McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1982

This dissertation examines the relationship between religion and state in Saudi Arabia. More than any other country in the Muslim world, Saudi Arabia is identified with Islam. It is the state religion, its source of political legitimacy, it shapes state policies and activities, and serves as the moral code of society. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that the state, because of its monopoly of force and resources, and the need to maintain autonomy, can not tolerate an autonomous religious domain that would compete with it for the loyalty of citizens. The state will extend its authority to …  Lire la suite

The aim of this study has been to elucidate the neural pathways involved in the regulation of adrenal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. Administration of the dopamine-receptor agonists apomorphine (APM) and piribedil (PBD) to rats led to an increase in ODC activity of both the adrenal medulla and cortex. These effects were blocked by giving the animals the dopaminergic antagonist haloperidol. The APM-induced increase in adrenomedullary ODC activity was largely prevented by denervation of the adrenal, transection of the spinal cord, and transection of the mesencephalon-diencephalon. Section of ventral spinal roots reduced the induction to varying extents, depending on the number …  Lire la suite

It seems that henceforth the development and renewal of terminology will be linked to contemporary scientific theories. Each discipline, with the aid of its specialized vocabulary, will possess a set of up-to-date conceptual tools adapted to its purpose. Unfortunately, there is no lexicon of literary terminology in French, and this at a time when the literature on analytical matalanguage is in major competition with the literature on ordinary language. Presently, various epistemological mutations such as those of the structuralists are having a strong effect on the contemporary terminological movement. It is hoped that this dictionary will, in a modest way, …  Lire la suite

Ceramic production and exchange in Early Bronze Age Greece have been studied through provenance determination by neutron activation analysis. The concentrations of Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Al, Sc, La, Ce, Eu, Yb, Th, Ti, Hf, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co were determined, with respect to Perlman-Asaro standard pottery, in 255 objects of the Early Helladic (or EH) II and III periods found at Keramidhaki, Korakou, Phlious, Zygouries, Tiryns, and Asine in Korinthia and Argolis. Multivariate treatment of these data, merged with 162 analyses from the author's earlier work with samples from Lerna (Argolis) and Lake Vouliagmeni (Korinthia), yielded …  Lire la suite

Generalized spike and wave (SW) activity of feline generalized penicillin epilepsy (FGPE), an experimental model of epilepsy exhibiting a sufficient degree of similarity with human generalized 3 Hz SW discharge, depends upon both cortical and thalamic mechanisms. Cortical neurons under the influence of systemic penicillin become more excitable and respond more vigorously to thalamocortical volleys normally inducing spindles or recruiting responses. This increased response of cortical neurons activates phasic recurrent inhibition which remains intact during FGPE as is shown by the preservation of antidromically evoked recurrent inhibition of pyramidal tract cells. Thus, an oscillation between periods of increased and decreased …  Lire la suite

Properties of sympathetic preganglionic neurones were examined in cat. Following horseradish peroxidase injection into the stellate ganglion, labelled neurones were in spinal segments C(,6)-T(,8) in regions of the intermediolateral nucleus, intermediate grey, central canal and ventral horn. Neurones located in the intermediolateral nucleus had a wide range of physiological properties, and, with the exception of basal activity, the properties studied failed to indicate subgroups. These neurones were also studied according to their sensitivities to substances implicated in synaptic transmission. (gamma)-Aminobutyric acid and glycine had inhibitory effects which were blocked by bicuculline and strychnine, respectively. Glutamate, aspartate and D-L- homocysteic acid …  Lire la suite

The resistivity and thermopower of two series of amorphous alloys have been measured between 4 and 300K. The alloys studied are MgZn and CuZr, both in the largest concentration range available as amorphous materials. The alloys were measured in both the 'as made' and 'relaxed' states, as well as some partial or totally crystallized samples. The simple Ziman theory was found at variance with the experimental results in both cases (even for MgZn, proven to be free-electron like as required by the theory). A simple two component model is proposed as an extreme simplification of the Faber-Ziman theory of liquid …  Lire la suite

This dissertation is concerned with the formal analysis of metaphor. It focuses particular attention upon metaphor in literary works. The framework for the analysis is developed from a theory of textual meaning originally formulated by Irena Bellert. The proposals in the dissertation concern: (1) what entities are included in a "metaphorical extension"--that is, the class of conceivable entities to which a word or phrase can be taken to apply truly under a particular metaphorical interpretation; (2) what we conventionally understood a metaphorically intepreted word or phrase to mean or imply (as opposed to suggest or connote); (3) how we can …  Lire la suite

The fatigue of the human diaphragm during resting ventilation^was found to be determined by the fraction of the maximal trans-^diaphragmatic pressure used at each inspiration (Pdi/Pdi(' )max) and the fraction of the breathing cycle time spent in inspiration (T(,I)/T(,TOT)). A fatigue threshold relation was found between the Pdi/Pdi(' )max and the T(,I)/T(,TOT). This fatigue threshold corresponds to a quadratic hyperbola function given by the product (Pdi/Pdi(' )max) times (T(,I)/T(,TOT)). This product was termed the diaphragmatic tension-time index (TTdi) and at the fatigue threshold is equal to .15 (TTdi crit). Above TTdi crit the endurance time is limited and is accompanied …  Lire la suite

Feedback is used to decrease the sensitivity of a system to plant uncertainty or to disturbances. This thesis is focused on the reduction of sensitivity to additive disturbances applied at the output. Systems are represented by linear multivariable frequency responses whose inputs and outputs belong to (DIAGRAM, TABLE OR GRAPHIC OMITTED...PLEASE SEE DAI) Rigorous conditions under which feedback can reduce sensitivity are derived. It is shown that given a minimum phase single input-single output plant, there exists a feedback compensator which reduces sensitivity below any arbitrarily positive value on any finite frequency interval while not exceeding a specified upper bound …  Lire la suite

Kaplan, Michael  Lire la suite