McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par T

Cette dissertation explore l’ontologie du sens en se concentrant sur la sémantique internaliste de Paul Pietroski, selon laquelle les significations sont des instructions pour assembler des concepts. Elle débute par l’examen de la compatibilité entre les ontologies platoniciennes et les approches internalistes biopsychologiques, en analysant les arguments de Paul Postal et les contre-arguments de Jeffrey Watumull. Cette thèse critique le platonisme non-causal et propose une alternative conceptualiste, tout en reconnaissant la validité potentielle de la forme causale du platonisme défendue par Watumull. Les discussions clés incluent l’argument de Postal selon lequel la connaissance est une relation binaire, ainsi que l’argument …  Read more

Il a été prouve par des tests que les modèles explicatifs du comportement d'hygiène buccale ('oral health behavior' (OHB)) fondes d'abord sur la cognition, tel que le modèle d'opinion sur la sante ('Health Belief Model'), sont inadéquats pour justifier des variantes individuelles dans s comportements d'hygiène buccale personnels tels que le brassage de dents et l'utilisation de la soie dentaire. Les connaissances des gens portant sur l'aspect sante du brossage de dents et de l'utilisation de la soie dentaire ne permettent pas de prédire adéquatement la fréquence de ces activités. Un nouveau modèle de comportement d'hygiène buccale, le modèle de …  Read more

Consumers are demanding more and more value for each dollar spent on new electronic equipment. Built-In Self-Test (BIST) of electronic circuits and equipment will help to satiate the demand for self test, self diagnostics, and self repair. This dissertation explores a technique for a Mixed Analog Digital BIST (MADBIST) on a mixed-signal Integrated Circuit (IC). Specifically, on-chip tests for the Analog-to-Digital Converter and Digital-to-Analog Converter on the mixed-signal IC are developed. (The digital portion of the IC can be tested using digital BIST techniques). The tests implemented include Frequency Response, Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Gain Tracking, Inter-Modulation Distortion, and Harmonic Distortion. A …  Read more

This study examines the emotional responses of adoption reunion participants over time by a cross-sectional survey. A questionnaire was modeled after an existing reunion guideline, "Relationship Stages in Reunion". Ontario adoption reunion counselors in the public and private sectors use this guideline. This questionnaire was circulated by a Parent Finder's organization (22 respondents), and a provincial government organization (27 respondents). The hypothesis that there is a predictable pattern of emotional response in reunion was not supported. No significant differences were found between those that experienced reunion via either organization. There were some differences in the demographics. Both groups noted a …  Read more

The aim of these studies was the identification and characterization of the micro-heterogeneity present within the joining peptide fragment of POMC. The joining peptide (JP) from various animal species was resolved into major and minor components by RP-HPLC and characterized in terms of amino acid composition. Amino acid analyses revealed that no apparent sequence variations occur in any of the JP forms, indicating that post-translational modifications were responsible for the heterogeneity. Using a combination of biochemical and analytical techniques, including RP-HPLC, mass spectrometry, Edman sequencing, peptide mapping and an in vitro methylation assay, we were able to identify the nature …  Read more

Kroker, Arthur (Supervisor)  Read more

Puisque le mensonge est un comportement social, les recherches sur les déterminants du mensonge chez les enfants devraient examiner les facteurs sociaux et les mécanismes psychosociaux sous-jacents. Cependant, à ce jour, la plupart des recherches se sont concentrées sur les facteurs cognitifs. Ainsi, le programme de recherche actuel a examiné l’influence des facteurs sociaux et des mécanismes psychosociaux sur les attitudes des enfants envers le mensonge et leur comportement trompeur. L’étude 1 a examiné la relation entre les normes morales d’honnêteté des enfants et leur comportement de mensonge ainsi que l’influence d’un facteur social, la culture, sur cette relation. Des …  Read more

La vérification fonctionnelle de circuits numériques modernes comporte des défis sans fin dans l'industrie des circuits intégrés (CI). Alimentés par la demande continue d'intégration croissante, les efforts grandissants en vérification ne mènent pas toujours à des circuits sans erreur du premier coup. Une technologie émergente telle que la vérification par assertions peut aider à vérifier le bon fonctionnement des circuits numériques et peut être facilement intégrée aux méthodologies de vérification existantes. La simulation fonctionnelle représente toujours la méthode de vérification laplus répandue dans l'industrie, étant donné sa capacité à traiter des circuits plus volumineux. Les assertions peuvent être insérées dans …  Read more

This thesis reports a novel route to molecular self-assembly based on simple acid-base hydrolytic chemistry involving the reactions of aminosilanes with organic species containing acidic protons. From detailed solution chemistry of trimethyl-, trimethoxy-, and triphenyl-chloro/amino-silanes, two general processes have been developed for the self-assembly of long alkyl chain terminated alcohols, thiols, and carboxylic acids on inorganic oxide surfaces i.e., glass, quartz and single crystal silicon. The first method involves three successive reactions with the surface moieties where the initially formed silylchloride layer is converted to a silylamine, which is then reacted further to give the organic monolayers. The second method …  Read more

Effective therapies typically target diseased tissues without significantly affecting healthy tissues. A tumor-related glycosphingolipid (GSL), such as ganglioside GD2, distinguishes neuroectoderm tumors from their healthy counterparts and is a validated tumor target. GD2 is clinically targeted for diagnosis and immunotherapy. GD2 plays an important functional role in tumor progression and in chemoresistance. It also plays an important functional role in pain; however, the mechanisms that make GD2 important in such phenomena remain unknown.Thus, understanding the structure-activity relationship of GD2, a GSL with two sialic acids, would be helpful. However, such studies on glycolipids are challenging. We employed a chemical biology …  Read more

Thermal kinetics of enzymatic time-temperature integrators (TTIs) were experimentally evaluated under both conventional and microwave heating systems in the pasteurization temperature range (50 to 90°C). Recent developments of process evaluation methodologies have Shown that standardized enzymatic time-temperature integrators (TTIs) could be successfully used for fast and correct quantification of thermal processes. Promising results have been reported for the alpha-amylase based TTI from Bacillus subtilis (BAA), which was chosen in this study as the TTI to compare the effectiveness of continuous-flow heating systems with microwave and conventional heating modes. Thermal inactivation kinetics of alpha-amylase was studied by measuring the residual activity …  Read more

Since 1942, a series of investigations have been carried out in the Department of Chemistry at McGill University using aluminum hydrosilicates as catalysts in various vapour-phase organic reactions. It was found by a number of workers in this field that Morden bentonite, a clay mined at Morden, Manitoba, is an effective catalyst in a number of reactions; namely, the dealkylation of straight and branched chain hydrocarbons, and the dehydration of alcohols, ketones, and cyclic alcohols. Toluene was obtained in good yields from p-cymene. Ethylbenzene was found to give benzene, toluene, and small amounts of styrene. Butadiene was obtained from butanediol-2,3, …  Read more

Villettaz-Robichaud, Marianne (Supervisor2)  Read more

Bartlett-Esquilant, Gillian (Internal/Supervisor)  Read more

Settlement is a very important engineering problem which usually occurs when a buried soft clay stratum is loaded by a building or any kind of structure. In the laboratory, the method of estimating the amount and the rate of the settlement has long been developed; this test is called the consolidation test. [...]  Read more

The subject of this thesis constitutes a continuation of the work already carried on by Dr. W. H. Hatcher and others on the oxidising action of Hydrogen Peroxide. The work herein presented takes account of hydrogen peroxide as such; and to that end it has been thought necessary to avoid experimentel methods which allow of the action of gaseous oxygen, or of catalysts which with hydrogen peroxide are capable of forming active oxides. In addition, the oxidising action of potassium permanganate in acid solution on several organic acids has been studied, the compounds selected being those which heve already been …  Read more

The problem of solubility and the phenomena connected therewith lies at the basis of chemistry. Notwithstanding its importance, however, it cannot be said that the question has been fully elucidated. The work of van't Hoff and succeeding investigators has resulted in a more satisfactory understanding of the problem, so far as liquids are concerned, than was hitherto possessed, but the question of solid solutions is still to a large extent unanswered. [...]  Read more

The term "community pastures" refers to a situation in which areas of land are specifically developed and managed in an organized and systematic manner for the purpose of collective grazing of livestock on a rental-fee basis. Being fundamentally an investment enterprise requiring the allocation of scarce resources, such projects could be undertaken by any economic organization, private or public, once the expected future rate of return is greater than the current cost of capital. [...]  Read more

It is the purpose of this thesis to document, delineate and to some degree interpret the portion of Alexander Macdonell’s life which spans his birth in 1762 and his departure for Quebec City in 1804. Macdonell was forty-two when he arrived in Canada and of the years prior to his arrival, almost nothing is known, save for a few paragraphs contained in his memoirs. On the other hand, there is no lack of information concerning his behaviour and accomplishments, in particular the establishment of parishes and schools, after he began his ministry in Upper Canada. In presenting the details of …  Read more

Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) is a severely disabling neurodegenerative disorder. The akinesia symptom dramatically alters the lifestyle of individuals with IPD. A within-subjects design was used to study the effects of sensory stimulation on akinesia. Twelve male, non-institutionalized parkinsonian subjects were tested. All demonstrated akinesia and were right-handed. Reaction time and movement time measures were recorded on an Apple 2e computer. The task entailed reached from a release switch to a target switch while three sensory stimuli (visual, auditory and concurrent visual and auditory) were used randomly during three different environmental conditions (open, physical constraint and stress). It was found …  Read more

Expertise is a well-known area of educational psychology discussed in a growing body of literature. Diagnostic radiology is one of many medical specialties interested in the development of expertise. Radiologists interpret images such as chest x-rays to come up with diagnoses by relating visual input to their background medical knowledge and associated patient information. Due to the visual nature of radiology, eye tracking has been an important tool to understand differences in expertise. Think aloud analysis is another methodology commonly used, as it provides a window into radiologists' thought processes. Pathways to expertise have been studied using these methods in …  Read more

Whalen, Joann Karen (Supervisor1)  Read more

RésuméIl est connu que les neurones orexinergiques (Orx) qui sont localisés dans l'hypothalamus posterolateral (PLH) jouent un rôle essentiel dans le maintien de l'état de vigilance. Les neurones Orx sont modulés par plusieurs neuromodulateurs et neuropeptides incluant : le GABA, le glutamate, le neuropeptide Y, l'hormone de libération de la thyrotropine et le facteur de libération de la corticotropine.La somatostatine (SST) est un neuropeptide inhibiteur présent dans une multitude de neurones à travers le cerveau incluant, le cortex, l'hippocampe et le noyau hypothalamique periventruculaire. La SST est connue pour son action inhibitrice sur les neurones hypothalamiques libérant l'hormone de croissance …  Read more

Sleep and waking are regulated according to homeostatic processes such that sleep deprivation (SD) by enforced waking results in an increase in sleep and decrease in waking during recovery. Neuronal activity is also regulated in a homeostatic manner such that prolonged activity results in decreased excitability and activity. Homeostatic regulation can be mediated by plastic changes in excitatory and/or inhibitory transmission.In a series of experiments, we used immunohistochemistry to examine whether the presence and density of the GABA (GABAA and GABAB) and acetylcholine (muscarinic 2, AChM2) inhibitory receptors (Rs) on neurons, which are either active or inactive during waking, are …  Read more

La prévisibilité du type de précipitations lors d'une tempête hivernale de janvier 2017 sur le nord-est des États-Unis et le sud-est du Canada est examinée à l'aide d'un ensemble de conditions initiales à l'échelle convective avec le modèle Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF). Les prévisions en temps réel de l'événement par Environnement et Changement climatique Canada prévoyaient une accumulation de neige de 15 à 25 cm à Montréal, au Québec. Cependant, les 4 premières heures de l'événement ont plutôt vu 5 à 8 mm de pluie verglaçante, suivis de 7 cm de neige. Bien que les précipitations totales en équivalent …  Read more

Cancer of the stomach is the most frequent of all malignant growths. Livingston and Pack in 1939 (121) have stated: "There are more deaths from cancer of the stomach than from all malignant tumors of lip, tongue, cheek, tonsil, pharynx, larynx, salivary glands, thyroid, male and female breast, ovary, uterine cervix and corpus uteri combined." [...]  Read more

Tabrizian, Maryam (Internal/Supervisor)  Read more

Symbol grounding is an abstract phenomenon commonly referenced in cognitive science that concerns how symbols -- such as letters, words, or mathematical formulae -- obtain their meanings. This phenomenon has recently become of interest in the context of Neurosymbolic Machine Learning: an area of research that aims to integrate symbolic logical reasoning into deep learning architectures. While subtle, symbol grounding can dramatically affect the difficulty of learning problems and proposed solutions. This became apparent in a recently proposed differentiable MAXSAT Solver, SATNet. SATNet was a breakthrough in its capacity to integrate with a traditional neural network and solve visual reasoning …  Read more

Vachon-Presseau, Etienne (Supervisor1)  Read more

The overall aim of this thesis was to analyze the expression of key vasoregulatory genes in the vascular endothelium and smooth muscle following hypoxia. Hypoxia caused a reversal in endothelial cell function such that the vascular endothelium enhanced alpha-agonist induced contractions. Downregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation were observed in the aortas of rats exposed to hypoxia for 12 and 48 hours. Following stimulation of aortic rings with acetylcholine, cyclic GMP and nitrite levels were also reduced. Decreased endothelial NO release may impair the vascular responses which defend vital organ oxygenation. This decrease in the …  Read more

The density range in which the critical phenomena of methyl fluoride occurs was determined. Phosphorus trifluoride was prepared and its solubility in various solvents determined. Methods of preparing arsine and calcium arsenide were investigated. An apparatus was constructed for the determination of service times of respiratory charcoals and to study sorption of gases by charcoal in a dynamic system. Service times for respiratory charcoals were determined for arsine, phosgene, phosphorus trifluoride and cyanogen fluoride over a wide range of experimental conditions. The boiling point-service time relationship for the primary amines was investigated. The distribution of sorbed ammonia and sulphur dioxide …  Read more

The first chapter of this dissertation uses a three-sector intertemporal general equilibrium model to examine the effects of various taxes and favorable depreciation rules on capital accumulation and the depletion of natural resources. We find that in a world of infinitely lived firms and households, under certain conditions, taxation causes the steady-state level of capital to be lower than the no-tax level. This divergence, however is reduced by lower capital gains tax rates and favorable depreciation rules. We also find that taxation causes the extraction rate of natural resources to be faster than the social optimum. Although this difference is …  Read more

This thesis describes the architecture of the Kali multi-arm robot control system, including discussions on design trade-offs and performance, as well as a detailed implementation using off-the-shelf hardware and software. Kali's main objectives are flexibility, integration, and hardware and software modularity so as to facilitate programming, experimentation and portability. It is used primarily to prototype concepts in multi-arm coordination, teleoperation, force control, and sensor fusion etc. To implement Kali requires only a minimal real-time kernel, a sufficiently powerful computer and a robot interface. It is based on the principle that, today, computational hardware, real-time operating systems and robot interfaces no …  Read more

DNA methylation constitutes an epigenetic modification of DNA that is initiated during gametogenesis and is essential for normal development. Methylation is postulated to be the molecular mark underlying genomic imprinting whereby genes are differentially expressed according to parental origin. The loss of the oocyte-derived DNMT1o maintenance methyltransferase affects the methylation imprints during preimplantation development, producing epigenetic mosaic embryos. Here we show that embryos that develop in the absence of DNMT1o demonstrate profound phenotypic variation in both fetal and extraembryonic tissues, as well as severe pregnancy loss by midgestation. Morphological assessment was complemented with methylation analysis of fetal and extraembryonic tissues …  Read more

Le dépôt de sous-couche simples de 3,4,9,10-pérylénetetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) sur du NaCl (001) résulte en une croissance bimodale d'îles en formes d'aiguille et de carré. L'épitaxie de chaque type d'île a été déterminé par imagerie microscopique à force atomique non-contact (NC-AFM) avec des résolutions atomiques et moléculaires. Aprés le dépôt, les îles en forme d'aiguille croissent tandis que les îles de forme de carrés disparaissent complètement en quelques jours. Ceci est caractérisé par une transition de démouillage, pour laquelle la dynamique a été décrite et empiriquement ajusté au modèle de croissance mono-moléculaire, un modèle généralement appliqué aux croissances biologiques. Les …  Read more

The educational system of Turkey has been undergoing an influentialneoliberal transformation for the last decade. It has been redefined, restructured and reorganized through four major reforms and acts; the 2005 Curriculum Reform, the FATIH Project and Intel Teach Program, reformation of disciplinary mechanisms, an intensive use of standardized tests, and the 4+4+4 Reform. In this qualitative inquiry, I examine the field of meanings and practices that constituted these reforms and acts to in order to draw a conceptual and theoretical framework to understand the nature of the transformation of the Turkish Education System. In this study, I depart from narrow …  Read more

Les jeunes venant des communautés autochtones ont un fort sens d'espoir environ leurs avenirs et comment une éducation formelle peut former cet avenir. La preuve suggère que beaucoup d'élèves des Premières Nations en Nouvelle-Écosse ne trouvent pas le succès qu'ils cherchent à l'école. Le gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Écosse indique que 27 pour cent de la population autochtone entre 25 et 64 ans n'ont pas réussi à terminer leurs études à l'école secondaire en comparaison avec un chiffre de 19 pour cent pour la population en général. D'ailleurs, le taux de chômage sur les réserves de la Nouvelle-Écosse est 24,6 pour …  Read more

Les cellules B régulatoires (Breg) sont une découverte récente dans le domaine de la régulation du système immunitaire. Elles jouent un rôle important dans l'immunothérapie aux venins et leur fonction est un sujet de recherche courante des maladies autoimmunes et des allergies alimentaires non-IgE médiées. À date, aucune étude n'a examiné le rôle des cellules Breg dans les allergies alimentaires IgE, ni leurs fonctions dans le traitement des allergies alimentaires par voie d'immunothérapie orale (ITO). De plus, les cellules Breg sont difficiles à analyser puisqu'il n'y a pas de marqueurs ou phénotype uniques à ces cellules connus actuellement. L'objectif de …  Read more

The Src associated substrate in mitosis of 68kDa (Sam68) is a KH-type RNA binding protein that has been shown to regulate several aspects of RNA metabolism, but the physiological role of this RNA binding protein has been unknown. The primary goal of the work presented in this thesis is to characterize the phenotype of Sam68 deficient mice. Since mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can give rise to adipocytes and osteoblasts, we explored the differentiation capacity of MSCs. First we showed that these mice are protected from age related bone loss due to enhanced osteoblast formation. Adipogenesis is defective in mouse embryo …  Read more

Dome, arch, barrel, void est une composition musicale originale écrite pour huit instruments d'une durée de douze minutes. Une analyse technique de la composition, présentée dans le 1er volume de cette thèse, illustre les méthodes de composition développés au cours du processus de composition de cette pièce. La partition est présentée dans le 2e volume. La pièce vise à étudier la construction d'une forme à grande échelle en utilisant l'échelle de complexité de Gérard Grisey pour le temps musical. Le processus de pré-composition a impliqué la création d'un catalogue des modes de jeu qui a servi pour composer des matériaux …  Read more

The 9 PAX genes constitute a family of developmental transcriptional regulators characterized by a highly conserved "paired-box" domain. Mutations in 6 of the 9 PAX genes result in autosomal dominant congenital malformations in mice and in humans. PAX2 transcripts are detected in the CNS, throughout the genitourinary tract, eye and ear. In humans, mutations of PAX2 cause Renal-Coloboma Syndrome (RCS), a constellation of renal anomalies, eye defects and, less frequently, hearing loss and mild CNS manifestations. Homozygous PAX2 mutations in mice cause complete renal agenesis and perinatal death. PAX8 transcripts are found in the CNS, kidney and thyroid glands. PAX8 …  Read more

Truths are illusions about which one has forgotten that this is what they are. - Nietzsche On March 5th 1970, a long process of international negotiation and power brokering culminated into the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. As a result the 121 signatory states were legally subject to the norms, values, principles, and behavioural prescriptions of the nuclear proliferation regime. Twenty-nine years after the treaty's entrenchment, however, the nuclear proliferation regime and its enforcement agencies still face many of the same challenges that have plagued its implementation since its conception. The purpose of this analysis is to examine the causal relationship between …  Read more

The Aggression Replacement Training Program (ART) is an approach to reduce aggression in Young Offenders. This program was implemented with a sample of youths on probation and living in the community (N = 21). The goal was to evaluate the efficacy of the program, and to measure changes in aggression, skill acquisition and recidivism rates. A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design was used. The Aggression Questionnaire and Skillstreaming Checklist were the main source of data and results were compared pre- and posttest. Recidivism rates were determined six months after the start of the program. An improvement in aggression scores was …  Read more

Fekete, G. I.  Read more