McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par B

Athletes wear mouthguards to decrease the risk of injuries. However, many athletes resist wearing mouthguards due to problems with speech and breathing during play. Breathing difficulties may suggest limitations with ventilation. The purpose of this study was to examine peak inspiratory and peak expiratory air flow at different ventilatory rates using various types of mouthguards and a no mouthguard condition. Mouthguards were fitted into a dental model and air was ventilated through the model at three flow rates (30, 45, 60 strokes·min-1) using 2 and 3 L syringes. Flows were recorded using a Medisoft Ergocard. Peak flows (L·s -1) were …  Lire la suite

The investigation of socio-ecological interactions involving mangrove ecosystem services (ES) illustrates the complexity of the relationships between functional ecosystems, market integration and the ability to maintain human well-being. The Belo-sur-Mer system of mangrove forests, located on the west coast of Madagascar, provides a range of ES to the communities of Antanamanimbo and Marofihitsy. Mangrove fisheries provide the majority of monetary incomes in both communities, representing 53.53 % of total annual incomes for Antanamanimbo and 59.76 % for Marofihitsy. Greater market integration in Antanamanimbo corresponds with larger material, energy and monetary throughputs. The role of mangrove ES in generating incomes is …  Lire la suite

L'amplification génique et l'expression élevés de récepteur tyrosine kinase ErbB2 a été impliqués dans le développement et la progression du cancer du sein humain, et corrèle avec de mauvais résultats cliniques. Les modèles de souris transgéniques constituent un bon outil pour étudier la formation de tumeurs médiées par ErbB2 dans la glande mammaire. Dans le cancer mammairehumaines positif pour ErbB2 et le modèle de cancer mammaire de souris ErbB2 knock-in, Grb7 est co-amplifié et co-exprimé avec ErbB2. Ici, nous avons démontré que l'expression ectopique de Grb7 dans les cellules MDCK corrèle avec la perte de polarité des cellules épithéliales, et …  Lire la suite

La confidentialité est une préoccupation cardinal pour l’ensemble d’informations et la publication de données sur une grande gamme d’applications en ligne. Divers algorithmes et modèles préservant la confidentialité ont été largement étudiés pour les données relationnelles, les données de graphe de réseau, les données de trajectoire, les données transactionnelles, etc. Parmi eux, les données textuelles sont les données non structurées les plus répandues sur Internet, mais les études sur la désinfection des données textuelles sont encore préliminaires. La plupart des études de protection de la confidentialité des données textuelles se concentrent sur la suppression des identifiants sensibles et explicites. Cependant, …  Lire la suite

L'agriculture peut améliorer le statut nutritionnel d’une population rurale en améliorant les revenus des ménages agricoles, la sécurité alimentaire, et la qualité du régime alimentaire. En adoptant une approche sensible à la nutrition dans le secteur agricole, une perspective nutritionnelle est placée sur les politiques et les investissements sans pour autant s'écarter des objectifs propres au secteur agricole. Même si les liens entre l'agriculture et la nutrition sont bien conceptualisés, la manière dont les politiques et les investissements agricoles peuvent être exploités pour lutter efficacement contre la malnutrition n'est pas suffisamment comprise. De plus, les processus qui sous-tendent le développement …  Lire la suite

In this thesis we investigate if reinforcement learning (RL) techniques can be successfully used to build automated trading agents. We present two case studies in which we develop RL agents for participating in auctions. The first case study focuses on the continuous double auction (CDA), a market mechanism used in many electronic trading venues. There are currently several automated bidding strategies for participating in the CDA, geared both toward personal profit and toward increasing the efficiency of the entire market. We use model-free reinforcement learning to construct a bidding strategy for the CDA and empirically evaluates its performance against other …  Lire la suite

A three year study on Daphne Major island, Galapagos, describes the ecology and morphology of a simple Geospiza community. The four part thesis discusses the breeding and feeding ecology of two Daphne finches; G. fortis is a generalist adapted to a variable environment, and G. scandens is an ecological specialist experiencing a more stable environment. The measurement, growth, allometry, and multivariate properties of seven external morphological characters are described. The repeatabilities and heritabilities of the seven characters and principal component scores are large. Relations between the unusual intermediate-sized Daphne G. fortis phenotype and the Daphne environment are examined. Four hypotheses …  Lire la suite

Five immigrant single mothers were interviewed to explore the dynamics of the relationship between immigrant single mothers and their children when they reunite in Canada. Difficulties, in attachment, parenting, and the transition into the new culture were identified. Immigration policies about foreign domestic workers and delays in emigration process were factors that prolonged separation between mothers and their children. The mothers agreed that separation from their children contributed to the difficulties, but physical and psychological preparation before reunification lessened the challenge. Loving and listening to children, and involvement in the Christian mono-ethnic community churches were identified as effective coping strategies. …  Lire la suite

Introduction: The evaluation of symptom intensity during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is recommended for the assessment of disease severity and progression, to help guide therapy and evaluate interventional efficacy, and to prescribe exercise. The modified Borg 0–10 category ratio scale (mBorg-CR10) is widely used to rate symptom (breathlessness and leg discomfort), but numerical categories “6” and “8” lack verbal descriptors. Retrospective analyses (Johnson et al., 2016; Aucoin et al., 2024) suggest these unlabeled categories are systematically avoided, which may distort symptom ratings and reduce measurement validity. Whether modifying the descriptor structure eliminates this bias has not been tested prospectively.Objective: To …  Lire la suite

Ronholm, Jennifer (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

La synaptopodine (SP) est une protéine liée à la plasticité, située dans un sous-ensemble d'épines dendritiques. Elle est essentielle pour la formation d'une structure de type réticulum endoplasmique (RE), l'appareil de la colonne vertébrale trouvée dans les épines dendritiques. Cette protéine, SP, est impliqué dans l'accumulation des récepteurs de l'acide α-amino-3-hydroxy-5- méthyl-4-isoxazolepropionique (AMPAR), la synthèse locale des protéines et sa perte mène à des troubles d'apprentissage et à de la mémoire. La réduction de la SP est également impliquée dans les maladies neurodégénératives, notamment Alzheimer et Parkinson.Fait intéressant, les neurones déficients en SP ont un déficit en plasticité synaptique homéostatique …  Lire la suite

L'estimation et la cartographie du rendement des cultures sont des outils importants qui peuvent aider les producteurs agricoles. Ils améliorent la gestion de leurs ressources disponibles et donnent accès à des représentations détaillées de leur ferme. Le progrès technique en vision artificielle a amélioré le processus de détection, d’évaluation de la qualité et d’estimation du rendement des cultures, notamment pour les pommes, les agrumes, les mangues, le maïs, les figues et plusieurs autres fruits. Malgré cet avancement technologique, aucune méthode permettant d’exporter une carte détaillée du rendement des cultures de légumes n’a encore été pleinement développée.Dans ce projet, un capteur …  Lire la suite

Earthships are buildings which are constructed almost entirely of recycled materials and are built to be almost totally self sufficient through the recycling of rain water, the recycling of solar energy into electrical energy, passive solar techniques and sometimes the recycling of wind through turbines, also into electrical energy. This thesis draws out and demonstrates the logic that Earthship architecture emerges from and generates amongst its inhabitants. This logic, it is argued, can be characterized as containing elements of the baroque and Neo-baroque. It is a logic of following and interfacing the elements (earth, sun, wind, rain) that folds them …  Lire la suite

This study draws on sociological theories of education and the methodological frameworks of Critical Discourse Analysis and Frames Theory and Analysis in order to examine print media representations of new immigrant, refugee, and precarious status children in the three Canadian newspapers, the Globe & Mail, National Post, and Toronto Star in the historical period of 1989-2009. The objective of this study is to analyze the ways in which media discourse provides ideological legitimacy to exclusionary immigration and refugee policies and the denial of social rights, and to identify media support for immigration justice campaigns. The historical period provides a context …  Lire la suite

RésuméIntroductionLa sclérodermie localisée (SL), ou morphée, est une maladie auto-immune rare caractérisée par une fibrose de la peau et des tissus sous-jacents. Bien que la SL puisse entraîner une incapacité chronique, un fardeau psychosocial et une altération de la qualité de vie, elle demeure sous-reconnue et peu étudiée. Peu d’études multicentriques ont examiné son impact, et aucune n’a fourni de données représentatives au niveau national au Canada. Cette thèse visait à caractériser la qualité de vie et les issues en santé mentale des adultes canadiens atteints de SL à l’aide des données du registre canadien de la morphée (C-MORE).MéthodesUne étude …  Lire la suite

This thesis examines fruit yield variation and its causes in the lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium). I found that yields exhibits significant variability in fruit within and between fields. An experiment involving controlled introductions of the three pollinator species commonly used in blueberry production—the honeybee (Apis mellifera), the bumblebee (Bombus spp.) and leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata)—was also conducted. Increasing the abundance or diversity of the introduced pollinator community did not systematically increase fruit set across the experimental populations. There is weak evidence to suggest the combination of bumblebee and leafcutter bee may be more effective at increasing fruit yield than honeybee …  Lire la suite

The flow of aqueous suspensions of fibres is of considerable theoretical and practical interest. It is of particular importance in the pulp and paper industry where pulp is transported through conduits in exceedingly large quantities. It also involves fundamental aspects of fluid mechanics which are concerned with such diverse phenomena as the movement of silt in rivers and estuaries and the shifting of sand dunes, and with an increasing number of important commercial applications such as pipeline transport of coal, gilsonite, pulpwood and mineral ores. More recently, two-phase systems have been involved in such sophisticated developments as the operation of …  Lire la suite

Orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) was performed on hot twisted polycrystalline 304 stainless steel specimens in order to study the characteristics of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) in low stacking fault energy FCC metals. Microtexture analyses were carried out and the misorientation statistics of the recrystallized areas were derived. The results revealed that multiple twinning controls the formation of new orientations. DRX macrotextures were also measured in torsion and compression. These textures are highly sensitive to the deformation (Zener-Hollomon) parameter Z. High Z values lead to overall textures controlled by nucleation, whereas, at low Z values, selective growth is more predominant. A deformation …  Lire la suite

If the privatization of space telecommunications, because of its impacts, has been subject to various studies, this thesis focuses the analysis of this phenomenon on a particular point: its implications on international organizations. Because of the evolution of the sector, international satellite organizations have undertaken for around ten years several internal reforms that lead today to the privatization of the three major organizations: Intelsat, Inmarsat and Eutelsat. These transformations constitute a particular sensitive issue as these organizations have been initially established so that to exploit satellite systems for the general interest of their members. The impact of this phenomenon is …  Lire la suite

Approximately one-half of one percent of the total population suffers from epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by the paroxysmal occurrence of seizures. "An epileptic seizure is a state produced by an abnormal excessive neuronal discharge within the central nervous system." (Penfield and Jasper, 1954) Two drugs very widely used for the medical management of "the epilepsies" are phenobarbital and diphenylhydantoin (5, 5-diphenylhydantoin, phenytoin). These pharmaceutical agents are the prime concern of this thesis.  Lire la suite

Cotler, I. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Stretch reflex excitability was measured during quiet standing by using a bilateral electro-hydraulic actuator to apply perturbations of angular position to the ankle. Subjects were instructed to stand quietly while pulse displacements were applied at random times. Position, torque, gastrocnemius-soleus EMG, tibialis anterior EMG, heel position, tibia angle, femur angle, and sacrum angle were measured. Background torque and reflex excitability varied substantially from trial to trial---reflex torque decreased as the background torque level increased; while reflex EMG increased when background torque increased. This behavior is consistent with previous findings in prone subjects. Reflex torque for a given activation level was …  Lire la suite

Cette thèse cherche à étudier les avantages potentiels de l'esprit multiculturel à travers le prisme de la flexibilité cognitive (FC), la capacité de s'adapter aux changements environnementaux grâce à des pensées et comportements. Malgré la centralité de la flexibilité cognitive dans l'adaptabilité humaine, la recherche sur le sujet est peu développée avec des définitions et des pratiques de mesure créant davantage de malentendus. On sait peu de choses sur les facteurs environnementaux qui façonnent la flexibilité cognitive. Bien que le bilinguisme ait été à la pointe de la recherche sur la flexibilité cognitive, il a récemment été suggéré que le …  Lire la suite

Whalen, R. G. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Les mécanismes intrinsèques de regulation de transcription sont requis au développement de l'hétérogénéité cellulaire. Le runt-related gène, Runx1, est impliqué dans le développement des neurons de l'épithélium olfactif. Les buts de ce projet étaient de caractériser les cellules exprimant Runx1 dans les bulbes olfactifs (BO) et de déterminer la fonction de Runx1 dans ces cellules. Les cellules exprimant Runx1 forment un domaine défini dans une des couches superficielle du BO et dans le BO accessoire et ont été identifiées comme étant des "olfactory ensheathing cells" appartenant à la couche intérieure du nerf olfactif (iOECs). Les analyses des iOECs qui n'expriment …  Lire la suite

Motor-vehicle turning maneuvers at intersections are often involved in crashes and serious injuries, in particular collisions involving vulnerable road users. In Canada alone, 30% of fatalities and 40% of serious injuries took place in intersections. Thus, to improve intersection safety, geometric design related treatments have been implemented and studied in past literature. These include curb radius reduction and curb extensions which aim to reduce turning speeds and crossing distances. The radius effects and treatments have been investigated for large intersections and road curves in rural areas using observed crash and point-speed measures, with limited studies examining small urban intersections. With …  Lire la suite

Dini, Petre (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Two classes of warm-season meteorological events in Southern Quebec have been studied. (1) thunderstorms and (2) mesocyclones detected by radar. Characterization of the synoptic-scale flow accompanying warm-season mesoscale vortices and isolation of the moisture flow are documented. A comparison of both 500-hPa height and dynamic tropopause potential temperature composite fields between each set is completed. Precipitable water content and mixing ratio composites of the two classes are diagnosed. The storm sample associated with mesocyclones show an organized trough-ridge couplet 3 to 4 days before the onset time. Strong precursors of coherent dynamic tropopause forcing seen several days in advance for …  Lire la suite

The establishment or special treatment and rehabilitation centres has greatly improved the outlook in paraplegia, but serious chronic urological complications are still much too common. Any new approach is welcome and it is interesting to note that experimentation on electrical stimulation or the bladder bas now reached a clinical stage. [...]  Lire la suite

The main goal of this research was to explore the use of benchmarking in the dairy industry. This includes descriptions of the various sectors in North America where benchmarking has been used successfully on a continuous basis or in research. Benchmarking methods that are currently used in the Quebec dairy industry are examined. An improvement to such methods is proposed through the use of visualization, coupled with interactivity, and with a focus on adaptability and usage. The advantages of such an interactive tool are discussed in light of on-farm decision-making, and a further use of visual slider applications is described …  Lire la suite

Fine structure of normal and activated rat parathyroids was studied using routine and glycoprotein staining. The chief cells of the gland contained organelles concerned with the formation of secretory material, that is rER and Golgi apparatus. In routine staining, the Golgi apparatus consisted primarily of flattened saccules and connecting profiles. The prosecretory and secretory granules associated with the connecting profiles contained a dense central core surrounded by a clear halo. With glycoprotein staining the Golgi saccules showed a gradual transition from the unstained forming face to the moderately stained mature face. In this region the connecting profiles outlined a network …  Lire la suite

Les concepteurs des différentes composantes logicielles peuvent utiliser les propriétés des automates finis pour fixer les spécifications de l'interface comportementale qui contrôleront les règles de programmations définissant l'utilisation des composantes. Ceci permet aux utilisateurs de ces composantes de vérifier le respect de ses règles par leurs codes sources, à la fois lors d'une analyse statique qu'à l'exécution. Dans cette dissertation, nous montrerons la conception de Clara, une structure qui permet de spécifier et de vérifier les propriétés des automates finis dans des programmes étendus, puis expliquerons son implantation. Le programmeur, à l'aide de Clara, peut définir les propriétés des automates …  Lire la suite

La vie intellectuelle dans toute société dénote le résultat d'une longue suite de progrès accomplis dans les moeurs de ceux qui la composent. Si tel est le fait auquel ont abouti les Noirs de la Caroline du Nord, le but de nos recherches sera de faire comprendre par quel concours de circonstances, de tels hommes ensevelis dans les bas fonds de l'esclavage ont pu naitre à la via intellectuelle. Comment en dépit de tous les désavantages matériels et moraux qui découlent d'une telle condition, un mouvement aussi noble a-t-il pu se produire. [...]  Lire la suite

Les personnes âgées atteintes de démence ou de troubles cognitifs légers présentent divers troubles de santé mentale confondus, tels que le stress, la solitude, la dépression et l’anxiété. Les soignants qui s’occupent de ces personnes risquent également de souffrir de ces mêmes troubles mentaux ainsi que du fardeau des soignants. Les interventions virtuelles qui ciblent ces conditions de santé mentale pour les dyades de personnes âgées et d’aidants sont peu fréquentes et les preuves de leur faisabilité et de leur efficacité font défaut. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, un programme virtuel de mindful chair yoga (MCY) destiné à des …  Lire la suite

Cette thèse de doctorat est une étude sur la façon dont les partis politiques influencent la politique budgétaire au Canada. Elle inclut trois chapitres empiriques qui s'intéressent à différents aspects de la représentation partisane. Lorsque pris comme un tout, ces chapitres nous éclairent sur le rôle des partis et des institutions dans les politiques publiques. Dans le premier chapitre empirique, nous proposons une classification des circonscriptions électorales qui permet d'identifier les places fortes et les champs de bataille au niveau local. Nous montrons que la stabilité du support partisan peut être expliquée par la présence de caractéristiques socio-économiques précises. Ce …  Lire la suite

The Lofdal Intrusive Suite is currently the target of mineral exploration for its heavy rare earth element (HREE) mineralisation. As a result, there is a need to develop a model that can guide this exploration. This study examines the magmatic evolution of the igneous system, which consists of silica-undersaturated alkaline rocks (phono-tephrite, phonolite and its plutonic equivalent, nepheline syenite) and calcio-carbonatite, and develops a genetic model that includes a source for the HREE.Emplacement of the Lofdal Intrusive Suite occurred during a period of rifting prior to the Damara Orogeny, into Paleoproterozoic basement rocks of the Huab Metamorphic Complex. Trace element …  Lire la suite

The Senator Lines' case, currently pending before the European Court for Human Rights, reveals a lack of procedural fairness of the European Antitrust enforcement under the terms of the European Convention for Human Rights. But in spite of a well-established concern for Fundamental Rights from the European Community, the later is still not bound by the Convention. That is why it is critical that the EC accede to the Convention following the example of its branches. Meanwhile, it is necessary to determine whether the Member States could be held responsible for the Community's acts that violate the rights protected by …  Lire la suite

Large mechanical structures, for example aircraft and motor vehicles, usually consist of a number of subassemblies. This necessitates the use of joints, which locate the subassemblies and transfer loads between them. While necessary, joints introduce discontinuities into the structure that act as stress raisers and regions of possible failure initiation. Consequently, joint design is crucial for achieving satisfactory structural strength.Joining composite structures is all the more challenging compared to metallic structures. This is due to the brittle nature of many composite materials, which permits only modest plastic deformation and limits the corresponding mitigation of stress concentrations prior to fracture. This …  Lire la suite

Background: Schizophrenia is characterized by positive (hallucinations, delusions) and negative (blunted affect, avolition) symptoms. Negative symptoms can be either primary (central to the illness) or secondary (induced by positive symptoms, depression, or extrapyramidal symptoms, for example). Primary negative symptoms still represent an unmet therapeutic need. This project set out to increase our understanding of these core symptoms by: 1) exploring the proportion of primary and secondary negative symptoms among those who did not remit; 2) examining medication adherence and clinical insight (awareness of mental illness, belief in response to medication, and belief in need for treatment) in relation to primary …  Lire la suite

Lepage, Martin (Supervisor1)  Lire la suite

MEIS1 (myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1) is a member of the TALE class of homeodomain-containing proteins. MEIS1, along with related family members PBX and PREP1, bind DNA cooperatively with HOX proteins to regulate transcription. Meis1 is implicated in many developmental processes. Moreover, deregulation of Meis1 is involved in leukemogenesis. To better understand the mechanisms of Meis1 transcriptional regulation, we set out to map and characterize the Meis1 promoter. Results from RNase protection and 5' RACE suggest that Meis1 has multiple transcription start sites (TSSs) located between -608 and -751 base pairs upstream of the translational start site. Sequence analysis …  Lire la suite

Hallett, Michael Frank (Supervisor1)  Lire la suite

MATLAB est une langage de programmation dynamique utilisée partout dans la communautéscientifique. L’utilisation répandu de MATLAB peut être attribué à sa grande bibliothèquede fonctions incorporées et sa syntaxe de haut niveau, qui n’exige aucune déclarationde type, le faisant idéal pour prototypage rapide. Cette thèse présente des extensionsà ASPECTMATLAB, un compilateur orientée à l’aspect développé pour MATLAB.ASPECTMATLAB a été créé avec l’intention d’amener programmation orientée à l’aspectà MATLAB. Il cible des fonctionalités comme des accès de tableau et des boucles, quisont les calculs principaux dans des programmes scientifiques. Cette thèse présente ASPECTMATLAB++.ASPECTMATLAB++ étend ASPECTMATLAB en se concentrant sur unensemble différent de …  Lire la suite