McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par B

Magnetic-field gradients and microwave resonators are promising tools to realize a scalable quantum-computing architecture with spin qubits. Indeed, magnetic-field gradients allow fast selective manipulation of distinct qubits through electric-dipole spin resonance and coherent coupling of spin qubits to a microwave resonator. On the other hand, microwave resonators are useful for quantum state transfer and two-qubit gates between distant qubits, and qubit readout. In this thesis, we take a theoretical approach to understand and suppress pure-dephasing mechanisms relevant to spin qubits in the presence of the above-mentioned devices, recently introduced to improve scalability. We first focus on dephasing of a spin …  Lire la suite

The large demand for high-bandwidth communication systems has brought down the cost of optical system components. To be competitive in a crowded market, implementation of the different systems of an optical transceiver on a single chip has become mandatory. CMOS technologies, especially state-of-the-art processes like the 0.18mum CMOS, permit integration of huge amounts of transistors per millimeter square. Furthermore, deep-submicron CMOS processes have similar RF performances to their traditional bipolar equivalent. It is therefore a small footstep to go to congregate high-speed analog circuits with digital cores on a single die. This thesis addresses two of the building blocks found …  Lire la suite

Les algorithmes d’apprentissage automatique peuvent améliorer le contrôle de systèmes dynamiques incertains en apprenant des modèles dynamiques et en ajustant des paramètres de contrôle. Cependant, les véhicules électriques et autonomes présentent des défis importants. Tout d’abord, le besoin d’opérer un système physique afin de collecter des données et itérer les paramètres engendre un requis d’efficacité pour l’algorithme d’apprentissage. De plus, les véhicules doivent demeurer en sécurité tout au long de l’opération, ce qui requiert de maintenir des critères de stabilité robuste et de satisfaction de contraintes d’état pendant l’apprentissage. Cette thèse présente des méthodes d’apprentissage qui répondent à ces défis. …  Lire la suite

InP obtained by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy, with properties similar to GaAs, shows mobilities approaching the theoretical maxima at low temperatures. However, the corresponding values remain abnormally low at room temperature where a pronounced electronic excitation to the conduction band is observed simultaneously. This reduction of the mobility is attributed to the presence of deep centers that are electrically inactive at low temperatures but become excited when the temperature increases. A model based on an iterative solution to the Boltzmann equation and accounting for the usual scattering mechanisms, including inelastic interactions, is able to explain the data perfectly and shows …  Lire la suite

The critique entitled "L'ecriture du deuil" studies ten contemporary works of literature in light of psychoanalytical theories on mourning. The authors of the chosen pieces are always a grieving narrator going through the long process of mourning and relating the past with the lost loved one. The objective of this memoire is to verify whether or not writing permits the narrators to come to terms with the death, in other words, if it helps them to detach themselves definitively from the lost or inversely, leads them to pathological grievance aimed at reviving the deceased. The work of fiction entitled "Un …  Lire la suite

Tareck Ayad (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

The subject of this study is French-Canadian literature of the middle nineteenth century. This study effectuates an analysis starting with the very idea which constitutes the genesis of this national literature, that is, Messianism. This research consists of applying on a vast corpus of writing the principle concepts developed by the sociology of religions in the study of historical and contemporary Millenarist movements. The first chapters consolidate the sources of the providencial mission of the French-Canadian people within the greater Catholic tradition of French literature. Bossuet, de Maistre, Chateaubriand, Rameau de Saint-Pere were the thinkers who aroused interest among the …  Lire la suite

The following thesis reports on an investigation of the attitudes of allophone children and their teachers towards different French accents. Using the matched guise technique, a total of 108 children in grades 4, 5 and 6 (5 groups) evaluated samples of French spoken with a standard accent, a standard Quebec accent, an informal Quebec accent and a foreign accent. The pupils evaluated the accents based on eight criteria related to linguistic, professional and personal characteristics. Secondly, sub-groups from each class participated in a post-experimental discussion about the accents they had heard. The children's teachers were also interviewed privately, in order …  Lire la suite

L'épithélium des voies respiratoires représente le premier point de contact entre les agents pathogènes inhalés et l'environnement hôte. Typiquement l'hôte présente un certain nombre de défenses immunitaires innées, y compris la clairance mucociliaire efficace des agents pathogènes qui agissent pour maintenir les poumons d'un environnement relativement stérile. Lorsque ces moyens de défense sont compromises cependant, les infections peuvent se produire dans les poumons et provoquer une augmentation des réponses inflammatoires. L'épithélium des voies aériennes lui-même peut reconnaître matériau pathogène pour induire une réponse inflammatoire. Les patients qui ont de la fibrose kystique (CF) montrent une altération de la clairance mucociliaire …  Lire la suite

The application of phenomenological methods to the analysis of musical time is a recent development in the field of music theory. Phenomenological analyses of music take as their point of departure music as a "heard" phenomenon. This thesis provides a critical survey of the differing ways music theorists have applied phenomenology to the investigation of musical time. After presenting a general overview of the philosophical discipline of phenomenology itself, the thesis considers the work of three theorists, Judy Lochhead, Thomas Clifton, and David Lewin, who adopt a phenomenological approach to issues of time in music. The final chapter considers some …  Lire la suite

Protein identification via tandem mass spectrometry and database searching has become a powerful tool in high-throughput proteomics. However, many tandem mass spectra are noisy, are formed by poorly fragmented peptides, and do not result in peptide assignment. Furthermore, many 'high-quality' un-assigned spectra are discarded as noise when they contain sufficient information for an assignment. A novel method was developed to assess the quality of tandem mass spectra from a LC-QTOF instrument using multivariate classification techniques. Six mass spectral features were first evaluated for their ability to discriminate between 'low-' and 'high-quality' spectra. Next, features were used in combination with three …  Lire la suite

Colorectal cancer constitutes a major disease burden in Western society and most patients will die with metastatic disease to the liver. Surgical resection of liver metastasis provides superior survival advantage compared to conservative treatment modalities such as systemic chemotherapy. Strategies aim towards increasing the number of patients eligible for surgical resection. Unfortunately, the majority of patients presents with unresectable disease. Preoperative portal vein embolization is a method that can be used to convert initially unresectable patients to a resectable state. In some patients, this procedure has been associated with tumor progression in the preoperative period. We present evidence that radiological …  Lire la suite

Since cranberry skin is thick and has low porosity, skin pretreatments were considered before drying in order to facilitate water diffusion. Mechanical and chemical pretreatments were considered, by cutting the fruits in half, by making pin holes in each cranberry, and by dipping the fruits in an alkaline solution. A second pretreatment seemed necessary when drying cranberries in order to reduce their tartness. Cranberries were osmotically dehydrated, by immersing them in osmotic solutions of sucrose or high fructose corn syrup. Once the pretreatment conditions were selected, four drying methods were tested on the pretreated cranberries. These methods included hot air …  Lire la suite

[...]Varieties of crop plants are usually tested inreplicated trials at different stations over a period ofyears before being released to growers or rejected. Theresults of each of these variety tests, which are generallycarried in randomized blocks or in latin squares, when thenumber of varieties is not too large, are usually submittedindependently to statistical analysis in order to test theintervarietal differences against the appropriate estimateof error.An examination of the results of two or more ofthese tests, carried with the same varieties of the samecrop during one season at different localities, oftenindicate differential behaviour at two or more localities.Similarly, an analysis of …  Lire la suite

At sufficiently high energies and jet resolution, the fragmentation effects of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) become small and the number of jet-like sub-structures within a jet, known as the subjet multiplicity, can be parametrised bymeans of perturbative QCD (pQCD). This thesis investigates such a relationship by measuring the mean subjet multiplicity <n_sbj> as a function of the jet resolution scale y_cut with the ATLAS experiment. Jets were reconstructed using the anti-k_T jet clustering algorithm and subjets were resolved by application of the k_T algorithm at a smaller resolution scale y_cut . The value of the strong coupling constant α_s , extracted …  Lire la suite

La convection et les prévisions quantitatives de précipitations (PQP) représentent certains des pires aspects de la performance dans les modèles de prévision météorologique à travers le monde. Alors que d'autres aspects de la modélisation numérique améliorent au cours des années, les prévisions de précipitation restent un obstacle majeur parmi la communautée des sciences de l'atmosphère. Dans cette étude, nous définissons et présentons une nouvelle méthode numérique, l'Application Radar, pour améliorer les prévisions quantitatives de précipitations. L'Application Radar est un processus itératif qui comprend l'assimilation des données radar et la vapeur d'eau modélisée pour améliorer les champs d'humidité à grande échelle. …  Lire la suite

Given a finite set X of states, a finite set of transformations of X (generators), and another transformation f of X, we analyze the complexity of the membership problem, which consists in deciding whether f can be obtained by composition of the generators. This problem is studied for various classes (pseudovarieties) of monoids. It is shown that the complexity is NP-hard for monoids of threshold 2 or more, and NP-complete in commutative, J- and R-trivial monoids. For idempotent monoids (aperiodic of threshold one), the problem is NP-complete in the general case; subcases are analyzed, and a largest class of aperiodic …  Lire la suite

The objective was to analyze the effects of logging and prescribed burning on carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) at a jack pine stand and white spruce plantations in order to assess short-term impacts of these forestry practices on the diversity of this beetle group. In addition, soil scarification was also included at the jack pine stand. Based on previous reports on forest disturbance influences on carabids, it is hypothesized that short-term effects of studied forestry practices do not reduce carabids' diversity. Four carabid assemblage characteristics were compared: (a) number of catches; (b) dry mass; (c) species richness; and, (d) diversity index. …  Lire la suite

The research presented in this thesis entailed an investigation of heavy metal uptake by Palmaria palmata, a red marine alga. The alga was dry and organically certified. The heavy metals of interest were those commonly found in the wastewaters of the printed wiring board industry, namely Cu2+Pb2+, Cd2+, Zn 2+ and Ni2+. The ultimate objective of the work was to determine whether or not the factors expected to influence the metal uptake to the greatest extent could be optimized within functional ranges, leading eventually to process design (beyond the scope of this thesis). These factors were pH, temperature, initial concentration …  Lire la suite

Each year, sudden aircraft performance degradation due to ice accretion causes several incidents and accidents. Icing is a serious and not yet totally mastered meteorological hazard due to supercooled water droplets (liquid water droplets at a temperature below the dew point) that impact on aerodynamic surfaces. Icing results in performance degradations including substantial reduction of engine performance and stability, reduction in maximum lift and stall angle and an increase of drag. A realistic ice accretion simulation is achieved if the three contributing factors: the aerodynamic flow field, the water droplet trajectories, and the thermodynamic ice accretion process, are accurately modeled. …  Lire la suite

This thesis attempts to gauge the strengths and limitations of the Java programming language in terms of its use in the production of multimedia compositions: in particular, the ways in which Java supports the creation of interactive, non-deterministic musical works. An original solution to the problem of multimedia design is presented: a hierarchically defined, basic, yet flexible scripting language that is interpreted using Java. This scripting language allows the user to incorporate his/her own media into a coherent and interactive form using a small set of simple keywords and basic operators. It also allows new functionality to be added by …  Lire la suite

In this master's degree research, we investigate the concept of entrepreneurial education in Quebec, particularly at the high school level. Our objective is to study the program Sensibilisation à l'entrepreneuriat, in place since 2009 in Quebec high schools, with a view to identifying, analyzing and assessing its educational aims. To achieve this objective, we first propose to put the program in its political and economic context (one of economic globalization) in order to document the place held by entrepreneurship in our society. The achievement of Quebec's political aims entails a cultural shift and the development of an entrepreneurial identity. To …  Lire la suite

The effect of the ratio of the velocity field integral scale at the injection point to the scalar injection scale (the injection ratio) on the mixing of a passive scalar (temperature) is studied in the wake of a circular cylinder. Hot-wire anemometry and cold-wire thermometry are used to measure simultaneously the velocity and thermal fields, respectively. A mandoline is used to (slightly) heat the wake. The injection ratio is varied in two ways. The velocity integral scale at the injection point is varied by changing the mandoline downstream position. Increasing the velocity scale, ℓ₀ (i.e., increasing the mandoline downstream position), …  Lire la suite

The aim of this study is to analyse the web of meaning underlying the presence of plots and images from paralitterature in the work of Alain Robbe-Grillet. This presence is explained by a transformation in the bookmarket, cultural environment and literary landscape, and corresponds to the malaise in the social discourse raised by the crisis. The bookmarket changed rapidly in the years following the war. Its reorganization along industrial lines lead to recurrent periods of crisis. That part of the market consisting of mass produced books came under the influence of American popular fiction. This situation had repurcussions on the …  Lire la suite

This thesis explores the capacity of international criminal law (ICL) to express norms in the context of sex crimes prosecutions from a feminist perspective. Two key elements are considered: norm expression and the creation of a wartime narrative. Ultimately, this thesis seeks to analyze the expressive strengths and shortcomings of ICL in relation to the prosecution of the crimes of rape and sexual slavery against child soldiers. Those "new crimes" are currently prosecuted in the case of The Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The first chapter explores the feminist literature on this matter and how …  Lire la suite

De tous les insectes d'importance économique qui s'attaquent au verger, la Pyrale des pommes (Carpocapsa pomonella L.) est probablement celui qui a fait couler le plus d'encre de la part des entomologistes intéressés, tant de la fin du siècle dernier que du début du siècle présent. [...] Il devient donc évident qu'il serait superflu, au début de ce travail, de présenter de nouveau cet insecte commun. D'ailleurs nous ferons plus loin une revue de son histoire et de sa distribution géographique. Les circonstances, qui ont fait germer l'idée de poursuivre le présent travail, ne nous ont jamais laissé de doute …  Lire la suite

En Amérique tropicale et aux Antilles, le milieu naturel a déjà été l'objet d'une dégradation première de la part des populations précolombiennes: Incas et Mayas sur la terre ferme, Arawaks et Carafbes dans les îles. Cette dégradation n'a fait que s'accentuer lors de la découverte du Nouveau Monde et surtout à la suite de l'introduction des méthodes culturales européennes, il y a trois siècles, par les colons espagnols, portuguais, hollandais, anglais ou français. [...]  Lire la suite

This thesis traces the developments of imaging technologies used for medical diagnosis. Giddens' sociological theory of modernity serves as a basis for the consideration of the bureaucratisation of medicine and the use of the patient file as source of information about health. The importance of 'inscriptions', in relation to scientific knowledge and power, is analysed through Bruno Latour's theory. Donna Haraway's call to rethink objectivity, not as a quality of universal knowledge, but as a given point of view, also influence the approach of this discussion of diagnostic practices. The author demonstrates the need for abstract concepts of patient and …  Lire la suite

Part I of this thesis explores the interrelationship between the law of privacy and the technology of surveillance by satellite. International, United States and Canadian laws are examined leading to the conclusion that governmental agencies are more likely than private entities to be restricted in their attempt to violate the right of privacy of their nationals. Part II examines protection of data generated by remote sensing satellites in international treaties and in United States and Canadian legislations. It appears that neither copyright laws of Canada and the United States nor treaties provide adequate protection for unenhanced data obtained by satellite. …  Lire la suite

The opus of Joseph Joubert (1754--1824) was for a long period barely known, due to the fact that it languished unpublished, both during his lifetime and after his death, until the complete version of his Notebooks was brought out in 1938 by Andre Beaunier (reissued in 1994). It was thanks to this new form which his thoughts now took that a completely new Joubert came into view. No longer was he merely a moralist, as portrayed by Sainte-Beuve, whose version held sway for a number of decades, but a diarist as well, i.e., writing his thoughts on a daily basis, …  Lire la suite

Cette recherche a pour objet d’examiner la préparation des enseignants en formation sur les sujets queer dans les classes d’écoles secondaires ainsi que leurs connaissances et leurs attitudes envers l’inclusivité queer. Cette étude évalue la façon dont les programmes de formation de premier cycle à l’Université McGill préparent les enseignants en formation à aborder ces sujets dans leur travail ainsi que la mesure dans laquelle les enseignants en formation peuvent reconnaître les pratiques d’enseignement traditionnelles hétéronormatives et s’en éloigner. La littérature actuelle sur les sujets queer dans le milieu scolaire est axée sur les expériences des élèves et porte principalement …  Lire la suite

The higher Diptera (Brachycera) fauna of sedge meadows (Cyperaceae, Carex) was studied at the Lac St. Francois National Wildlife Area in southern Quebec. Flies were collected weekly from May to October 1999 using sweeping and pan traps at three sampling sites representing two types of Carex habitat. Over 10,000 specimens, representing 34 families and more than 300 species, were collected. Dolichopodidae, Chloropidae, Sciomyzidae, Syrphidae and Sphaeroceridae were highest in species richness in all sites, and Ephydridae were very high in two of the sites. The above families, along with Phoridae, Chamaemyiidae and Muscidae, were also the most abundant. Overall species …  Lire la suite

This thesis examines the relationship between moral experience and moral knowledge in contemporary analytic meta-ethics. It begins with a critical examination of the work of Michael Smith, notably his book The Moral Problem, which leaves out of consideration the notion of moral experience. I treat Smith as representative of those working within what I call "the traditional meta-ethical framework," which is characterized by the assumption that moral knowledge, if it exists, is available, in principle, from any perspective. Within that framework, Smith's philosophy stands out as a model of clarity and forceful argument. I consider and develop some objections to …  Lire la suite

Despite the extensive use of drugs in the treatment of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease, there are few studies in the literature dealing with the actions of drugs on the coronary circulation in the atherosclerotic state. One of the main physiological characteristics of the coronary circulation is its functional adaptability, i.e. changing to meet the nutritional needs of the heart. [...]  Lire la suite

The response of magnetic probes to an electromagnetic wave incident upon them bas been investigated experimentaIIy first at a wavelength of 50 cms., using probes of various design and size as compared to the wavelength. Their measured receiving patterns were found to compare favourably with simple theoretical predictions provided that an external circuit was used for the purpose of eliminating those undesirable excitations which are not directly caused by the incident magnetic field. A type of probe developed earlier in the practice of direction finding was used in these experiments to measure magnetic fields with greater efficiency and greater ease …  Lire la suite

L'actine est l'une des protéines les plus abondantes retrouvées dans les cellules et a été liée à unlarge éventail de fonctions cellulaires. Malgré plus d'un siècle de documentation sur la forme et lafonction de l'actine, l'identification et la caractérisation de chaque sous-unité est une réalisationrelativement récente. À ce titre, il reste encore beaucoup à étudier sur les rôles individuels et lesinteractions biochimiques des isoformes, en particulier dans un contexte pathologique. L'actinealpha-cardiaque (ACTC1) est l'une des 6 isoformes d'actine. Il est principalement exprimé dans letissu cardiaque et, à ce titre, ses formes mutées ont été étroitement liées aux malformationscardiaques congénitales chez …  Lire la suite

Degenerating spinal motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are characterized by a reduced expression of neurofilament light (NF-L) mRNA and by the presence of inclusions composed of peripherin and neurofilament (NF) proteins. This thesis examines questions related to the formation and toxicity of inclusions containing peripherin. Transfection studies demonstrated that the organization of the penpherin network is disrupted by the larger NF proteins NF-M and NF-H in context of NF-L deficiency. To further investigate the in vivo assembly of peripherin, transgenic mice overexpressing the mouse peripherin gene were generated and then bred with NF-L null mice. Mice overexpressing peripherin …  Lire la suite

Since the early 1990s, the concept of substantial equivalence has been a guiding principle of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada's regulatory approach toward products of plant biotechnology destined for the food and livestock feed markets. To assess substantial equivalence in terms of chemical composition, genetically modified (GM) plants are compared to conventional counterparts at the level of macro- and micro-nutrients, allergens and toxicants. Such targeted comparative analyses are limited in their scope and their capacity to detect unintended changes in chemical composition. There is a need to develop more effective testing protocols to improve the substantial equivalence …  Lire la suite

The science-practice gap in psychology refers to the discrepancy between the availability of scientific evidence and its routine use in clinical practice (Cautin, 2011; Lilienfeld et al., 2013). This gap negatively affects the quality of psychotherapeutic services offered to the public and the credibility of professional psychology. Notable efforts have been made to bridge this gap, and several facilitators encouraging the use of science by professionals in psychology exist. However, there are also numerous attitudinal and practical barriers that hinder the ultimate integration of science and practice. Training opportunities are one of the important facilitators (e.g., Bearman, Wadkins, Bailin, & …  Lire la suite

TEMPS EN TEMPS (times in time): Music for voice and instruments in a multi-track recording environment, by Marc Beaulieu, is a work meant to be experienced on many levels of perception. This analysis attempts to present the work at its most important (relevant) levels. This work is written for a multi-track recording studio. The first section of this thesis describes the expanded possibilities of compositional procedure, orchestration and vocal/linguistic construction inherent in this particular medium. The concept of the work is deeply rooted in the sociological thesis expounded in Alvin Toffler's "The Third Wave". These sociological 'undertones' and their bearing …  Lire la suite

Rains, Prudence (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Pick, Frances (Internal/Cosupervisor2)  Lire la suite

In this thesis, an attempt was made to demonstrate the possible role of monocytes in producing antibody in vitro. Series of experiments were carried out in vitro, under this line, to confirm previous results obtained in vivo by Girard & Murray (67). These authors observed in rabbits maintained in a state of monocytosis that these animals will give a significantly elevated titer over that of control animals when they are immunized against S. typhosa, staphylococcus toxoid and Horse serum. [...]  Lire la suite