McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par P

This work is focussed on the equilibrium properties of r-mer fluids and their mixtures with particular emphasis on the limiting case of polymer mixtures. The Flory-Patterson-Prigogine corresponding states theory of Polymer Solutions is corrected for non-randomness and extended to multicomponent multigroup systems. A novel equipment for vapor sorption measurements in concentrated polymer solutions is described. With this equipment five polymer-polymer-solvent and one block copolymer-solvent systems have been studied. The Flory-Huggins (chi) interaction parameters for the polymer pairs have been determined. The experimental data have been treated with the non-random new Flory theory. Interactional constants for the polymer pairs have been …  Lire la suite

Chang, Xiao-Wen (Internal/Cosupervisor2)  Lire la suite

In this thesis, we examine the Conjugate Gradient algorithm for solving self-adjoint positive definite linear systems in Cn . We generalize the algorithm by proving a convergence result of Conjugate Gradient for self-adjoint positive definite operators in an arbitrary Hilbert space H. Then, we use the Maple software for symbolic manipulation to implement a general version of Conjugate Gradient and to demonstrate, by examples, that the algorithm can be used directly to solve problems in Hilbert spaces other than Cn .  Lire la suite

The selection of adequate fault models is crucial to generating tests of high quality for complex digital VLSI circuits. This thesis presents a methodology to perform empirical validation of fault models and to get measures of effectiveness of test sets based on the targeted fault models. The methodology is based on the automated fault diagnosis of test circuits, representative of the class of circuits being studied and designed to capture the characteristics of the fabrication process, cell libraries and CAD tools used in their development. The methodology is applied to study the faulty behaviour of random logic environments for an …  Lire la suite

This thesis describes the design and hardware implementation of a high speed multi-processor interface used in a colour graphics animation system. The design involves the use of Direct Memory Access to move data between the memories of the various CPUs constituting the Grads system. The system accommodates the various bus protocols, word sizes, and interrupt schemes of the different processors. An evaluation of the completed system is presented.  Lire la suite

Goltzman, David (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

La prédiction des propriétés thermodynamiques et des équilibres de phases d'un système d'oxydes peut jouer un rôle important dans le développement et la compréhension de processus metal1urgiques, céramiques et géologiques. Les bases de données thermodynamiques, mises au point par une évaluation critique et l'optimisation de toutes les propriétés thermodynamiques et diagrammes de phase existants, peut aider à comprendre plus clairement les mécanismes de réaction impliqués dans plusieurs procédés industriels et aider à développer de nouvelles technologies pour diverses industries. Dans le cadre du développement d'une grande base de données thermodynamiques pour des applications sidérurgiques, toutes les phases solides et liquides …  Lire la suite

Jung, In-Ho (Supervisor1)  Lire la suite

L'ataxie récessive spastique autosomale de Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) est une maladie neurodégénérative progressive dont les symptômes se présentent dès la petite enfance. Les symptômes les plus importants sont la spasticité dans les membres, l'ataxie, le développement plus lent des fonctions motrices, une atrophie musculaire et des troubles de l'élocution. La maladie est due à des mutations dans le gène SACS qui code pour la sacsine, une grande protéine multidomaine qui se trouve dans les neurones. La perte de fonction dans la sacsine est associée à la perte progressive des cellules de Purkinje du cervelet et à un réseau mitochondrial hyperfusionné, probablement …  Lire la suite

A descriptive study of the vocabulary of textiles and clothing in Quebec during the second half of the nineteenth century. The etymology of terms is discussed as well as the sociological signification of the term in its historical context. Chapters are devoted to anglicisms, canadianisms, synecdoques; the sociological aspects are treated more specifically in chapters on the types of “drap” and on mourning and the use of the vocabulary in contemporary texts. The study also includes examples of the overlapping of terms in French and English, the specific use or form of words in Quebec, the reflection of contemporary events …  Lire la suite

A non-asymptotic approach to simultaneous model and state estimation is discussed in this thesis. Specifically, given a cloud of measurement points presumed to represent a dynamical system output trajectory,a linear model is constructed to fit it best. The approach is somewhat similar to variational data assimilation in that it employs a cost functional as a measure of model fitness and computes its gradient by solution of an adjoint sensitivity problem. A kernel system model is first constructed and viewed as a linear finite dimensional subspace of a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS). The subspace is linearly parametrized by the unknown …  Lire la suite

La plupart des systèmes de communication modernes recourent à une variété de domaines pour la transmission et la réception d'information, tels l'espace, le temps, la fréquence, les utilisateurs, et les supports de transmission. Par conséquent, les signaux et les systèmes impliqués dans le transfert d’information possèdent une structure à plusieurs domaines, qui peut être représentée par des tenseurs. Les tenseurs sont au cœur du développement d’un cadre mathématique unifié et intuitif pour la modélisation des systèmes de communications à plusieurs domaines. Le déploiement de tenseurs pour caractériser, analyser et concevoir ces systèmes est proposé dans cette thèse. Un modèle y …  Lire la suite

This research deals with the estimation of rainfalls and floods for locations at which the corresponding data are unavailable (ungauged sites). The overall study can be divided into three different parts. The first part explores the validity of the distributional similarity of the rainfall time series aggregated at different time scales. Based on the theory of multiplicative cascade process, a scale independent mathematical model has been proposed to describe the probability distributions of rainfall time series aggregated at different time scales. It has been demonstrated that the multifractal formalism can be used to estimate the probability distribution of rainfalls for …  Lire la suite

Raw milk cheese has unique flavor and textural characteristics not obtainable in cheese from pasteurized milk. Several specialty cheeses made from raw milk are marketed worldwide, especially in Europe. However, because of safety concerns, many countries have imposed stringent restrictions on production and sale of raw milk cheeses. The purpose of this thesis research was to use high pressure (HP) treatment as a novel alternative for conventional pasteurization so that raw milk quality cheese could be produced without compromising food safety. The specific objectives of this research were to evaluate (i) the effect of HP treatment of milk on its …  Lire la suite

This research outlines the impact of a single-sex convent school in New Delhi on the self-perception, social behavior, and sexual identity of young women in India. This analysis has been conducted within the context of the intersections of Indian patriarchy and the centuries long subjugation of Indian women’s identities with the Christian missionary, colonial legacy of convent schools. I argue that the combination of these two contexts creates a negative impact on young girls and that although the Convent presents itself as an empowering institute, in practice it is only perpetuating and reinforcing the socio-cultural ideologies that subjugate Indian women. …  Lire la suite

Dumont, Marie-Josée (Supervisor2)  Lire la suite

The design of thermomechanical processing schedules to control microstructures requires the knowledge of the austenite-to-ferrite transformation start temperature (Ar$ sb3$). Further, in curved mold continuous casting, transverse cracking occurs during the unbending procedure to straighten the solidified curved strand, and this can also strongly depend on the austenite-to-ferrite transformation. In both of these industrial processes, during deformation, the temperature usually decreases continuously. Thus, two new methods to determine the Ar$ sb3$, based on continuous cooling compression (CCC) and continuous cooling torsion (CCT), have been developed. While the latter is applicable for low and high strains, the former can be only …  Lire la suite

Near-infrared optical spectroscopic measurement of samples is an important analytical tool for the determination of properties such as particle size, chromophore composition, and concentration. This information is invaluable for sample assessment in pharmaceutical, agricultural, and environmental areas. However, samples often exhibit significant light scattering, which complicates measurements. This thesis investigates chemometric approaches including power law and component analysis methods to extract useful sample information from data, while simplified instrumentation is developed to facilitate the acquisition of meaningful data. Photon time-of-flight (TOF) techniques allow sample optical properties to be estimated using temporally resolved measurements of short pulses of light. However, highly …  Lire la suite

This survey does not purport to be exhaustive or comprehensive. It is an introduction to the activities of ICAO, a U. N. specialized agency, in the field of air navigation facilities or services as carried out by the interested states in the North Atlantic. ICAO's programme for the international financing of services necessary to civil aviation in areas which did not receive sufficient local support for them, now comprises the series of air navigation services in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands and a network of ocean vessels in the North Atlantic.  Lire la suite

This thesis presents the application of k-space Image Correlation Spec- troscopy (kICS) to the analysis of fluorescence microscopy image time series for the measurement of particle diffusion in heterogeneous membranes, composed of micro- domains. The extension, testing and application of kICS for such measurements is developed both in silico with simulation and with in vivo cellular experiments.Connections between kICS analysis and other existing fluorescent microscopy techniques used in the study of heterogeneous membranes, such as single particle tracking (SPT) and spot vary Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) are introduced. This is followed by the development of kICS theory of fluorescent particle …  Lire la suite

Previous reports of the effects of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-induced muscular disuse have demonstrated alterations in muscle force, speed, and fatiguability that might suggest changes in the quality of contractile proteins. These studies were extended to the effects of TTX-induced disuse on the Ca$ sp{2+}$-activation characteristics of myofibrillar ATPase of the rat gastrocnemius. Atrophic responses after TTX treatment were as previously reported with a significant decrease in left gastrocnemius weight (g) compared to the control-pump (C) group (1.25 $ pm$ 0.04 for C vs 0.72 $ pm$ 0.04 for TTX, X $ pm$ SEM, p $ leq$ 0.01). Myofibrillar protein yield (mg$ …  Lire la suite

In rat membranous nephropathy, complement C5b-9 induces glomerular epithelial cell (GEC) injury and proteinuria, which in some models is partially mediated by eicosanoids. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the C5b-9 complex activates a high molecular mass cytosolic phospholipase A$ sb2$ (cPLA$ sb2)$ in cultured rat GEC, which leads to release of arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosanoids, and may contribute toward plasma membrane injury. In this study, we investigated if C5b-9 can also activate other PLA$ sb2$ isoforms. In GEC stably overexpressing sPLA$ sb2$ (Type II PLA$ sb2,$ 14 kD) (produced by transfection), the C5b-9-stimulated increase in free $ sp3$H-AA, …  Lire la suite

Trichuris muris is parasitic in the large intestine of the mouse. This study has investigated aspects of the growth, moulting pattern, site-selection, hatching process and the behaviour of the nematode. The intra-luminal environment of the caecum presents optimal conditions for egg hatching which is the major reason for the nematode's specificity for this site. In caecectomised mice, the worms established in the ileum. The newly-hatched larvae penetrated the epithelium after entering the caecal gland lumen. A mechanism for hatching under caecal content stimulation is described on the basis of volumetric changes in the eggs and the ovic larvae. By using …  Lire la suite

Despite growing awareness of the severity of domestic violence, the lives of battered women are too often misconstrued by the Canadian public and the judicial system. The author argues that stereotypes of victimized battered women emanating from the courts and feminist theory may both prevent women who kill their partner from making valid claims of self-defence and generally undermine women's fight against oppression. The author reviews the doctrine of the battered woman syndrome and its application in the context of self-defence to illustrate how the courts' treatment of the doctrine conveys a narrow and incomplete depiction of battered women. An …  Lire la suite

The androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Mutations in the androgen receptor are associated with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), and a neurodegenerative disease, spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). Most of the mutations causing AIS are loss-of-function missense mutations whereas SBMA is caused by a gain-of-function polyglutamine expansion in the N-terminal domain of the protein. Characterization of AR mutations has led to a better understanding of structure-function relationships of the AR and serves as a prototype for steroid receptors mechanisms of action. In the first paper, we examine the role of …  Lire la suite

Using a combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genomic library screening, a human (h) gene for a subtype of the somatostatin (SST) receptor (SSTR), termed hSSTR5, was cloned. Human SSTR5 consists of a 363-residue polypeptide exhibiting a putative seven-transmembrane domain topology typical of G protein-coupled receptors. The receptor displays 45% to 52% sequence identity to the other four cloned hSSTR subtype genes (SSTRl-SSTR4). Pharmacological analysis of hSSTR5 revealed that this receptor bound SST-28 with a 12.6-fold greater affinity compared with SST-14, indicating that hSSTR5, unlike the other four SSTR subtypes, is SST-28 selective. hSSTR5 was negatively coupled to adenylyl …  Lire la suite

In this thesis, we present a brief introduction to distributed systems and highlight the issue of synchronization among processors in such a system. Traditionally, synchronization among processors in a multiprocessor system is achieved by conservative methods, based on block-resume mechanisms. Recently, an optimistic approach based on the virtual time paradigm, more commonly known as the time warp mechanism, has received a great deal of attention. In recent years, considerable work has been published describing how these systems are implemented, however, the performance analyses of such systems are lacking. In this thesis, we present several performance analyses which include, the analytical …  Lire la suite

The finite element method (FEM) is a popular method in computational electromagnetics, and tetrahedral meshes are commonly used. However, FEM only provides an approximate solution, and to improve it, adaptive mesh refinement is often used. Bey described a robust refinement algorithm with a good mesh quality in 1995. This thesis implements Bey's method with some extensions: taking into account mesh labelling of boundaries and materials, and providing an interface to an adaptive finite element program. The implementation uses an object-oriented programming language (C++). The quality of the resulting meshes is assessed by means of two geometric indicators and, for the …  Lire la suite

Principles of similitude are derived, applying to prestressed concrete in flexure. The principles are proved experimentally to apply not only in the elastic but also in the inelastic range and on to ultimate strength with good precision. [...]  Lire la suite

The actions of certain hormones and drugs on the release of materials endogenous to rat brain synaptosomes, liver mitochondria, peritoneal mast cells and red cells were studied. In general, it was found that the tranquillizers, chlorpromazine and reserpine (10^-7 - 10^-5M), inhibited the release of acetylcholine from synaptosomes, protein from mitochondria, histamine from mast cells and haemoglobin from red cells. Analgesics such as aspirin, acetanilide and morphine (10^-4 - 10^-2M) and the adrenergic blocking agent bretylium toaylate (l0^-7 - l0^-5M) exhibited both potentiation and inhibition of release of the markers from the four particles, depending on the concentrations used. On …  Lire la suite

Although muscular dystrophy was first described over 100 years ago, little progress has been made towards the understanding of the basic defects responsible for this affliction. Recent clinical, biochemical, histochemical, and histological studies have added knowledge and increased our understanding of this disease, but its fundamental nature is still unknown. Recent discovery of acetylcarnitylcholine in rat tissues has led us into investigating a hydrolytic product of it, namely, carnitylcholine. Injection of carnitylcholine into rat muscle caused enzyme movements from muscle to serum. This drug increased the activity of the pentose phosphate shunt in muscle and also caused an excess excretion …  Lire la suite

Eastern Canada is located within the North American Plate and, therefore, should have a relatively low rate of earthquake activity compared with interplate boundary. However, large earthquakes do occur in the region, especially in the Charlevoix Seismic Zone (CSZ) located about 100km downstream from Quebec City. In history, the Charlevoix Seismic Zone has been subject to five earthquakes with magnitude 6 or larger (M~7 in 1663; M~6 in 1791 and 1860; M~6.5 in 1870; MS 6.2 +_0.3 in 1925). However, the regional geological structures of the CSZ are not well understood. As one of the most seismically active region in …  Lire la suite

Platt, Robert William (Internal/Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Platt, Robert William (Supervisor1)  Lire la suite

In designing square or rectangular slabs stiffened with edge beams it sometimes becomes desirable that the edge beams be tensioned to a higher pre-stress than the slab itself. This paper examines the variation of prestress throughout the slab corresponding to the application of known levels of prestress around the boundary. The method involves taking an imaginary cut so as to separate the slab from the edge beams. So far as the slab is concerned an Airy stress function is proposed, so that stresses throughout the slab may be obtained direct1y as derivatives of this function. The stress function is adjusted …  Lire la suite

The MYB gene encodes for a transcription factor that has an important role in regulating normal hematopoietic proliferation and differentiation. Aberrant expression of this gene is strongly associated with leukemogenesis in humans. To better understand how this gene is regulated in leukemia, we studied the chromatin organization of the gene locus in the human acute myeloid leukemia cell line THP-1, and, in human embryona carcinoma cell line NT2D1. We observed a similar chromatin contact pattern between CTCF binding regions previously identified in mouse. Interestingly, the upstream region from the MYB gene forms a strong chromatin contact to its gene body …  Lire la suite

Radecka, Katarzyna (Internal/Cosupervisor2)  Lire la suite

Liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has become a workhorse in global metabolomics studies with growing applications across biomedical and environmental sciences. However, outstanding bioinformatics challenges for global metabolomics data processing remain critical barriers to the wider adoption of this technology. These challenges include optimal raw spectral MS processing, tandem MS (MS/MS) spectral deconvolution, and accurate function analysis of global metabolomics. This thesis aims to address these challenges by developing multiple bioinformatic tools and platforms, and bridging auto-optimized raw spectra data processing to yield accurate functional insights.Firstly, an auto-optimized raw LC-MS spectra processing workflow was developed in an …  Lire la suite

The conjugation of ubiquitin to proteins is catalyzed sequentially by a cascade of members of three classes of enzymes – ubiquitin activating enzyme (E1), ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (E2), and ubiquitin protein ligase (E3). Polyubiquitinated protein substrates are selectively targeted for degradation by the proteasome. Removal of ubiquitin from ubiquitinated substrates is catalyzed by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUB). In this thesis, I have explored functions of three specific enzymes of the ubiquitin system, the E2 UBC4-testis, the HECT E3 EDD/Rat100 and the deubiquitinating enzyme USP19, in mammalian spermatogenesis or muscle wasting. UBC4-testis is a rodent testis specific E2 enzyme that is induced …  Lire la suite

Spargers are devices featuring small orifices through which bubbles are formed into a liquid from a pressurized gas. In conventional (rigid) spargers, orifices have a fixed shape and size. This study deals with elastomeric (deformable) spargers--in a circular-membrane form--in which the sparger deformation and hence the shape and size of orifices depend upon the gas pressure. Punctures (slits) and perforations (circular holes) were considered for the orifices. Mathematical models were developed to relate the pressure to the deformation of the sparger and then to the deformation of the orifices. These models were combined with a model for the formation of …  Lire la suite