McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par R

Neuroplasticity is an important therapeutic target in stroke rehabilitation. Cardiovascular exercise (CE) has been proposed as a cost-effective method that may augment neuroplasticity to promote recovery. The impact of CE, however, may be dependent on the intensity of its performance. High intensity CE could potentially optimize benefits to neuroplasticity, relative to lower-intensity paradigms. Yet, CE is typically employed using moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) protocols in stroke survivors. Conducting high-intensity exercise at similar durations to MICT may be challenging for post-stroke individuals to sustain. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be a promising alternative to facilitate higher exercise intensities by utilizing repeated …  Read more

Background and purpose: The Finger-to-Nose Test (FNT) is the clinical gold standard measure for upper-limb coordination. However, the assumption that FNT assesses coordination has not been empirically verified. Our goal was to determine the ability of the FNT metric, time, to identify coordination deficits in people with stroke using both endpoint performance measures and movement quality measures. Methods: Age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n=20) and subjects with stroke (n=20) performed 2 blocks of 10 continuous to and fro movements of the finger between a target located at 90% arm length and the nose (ReachIn, ReachOut). Upper-limb kinematics were recorded (Optotrak, …  Read more

Yue, Stephen (Supervisor2)  Read more

The objectives of this research were to determine the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among the Cree of James Bay, identify independent risk factors for GDM and infant macrosomia in this population and compare the risk for GDM and infant macrosomia among Cree women with Canadian non-Native women. The prevalence of GDM using the National Diabetes Data Group criteria among the Cree was 12.8% (95% CI: 10.1--15.5), among the highest ever reported for an Aboriginal group. Independent risk factors for GDM among the Cree were advanced age, pregravid overweight and previous GDM. A comparison of risk of GDM between …  Read more

Le développement du système nerveux dépend en grande proportion en la différentiation de différentes populations de cellules neuronales et gliales, du guidage efficace des axones, de l'établissement de connexions neuronales et de ramification et élagage de ces nouvelles connexions. Ces procès sont possibles grâce à la migration, adhésion et réarrangement du cytosquelette, des mécanismes communs à l'organogénèse. Les Netrines sont des signaux chimiotropiques qui attirent ou bien repoussent différentes classes d'axones, par l'intermédiaire du récepteur Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC) et des récepteurs UNC5 (UNC5a, b, c et d) pendant le dévelopement du système nerveux. Cette famille de molécules chimiotropiques …  Read more

Epithelial morphogenesis is an important signaling program in normal embryonic development involving cell proliferation, migration, invasion and cell matrix turnover and also during tumourigenesis. The Crk adaptor family of proteins has been implicated as promoters and mediators of such biological responses downstream of various extracellular signals. Our laboratory has defined the involvement of Crk adaptor proteins in the signaling of Met-dependent anchorage-independent growth, cell dispersal, cell invasion and epithelial morphogenesis. In an MDCK epithelial cell model CrkII overexpression was sufficient to promote cell spreading. This initial biological response was dependent on Rac activity. In Chapter 3 I demonstrate that MDCK …  Read more

Mutations in the clk-1 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans result in an average slowing down and deregulation of a variety of developmental and physiological processes. In addition, clk-1 mutants are defective in responding to temperature changes. For example, wild-type worms adjust their defecation cycle length after a temperature shift whereas the defecation cycle length of clk-1 mutants is unaffected by such a shift. To understand the basis of the clk-1 phenotype, a number of genetic screens have been carried out to isolate feature-specific suppressor mutations. dsc-3(qm179) and dsc-4(qm182) were isolated in this manner. It has previously been found that dsc-3(qm179) and …  Read more

Many LGBTQ individuals have experienced some level of discrimination in their life and these incidences can have significant consequences. These experiences include discriminatory acts of violence, isolation, internalized homophobia and transphobia that can interfere at the personal level of each individual and place the person at greater risk of developing psychosocial conditions. The purpose of this thesis is to establish the reasons why the mental health conditions of LGBTQ people should be analyzed from a disability perspective and why accommodations should be provided to improve societal awareness and substantive inclusion, while also ensuring the provision of effective individualized and consistent …  Read more

The goal of this Ph.D. thesis is to characterize a new human histone chaperone, NAP-2. The nucleosome assembly protein 2 (NAP-2) was previously identified by positional cloning at 11p15.5, a region implicated in several disease processes including Wilms tumor (WT) etiology. The deduced amino acid sequence of NAP-2 indicates that it encodes a protein with a potential nuclear localization motif and two clusters of highly acidic residues. Recombinant NAP-2 can transfer histories onto DNA templates. Deletion mutagenesis of NAP-2 demonstrates that both NH3- and COOH-terminal are required for histories transfer activity. Subcellular localization studies of NAP-2 indicate that it can …  Read more

Stephens, David (Supervisor2)  Read more

Cette thèse explore le rôle des valeurs dans la mesure en sciences psychosociales. La mesure dans ces disciplines n’est pas un processus neutre, indépendant des valeurs, qui produirait des données interprétables de manière objective et universelle. Au contraire, la mesure en sciences psychosociales est nécessairement imprégnée de valeurs. L’évaluation de la qualité d’un instrument de mesure requiert un alignement avec les valeurs des parties prenantes, tant au moment de la conception qu’à celui de l’utilisation des instruments.Je développe mon argumentation à partir d’études de cas issues de mes collaborations avec des chercheurs en évaluation des résultats en santé. Dans le …  Read more

La sécurité alimentaire et la gestion des déchets et des pertes organiques, tels que les déchets alimentaires, est un problème d'intérêt mondial. Les sous-produits de fruits et légumes figurent parmi les principaux déchets alimentaires; parmi ces déchets, il y a un grand nombre de légumes de production mondiale élevée, comme le brocoli, cependant, les fleurons de brocoli sont ceux qui sont couramment consommés dans les aliments, ce qui entraîne le rejet des sous-produits du broccoli, tels que les tiges et les feuilles. Les sous-produits de brocoli contiennent des quantités importantes de composés bioactifs, qui sont des composés chimiques aux propriétés …  Read more

The need for new refractories for copper converters is addressed in this thesis. Penetration resistance is viewed as the first property that must be evaluated for the selection of new refractories since it is known that melt penetration can promote or enhance the main wear mechanisms in copper converters: dissolution, erosion and spalling. Thus, a penetration test was designed where it is possible to control the oxygen potential and the "in-situ" formation of converter melts by injecting a mixture of inert gas and oxygen according to thermodynamic calculations. Initially, the effects of oxygen potential and matte grade on three different …  Read more

Identifying the correct order parameter structure of the iron based superconductors family will provide insight about the pairing mechanism in these materials. Due to their multi-orbital band structure, the proximity of the superconducting phase to an anti-ferromagnetic phase, and the fact that superconductivity on these materials is associated to the Fe-pnictide layer, most theories favour an unconventional pairing mechanism, and an s± pairing symmetry, which changes signs between the electron and hole Fermi pockets. However, as most experiments are only sensitive to the magnitude of the order parameter and theoretical proposals for phase sensitive experiments are challenging, the s± structure …  Read more

The phase sensitivity of the Josephson effect makes it a powerful tool to probe superconductors with unusual properties. In this thesis, we study three different setups that highlight the usefulness of the Josephson effect to find experimental signatures of unconventional and topological superconductivity. The first studied setup consist of a tunnel junction between an s-wave and an unconventional s± superconductor. The second studied setup is a topological version of a Josephson junction ring coupled to a quantum dot. The third and final setup is a topological Josephson junction in the presenceof phase fluctuations caused by charging effects. While this thesis …  Read more

The purpose of this thesis is to engage in an objective study of the influence of the United States on Martis thought during his lengthy stay in that country, enumerating the different social problems that led him to change his preconceived notions of the country before his arrival, and how this influence strengthened his attitude after leaving prison. An attempt will also be made to explain why his determination to struggle for the liberation of Cuba acquired continental dimensions, when he became the spokesman for what he called "the greater fatherland", after having anxiously observed the danger hovering over Latin …  Read more

The last 20 years have seen fundamental changes in the organization of firms' value chain. A large body of knowledge has been developed to inform the geographical ("offshoring") and organizational ("outsourcing") allocation of firm activities; however, much less research has explored the value chain disaggregation as an organizational process, in particular the design choices involved as the new subunits form and expand. My thesis seeks to contribute in this area, by analyzing organizational design issues during the formation and evolution stages, in fully owned and outsourced business units. The three empirical papers on this thesis are situated as follows:Chapter 3 …  Read more

Cette thèse développe de nouvelles procédures de test Monte Carlo (MC) et méthodes d'estimation pour les modèles à changement de Markov (MS) et à volatilité stochastique (SV), afin de répondre à des défis liés à l'inférence statistique lorsque les conditions de régularité standard ne sont pas satisfaites. Pour les modèles MS, nous proposons des tests exacts du rapport de vraisemblance (LRT) fondés sur MC, qui demeurent valides en présence de non-stationnarité, de non-normalité et de problèmes d’identification, y compris dans des contextes multivariés ou pour des hypothèses portant sur plusieurs régimes ou des structures de régime communes. Dans le cadre …  Read more

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centre in diamond is one of the most prominent diamond defect centres studied for quantum information applications. The NV centre’s long coherence times and atom-like spin-optical properties have made it one of the possible candidates for a node in a quantum network. Recent achievements include their use as a ten qubit solid-state quantum register, and the first loophole-free Bell experiment separated at km-scale distances. However, current implementations of the NV centre in cavity quantum electrodynamic (cQED) protocols are restricted due to its low emission rate (3%) into its coherent zero-phonon line (ZPL) transition as well as spectral …  Read more

Le plomb (Pb) est un métal remarquable avec une gamme diversifiée d'applications industrielles et sociétales. Pourtant, le Pb est également un toxique prioritaire dont les effets se manifestent à de très faibles niveaux d'exposition, en tant que tel, le Pb est réglementé par de nombreuses organisations telles que Santé Canada, l'Agence américaine de protection de l'environnement (EPA) et l'Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS).L'évaluation de l'exposition au Pb est l'une des meilleures approches pour prévenir l'empoisonnement au Pb. Le sang total reste le biomarqueur préféré pour la surveillance du Pb, mais il présente des limites, son caractère invasif, le grand …  Read more

Outer Space no longer represents a quiet mean where governments place their satellites in order to cover the communications needs of their people. Technological developments and the increase of economic benefits deriving from telecommunications have caused the proliferation of megacarriers located on a world-wide basis and the treatment of telecommunications as a business product. In this scenario, the International Telecommunication Union and the World Trade Organization separately rule the development of telecommunications via satellite, affecting national regulations and, at the same time, the evolvement of the pattern in commercial relations among the companies who develop satellite telecommunications in outer space. …  Read more

Laminar morphology of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/polyamide-6 (PA-6) blends was obtained, for the first time, in a co-rotating twin screw extruder. The morphology analysis in the interior of the adapter, which connects the extruder with a slit die, revealed that, under specific processing conditions, it is possible to produce layers of PA-6 in the end of the screw zone of the extruder. These layers were visible at very low magnification (6.7X). It was also observed that a high adapter converging angle (70°) produced breakup of the layers, due to the high elongational and shear flow. The micrographs of the extruded …  Read more

Gagnon, Bruno (Supervisor2)  Read more

The "International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health" (ICF) is a model that classifies health and health-related function. Of the ICF domains, least is known about participation. Although a few measures have been developed in English that tap the construct "Participation", none exist in Spanish. The Reintegration to Normal Living (RNL)-Index is the measure of reference to evaluate participation. The general objective of the present study was to translate, culturally adapt, and assess the psychometric properties the RNL-Index in Spanish for use in Spain. The translation and the cultural adaptation of the RNL-Index consisted of a five-step process, leading to …  Read more

The load flow problem consists of finding the bus complex voltages that balance the power injections and power flows in a transmission network. Two linear formulations using continuous and integer variables are developed in order to find all the multiple equilibria of the load flow problem. The thesis begins with an analysis of the load flow equations together with the notions of feasibility regions and multiple equilibria. Two new load flow formulations in polar coordinates are presented as mixed-integer linear problems. In the first one, the nonlinear nature of the equations is represented by segmenting the sinusoidal terms into a …  Read more

Notwithstanding extensive studies carried out by numerous investigators in this field, the exact mechanism of fat metabolism still remains unknown. However, it would be uncorrect to state that no significant advances have been made in recent years. As a matter of fact, the new methods available have enabled biochemists, pathologists and clinical investigators not only to re-search, (quoting Dr. Skoryna), some of the older findings, but also to throw some light on the intricate processes in fat absorption which were unapproachable by older methods.  Read more

Abortion is, arguably, one of the most contentious issues in the Americas’ modern politics. It is also one of the most fundamental rights claim issue for feminist movements in the world. While globally the trend is towards its liberalization, regressive attacks to abortion are relentless. In some countries restrictions to abortion are being further entrenched and protections to its access rolled back. The recent overturning of Roe v Wade, the seminal decision protecting abortion access for almost 50 years in the United States, is a prime and notable example. In sharp contrast, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), a region …  Read more

Une première étude a évalué les effets d'un additif alimentaire microbien (probiotique) contenant des bactéries viables productrices d’acide lactique (BAL) sur la sante et les performances zootechniques de veaux soumis ou non à un stress. Quarante-deux veaux naissants ont été utilises dans un dispositif expérimental factoriel 2 X 2. Chaque animal a été assigne a l'un des quatre combinaisons de traitement possibles: 1. -stress, - probiotique; 2. -stress, + probiotique; 3. + stress,- probiotique et 4. + stress, + probiotique. Tous les veaux étaient séparés de leur mère a la naissance. Les animaux soumis au stress ont reçu un seul …  Read more

This study consisted of a series of experiments designed to test the hypothesis that exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields (EMF), similar to those generated by power transmission lines, can modify the response to photoperiod in dairy cows. Thirty two Holstein cows, 16 pregnant and lactating and 16 non-pregnant and non-lactating, maintained under short photoperiod (8 h light, 16 h dark), were exposed to an electric field of 10 kV/m and a magnetic field of 30 muTesla for 16 h/d, using cross-over experimental designs with three-period sequences. These exposure conditions resembled those prevalent under a 735 …  Read more

Les variations géographiques dans les interactions entre les espèces façonnent les communautés et leurs distributions. La prédation, une interaction globale, semble augmenter vers les basses latitudes et altitudes. Malgré les études précédentes soutenant ces modèles géographiques de prédation, il existe encore de la variation géographique dans la force de prédation qui est inexpliquée par la latitude et l'altitude, mais qui pourrait potentiellement être davantage expliquée par des mécanismes environnementaux, tels que le climat, la productivité primaire et la biodiversité. Ces modèles de prédation à grande échelle ont souvent été détectés en étudiant des interactions uniques, mais l'intensité d’interaction a rarement …  Read more

Navigation by satellite---GNSS---is a local technology with global repercussions. Although operation and control rest in government hands, the consequences of satellite use, most often beneficial, have a worldwide effect. Controversy arises when this free-of-direct-charge technology, on which the International Community relies, fails, thus causing damage to third parties. It was the intention of the drafters and negotiators of the international space law regime to establish a victim-oriented liability framework, in order to guarantee adequate compensation for damage caused by space activities. Unfortunately, it seems that the present regime has only partially met these goals. The surest means of obtaining compensation …  Read more

Wing, Boswell (Internal/Supervisor)  Read more

Holder, Gilbert (Supervisor2)  Read more

We present two examples of secondary effects on the large-scale polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). We begin with a review of the standard model of cosmology, as well as the predictions of bulk flows by the linear theory of structure growth and the mathematical formalism of polarization. Following this review, we explore the impact of the epoch of reionization on the large-scale polarization of the CMB, paying particular attention to the effects of an alternate reionization history containing dark stars. Subsequently, we derive the CMB polarization signature of large-scale bulk flows and examine its potential for detection by …  Read more

A column chromatographic method was developed for sequential isolation of antigens Ra3, Ra4, and Ra5 from short ragweed pollen. Two major forms of antigen Ra3 (1 and II) were separated and round to have the same mol wt (12,000 daltons) and amino acid composition. Their variable carbohydrate content (7%-20%) could be reduced to 3% by preparative acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Antigen Ra3 was shown to be allergenically independent of antigen E by direct skin test or by histamine release from leucocytes of ragweed sensitive patients. [...]  Read more

A cationic glycoprotein allergen, antigen Ra.3, was isolated from short ragweed pollen by gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography according to a previously published procedure. It had an amino acid composition in close agreement with published data, except for an appreciably lower proline and isoleucine content. The method of isolation was modified to incorporate cation exchange chromatography for more rapid and reproducible isolation of the allergen in amounts of 100 mg/kg pollen. The isolated product was examined for homogeneity by physicochemical and immunological techniques, and some of its physical and chemical properties were determined. Three other cationic, allergenically active, carbohydrate-containing …  Read more

Cyclogenesis is examined based on the principle that development can be viewed as an interaction between upper and lower cyclonic disturbances, and that the surface response is related to the magnitude of both disturbances. It is shown that variability in successive operational model forecasts results from variations in the representation of the features at both levels, but that particular predictions can be sufficiently realistic for diagnostic purposes. The variability in two successive forecasts of a specific case is explained as a moist baroclinic response modulated by the growth of low-level cyclonic vorticity prior to the period of rapid deepening. This …  Read more

In this thesis, we shall consider a particularly important metric known as the AdS soliton through the context of brane worlds in an arbitrary number of extra dimensions. In this regard, we take as our motivation two of the most exciting recent developments in theoretical physics; namely the AdS/CFT correspondence and the RS and ADD brane world scenarios. We examine how our understanding of branes originally developed, both as fundamental extended objects from string theory and as a phenomenologically viable description of the universe, where we are thought to reside on a brane located in a higher dimensional bulk. We …  Read more

Biogeochemical carbon dynamics govern the ability of peatlands to storecarbon. The processes controlling the balance between the photosyntheticuptake of C02 and respiration of C02 and CH4 back to the atmosphere remainunclear. A process-based ecosystem biogeochemical study, encompassing tracegas flux measurements, laboratory chemical analyses and field analyses, wasundertaken in order to better understand the carbon dynamics of borealCanadian peatlands.  Read more

The primary and secondary mafic silicates from the Amba Dongar carbonatitic-alkaline complex, Gujarat, India and the Strange Lake peralkaline granitic complex, Quebec-Labrador, Canada are the subject of this investigation of their origin, evolution and relationship to mineralization. Primary minerals are transformed by a variety of processes related to their crystallization history. The most important of these processes are: magma evolution, magma degassing and metasomatism. These processes are commonly associated with the evolution of peralkaline granitic and carbonatitic-alkaline complexes, and with the formation of associated mineral deposits (e.g., fluorite in the Amba Dongar complex; Zr-, REE- (rare-earth elements), Be-, Nb-and Y-rich …  Read more

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes KRE6 and SKN1 encode a novel pair of highly homologous proteins involved in cell wall (1$ rightarrow$6)-$ beta$-glucan assembly. Disruption of KRE6 results in a slow growing, killer-toxin resistant mutant possessing reduced levels of structurally wild type (1$ rightarrow$6)-$ beta$-glucan. Although deletion of SKN1 has no effect on killer sensitivity, growth, or (1$ rightarrow$6)-$ beta$-glucan levels, SKN1 appears to overlap in function with KRE6, suppressing kre6 null alleles in a dosage-dependent manner. Strains deleted of both KRE6 and SKN1 possess an exaggerated growth phenotype, enhanced cell wall ultrastructure defects, and more severe (1$ rightarrow$6)-$ beta$-glucan reductions …  Read more

Ghosh, Ratna (Supervisor1)  Read more

Les adipocytes bruns et beiges présentent une immense capacité à augmenter la dépense énergétique en dissipant l'énergie chimique sous forme de chaleur (thermogénèse) et peuvent être mis à profit pour lutter contre l'obésité chez les souris. L'identification de la graisse thermogénique fonctionnelle chez l'homme adulte a redynamisé la recherche sur les voies de contrôle de la dépense énergétique dans ces tissus. La protéine de découplage 1 (UCP1) joue un rôle majeur dans la thermogénèse, mais on sait maintenant que plusiers voies thermogènes sont également actives dans les adipocytes bruns et beiges. Un cycle futile de phosphorylation et de déphosphorylation de …  Read more

Between 1957 and 1988, the contemporary French poet Yves Bonnefoy translated Shakespeare's Hamlet five times. This thesis is an in-depth analysis of these five translations and of their evolution: above all, it explores Yves Bonnefoy's poetics of translation. The first section examines Bonnefoy's articulated understanding of poetry, translation and their relationship, but also of Shakespeare and Hamlet, in order to contextualize the translations and define Bonnefoy's approach to the translation process (position traductive) and his translation project, according to the method proposed by Antoine Berman. The second section provides a survey of Bonnefoy's translations through the study of two passages …  Read more

Madokoro, Laura (Supervisor2)  Read more

This thesis examines the social role of the Indonesian women's organization known as `Aisyiyah, the female wing of the reformist group the Muhammadiyah, founded in 1912. This is achieved by analyzing the development of the organization vis a vis other Muslim women's organizations. It looks at the activities of `Aisyiyah during the period extending from its birth in 1917 until the late New Order era of the 1990s, with close reference to other women's organizations. A comparison of the activities of `Aisyiyah with those of other women's organizations, and an analysis of the response of this organization towards such issues …  Read more

To examine the effects of Momordica charantia (MC) and cinnamon on glucose uptake and adiponectin secretion (AS) fat cells, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with a water extract of cinnamon (CE) and three concentrations of MC water and ethanol extracts. The treatment combination of 0.2 mg/ml MC water extract and 0.5 nM insulin was associated with an increased glucose uptake into the cells (61%) and increased AS from the cells (75%). Without insulin, 0.2 mg/ml of CE increased glucose uptake (100%) and completely inhibited AS from the cells. Sub-optimal concentrations of insulin did not further enhance the CE activity and, in …  Read more