McGill University Thèses et mémoires publiés en 1999

The offshore oil industry is constantly seeking new and more cost efficient solutions to every aspect of their operations. In the later years, use of polymeric composite materials has proven to reduce cost and enhance reliability in several areas of oil operations. Several independent efforts, notably in Europe and in the US have targeted development of both spoolable and segmented fibre reinforced polymer pipe systems. These composite pipe systems have been designed for high internal pressure applications, with additional loads being both static and dynamic. In this research, the short-term, high strain, cyclic bending fatigue of spoolable glass-fibre reinforced epoxy …  Lire la suite

The aim of external beam radiotherapy is to deliver a prescribed dose to a target volume accurately and uniformly while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. In radiation dosimetry calculations, many functions are employed to achieve this goal, and the Peak Scatter Factor (PSF) is one of the fundamental functions used in dosimetry. A brief background of some of the basic physics employed in external beam radiotherapy is given, illustrating some of the applications of the PSF in dosimetry. Also, the evolution of the definition of the PSF is discussed by presenting the PSF definitions quoted in several dosimetric references. In …  Lire la suite

The partially purified extracellular lipase from Pseudomonas fragi CRDA 037, obtained by ammonium sulfate precipitation, was subjected to further purification by successive ion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatographies using the Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography system. The purification of the partially purified lipase resulted in two enzymatic fractions, FIVa ' and FIVb', with a purification-fold of 169 and 195, respectively. Native electrophoretic analyses revealed the presence of three bands for fraction FIVa', with estimated molecular weights (MW) of 16.2, 25.8 and 38.5 kDa and two bands for FIVb' , with estimated MW of 15.2 and 25.8 kDa. The two purified fractions, FIVa' and …  Lire la suite

Rashi, an eleventh century Bible commentator who lived in France, is the most influential Jewish exegete of all time. The popularity of his Pentateuch commentary has resulted in many extant manuscripts and printed editions, and the effect of scribal activity involved in the work's large circulation has led to extensive textual variants. Moreover, the earliest extant dated manuscript of the commentary was copied 130 years after Rashi's death. This extended length of time facilitated the introduction of countless changes into the work that, over time, have become virtually undetectable. One key to uncovering the most authentic version of Rashi's commentary …  Lire la suite

Asthma has not declined in morbidity and mortality despite significant advances in medical treatment. A literature review was conducted and a program of research was devised with the goal of improving understanding of why many appropriately treated and educated asthmatics are unable to gain adequate control of their asthma. A review of the literature found that psychological stress was a poorly understood trigger for asthmatic symptoms and a possible factor in poor asthma control. A clinic visit study of adult asthmatics found: (1) life event stress was associated with asthma quality of life but not ventilatory function, (2) asthma self-efficacy …  Lire la suite

Plasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite that causes malaria, a disease that is widely spread in the tropical world. Chloroquine has been very effective against malaria since it was introduced into the field until the emergence of chloroquine resistant malaria. Chloroquine resistant malaria has become widely spread in the endemic area. In addition, cross resistance to other antimalarial drugs that are different in structure and function has been reported, even though some of these drugs had not been previously used in that particular region. The objective of this study was to determine the molecular mechanism of this resistance. Actinomycin D …  Lire la suite

A total of 114,351 Holstein first lactation records collected by the Quebec Dairy Herd Analysis Service (DHAS-PATLQ) between September, 1979 and January, 1994 were used to study the effects of adjusting records for linear and quadratic effects of 90- and 305-d feed intake measures (total energy, total protein and total dry matter) on estimation of heritabilities of and genetic correlations among yield and composition traits. Genetic parameters of feed intake measures, relationships between feed intake and age and weight at calving, and feed conversion efficiency traits were also examined in a series of studies. A sire model fitted by REML …  Lire la suite

The influence of globalization over legal systems has resulted in, among other effects, the emergence of transnational law and new international players, such as multinational corporations (MNEs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and numerous international entities. The dynamics of the new players within the new transnational legal order have generated a need for a new supranational system of dispute resolution. The analysis focuses on the Latin American experience in adapting to judicial reform programs (sponsored by international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Development Bank) which promote the integration of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods into domestic legal systems, …  Lire la suite

This dissertation investigates the properties of sentimentality by analyzing the move in British literature from a fascination with heightened affect to a celebration of Gothic excess during the period 1768--1796. This study develops an account of sentimentality as a model of agency, theorizes the relationship of sentimental ideology to sentimental narrative form, and traces continuities between the sentimental and Gothic modes through an examination of texts that share a preoccupation with the aesthetics and ethics of sentimentalism. By examining representations of sentimental agency in prose fiction narratives by Laurence Sterne, Henry Mackenzie, Ann Radcliffe, and Matthew Lewis, this dissertation argues …  Lire la suite

Cette these est une reflexion sur le livre de Filipo Tommaso Marinetti (1876-1944), La Cucina Futurista, publie en 1932. Ce texte servira de cadre a une interpretation et a une discussion de la possibilite de trouver une facon de penser et de creer une architecture qui serait a la fois creative, imaginative, poetique et ludique, tout en restant eminemment ethique. Le livre de Marinetti offrit une position de resistance qui allait insuffler une nouvelle vie au domaine creatif de l'epoque. A l'aide du texte, cette these tentera de valider la possibilite que l'architecture actuelle soit un lieu invitant les etres …  Lire la suite

The precise assessment of respiratory mechanics in intensive care unit (ICU) patients can potentially be of great benefit to their management. Some commercial ventilators now offer methods for determining values for lung compliance and resistance at a single frequency, however ongoing research in animals has shown that much more valuable information can be extracted from an analysis of the mechanical input impedance spectrum over a range of frequencies. To do this, it is essential to be able to control the characteristics of the input flow waveform into the lungs (i.e. frequency and amplitude). A new type of mechanical ventilator that …  Lire la suite

Incompressible, viscous, two-dimensional unsteady flows over bluff bodies are simulated via the use of vortex methods. The vorticity domain is discretized into a number of Lagrangian point vortices. The vorticity transport equation is split into convection and diffusion parts, and each part is solved sequentially, rather than simultaneously, in each time step. The convection equation is solved using a "vortex-in-cell" method, and the diffusion equation is either simulated by a random walk method, or solved using a finite-difference ADI scheme. New vorticity is created on the body surface during each time step in order to satisfy the no-slip boundary condition. …  Lire la suite

A numerical method is described for determining the derivatives of the scattering parameters of an arbitrary 3D microwave device with respect to changes in model geometry. The new technique is based on the adjoint variable method as applied to finite element analysis, but does not require the separate calculation of an adjoint solution. The new technique is applied to the optimization of the design of microwave components, using a derivative-based, quasi-Newton method. The derivatives of the scattering parameters of three devices are computed and compared to analytical or finite difference values. The agreement is very good. The three devices are: …  Lire la suite

The studies included in this thesis were aimed at identifying the mechanisms that lead to aberrant expression of the PTHRP gene in cancer. We have used the hepatocyte growth factor receptor oncogene, Tpr-Met, as a model and examined the effect of this oncogene on PTHRP expression. When transfected into Fisher rat 313 (Fr3T3) fibroblasts, Tpr-Met increased the transcription of PTHRP mRNA and secretion of the protein. To identify the signaling pathways involved we analyzed a mutant of Tpr-Met, Tyr489, that was impaired in activating a number of downstream effectors, including Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, Grb2 and Shc. The ability of Tpr-Met/Tyr 489 …  Lire la suite

In an attempt to investigate the cause of change in the competitive ability between monocots and dicots in a pastureland in Farnham, Quebec under CO2 enrichment, I chose to study the response of Plantago major (dicot) and Poa pratensis (monocot) grown in ambient and elevated CO2 chambers, hypothesizing that a large increase in root biomass of dicots would be observed under elevated CO 2. A transient stimulation of root biomass of Plantago major was found during the first month of CO2 exposure but disappeared later. The second objective of this study was to examine the effect of 5 years of …  Lire la suite

The pendant drop apparatus is the most reliable and accurate method of measuring the interfacial tension of polymer melts. In spite of its widespread use, a detailed experimental procedure has yet to be published. This study examined all practical aspects of pendant drop experiments with viscous polymer melts and establishes procedures for material preparation, syringe diameter selection, experimental protocol, determination of equilibrium, and the most accurate measurement of interfacial tension. In addition, the effects of both drop volume and unstable drops on interfacial tension measurements are discussed. Comparing the surface tension and interfacial tension values for several polyethylene (PE) and …  Lire la suite

A novel Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus (AmEPV) late phosphoprotein, expressed at high levels and implicated in the formation of filamentous structures, was identified and referred to as FALPE (filament-associated late protein of entomopoxvirus). Significant homologies were found between this protein and the baculovirus protein p10. p10 is also associated with a large network of fibrous bodies produced very late in baculovirus infected insect cells. FALPE and p10 were shown to have the ability to self-associate via a coiled-coil domain found at their amino termini. Self-association of these proteins results in the formation of larger aggregates which constitute the building blocks of …  Lire la suite

Along with international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) has been the engine driving the current economic globalization of the world economy. The growth rate of FDI, which exceeded that of international trade and world output throughout the 1990s, raises important questions regarding the value of FDI to developing countries as host countries to FDI and the role it can play in their development. In an attempt to answer these questions, this thesis tackles the main issues underlining FDI and developing countries. After analysing the pros and cons of FDI for developing countries and other interested parties, this thesis scrutinizes the …  Lire la suite

This thesis describes the preparation, characterization and biological study of block copolymer aggregates as drug delivery vehicles. A novel method is described for the synthesis of biodegradable and biocompatible copolymers of polycaprolactone-b-poly(ethylene oxide). The copolymers and their aggregates are then characterized with special attention given to properties which are of most interest to applications in drug delivery such as copolymer composition, thermal behavior, critical water content, critical micelle concentration, partition coefficient of hydrophobic solubilizates, morphology of the aggregates and in vitro biocompatibility. The polycaprolactone-b-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer micelles are first explored as a delivery vehicle for the neurotrophic agents FK506 and …  Lire la suite

In this research, I explore the body life history of six women, interweaving my own, focusing in particular on the "crossroads" between preadolescence and adolescence. 'My' participants and I do a form of memorywork, looking for an understanding of the meaning of body in the construction of girls' and women's subjectivity. Using photographs, the writing of a third person narrative and in-depth interviews, 'my' participants and I generate a biography of the body. I focus on two emerging themes, body commentary and movement or physical activity, and their impact on the lives of adolescent girls. I emphasize the importance of …  Lire la suite

Constraint propagation by means of an Algebraic Constraint System (ACS) can be used to assist the designer to explore a design space. Network transformation has been used for two purposes: first to find implicit constraints that can then be used to avoid the Missing Propagation Path problem (MPP). These new constraints can allow local propagation to succeed. Secondly, network transformation has been used to help verify the algebraic integrity of the model. ACS has the ability to solve a set of equations. Also, it is able to answer user queries and reveal the reasoning process used in obtaining a solution. …  Lire la suite

Il Sacro Bosco in Bomarzo is an experience in Lessons on Love. The statues are a constant repetition of the paradox of Eros. The exoteric meaning of the statues will be given through the- narratives that influenced them. Then, the esoteric meaning behind the narratives and the statues will be given with the help of Ficino's Commentary on Plato's Symposium on Love. Because the garden exists in the space of desire, it is able to speak to us today. This thesis is a walk through the garden. It is only through the experience of the garden that architectural meaning is …  Lire la suite

The safe environmental disposal of sulphide bearing materials is fast becoming a major economic factor in determining the profitability of mining operations. Among sulphide minerals, iron sulphides are the most common mining wastes. Surface disposal of pyrite and pyrrhotite mine waste is the major cause of acid mine drainage generation and the consequent environmental damages. This thesis investigates the use of new technologies and ideas to improve the disposal of mine waste containing pyrite and pyrrhotite. The first recommended improvement is to backfill the materials instead of disposing of them on the surface. There are new approaches and better technologies …  Lire la suite

Many works present solid biographical data on h&dotbelow;adith transmitters, offering tajrih&dotbelow; and ta`dil with respect to both personal and social background. These works have different ways of organizing their entries. Some show various classes (t&dotbelow;abaqat) of h&dotbelow;adith transmitters, e.g., T&dotbelow;abaqat of Ibn Sa'd. Others use alphabetical order. The outcome is a difference not only in structure but in contents. Some works are based on transmitters, such as those of the six canonical books of Sunni h&dotbelow;adith ; others are based specifically on the disputable qualities of the transmitters. The purpose of this thesis is to present Ibn H&dotbelow;ajar al-`Asqalani's Tahdhib …  Lire la suite

There has been recent interest in the possible carcinogenic potential of vegetable fibers (plant fibers) containing amorphous silica. These fibers referred to as Biogenic Amorphous Silica Fibers (BAS) are the normal constituents of number of plant species such as sugar cane, wheat, barley, oats, rice etc. Exposure to fibers within the respirable range has been documented during sugar cane and rice farming and processing operations. Some studies have suggested that such exposure could increase the risk for lung cancer while others have suggested the contrary. In countries like India, sugar cane farming is the major occupation in a number of …  Lire la suite

Sexual orientation, especially between males, has historically been met with harsh criminal sanctions. Only in this century has the issue been one of fundamental freedom and private choices. This study analyses the legal history of the concept of choice in sexual orientation in the European Commission of Human Rights (the Commission) and the European Court of Human Right (the Court), and documents the evolution of sexual orientation rights from the 1950s until today specifically focusing on why the human rights protection has changed. Until 1975 the Commission did not consider absolute criminalisation contrary to the right to respect for privacy …  Lire la suite

Given the sheer volume of scholarship which has been devoted to examining Paul and his congregations, it is surprising that so little attention has been paid to what the texts portray as the apostle's main concern: not what his congregations were in any 'objective', historical sense, but what they were 'in Christ'. Building on this observation, my thesis may be stated as follows. Traditional Pauline studies, with their emphases either on the apostle's thought or on his congregations' historical situation, obscure the importance of the 'church in the work', a reality established in the text, structured to engender change, and …  Lire la suite

To test the hypothesis that maternal glucose restriction (GR) would compromise small intestine (SI) growth and development, we used a diet induced model of IUGR. Pregnant rats and offspring were fed isoenergetic diets {0% (deficient), 12, 24% (restricted), 60% (adequate) glucose) from gestation day (gd) 0 through adolescence. SI tissue was collected at gd20, birth, 12--24h, postnatal day (pd) 7, 15, 21, 28, 35, 49 and in controls. GR affected pup weight at early timepoints, resulting in IUGR; beyond effects due to differences in body wt, GR compromised SI length at 12--24h and promoted SI growth during peak lactation (pd15; …  Lire la suite

Four aspects of the function of the vas deferens were examined by light microscope immunocytochemistry of Bouin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material. First, the expression of aquaporin-1 by endothelial cells of the vascular channels in the lamina propria of the distal region, suggested water transport from the lumen of the vas deferens via the dilated intercellular spaces to underlying vascular channels, the function of which may be to concentrate sperm. Second, the expression of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by principal cells was indicative of steroid synthesis. Third, the ability of the vas deferens to create a special environment for protecting spermatozoa in the lumen was …  Lire la suite

The overall goal of this study was to investigate the possibility of reducing NO3-- concentration in the lower soil horizon by promoting denitrification. The study looked at an inexpensive remediation practice for subsurface-drained fields in order to degrade N0j' and consequently diminish NO3-- pollution. The experiments were conducted on a corn field at the Macdonald Campus Farm. The field was composed of sandy loam soil underlined by a clay layer. In this study, sucrose was injected at a concentration of 20 mg L --1 within the subirrigation water. Furthermore, the water table was maintained at approximately 70 cm from the …  Lire la suite

This thesis presents the design and implementation of operations on Text attributes in the Relix programming language. We can initialize Text attributes directly, from data files, text files or from HTML documents. We view text as an unordered sequence of strings, choosing different definitions of the string making up the base unit. We define textview as a relation of two attributes. The values of the attributes are strings into which Text is divided and their sequence numbers. We provide four pre-defined textviews: character, word, sentence, and paragraph. We can also define textviews using regular expressions. We allow multiple textviews to …  Lire la suite

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is the main element of the CNS/ATM system elaborated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The US GPS and Russian GLONASS are the two existing systems. Both of them were created by the military. Europe is currently developing a civil navigation satellite system: Galileo. This thesis will present some legal issues of the GNSS discussed in the framework of ICAO: sovereignty of States, universal accessibility, continuity and quality of the service, cost recovery and financing, certification and liability. It will also present some legal issues due to the creation of the European Galileo …  Lire la suite

This study was undertaken to characterize the role and pathway for assimilation of the intracellular carbon storage compound, poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), in Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) meliloti. Mutants unable to utilize the degradation intermediates, 3-hydroxybutyrate (HB) and/or acetoacetate (AA) were characterized. A mutant unable to utilize HB (Hbu-) while retaining the ability to utilize AA was found to be deficient in 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (Bdh) activity. The bdhA mutant showed no symbiotic defects in association with alfalfa plants. However, when co-inoculated with the wild type, the mutant showed significantly reduced competitiveness. A more severe competition defect was observed for a PHB synthesis mutant (phaC). …  Lire la suite

To understand the physiological role of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) PEST, the phenotypes of PTP-PEST (--/--) mouse fibroblasts have been studied PTP-PEST was shown to translocate to the membrane periphery following stimulation by the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin, and to play a role in cell migration, spreading, and cytokinesis. For this action, PTP-PEST was shown to regulate the phosphorylation levels of p130cas, paxillin, FAK and PSTPIP, and their association with SH2 domain-containing proteins like Src and Crk. From these proteins, p130cas is known to be a direct substrate. Experiments for the obtention of p130cas (--/--) embryos and cell lines …  Lire la suite

The history of mine backfill shows that in the past, considerable improvements in backfill-reliant mining technology were made when new fill systems were introduced. The present trend in mine backfill technology is towards the use of high-density fill systems. Tight filling and void reduction have also become essential requirements in engineering design of mines to ensure global stability. High-density fills have a low moisture content and are more competent products requiring less binder and time for stabilization, compared to conventional hydraulic backfill. Cemented rockfill and tailings/sand paste fills are two familiar high-density backfill systems in current use. In future there …  Lire la suite

Despite advances in mesometeorology and computer technology, high-resolution numerical simulations of small-scale severe weather events remain extremely challenging. This is primarily due to insufficient initial conditions and inadequate convective parameterization schemes (CPSs). This thesis serves to illustrate how these difficulties may be overcome in a real-data simulation of the Garden City, Kansas, tornadic thunderstorm, which occurred during the VORTEX (Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment) field experiment of 1995. Using a sophisticated mesoscale model at 18 km horizontal resolution, a successful reproduction of the environment over southwestern Kansas is obtained. However, modifications to the CPS are required …  Lire la suite

Aebi, M. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Lewis, David J. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

This thesis introduces a novel method for sequentially accumulating evidence as it pertains to an active observer seeking to identify an object in a known environment. First, a probabilistic framework is developed, based on a generalized inverse theory, where assertions are represented by conditional probability density functions. In order to resolve ambiguous assertions from single view measurements, a sequential recognition strategy is developed in which evidence is accumulated over successive viewpoints until a definitive assertion can be made. The main contribution of the thesis is a strategy for conditioning the inference and the measurement processes with feedback from prior information.  Lire la suite

Our laboratory identified pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PIH) as an orally effective Fe chelator (BBA 586:278 1979). More recent in vitro and in vivo studies with PIH analogs have demonstrated that halogenated pyridoxal benzoyl hydrazones are more effective iron chelators than PIH. In this study, 33 analogues were synthesized and assessed. The compounds were derived from 3 parent aldehydes: pyridoxal (100 series), salicylaldehyde (200 series) and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthylaldehyde (300 series) in combination with the ortho-, meta -, and para-isomers of halogenated benzhydrazides: chloro (08), fluoro (09), bromo (10), and iodo (10.1). Fe chelators were evaluated on the basis of their ability to …  Lire la suite

The purpose of this study was to enrich our understanding of gender equity issues in coeducational and single-sex physical education classes. Student and teacher perceptions were examined through interviews, written descriptions of critical incidents, field observations and document analysis. The participants included 65 students in coeducational grade eight classes, 84 students in single-sex grade nine classes, and the physical education teacher from a suburban high school. Through inductive analysis and constant comparison, themes emerged regarding the teacher's equity strategies, advantages and disadvantages of coeducational and single-sex classes, and students' roles in perpetuating and rejecting gender stereotypes. Aware of gender issues, …  Lire la suite

This inquiry examines observations made by nine former participants in the 1996 Dalhousie University Summer Language Bursary Program (SLBP) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The SLBP is a five-week residential total second language immersion characterized by its intensity. In individual interviews, the informants were encouraged to explore whether and to what extent they had perceived changes in themselves as a result of their participation in the immersion program. These changes were not related to target-language proficiency. Rather, they focused primarily on aspects of the informants' self-perceived or other-perceived identities, which are conceived of as contextual, multiple, fluid and dynamic. Analysis of …  Lire la suite

A major issue in financial economics is the behavior of asset returns over long horizon as opposed to short horizons. This study provides empirical evidence from the perspective of long memory analysis. Evidence of long memory is explored using international currency prices for fourteen countries. The measure of long-term persistence employed is the modified rescaled range statistic proposed by Lo (1991), which tests for long-range dependence after having accounted for a wide range of short-memory processes. Further analysis is conducted on the squared and absolute returns of the series, using the procedure proposed by Geweke and Porter-Hudak (1983). The empirical …  Lire la suite

The retention of process colloids in the paper web is essential for papermaking process efficiency and product quality. Fines (fibre fragments) and fillers strongly affect the optical, surface and mechanical properties of paper. A very efficient flocculation aid system to deposit fine material (colloids) on fibres (collectors) consists of a polymer used in conjunction with anionic microparticles. The objective of this thesis is to elucidate the mechanism of fines retention with poly(electrolyte)-montmorillonite flocculant systems. Two main subjects are addressed. Firstly, polymer transfer between colloidal particles and collectors was characterised and modelled, and the influence on the papermaking process was evaluated. …  Lire la suite

This thesis investigates the role played by the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), a traditionalist Islamic organization established by K. H. Hasjim Asj'ari in 1926, in the development of Indonesian nationalism, elaborating in particular on its activities under the New Order (1980s and 1990s) after it implemented the Pancasila as the sole foundation for all political parties, social and mass organizations. As the largest Muslim traditionalist organization in Indonesia, the NU was originally founded to protect and promote the interests of Muslim traditionalists, who loyally followed the school of Ahlu al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah. The doctrines of the latter school are shown here …  Lire la suite

Research studies that have already been conducted on the problem of child soldiers and child conscription have focused mostly on psychological trauma. Less attention has been paid to social, economic, and political processes in Africa. The goal of this thesis is to explore perceptions of professionals from various disciplines working in different organizations and government institutions (N = 207) concerning the causes, effects, and solutions to child conscription in Africa. These professionals perceived that poverty, lack of educational resources, lack of community resources, economic hardships, dictates of international funders, corrupt governments, and unemployment were the major causes of child conscription …  Lire la suite

Farant, Jean-Pierre (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Through the study of the effects of Virtual Reality (VR) on human subjects, scientists have determined that the main cause of discomfort while experiencing VR is the time lag between the head movements and its corresponding scene changes. The main purpose of this thesis is to study and to propose solutions to reduce VR effects. The proposed solution is an alternative controller based on a Proportional Derivative (PD) model. Compared with a simple Proportional Controller, the PD Controller offers several enhancements: namely, a larger bandwidth and a faster and more stable reaction time. The proposed controller will also reduce the …  Lire la suite

Kennasha, Selim (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

X-ray mammography cannot always distinguish between benign and malignant breast lesions. This leads to unnecessary biopsies, costs, and stress for the patient. Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) provides images of increased glucose metabolism in malignant tumours compared with healthy tissue. After injection of a radioactively-labelled glucose analog, cancerous tumours appear as bright spots on the breast image. Quantitative analysis of PEM images consists in comparing the amount of activity absorbed in both breasts of a patient. Based on ROC analysis of 15 subjects, an asymmetry of 10% in the number of counts detected from each breast was taken as a sign …  Lire la suite