McGill University Theses and dissertations by author name (F)

Chavez, E. R. (Supervisor)  Read more

Four experiments were conducted to determine the reproductive, metabolic, growth and IGF-I response to ultrasound selection for increased breast muscle thickness (MT) in Pekin ducks. Selection for body weight had a negative ( P < 0.05) effect on the reproductive performance while the selection for greater breast muscle thickness resulted in egg production, fertility and hatchability similar to those of the control line (C). Males from the MT line reached market weight at 6 wk but the breast muscle thickness improved from 6 to 7 wk. Compared to females from the C line, MT females had higher (P < 0.05) …  Read more

Context: Attaining and maintaining health behaviours could significantly prevent and reduce the health burden associated with chronic illness. Given that family physicians are the first source of care for patients undifferentiated by disease or socio-demographics, the way they deliver care may play a significant role in improving population health. The premise underlying this research is that patient empowerment, effective interpersonal communication and patient-centered care can improve health behaviors among primary care patients, especially those coming from low socioeconomic groups. Objectives: 1) To determine whether the prevalence of healthy fruit/vegetable consumption, physical activity, alcohol intake and smoking differ systematically by socio-economic …  Read more

This thesis is made of two parts. In the first part, we study the rheology and nonequilibrium structure of fluids using the nonequilibrium ensemble method and a computational framework is laid toward a theory of steady state. The grand canonical partition function is computed analytically and used to study a gas mixture under shear. The dependence of the viscometric functions on the shear rate is presented and an exact constitutive relation between the kinetic-stress and the generalized potentials is obtained. The system was found to exhibit a shear thinning behavior. The Monte Carlo method in combination with generalized hydrodynamics was …  Read more

On Thursday, July 2 1926, Al-Shaykh 'Abd al-Hamid Ibn Badis published a newspaper "al-Muntaqid", in which he proclaimed the major line of reformist action in Algeria. That was the beginning of the Badisian odyssey which remained vital till the death of the Shaykh in April 1940. The Reformist Movement was born. It was presented to public opinion as a strictly religious nonpolitical movement, designed to fight the blameworthy innovations in Algerian Islam for which the marabouts were responsible (according to Ibn Badis). [...]  Read more

The increase in efficiency of furnace and refinery components in petroleum industries has been the target of many studies. However, the repair technology for damaged pieces is still to be developed. During prolonged service, a degradation of developed coatings occurs as a result of the harsh environment. Therefore, a repair technology, which can extend the life of the coatings, is now under consideration. In this work, electrospark deposition (ESD) has been investigated to understand the solidification behavior and its possibility to repair damaged MCrAlY coatings. Ni-based alloys with different compositions were deposited on Ni substrate using ESD to understand crystal …  Read more

In the nucleus of mesenchymal cells, the alpha chain of the nascent polypeptide-associated complex (αNAC) functions as a transcriptional coregulator that either activates or represses gene expression depending on cellular context and cell type. αNAC phosphorylation at serine 132 induces its sumoylation at nearby lysine residue 127 which favors its interaction with corepressors and inhibition of target gene expression. Here we show that DNA-dependent protein kinase, catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs, encoded by the Prkdc [Protein Kinase, DNA-Activated, Catalytic Polypeptide] gene) phosphorylates αNAC at residue serine 132. Pharmacological inhibition of DNA-PKcs activity or specific deletion of Prkdc in osteoblast cells induces the …  Read more

The purpose of this dissertation is to explicate the meaning of information systems (IS) success in the realm of a dynamic hierarchical structure model of IS success. Through an empirical study of 382 firms using internal and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) systems, different characteristics of this model are examined via four hypotheses. First, using linear structural modelling techniques, it is shown that successful information systems share certain properties common to all systems, in addition to certain properties specific to each class of systems. Four generic factors influencing IS success are identified as (i) output reliability, (ii) system's characteristics, (iii) efficiency …  Read more

An integrated experimental and theoretical study of the residual thermal stresses has been carried out. The final stress profiles along the thickness were measured in an amorphous and a semi-crystalline injection molded polymer using the layer removal technique. The two materials exhibited drastically distinct residual profiles. Furthermore, processing parameters such as melt and coolant temperatures, pressure history, and mold thickness were found to modify the profiles. In order to elucidate the findings, two models were derived. The two-dimensional free mold shrinkage model was developed to provide a rapid estimation of thermal stresses and the main features of their profile. A …  Read more

In the present thesis, a continuum tensorial theory has been formulated to describe the isothermal coupling of rheology and microstructure of nematic liquid crystalline polymers. The theory was shown to properly reduce, in special cases, to the long established Ericksen's transversely isotropic liquid and Leslie Ericksen's theories. The new theory formulated in this thesis, was used to develop a simplified two dimensional and uniform model for rectilinear simple shear flow of uniaxial, rodlike nematics. The microstructural order balance yields a system of non-linear differential equations that was solved numerically to obtain the orientational and rheological transient response of the material …  Read more

Regeneration and transformation protocols for 'Comet' red raspberry were optimized with the purpose of making the Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer system efficient for this crop. Adventitious shoot regeneration from leaf discs was improved using explants 10 mm in diameter and transferring to fresh medium at the fourth week of incubation. Additions of liquid medium to solid medium during incubation decreased regeneration and attempts to release the suppressive influence of larger shoots on initials (apical dominance) did not succeed. The presence of claforan did not affect shoot regeneration, but inoculations with Agrobacterium and the presence of kanamycin decreased regeneration moderately or considerably, …  Read more

A risk analysis of drought and an assessment of irrigation requirements were ascertained for a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop in Parana, Brazil, using 28 years of historical weather data. Two soil moisture models, The Versatile Soil Moisture Budget (VB4) and SWACROP models, were compared using data from six wheat cropping periods. The models showed good performance in predicting soil moisture contents, but SWACROP underpredicted soil evaporation and runoff, and VB4 did not separate evapotranspiration into its components. Therefore, a new soil moisture model was proposed. In the new model, a Darcy type equation was used to calculate fluxes in …  Read more

La déficience de la mémoire épisodique (ME) est bien documentée dans la littérature sur la schizophrénie. La mémoire relationnelle (MR), une composante de la mémoire épisodique qui fait référence à la capacité de faire des associations entre des éléments, des événements et leur contexte, est particulièrement altérée. Compte tenu de la relation entre la performance de la mémoire et les résultats cliniques et fonctionnels de la schizophrénie, le besoin de remédier à ces déficiences est important. Les interventions visant à améliorer la capacité cognitive dans la schizophrénie sont plus efficaces lorsque l’utilisation de stratégies est explicitement abordée. L’adaptation de ces …  Read more

L'objectif de cette étude de maitrise était de quantifier les effets d'une tâche de 90 minutes à l'ordinateur avec deux écrans en comparaison avec un seul écran sur les patrons cou/épaules de jeunes adultes masculins et féminins. L'activité musculaire du haut du corps ainsi que l'effort visuel étaient enregistrés toutes les 9 minutes durant la tâche standardisée à l'ordinateur pendant deux séances présentées en ordre aléatoire. La proprioception du cou était aussi mesurée avant et après la tâche. Les résultats ont révélé un augmentation de l'effort visuel ainsi que de l'activité musculaire du Trapèze Supérieur Droit avec le temps. L'activité …  Read more

La fibrose kystique (FK) est une maladie systémique ou les infections pulmonaires chroniques par Pseudomonas aeruginosa mènent à une réponse inflammatoire soutenue. Les médiateurs inflammatoires attirent des neutrophiles dans le poumon avec le but d'éliminer l'infection. Cependant, cette réponse est excessive et a comme conséquence des dommages tissulaires progressifs et irréversibles. Les dommages tissulaires peuvent potentialiser cette réponse inflammatoire à travers la libération d'alarmines, aussi connues comme DAMPs (Damage Associated Molecular Patterns). Durant des conditions physiologiques, ces médiateurs se retrouvent à l'intérieur des cellules ou ils jouent des rôles comme régulateurs de différents processus cellulaires. Cependant, suite à une mort …  Read more

Silva, Alfredo Ribeiro Da (Supervisor1)  Read more

Rahme, Elham (Supervisor1)  Read more

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects up to 10% of school-aged children and half as many adults. The core features of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattentiveness commonly give rise to academic underachievement, poor social relationships, and increased risk for mood and anxiety disorders. Although the relevant neurobiological mechanisms remain poorly understood, altered mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) transmission has been proposed. The aim of the present study was to compare striatal DA function in treatment-naive adults with ADHD vs. age- and IQ-matched controls. Two PET/[11C]raclopride scans, one with placebo and one with d-amphetamine (d-AMP; 0.3 mg/kg, p.o.), were administered to five men with …  Read more

Brunnee, Jutta (Supervisor)  Read more

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a major health problem that results in a high degree of suffering, physical and psychosocial impairments and exorbitant health care costs. Additionally, patients who suffer from NP experience sleep disturbances. Only a restricted number of drugs are available for treating NP associated insomnia, and side effects are common. Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) possess both analgesic and hypnotic effects. However, their mechanisms of action in models of NP are not fully understood yet. In this study, for the first time, we demonstrated that animals with a NP condition also develop …  Read more

Introduction: Les seuils et les cibles thérapeutiques de la pression artérielle (PA) pour les dispositifs automatisés sont largement basés sur les consensus. Cette thèse, qui fait partie d'un projet plus vaste, vise à établir des équivalences entre des techniques automatisées pour les mesures de la PA, et la méthode auscultatoire usuelle. Les objectifs spécifiques du projet de thèse sont: 1) De développer des listes de critères «essentiels» et «moins essentiels» pour la réalisation des mesures standardisées de PA pour les méthodes pour les méthodes auscultatoire et automatisées. 2) De développer un outil d'évaluation de la qualité des études admissibles qui …  Read more

Fourteen rectangular reinforced concrete beams with the same dimensions and varying amounts of vertical stirrups were tested for ultimate shear strength. The beams were symmetrically loaded at the third points of a central span with a loaded overhang at each end to simulate the effects of continuity. A study of the cracking pattern, the deflected form of each beam and the stresses in the main and web reinforcements was made. The results were compared to both code requirements and theories presented by other investigators. As a result of this study it is shown that the strength of beams in shear …  Read more

What is meant by configural and holistic processing? The present project attempts to answer this question by formalizing configural and holistic processing as interactive processing of face parts. Four face images were created from one main face by varying the eye distance and nose length of the face to yield a 2x2 feature-complete factorial combination set of stimuli. Participants viewed each version of the face for 100 msecs, and then identified the face they saw. Their responses were subjected to multidimensional signal detection analysis to obtain estimates of different types of perceptual interactions defined by General Recognition Theory (Ashby & …  Read more

The brain decomposes visual information into its form and motion components and processes the two aspects largely independently by way of anatomically distinct pathways that originate early in the visual system and continue ventrally to the occipito-temporal visual areas and dorsally to the occipito-parietal visual areas, respectively. Certain cues of shape, such as 3-D structure-from-motion (SFM), appear to be computed exclusively by dorsal-stream mechanisms, yet these cues can describe complex objects whose recognition depends on mechanisms in the ventral stream. This dissertation discusses theoretical means by which dorsally-computed 3-D cues may provide input to ventral stream object recognition mechanisms. Psychophysical …  Read more

The adaptability of the respiratory muscles to training and/or emphysema was investigated. The diaphragmatic (DIA) length-tension curve of the emphysematous animals shifted significantly towards the left; maximal tetanic tensions were generated at shorter absolute DIA lengths. This decrease in DIA length occurred in proportion to the hyperinflation and mainly occurred due to a loss in the number of sarcomeres. In states of acute DIA shortening, were no adaptations in length occurred, we noted marked alterations in the twitch characteristics and in the shape of the force-frequency curve; at acutely shorter DIA lengths, a disproportionately greater excitability was required in order …  Read more

The marked electrolyte and plasma volume changes which occur after adrenalectomy do not satisfactorily explain either the death which occurs if treatment is not administered nor the pathological findings at autopsy. For example, normal animals can sustain an experimentally induced elevation of plasma potassium several milliequivalents greater than that seen in adrenal insufficiency or a reduction in blood volume of considerably greater than that occurring in this condition.  Read more

Les poly(uréthane)s (PUs) sont des polymères polyvalents d'importance majeure dans la vie quotidienne. Ses applications incluent la construction, les adhésifs, les revêtements, les thermoplastiques et les matériaux thermodurcissables. Les PU thermodurcissables représentaient à eux seuls plus de 70% de la production totale de PU en 2021. Malgré leurs propriétés attractives, les PUs sont associés à l'inconvénient majeur de l'utilisation d'isocyanates nocifs comme précurseurs. Par conséquent, le développement d'alternatives plus sûres par la synthèse de poly(uréthane)s sans isocyanate (NIPUs) suscite un intérêt croissant. La polyaddition de carbonates cycliques avec des amines est la voie la plus prometteuse pour la préparation des …  Read more

Protein methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is an arginine methylation enzyme and a key regulator of the immune response. The role of PRMT5 is understood to be a suppressor of the innate immune cGAS-STING signalling pathway and is crucial for the proper development of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes. Depletion of PRMT5 in adaptive immune cells results in cancer progression; however, little is known on the impact of PRMT5 on innate immune cells such as macrophages. Herein, we have identified a new role for PRMT5 in macrophage polarization as well as the regulation of tumor immunity in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We illustrated …  Read more

The purpose of the experiment was to study the effect of thoracic duct to azygos vein shunt on the relief of ascites and on the urinary excretion of sodium. Experimental ascites was produced by partial constriction of supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava. Thoracic duct to azygos vein shunt using an invagination anastomosis was performed on these ascitic animals. Ascitic animals showed a scanty excretion of urinary sodium and a poor response to acute salt loading. Establishing a patent thoracic duct to azygos vein shunt was associated with relief of ascites, increased urinary sodium excretion and a good natriuretic response to acute …  Read more

The maximum safe period of normothermic ischemia the canine liver could tolerate was forty minutes. Survival of the animals after ischemic liver injury could be predicted by measuring the levels of lactate, inorganic phosphate and adenine nucleotides in the hepatic tissue. Measurements of high energy phosphate compounds and study of mitochondrial respiratory function in the revascularized liver helped to predict the consequent survival or death of the animal. The maximum safe period of temporary hepatic inflow stasis was prolonged by maintaining a minimum blood flow to the liver along collateral vessels in the gastrohepatic omentum. Liver tolerance to hepatic ischemia …  Read more

The legislative elections of 1902 had marked the triumph of the Bloc des Gauches, the coalition of the Radicale with the Socialiste and of their ideals of anti-clericalism, anti-militarism, and peace. At that time, these ideals had come to constitute the essence of democracy; tor the Bloc des Gauches had grown out of the Dreyfus crisis, which was caused by the alignment of the conservative Republican government with Church and Army, the declared foes of the Republican regime.  Read more

This paper deals mainly with the "T" network, and its design for phase shift and impedance transforming applications. Attention is directed to other circuits which yield to similar treatment. A number of formulas are presented which can tell the designer just what he wants to know. Some of the formulas may be new to the art, at any rate they have not been noticed in past or current publications. The formulas have a theoretical justification, and their utility has been proven in a number of years of practical design. The formulas are illustrated by a number of practical applications, one …  Read more

Fifty-six animals were used in an experiment designed to study the effect of feeding protamone and thiouracil to guinea pigs. A modified type of oxygen consumption apparatus was described* Observations were made on the weight, oxygen consumption, feed and water intake and respiration rate of the animals during pregnancy and lactation. The outcome of pregnancy, post mortem findings and histological changes in both the mother and offspring were noted, as well as the birth weight and gains of the young. Thiouracil (40 mg./day) was without effect on the guinea pigs. The two levels of protamone used (800 ug. and 1600 …  Read more

In an effort to find a diet suitable for vitamin C bio-assay, 22 different rations were tested on 160 pregnant guinea pigs. Successful reproduction was used as an index of the nutritional adequacy of each ration. When fresh green feed was included in the rations, 80% of the pregnancies resulted in the birth of at least one living young. There was an average of 3.2 pigs weaned per litter for this group or 2.7 pigs weaned per pregnancy. Hemorrhage or abortion resulted due to the nutritional inadequacy of the other rations tested.  Read more

This manuscript-style thesis compiles three papers engaging with different educational ideologies. Two of these papers explore the dominant educational ideologies in North America: state-sponsored education and free market education. The first of these papers explores the historical perspective on the balance between private (household) and public (state) rights in education through an analysis of the societies and educational system of the Ancient Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta. Furthermore, the work of the major philosophers of the time: Plato and Aristotle, are discussed in relation to the families, the states and the role of education. The second paper uses the …  Read more

The mining value chain comprises many inter-related components. When the individual components are optimized separately the value that can be generated from the enterprise suffers. Global optimization of the mining value chain requires a shift away from conventional methods of optimization and towards the simultaneous optimization of all related aspects, including: the mine's extraction sequence, material destination decisions, material transport decisions, and equipment capacities. Further, if these decisions are to be robust, they must be made while considering sources of uncertainty. The contributions included in this thesis are meant to help industry practitioners plan and evaluate mining projects under uncertainty. …  Read more

Mogil, Jeffrey (Internal/Cosupervisor2)  Read more

[...] Early in the polymerization studies it became evident that the ethers of bivinyl would not polymerize under the action of free-radical catalysts This led to an investigation of the polar polymerization and the allied problem of the effect of monomer polarity on the rate of polymerization. Also the optical properties of the unsaturated ethers suggested further that certain substituted dienes have unusual structural features which give rise to conjugation beyond that usually recognized. It was, therefore decided to investigate the more fundamental problem of conjugation and its effect on the polar polymerization reactions of some substituted butadienes.  Read more

The phase structure of diffraction images of microwave lenses has been investigated theoretically and experimentally. Calculated contours of constant phase and of constant intensity are presented in normalized coordinates independent of system geometry. For a particular lens system these contours are shown in physical coordinates and a comparison is made with corresponding phase contours measured at a wavelength of 3.2 cm. using a solid-dielectric lens. Results are shown of very detailed calculations and measurements made in the vicinity of certain interesting regions including the axis of the system and the intensity zeroes of the "focal plane". It is demonstrated that …  Read more

The effects of feeding soy protein (SP) or SP plus isoflavones (IF) (150 and 400 mg IF/kg diet) on bone metabolism were assessed in female weanling and retired breeder (RB) rats fed low calcium (Ca) for five weeks. Young rats fed SP-based diets had significantly smaller reductions in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) as a result of the low Ca diet compared to those fed casein-based diets. Added IFs had no further benefits. Soy protein also affected bone metabolism in both the young and RB rats as indicated by markers of bone resorption. Neither the SP …  Read more

Paidoussis, Michael P. (Supervisor1)  Read more

Ruthazer, Edward (Supervisor1)  Read more

Panangaden, Prakash (Supervisor2)  Read more

La présente thèse examine la rhétorique qui sous-tend les cas narratifs (de 5,21 à 43; de 7,24 à 30; de 9,14 à 29) et discursifs (9,33 à 37; de 10,13 à 16) dans la langue de Marc portant sur les enfants, et analyse comment et dans quelle mesure la langue Marcan relative aux enfants est présentée comme rhétorique pour s'adresser clairement aux niveaux élites et non-élites de la double audience à laquelle s'adresse l'Évangile, en se fondant sur la théorie développée par Henderson. La thèse soutient que les récits de guérisons d'enfants favorisent la construction d'une conception inscrite de l'enfant …  Read more