McGill University Theses and dissertations by author name (I)

Early identification and prediction of plant abiotic stress are required to ensure sustainable agricultural management. Traditional plant and soil-based methods of estimating plant stress are destructive, labour intensive, and time-consuming. These methods often do not represent the heterogeneity of soil and crop parameters at large spatial scales. Spectral reflectance data provide near real-time and non-destructive estimates of plant stress, and account for spatial and temporal variability of crops and soil. This research focused on the use of spectral reflectance data to estimate plant water and nitrogen requirements to improve field management of high-value vegetable crops. The first study in this …  Read more

The present study analysed the use of hedges in English medical research articles written by Japanese and American researchers. The study also examined the relationship between Japanese medical professionals' employment of hedges and their writing process. Sixteen English medical articles: eight written by Japanese and eight by Americans were examined. Four of the Japanese authors discussed their writing process through questionnaires and telephone interviews. The overall ratio of hedges in articles written by the two groups differed only slightly; however, analyses revealed a number of specific differences in the use of hedges between the groups. For example, Japanese researchers used …  Read more

Cette thèse examine la réception littéraire du poème d’amour persan du XIIe siècle de Nizami Ganjavī, Ḳhusrau o Shīrīn, dans le sous-continent indien, où le poème a subi une transformation remarquable et transcendé sa vision initiale de l’amour comme phénomène courtois et charnel pour évoluer vers l’expression d’un idéal d’amour profondément dévotionnel et mystique. Les interprétations nord-indiennes de Ḳhusrau o Shīrīn comprennent quatre récits poétiques rédigés entre les XIIIe et XIXe siècles par Amir Khusrau de Delhi (1253-1325), Hashim Shah (1735-1843), Muhammad Buta Gujrati (1836-1919) et Munshi Gobind Prasad Faza. En contraste marqué avec la représentation par Nizami de la …  Read more

The soil structure stiffness and the index of looseness concepts were developed from the theoretical stress and strain parameters with the aim to establish the tillage mechanics evaluations of the influence of tillage geometry on soil behaviour. In order to verify these concepts in the field, chisel tines of different blade widths and rake angles were constructed and operated at different depths of tillage in a clay loam and a sandy loam. Field and laboratory tests were conducted to determine the shear strength parameters, the structural stiffness, the index of looseness, the dry density, the cumulative infiltration, the moisture characteristics, …  Read more

This thesis examines the behaviour of sentential complements in Mohawk within the framework of Government and Binding Theory. Past proposals concerning the syntactic structure of sentential complements in Romance languages (and English) are explored in Mohawk. It is claimed that Mohawk only has full CP complements and no distinct types of embedded clauses (such as a subjunctive or infinitival). This is due to a morphological requirement (specified by the Minimal Word Constraint) on Mohawk verbs which dictates the need for obligatory agreement morphology. Tense/aspect co-occurrence restrictions are given to show what type of CP complements a verb can take. The …  Read more

Mushroom tyrosinase (polyphenol oxidase, EC 1.14.18.1) was investigated as an alternative to peroxidase, enzymes for the catalytic removal of phenolic compounds from wastewaters. The maximum catalytic activity was observed at pH 7; however, significant activity was observed at pHs ranging from 5 to 8. Tyrosinase was unstable under acidic conditions and at elevated temperatures. The activation energy for thermal inactivation of tyrosinase was determined to be 1.85 kJ mol-1 at pH 7. The transformation of phenols catalysed, by tyrosinase was investigated as a function of pH, initial phenol concentration, and additives. Phenol was transformed successfully with tyrosinase, over a wide …  Read more

The fermentation of African locust beans was studied. These beans in the raw state are inedible but may be rendered palatable by fermentation. Both their texture and taste are thereby considerably improved. The beans were first processed by boiling and dehulling. They were then fermented at 37 (+OR-) 2(DEGREES)C in stationary fermentor units. Physico-chemical, microbiological, biochemical and enzymological investigations were carried out on the substrate undergoing spontaneous fermentation and on radappertized (11 kGy) controls. Reductions in carbohydrate (52%), protein (12%) and energy (9%) contents, as obtained from the mass and energy balances, occurred during fermentation. The physico-chemical changes were due …  Read more

Wissam Shalish (Supervisor1)  Read more

Object-Oriented (OO) technology claims faster development and higher quality of software than the procedural paradigm. The quality of the product is the single most important reason that determines its acceptance and success. The basic project management problem is "delivery of a product with targeted quality, within the budget, and on schedule". We propose a state-of-the-art approach that gets closer to the solution by improving the software development process used. An important objective in all software development is to ensure that the delivered product is as fault-free as possible. We proposed three hypotheses that relate the OO design properties---inheritance, cohesion, and …  Read more

L’absence de réponse au contenu (CNR) constitue une menace importante pour la collecte de données de type Likert, c'est-à-dire, lorsque le répondant répond à la question sans y tenir compte du contenu. La CNR peut se produire lorsque le répondant est négligent, mais aussi lorsqu'il est de mauvaise foi et qu'il utilise des outils automatisés pour s'attaquer aux enquêtes en ligne. La CNR a des effets négatifs bien documentés sur l'analyse des données, tels que des estimations biaisées. Les chercheurs ont sonné l’alarme face à l'augmentation apparente de la prévalence de la CNR dans les études en ligne. Bien qu'il …  Read more

Contexte : Les médecins de famille ont dû prodiguer des soins à distance pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Leurs efforts ont mis en évidence l’importance de développer un modèle de télémédecine en soins primaires. La télémédecine a le potentiel d’offrir une option de grande qualité pour la prestation de soins primaires. Toutefois, elle pose des défis uniques aux adultes âgés. Notre objectif était donc d’explorer les effets de la télémédecine et les déterminants de son utilisation dans les soins primaires pour les adultes âgés.Méthodes : Dans cette revue d’études mixtes systématiques, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINHAL, AgeLine, DARE, Cochrane Library et …  Read more

In holometabolic insects development proceeds through several larvaland a pupal instar.(l) The larva differentiates into the adult via the pupa. The transition from the fully grown larva to the adult organism is called matamorphosis. The change from each instar to the next involves moulting, during which the old chitinous exoskeleton is shed and a new one formed. [...]  Read more

Charron, Jean-Benoit (Supervisor2)  Read more

Human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the related CEA family member nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA), function in vitro as intercellular adhesion molecules. Changes in the expression pattern of CEA and NCA in a wide variety of cancerous tissues has raised the possibility that they could contribute to neoplastic and malignant transformation by influencing tissue architecture and differentiation. This study revisits the expression pattern of CEA and NCA in colorectal tumorigenesis by emphasizing the accurate quantitation of cell-surface levels in the context of tissue architecture. FACSRTM analysis of highly purified tumor versus normal colonic epithelial cell suspensions, revealed dramatically higher levels of …  Read more

Polka, Linda (Supervisor)  Read more

Metal-contamination of lakes simplifies food webs and reduces the efficiency of energy transfer to top trophic organisms, such as yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Benthic invertebrate community composition and yellow perch diet, growth and activity levels from lakes along a metal-contamination gradient were used to assess the importance of a naturally diverse prey base for maintaining energy transfer to growing fish, and how this is disrupted by metal-contamination. As perch grow larger, they shift their diet to larger prey; otherwise, the activity costs of foraging for many, small prey, instead of a few large prey, become too high and the fish …  Read more

Mammalian alkali cation/proton exchangers, more commonly known as sodium/proton exchangers (NHEs) are a family of transmembrane proteins that mediate an electroneutral exchange of Na+ (or K+) and protons across cellular membranes, thereby regulating intracellular pH and volume homeostasis. Eleven different isoforms have been identified, which differ in their tissue distribution, subcellular localization, and function. The organellar-type NHE6 isoform is widely distributed in tissues, but is enriched in brain, heart, and muscle. In order to elucidate the native distribution of NHE6 and to identify some of the mechanisms underlying its trafficking and function, a rabbit polyclonal antibody was generated. Utilizing this …  Read more

La souris loop-tail (Lp) meurt d’une anomalie très grave du tube neural (craniorachischisis) causée par des mutations dans le gène Vangl2 (D255E, R259L, S464N). Chez les mammifères, il existe deux gènes; Vangl1 et Vangl2 qui codent pour des protéines membranaires. Celles-ci jouent un rôle critique dans le développement, contrôlant l'établissement de la polarité cellulaire planaire (PCP) chez les cellules épithéliales ainsi que le processus d’extension convergente lors de la fermeture du tube neural. Dans cette thèse, le mécanisme moléculaire des protéines VANGL a été étudié. Les chapitres 2 et 6 enquêtent sur les relations entre la structure et la fonction …  Read more

Homotransplantation or homografting is the transfer of tissue and organs from members of a species to other members of the same species. The "species" is the characteristic background of homotransplantation.  Read more

The purpose of this study was to determine whether pancreatic ductal epithelium has trophic effects on the islets of Langerhans, and how this intercellular communication might be mediated. Islets and ducts were isolated from hamster pancreata. Islets were purified on a bovine serum albumin gradient. Primary duct cultures were passaged twice for cell purification. Duct-conditioned medium (DCM) was collected from duct cultures passaged twice. The islets were allocated to three experimental groups: (1) 100 islets alone; (2) 100 islets + 80 tertiary ducts and (3) 100 islets in 25% DCM. All tissues were embedded in rat tail collagen for the …  Read more

This thesis is a study of the Laozi zhongjing, an early medieval Chinese text, preserved in the Daoist Canon (Daozang) in two versions. In the first chapter, I compare the extant versions, inquiring into the relationship between them, and then establish the interval for the text's possible dates of composition. In the second chapter, I argue that the text was deliberately written as an esoteric scripture and analyze the techniques which the text uses to create an atmosphere of secrecy; I then suggest that the best way to approach an esoteric scripture consists in scrutinizing the text in order to …  Read more

Cette these propose une interpretation de l'histoire du centre culturel montrealais, la Place des Arts, depuis les origines du projet en 1954 jusqu'a la nationalisation de l'institution en 1964. L'analyse qui en est offerte privilegie l'etude des fonctions politiques attribuees au centre culturel pendant cette periode. Elle montre comment cette institution culturelle a servi de catalyseur et de symbole pour nombre d'acteurs sociaux implique dans les changements radicaux qui caracterisent la Revolution Tranquille. Elle dresse ainsi un tableau des grandes forces ideologiques, sociales et politiques presentes au debut des annees Soixante en s'appuyant sur l'etude de cas de la Place …  Read more

Macallum, A. (Supervisors)  Read more

This study examined the efficacy of conjoint behavioural consultation (CBC) with children evidencing conduct problems, the impact of CBC in enhancing parental knowledge of behavioural principles, and whether knowledge of behavioural principles is related to improved parenting skills. An A/B design was used and participants included 5 boys (ages 3, 3, 5, 5, and 6) and their parents. Children evidenced improvements in their target behaviours from baseline to treatment (effect sizes = -0.54 to -2.10). Overall, children's social skills increased (Reliable Change Indices [RCI] = -3.66 to 3.05), problem behaviours decreased, and externalizing difficulties decreased (RCI = -0.24 to -3.74). …  Read more

The purpose of these investigations was to compare changes in child conduct problem behavior and parental ability and to examine the relationship between parent and child outcome. An A/B research design was used across two studies with a total of 34 children (aged 3--10 years) and 43 parents randomly assigned to one of three parent-mediated treatment modalities (i.e., individualized conjoint behavioral consultation using a self-administered treatment manual; CBC, group-administered videotape parent training with shared consultant contact; GVT, and self-administered videotape parent training with minimal consultant contact; VT). In the first study, child outcome was evaluated using direct observations of target …  Read more

Rosenblatt, David (Internal/Supervisor)  Read more

Cette thèse étudie des méthodes expérimentales de détermination des coefficients de diffraction, en tant qu'outils pour la théorie géométrique de la diffraction (TGD). Un système original de mesure des micro-ondes en bande X a été conçu, construit et employé pour mesurer le champ diffuse par des objets physiques, dans le but d'étudier la diffraction des champs. Le système est capable de mesurer le champ ponctuel à n'importe de quel point à l'intérieur d'un volume de 1m3 . L’emploi du problème du demi-plan conducteur comme référence nous permet de· démontrer que dans certains cas I l'on peut extraire les composants diffractés …  Read more

La fabrication hybride à grande échelle (HLSM) d'outils pour le traitement des composites offre la possibilité de résoudre les problèmes courants de coût et de performance de l'outillage traditionnel, mais les méthodes actuelles de recherche sur leur conception et leur fabrication demandent beaucoup de temps, de matériel et de main-d'œuvre, ce qui entraîne des coûts inutiles. Cette étude propose une suite d'essais quantitatifs à petite échelle pour évaluer et prédire les paramètres de traitement clés et les propriétés et performances résultantes de l'outillage HLSM dans le traitement des composites, ce qui minimise les essais à grande échelle et par conséquent …  Read more

The properties of genetic variants of $ alpha sb{ rm s1}$-casein (BB, AB), $ beta$-casein (A$ sp1$A$ sp1$, A$ sp2$A$ sp2$, A$ sp1$A$ sp2$, A$ sp1$A$ sp3$, A$ sp2$A$ sp3$, A$ sp1$B, A$ sp2$B, BB), $ kappa$-cn (AA, AB, BB) and $ beta$-lactoglobulin (AA, AB, BB) were compared. The caseins and $ beta$-lactoglobulin were purified by mass ion exchange chomatography. Model systems of $ alpha sb{ rm s1}$- and $ kappa$-caseins were compared with respect to their stability towards calcium ions and other major milk salts precipitation. $ beta$-Casein, $ alpha sb{ rm s1}$-casein BB + $ beta$-caseins and $ …  Read more

Crickets provide a useful model system to study how animals analyze sound frequency. While much is known about how sound frequency is represented by central neurons and in behavior, little is yet known about auditory receptor neurons. I investigated physiological and anatomical properties of auditory receptor fibers (ARFs) and functional organization of their axon terminals, using single-unit recording and staining techniques. Behavioral experiments suggest that crickets are sensitive to two broad frequency ranges, centered at 4--5 kHz for acoustic communication and at 25--50 kHz for predator detection. However, cricket ARFs fall into three distinct populations, based on characteristic frequency (CF; …  Read more

Contemporary trends in civil aviation show a noticeable tendency towards integration of national airline enterprises in many regions of the world. This attitude springs from the economic realities of air transport, the progress of which has been retarded generally by excessive competition and, in certain particular regions, also by such factors as shortages in financial resources and experienced personnel, inadequate equipment, and, at times, inherent difficulties in the operation of air services. [...]  Read more

Des transistors à effet de champs à base de graphene (gFETs) sont caractérisé par une grande mobilité des porteurs des charges ainsi qu'une haute sensibilité aux adsorbés/ interactions avec le substrat. Ceci suggère des applications allant des senseurs à basse fréquence au haute fréquence pour circuit RF. La déposition par vapeur chimique des monocouches de graphene aide à apporter ces applications plus près de leur réalisation, mais des problèmes comme le contrôle sur le niveau de dopage, l'hystérèse et le bruit des gFETs persistent.Dans la première partie de cette thèse, nous avons cherché à comprendre les sources de bruit dans …  Read more

Les vésicules extracellulaires (VE) sont des particules complexes liées à la membrane sécrétée par les cellules dans l'espace extracellulaire. Les VE jouent un rôle important dans la physiologie et la pathologie normales et sont reconnus comme une riche source de biomarqueurs pour le diagnostic des maladies, les véhicules d'administration de médicaments et les agents thérapeutiques. Par conséquent, une caractérisation approfondie de la composition biochimique des VE est d'une grande importance. Ainsi, l'objectif principal de cette thèse est de développer de nouvelles technologies polyvalentes pour la caractérisation optique sans étiquette des VE et de valider l'utilisation d'une méthodologie établie, la spectroscopie …  Read more

The basic intrusive rocks constitute a well-differentiated series that ranges from amphibolite to diorite to syenite. The northern and the southern granite are characterized by oligoclase feldspar and interlocking texture. These two masses are believed to be magmatically related and their differences are explained as resulting from depth of consolidation. The Goéland batholith differs from the other two granitic bodies by its equigranular texture and the more basic composition of its plagioclase. The petrographic descriptions of the intrusive rocks are followed by considerations on their age and mode of intrusion No mineral deposits of economic importance have been found though …  Read more

The Iserhoff river area lies in Abitibi East county at some 80 miles north of Senneterre, a town on the Canadian National Railway. It is bounded by longitudes 76°45’ and 77°00’ west and by latitude 49°45’ north and by a line about 4 miles south of latitude 49°30’ north [...]  Read more

At a time of reorganization for certain socio-economic paradigms within the Province of Quebec, the public-private duality is in need of a competitive and sustainable collaboration in order to promote and ameliorate public services, provide more controlled levels of risk and lower initial investment costs in such projects. The concept of a public-private partnership is born from a necessity to adapt the structure of the existing systems to better serve the modern demands of users, to replace old and inefficient infrastructures as well as to abet prohibitive financial considerations of the Province of Quebec. Under which circumstances and to which …  Read more

Gauvin, Raynald (Supervisor2)  Read more

This study asks why Australia institutionalized its intergovernmental relations at the strategic, head-of-government (HoG) level whereas Canada did not. In the early-1990s, both federations undertook intergovernmental negotiations to redesign their respective economic unions, which were increasingly exposed to world economic shifts. The economic reform process engages what is referred to as the mechanism of continuous negotiations (see Imbrogno, forthcoming). Subsequent to these negotiations, Australia founded the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), an institutionalized HoG meeting. In contrast, Canada's economic reform effort – referred to as the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) – did not yield institutionalized First Ministers' Conferences (FMCs). …  Read more

Blanchette, Mathieu (Internal/Supervisor)  Read more

The main objective of this research is to develop new unbiased plotting position formulas for two general probability distributions which are widely used in hydrologic frequency analyses: the Pearson type III (P3) and the General Extreme Value (GEV) distributions. The research study is divided into three parts. First, using the Probability Weighted Moment (PWM) theory an analytical method is proposed to derive the exact plotting positions for systematic flood records (i.e., complete flood samples which occurred during the period of systematic gauging). Second, for the convenience of practical application, simple unbiased plotting position formulas representing a very reliable approximation to …  Read more

This thesis investigates how the outcomes of the acquisition of second language (L2) argument structure will vary depending on the nature of the learner's first language (L1). The focus is on motion verbs appearing with a prepositional/postpositional phrase that expresses the final endpoint of the motion (goal PP). In English, manner-of-motion verbs (e.g., walk ) and directed motion verbs (e.g., go) can appear with a goal PP as in John walked (went ) to school. In contrast, Japanese allows only directed motion verbs to occur with a goal PP. Thus, Japanese motion verbs with goal PPs form a subset of …  Read more

The concept of "corporate governance", which has appeared in the United States, is however recently subject to vivid discussions across the world. The notion is understood differently in distinct jurisdictions. Nevertheless, corporate governance widely refers to the way corporations are managed. The present study firstly concentrates on the United States since the latter has been the first country to host debates on the topic. Different governance models basically distinguish the North-American and European (Continental Europe) governance systems. However, debates in the United States and Canada concentrate on distinct issues. The third studied country, France has also its own characteristics. International …  Read more

The abundance of spectral-spatial information captured in airborne and spaceborne hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data allows end users to characterize the materials within each pixel based on their light-matter interactions. Such information provides insight to important problems such as climate change, food security and national defense. End users of HSI data are often provided with georeferenced raster end products that consist of uniformly distributed square pixels. When using raster end products, end users implicitly assume image pixels are: 1) directly comparable, 2) square and 3) uniformly distributed in space. These assumptions do not hold in HSI. This thesis investigates how raster …  Read more