McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par B

Genome integrity is critical for homeostasis, with systems in place to detect and repair DNA damage, collectively termed the DNA Damage Response (DDR). Defect in any of these systems may lead to cancer progression and neurological disease via resultant genome instability. Our lab recently showed a link between DDR signaling and RNA trafficking, defining a damage-induced messenger RNA (mRNA) nuclear retention mechanism which eliminates defective cells during embryogenesis in Drosophila. For this project we assessed how DDR signaling impacts post-transcriptional gene regulation, particularly through differential subcellular distribution and function of RNA molecules and RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in human cells. …  Lire la suite

Le graphène suscite l'intérêt depuis des années en raison de ses propriétés inhabituelles dans un état de quasi-neutralité de charge, où les propriétés optiques et électroniques sont déterminées par des fermions de dirac sans masse. Aux densités de charge extrêmes, où la surface de Fermi subit des changements significatifs pouvant aller jusqu'à une transition de Lifshitz, ces mêmes propriétés sont moins bien comprises. Les méthodes conventionnelles de dopage permettent d'obtenir soit une densité de porteurs limitée, comme dans le cas des effets de champ, soit des environnements physiques extrêmes, comme dans le cas du dopage alcalin dans l'ultravide.Cette thèse présente …  Lire la suite

This paper discusses the adequacy of representing the constant pressure surfaces in the atmosphere by considering only two levels, 1000 mb and 500 mb. The equations of motion and the thermodynamic equation are reviewed, together with the formulation of the Sawyer-Bushby and Godson two-level models. The height data for eight standard pressure levels from 1000 mb to 100 mb for January 1956 were used to determine linear correlation among the various levels. The multiple regression equations, so determined, were tested against independent data in 1958. It is found that the two levels account for most of the contour height variance …  Lire la suite

The circulation of the stratosphere and its relation to the troposphere is presented for the six-month period October, 1958 to March, 1959. The study is based mainly on circumpolar analyses at five-day intervals at the 500-mb, 100-mb and 25-mb levels, supported by numerous space and time sections. Fourier analysis of the circumpolar charts is used to compute energies and energy exchanges after the manner of Lorenz (1955) and unstable wave characteristics following the linear theory of Fleagle (1957). [...]  Lire la suite

Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) are one of the most diverse and abundant taxa in the Arctic and are affected by fine scale changes in their environment, including temperature, precipitation, and habitat structure. This thesis describes research that occurred across the boreal forest tundra transition zone in the Yukon Territory, Canada. This study system provides an opportunity to test hypotheses about biogeographic patterns and determinants of diversity and life history of spiders in the north. There were four objectives of this research: first, to determine which environmental factors most influence spider assemblage structure (i.e., composition, richness, abundance) at a regional scale in …  Lire la suite

Traditionnellement, les cellules thérapeutiques adhérentes sont cultivées dans des flacons de polystyrène pour la culture tissulaire (PSCT) comportant des traitements de surface qui favorisent l'adhésion des cellules. La composition chimique de ces traitements de surface sont des secrets de fabrication. Lors du transfert vers des applications cliniques, des systèmes de sacs de culture de cellules composés de l’éthylène propylène fluoré (EPF) peuvent être une alternative aux flacons, mais l’impact du choix de matériaux de culture sur l’adhésion cellulaire est mal compris. Nous avons étudié les interactions cellules-surface en utilisant les cellules stromales mésenchymateuses humaines (CSM) provenant de la moelle osseuse …  Lire la suite

Using a Wittgensteinian approach to understanding, this thesis extends and challenges recent feminist discussions of the ethic of care as a gender-sensitive corrective to traditional moral theory. It elaborates a more complex understanding of the diversity and ambiguity of the ethical possibilities of caring than has been presented in earlier analyses. A brief introduction to the contemporary debate is followed by accounts of six different examples of caring practices, viz: caring attention, taking care of oneself, mothering, friendship, nursing and citizenship. The aim of this survey is to show that caring constitutes an intricate labyrinth of ethical possibilities, the understanding …  Lire la suite

"This thesis comprises two parts, each consisting of three articles. In the first part we will use techniques inspired by measurable and topological dynamics to solve problems in finite combinatorics, while in the second we will use ideas from finite combinatorics to prove results of a measurable flavor. The first part lies in the area of arithmetic Ramsey theory. In Chapter 1 we show that any 2-coloring of N contains infinitely many monochromatic sets of the form {x, y, xy, x + y}, proving the two color case of a notorious conjecture of Hindman. In Chapter 2, which is joint …  Lire la suite

This thesis examines representations of trust in selected British sentimental novels of the eighteenth century. It focuses principally on the manner in which sentimental prose fiction reflects and participates in the shift from premodern to modern formations of trust. Commenting on the nature of modern trust, Anthony Giddens claims that, with the move to modernity, trust relations in the intimate sphere become increasingly dependent on emotional mutuality, while trust in institutions becomes increasingly impersonal and disengaged from assessments of moral character. My work explores this dual shift in three sentimental novels. It first analyzes Samuel Richardson's Pamela (1740) and contends …  Lire la suite

The problem may be divided according to the following use : (a) A product which oan be employed as a phlegmatizer for high explosives. (b) A product which can be used as a binder in burning mixtures. (·c) A product which can be used to give crystalline high explosives a fluidity suitable for shell-pouring and which sets to form a rigid mass.[...]  Lire la suite

With the growing energy and climate crisis there is a clear need to shift towards clean renewableenergies like solar, wind and hydro. However, a major problem with these intermittent sourcesis how to store excess energy for periods of high demand or low production (e.g. at night, oncloudy days, etc.). A second issue is how to transport the energy generated to regions that needit across the globe. Metals such as iron and aluminum have been proposed as potential carbonfree energy carriers that could fill this role since they have similar energy densities to traditionalhydrocarbon fuels, are abundant in the earth's crust …  Lire la suite

This study explored and described components of feminist therapy as viewed by therapists and therapy clients who participated in a feminist therapy project in Montreal. An operational definition of feminist therapy was derived from review of pertinent literature. A brief history of this project was documented. Two instruments (questionnaires) were designed to be used with two already existing scales, Rosenberg's self esteem scales, Brown and Hellinger's Therapists' Attitudes Toward Women scale. These four instruments were used in combination in order that possible relationships could be detected between self-esteem scores, contemporary-traditional attitude scores (C/T scores) and subjective information elicited from clients …  Lire la suite

A new type, highly efficient, low cost, easily constructed, laboratory fractionating column has been designed and built. 2. Maple holocellulose has been hydrogenated for the first time. From a comparison of the carefully fractionated hydrogenation products with those obtained from maple wood (50) by similar treatment, it has been established that the propylcyclohexyl derivatives isolated from the latter are of lignin and not of carbohydrate origin. [...]  Lire la suite

The Tafsir, an Arabic commentary on the Qur'an attributed to Sahl At-Tustari (d.283/896), a Muslim mystic of classical Sufism, represents a compendium of his mystical ideas compiled by a group of disciples at the end of the 3rd/9th century. The textual study of the manuscripts of the Tafsir, the collation of the Uaq'iq at-tafsir of Sulami (d.412/1021) and the examination of the "Tustari-tradition" of the Sufi sources demonstrate the Tafsir as the principal and oldest work of the authentic Tustari-tradition. Tustari's vision of God and man which emerges from the Tafsir is marked by a coherent system of thought and …  Lire la suite

This thesis examines traditional and contemporary perspectives on the nature of spirituality. Its aim is to provide a basis for a programme or course on spirituality that would be relevant and meaningful for students in multicultural settings. The main theme unifying the diverse traditions and perspectives examined in the thesis relates to the interconnectivity of all life within the Universe. Other related themes include: the importance of living in the present, the unity between body, spirit, and earth, and the importance of contemplative solitude and silence.  Lire la suite

Basil Hall Chamberlain and Lafcadio Hearn were two of the best known western interpreters of Meiji Japan. In their correspondence as well as published writings, they commented on the conclusion of the Aoki-Kimberley treaty of 1894 and the subsequent end of the "unequal treaties" and the treaty port system in Japan. Chamberlain, a resident in Tokyo for over two decades, was most concerned with the fate of foreigners in Japan who would be adversely affected by the end of extraterritoriality and the favourable commercial privileges which they had enjoyed since 1858. He was critical of the jingoism of the nationalistic …  Lire la suite

Dans cette etude nous nous proposons dfexaminer les traits divers de l'enfant comme Victor Hugo le peint. De temps en temps il est necessaire de faire des digressions pour expliquer brievement certains aspects de la philosophie du maltre ou pour accentuer ses themes humanitaires. S'il y a des digressions apparentes, nous les faisons expres afin de donner de notre sujet 1'expression la plus nette et la plus entiere. Si nous allons etudier un aspect particulier d'une grande oeuvre litteraire, il faut mettre autour de notre sujet un cadre plus ou moins bien determine; la philosophie et la pensee generale de …  Lire la suite

Tanguay, Jean-François (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

"Unnemployment is still a problem of industry, not an act of God", wrote Sir William Beveridge in 1930, twenty years after the publication of the first edition of his classic,Unemployment: a Problem of Industry. The truth in this statement might be practically self-evident, but unfortunately its significance is not generally appreciated by lawmakers orlaymen, many of whom apparently consider unemployment a fortuitous and inevitable evil of our industrial order - a malady, the victims of which may be assisted through the crisesby the use of palliatives, but for which there is no specific treatment. [...]  Lire la suite

Pamela Walker (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

La connaissance métacognitive est essentielle à la maîtrise de l’information. Dans un monde où les possibilités en matière d’infonnation et de communication ont explosées, la principale difficulté pour les utilisateurs des systèmes et des services d’information ne consiste pas tant à trouver l’ infonnation qu’à la filtrer et à l’intégrer à un tout cohérent. Pour y arriver, ils doivent être en mesure de la comprendre, ce qui présuppose la connaissance de ses propres besoins, objectifs et habiletés en matière d’information. Ce type de connaissance de soi - appelé connaissance métacognitive - est constitué de trois composantes de base: la connaissance …  Lire la suite

Marine stratocumulus clouds play a critical role in Earth's radiative balance primarily due to the role of their high albedo reflecting incoming solar radiation, causing a cooling effect, while weakly reflecting outgoing infrared radiation. Characterization of the 3-Dimensional (3D) structure of these cloud systems over scales of 20-40 km is required to accurately account for the role of cloud inhomogeneity and structure on their shortwave forcing and lifetime, which has important applications for Global Climate Models. For first time, such 3D measurements in clouds were made available from a scanning cloud radar during the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric …  Lire la suite

Des approximations de l’intensité de la circulation générale ont été effectuées depuis quelque temps en utilisant l’énergie potentielle disponible (EPD). La base zonale d’EPD (EDPZ), qui mesure l’amplitude de la stabilité statique et du gradient detempérature méridienne, s’avère particulièrement utile pour mesurer l’intensité de la circulation générale en raison de son lien avec le vent thermique. La variabilité d’EDPZ est principalement un fonction du cycle annuel de chauffage différentiel. Cependant, des études ont montré que l’accélération rapide des cyclones de latitude moyenne peut épuiser l’EDPZ sur les échelles de temps synoptiques. La possibilité que les phénomènes à l’échelle synoptique augmentent …  Lire la suite

It has been claimed that internationalized, or "hybrid" courts, courts which mix international and local personnel and international and domestic law, can be used to replace or complement the work of the International Criminal Court. Four such hybrid courts---courts located in Kosovo, East Timor, Cambodia and Sierra Leone, have either just completed their work or are far enough along in their operation to provide a type of "justice laboratory" to test this claim. Analysis reveals that the performance of these courts has been poor. It shows that the courts in Kosovo and East Timor were doomed to failure, that the …  Lire la suite

Emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from human activities contribute to climate change and global mean surface temperature warming. Reductions in near-term climate forcers such as methane, which has a global warming potential 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide on a 100-year time frame, are crucial to limit further global temperature rises in the near term and allow time for long term and large-scale strategies to come into effect. In Canada and the U.S., the oil and gas sector contribute to 41% and 31% respectively of methane emissions annually but has the highest …  Lire la suite

Polyurethanes (PUs) are ubiquitous materials used notably in the automotive and medical sectors as foams, coatings, and adhesives. PUs contribute to more than 2 million jobs and a total economic contribution > 500 billion dollars across the USA and EU. Traditional PU synthesis stems from the polyaddition reaction of diisocyanates and diols, both of which are largely derived from fossil fuel sources. Additionally, diisocyanates are extremely hazardous reagents. Consequently, a strong thrust has been directed to PUs that avoid diisocyanates and have a reduced carbon footprint.The development of non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPU) is promising, particularly applying ring opening polymerization (ROP) of …  Lire la suite

The global crisis of biodiversity depletion sets the stage for a necessary re-definition of State self-interest in the international milieu. That re-definition is effected by a changing perception of 'self'; one that occurs through the mental lens of interdependence and long-term vision. This thesis attempts to challenge conventional precepts and present a submission for change by drawing upon constructivist thought, which asserts that current perceptions are socially constructed and rooted in "collective intentionality", such that what has been human-made can be altered by the same processes through which it came into existence. In so doing, the author employs the notions …  Lire la suite

A steady-state primitive equations model is used to study the structure of stationary planetary waves in the Northern Hemisphere stratosphere. The zonal mean circulation is specified using observed January mean data, as is the wave structure at the lower boundary of 100 hPa. Experiments are performed using data from four years, 1982-84 and 1986. Numerical solutions are found for the structures of zonal wavenumbers 1 to 3 throughout the Northern Hemisphere stratosphere. In one series of experiments, a linear model is employed, with forcing only by stationary waves at the lower boundary. This model reproduces the gross features of the …  Lire la suite

This research evaluates Quebec's health care policy by analyzing how the partnership metaphor is implemented in policy and practice. The partnership construction is identified in 4 interpretive communities within long-term community services to the elderly population. This analysis focuses on the placement decision for cognitively impaired clients in home care. Interpretive policy analysis is employed to examine 3 policy documents and 3 client files, while grounded theory serves to analyze 13 semi-structured interviews with 2 administrators and 3 open triads of client, caregiver, and case manager. The findings show partnership to be an egalitarian, collaborative ideal widely adopted but with …  Lire la suite

Functional consequences of the combination of an N-terminal deletion of the rat Na, K-ATPase alpha1 subunit (alpha1M32) and a Glu233 → Lys substitution (E233K) in the M2-M3 loop provide evidence for mutual interactions of these cytoplasmic regions. The steady-state conformational equilibrium of the double mutant (alpha1M32E233K) is shifted towards E 1, which was evidenced by kinetic changes including (1) a 15-fold reduction in catalytic turnover (Vmax/EPmax), (2) an increase in apparent affinity for ATP, (3) a decrease in vanadate sensitivity, (4) a marked (≈10-fold) K+-activation of Na-ATPase activity, and (5) altered cation affinities. The decrease in catalytic turnover effected by …  Lire la suite

L’environnement de notre planète présente de nombreux de cycles de 24 heures, comme le cycle jour-nuit. Par conséquent, les organismes vivants ont des rythmes physiologiques déterminés par les cycles environnementaux. La plupart des organismes ont aussi des mécanismes de mesure du temps, dits « circadiens », qui synchronisent leur physiologie et comportements avec ces cycles afin de pouvoir anticiper et s’adapter aux changements dans l’environnement.Dans le cas des infections parasitaires, les rythmes diurnes jouent un rôle important dans l’interaction entre le pathogène et son hôte. C’est le cas pour Leishmania spp., un parasite protozoaire transmis par un moustique phlébotome qui …  Lire la suite

Comparative changes in body weight, coronary functional responses, blood cholesterol levels, blood free fatty acid levels, and blood alcohol levels ,wrere studied in groups of 6 to 13 male rabbits maintained for periods of 3 to 5 months in different experiments. The animals were either 1) on a normal basic diet (Purina Chow, approximately, 150 g. with water ad lib.); 2) on the same basic diet with added cholesterol (2%) and corn oil (6%); 3) on the same basic diet with added cholesterol and alcohol in 'low' and 'high' daily oral administrations. Coronary functional responses were tested in different animals …  Lire la suite

Pounder, E. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

There exists a two-way relationship between small-scale, short-timescale phenomena (e.g.transient accretion events) around supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and large-scaleproperties of their galaxies (e.g. size, mass, kinematics). This work focuses on characterizing SMBHs and their immediate environments. I present two investigations of SagittariusA* (Sgr A*), the nearest SMBH to us, and a third investigation of the SMBH at the heart ofNGC 1387. These three studies represent probes of SMBH environments at three differingspatial scales. In the first, coordinated multi-wavelength observations of Sgr A* are carefully analyzed, cross-correlated, and compared to spectral energy distributions modellingthe matter accreting onto the black hole. The …  Lire la suite

Emission from Sgr A* is highly variable at both X-ray and infrared (IR) wavelengths. Observations over the last ~20 years have detected X-ray flares that rise above a quiescent thermal background about once per day, while faint X-ray flares from Sgr A* are undetectable below the constant thermal emission. In contrast, the IR emission of Sgr A* can be seen to be continuously variable. Recently, simultaneous observations have observed a rise in IR activity around the same time as every distinct X-ray flare, while the opposite is not always true (peaks in the IR emission are not always coincident with …  Lire la suite

Comment pouvons-nous parler aux morts? Aux non-humains ? Peuvent-ils nous répondre ? Et qu'est-ce que cela signifie de le faire ? Quelles technologies ou quels dispositifs sont nécessaires pour faciliter cette communication ? Quels lieux ? Des rituels ? Des cérémonies ? Comment le fait de parler à ces interlocuteurs peut-il animer ou enchanter leurs corps et, en retour, conférer aux morts et aux non-humains un rôle actif ? Cette thèse s'intéresse à deux dispositifs : le téléphone à vent (kaze no denwa), un téléphone rotatif déconnecté placé à l'intérieur d'une cabine traditionnelle érigée dans un jardin surplombant l'océan à …  Lire la suite

Fischler, Raphaël (Supervisor)  Lire la suite