McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1998

Protein phosphorylation is now recognized to be one of the most important means of regulating protein activity. An approach was taken that was aimed at identifying new protein Serine/Threonine kinase genes in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Three of the kinases identified were chosen for molecular characterization: a Map kinase-activated protein kinase-2 homolog (DmMAPKAPK-2); a novel female germline specific kinase ( loki); and the homolog of the vertebrate cdk7 genes (Dmcdk7). Among those, Dmcdk7 was chosen for in depth molecular and genetic characterization. Cdk7 has previously been shown in vertebrate systems to phosphorylate and activate many different Cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) …  Lire la suite

Knowledge of carcass merit will help the meat duck breeder identify superior stock and accelerate genetic improvement. Selection for leanness will enhance product acceptance by the consumer. Heritability values for carcass traits are in the medium-high range. Feed intake level during rearing is critical for reproduction. The objectives were to evaluate (1) the response of breast muscle thickness of the F1 progeny from parent breeders selected for maximum muscle thickness at market age and (2) the effect of 2 levels of feed restriction during development for subsequent egg production. In a commercial flock, 4842 Pekin ducks (Brome Lake Ducks Ltd.) …  Lire la suite

Divided into five chapters, the thesis analyzes the translation into French of Black English as represented in Mark Twain's novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The method, mainly text-oriented, that is to say turning away from the sociological approach, offers a semiotic reading of the text, both original and translated (Chapter 1). This semiotic approach considers the text as a significant mosaic. Thus, it brings out not only the motivation of the different textual elements, but also the coherence cementing them. The analysis of the original text (Chapter 2) shows that the subversive aesthetic and ideological function of Black English is …  Lire la suite

The study of how antigens and superantigens are presented to T cell has always been a great challenge to immunologists. Mainly because the understanding of how subtle changes in the interaction of the T cell receptor (TCR) with its ligands affect the development of an immune response opens the possibility that this knowledge could be used to treat various immunopathological conditions. Bacterial superantigens are of clinical relevance since they cause diseases in human, but also for their potential as immunotherapeutic agents. More fundamentally, SAgs have always been valuable tools in gaining insights into the mechanisms of T cell activation by …  Lire la suite

This dissertation tests and evaluates four current theories of the verse structure of biblical Hebrew poetry. These theories are: the counting of minimal units, such as poetic feet, stresses or syllables, practiced in various forms since antiquity, and recently employed by D. N. Freedman, F. M. Cross and others, the analysis of poetic line-forms proposed by Terence Collins, the syntactic structural analysis proposed by M. O'Connor, and the semantic analysis practiced by Willow van der Meer, Johannes de Moor and a group of scholars associated with the Kampen School of Theology. All of these theories purport to identify and explain …  Lire la suite

In mid nineteenth century, the Anglican Church witnessed an erosion of its authority over British society to the benefit of Protestant sects. William Palmer, a specialist in theology, believed the solution resided in Ecumenism. To him, the Roman-Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox Churches were branches of the same universal Church. Unlike the Tractarians who looked to Rome, Palmer saw in the Orthodox Church the essence of the primitive Church. He therefore spent his life attempting to convince religious authorities at home, in Russia, Scotland and Greece, that the Anglican faith was comprised in Orthodoxy and vice-versa. However, after years of research, …  Lire la suite

This essay presents a Wittgensteinian analysis of the rationales, beliefs, and contributing factors that supported the denial of neonatal pain until the late 80's. It provides an historical review of the denial of neonatal pain and describes the main events leading to its recognition. It explores the link between enduring erroneous conceptions and scientific assumptions about the nature of pain, and the denial of neonatal pain. Wittgenstein's work on the origin of pain-language in the natural tendency of human beings to exhibit pain-behaviour and to react to the pain manifestation of others by engaging in meaningful activities provides the background …  Lire la suite

The majority of mitochondrial proteins are synthesized on cytoplasmic polysomes and subsequently imported to a specific subcompartment within the organelle. In order to translocate cytosolic proteins into mitochondria a protein import system is located in the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. The genetic composition of this complex has been well characterized in mitochondria of S. cerevisiae and N. crassa. However, little is known about the components of the import machinery in higher eukaryotes. Until today only homologues of Tom20 and Tom17 as well as two new proteins Metaxin and hTom34 have been identified. Nevertheless, none of the proteins forming the …  Lire la suite

This thesis describes the changes in cerebral morphology studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in two common forms of partial epilepsy, temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE). In addition, the contribution of structural abnormalities to the observed distribution of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in positron emission tomography (PET) was examined in patients with TLE. In the first study, a quantitative morphological examination of the lateral temporal lobe in patients with mesial TLE is described. A significant reduction of white matter volume ipsilateral to the seizure focus and bilateral gray matter volume reduction were observed. In addition, abnormalities of the …  Lire la suite

Thomas Kuhn's essay The Structure of Scientific Revolutions has had an overwhelming impact upon academics from various fields, creating a virtual paradigm industry. Authors have frequently had recourse to Kuhn's book, applying insights into the structure and development of the sciences to nonscientific fields. This essay presents a critical review of Kuhn citation in the music-theoretic literature, first reviewing similar citation analyses in the humanities and the social sciences for comparison. While much of the Kuhn citation is problematic, music scholars are found to sin less broadly than those in other fields. After reviewing some of the salient distinctions between …  Lire la suite

Two clinical studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of recombinant bovine somatotropin in daily, weekly or bi-weekly injected preparations on milk yield, feed efficiency and reproduction. In the first study, a linear dose-response effect of recombinant bST on milk yield with doses of up to 150 mg · 7d-1 was observed. Feed intake was not affected and feed efficiency was increased by bST during lactation. Body condition at the end of lactation was lower in cows supplemented with bST. Feed intake during the dry period following bST supplementation was not affected by bST given during lactation. When differences in …  Lire la suite

The major purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effect of a low-cost, community-based, nurse-delivered, group psychoeducation program entitled the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program (CPSMP) on a number of pain-related and other quality of life outcomes in those experiencing an idiopathic chronic non-malignant pain problem. One hundred and ten individuals referred by community-based health care professionals, a pain clinic service, or self-referral were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: the 12-hour CPSMP intervention group or the 3-month wait-list control group. One hundred and two individuals completed the study. Results of intention-to-treat statistical analyses indicated that the …  Lire la suite

Column flotation as a concept was introduced approximately 90 years ago at Inspiration Copper Co., Arizona, with the first successful installation occurring at Les Mines Gaspe, Quebec, in 1981. Column flotation has since been applied to many other industries including deinking of recycled paper. The research is a comparison of industrial bubble generating devices in a pilot and laboratory column using water/Dowfroth and pulp sampled on-line from a local deinking plant. The pilot column tested combinations of 6, 4 and 2 stainless steel (ss) porous spargers, and filter cloth and jetting sparger; the lab column used a single ss porous …  Lire la suite

Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is believed to have a multidimensional causality including developmental factors and neurobiological vulnerabilities. This study examined diverse clinical features (e.g., binge and vomit frequency, eating attitudes, impulsivity, dissociative symptoms, and affective instability) and two putative causal agents (e.g., childhood sexual/physical abuse and serotonin abnormalities) in bulimics with and without a comorbid Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Twenty-seven BN sufferers and 25 normal-eater controls underwent a multidimensional assessment of eating symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, personality disturbances, experiences of childhood abuse and serotonin (5-HT) dysfunction. The latter was measured using paroxetine binding in blood platelets. In contrast to control subjects, borderline …  Lire la suite

The investigation of the interaction of light with tissue has many applications in the field of diagnostic medicine. The objective of the project was to obtain quantitative measurements of constituents in a medium in which the absorption and scattering optical properties vary. Initially the project was divided into two separate experiments, namely multiwavelength steady state and time resolved measurements. Both methods are applicable to complex media, providing information related to absorption and scattering. The first phase was the study of Near Infrared diffuse reflectance for the determination of pulmonary edema. Non-contact pulmonary edema measurements were made on in vitro isolated …  Lire la suite

Through exhaustive simulations and experimental work, this thesis investigates and develops practical solutions to efficiently perform bandpass digital-to-analog conversion using sigma-delta (SigmaDelta) techniques. Due to the robust VLSI CMOS technology, these techniques are widely used nowadays to realize high quality data converters. In particular, a novel and modular structure is proposed to implement high-order bandpass digital SigmaDelta modulators with variable bandwidth and arbitrary resolution. Using this structure, near-optimum noise suppression is achieved even after coefficient quantization errors are introduced. In addition, high speed operation is now attained independent of the modulator order. A synthesis method is also provided which is …  Lire la suite

A soil climate parameterization is designed for peatland environments in the Canadian Land Surface Scheme (CLASS). Three wetland soil classes account for the variation in the hydraulic characteristics of organic soils. Saturated hydraulic conductivity varies from a median of 1.0 x 10-7 m/s in deeply humidified sapric peat to 2.8 x 10-4 m/s in relatively undecomposed fibric peat. Average pore volume fraction ranges from 0.83 to 0.93. Parameters are derived for the soil moisture characteristic curves of fibric, hemic and sapric peat, using the Campbell (1974) equation employed in CLASS, and the van Genuchten (1980) formulation. Validation of modelled water …  Lire la suite

Log-domain filters have recently received considerable research attention as an intriguing alternative to the existing continuous-time filter implementations. Log-domain filtering explicitly employs the diode nature of bipolar transistors, resulting in a class of frequency-shaping translinear circuits. It demonstrates potential in high-speed and low-power applications. Most interesting of all, it opens the door to elegantly realizing a linear system with inherently non-linear (logarithmic-exponential) circuit building blocks, and may benefit from the advantages offered by companding signal processing. However, log-domain filters suffer directly from transistor-level nonidealities. This thesis will study the filter response deviations due to major transistor imperfections, which include parasitic …  Lire la suite

Numerous placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials have shown that long-term secondary prophylaxis with beta-blockers can reduce the risk of death following myocardial infarction (MI). Despite consensus guidelines advocating their use, studies from many countries have shown that beta-blockers are underutilized among MI survivors, with advancing age and increasing comorbidity being associated with lower utilization. This thesis includes three studies relating to key issues regarding the effectiveness and utilization of beta-blocker after hospital discharge among elderly survivors of MI in Quebec between 1990 and 1993. The first study presents information on the validity on the diagnosis of MI and other medical conditions …  Lire la suite

In aging Brown Norway rats, there is an activation of the immune system represented by a striking increase in the number of halo cells. As the blood-epididymis barrier should protect from immunological attack, we hypothesized that there would be changes in the structure and function of this barrier with age. Immunocytochemical localization of occludin, ZO-1 and E-cadherin, as well as lanthanum nitrate permeability of the blood-epididymis barrier, were done using the epididymides of rats aged 3, 18, and 24 months. Occludin, ZO-1, and E-cadherin immunostaining was observed at the apico-lateral junction between principal cells in the initial segment of 3-month-old …  Lire la suite

This thesis examines the articulations of gender, class, and race in a specific sample of films from the 1930's to the 1990's. The tendency in these films is to depict women as passive, rather than heroic. Because this has been the common practice, I chose to outline it through fourteen films that exemplified an inherent bias when dealing with women as subject matter. Brief summaries of several recently produced progressive films are provided to show that it is possible to improve the image of women in film, hence we may finally witness justice on the big screen. In this discursive …  Lire la suite

Computer models of oxide texture and microstructure development and oxidation kinetics have been developed. The first computer model enables the evaluation of the effects of various factors on oxide texture and microstructure development. The second computer model enables the evaluation of the effects of oxide texture and microstructure on oxidation kinetics. Two examples of Ni single crystal and polycrystalline, Zr-2.5%Nb are used to illustrate the proposed computer models. Simplified oxidation mechanisms on Ni and Zr have been proposed. In the first system, the simulation of oxide texture and oxidation kinetics on the {100} and {111} oriented single crystal Nickel substrate …  Lire la suite

Production traits and disease resistance are believed to be under the control of many genes, i.e. quantitative trait loci (QTL). The objective of the present study was to establish a methodology for identifying DNA markers which are associated with QTL in chickens using an alternative approach to the traditional linkage analysis. A systematic screening approach was designed to search a chicken liver cDNA library for clones which revealed polymorphisms associated with traits. In the first stage of the experiment, a total of 92 cDNA clones were subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. About 33% and 22% of the …  Lire la suite

Interleukin (IL)-12, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and other inflammatory cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune insulitis and diabetes in NOD mice, and inhibition of these cytokines is likely to be beneficial. In this study, we found that Pentoxifylline (PTX) and Rolipram (phosphodiesterase [PDE] inhibitors that induce increased intracellular cAMP) can block inflammatory cytokine production. Inhibition of IL-12 and IFN-gamma secretion was demonstrated in macrophages activated with lipopolysaccharide or T-cells stimulated through the CD3/T-cell receptor complex, respectively. Moreover, strong inhibition of IL-12 was demonstrated in vivo in superantigen-immunized mice. Rolipram was inhibitory at concentrations as low as 10-8 to …  Lire la suite

The subject constructed by and for labour law---the "worker"---is bodiless, sexless, genderless, and male. This thesis investigates how and why this construction occurs both through a discussion of general theoretical issues surrounding the way law constructs its subjects, and through a specific case study. The case study considers a set of sexual harassment cases decided in the "mainstream" unfair dismissal jurisdiction. As a site of women's overt presence in the labour market, these cases are disruptive to settled constructions of "the worker", particularly because they connect the sexuality of women (and their gender) to their status as worker. In so …  Lire la suite

In order to keep up with the ever-increasing demand in communications, photonic technology, that has potential benefits in low power consumption, large bandwidth, reduction in payload mass and volume, and electromagnetic interference immunity, offers an alternative approach for the future communication satellites. An optical multi-carrier demultiplexer/demodulator (MCDD) system using acousto-optic technology has been built and characterized for satellite on-board processing (OBP). In this work, the design and implementation of this demonstrator are presented. The challenges for introducing the optical technologies are also discussed for the optics, optical packaging, and opto-electronics. The system was characterized and demonstrated a channel capacity of …  Lire la suite

In this thesis, a dynamic simulation package of the injection molding machine was first developed. The simulation package was then used to study the dynamic behavior and to introduce a modified method for identification and control of cavity pressure in injection molding. The physically-based model of cavity pressure used in the simulation is based on the previous work of Rafizadeh [1996]. The open loop simulation results of the physically-based model are validated with previous experimental data to give a basis for simulating controlled behavior. This simulation package provides, therefore a convenient basis for other researchers to use Rafizadeh's theoretical results …  Lire la suite

Bioactive phytochemicals, such as phenols, could depict one cardioprotective factor in the diet of the Maasai. Therefore, 41 samples from of plants commonly ingested by the Maasai, were investigated for the presence of phenols and antioxidant activity. Phenols were detected in all 41 crude extracts. All extracts were screened for antioxidant activity using 2 radicals (1,1 diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical; peroxyl radical). Extracts that displayed activity equal to or significantly greater than the antioxidant standards (ascorbic acid; Trolox) in both screening tests include (p < 0.05): Acacia nilotica and Acacia drepanolobium. These results were significantly correlated to total phenols (r = …  Lire la suite

The distribution of fluidization flow of a variable speed 3-in (7.5 cm) Knelson centrifugal concentrator was first studied. Its performance was then investigated for different types of synthetic ores, and the effect of rotation speed, fluidizing water, gangue density and size distribution, and feed rate determined. To obtain some fundamental information relative to the recovery mechanisms of the Knelson Concentrator, the percolation or migration of dense particles in a gangue bed was investigated in the gravitational field, using a fluidization column. The equations for determining the instantaneous radial settling velocity of a spherical particle in the dilute zone of the …  Lire la suite

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha1,2-mannosidase that removes one specific mannose residue from Man9GlcNAc 2 during the biosynthesis of N-glycans is a member of the Class 1 alpha1,2-mannosidase family conserved through eukaryotic evolution. These alpha1,2-mannosidases are type II membrane proteins with an N-terminal transmembrane domain and a large C-terminal catalytic domain. High levels of recombinant yeast alpha1,2-mannosidase catalytic domain were produced using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (0.6 mg/l) and Pichia pastoris (30 mg/l) expression systems, permitting further characterization of the structural and mechanistic properties of the enzyme. Peptide analysis was applied to localize the two disulfide bonds (Cys340-Cys385 and Cys468-Cys 471) and free thiol …  Lire la suite

Most inquiries into the nature of literary value have focused on how the academy shapes literary taste and determines the reputation of individual authors. This thesis examines how ideas of literary canon can impact a writer at the creative level. Michael Ondaatje's interest in the cultural significance of authorship makes him ideal for this topic of study. The first essay discusses how Ondaatje's repeated quotation of his own texts can be viewed as a metafictional commentary on the anxieties of literary innovation. It shows how the idea of literary influence and the author's relationship to the canon can be embodied …  Lire la suite

Zukor, David (Advisor)  Lire la suite

Beech, Robin N. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Fibrinogen (Fg) mediates platelet aggregation and adhesion to artificial surfaces by interacting with its receptor, glycoprotein IIb and IIIa complex (GPIIbIIIa, or integrin alphaIIbbeta 3), on the platelet membrane. Considerable evidence has demonstrated that the (H12) on the gamma chain carboxyl terminus is required for the binding of Fg from solution to activated platelet GPIIbIIIa, while the RGD sites, the universal integrin recognition domain on adhesive ligands, are not involved. In this study, using recombinant Fg, well-defined Fg plasmin digestion fragments, and specific monoclonal anit-Fg antibodies, we demonstrated that the same sequence, the H12, or more precisely, the AGDV on …  Lire la suite

This thesis examines the wave of regionalism currently being experienced in international trade, which is manifested by the proliferation of free trade areas and customs unions, regional trade agreements (RTAs). This thesis attempts to determine whether regionalism is welfare-enhancing and is liberalising the global economy as envisioned by GATT Article XXIV. The answer is: not necessarily. Chapter One briefly discusses the principle of non-discrimination and provides a general account of the recent development of RTAs. Chapter Two examines the economic and political-economic aspects of RTAs, while Chapter Three examines their legal aspects. To put the two chapters into perspective, a …  Lire la suite

As digital processors continue to reach new performance limits, the pressure on the interface between the analog world and these processors, formed by A/D and D/A converters, continues to mount. Also, to reduce fabrication costs, the trend has been to integrate both the analog and digital components of mixed-signal systems on a single chip. Thus, there is a need for high-performing converters, capable of coexisting with the digital circuitry. This thesis is concerned with the design and implementation of high-performance, monolithic A/D converters based on DeltaSigma modulation for various applications ranging from speech and audio to digital radio. High performance …  Lire la suite

In drug-tolerant rats, acute administration of systemic nicotine stimulates locomotor activity. Several lines of evidence suggest that this effect is mediated by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors located on the neurons of the mesolimbic dopaminergic (MLDA) pathway. However, a report published recently has challenged this idea, finding that destruction of the MLDA with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a catecholamine specific neurotoxin, had no effect on nicotine-induced hyperlocomotion. The objective of this thesis was therefore to re-examine the role of the MLDA in mediating the locomotor stimulant effect of nicotine in rats. Vehicle or 6-OHDA was bilaterally infused into the ventral tegmental area, the somatodendritic …  Lire la suite

This thesis compares two different computationally inexpensive methods of adjusting for case-mix in nested designs with binary outcome. One approach, used in some published analyses, is based on 'ecological' variables. These variables are of the distribution of characteristics of all patients of a given physician. Typically means and proportions are used for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. The final physician-level analysis relies then on a multiple linear regression model where the rate of the relevant outcome, among patients of a given physician, is the dependent variable and the independent variables include both ecological variables and physicians' characteristics of interest. Another …  Lire la suite

This thesis introduces a new approach to the problem of estimating the parameters of a dynamic model of a robotic manipulator using force-and-motion data collected from the manipulator. As an alternative to commonly used least-square estimation techniques, bounded-error estimation is proposed, whereby worst-case bounds on the parameter estimates are computed based upon non-restrictive assumptions on the total error in the data, which can include systematic errors arising from unmodelled dynamics of the robot. It is argued that computing such worst-case bounds gives one a direct assessment of the accuracy, not only the precision, of the parameter estimates and offers insight …  Lire la suite

This essay explores the benefits and limits of teaching and learning music in a changing technological environment, where both students and instructors are faced with the perpetual problem of keeping up with new methods of practicing music for the purpose of maintaining competence. The essay critically reflects on the argument that present societies overvalue technical instruments, at times giving consumers a false hope of achieving quick results in a brief period of time, and with the unintended consequence that playing techniques can be compromised. The idealizing of mechanical devices has become strongly associated today with sophisticated taste and class. Following …  Lire la suite

Spatiotemporal processes occur in many areas of earth sciences and engineering. However, most of the available theoretical tools and techniques of space-time daft processing have been designed to operate exclusively in time or in space, and the importance of spatiotemporal variability was not fully appreciated until recently. To address this problem, a systematic framework of spatiotemporal random field (S/TRF) models for geoscience/engineering applications is presented and developed in this thesis. The space-tune continuity characterization is one of the most important aspects in S/TRF modelling, where the space-time continuity is displayed with experimental spatiotemporal variograms, summarized in terms of space-time continuity …  Lire la suite

We investigated the relationship between rhythms occurring at different time-scales, namely circadian and ultradian rhythms. Furthermore, we examined the potential role of the period (per) gene, a known clock gene initially isolated in Drosophila, for regulating these rhythms in the wild-type cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus . Here we report a positive correlation between circadian and ultradian rhythms in crickets. Thus, crickets with a slow endogenous circadian rhythm also have a slow ultradian rhythm, and conversely, animals with a fast endogenous circadian rhythm have a fast ultradian rhythm. In addition to this correlation, we observed PER-like immunoreactivity in the regions of the …  Lire la suite

With ecological crises remaining at the forefront of public concern it is now more important than ever to develop connections between human beings and the natural world. Consequently, environmental education programs have included values in their objectives in an effort to stimulate appreciation for and dedication to maintaining the health of the planet. This case study examines the values and values education approaches implicit in the Fort Whyte Centre for Environmental Education in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Based on the theoretical framework of both values education and environmental education, analysis revealed that embedded in the program are the values of respect, appreciation …  Lire la suite

The objective of this study is to gain an understanding of the factors which influence and control the formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) chemisorbed on metal surfaces and how these SAMs modulate electron transfer kinetics. To achieve this purpose various alkyl thiol-SAMs with chain lengths from C4SH to C22SH and terminal functional groups such as -CO2H, -OH, -NH2, and -SO3- were prepared on gold surfaces. The electron transfer processes across thiol-SAMs have been extensively studied by electrochemical techniques including cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode (RDE) voltammetry. RDE results indicate that a thiol monolayer greatly reduces the electron-transfer rate at …  Lire la suite

This thesis addresses the relationship between the GATT/WTO and environmental protection, particularly the relevance of its principles to trade-related environmental measures (TREMs). Environmentalists generally believe that the GATT/WTO is not relevant to TREMs, arguing that the GATT does not have the mandate to deal with environmental issues. In addition, environmentalists believe that the GATT rules on non-discrimination and "like products" could act as barriers for individual countries attempting to adopt TREMs. The prohibition against creating "trade barriers" could result in the same barriers. Economists, on the other hand, generally believe that the GATT/WTO is relevant to TREMs. They argue that …  Lire la suite

This dissertation focuses on the politics of self-narration and the use of visual images and strategies in Margaret Laurence's The Diviners , Daphne Marlatt's Ana Historic and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and Cat's Eye. I argue that these authors are reworking the metafictional form by using visual strategies (such as reflection, distortion and point of view) to explore the complex relationship that us created when the woman narrator when she is both subject and object of her own fictional autobiography. I use the artistic form of anamorphosis as the overriding metaphor for discussing this relation and its manifestation in …  Lire la suite

In the late 1970's and 1980's, education issues formed a pivotal part of the American religious conservative agenda. The issues of school prayer, textbook content and the teaching of evolution in particular inspired lively debate and committed activism on the part of conservative Protestant leaders and activists. Confronting the behemoth of secular humanism, these leaders sought to win converts and to foment action in the converted through two separate modes of rhetoric: the emotional, which used impassioned arguments, and the intellectual, a more phlegmatic approach used to achieve political ends. Finding their roots in the 1920's, conservative Protestants have placed …  Lire la suite

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) mediate transduction of extracellular signals to the interior of the cell. The oncogenic variant of the Met RTK (Tpr-Met) transforms fibroblast cells. Multiple proteins involved in activating signal transduction pathways bind the Tpr-Met protein at a single highly phosphorylated tyrosine, tyrosine 489. This tyrosine residue is essential for Tpr-Met mediated transformation, implicating one or more of these substrates in this event. The specificity of the interaction between RTKs and their substrates is determined by amino acids surrounding the phosphotyrosine residue. To determine the role of each Tpr-Met substrate in cellular transformation, I have designed Tpr-Met mutants …  Lire la suite

This thesis addresses the problem of computing 2-D disparity fields from stereo image pairs and applying them to intermediate view reconstruction (IVR) via disparity-compensated interpolation. Intermediate views are calculated using a linear filter with angle-dependent coefficients. Two existing disparity estimation algorithms are adapted to perform IVR, and results are used for parallax adjustment of still stereo images. In one case, the well-known block matching (BM) technique is used, and several novel algorithm enhancements are proposed. The final BM scheme employs three-component estimation, a spatial smoothness constraint, and a quadtree structure. A procedure for targeting problematic blocks that requires splitting based …  Lire la suite

Our primary goal in this thesis was to develop convenient methods for the synthesis of oligomeric polycyclics which could be ring-opened at elevated temperatures in the presence of a catalyst to give new classes of thermoset materials. A simple and commercially attractive approach was utilized to synthesize novolac type resins by reacting p-substituted phenols with formaldehyde using a cation exchange resin as catalyst in the presence of chlorobenzene as solvent. Novel oligomeric polycyclic carbonates were prepared by reacting the multifunctional phenol-formaldehyde resin with excess triphosgene under high dilution conditions. When the oligomeric polycyclic carbonates were heated at elevated temperatures using …  Lire la suite