McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par G

Une coupe où l’on boit à longs traits… un banquet où l'on vient s'asseoir… telles sont les images poétiques par lesquelles on a coutume de représenter la vie… à moins que, pour les imaginations plus moroses, ce ne soit une douloureuse vallée de larmes. Pour André Malraux, l’existence est 'comme un cancer… une tiédeur de mort dans la main’ et nous verrons que ce n'est pas, chez lui, pure figure de style.  Lire la suite

Vlasic, Ivan A. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Emami, Elham (Internal/Cosupervisor2)  Lire la suite

An off-line method of tuning PID controllers used in process control applications is presented. The plant under consideration is of second order with delay and the loop is presumed to be operating at steady state under the influence of random disturbances. Tuning is performed by minimizing the cost function, namely the integral of squared error, with respect to the tuning parameters. To do this, a second order approximation of the cost function is obtained and minimized using the Newton-Raphson method. System identification is done without interrupting production by introducing test signals of low signal to noise ratio and using a …  Lire la suite

Specialized laboratory information management systems (LIMS) are widely used by scientific research groups to store and manage experimental data. Smaller research laboratories' LIMS often lack support for automatic task execution, an omission that becomes more critical as experiments become increasingly automated. This thesis describes Exp-WF, a workflow management module specifically designed to be easily incorporated into a typical small-scale LIMS. Scientists describe the execution order of experiments as a workflow model. Exp-WF then automatically selects experiments for execution and dispatches them to the people or machines responsible for performing them. Exp-WF can be incorporated into an existing web-based LIMS in …  Lire la suite

Membrane sulfhydryl (SH) groups have been reported to be important for the maintenance of red cell integrity in vivo (Jacob and Jandl, 1962). A technique has been developed for the determination of reactive membrane sulfhydryl content in intact erythrocytes, utilizing subhemolytic concentrations of p-chloromercuribenzoate (PMB). The erythrocyte membrane of 52 healthy subjects contained 2.50 - 2.85 x 10^-16 moles of reactive SH groups (mean 2.50 +/- 0.20) per erythrocyte, when determined by this method. A 27-36% reduction of erythrocyte membrane SH content was observed in various conditions characterized by accelerated red cell destruction, including glucose- 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, drug-induced, …  Lire la suite

tRNALys3 is selectively packaged into HIV-1 during viral assembly, and is placed upon the primer binding site (PBS) of the viral genome where it acts as the primer for reverse transcriptase. This Ph.D. project involved studying the factors involved in the regulation of tRNALys packaging, as well as the effect of overexpression of tRNALys3 in the virion.  Lire la suite

This study examined the responses of algae and invertebrates to a single application of nutrients in a series of experimental wetland enclosures in the Interlake Region of Manitoba during 1989 and 1990. Water, sediment and vegetation chemistry were also monitored. The 3 fertilization treatments were: dissolved inorganic high (6200 $ mu$g/l N, 420 $ mu$g/l P), dissolved inorganic low (3200 $ mu$g/l N, 210 $ mu$g/l P) and organic high (alfalfa: 6200 $ mu$g/l N, 420 $ mu$g/l P). Dissolved nutrients in the high and low treatments were quickly depleted from the system but dissolved N increased in the alfalfa …  Lire la suite

La stérilité mâle cytoplasmique (SMC) chez les plantes et sa suppression par des restorateurs nucléaires (Rfs) peuvent être visualisés comme un bras de fer génétique entre les génomes mitochondrial et nucléaire. Chez les espèces sauvages, la SMC est observée par le phénomène de la gynodioécie, où les individus hermaphrodites et femelles coexistent dans une même population. Les facteurs de stérilisation consistent en des gènes inhabituels ou des phases de lecture ouvertes (ORFs), qui peuvent contenir une portion de gènes mitochondriaux ainsi que des séquences d'origines inconnues. Ces ORFs inhabituelles sont héritées maternellement, transcrites et souvent traduites efficacement en nouvelles protéines …  Lire la suite

The extraterritorial application of antitrust law has been extensively developped since 1957. In the same way as the United States have tried to apply antitrust laws to Europe, the EC now wishes to apply this kind of legislation to companies outside the EC, using the criteria of jurisdictional competence in conformity with public international law. Three successive theories have been put forward: The "Effect theory" which has been much debated on its concordance with international law. The theory of "Enterprise Unity" has the desadvantaye that it cannot be applied to all foreign undertakings. Finally, the Commission and the Court of …  Lire la suite

Daniel, Sam Joseph (Supervisor1)  Lire la suite

Spirit cults constitute an important element of Brazilian society. One of these, Umbanda, has in recent decades achieved prominence nationally. A historical survey of cult groups in Manaus shows that although they have always been in a state of change, they have recently been experiencing a period of accelerated transformation under the influence of Umbanda. This study documents the development of Umbanda in Manaus. This is done in two steps. First, by analyzing the history of Umbanda it becomes evident that it has not only amalgamated a number of religious traditions, but still today continues to encompass numerous regional cults. …  Lire la suite

This paper will look back on the work of Equipo Cronica, who worked between 1964--1980, to reveal a production of art that centered on issues of originality and value that were grounded in attempts at social activism and a redefinition of the role of art vis-a-vis society. To achieve their goals, I will argue and describe how the two man team of artists used serialism, objectivity, hybridity, appropriation of mass media iconography and techniques, and parody to produce something that was neither an art object nor an ordinary object, but an object of criticism. The historical relevancy of such an …  Lire la suite

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine if the CNS produces relatively simple alterations in muscle activity to accomplish goal-directed reaching motions of the upper limb under a variety of movement conditions. To this end, six subjects performed goal-directed arm movements in the horizontal plane. Two movement amplitudes (300 mm and 400 mm) were completed at a moderate speed (1050 mm/s) and as-fast-as possible. The speed and amplitude conditions were repeated for the 45$ sp circ$ and 90$ sp circ$ movement directions. Finally, each of the movement conditions mentioned thus far, were performed within the right and left sections …  Lire la suite

The transfer of radiant energy in highly inhomogeneous media is a difficult problem that is encountered in many geophysical applications. It is the purpose of this thesis to study some problems connected with the scattering of solar radiation in natural clouds. Extreme variability in the optical density of these clouds is often believed to occur regularly. In order to facilitate study of very inhomogeneous optical media such as clouds, the difficult angular part of radiative transfer calculations is simplified by considering a series of models in which conservative scattering only occurs in discrete directions. Analytic and numerical results for the …  Lire la suite

Opal, Jason (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

Data is sparse on drug-induced anaphylaxis (DIA). We aimed to assess the percentage, diagnosis and management of DIA among all visits due to anaphylaxis in 3 pediatric Emergency Departments (ED)s and 1 adult ED across Canada. Children presenting to the Montreal Children's Hospital (MCH), British Columbia Children's Hospital (BCCH) and London Health Sciences Centre Children's Hospital (LHSC) and adults presenting to Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal (HSC) with anaphylaxis were recruited as part of the Cross-Canada Anaphylaxis Registry (C-CARE). A standardized data form documenting the reaction and management was completed and patients were followed annually to determine if they were …  Lire la suite

Electronics involve an elaborate process of waste-making, from the mining of raw materials to the production of microchips through toxic solvents, to the eventual recycling or disposal of obsolete equipment. These processes of pollution, remainder and decay reveal other orders of materiality that have yet to enter the sense of the digital. This thesis investigates electronics through this waste and remainder. The thesis is guided by Walter Benjamin's notion of "natural history," and focuses on the dynamic, transient and poetic qualities of outmoded or "fossilized" commodities. Described here are electronic versions of such fossils, as well as the more formless …  Lire la suite

Phan Ha-Nam Nguyen (Internal/Supervisor)  Lire la suite

L'écoulement des eaux vers l'ouvrage de dérivation et l'évacuateur de crues de la centrale Keeyask, qui sont projetés sur la rivière Nelson, à 730 km au nord de Winnipeg (Canada), est étudié par la comparaison d'un modèle numérique et d'un modèle réduit à l'échelle 1:50, qui a été construit dans le laboratoire du Groupe-Conseil LaSalle. Le logiciel Flow3D a été utilisé pour simuler les conditions étudiées au modèle réduit, en utilisant les équations de Reynolds en combinaison avec la méthode de fermeture K-e. Pour s'assurer que le maillage du modèle était adéquat pour modéliser l'écoulement, des essais ont été effectués …  Lire la suite

Often designated as "le poete de la parole parlee", Jacques Brault, author of a substantial and rigourous work dealing with poetry, language, writing and art, is one of the most significant modern writers of Quebec. In our literature, rare are the figurative expressions inventing their own trajectory and rarer still is the emblematic used to evoke simultaneously the essence of a generation, a work, a writer, a style. The expression "la parole parlee" says it all. This figure of speech, intimately linked to though and writing, has progressed from a rhetorical to a living expression throughout the eleven years on …  Lire la suite

This thesis presents the design and implementation of a rule-based system used for the design and presentation of problem-solving Computer Aided-Learning (CAL) programs. The system is called Tutorial Assistant, acronymed TA, and operates within PC-MATLAB. TA was developed at the McGill University/University of Zimbabwe Engineering CAL Project and was an attempt to create an Intelligent Computer-Aided Instruction (ICAI) system within PC-MATLAB. After an overview of CAL, the CAL project, and ICAI, several ICAI systems are examined. The implementation of TA and a description of its components follow. Two illustrative example sessions using TA, an evaluation of TA, and an outline …  Lire la suite

Lina, Jean-Marc (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

The educational habits of Italians in the city of Montreal before the 1960's is a topic that has generally been neglected in the field of social and educational history. This thesis attempts to fill the void and also to identify areas where further research may be conducted. The thesis treats the educational habits of Italian children in the Catholic schools of Montreal between the years 1895 and 1960. The thesis looks at enrolment patterns and language instruction in the Catholic elementary schools of Montreal. It was found that language played an important role in Catholic schools frequented by Italian children. …  Lire la suite

La présente étude avait été entreprise pour élaborer des nouvelles méthodes qui sont capable d'améliorer la précision de l'estimation des crues. La première partie de cette étude concerne l'estimation des crues en des sites non-jaugés en utilisant l'analyse fréquentielle régionale des crues. Premièrement, une étude comparative a été réalisée pour déterminer la meilleure méthode de regroupement des régions homogènes dans le contexte de l'estimation régionale des crues. Trois méthodes ont été considérées dans cette étude. (1) la méthode d'invariance d'échelle qui est basée sur le comportement invariable des crues en fonction du changement de la taille du bassin versant; (2) …  Lire la suite

Although the study of Thule harpoon heads has produced important seriations, datings and technological reflections during the last century, a lack of fundamental knowledge about these weapons is still occurring. An attempt is made to document the different contexts surrounding the use of these artifacts. Technological, social and symbolic investigations are made on the occupants of the Skraeling Island site (High Arctic, Canada) and the Clachan site (Coronation Gulf, Canada) in order to build a complete understanding of the harpoon head morphological attributes. Using the hierarchical cluster analysis (SPSS), groupings have been statistically formed, underlying the meaningful dimensions of variation …  Lire la suite

Nicole Couture (Supervisor1)  Lire la suite

To understand the impact of numerical grid spacing and time step size on vortex Rossby waves in hurricanes going through an eyewall replacement cycle, multiple simulations with identical parameterization but with different numerics were carried out using the WRF model on hurricane Wilma (2005). The method of Empirical Normal Modes was then applied on the dataset in order to find radially outward propagating vortex Rossby waves (VRWs). It was found that for varying grid lengths, using high resolution can resolve these VRWs while a mixture of gravity and vortex Rossby waves was propagating from the eyewall using coarse resolution. An …  Lire la suite

It has recently been demonstrated that a continuum of self-management (SM) for COPD patients provided by a trained health professional significantly reduce the utilisation of health care services (Bourbeau et al Arch Intern Med March 2003). The objective of the present study was to assess in COPD patients who received a self-management program of the beneficial effect of reduce hospitalisation could be maintained at long term. A multicentre, randomised clinical trial was carried out in 191 COPD patients from 7 hospitals. Patients who all had one hospitalisation in the year preceding study enrolment were assigned to a self-management program or …  Lire la suite

32P-labelled T2-phage were harvested from a shake culture and purified by CsCl equilibrium density gradient. Peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) were obtained from the peritoneal cavity 72 hrs after i. p. injection of beef heart infusion broth (B.H.I.B.). Anti-T2-phage antisera were prepared in both rats and rabbits. Evidence for the requirement of opsonin (IgM or IgG) from homologous or heterologous sera was provided by using in vitro sensitized antigen for phagocytosis by rat PEC in vitro. Homologous serum containing 7S IgG antibodies provided the highest degree of enhancement of antigen uptake by rat PEC. The specific opsonin was isolated by starch …  Lire la suite

The absence of a concrete slab results in flexible pavement systems that are supported only by the underlying granular base layer. However, local deterioration of the base material supporting flexible pavements may develop during the service life of the pavement structure. This can result in unexpected surface displacements and premature distressing of the pavement. This research program quantifies the deformation rate of a flexible pavement system subject to a weakened base course layer within the confines of geogrid-reinforced and non-reinforced pavement. A series of simplified weakened zones of cylindrical and ellipsoidal shapes are introduced within the base layer. These zones …  Lire la suite

Kermasha, Selim (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases are autosomal recessive disorders of GM2 ganglioside catabolism resulting from deficient activity of lysosomal beta-hexosaminidase A (Hex A) or Hex A and Hex B, respectively. This leads to a massive and fatal accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in the neurons of affected patients. Mouse models of Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases, created via targeted disruption of the Hexa and Hexb genes, revealed that while Hexb -/- mice suffer a profound, fatal neurodegenerative disease as expected, Hexa -/- mice escape disease to about one year. This protection is conferred by an ability to degrade GM2 ganglioside by means of …  Lire la suite

This paper will rather seek to uncover and emphasize Cold War imperatives that served as significant guiding factors in shaping the Canadian response to the Suez Crisis. The success of Canadian diplomacy in the 1956 Suez Crisis was in the ability of Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester B. Pearson and his Canadian colleagues to protect Western interests in the context of the Cold War. Suez threatened Anglo-American unity, and the future of the North Atlantic alliance. It also presented the Soviets an opportunity to gain influence in the Middle East. The United Nations Emergency Force ensured that Britain …  Lire la suite

Babkin, B. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

L’urbanisation et l’aménagement des rives transforment les écosystèmes aquatiques, créant des conditions qui favorisent l’hybridation entre les espèces de poissons. Cette étude examine l’hybridation entre le crapet arlequin (Lepomis macrochirus) et le crapet-soleil (Lepomis gibbosus) autour de l’Ouest de l’île de Montréal, et compare ces résultats à une population hybride bien établie du lac Opinicon, en Ontario. Nous avons confirmé génétiquement la présence de 17 hybrides à Montréal à l’aide de cinq loci microsatellites, marquant la première occurrence documentée d’hybrides entre le crapet arlequin et le crapet-soleil au Québec. Les hybrides de Montréal ont montré une plus grande réassignation aux …  Lire la suite

The studies in this dissertation asses age differences in the experience of pain in humans and animals and the appropriateness of pain assessment tools across the adult life-span. Chapter I reviews age differences in experimental, acute and chronic pain in humans. Chapter 2 reviews age differences in the outcome of psychological treatments for chronic pain. It is concluded do there are age differences in each type of pain and that the elderly appear to benefit from psychological treatments as much as younger groups. Several experiments were conducted to examine the concepts that the elderly believe that pain is an inevitable …  Lire la suite