McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par N

Hinsberg, Vincent Johan van (Supervisor1)  Read more

The phrase 'the system of the double majority' is a familiar one in Canadian histroriography. Despite this, double majority has never had a single study devoted it. [...]  Read more

Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and the Leishmania species are the major pathogenic trypanosomatid organisms that cause significant diseases in humans and animals, with high incidence and mortality rates. The target organism in this research was T. brucei, an eukaryote where the energy regulation varies in the organism according to the life stages. RNA editing is a form of post-transcriptional RNA processing, which occurs in mitochondrial mRNAs, and is essential for parasite energy generation and viability in T. brucei. Our lab recently identified RBP7910 as a protein associated with RNA editing. RBP7910 is essential for the viability of the parasite and …  Read more

The Warsaw Convention of 1929, effective since February 13, 1933 (1), is the most widely accepted treaty on international commercial law. It was in force in eighty-two states as of January 10, 1966. (2) [...]  Read more

Background. Evidence to date remains equivocal regarding the association between tattooing and various transfusion-transmitted diseases (TTDs). Objectives. To determine whether there is an association between the presence or specific characteristics of ornamental tattoos and one or more of the following infections: HBV, HCV, HIV, Chagas' disease, and syphilis. Methods. Type of study: Hospital-based cross-sectional pair-matched study. Setting: Teaching hospital and blood bank in a Brazilian town. Study population: Adults 18 years of age and over who were admitted to the hospital, attended the outpatient clinic or volunteered to donate blood. Exclusion criteria: medical conditions causing transitory or permanent intellectual impairment; …  Read more

In the rat, both the activation of peripheral baroreceptors as well as electrical stimulation in the diagonal band of Broca depress the excitability of vasopressin (VP)-secreting neurons in the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus via GABA$ sb{ rm A}$ receptors. Baroreceptor activation alters the firing of neurons in the diagonal band consistent with a role as a central relay by which baroreceptor activation arrests the activity of supraoptic VP neurons. Neurons in the adjacent median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) also receive baroreceptor-derived input. Anatomical tracing techniques indicate that MnPO neurons project directly to the supraoptic nucleus whereas diagonal band neurons project to the …  Read more

Wein, M.  Read more

De Stein, J. (Supervisor)  Read more

Empathy, broadly defined as the ability to understand and appropriately respond to what others are feeling, is critical for establishing and maintaining social connections and navigating our social world. There are two well-established routes for gathering information about others—by simulating/mimicking their emotional states (emotion contagion/affective empathy), and/or by mentalizing about their thoughts and feelings (cognitive empathy). Importantly, these processes rarely occur under optimal conditions; instead, contextual factors such as the experience of acute stress might change the way we perceive and interact with others. Despite increased research on the effects of acute stress on empathy, much remains unknown. This may …  Read more

The thesis offers a new framework for inflation as a process of restructuring. Contrary to existing theories of inflation, which tend to take structure and institutions as given for the purpose of analysis, we argue that inflation could be understood only in terms of ongoing structural and institutional change. In the modern context of large-scale business enterprise, inflationary restructuring arises as an integral part of capital accumulation. On the aggregate level, inflation appeals as stagflation, with the expansion of pecuniary values in the 'business' sphere depending on the strategic limitation of productive activity in the 'industrial' realm. This stagflationary interaction …  Read more

There is often a dichotomy between fairness and efficacy: fair algorithms may proffer low social welfare solutions whereas welfare optimizing algorithms may be very unfair. This issue is ex- emplified in the machine scheduling problem where, for n jobs, the social welfare (namely, the total sum of completion times) of any fair solution may be a factor Ω(n) worse than the opti- mal welfare. In this paper, we prove that this dichotomy between fairness and efficacy can be overcome if we allow for a negligible amount of bias (unfairness): there exist algorithms that are both “almost perfectly fair” and have …  Read more

Certain types of dead, inactive biomass can very effectively immobilize and concentrate heavy metals. In this work, a (bio-)sorption process has been studied using the biomass of waste crab shells which is particularly suited for extracting anionic metal species such as gold-cyanide, chromate and vanadate. These metal species are much difficult to remove from solutions. The current work demonstrated the crab-shell biosorbent potential. Acid Washed Ucides cordatus Shells (AWUS) removed more metal than other excellent biosorbents such as Bacillus (bacterium), Penicillium (fungus) or Sargassum (alga), with metal uptakes up to 0.79 mmol V/g dry AWUS, 0.54 mmol Cr/g, and 0.17 …  Read more

There is an emerging demand for natural and engineered CO2 sinks to combat the effects of global warming. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) processes are expected to play a predominant role within a broad portfolio of technical innovations to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A range of CCS methods will be required to provide GHG control technologies for the broad scope of industrial sectors. Within this class of technologies carbon dioxide accelerated concrete curing has the global potential to permanently and safely sequester up to 550 Mt CO2/yr while producing non-reinforced concrete products with improved physical properties and in less …  Read more

It seems self-evident that novels and other literary forms profoundly influence the way we think, feel and learn about society. However, while a number of studies have acknowledged the importance of textbooks used within the school curriculum, few have examined novels that are studied within the high school English program. Thus this thesis focuses on gender-bias found in a study of 21 novels identified as those most commonly used in the high schools of the Lakeshore School Board. The results show significant gender imbalance in all categories: the number of female authors, characters, voices, and perspectives. The recommendations that arise …  Read more

Strong, Teresa (Internal/Supervisor)  Read more

The method to discover the more important factors causing the movements in income-velocity is to examine the determinants of the demand for money. In the cash balance terminology of the Cambridge equation, k=M/Y real money balances are set equal to real monetary income times a number, k. The k, in the cash balance equation is the reciprocal of velocity. Any analysis in terms of the proportion that desired cash balances bear to income or total transactions can easily be restated in terms of the velocity of money.  Read more

Indigenous Sovereignty, broadly, refers to the distinct rights afforded to Indigenous peoples over their traditional territories and modes of governance within their communities. Indigenous Sovereignty as a political and theoretical concept, within fields such as Indigenous Studies, risks conflating quotidian sensation with conceptions of nationhood by categorizing Indigenous bodies as merely composite parts of the political order of Indigenous peoplehood. Though the Indigenous Studies concepts resurgence and refusal conceive of peoplehood and a capacity that can be lived out on the Indigenous body, conceptions of self-determination and Indigenous Sovereignty in Indigenous Studies, supposedly realized through the interaction of bodies in …  Read more

The equations of motion of a tethered satellite system are highly nonlinear and should possess many interesting related features; yet its nonlinear dynamics has never been thoroughly investigated in previous works. This thesis analyzes the nonlinear dynamics of two-body tethered satellite systems using numerical tools of analysis such as phase plane plots, power spectral densities (PSD's), Poincare sections and first Lyapunov exponents, as well as approximate analytical methods including the method of Melnikov. Motion in the stationkeeping phase wherein the tethered system is just a gravity gradient pendulum is studied, first considering pitch motion only, and then considering the coupled …  Read more

This study draws on a psychophysical scaling technique to assess prisoners' perceptions of the severity of various penal measures. The data used in this study was gathered from face-to-face interviews with 159 male prisoners randomly selected from three separate Canadian federal correctional facilities between August 1993 and May 1994. A punishment severity scale was developed based on respondents' perceptions of various legal sanctions. Subgroups of the overall sample were examined and differences in severity ratings were observed based on a number of socio-demographic variables and variations in one's relationship and experience with the criminal justice system. This research also provides …  Read more

The structure and molecular forms of human placental type V collagen preparations containing (alpha)1(V), (alpha)2(V) and (alpha)3(V) chains were investigated. Crude human placental preparations containing native (alpha)1(V), (alpha)2(V) and (alpha)3(V) chains were resolved into two fractions by three independent nondenaturing methods (phosphocellulose chromatography, high performance ion exchange chromatography and ammonium sulphate fractionation). One fraction contained (alpha)1(V) and (alpha)2(V) chains in a 2:1 ratio and the other contained (alpha)1(V), (alpha)2(V) and (alpha)3(V) chains in a 1:1:1 ratio. The collagen in each fraction behaved as one homogeneous, native and distinct entity as determined by CD spectroscopy, resistance to trypsin/chymotrypsin digestion and electrophoresis …  Read more

Cette thèse explore les défis de la conception d’instruments de musique numériques (DMI) fiables et robustes pour une utilisation à long terme. Les techniques et les cadres d'autres domaines de l'ingénierie, tels que l'ingénierie des systèmes et de la fiabilité, sont examinés pour déterminer leur adéquation dans un contexte de technologie musicale. Le concept de taux d'interruption de la pratique est discuté comme moyen d'analyser la fiabilité et la disponibilité du DMI. Un cadre d'ingénierie système a été utilisé pour concevoir le T-Stick 5GW, la cinquième génération du T-Stick, un contrôleur gestuel conçu au milieu des années 2000 au laboratoire …  Read more

Ce mémoire examine la lecture faite par Antonio Gramsci de Nicolas Machiavel et de Karl Marx à travers le thème de la traduction, qui parcourt les Cahiers de prison. Contre les interprétations qui présentent le vocabulaire de la traduction dans les Cahiers de prison comme une métaphore décrivant le passage de la théorie à la pratique, ce mémoire redéfinit la traduction comme une pratique interprétative et créative que Gramsci développe à partir de sa lecture de Machiavel (en particulier du Prince) et de Marx. Plus précisément, ce mémoire soutient que, selon l'interprétation de Gramsci, les deux penseurs abordent le travail …  Read more

This thesis studies three novels of the Turkish writer Halide Edib (1884-1964) written between 1908 and 1912, and examines this historical period and her life during it. The thesis deals with the 1908 Constitutional Revolution, the '31 March Incident' and the Turkist movement, as reflected in her novels, as well as independently through secondary sources. The examination of Raik'in Annesi (1980) reveals Edib's ideas on 'ideal womanhood,' morality and divorce. Seviyye Talib (1990) includes her views on the Constitutional Revolution, women's modernisation and the '31 March Incident.' The study of Yeni Turan (1912) reveals much about Turkism, or Turanism, and …  Read more

In response to an interest in reviewing problems of undergraduate social work education in Eastern Africa, an attempt has 'been made in this study to develop a social work training programme appropriate to the socio-economic needs of the Eastern African countries in general, and Tanza­nia in particular. This effort has been seen as an initial step towards developing a social work educational policy and philosophical model that does not only address itself to issues relating to national goals, but specifically to the process of rural modernization or rural transformation ­viewed here as an essential means to the economic develop­ment of …  Read more

A stock "parent" (S) strain of the mouse parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus was exposed to increasing levels of ivermectin at the L4 stage for 15 generations. A Passage line was also developed from the parent strain parallel with the ivermectin selected line to control for the effects of rapid passage of the parasite from host to host during drug selection. A dose titration trial indicated 1.5 fold resistance had developed in the ivermectin selected strain at the 8th generation (IVM-8) both at the L4 and adult stage. A higher dose of drug was required to kill the L4 stage compared to …  Read more

Anthelmintic resistance is a major problem in livestock, and while it has been slower to emerge in cattle, there are reports of its occurrence. Three broad-spectrum anthelmintics are available for use, and one mechanism of resistance that is common to all is target site alteration. Glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) are an important target for macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics (MLs), while beta-tubulin represents the benzimidazole (BZ) target. The objectives of this thesis were to determine whether GluCls are involved in ML resistance in the cattle parasite Cooperia oncophora , and whether beta-tubulin is involved in BZ and ML resistance. Two isolates of …  Read more

Polyadenylation is a mRNA maturation process that involves the addition of a poly(A) tail after a polyadenylation signal (PAS) located in the 3’-untranslated region (3’-UTR) of pre-mRNAs. Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is the production of varying 3'-UTR isoforms of an mRNA using distinct PAS in pre-mRNAs. Studies show that cancer cells use shorter 3’-UTR APA isoforms. Several authors predict that this global shortening of 3’-UTRs contributes to cancer development, a theory that is challenged by the fact that 3’-UTR shortening also occurs in healthy proliferative cells through APA. This raises the question of whether 3’UTR shortening is a cause or an …  Read more

The Kibi-Gold deposits are situated within the Apapam concession in the Kibi-Winneba volcanic belt of Ghana in West Africa. The belt comprises upper greenschist facies Birimian Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks, and is adjacent to the renowned Ashanti belt, which accounts for 90% of Ghana’s gold production. Gold mineralization (native gold) in the Kibi-Gold deposits is hosted by quartz diorite and occurs in quartz-albite-carbonate veins and in the host rock, in close association with disseminated pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite. Introduction of the gold was contemporaneous with pervasive carbonatization, sulphidation and weak sericitization, which involved the replacement of iron-bearing silicate minerals by …  Read more

Elliptic curves have been a subject of much mathematical study since early in the past century. Recently, through the work of Koblitz and Miller, they have found application in the area of publickey cryptography. The basic reason is that, elliptic curves over finite fields provide an abundance of finite abelian groups which could be used as a basis for public-key cryptosystems. The objective of this thesis is to survey the field of elliptic curve public-key cryptography as it exists now, with an attempt to identify key ideas and contributions. We are particularly interested in elliptic curve cryptosystems defined over Zp …  Read more

Vandna Sinha (Supervisor2)  Read more

The minerals industry has recently encountered significant price fluctuations leading to more business risk and unexpected overall returns on capital fund invested. This situation forces mining corporations to find new decision-making processes to improve productivity and efficiency in allocation or prioritization of business-related spending, including sustaining and working capital projects. This research aims to propose new portfolio management strategies to be used at the senior management level of global mining companies. Given that decision-making processes regarding a portfolio require risk management and diversification components, the main emphasis is on managing the trade-offs between risks and returns. Therefore, the effect of …  Read more

RésuméLes interactions internationales qui sous tendent les règles internationales sur les ressources phytogénétiques pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (RPGAA) et les droits de propriété intellectuelle connexes (DPI) constituent une force dynamique de changement qui font l'objet d'une constante évolution génératrice de normes et qui empiètent, de plus en plus, et de façon significative, sur les régimes juridiques nationaux. Ces développements sont caractérisés par un nombre croissant de problématiques et de convergence de processus de différents secteurs, imprégnés d'une série de répercussions juridiques et socio-politiques. Cette situation a créé un contexte juridique et politique difficile, d'où la nécessité de mieux comprendre les …  Read more

This thesis reviews the current understanding of autonomy rights of the child as communicated by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It examines whether this conception is effective in achieving the fulfilment of the autonomy rights of the child, as well as in responding to the key challenges in the realisation of these rights within some jurisdictions. It proposes a critical look at the negotiations and drafting process of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in order to develop and foster a better appreciation of the basis of the current understanding and, therefore, the existing …  Read more

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a major staple crop for an estimated 700 million people worldwide. Cassava tubers are high in carbohydrates but contain very little iron, zinc, vitamin A and protein. Additionally, the presence of anti-nutrients, namely cyanogenic glycosides (linamarin 95% and lotasutralin 5%) restricts the consumption of cassava.Cyanogenic glycosides can be hydrolyzed by the endogenous cell wall enzyme linamarase to yield acetone cyanohydrin (which spontaneously breaks down into hydrogen cyanide (HCN) at temperatures above 30°C) and free cyanide. Increasing the breakdown of linamarin into the volatile byproducts by linamarase can reduce the toxicity of cassava tubers. Linamarase is quickly …  Read more

The preparasitic, or free-living phase of the life-cycle of the Trichostongoylid nematodes parasitic in the rabbit includes the egg, the first and second stage preinfective larvae, and the ensheathed or infective larvae. The egg stage passes out in the faeces of the host and is deposited on the grass of the pasture. The first and second stage larvae normally remain in the faeces, and it is not until the third or infective stage is reached that migration from faeces to the grass blades occurs. Temperature, moisture and sunlight are generally considered to be the most important natural influences affecting the …  Read more

In a previous study of the two rabbit Trichostrongyles, Trichostrongylus retortaeformis (Zader, 1800) and Graphidium strigosum (Dujardin, 1845), the writer studied under laboratory conditions, the influence of the main environmental factors on the free-living stages of these nematodes. In the present work, a closer examination of the micro-environments of the infective and adult stages of these worms has been attempted. The term micro-environment is used in this study to denote the immediate surrounding of the worm.  Read more

Lomer, G. (Supervisors)  Read more

Business modelling, the modelling of architectures and processes of organizations, should have a broad scope. It should not exclusively capture the basic information of the processes, but also address the various kinds of documentation related to the processes under consideration. In this combination, organizational models will be more expressive and useful. The research reported here describes and demonstrates a new approach for reconciling formal and informal documentation in business modelling. It is based on the integration of an underlying formal modelling approach with hypertext concepts that provide mechanisms for capturing, manipulating and viewing informal model documentation. We have developed the …  Read more

The objective of this work was to investigate the behaviour of malleable metals in tumbling mills. Much of the work focused on lead: shots, flattened shots and fragments were ground in three different laboratory mills. Testwork with fragments was repeated in the presence of a brittle and harder mineral phase (95% silica, 5% lead) and for copper (100% copper). The transfer of particles across size classes and the loss of weight because of smearing on the mill shell and grinding media were measured. Microhardness tests confirmed that lead did not work-harden during grinding. The transfer across size classes was modelled …  Read more

Stern, R. (Supervisor)  Read more

Cartier, Raymond (Supervisor2)  Read more

La connaissance des facteurs propres à l'individu permettrait de réduire le risque de développer un AVC (accident vasculaire cérébral). Cette recherche a pour objectif d'estimer le risque du premier AVC pour des combinaisons de facteurs psychologiques et d'autres liés à la santé et aux styles de vie. Basé sur un modèle de Cox, l'équation de régression donne des estimations individuelles sur 10 ans des risques d'avoir un AVC pour toutes les combinaisons de facteurs de risque, menant à la création d'un calculateur de risque, appelé PSRIC. Sur 17805 personnes suivies dans des banques de données administratives pendant 11 ans en …  Read more