Fast scanning problems and their solutions are also briefly viewed. As a working proof, the …  Read more

The drole de roman gathers works by Marcel Ayme, Albert Cohen and Raymond Queneau, French novelists who belong to the same generation, share common readers and inspiration and, most of all, a specific vision: the nonserious. Their novels draw from the most obvious manifestations of the comical tradition (farce, burlesque) to its most subtle (irony, parody). In their works, laughter does not occupy a secondary position nor does it simply provide some reading impressions. In fact, laughter is often expressed by the characters and narrators themselves, whose sense of mischeviousness demonstrates the Rabelaisian joy of body and soul. Besides, the …  Read more

This thesis is a study of laughter (le "rire") and strangeness ("l'insolite") in five novels (Les Jumeaux du Diable, La Jument Verte, La Vouivre, Travelingue, La Belle Image) by French writer Marcel Ayme (1902--1967). The theoretical notions used are mainly provided by literary and philosophical works from Bakhtine and Ricoeur; they also come from the rich literary tradition of humour and supernatural (le "merveilleux"). An intimate reading of the funniness (la "drolerie") in the stories allows one to characterize each novel in particular, but it also provides essential grounds to some reflections on Marcel Ayme's art of the novel. Among …  Read more

Pack, Christopher (Internal/Cosupervisor2)  Read more

La présente thèse a examiné les nombreux effets d’une charge anticholinergique (l'effet cumulatif de médicaments bloquant les récepteurs cholinergiques) au fil du temps suite à un premier épisode de psychose (PEP). Comme l'exposition aux anticholinergiques peut contribuer à un déclin cognitif plus important et à une aggravation des effets secondaires, l'objectif de cette thèse était d'examiner les effets négatifs qu'ils peuvent avoir en début d’une pharmacothérapie sur la mémoire verbale (étude 1), le volume de l’hippocampe (étude 2) et le fonctionnement (étude 3). L'exploration de ces dimensions interdépendantes permet aux cliniciens et aux chercheurs de mieux comprendre la complexité de …  Read more

N-cadherin is a prominent cell adhesion molecule involved in developmental morphogenesis and synapse formation. We transgenically overexpressed N-cadherin in a spatially and temporally specific manner using the Cre-loxP system. We overexpressed N-cadherin following the peak developmental period for synaptogenesis using the CamKIIa promoter to explore the effects of N-cadherin upregulation on synapse formation. N-cadherin, in concert with other proteins, plays an important role of adhesion in synapse formation and maintenance. Overexpressing N-cadherin in the hippocampus led to an upregulation of specific components of the synaptic complex; β-catenin, PSD-95, GluN2B and synaptophysin were elevated at the protein level whereas the GABAAR, …  Read more

During development of the nervous system, formation of specific connections between nerve cells depends on the stability of growing axons to reach appropriate target cells and form synapses. In culture, hippocampal neurons form numerous synapses by developing axonal and dendritic extensions. To elucidate principles of neuronal signaling and network establishment, creation of neuronal networks in which connectivity and pathways can be experimentally controlled is of great interest. In the present study we used a microcontact printing technique to control and study neurite outgrowth of hippocampal neurons in vitro. My preliminary results show that hippocampal neurons follow the microcontact printed pattern …  Read more

Yip, G. L. (Supervisor)  Read more

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a tropical to subtropical legume that requires root zone temperatures (RZTs) in the 25 to 30°C range for optimal symbiotic activity. The inability of soybean to adapt to cool soil conditions limits its development and yield in short season areas. In particular, nodulation and nitrogen fixation by this crop species is sensitive to cool RZTs. The isoflavone genistein, which is the most effective plant-to-bacterium signal in the soybean nitrogen fixation symbiosis, has been used to pretreat Bradyrhizobium japonicum inocula. This resulted in increased soybean nodulation and nitrogen fixation in several studies, indicating that genistein …  Read more

The following Master's thesis is divided in two parts. The first is a piece of fiction: it tells the story of a little girl who, upon beginning to speak, expresses herself in a language other than the one spoken in her city. This language, Arabic, is that of her "real" father, a nomadic mailman. This little girl, having been displaced from birth, will ultimately provoke the ruin of the city, which will destroy itself from within. The Arabic tongue is, in this text, an active element of the story: when denied, it becomes the very instrument of the city's destruction. …  Read more

An attempt was made to present an interpretation of Berg's Sonata in the form of an orchestration of the piece. Inasmuch as a model for some procedures in suxh a transcription seemed useful. Berg's own orchestration of his Seven Early Songs was analyzed. This study revealed Berg's personal tendancies in choosing ensembles and in using instruments and instrumental groups. Berg's methods of underlining major structural events orchestrally, his use of progression in the rate of orchestral change, and his charcteristtically contrapuntal handling of textural details were also discussed. [...]  Read more

By the 1980s, Quebec formalists, including Bellefeuille, had abandoned the formalist practice typical of the previous decade. Bellefeuille then chose to write differently, integrating the expression of both self and reality in his work. He didn't, however, exclude the formalist contribution altogether, wishing rather to find a mixed aesthetic, combining both formalist and intimist elements. The dissertation will consider this aesthetic as exemplified in the poetry collection entitled Elle était belle comme une idée, a work encompassing an awareness of one's self as well as the Other and the world, while exploring the need of making room for reality and …  Read more

Beghin, Tom (Supervisor2)  Read more

Methyl cyanoacetate, cyanoacetarnide and malononitrile all gave trimolecular products when added to phenyl vinyl ketone. Nitromethane gave a tetramolecular compound. Methyl cyanoacetate gave methyl 1,5-dibenzoyl-3-cyanopentane-3-carboxylate which, when treated with hydrogen bromide, gave the corresponding amide, an "imide bromide" and methyl 2-bromo-3(B-benzoylethyl)-6-phenyldihydropyridine-3-carboxylate. [...]  Read more

An investigation into the extraction of birch lignin with glacial acetic acid has been made. Although it is possible to extract the lignin atlower temperatures, reflux is necessary to bring about the extraction within a reasonable length of time. The lignin was always isolated incombination with carbohydrate material. The amount of attached carbohydrate, (indicated by the lowering of methoxyl content), was a function ofthe moisture content of the woodmeal, decreasing with increase in moisture, due to hydrolysis. The yield of carbohydrate- and acetyl-free ligninwas about 16$ of the weight of the wood [...] A satisfactory method was developed for separation …  Read more

Cette thèse porte sur un ensemble d’analyses et de simulations réalisées pour le compte de la col-laboration TRIUMF UltraCold Advanced Neutron (TUCAN) afin de contribuer au développementde la nouvelle source de neutrons ultrafrais (UCN) dans le but d’augmenter la précision sur lamesure du moment dipolaire électrique du neutron (nEDM) à10−27ecm. Dans cette fourchette,un nEDM non nul permettrait de vérifier la physique au-delà du modèle standard. Afin de produirel’UCN, TUCAN combine la spallation commandée par l’accélérateur avec un cryostat à héliumsuperfluide.Le premier chapitre détaille le contexte physique nécessaire pour comprendre le fonctionnementde la source UCN et comment la précision requise pour …  Read more

Supercooled cloud liquid water (SCW), which causes aircraft icing, can be detected indirectly by observing characteristics of the bright band with a vertically pointing radar. Accretion of supercooled water droplets on precipitating snow (riming) increases the density and fall speed of snow and decreases the intensity of the bright band. For stratiform precipitation with a melting layer, a small peak-to-rain reflectivity difference and a high snow-to-rain velocity ratio indicate high-density snow. A numerical model of the bright band gives a semi-quantitative relationship between snow density and bright band parameters. SCW content is computed theoretically and depends on the gradient of …  Read more

The catalytic partial oxidation of methane to produce synthesis gas using a platinum/nickel dual bed reactor has been shown to have high conversions and selectivity of synthesis gas products, hydrogen and carbon monoxide. In this work the relative length of the platinum and nickel in the dual bed reactor is investigated experimentally and a model describing the nickel portion of the dual bed catalyst is developed. The model uses simplified flow conditions, experimentally determined temperature profiles and an elementary reaction mechanism to describe the nickel bed of the reactor. The rate parameters of the elementary reaction in the mechanism are …  Read more