McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par A

Collins, Louis (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

Improvement of steel products cleanliness and alleviating problems related to Submerged Entry Nozzle (SEN) clogging are two main requirements for the efficient operation of a steel continuous caster. Argon injection is employed to achieve these objectives. Unfortunately, argon may cause quality defects related to slag entrainment and/or pencil pipe defect as well as influence molten steel flows and temperature distributions in the SEN and in the mold region.The well-known k-ω turbulence model, together with the 3D continuity, momentum and energy equations, was employed in order to predict and quantify the single-phase velocity fields and temperature distributions for the upper mold …  Lire la suite

Beam quality specification is essential in accurate characterization of radiotherapeutic beams. Amongst the many beam quality parameters that have been defined and applied, the linear energy transfer (LET) is one of the few parameters that provide an insight into the radiobiological effects of radiation. In this work, we investigated the feasibility of establishing a beam quality detector that allows for the indirect measurement of LET in the clinic. Intrinsic energy dependence was induced in an Exradin A12 ionization chamber by replacing its chamber wall with geometrically identical yet material varying walls. The energy response of these detectors was characterized by …  Lire la suite

One postulated prerequisite for phenotypic plasticity to evolve in a population is gene flow among its members. To test this hypothesis, I compared the phenotypic plasticity of 3 congeneric nut-sedges (Cyperus: Cyperaceae) that are similar in size, cohabit sandy beaches, yet differ in their reproductive strategies. Cyperus strigosus reproduces sexually by seed, C. dentatus asexually by bulbils, tubers, and rhizomes, and C. esculentus by a combination of sexual seed and asexual rhizomes and tubers. I predicted that C. strigosus and C. esculentus would be most plastic due to their potential for gene migration, while the asexual C. dentatus would be …  Lire la suite

Although there has been a noticeable push in recent years to produce contemporary literature to ensure the Cree language remains intact for future generations, Cree Bible translations remain some of the best known and used printed resources in the Cree language. Given the influence that these translations continue to exercise in Cree and Bible translation communities this study imagines a trajectory of future Bible translations into First Nations languages. The study begins with an extensive analysis of past translations into the Cree 'Y' dialect, their production as well as their reception. Chapter 2 contains an in-depth analysis of the history …  Lire la suite

L'exposition répétée à la lumière bleue (LB) est considérée comme un facteur de risque pour le développement de mélanomes de l'uvée (MU). Ce risque est augmenté chez les individus au teint et aux iris clairs. De plus, un effet angiogénique de la LB fut établi pour des modèles cellulaires humains de MU. Ceci est d'une importance particulière étant donné que les MU métastasent par voie sanguine. Il fut démontré dans plusieurs études in vitro et in vivo que certaines lentilles intraoculaires (LIO) commerciales ayant la capacité de filtrer 50% de la LB offrent une protection contre le développement et la …  Lire la suite

Neims, Dr. Allen H.  Lire la suite

Cette thèse examine l'idéologie anticommerciale de Leonard Joseph (Lennie) Tristano (1919-1978) dans le but de mettre en lumière certains aspects méconnus et incompris de sa carrière musicale. De nos jours, Tristano est principalement reconnu pour sa contribution au jazz et au piano jazz de la fin des années 1940 et du début des années 1950. Il est aussi reconnu pour ses succès pédagogiques, ayant été l'un des premiers professeurs de musique jazz. Au-delà de ces aspects, par contre, Tristano demeure une figure secondaire dans l'histoire du jazz. Dans cette thèse, je soutiens que les contributions de Tristano sont souvent négligées …  Lire la suite

Reasoning with uncertain information has received a great deal of attention recently, as this issue has to be addressed when developing many expert systems. In this thesis we study the literature of uncertainty in AI. The approaches taken by the researchers in this field can be classified into two categories: non-numeric approaches and numeric approaches. From non-numeric methods, we summarize The Theory of Endorsements, and non-monotonic logics. From numeric methods, we elaborate on MYCIN certainty Factors, Dempster-Shafer Theory, Fuzzy Logic, and Probabilistic Approach. We point out that probability theory is an adequate approach if we interpret probability values as beliefs …  Lire la suite

La sphingomyéline phosphodiestérase 3 (Smpd3) code pour enzyme liée à la membrane plasmique qui clive la sphingomyéline et génère du céramide et de la phosphorylcholine. Ces métabolites lipidiques bioactifs jouent un rôle important dans de nombreuses activités cellulaires. Une mutation autosomique récessive du gène smpd3 est à l'origine du modèle murin fragilitas ossium (fro). Cette mutation est associée à une altération de la minéralisation des os et de la matrice extracellulaire des dents chez les souris fro/fro. De plus, ces souris sont de plus petites tailles et ont un taux élevé de mortalité périnatale, ce qui rend difficile l'obtention d'un …  Lire la suite

The impregnation of reinforcing fibers for composite materials involves the pressure-driven flow of the impregnating fluid (resin) through a porous medium. For any practical impregnation device, the impregnation is affected by factors such as: the pressure of the resin that comes in contact with the fibers, the time this pressure is applied (contact time) and the length of the pressure zone. Most continuous impregnation devices for fiber rovings involve the principle of dynamic viscous pressurization in a wedge-type geometry. As an initial step towards the development of a novel impregnation process, a special device was designed to drag an impermeable …  Lire la suite

Les canneberges sont riches en polyphénols bioactifs et en fibres alimentaires. La transformation du jus génère des sous-produits importants, ce qui rend leur valorisation cruciale pour la production de composés précieux pour les aliments fonctionnels, les nutraceutiques et les additifs naturels.Sur la base de l'analyse proximale, le marc de canneberge s'est avéré être une source fiable de glucides (83,4-85,6%), en particulier de fibres alimentaires avec différents niveaux allant de 55,9 à 81,9%, variant selon la source et le type de marc. Les composés polyphénoliques ont été identifiés et quantifiés. Les principales anthocyanidines détectées dans les marcs de Stevens et de …  Lire la suite

The stability of forests’ cover and carbon stocks (i.e., stable magnitude, spatial extent, and temporal longevity) is crucial to mitigate the effects of climate change, protect biodiversity, and provide other nature’s contributions to people. In the neotropics, the fate of forests is strongly associated with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) that have inhabited a considerable part of these ecosystems for decades to millennia. IPLC display distinct worldviews and values regarding nature that have resulted in processes of active landscape management. Due to this inherent influence on the landscape, IPLC’s forests have been defined as domestic forests. Furthermore, IPLC domestic …  Lire la suite

There seems to be wide acceptance of the idea that divergencies between legal systems give rise to disadvantages. These divergencies are, and have always been, regarded as inconveniences to overcome, particularily between the Civil and Common Law traditions, which present quite diverging points of view in the way the Law is thought. Today, one criterion of evaluating any harmonization of international legal norms is the extent to which the effort enhances certainty, a quality much appreciated in the field of international commercial contracts. In fact, today, there is a detectable effort on the international level to harmonize the laws, especially …  Lire la suite

Il a été démontré depuis longtemps que les perturbations métaboliques en début de lactation ont un effet négatif sur les performances reproductives des vaches laitières. L'objectif global de cette recherche doctorale était d'étudier les mécanismes potentiels de cette association négative entre les troubles métaboliques post-partum et la fertilité chez les vaches laitières en lactation. La note d'état corporel (BCS) est un indicateur de la mobilisation des graisses corporelles et de l'équilibre énergétique. Bien que l'on connaisse l'association entre la perte excessive de BCS et la réduction des performances reproductives chez les vaches en début de lactation, les mécanismes sous-jacents ne …  Lire la suite

Les variants pathogéniques (VP) germinaux rares présents dans les gènes de prédisposition au cancer de l'ovaire (GPCO) cliniquement exploitables, tels que BRCA1 et BRCA2, impliqués dans la voie de la recombinaison homologue (HR), et MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 et PMS2, impliqués dans la voie de réparation des mésappariements (MMR), n'expliquent pas tous les cas de cancer de l'ovaire (CO) héréditaires, incluant ceux associés au cancer familial. J'ai donc émis l'hypothèse qu'il existait d'autres gènes ou variants de risque de CO à découvrir. Cependant, il y a un consensus grandissant selon lequel les fréquences de porteurs de variants dans ces nouveaux gènes …  Lire la suite

Numerical chromosome abnormalities significantly contribute to the high incidence of spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and live births with congenital defects. The vast majority of these abnormalities are maternally related and attributed to meiotic errors occurring during oogenesis. The clinical relevance of these errors, the contribution to the overall rate of chromosome abnormalities, and the association with advanced maternal age are well documented. Maternally related chromosome abnormalities can also be attributed to errors occurring prior to meiosis. Select studies have estimated the incidence of pre-meiotic mitotic errors, though the prevalence, clinical relevance, and association with maternal age remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed …  Lire la suite

A technique for combining equalization and differentially coherent detection is proposed for use in wireless communication when carrier phase recovery is difficult. A decision-feedback differentially coherent scheme, which generates an improved reference phase, is combined with a linear equalizer and the LMS algorithm is used to adapt the equalizer to an unknown channel. In addition, the proposed receiver is simulated for various two-dimensional signal constellations over multipath channels. It is shown that for high SNR, the degradation of this structure is negligible with respect to combined coherent detection and equalization. Therefore, this equalized differentially coherent detection scheme can be used …  Lire la suite

The primary objective of this thesis was to investigate body image at both the behavioural and neural levels. We describe three studies aimed at: (1) developing a novel digital methodology with which to assess perceptual aspects of body image during adolescence; (2) investigating perceptual accuracy and sensitivity to changes in the size/shape of body images among healthy adolescents; and (3) identifying the neural mechanisms of body perception using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A novel library of digital images of adolescent bodies was created and used to characterize natural covariations in body size and shape using principal components analysis. Identified …  Lire la suite

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological disorder characterized by plaque deposition and an elevated immune response. Epidemiological studies have shown that use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by the elderly is associated with a decreased relative risk and a delayed onset of AD. Moreover, the apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene has been proven to be a risk factor for AD with apoE ε4 AD patients having been found to show lower levels of brain apoE. In the present study, treatment of primary rat mixed glial cell cultures with indomethacin, aspirin, and interleukin-1beta resulted in significant increases in extracellular apoE protein. Furthermore, …  Lire la suite

The notion of foreseeability is at the heart of contracts and is based on the notion of corrective justice with a normative content. The quantum of damages should represent the obligational content of the contract. The analysis of foreseeability shows the importance of reasonable expectations and implied obligations. The notion brings to light criteria which are congruent with the criteria of certainty and predictability underlying the rule of law.  Lire la suite

This study investigated the effects of an orientation program on the acculturative stress of international students. The sample consisted of 36 international graduate students who were studying at McGill University. An orientation program was designed and implemented using three delivery methods--information giving, support, and a combination of the two. Pre- and posttreatment levels of acculturative stress were statistically analysed to ascertain the effects of this program. The quantitative results lacked statistical significance, but the qualitative analysis of the data indicated the orientation program was beneficial for international students. Participant responses denoted that the combination method was the most effective in …  Lire la suite

Tsantrizos, Peter G. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

DNA was microencapsulated by emulsification/interfacial polymerization within semi-permeable cross-linked chitosan membranes. Polar solvents and pH extremes were avoided during microencapsulation by using vegetable or mineral oil as the continuous phase and chitosan as the polymeric backbone. The membrane was cross-linked with glutaraldehyde or hexamethylene diisocyanate and microcapsules varied in diameter from 95 to 325 $ mu$m. DNA was visualized within the microcapsules with ethidium bromide stain. Binding of ($ sp{14}$C) methyl iodide and ($ sp{14}$C) benzo (a) pyrene by microcapsules was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, respectively, although binding was mostly evident in the chitosan membranes. Magnetic recovery of …  Lire la suite

Deblois, Francois (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

Accurate dose calculations and analysis tools are essential to radiotherapy treatment planning. Radiotherapy deliveries utilize the information provided by the treatment planning system and it is generally accepted that clinical outcome can be improved if accuracy in the dose delivery is further improved. Proven Monte Carlo calculations increase the planning accuracy however, most radiotherapy departments do not use Monte Carlo. The McGill Monte Carlo treatment planning system, MMCTP, provides a flexible software environment to integrate Monte Carlo planning with current and new treatment modalities and deliveries. The MMCTP design consists of a graphical user interface, which runs on a simple …  Lire la suite

According to the World Health Organization (World Health Organization, 2016), over one billion people, or 15% of the population, have some type of disability. In Canada, approximately 3.8 million people reported having a disability, and over three million adults (11%) reported having a physical disability (Statistics Canada, 2012a). People living with physical disabilities are at a higher risk of developing secondary physical and mental health conditions such as fatigue, obesity, and depression (Goodwin & Compton, 2004; Heron, Kee, Cupples, & Tully, 2015). The occurrence of secondary conditions has been associated with a lower quality of life and decreased independence for …  Lire la suite

Les entraîneurs parasports ont le potentiel de favoriser les avantages physiques, psychologiques et sociaux des athlètes avec qui ils travaillent. À ce jour, il y a un manque de connaissances et de ressources spécifiques au parasport disponibles pour les personnes qui travaillent dans ce milieu spécialisé. L’objectif de cette dissertation était d’explorer les attitudes, les connaissances, et les comportements entourant les entraîneurs qui opèrent dans le contexte parasport. La première étude a exploré la façon dont les médias ont déteint les discours dominants des entraîneurs de parasport sur une période de 20 ans. Les données ont été collectées en utilisant …  Lire la suite

Living organisms must monitor and respond to a diverse array of environmental stimuli. These responses, many of which are genetically-programmed, allow the organisms to obtain nutrients as well as cope with toxins. To identify such responses in Escherichia coli, a chromosomal luxAB gene fusion library was constructed. By screening this library with metals and monitoring for increases in luminescence, two metal-inducible clones were identified. Luminescence of clone LF20110 increases with increasing concentrations of added aluminum, iron, indium, gallium and vanadium, but not added calcium, magnesium or nickel. Luminescence of clone TBT1 increases with increasing concentrations of added tributyltin, triethyltin, tri-n-propyltin …  Lire la suite

Dawson, Don (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

The most natural stochastic models for describing the time evolution of the collective risk reserves of an insurance company are jump or point process models. However, there are difficulties in obtaining from such models explicit and tractable expressions for important quantities such as the probability of ruin and these have spawned the development of procedures to approximate point process models. In this thesis, the nature of weak approximations, as put forward by Iglehart (1969) and Furrer, Michna & Weron (1996), is examined closely with a view toward assessing their value. An interpretation of these approximation procedures is given and a …  Lire la suite

Two prospective investigations of periodicity of sexual behavior, well-being and testosterone (T) levels in women using and not using oral contraceptives (OCs) found no relationship between daily ratings of sexual desire and well-being across one pill and menstrual cycle. T, but not estradiol or progesterone, was positively correlated with sexual desire and sexual enjoyment in OC-users when T levels were below normal menstrual values. Other evidence suggested on association between post-ovulatory decreases in T and sexual desire in women. A bias to attend to sexual stimuli on a dichotic listening task was associated with sexual arousability in men. Moreover, task …  Lire la suite

The nascent-polypeptide-associated complex and coactivator-alpha (αNAC) is a subunit of a cytosolic heterodimer that binds to ribosomes and newly synthesized polypeptides in a chaperone-like manner. In the nucleus, αNAC acts as a transcriptional coregulator that can potentiate the expression of the osteoblast-specific gene, Osteocalcin (Ocn). One unique feature of αNAC is its sequence-specific DNA binding capacity. By virtue of this unique characteristic, ChIP-chIP technology was used to identify potential target genes of αNAC in mineralizing osteoblasts. One target that emerged from this analysis was Itgβ6. To confirm the result obtained by ChIP-chIP, we performed a formaldehyde cross-linking ChIP in pre-osteoblastic …  Lire la suite

Wallerstein, Immanuel  Lire la suite

Argentaffin cells in the rat gastrointestinal tract were studied after silver methenamine and silver borate stains. Their morphology was similar to the classical descriptions. Other granulated cells, namely; globule leucocytes, mast cells and eosinophilic leucocytes were found in the gut wall. Their appearance and histochemical reactions were contrasted with those of argentaffin cells. Quantitative data were collected on the argentaffin , cell distribution in different regions of the gut. In spite of marked individual variation, the regional trends were consistent, with the highest concentrations of argentaffin cells in the pyloric autrum, duodenum, caecum and proximal colon. No sex differences were …  Lire la suite

Les interneurones de couche moléculaire cérébelleuse (MLI) fournissent une inhibition dynamique directe des cellules de Purkinje, qui constituent le seul produit de sortie du cortex cérébelleux. Il a récemment été démontré que l’inhibition à médiation MLI induisait la modulation du réflexe vestibulo-oculaire et du comportement rythmique ou moteur, bien que leurs rôles spécifiques dans les comportements cérébelleux plus larges soient encore relativement mystérieux. Etant donné que l'activité de la MLI est essentielle à la régulation de la production cellulaire de Purkinje, il est essentiel de déchiffrer les mécanismes par lesquels les MLI ajustent leur excitabilité intrinsèque à des échelles de …  Lire la suite

Established in 1988, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (the "CITT") replaced the Tariff Board, the Canadian Import Tribunal and the Textile and Clothing Board. Tasked with the responsibilities of advising the government on various trade related matters, conducting injury inquiries and reviewing certain decisions of the customs department, the CITT is an important source of Canadian trade policy and jurisprudence. This paper focuses on the role the CITT has played in the development of Canadian trade jurisprudence, with particular emphasis on the CITT's material injury inquiries and its appellate review of Canada Customs' classification and valuation determinations. Placing these decisions …  Lire la suite

Physical chemistry may be thought of as the physics of chemistry. Thus it includes the study of the physical properties of matter in its various forms, and the physical aspects of the interactions of matter, namely chemical statics and kinetics, corresponding to the statics and dynamics of physics. [...] Chemical statics and kinetics have developed to a considerable degree especially in recent years. Chemical statics or thermodynamics, being more susceptible of theoretical treatment has reached a much more satisfactory state than chemical kinetics, so that by making a few measurements and calculations we can now predict the equilibrium state of …  Lire la suite

L'Internet des objets (IoT) a connu une croissance prometteuse, car il est crucial pour de nombreux domaines d'application dans les écosystèmes intelligents, tels que la ville intelligente. La décentralisation peut contribuer à la croissance, des recherches antérieures proposant l'utilisation de la technologie blockchain décentralisée dans les écosystèmes IoT car, entre autres, elle peut offrir des interactions cryptographiquement fiables, des contrats intelligents non répudiables et une interopérabilité entre les parties prenantes.Cependant, les écosystèmes IoT basés sur la blockchain présentent des défis. L'infrastructure de la chaîne de blocs peut ne pas être réalisable en raison de limitations architecturales entraînant des performances inadéquates. …  Lire la suite

In his collection of lectures, the Majalis al-Mu'ayyadiyyah, al-Mu'ayyad fi al-Din al-Shirazi's (d.ca. 1078 C.E.) typologies of the imam set forth a distinctive concept of the Isma`ili imam, as it subsequently results from al-Mu'ayyad's engagement in the works of his predecessors and contemporaries in the Isma`ili missionary organization (da`wah). Al-Mu'ayyad's refutations against the "Exaggerators" (Ghulat) and the "Shortcomers" (Muqaṣṣirun) call attention to the importance of walayah as a doctrine of religious authority and guidance in the light of debates concerning the divinity or humanity of the figure of the imam in the mediaeval Shi`i tradition. In his main doctrinal work, …  Lire la suite

Dans son recueil de conférences connu sous le titre de Majalis al-Mu'ayyadiyyah,al-Mu'ayyad fi al-Din al-Shïrâzï (m. ca. 1078 de l'ère commune) établit une typologie de l'imam qui révèle une approche originale à l'imamologie ismaélienne. Cette vision particulière du rôle de l'imam s'explique par la volonté qu'avait al-Mu'ayyad de perfectionner la doctrine de ses prédécesseurs et de ses contemporains actifs au sein de la convocation ismaélienne (da'wah). La critique que fait al-Mu'ayyad des "Maximalistes" (Ghulat) et des "Minimalistes" (Muqassirun) souligne l'importance de la walayah comme doctrine d'autorité et de bonne direction religieuse dans les débats concernant la divinité ou l'humanité de …  Lire la suite

Costiniuk, Cecilia (Supervisor1)  Lire la suite

This thesis proposes a methodology to optimize the design of capacitive accelerometers. This is achieved through a systematic improvement procedure of the closing-gaps accelerometers design. This is used to find the optimum electrode dimensions that would result in the highest sensitivity, within a specified area. The method is verified through the simulation and fabrication of different variations of two designs, then comparing the results with the expected values from analytical optimization methods. The prototypes are fabricated in a commercial process, which imposed limitations on the sizes of the possible accelerometer designs. A survey of prior published works shows the importance …  Lire la suite

Russell, Joan (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Face à la complexité croissante des conceptions et à l'augmentation du nombre de vulnérabilités en matière de sécurité matérielle, une stratégie efficace de vérification des conceptions devient essentielle. Dans un premier temps, les efforts de validation se sont concentrés sur la vérification fonctionnelle afin de s'assurer que la conception se comportait conformément aux spécifications. Une limitation fondamentale de la vérification fonctionnelle traditionnelle est son incapacité à identifier les failles de sécurité telles que les fuites d'informations (IL) et les états et transitions illégaux (IST). Dans cette thèse, nous présentons un outil automatisé qui intègre des techniques de suivi du flux …  Lire la suite