McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par J

A diagnostic study using the CASP (Canadian Atlantic Storm Program) dataset and available precipitation data is performed to examine the thermodynamics of melting-induced mesoscale circulations. Various terms of the thermodynamic equation were evaluated. The horizontal and vertical advection terms were calculated using the rawinsonde data while the diabatic term due to melting was parameterized using surface precipitation observations. The effects of evaporation and dissipation were neglected in the calculation of the diabatic terms. The importance of the melting term was clearly shown although direct evidence of a melting-induced circulation was not found due to the relatively low resolution of the …  Read more

This thesis aims at surveying the Trinidad Cacao Industry against the background of the general economie framework of the country. It begina with an analysis of this framework, and a brief examination of the respective roles of the two major agricultural industries, sugar and cacao, within the agricultural sector. The history of the cocao industry is then traced from its beginnings to the present. Following this, the attempt is made to place the Trinidad industry in clear perspective with regard to the world cacao industry, with a view to gauging its present strength and future potential. Remaining chapters deal with …  Read more

The tracking of closely maneuvering targets represents a challenge for both the contact-to-track association and the positional estimation algorithms. This thesis describes an IMM-JVC algorithm, its implementation, and demonstrates its performance on some simulated scenarios. The Interacting Multiple Model (IMM) estimator is integrated with the Jonker-Volgenant-Castanon (JVC) contact-to-track association optimization procedure in the IMM-JVC formulation described. The tracking accuracy provided by the IMM has been recognized as superior to that obtained from other single-scan positional estimators. The IMM provides a probabilistically weighted combination of the results of multiple Kalman filters. The JVC method also uses probability weighting in a global …  Read more

Contexte: Les gens ayant des handicaps physiques, incluant ceux ayant subi un accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC), ont souvent des déficits fonctionnels, qui entravent leur participation à l’activité physique en partie parce qu’elles réduisent leur auto-efficacité. L’utilisation de modèles a été suggérée comme une solution prometteuse pour augmenter l'auto-efficacité chez ces populations. Cependant, des études sont nécessaires pour tester l'impact de différents types de modèles sur l'auto-efficacité des adultes ayant subi un AVC. Le but de cette étude était d'examiner les changements d'auto-efficacité chez les adultes ayant subi un AVC dans le cadre d'un programme d'exercices post-AVC avec des modèles pairs …  Read more

Treatment delivery verification is an essential step of radiotherapy. The purpose of this thesis is to develop new methods to improve the verification of photon and electron beam radiotherapy treatments. This is achieved through developing and testing (1) a way to acquire portal images during electron beam treatments, (2) a method to reconstruct the dose delivered to patients during photon beam treatments and (3) a technique to improve image quality in kilovoltage (kV) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) by correcting for scattered radiation. The portal images were acquired using the Varian CL21EX linac and the Varian aS500 electronic portal imaging …  Read more

One of the contributions of postwar pure mathematics to applied sciences is connected with the theory of generalised functions (distribution theory). In fact, applications of this theory are numerous in physics, in nonlinear mechanics, in fluid dynamics, and in field theory. Furthermore, dubious tricks (more than 50 years ago, Heaviside introduced his rules on symbolic calculus in a daring report, where mathematical operations that are hardly justified are performed in the solving of problems of physics; Dirac delta function; differentiation of non-differentiable functions; the free use of diverging Fourier series and integrals;) physicists have resorted to up to now are …  Read more

RésuméLa connaissance des mathématiques en enseignement, ou la CME, est une connaissance des mathématiques importante unique aux enseignants et en enseignement. Un domaine de la CME, la connaissance des mathématiques spécialisées (CMS), inclut la capacité d'interprétation de solutions non standards des étudiants, de créer des représentations pour des idées mathématiques pertinentes, et d'expliquer des algorithmes mathématiques communs (Ball, Thames, & Phelps, 2008). Plusieurs mesures sont présentement disponibles pour ceux qui veulent mesurer la CMS, mais notre compréhension de ce domaine reste incomplète, surtout parmi les enseignants en formation, qui, grâce à un manque d'expérience de l'enseignement, possedent probablement une CMS …  Read more

Learning processes play a major role in controlling intake of food. Through repeated experiences an animal acquires the ability to predict the postingestive effects of a particular food (i.e., of its nutrients and energy) from its sensory characteristics. What is unclear from the literature, however, is whether an animal can anticipate the duration of subsequent food deprivation from predictive sensory qualities of a food, and hence increase the amount eaten of that cueing food. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the characteristics of this under-researched type of learning, i.e., anticipatory eating, using laboratory rats trained on two …  Read more

This is a study of a problem in the logic of belief revision. On the assumption of a number of fairly traditional views concerning the relationship between mind and world, the mechanics of perception, and the nature of belief, an argument is made to the effect that revision of extant beliefs is impossible even in the light of new perceptual experience. The argument turns on the ability of a cognitive system to recognize conflict among its thoughts and perceptions. A number of models of the mechanics of perceptual interpretation are explored, all of which are revealed to share a susceptibility …  Read more

The peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) is co-localized within oxytocin- and vasopressin-secreting magnocellular neurons in supraoptic, paraventricular, and accessory nuclei of the hypothalamus. These magnocellular nuclei are also prominent binding sites for CCK. Although the site of action remains to be determined, intracerebroventricular injection of CCK promotes a rise in plasma vasopressin. The present study evaluates the effect of CCK on the function of rat supraoptic magnocellular neurosecretory neurons. Extracellular recordings in vivo demonstrate that locally applied CCK excites both oxytocin- and vasopressin-secreting neurons. Intracellular recordings in superfused hypothalamic explants, reveal that CCK depolarizes a majority of magnocellular neurons. This response persists …  Read more

Objectives. To determine whether the emergency psychiatric treatment of patients with psychosis varies with immigrant status and ethnicity. Methods. Data on immigrant and ethnic status of psychotic patients admitted in 1999 were extracted from records of a general hospital in Montreal. Of the 217 subjects, 97 (44.7%) were immigrants, 125 were Euro-Canadian (57.6%),39 were Asian (18.0%), and 27 were Black (12.4%). All Asians and most Blacks (87%) were immigrants. Measures of emergency psychiatric treatment included use of seclusion, restraints, and medication in the emergency department. Multiple regression models examined the relationship of immigrant status and ethnicity to emergency psychiatric treatment …  Read more

Despite dramatic increases in female participation rates, a notable and persistent feature of the Canadian labour market is the highly unequal distribution of men and women across occupations. The focus of the current paper is how to explain the observed occupational distribution of women across occupations. In particular, we assess the evidence put forward in support of the standard view within the economics profession--the human-capital notion of 'occupational choice'--and compare its explanatory power with a non-competitive approach to women's labour market opportunities, based on the notion of a labour market characterised by job rationing. While occupational decision-making remains ill-understood, there …  Read more

Mechanization signaled the end of the cavalry but the renaissance of heavy cavalry doctrine. The tank heralded the return of breakthrough operations and maneuver warfare. Initially, the western cavalries refused doctrinal revision and chose instead to fight bitter rear guard actions against Fullerist zealots. The Canadian Cavalry, prompted by Blitzkrieg's triumphs, effortlessly evolved into a tank force---virtually overnight. Canadian doctrine, however, was ersatz. Denied its own vast training areas, the RCAC was sandwiched into southern England and saddled with British warfighting techniques developed in the Western Desert. In Normandy, Canadian operational art was driven by Generals Simonds and Crerar, both …  Read more

Through a critical engagement with the family law modernization framework, this thesis argues for the need to take more seriously the internal and global jurisdictional issues that can arise from top-down, women-centred family law reform. It argues that the problem with the family law modernization thesis lies in its close relationship with the law and development school of thought, which endorses images of consensus, unity and uniformity with respect to family law reform. As an example, this thesis uses a broad political lens first to tease out how family law reforms adopted in Mexico City between 2000 and 2009 were …  Read more

The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of developing a legal order in space through the technique of an international organization. The motivation for this study springs from the words of the United Nations General Assembly in that body's desire "to avoid the extension of present national rivalries into this new field" which holds the promise of unique benefits for all mankind. In this sense, it is a study of the strategy of interdependence in the space age. [...]  Read more

Background. In children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), sensori-motor development and functional skills in activities of daily living (ADL) remain little explored in comparison to the other domains of development. Objectives. To determine the impact of sensori-motor skills on functional skills in ADL of preschool children with ASD, and to examine their type of sensory responses, their motor skills and their functional skills in ADL. Methods. This project is a pilot and cross-sectional study. Thirty-five children with ASD, three to four years of age, have been recruited and assessed. Control groups are also included: eight children with developmental delay (DD) …  Read more

In this technologically evolving era, important human values such as freedom and social responsibility are frequently overlooked in software systems, which can have significant negative social consequences. For example, in an infamous breach Facebook provided unauthorized access to more than 50 million user profiles during US elections or Delta Airlines ticket prices spiked during a natural disaster. Therefore, it is important to help software developers incorporate human values considerations throughout the software development process. In this thesis, we focus on domain modelling with class diagrams, an important technique for requirements engineering and early design activities. To investigate how model elements …  Read more

Accessibility is the ease of reaching a location within a given time or distance by a specific mode of transport, such as walking, cycling, public transport, or cars. Every accessibility measure uses a specific spatial scale, such as traffic analysis zones (TAZ), census tracts (CTs), dissemination areas (DAs), or dissemination blocks (DB); various zoning schemes, such as hexagons or squares. Also a specific temporal resolution or granularity is chosen, such as measuring every minute, every five minutes, every 10 minutes, etc; a specific temporal segmentation, such as using peak-hour or off-peak hours; or a temporal boundary, which is how long …  Read more

Nitrification is a very important process in wastewater treatment systems performing biological nitrogen removal. The size, footprint and energy consumption of nitrifying activated sludge systems are governed by the requirement of the system to remove ammonia. Ammonia is an important wastewater quality parameter to consider because of its toxicity to aquatic life in receiving water bodies; hence environmental regulations regarding discharge requirements for ammonia are becoming more stringent. Although the complexity of nitrification in activated sludge systems is still being demystified, the possible seeding of biological reactors by raw sewage which contains nitrifying bacteria, has been overlooked so far. Even …  Read more

The existing air navigation services have many shortcomings and a reform was necessary. The new systems (CNS/ATM systems) will be largely dependent on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) which can bring significant benefits to air navigation in terms of safety, efficiency, capacity, and economy. However, GNSS have weaknesses which can be reduced but will never be fully eliminated. Depending solely on a system that can be disrupted is not acceptable for safety of life applications, such as aviation. The implementation of GNSS also raises unique legal issues and ICAO has been working on the establishment of a legal framework for …  Read more

People are efficient when they make decisions under uncertainty, even when their decisions have long-term ramifications, or when their knowledge and their perception of the environment are uncertain. We are able to experiment with the environment and learn, improving our behavior as experience is gathered. Most of the problems we face in real life are of that kind, and most of the problems that an automated agent would face in robotics too. Our goal is to build Artificial Intelligence algorithms able to reproduce the reasoning of humans for these complex problems. We use the Reinforcement Learning framework, which allows to …  Read more

Conceptual urban runoff (CUR) models are commonly used in the Planning and design of urban drainage systems. These models often require a large number of variables and parameters in order to accurately describe, the complex relationships between rainfall, runoff and watershed characteristics. This requirement has often become a barrier to the use of such models, because of the difficulties involved in the estimation of these parameters. Hence, there is a great need to develop a robust and reliable automatic calibration procedure to assist in the identification of the best set of optimal parameters for a CUR model. The present study …  Read more

Ross, Nancy (Supervisor2)  Read more

Après les crises financières mondiales de 2008, de nombreux chercheurs et éducateurs ont remis en question la présence de l'éducation dans l'enseignement de la littératie financière aux citoyens. Depuis lors, au Canada, beaucoup de travail a été fait pour promouvoir l'éducation à la littératie financière de la maternelle à la 12e année. Au Québec et en Ontario, les concepts de littératie financière ont également été développés dans les programmes d'études. Dans le cadre de cette recherche, j'ai eu l'intention d'étudier la présence de la littératie financière dans les programmes scolaires canadiens. Pour une étude approfondie, j'ai utilisé une méthode de …  Read more

La détonation est une branche de la combustion qui est initiée par une réaction chimique exothermique duquel en résulte une onde de choc supersonique appelé «Detonation Wave". Généralement la détonation se produit dans une réaction homogène gazeuse, liquide ou solide. Mais parfois, la détonation est également observée en un milieu hautement non-uniforme qui contient des sources detonable (réaction gazeux, liquide ou solide ) dans un motif discret. Ce projet se concentre sur l'étude des effets des sources d'énergie discrets sur la vitesse de l'onde de détonation à l'aide de la modélisation numérique et des simulations. La libération d'énergie à la …  Read more

The cardiovascular system is the first fully functional organ system in the vertebrate embryo. Proper formation of the vasculature is essential for proper embryonic development. Blood flow plays a significant role in the adaptable characteristics of the vessels, as well as innetwork remodelling. As soon as blood flow begins, vessels respond to external stimuli such asshear stress, the tangential force created by the blood flow, which affect the surrounding tissue. Shear stress is the product of both the velocity profile in the vessel and the viscosity of the flowing fluid, and these parameters were determined in vivo. In this research, …  Read more

This thesis focuses on monitoring non-specific and unconstrained activities and events in videos in order to build a complete scene understanding system. The particular emphasis in this work is based on the spatio-temporal context of the scene. This thesis proposes a unique solution using a hierarchical framework of video fragments to create a dynamically changing model of the scene. The model is then used to simultaneously detect and localize an event of interest, detect abnormal (rare) events, and track all moving objects in the scene. The approach can be considered as an extension to the original Bag-of-Video-Words approaches in which …  Read more

During HIV-1 assembly tRNALys isoacceptors are selectively packaged into HIV-1. One of the tRNALys isoacceptors, tRNA Lys3 serves as a primer for the reverse transcriptase-catalyzed synthesis of minus strand, strong stop cDNA. Lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) a tRNA Lys-binding protein is also selectively package into HIV-1, making it a candidate for being the signal which targets tRNALys for incorporation into viruses. We have tested whether the cytoplasmic tRNA Lys/LysRS interaction is required for selective packaging of tRNA Lys into HIV-1 by constructing anticodon mutations within the anticodon domain of tRNALys3. The anticodon is the major binding domain for tRNALys/LysRS interaction. We …  Read more

Antifeminism is one of the persisting tendencies in feminist classes that alienates the majority of adult male students, especially in countries with conflicting models of behavior, like Iran, from the advocacy of women’s rights, and perpetuates misogyny in educational contexts. To overcome (the male) students’ resistance to feminism, the present study uses literary study techniques to create a safe conciliatory space in classrooms for promoting more inclusive and more flexible feminist discussions among students. The research starts with analyzing the impact of literature in activating critical thinking of students, and explains how literature helps learners to question patriarchy from within. …  Read more

La sparsité est inhérente à de nombreuses applications telles que l’apprentissage automatique et l’analytique de graphes. Cependant, obtenir une haute efficacité dans les calculs clairsemés nécessite des accélérateurs matériels spécialisés comme les FPGA, car les accélérateurs traditionnels tels que les CPU et GPU ciblent généralement des données denses. Bien que la synthèse de haut niveau permette la génération automatique d’accélérateurs basés sur FPGA, les solutions génériques produites par des flux de synthèse en C exigent souvent un temps de développement considérable, ce qui conduit les concepteurs à privilégier une large applicabilité plutôt qu’une spécialisation structurelle fine. Par conséquent, ces accélérateurs …  Read more

The semi and climate at the Fordwah Eastern Sadiqia (South) Project, Pakistan, comprised of 105,000 ha of culturable command area, is characterized by large seasonal temperature fluctuations and a monsoon season. The canal system behaves as a recharge source to the regional groundwater and has caused waterlogging and salinity problems. The aquifer of the project area is unconfined and underlain by sediments deposited by the Sutleg-Hakra river system. To quantify the rate of groundwater recharge in the project area, a numerical groundwater model was developed. A network of 125 observation wells was installed and watertable depth data were collected for …  Read more

The treatment options for syndromic forms of obesity like Smith Magenis syndrome (SMS) are limited. The presence of cognitive impairments further complicates the management of obesity in these patients. In SMS, managing obesity requires substantial changes in lifestyle that may not be possible for patients to implement. Consequently, there is a pressing need to investigate alternative approaches to effectively treat obesity in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders to improve their overall quality of lives. The neurobiological basis of obesity in SMS is complex, primarily due to the haploinsufficiency of retinoic acid induced-1 (RAI1), which encodes an important transcription factor that regulates …  Read more

Quillen, E. (Supervisor)  Read more

Although nitric oxide (NO) from inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOSII) is proposed to be the major factor in the vascular abnormalities of sepsis in rats, its role in higher order species is not well established. This thesis thus, addresses the role of NO in septic pigs. I first hypothesized that induction of NOSII in pigs is the cause of sepsis-induced hypotension as occurs in rodents. To test this, I treated pigs with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate sepsis. In contrast to what is observed in rats and mice, plasma nitrite did not change during the 4 hours of the LPS infusion …  Read more

The use of the biguanide metformin for the management of type 2 diabetes has been associated with reduced cancer burden and mortality by several population studies. Our previous work has demonstrated that metformin has growth inhibitory effects in vitro that are related to AMPK phosphorylation, leading to mTOR inhibition. Prior evidence linked the activation of AMPK to a decline in ATP as a result of the inhibitory effects of metformin on complex 1 of the mitochondria. In view of this finding, we studied the inhibitory effects of metformin on proliferation as a function of carbon source in several transformed cell …  Read more

Angeles, Jorge (Supervisor1)  Read more

Howes, F. (Supervisor)  Read more

The signal to noise ratio of a radar system can be improved by increasing the Pulse Repetition Frequency, (PRF). When the maximum range of the radar, Rmax, is greater than 1/2 cT where: (1) c = velocity of light (2) T = interval between transmitted pulses the position of a target which is situated at a distance R from radar ( 3) 1/2 cT < R < cT will be indicated as (4) r = R - cT where (5) r = distance of target indicated by radar. Every transmitted pulse initiates a sweep. [...]  Read more

Power system operation and planning relies heavily on computer simulation programs such as load flow, transient stability, contingency analysis, state estimation, short-circuit studies and optimal power flow. All of the above mentioned methodologies for planning and operation involve simulation programs which require the solution of numerous sets of simultaneous linear equations, Ax = b, whose coefficient matrices are in general very large and sparse. The main part of the computational effort involved in these algorithms is dedicated to solving such systems of linear equations. This thesis investigates the properties of the coefficient matrix A that arises in power system analysis, …  Read more

Food allergy is becoming a global challenge affecting daily life of many individuals all over the world. Mustard is included in the list of top eight priority food allergens and the important cultivars are brown mustard (Brassica juncea) and yellow mustard (Sinapis alba). Known allergens associated with food allergic reactions are Sin a 1, Sin a 2, Sin a 3, Sin a 4 in yellow mustard. Mustard is usually incorporated as ingredient in many products for flavoring, emulsification and water binding. It is necessary to understand not only the influence of processing techniques on the associated functional properties of the …  Read more

Jabado, Nada (Supervisor1)  Read more