McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1961

Glutamine was first isolated from beet juice in 1883 by Schulze and Bosshard (1), and since that time it has been the subject of continued interest and research. The widespread occurence of this amide in nature, in bath the free and combined state, is consistent with a significant metabolic role, and there is evidence for its participation in a variety of enzymatic reactions.  Lire la suite

In 1947 a mould was found growing as a contaminant on a Lowenstein's slope which had been inoculated with sputum for the isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis which was found to produce, in addition to an antibiotic probably identical with penicillin, a substance capable of neutralizing various bacterial exotoxins. (Diena, 1954, 1956; Murray, Denton, Stevenson and Diena, 1958). The mould was identified as Penicillium cyaneo-fulvum and the toxin neutralizing substance was designated noxiversin. Noxiversin was shown to possess, in addition to its antitoxic properties, some activity against influenza virus (Diena, 1956).  Lire la suite

"In the past decade there has developed one of the greatest booms in the history of neurology" (French, 1958b). This boom, involving the reticular system of the brain, has encompassed diverse fields of study, including psychology. Several symposia, numerous reviews and hundreds of papers devoted to this system emphasize its increasing popularity among those interested in cerebral function. The inclusion, in a recent introductory textbook of psychology (Hebb, 1958), of the roles which the reticular system may play in behavior, is an indication of its importance in present psychological thinking.  Lire la suite

Hare, F. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

The extent of perambulation as an index of exploration has been in common use since it was taken up by Montgomery in 1951. He showed that amount of exploration decreases over successive trials (Montgomery, 1951). A review of more recent work by Berlyne and Slater (1957) indicates that there have been few advances in the understanding of the determinants of exploration since then. It is likely that this slow rate of progress is related to a common limitation in the treatment of data obtained with exploratory tests.  Lire la suite

The calculus of probability is a branch of mathematics. Its foundations have so far not been fully investigated. There are, perhaps, many such branches of mathematics, but the calculus of probability is unique among them regarding the specific course of the development of its fundamental principles. This is bound up with what H. Steinhaus calls the “tavern” origin of probability. A theory of gambling games at first, it gradually extended its range of applicability, becoming finally a mathematical theory of great practical and theoretical importance.  Lire la suite

Experiments on fire and combustion date back to prehistoric age, gathering more and more impetus with progress of time. But with the advent of aircraft gas turbines and the science of rocketry, necessitating the development of high output combustion chambers, the scope and tempo of combustion research have increased at an amazing rate introducing new facts and developing new concepts in the science of combustion.  Lire la suite

The degree of roundness of sand grains, comprising relatively insoluble minerals such as quartz and feldspar, within a specific size range increases with the distance of eolian transport. Roundness indices based on visual recognition and counting of four grain types were used to study sands from the Alfold in Hungary and the Great Sand Hills in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan sand showed a significant increase in roundness within about five miles. All the sands in the sand plateau of the Alfold are eolian and increase in roundness with the distance from their source (the Duna (Danube) Valley).  Lire la suite

Comb and meander line structures, which have been used in travelling wave masers, have been modified for use with solenoids. A theory for the determination of the dispersion characteristics of these structures has been outlined. Various methods for modifying the characteristics of a slow wave structure to suit travelling wave maser applications are also discussed. Propagation along open comb and meander line structures was studied in the L band. A method was developed for the direct measurement of group velocity. Experimental results indicated that both the modified comb and meander line structures could be used in travelling wave maser circuits …  Lire la suite

The effect of cold air injection on the heat transfer through a porous bronze wall and the turbulent boundary layer in subsonic flow has been investigated experimentally. The air was injected through a wall of 41.4 per cent porosity at varying rates into the main stream, whose temperature varied from 580 to 1000°rt and whose velocity ranged from 60 tc 110ft./sec. The internal heat transfer coefficient per unit volume of porous wall, and the combined thermal conductivity of the matrix and the coolant were determined. The film heat transfer coefficient through turbulent boundary layer with coolant injection was calculated. A …  Lire la suite

The problem of normal extensions in groups (see Kurosh [1] Chapter XII) has been studied in considerable detail and has reached the point of a reasonable solution. The corresponding problem of general extensions in groups, although studied quite extensively, has not yet reached that point. The aim of the present thesis is to generalise some of the results obtained in the case of normal extensions to the general case. It was proved by Baer [1] that the cosets of a group H modulo an arbitrary subgroup G can be given a structure called a mixed group.  Lire la suite

It temperature measurements are made at various depths in the earth's crust it is usually found that the temperatures of the rocks increase with depth. Since rocks have finite conductivities it follows that a definite quantity of heat travels upwards through the crust. This quantity of heat flowing up across unit area of surface in unit time is called the terrestial heat flow. The amount of this heat flow and the areal distribution of these values have an important bearing on a number of problems involving the physical nature of the earth and its history. Unfortunately, relatively few measurements of …  Lire la suite

The family of animals - Bovidae (ruminants), characterized by their abillty to consume large quantities of fibrous feeds, have evolved through many millions of years into the domesticated species which today constitute one of the most important components of animal agriculture. Their specialisation as forage consumers is dependent on the capacious nature of a portion of their digestive tract (rumen), and the microorganisms living in a symbiotic relationship within this organ. It is these microflora and microfauna which are the actual converters of the cellulosic forage components into nutrients which can be absorbed and utilized by the host animal.  Lire la suite

Myasthenia Gravis is a disorder in humans characterized by abnormally rapid exhaustion, with loss of strength in the muscles under voluntary control and a return of strength, at least in part, after a period of rest. The term MG comes from the Greek mys (muscle), asthenia (weakness), and from the Latin gravis (heavy) and implies a marked or severe muscle weakness. Jolly in 1895 (1) first used the Dame ‘Myasthenia Gravis' to describe the syndrome. Be found upon repeated stimulation with faradic current a reaction of asthenia demonstrable by recording tracings.  Lire la suite

Very little has been written on Makarenko in the West. In England, W.L. Goodman wrote in 1949 a simple account of Makarenko’s work which he based mainly on quotations taken from “The Road to Life.” In France, in 1954, Irène Lézine undertook a more systematic study of Makarenko’s pedagogical work, selecting a wide range of topical questions from his writings, and unified them into a whole with her own comments and descriptions. Although she stated that Makarenko’s educational thought is “indissolubly interwoven into the economic structure of the socialist society and reflects its ideology,” she nevertheless maintained that Makarenko’s teachings …  Lire la suite

Rhythmic 24 hour variation of physiological function, in common with many other poorly understood problems, is subject to confusion in terminology. In this thesis the word "diurnal" will be used to describe events occurring during the course of a 24 hour period, not solely those occurring during the daytime. This is a concession to common usage in this field. "Nocturnal", on the other hand, will refer to events during the night; its equivalent adjective during the day will be "daytime", "matutinal", or "forenoon" and "afternoon”.  Lire la suite

The ability of Sabellid worms to withdraw rapidly into their tubes has caused widespread comment. The withdrawal can be triggered off by a variety of stimuli: sudden reduction in light intensity; shock waves in the water; tactile stimuli. The withdrawal in response to a reduction in light intensity is usually referred to as the "Shadow reflex". Similar reactions are present in other closely related Polychaete families. The rapidity of the withdrawal is made possible by the rapid transmission of nerve impulses from the receptive regions of the body to the contracting muscles by the giant axons present in the central …  Lire la suite

In the field of nuclear science, the radioactive species encountered will decay by alpha emission, by beta emission or by capture of one of the orbital electrons. Sometimes, the nucleus resulting after decay will be left in a metastable state and will lose its excitation energy by emitting a multipole radiation. If the excited state has a measurable half-life (>10^-11sec.), the nuclear metastable state is called a nuclear isomer. Nuclear chemists and technologists are greatly concerned with measurements of these radiations.  Lire la suite

Periodicals form an important part of the body of agricultural literature. And in the pages of Canadian periodicals much information may be gained on the development and the state of one of the country's major industries. There is no known publication which records, exclusively, agricultural periodicals published in Canada from the past down to the present. The primary purpose of this study is to furnish a tool which will survey and list Canadian agricultural periodicals. Farming as a regular occupation in Canada began with Louis Hébert in the early part of the seventeenth century on land which is now a …  Lire la suite

The account which is presented in this work constitutes, to the best of my knowledge, the first really comprehensive and reasoned history of trade union development in Jamaica. It is hoped, however, that the patient reader will find it much more than a history. Comparative studies suggest that there are certain characteristics (described in Chapter I) which are shared by nascent unionism in developing countries which enjoy at least a modicum of political democracy, notwithstanding the vast differences in their cultural, economic and political backgrounds. The unity amidst the sea of diversity centres around the leadership, ideology, politics and structure …  Lire la suite

There has been an upsurge of interest since World War II in the study of economic growth and development, and the literature on the subject is now voluminous as reference to any of the standard bibliographies will show. The change in climate has involved academicians, statesmen and politicians as well as citizens, subjects and electorates. The present over-riding concern with the processes of economic development owes a good deal of its impetus to the Second World War.  Lire la suite

Increasing interest has developed in the last few years in the study of plasma. For many years red blood cells have been studied, and techniques developed to make blood transfusion a safe procedure. The fluid part of a transfusion or blood plasma was considered to be useful, because, amongst other things, it contributed to blood volume, and certainly it was long thought to be harmless when taken from another member of the same species.  Lire la suite

Although 70 years have passed since Friedrich Miescher made this statement it is only during the last two decades that the full significance of the fundamental and central role of phosphorus in biological systems has been recognized. The presence of phosphorus as a key constituent in biological substances was first noted by Liebig (2) who isolated from marnma1ian muscle a crystalline material which was subsequently identified as inosinic acid. With the isolation during the present century of other naturally occurring phosphate esters, it has become apparent that phosphorylated compounds are invariably associated with the production of chemical energy.  Lire la suite

Swithenbank, J. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

This is a theoretical and empirical study. Its purpose is to discuss the problems of capital accumulation and allocation in a specific set-up of that type of a socialist economy which the communists have created in the countries in which they rule. Although China and other Asiatic communist countries are not discussed, it seems that the majority of characteristic features of the system exist in those countries as well. The term "communist system" is accepted here to cover not the theoretical ideal, but the system actually existing in real life, at the present time.  Lire la suite

The marked electrolyte and plasma volume changes which occur after adrenalectomy do not satisfactorily explain either the death which occurs if treatment is not administered nor the pathological findings at autopsy. For example, normal animals can sustain an experimentally induced elevation of plasma potassium several milliequivalents greater than that seen in adrenal insufficiency or a reduction in blood volume of considerably greater than that occurring in this condition.  Lire la suite

A total of 1,830 neutron induced disintegrations in N14 have been studied by cloud chamber techniques. These events were observed with incident particles of energies ranging from one to forty-eight Mev. Out of the 23 reactions which were energetically conceivable, 12 have been confirmed and discussed in the present work. The apparatus and experimental procedure have been described and photographs of typical events included.  Lire la suite

In 1917 the British Government gave its sanction to the establishment of a Jewish National Home in Palestine. In 1948 the independent State of Israel came into existence as an outgrowth of that sanction. At the end of this thirty-one year period the Jews constituted about one-third of the population of Palestine, but their tremendous zeal, backed by a large financial outlay by the Jews of the Diaspora, made them more than a match for the remainder of the population. [...]  Lire la suite

The purpose of cost accounting is to provide management with pertinent cost measurements and analysis as a basis for managerial decisions. To fulfil this function the cost accountant has to adapt his thinking and methods to reflect the underlying economic conditions and abandon his stock-in-trade of conventional ideas. Two of the major faults of conventional accounting practice lie first in the failure to distinguish between fixed and variable costs and secondly in the unrealistic assumption, underlying much of the accountant’s work, that costs do not vary.  Lire la suite

Suppose we are given a mathematical theory. Is there an effective procedure which will enable us to decide, for any sentence of the theory, whether or not the sentence is valid in that theory? This is referred to as the decision problem for that theory. If it is answered in the affirmative we say that the theory is decidable. If the answer is negative, then we say that the theory is undecidable. There are essentially two methods with which to attack this problem; the direct method and the indirect method.  Lire la suite

The polarization of protons elastically scattered on nuclei is calculated in an approximation using optical analogy. The Fraunhofer diffraction pattern is made asymmetrical with respect to the direction of incidence or the beam and the resulting polarization computed. Only one parameter is used to fit the curves to the experimental results. Coulomb interference is taken into account but transparency properties are neglected. The positions of the maxima and minima are well predicted but due to the transparency in many cases the magnitude of polarization is not in the right range. The existing experimental results of scattering on carbon are analyzed …  Lire la suite

Investigation in 1953 (M.Sc. thesis) showed that fertilization with 76 pounds of nitrogen and 72 pounds of phosphate per acre, in addition to a maintenance application of 600 pounds of a 4-12-6 fertilizer, increased the nitrogen and phosphorus percentages in the corn leaf at the flowering stage. The levels of these leaf constituents and the yields at harvest were closely correlated, confirming the idea that chemical analysis of the plant at this stage of growth was a useful diagnostic tool. It was also shown that nitrogen, rather than phosphorus, was a major factor in modifying these plant characteristics.  Lire la suite

The research to be reported was concerned with the patterns of values among college women in a Canadian university. Through the study of a matched sample of freshmen and seniors, three interrelated problems were investigated: age differences in patterns of values, differences between usual and ideal patterns of values, and the relationships between patterns of values and behaviour. A study of the relevant literature reveals the patterns of values do charge during the four years of college, as well as after the college years, and that differences between usual and ideal patterns of values have been reported.  Lire la suite

It is axiomatic that taken together the works of Geoffrey Chaucer (1343? -- 1400) constitute the first sustained effort toward realism in fictional characterization found in English literature. This thesis examines the process whereby realism evolved in Chaucer's work and particularly the stylistic devices by which it was secured. In order better to understand Chaucer's contribution, we may briefly outline the obvious standards by which realm in characterization has come to be judged since his time.  Lire la suite

Off-flavour development in raw or underblanched vegetables occurring as a result of an imbalance in the enzyme reactions was recognized early in the development of the frozen vegetable industry by Joslyn (1930), Tressler (1932) and Diehl and Berry (1933). Since then, numerous investigations have been carried out on various aspects of this problem but the reactions involved are still largely unknown. The investigators seem to agree that off-flavours are due to an enzymatic process because they do not develop in properly blanched vegetables.  Lire la suite

The installation of large blocks of induction motors over the last twenty years resulted in various induction motor representations in connection with stability studies. In most cases, however, induction motors make up less than half of the total connected load when more than one power station provides energy to the network. When the natural resources of remote areas in North America and on other continents are developed it seems likely that for some time to come most of these areas will be supplied by local power stations through radial lines rather than by network interconnections.  Lire la suite

Attention was focussed, in 1949, on the Nuclear Shell Model (12) (14) when it succeeded in correlating diversified experimental facts, rather neatly in some cases, and in making definite predictions, many of which were subsequently verified. The scope and importance of the Theory of the Shell Structure have since increased greatly due to the simplicity of its basic assumptions and flexibility for empiricism. These have resulted in increasing areas of success and consequent remoulding of the theory.  Lire la suite

The background of India comprises a long and chequered history which, from the prehistorical civilization of the Indus Valley to this date, covers a span of about six thousand years. In the early years of her history, India was a meeting place of different races. With the synthesis of the two main races, the Aryans and the Dravidians, a powerful Hindu civilization and culture were established. Because of its unique continuity and power of assimilation, this civilization forms the main basis of Indian culture. The major achievements of India in ancient times have been in fields such as philosophy, sciences, …  Lire la suite

The mechanisms controlling erythropoiesis have posed a fascinating problem for almost a century. In dealing with this problem, experimentors in this field have faced dual difficulties. As well as elucidating what are now believed to be the true mechanism of control, they were concomitantly required to dispel earlier, deeply rooted misconceptions. It has long been known that the red blood cell mass is designed almost exclusively for the purpose of transporting oxygen. Its functional capacity, then, must primarily be determined by the concentration of haemoglobin it maintains in the circulating blood.  Lire la suite

The spin and rotation of single rigid discs suspended in a liquid undergoing Couette flow and the translational and rotational motions of single suspended rigid spheres, rods and discs as well as the deformation of fluid drops in Poiseuille flow have been studied. With the exception of wall effects in Poiseuille flow quantitative agreement with theories due to Jeffery and Taylor were obtained. The existence of axial migration with fluid drops and its absence with rigid particles in Poiseuille flow was demonstrated and good agreement with an approximate theory found.  Lire la suite

The term central depressant is used to cover those centrally acting drugs which can be used to produce general anaesthesia, to induce sleep, to diminish pain, to prevent or mollify seizures, or to diminish or abolish excessive sensation; in short to diminish some aspect of central nervous function, normal or abnormal. Even among those drugs which have in general the same sequence of effects upon the nervous system, the chemical constitution gives no immediate clue as to a possible common mode of action.  Lire la suite

The reactions between antigens and antibodies constitute the essential basis of all immunological phenomena. Antibodies are proteins formed in-vivo in response to antigenic stimulation. The parameter of antigenicity, i.e., the capacity to induce antibody formation, has been found to be associated with almost all proteins thus far examined and with some lipoproteins and polysaccharides (1). In order to function as an antigen it appears that a substance must have macromolecular dimension and be recognized (by some mechanism as yet unknown) as foreign to the antibody-forming system of cells of the host (2).  Lire la suite

For many years Legg-Calvé-Perthes’ disease has been, and still is, an outstanding problem in the field of orthopaedic surgery because of the discomfort, mental anguish and prolonged convalescence it imposes. It is a problem also because of pain, deformity and disability which it frequently produces during early or middle adult life. Although considerable has been written on Legg-Calvé-Perthes’ disease, very little has been done to investigate the possible etiological factors which may initiate it.  Lire la suite

Some innocuaus substances widespread in nature, auch as grass pollen, ragweed pollen, tree pollen, have been shown to have obnoxious and debilitating ettects on Kan. This fact was recognized as long ago as the second century, when Galen recorded that some individuals reacted to the presence of roses in the environment.[...]  Lire la suite

The subject of the legal status of the aircraft commander is to a large extent regulated by all national legal systems. A number reasons have led authorities in each country to legislate on aviation on military grounds as well as for safety reasons. All this, in turn, has given rise to a bewildering variety of rules on the subject. The aircraft commander is essentially destined to act beyond national boundaries and thus under different jurisdictions. Needless to say, this situation causes great concern since the powers and duties of the commander are bound to change according to the provisions of …  Lire la suite

The petrology of an ultrametamorphic complex is described. High-grade migmatitic plagioclase gneisses and amphibolites, with quartzites and metamorphic pyroxenites, were intruded sub-concordantly by gabbro. These older rocks were intruded by magmatic plutons of pyroxene-microperthite quartz-monzonite, with hornblende-microperthite quartz-monzonite and migmatitic microcline granite. Late basic sills and granite dykes occur.  Lire la suite

When animals, including man, survive a bacterial infection, they generally become resistant to a second attack of the same pathogenic material. The serum of such individuals is capable of agglutinating or dissolving the bacteria or rendering them susceptible to phagocytosis. These reactions show a high degree of specificity: the serum reacts only with those micro-organisms whose previous invasion has been overcome. The active factor of the serum is referred to as antibody and the bacterium or its components which have elicited the production of the former is called an antigen.  Lire la suite

Microorganisms play a major role in the decomposition of complex organic materials formed in the course of the development of higher plants and animals. Even complex high polymers that are products of the modern synthetic laboratory are known to serve as microbial substrates under appropriate test conditions (Zobell, 1946; Quastel, 1959). The failure of the accumulation of organic materials, except under conditions not favourable for decomposition, is ample evidence for the turnover of elemental substances. Thus the occurrence of an organic material either in a natural or synthetic condition of necessity makes it subject to biological transformations for an effective …  Lire la suite

Martin, W. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

The purpose of this study is to summarize and relate the major characteristics of the genera comprised in the Tribe Ovibovini, including those groups, fossil and living. With the limited data at hand a tentative phylogenetic chart has also been drawn up. It is hoped that mapping the past distribution of tribe members and also considering the existing genera in the light of environmental influences prevalent at the time, will facilitate explanation of their distributional pattern and give some idea as to the ecological adaptations among muskoxen as well as the approximate dispersal center of the group. There has been …  Lire la suite