McGill University Theses and dissertations by author name (F)

Functioning, the most important outcome of stroke interventions, is complex to characterize. Stroke survivors measure functioning compared to what they did in their prestroke lives; hence equating functioning with recovery. To optimize the recovery of functioning, research suggests that rehabilitation interventions should start early post-stroke. To quantify changes in function owing to different interventions, the average value on an index comprised of multiple items related to function is compared or the proportions of people categorized into different functional levels are compared. Currently, there is no agreed upon method of quantifying improvements in functioning and using multiple indices is problematic. This …  Read more

Since vitamin D deficiency is common at birth, the objective of this study was to test if postnatal vitamin D supplementation would normalize bone mineralization. Forty guinea pigs were randomized to receive a diet with or without vitamin D3 during pregnancy. Newborn pups were randomized to receive 10 IU of vitamin D3 or a placebo daily until d28. Measurements at birth and d28 included whole body and regional bone mass, osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline, plus biomechanical testing of excised tibias and femurs. Offspring from deficient sows had lower body weight, whole body and tibia bone mineral content (BMC) and lower osteocalcin …  Read more

The purpose of this study was to determine whether team and individual, male and female athletes, have different potentials for burnout, and to examine if these populations use different coping strategies. One-hundred and sixteen male, and 57 female varsity and elite judo athletes completed the EABI and COPE inventories and a personal background form. T-tests confirmed individual sport athletes to be more prone to burnout than team sport athletes, high level athletes more prone to burnout than those at lower competitive levels and emotional social support as a coping strategy more prevalent among team than individual sport athletes. No differences …  Read more

Ciampi, Antonio (Supervisor2)  Read more

The discipline of hydrology encompasses all studies of the occurrence, origins, properties, and distribution of the earth's waters. It is a branch of physical geography, but forms indistinct boundaries with other earth sciences. [...]  Read more

The material presented in the body of this thesis is the result of petrographic and mineralographic studies carried out on specimens of peridotite and their associated rock types from various localities in Northern Quebec and Ungava. The major portion of the examination was of a petrographic nature, although a limited amount of polished section work was done on sulphide bearing specimens of ultrabasic rock from some of these same areas.  Read more

Sap products were examined before and after flavour development. Study of "vacuum"'sugar has shovm that the hadromal theory for maple flavour is untenable; that it yields on extraction succinic acid, an unsaponifiable oil or resin, and an amorphous material with the reactions and composition of lignin, which is probably responsible for the developmentof flavour, but as isolated cannot be direotly converted into it. [...]  Read more

Maple syrup and sugar belong to North America and are produced only in limited areas of this continent, namely Eastern Canada and adjacent States, New England and Middle-West states. The manufacture of maple syrup probably dates back to a period before the advent of the white man because Sy (22) in a review of the writings of early discoverers, notes many allusions to the preparation by the Indians of a kind of sugar and syrup from the sap of the maple tree. There appears to be some difference of opinion as to whether the French settlers taught the Indians the …  Read more

In a Victorian Britain in crisis, Chartism was as it remains an exemplary site for contestation of various forms of authority--social, political, theological, historical, and literary. When Carlyle in his Chartism essay demands what "the under classes intrinsically mean," he discounts "these wild inarticulate souls" unable to recognize or express their own true state (122). But even as Carlyle authorizes detached observation, he also helps cement those unpredictable alliances that haunt his work. In an increasingly statistical culture, the representation of Chartism has much to tell about technologies of power, the cultural inflection of difference, and the production and reproduction …  Read more

Increasing the combustor exit temperature in gas turbines is an effective means to increase engine power. While occasional metallurgical advances allow gradual temperature increases, improving the internal/external cooling of the blades is the only way to permit significant temperature gains. In this work, a methodology for aerodynamic and conjugate heat transfer computational analysis of cooled turbine blades is developed. Flow solutions are obtained using an implicit, three-dimensional, finite-element Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes flow solver. Efficient non-reflecting boundary conditions are derived and implemented to reduce the size of the solution domain and accelerate convergence. These are shown to be essential for the accurate …  Read more

There are about 750 Eskimos living round the shores of Ungava Bay in northernmost Quebec (Fig. 1), all of whom, except the few permanently employed by whites, are recipients of government relief rations for part or all of the year. Their experience of white culture consists solely of contacts with traders, missionaries and for a few of them, contacts with a war-time American air base, Department of Transport Meteorological Stations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, nurses of the Indian Health Service, and, in the last few years, summer employment with prospectors and surveyors.  Read more

There is no experimenta1 method adapted tor the investigation of the heat conductivity or co11oidal systems whose structure is dependent onthe amount of adsorbed water. The presence ot the adsorbed water depends on the relative humidity, and therefore a variable temperature gradientwill produce a displacement of water involving the transfer of heat. The main object of this investigation was to develop an experimentaltechnique whereby heat conductivities can be measured in spite of this effect.  Read more

Multiple myeloma (MM) is one of the most common hematological malignancies in the western world, with an incidence rate that has increased over the last 20 years by 126%. Despite significant advancements in therapeutic options, MM remains an incurable disease with the vast majority of patients relapsing due to genetic alterations and clonal evolution. CRISPR functional genomics is a powerful tool that allows for the identification of novel genetic vulnerabilities in different disease models including hematological malignancies. Using this technology, the goal my doctoral studies was to gain a better understanding of MM pathobiology by identifying both essential and synthetic …  Read more

Investigation in 1953 (M.Sc. thesis) showed that fertilization with 76 pounds of nitrogen and 72 pounds of phosphate per acre, in addition to a maintenance application of 600 pounds of a 4-12-6 fertilizer, increased the nitrogen and phosphorus percentages in the corn leaf at the flowering stage. The levels of these leaf constituents and the yields at harvest were closely correlated, confirming the idea that chemical analysis of the plant at this stage of growth was a useful diagnostic tool. It was also shown that nitrogen, rather than phosphorus, was a major factor in modifying these plant characteristics.  Read more

Study of the nutritional status of crops as evidenced by plant analysis was begun as early as 1804. Recently efforts have been made by a number of workers to establish, by study of data on yields and the levels of different nutrients in specific plant parts, the response of these plants to applications of fertilizer. Further work has suggested the possibility of using the level of a leaf constituent at a specific physiological stage as a criterion of the state of supply of certain elements.  Read more

MacKenzie, Robert E. (Supervisor)  Read more

The study investigated the reasoning processes used by psychoeducational assessors in interpreting a typical case-file. The methodology used was one adapted from studies of problem-solving skills in other domains. In the models of reasoning derived from these studies, expertise was associated with extensive use of causal reasoning and with a high level of integration between a selectively narrow body of information and the proposed solutions. It was hypothesised that the reasoning processes used by experienced psychoeducational assessors would show similar properties. In addition, it was hypothesised that experienced and trainee assessors could be differentiated by: (a) the degree of affinity …  Read more

Previous investigations have shown that treating a bridge as a single simple beam is inadequate in the analysis of most multi-girder highway bridges. The transverse distribution of deflection must be considered as well as the longitudinal distribution. [...]  Read more

Winkler, C. (Supervisor)  Read more

One of the most characteristic of trends in modern civilization has been the continued concentration of population in urban communities. All of the social sciences are concerned in their subject matter with this development, although some, such as demography, deal with it more directly than others. Many important social theories are attempts to explain the change in the mode of men’s relationships, occasioned by the wide diffusion of forms of thought and conduct generated by the processes of city life. [...]  Read more

The physics of oil and petroleum evaporation are investigated. Literature on oil spill evaporation shows that most workers use boundary-layer equations adapted from water evaporation work. These equations predict a constant evaporation mass-transfer rate, dependent on scale size and wind speed. Evaporation was studied further by measuring evaporation of commercial oil products. An experimental apparatus for the study of evaporation was developed. Evaporation was determined by weight loss measured on a balance and recorded constantly on a computer. Examination of the data shows that most oil and petroleum products evaporate at a logarithmic rate with respect to time. This is …  Read more

Organ specific neoantigen (OSN) is shed from cancer of patients with metastatic lung cancer and is filtered into the urine. The OSN was purified and characterized by physicochemical methods. OSN activity was detected by the blocking of the tube LAI assay. Two different methods are described for isolating the OSN. By both procedures material was isolated that consisted of three to four polypeptide chains in the molecular weight range of 43,000 to 31,000 dalton and that had high OSN activity. Urinary protein isolated from normal subjects by the same methods did not have OSN activity and also lacked the 31,000 …  Read more

When Thomas Hardy undertook to write tragedy he invoked an old tradition. A review of the traditional theory and practice of this genre clarifies Hardy's tragic philosophy and techniques. This definition in the Poetics is the usual starting place. For Aristotle tragedy is a serious, complete work of art, which uses poetic and prose techniques to enhance the audience's enjoyment. It should be in the form of a drama rather than a narrative, and should stimulate the emotions of pity and fear in the onlooker.  Read more

Virtual Reality (VR) has the potential to impact human minds and bodies more than any previous technology. Researchers have unsuccessfully attempted three definitions of VR. The first, a definition by technological architecture, focuses on the different types of systems that have been developed. The second, a definition by human architecture, proposes that VR consists of psychological phenomena that users experience such as immersion and presence. The third, a definition by language architecture, uses the popular metaphor of cyberspace as a location to describe the experience. Although each attempt falls short of delivering a complete definition of VR, expanding the parameters …  Read more

The McGill Physical Activity Selection Service (MPASS) System was developed as a multi-faceted model to address the adherence problem. MPASS consists of a questionnaire administered on a computer program. The questionnaire was designed to assist individuals to recognize perceived physical, social, and environmental barriers; to increase their awareness of the benefits of physical activity; and ultimately to increase their awareness of suitable physical activities which would thus be perceived as enjoyable. Forty female volunteers between the ages of 24 and 45 completed the MPASS Tour and subsequently the Evaluation Questionnaire. Results showed a positive response to the MPASS Tour. The …  Read more

Le but de cette recherche était d'examiner la relation entre le déficit à une épreuve de distraction et l'apparition de certaines perturbations du langage de schizophrènes paranoïdes et nonparanoïdes. Le degré de distraction fut évalué à l'aide d'un test de mémoire auditive de chiffres avec ou sans distracteurs. Des échantillons de langage furent recueillis de chaque sujet et des étudiants furent entrainés à juger ces échantillons sur des critères spécifiques. Les schizophrènes paranoïdes et nonparanoïdes étaient plus sensibles à la distraction que des sujets normaux ou des patients nonschizophrènes. L'analyse des échantillons de langage indiquait une perturbation du langage plus …  Read more

Cette thèse porte sur l’étude de plusieurs problèmes de mathématiques appliquées, dont le cadre général est celui des équations aux dérivées partielles (EDP) elliptiques non-linéaires. La résolution de ces problèmes est obtenue dans le contexte de la théorie des solutions visqueuses; la convergence des solutions numériques correspondantes repose sur des schémas monotones, et utilise des techniques de preuves à la Barles et Sougandidis.Les deux premiers chapitres s'intéressent à l’étude de l’homogénéisation d’EDP elliptiques non-linéaires: Trouver un opérateur macroscopique, et la solution correspondante qui capture à grande échelle le comportement de variations rapides d’un opérateur microscopique. Ceci est fait au travers …  Read more

In a study made by Paul Rhoton at Pennsylvania state College in 1923. the following statement is made :- "Only a small percentage of the student body make the varsity teams and all branches of sport are conducted on a basis of intensive training that takes quite a bit of the athlete's time and attention. Competition for places on the various teams is severe, and the amount of physical and nervous energy expended on the playing field or floor is a factor that varies with the sport and the individual. On the other hand, athletes at Pennsylvania state are required …  Read more

MacEwan, J. (Supervisor)  Read more

This paper reports a study of the nutritive value of fertilized vs. unfertilized pasture herbage, with particular reference to the quality of the protein, as measured by comparative feeding trials. A technique for the management of growing rabbits as experimental animals for such tests is also described. [...]  Read more

Durley, R. (Supervisors)  Read more

Cristescu, Elena (Internal/Supervisor)  Read more

Evans, N. (Supervisors)  Read more

As global water resources decline, reuse of domestic greywater for the irrigation of home gardens is quickly becoming widespread in many parts of the world. However, the sanitary implications of reusing greywater to water edible crops remain uncertain. This study examined the benefits and risks associated with domestic greywater reuse for the purposes of vegetable garden irrigation. Untreated (settled only) and treated (settling and slow sand filtration) greywater collected from a family home was analyzed for basic water quality parameters, over a period of eight weeks. During that time, both greywaters were used to irrigate individually potted plots of lettuce, …  Read more

The present study was an exploratory investigation of the efficacy and acceptability of a parent-teacher mediated intervention program for young boys demonstrating externalizing behavior problems. A primary purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy of three indirect models of service delivery: a highly individualized behavioral consultation model (BC); group videotape therapy with minimal consultation (GVT); and a self-administered videotape therapy (VT) program. A second purpose was to investigate the acceptability and satisfaction with these programs as evaluated by parents. More specifically, the relationships between treatment acceptability and outcome as well as factors influencing parent treatment acceptability were examined. …  Read more

This study investigated the relationship between perspective taking and self-esteem in two groups of children between 7 and 12 years of age. Forty-six third graders (mean age = 8.3 years) and 25 sixth graders (means age = 11.4 years) completed a perspective-taking task, a locus of control scale, and a self-perception measure assessing global self-esteem and specific areas of competence. There was little empirical support for the hypotheses associating perspective taking with global self-esteem, locus of control, or competence. Competence domains were intercorrelated and associated with global self-esteem. Locus of control was significantly related to social acceptance and athletic competence. …  Read more

Pihl, Robert (Supervisor)  Read more

Partial cDNAs for each of the four known N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor 2 (NMDAR2A-D) subunits have been cloned from the brain of A. leptorhynchus and are found to display a high degree of sequence homology (83--78% amino acid identity) to their mammalian homologues. In situ hybridization experiments reveal that each transcript has a distinct expression pattern in the apteronotid central nervous system (CNS) and is present in a "mosaic" distribution within important cell types of the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL). Apt. NMDAR2A transcript is expressed in forebrain regions as well as throughout the pyramidal cell layer (PCL) and granule cell …  Read more

Mimesa is a Holarctic genus of predatory sphecoid wasps of which 36 species are found in America. The present study is a revision of the American fauna presenting keys to species, standardized descriptions, distribution maps and biological information for each species. Fourteen species are here described as new: M. cahuilla, M. cheyenne, M. chiricahua, M. gabrieleno, M. ipai, M. jicarilla, M. klamath, M. miwoka, M. nisenan, M. senijextee, M. serrano, M. tequila, M. tolteca and M. zapoteca. In addition one subspecies, M. gregaria simplex, has been raised to species rank and 7 previously recognized species have been synonymized as follows: …  Read more