McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par I

This thesis presents an indepth examination of the exegetical treatment of Qur'anic themes and concepts. It explains the process of communication between God and human beings by using communication models. The invisibility of God to human beings, coupled with His difference in nature, make their interaction difficult to conceive but not impossible. This thesis will thus seek to show how that interaction is feasible, making it as comprehensible as possible. Muslim theologians studied exhaustively the subject of God's speech and its nature without actually revealing its process in any detail or in systematic fashion. This thesis concludes that the theological …  Lire la suite

The linear and weakly non-linear limits of two-dimensional gravity waves in an incompressible, inviscid and stably stratified atmosphere are studied. The linear results indicate the growth of waves propagating upward leading to the breakdown of the linear theory. The three-wave resonant interaction theory indicates an energy cascade from a vertically propagating wave (primary wave) to waves having smaller absolute values of Doppler shifted frequency ((OMEGA)). When the non-dimensional parameter (DIAGRAM, TABLE OR GRAPHIC OMITTED...PLEASE SEE DAI) is in the range "1 to about 0.8" (N being the Brunt-Vaisala frequency), the energy of the primary wave is transferred to bands of …  Lire la suite

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is the most resistant subtype of breast cancer. The lack of expression of estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptors in TNBC leads to the limited use of targeted therapy. Therefore, treatment with chemotherapy remains the main approach for treating TNBC with low therapeutic benefits and increased risk of resistance. Pro-differentiation based therapies by reversing breast cancer cells into an epithelial phenotype have recently been studied as a promising therapeutic approach for TNBC. Indeed, the laboratory of Dr. Ali showed that restoring prolactin pro-differentiation pathway reversed the mesenchymal aggressive phenotype of TNBC into …  Lire la suite

Le cancer colorectal (CRC) est la troisième cause de cancer chez les Canadiens et les métastases hépatiques (LM) sont la principale cause de décès. De plus, pour seulement un tiers des patients la résection chirurgicale est la seule option permettant un survie moyenne jusqu’à cinq ans. Actuellement, la combinaison de chimiothérapie avec un traitement anti-angiogénique avec bevacizumab (anti-VEGF, Bev) est approuvée pour le traitement de première intention des patients atteints de CRCLM. Cela permettra d'améliorer le taux de résection. Cependant, ce traitement stratégique est associée à la diversité des profils de croissance histopathologiques (HGP) présent dans les LM. Trois HGP …  Lire la suite

Les tumeurs cérébrales sont l’une des causes majeures des morts liées au cancer chez l’enfant. Les glioblastomes multiformes (GBM, également connues sous le nom d’astrocytome de grade IV) représentent environ 20% des tumeurs cérébrales pédiatriques et les enfants atteints meurent dans les deux ans suivant le diagnostic. Des analyses complètes des mutations ont été réalisées par plusieurs laboratoires, y compris le nôtre, pour comprendre la biologie moléculaire des GBM pédiatriques et pour identifier de nouvelles approches thérapeutiques. Deux mutations somatiques récurrentes dans l’histone H3.3 (K27M et G34R) furent découvertes dans des prélèvements de GBM pédiatriques par notre groupe et par …  Lire la suite

Lignos, Dimitrios (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

Nagy, Corina (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

One characteristic feature of higher plants is their ability to synthesize phenolic compounds in great variety and quantity. Lignin, which constitutes 20-30 % of the dry weight of plants, is formed of phenolic polymers. Phenolic compounds appear to be metabolically inert substances and are considered to be stable and characteristic end products in living plant tissues. No general function can be ascribed to these compounds and no explanation bas been given to their extraordinary diversity. This is possibly one of the reasons why little attention has been given to them by plant physiologists and biochemists in the past.  Lire la suite

Clustering is a popular routing technique in configuring Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). It can determine the communications between all nodes to collect data in an efficient manner. It handles the main challenge of energy-efficiency in WSNs, and can be used to re-configure the network according to changes in the nodes' conditions. This thesis contributes to the routing in WSNs by proposing an Energy-efficient and Load-balancing Cluster-based (ELC) routing algorithm for Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA)-based WSNs. In particular, both distance and residual energy are taken into consideration in developing the cluster-head selection procedure while ensuring that the network has a …  Lire la suite

Batist, Gerald (Supervisor1)  Lire la suite

The 80 x 20 km Migori segment of the Nyanza greenstone belt, Kenya, lies within the Archean Tanzanian Craton (2.8-2.5 Ga). Volcanic facies mapping has delineated eleven formations comprising the Macalder and Lolgorien Subgroups of the Migori Group. The subgroups represent adjacent volcanic centres with well-developed central and proximal facies, and interfingering distal facies. Rocks at the base of the group are submarine tholeiitic basalt and dolerite, and calc-alkaline dacite and rhyolite; overlying subaerial dacites and late granite intrusions define a high-K calc-alkaline suite. The tholeiitic volcanic rocks have 3.8 $<$ Zr/Y $<$ 6.5 and 1.0 $<$ La$ sb{ rm …  Lire la suite

Sialic acid esterase (SIAE) catalyzes the removal of O-acetyl groups from sialic acids found in cell surface glycoproteins to regulate cellular processes such as B cell receptor signalling and apoptosis. Loss-of-function mutations in SIAE are associated with several common autoimmune diseases. To gain a better understanding of the function and regulation of SIAE, we determined the crystal structure of three mammalian homologs. The structures reveal that the catalytic domain adopts the fold of the SGNH hydrolase superfamily. The active site is composed of a catalytic dyad, as opposed to the previously reported catalytic triad. Attempts to determine the substrate-bound structure …  Lire la suite

The air transport regime, which was established under Bermuda I-type agreements, has been altered during the last two decades through the liberalization of international air transport. International air transport liberalization was initiated by the domestic deregulation of the US. After that, the US began exporting its liberalization policy to the international air transport market through liberal bilateral agreements. Since the early-1990's, the US has concluded numerous open skies agreements. Corresponding with the US liberalization policy, the EC initiated its regional liberalization and the EU achieved a fully open aviation market within the EU region through three liberalization packages. While liberalization …  Lire la suite

L’impact à haute vitesse d’un projectile composé d’un matériau réactif peut déclencher une réaction chimique avec l’oxygène environnant ou entre les différents constituants du projectile. Un projectile fabriqué à partir d’un matériau inerte endommage principalement une structure qu’il impacte par le biais de son énergie cinétique. En revanche, un projectile composé d’un matériau réactif peut provoquer des dégâts supplémentaires en libérant également de l’énergie chimique. Cette capacité à augmenter l’énergie livrée à une cible a rendu les matériaux réactifs attrayants pour les applications de balistique terminale. Au cours des deux dernières décennies, cela a conduit à une intensification des recherches …  Lire la suite

This thesis represents the part that Kiyai Haji Ahmad Dahlan played in the Islamic modernist movement of the early twentieth century in Yogyakarta. It is concerned with his life and thought, and the establishment of the Muhammadiyah, a major non-political Muslim organization.  Lire la suite

Une caractéristique de la maladie d'Alzheimer implique un déclin cognitif avec des déficits de mémoire associés à l'hippocampe et aux réseaux connexes. Des recherches antérieures ont montré qu'il existe deux systèmes de mémoire utilisés pour la navigation. Premièrement, il y a le système de mémoire hippocampique, crucial pour les stratégies spatiales qui impliquent la construction de relations entre des points de repères pour créer une carte cognitive. Deuxièmement, il y a le système de mémoire du noyau caudé, essentiel pour les stratégies de stimulus-réponse telles que les réponses motrices face à un stimulus spécifique, qui deviennent automatiques et inconscientes avec …  Lire la suite

Pickforce sensing is a method demonstrating a promising future in automating coal mining machines. The method is based on the ability to determine the vertical location of a rotary cutting machine from the force measured at the point of contact between the machine and the coal seam. A major problem that may degrade the reliability of the pickforce data is vibration and is the major concern of this study. To analyze the effects of vibration on pickforce sensing, a vibration model of the cutting process is first developed. Then, a stochastic model of the coal seam is constructed. Subsequently, the …  Lire la suite

Annuellement, 1% de nouveaux nés souffrent de maladies cardiovasculaires congénitales. Parmi celles-ci, nous retrouvons la sténose de l'artère pulmonaire qui est, en fait, un rétrécissement du vaisseau acheminant le sang oxygéné des poumons vers le ventricule droit. L'utilisation d'un stent (ou tuteur) adulte habituellement employé pour traiter les sténoses des artères coronaires soulève un problème d'importance majeure. En effet, le stent coronarien, n'ayant pas le potentiel de s'adapter à la croissance somatique de l'enfant, il est alors nécessaire d'avoir recours à une chirurgie à coeur ouvert ultérieure pour enlever le stent lorsqu'il devient inadapté à la taille de l'artère. Une …  Lire la suite

This study developed a robust technique for the assessment of morphometric differences among overwintering northern fish populations. Arctic charr were sampled soon before the freeze-up and just after ice break-up at two subarctic Quebec lakes. A homogenous sample of 397 fish was used. Regression analyses of the length-weight relationships and their derived condition indices were insufficient, due to their inherent limitations, to recognize the differences between sampling groups. A series of multivariate analyses (canonical, stepwise and discriminant analysis), based on eleven morphometric characters of the fish, provided a better assessment. The analysis recognized the distinctions between sampling groups, correctly classified …  Lire la suite

The object or this work was to determine the bacteriostatic and bactericidal efficiencies, under various conditions of temperature, concentration, and addition or organic matter, or NaOH and NaOCl respectively, which are marketed commercially as lye and “Javex”. Comparisons or disinfectant compounds were and still are necessary not only for the advancement or knowledge, but also as part of our society or tree enterprise. Thus, when Microbiology became a science, methods were established for testing these disinfectants with various organisms. At the beginning, such comparisons, as made by Koch and others, were unsuitable because they did not take into consideration factors …  Lire la suite

Thymidine dimers 16 and 18, connected by amide or N-methylamide linkages, have been prepared. The dimers were incorporated into normal strands of DNA by solid phase synthesis. Thermal denaturation studies, using complementary single-stranded RNA, indicated that these modifications caused no destabilization of the DNA-RNA duplex. The block synthesis of amide-linked homotetramer 30 is described. The synthesis of the corresponding octamer could not be verified because of lack of solubility. One by one homologation was found to be a suitable method for the preparation of N-methylamide analogues. Poly(ethylene glycol), covalently attached to the 3$ sp prime$ or 5$ sp prime$ end …  Lire la suite

Le but de cette thèse est d'illustrer l'évolution institutionnel du premier ministre au Canada, avec emphase sur le rôle joué par la psychologie individuel en déterminant les résultats politiques. Ainsi, ce project à deux objectifs complémentaires, soit théoretiques et empiriques. Le premier soutient le pouvoir explicatif supérieur de l'individualisme méthodologique contre les explications alternatifs, qui subsument les acteurs politiques aux dynamiques agrégatifs et l'agence humaine obscur. L'analyse empirique vérifie cette hypothèse en examinant comment l'institution du premier ministre a changé pour reflecter les personnages ce certains premiers ministres: John A Macdonald (1867-1873, 1878-1891), William Lyon Mackenzie King (1921-1930, 1935-1948), et …  Lire la suite

Objectives. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy could alter the critical size for spontaneous healing of a bone defect in the rabbit calvarial model. Study design. An animal trial of 12 weeks duration was conducted using 20 New Zealand White rabbits, which were randomly divided into 2 groups of 10 animals each. Calvarial defects were created in the parietal bone of each animal bilaterally. Defects were critical sized, 15mm on one side and supra critical sized, 18mm on the contralateral side. Group 1 received 90 minutes HBO treatment sessions at 2.4 ATA …  Lire la suite

Ecosystems involve highly non-linear interactions between species and their environments over wide ranges of scales. These interactions give rise to population number densities that are highly intermittent in both space and time. The simplest hypothesis about the variability of individual density fields is that they are scale invariant in space-time. For some cases, such as plankton, this has been demonstrated empirically. In addition, at a fixed space-time location there is a well-established information theory approach for treating the density statistics for different species. In this "species space", there are already two scaling biodiversity models: the (mono) fractal model and the …  Lire la suite

This thesis examines how small players change mature organizational fields. Mature fields are characterized by stable pre-existing institutional logics, interlocked relationships between participants, and high levels of practice standardization. In this thesis, I look at the emergence, diffusion, and legitimation of new, niche practices and their embodied logic within the Canadian wine field in the past 30 years. The first phase of this thesis provides a theoretical framework of how niche practices spill over to mainstream markets in mature organizational fields. The second phase is an inductive, theory-building effort to specify how small players change mature organizational fields. Based on …  Lire la suite

One seldom comes across felicitous love in nineteenth-century French literature. Viewed in an unfavourable light, being looked upon as sheer utopianism, felicitous love never quite made it as a major theme in fiction. But idealized as it is in the works of George Sand, this particular topic never ceases to be true to life: the "weltanschauung" in which it originates is far too focused on the realm of reality for love to be put through senseless poetising. To highlight this singularity, this essay focuses on the love symbolic in three George Sand's novels, Indiana (1832), Le Meunier d'Angibault (1845), and …  Lire la suite

Waiting time to access medical care in Canada is 20% more than the international average. Delayin instituting care in trauma patients has been shown to be associated with higher complicationrates and an increase in mortality. Whenever complications occur during patient care, it usuallyresults in increased cost of care. Femur fractures constitute about 11% of all fractures and areusually treated operatively. Delay in operative treatment is a source of distress to these patientsand a major factor for poor outcome. Knowledge gaps exist for statistics on operative delay tofixation of isolated femur fractures and the influence on complications and cost of treatment.This …  Lire la suite

Economic development implies that a country's real output is growing at a faster rate than its population so that over time per caput output rises. One very simple way of achieving the growth of output is to bring formerly unemployed manpower into the labour force. But, since there is an inevitable limit to this method, a far more important aim is to bring about an increase in output per employed worker. [...]  Lire la suite

Leblanc, George (Internal/Cosupervisor2)  Lire la suite

Two approaches for solving point-pattern matching problems are compared; namely, a graph-matching algorithm (1) and an SVD-based procedure (2). In both cases, the features that are used in the matching process are point coordinates in Euclidean n-space, ${ rm I !E} sp{n}.$ The patterns being matched are assumed to be related by a combination of two transformations: (1) a permutation of the feature points which establishes the correspondence between the feature points of the different patterns and (2) a global geometric transformation based on rigid motions which aligns the patterns once the point correspondences are known. The problem of finding …  Lire la suite

This study presents a comparative analysis of the interpretative approaches and the religious Weltanschauungs of two Islamic revivalists of Pakistan, especially in relation to jihad and the establishment of Islamic global order. Abu al-A'la Mawdudi (1903-1979) argues that the correct understanding of certain key Qur'anic terms makes it incumbent upon every Muslim to strive for the achievement of the basic objective of Islam, which is to establish an Islamic global order ( izhar-i din) to implement the Divine laws ( iqamat-i din) so that all un-Islamic (and, therefore, oppressive) "systems" of the world be replaced by the "ideal Islamic rule" …  Lire la suite

Pervious concrete is an innovative material with several environmental advantages. Studies on the properties and performance of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) pervious concrete have been done worldwide. Portland limestone cement (PLC) has recently been introduced into the Canadian market as a greener option than OPC. This thesis explores the possibility of using PLC in pervious concrete to achieve technical and environmental benefits.Since the major application of pervious concrete is pavements, it is important to find a way to accelerate the concrete curing process, as one of the most important factors in determining the cost and impact of road work is …  Lire la suite

Ward, Brian (Supervisor1)  Lire la suite

Sulfated Glycoprotein-1 (SGP-1) secreted by Sertoli cells is a homologue of human prosaposin known to be processed into four 15 kDa saposins (A,B,C and D). Saposins activate lysosomal enzymes which break down membrane glycolipids. The objectives of the present investigation were to examine the developmental expression of SGP-1 and its targeting to lysosomes of Sertoli cells, to characterize the lysosomal form(s) of SGP-1, to examine SGP-1's delivery to Sertoli cells phagosomes and finally to assess the effects of androgens on SGP-1 expression. SGP-1 exists in two forms, a 65 kDa and a 70 kDa form. Labeling experiments demonstrated that the …  Lire la suite

The aviation industry is one characterized by its constant search for new methods to finance and acquire new equipment as international markets develop. In this search, multiple legal and financial frameworks have been created resulting in economic flexibility for carriers, through very complex transactions. Inside this trend of financial arrangements the most frequently used method is to lease the equipment they need. The main concern related to these transactions is that aircrafts are highly movable assets that can travel to various jurisdictions. This faculty supposes a threat to lessors and owners' property interests over the aircraft because property law is …  Lire la suite

The breeding biology and nest-site selection of American crows (Corvus brachrhynchos) was studied in 2 areas of aspen parkland habitat in Saskatchewan in 1987 and 1988. Overall, density of nests at St. Denis averaged twice that found at Elstow and clutches were initiated earlier at St. Denis than at Elstow. Clutch size and hatching success did not differ between years or areas, but in 1987, nests at St. Denis produced nearly twice as many young as at Elstow. Crows nested in willow, aspen, and other trees. Nest trees were larger than randomly-selected trees in both years and areas. At St. …  Lire la suite

Dudek, Gregory (Advisor)  Lire la suite

Ippolito Baccusi, musicien de l’école vénitienne actif durant la seconde moitié du XVIe siècle, est l’un des nombreux compositeurs négligés de la Renaissance. Baccusi a laissé un important corpus de compositions, à la fois profanes et sacrées, mais seules quelques-unes de ses œuvres ont été éditées et étudiées. À son époque, cependant, il était un compositeur de renom. Ami de Giaches de Wert, il enseigna le contrapunto alla mente à Lodovico Zacconi qui, dans sa Prattica di musica, nomma son maître parmi les meilleurs contrepointistes de l’époque, avec Wert lui-même et Costanzo Porta. Les compétences techniques de Baccusi, combinées à …  Lire la suite

This thesis presents the development and implementation of a novel vibrotactile click track system created for use with the McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble (CME), designed in close collaboration with the CME conductor, Prof. Guillaume Bourgogne. Using common HCI techniques, requirements were gathered to better understand how the system should work. These requirements described the need for a system that is different from previous works in haptic click tracks, because it uses a continuous waveform to present the tempo, rather than a discrete series of buzzes. In addition, the system required using existing audio click tracks of pieces in the contemporary …  Lire la suite

The present study examined psychosocial variables as predictors of psychological distress and well-being in gay men with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The psychosocial variables investigated included communal and agentic personality variables, social support, as well as social hindrance, and self-determination variables. The total sample comprised 126 gay men. Forty-eight were seropositive for the HIV infection, 40 received a diagnosis of AIDS, and 38 were seronegative for the HIV infection. The participants with HIV and AIDS were recruited from Immunodeficiency clinics and the HIV$-$ participants were friends and acquaintances of the HIV+ and AIDS participants. …  Lire la suite

Salmonella species are among the major foodborne intestinal pathogens that are of public concern with respect to food safety. The ability of intestinal pathogens to resist gastric acidity corresponds to their oral infective dose (ID). The survival and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profiles of Salmonella typhimurium grown at different pH values and to different phases of growth were examined in simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.5), ileal fluid (pH 7.0), colon fluid (pH 8.0). The survival and growth of S. typhimurium were also examined during sequential passage through all three fluids. Viable cells were rapidly reduced from 106 CFU.ml-1 to <10 CFU.ml-1 within …  Lire la suite

Most food dryers are controlled by monitoring real-time changes in moisture content of the food. However, the food property that attracts consumers or dissuades them from purchasing dried products is not moisture content; instead, it is the visual appearance. To significantly reduce food loss and waste, we need dryers that monitor moisture content and visual appearance. Current fluidized dryers are unable to monitor visual attributes in real-time. Hence, this research attempts to answer the question, “is it possible to monitor real-time changes in color, texture, and size of food during fluidized bed drying?” To answer this question, an image acquisition …  Lire la suite

Au Canada, une proportion croissante de couples recours aux techniques de reproduction assistée (TRA) pour concevoir. Cependant, on signale une incidence plus élevée de conséquences périnatales incluant des malformations congénitales et des troubles de croissance et de l'empreinte génomique, souvent associés à des perturbations de la méthylation de l'ADN. En effet, les périodes de développement des cellules germinales et de l'embryon coïncident avec des vagues dynamiques de méthylation de l'ADN et sont particulièrement sensibles aux TRA. Pour établir et maintenir des profils de méthylation de l'ADN appropriés, les donneurs de groupes méthyle tels que l’acide folique sont essentiels. En utilisant …  Lire la suite