McGill University Thèses et mémoires par auteur commençant par Y

Les technologies de traitement de l'eau à domicile offrent une solution temporaire pour alimenter en eau potable les zones non encore reliées à un réseau d'apport et de traitement de l'eau communautaire. C'est un problème critique pour les communautés de l'arrière-pays montagneux de la Guyane, où l'isolation géographique et la faible densité démographique rendent l'amélioration des infrastructures hydriques et sanitaires difficile. Le filtre à biosable est une technologie prometteuse pour le traitement de l'eau à domicile qui serait disponible pour pallier ces contraintes. L'objectif de cette recherche a été de mieux comprendre et d'améliorer le filtre à biosable pour son …  Lire la suite

Hilke, Michael (Internal/Cosupervisor2)  Lire la suite

The zero-temperature equilibrium conductance of mesoscopic devices due to single-particle resonant tunneling was first described by Landauer [1]. The Landauer formula was later extended to the multi-channel case by Fisher and Lee [2], who reduced the problem of calculating electronic transport properties to the problem of solving for the Green's function for a given system geometry. In this work, the single-particle formalism is extended to the study of higher-order two-particle cotunneling processes by considering many-body Green's functions. The effect of attaching leads to the system is described in terms of a two-particle self-energy, whose analytical form is written in terms …  Lire la suite

Dawson, C. (Supervisors)  Lire la suite

The phosphoenolpyruvate-dependant carbohydrate transport system (PTS) couples uptake of a variety of carbohydrates with phosphorylation in prokaryotes. In this system, a phosphoryl group is sequentially transferred through two general phosphoryl carrier proteins, enzyme I (EI) and HPr, and a carbohydrate-specific permease enzyme II (EII). EII is constituted of two cytoplasmic domains IIA and IIB, and a transmembrane channel IIC domain. The galactitol-specific transporter (IIgat) belongs to the glucitol family and is structurally the least well-known. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to solve the three-dimensional structure of IIBGat. IIB Gat is composed of a central four-stranded parallel beta sheet …  Lire la suite

For centuries human society has relied on coal as a principal source of fuel for heat and power. Extraction of this valuable fuel has always been influenced by control over hazards such as water inflows and potentially explosive dust and methane gas. A major focus of the research has been on methane including: methane properties of seams, insitu and laboratory testing; methane emissions; investigation of operational issues (e. g. Phalen 7 East); and refinement of prediction models. This thesis gives an overview of methane and ventilation research covering the following aspects: Defining coal seam characteristics: specific emissions---the relationship between methane …  Lire la suite

In recent years the advantages provided by modular hip implants have been overshadowed by reports suggesting that the junction between modular components is susceptible to fretting wear and fretting corrosion. Although the fracture resistance and locking strength of the junction do not appear to be at risk, the particulate debris generated and released into the joint space may elicit adverse biologic reactions that could eventually compromise fixation of the implant in the bone. It is hypothesized that improving the mechanical linkage between modular hip implant components connected via a Morse taper may mitigate the adverse effects of fretting. Three design …  Lire la suite

It is possible in certain cases to obtain indols from pyrrols. This may be accomplished either by a prolonged treatment of the pyrrol in acetic acid with zinc acetate, or by a dimerization of the pyrrol with hydrogen chloride followed by treatment of the resulting dipyrrol with dilute sulphuric acid. Neither of these two methods has any real syntheticvalue in the preparation of indols, for the yields are too small and the necessary pyrrol is usually very difficult to prepare. However, the methods have an important theoretical significance. [...]  Lire la suite

Ce mémoire examine le processus complexe par lequel le quatorzième Dalaï-lama du Tibet a publiquement et sciemment cherché à s'élever au-delà de structures sectaires traditionnelles dans le but d'établir une identité cohérente dans le contexte de l'exil. En tant que chef politique et spirituel auto-proclamé du peuple tibétain, le Dalaï-lama, de même que l'Administration centrale tibétaine, a fréquemment minimisé son appartenance à la secte Dge lugs pa, faisant plutôt usage d'un mode de représentation « non-sectaire ». Dans le présent mémoire, je soutiens que cette approche « non-sectaire » peut être liée d'une façon historique au mouvement ris med (« …  Lire la suite

From comparative feeding experiments on young dogs with equivalent diets containing muscle protein and placenta protein, the excretion of allantoin was found to rise markerly on the placenta diet. [...]  Lire la suite

L'étude de l'intéraction entre la déformation ductile et cassante à des profondeures moyennes de la croûte est importante pour améliorer nos connaissances des processus sismiques. Ce projet est concentré sur une section exhumé de la Pofadder Shear Zone, une ancienne faille d'échelle continentale ou des roches d'origine de séisme ont déjà étés documentés. Certains aspects de lithologie hétérogène et de géométrie de faille qui sont associés avec la distribution de pseudotachylyte recrystallisée dans le coeur de la faille sont identifiés. La cartographie à haute résolution et le traitement des images de microstructures sont utilisés afin d'établir de façon quantitative quels …  Lire la suite

The Deschambault Formation of the St. Lawrence lowland of Quebec was investigated and defined by T. H. Clark during the course of mapping the geology of this area. The large fauna of this formation indicates that its age is middle Ordovician, being time equivalent to the Hull stage of the Trenton series (Clark, in press, a). The limestones of the Deschambault outcrop in a discontinuous belt on the northwest side of the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to a point just beyond Quebec City (Figure 1). Stratigraphic sections are exposed only in quarries and river channels because of the thick …  Lire la suite

Recent research suggests that rural people develop a rich array of informal support and exchange among their kin, neighbors and friends. These informal exchanges are argued to develop in response to the weak penetration of formal state structures and capitalist market relations in peripheral regions. This case study of the survival strategies of low income rural mothers who live in Quebec village demonstrates that these mothers' avenues for economic and social integration are restricted by the formal and informal sectors which constitute and reinforce one another. First, an extensive data and document analysis of the Quebec pronatalist and welfare policies …  Lire la suite

In 1947 the F. A. O. Committee on Calorie Conversion Factors and Food Composition Tables met in Washington, D. C. to "develop principles on which average food composition figures used by individual countries could be based." The recommendation of this committee was that further research should be carried out "on energy - yielding constituents of food and the derivation of calorie values." As part of the investigation of the physiological fuel values proposed by Atwater in 1899 and widely used since that time for determining the useful calorie value of human foods, a comparative digestibility study involving humans, sheep, swine, …  Lire la suite

The possible significance of cognitive and situational factors in determining the response to alcohol suggests that behavioral changes following drinking may reflect a lack of self-control not solely attributable to the pharmacological effect. In an initial experiment subjects were requested to overcome the effects of alcohol (1.32 ml/kg 95% ethanol). In comparison with a no-motivation group (n = 11), motivated subjects (n = 14) demonstrated compensation on aspects of tasks involving memory, coordination and affect. It was speculated that attributions of causality (internal or external) for relative control might influence its occurrence and maintenance. In a second experiment false dose …  Lire la suite

Benedict Anderson has powerfully argued for the role that museums, maps and censuses play in shaping an imagined national community linking the past and present. Much of the scholarship on museums as institutions has built upon Anderson's argument and emphasizes the explicitly nationalist and imperial role of museums. As the art historians Ellinoor Bergvelt and Annie Coombes demonstrate, museums - whether fine arts, antiquities or ethnographic - served as particularly important sites where the ‘nation' is both formed and reified. Demands to build national collections, and for the repatriation of art and antiquities as ‘national' treasures highlight the link between …  Lire la suite

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation should generally not be offered to patients who suffer from a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation in the setting of end-stage lung disease (ESLD). Requests for CPR in this context may sometimes be uninformed, misguided, and the result of an unresolved grieving process by familial surrogates. While understandable, these requests rarely represent a truly autonomous patient perspective that is grounded in a competent, informed, and enlightened deliberation. Alternatively, life-support technology and resuscitation is used appropriately when it is offered to patients with reversible disease, a disease for which functional recovery is possible, or to maintain a patient …  Lire la suite

The metabolism of free fatty acids in hemorrhagic and endotoxin shock was studied in a group of 93 mongrol dogs. The changes produced by norepinephrine and isoproterenol infusions in the shock state were evaluated. The concentration of FFA in the plasma of dogs anesthetized after a 12-16 hour fast was 450 µEq/l. (range 150-1040 µEq/l). Norepinephrine and isoproterenol increase the plasma FFA concentration by mobilizing FFA from adipose tissue. A moderate hemorrhage increases the plasma FFA concentration, but a several hemorrhage produces no such increase. Catecholamine infusion during shock produces a hemodynamic response, but no metabolic response. Endotoxin injection produces …  Lire la suite

Gillson, A. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Daniel, Sam Joseph (Internal/Cosupervisor2)  Lire la suite

Nous avons voulu explorer la faisabilité d'un vaccin contre le virus des oreillons (VdO) inactivé et administré par voie intra-nasale, et combiné avec l'adjuvant Protollin (Prl). Notre laboratoire a généré et a caractérisé des antigènes de virion entier désintégré utilisant un détergent. Des souris femelles de souche BALB/c âgées de huit semaines ont été vaccinées avec deux ou trois doses de VdO désintégré en antigène (4 ou 8 µg), avec ou sans 4 µg Prl. Les souris ont été suivies afin d'évaluer l'innocuité; des sérums et des sécrétions des muqueuses ont été obtenus à des intervalles afin d'évaluer l'immunité spécifique …  Lire la suite

It has long been recognized that egg-based manufacturing is an important limitation of current influenza vaccine production. In particular, this platform cannot meet the surge requirements in the event of an emerging virus. There is therefore a strong impetus to develop updated technologies that do not rely on traditional manufacturing processes. Medicago Inc. has developed a highly efficient platform to produce influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) in plants that can produce a candidate vaccine in three weeks, once sequence information is released. Although the company has both seasonal and pandemic vaccines based on the hemagglutinin (HA) protein in advanced clinical trials, …  Lire la suite

Chez la drosophile, le développement de la jonction neuromusculaire dépend d'une signalisation rétrograde d'élément musculaire vers la terminaison présynaptique des motoneurones. Le ligand de BMP (Bone Morphogenic Protein), libérée par la cellule musculaire post-synaptique, induits une signalisation rétrograde impliquant la phosphorylation et la translocation au noyau du facteur de transcription Mad dans le neuron présynaptique. Nous avons démontré récemment que l'accumulation normale de Mad est régulée par la kinase Nemo (Nmo) agissant sur un site distinct que celui pour du récepteur à la BMP. Des mutants de la Nmo induisent des changements de structures de la synapse sans moduler l'efficacité …  Lire la suite

Agars from five major groups of agarophytes (Rhodophyceae) have been fractionated on DEAE Sephadex A-50 (Cl-). The results indicate that agar is a complex mixture of polysaccharides all having the same backbone structure but masked to a variable degree with charged groups, ranging from the essentially neutral agarose to highly sulfated galactans. The agarases which degrade agarose have been isolated from marine and soil bacteria. The mode of action of these agarases and the end products of the hydrolysis have been investigated. Purified bacterial agarases con be classified into two major groups, being specific for either the beta linkages, P. …  Lire la suite

Postmodernism lives. It thrives, it beckons, and it torments. But it most definitely exists. Few critics can deny it, and that is perhaps the only point where most of them can agree. As Douwe Fokkema puts it, “Much to the embarrassment of the literary historian, the term postmodernism has become a household word even before there was time to establish its meaning." (vii). While some critics claim that it exists as an extension of modernism and others submit that it is an entirely new direction, very little consensus can be reached over the question of how exactly one gains membership …  Lire la suite

The purpose of guidance is to assist the individual in making intelligent choices and adjustments. It helps in the interpretation and solving of problems for individuals, at critical times in their lives, by providing them with both the necessary information and the assistance which counselling offers. [...]  Lire la suite

Two independent studies have been developed in this thesis. In the first study, the reactivities of metal-alkoxide and metal-hydroxide nucleophiles are compared for cleaving phosphate diesters. In the second study, the reactivity of a dinuclear metal complex is compared to a mononuclear metal complex for hydrolyzing RNA. Copper(II) complexes of bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (Cu(II)bpa), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (Cu(II)hebpa) and N-(3-hydroxypropyl)bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (Cu(II)hpbpa) have been synthesized and their reactivities and mechanisms for cleaving bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl) phosphate (BDNPP) have been investigated. Cu(II)hpbpa is observed to be the most reactive (k = 7.2 $ times$ 10$ sp{-1}$ M$ sp{-1}$ s$ sp{-1}$ at 25$ sp circ$C, pH 8.8) for cleaving …  Lire la suite

Dans Bungakuron (Principes de littérature) de Natsume Sōseki, il s'agit d'une dilatation des concepts d'évolution aux domaines de la littérature, de la conscience et de la société. Bien que Sōseki souligne que certaines transformations prennent place dans les domaines de la littérature et des mouvements littéraires de façon largement contingente et non-téléologique, il suggère également que le développement et le progrès effectués dans ces domaines sont orientés vers une différentiation et une complexification grandissantes. En réponse aux effets aliénants de la différentiation et de l'individualisation qui accompagnent la modernisation, il explore les possibilités pour que d'autres types de relation émergent. …  Lire la suite

Kachtcheï est une œuvre musicale pour neuf instruments et dispositif électronique, d'une durée de dix-neuf minutes. Une analyse technique de la composition, présentée dans le 1er Volume de cette thèse, fournit une vue d'ensemble des procédures et techniques utilisées dans la pièce. Le 2e Volume contient la partition musicale et la description de la composante électronique. L'œuvre a été inspirée par les personnages, les motifs visuels, et le caractère sonore de la folklore russe – skazki. Cette composition représente de façon symbolique les divers couches de Kachtcheï, un personnage désagréable qui réapparait fréquemment dans les contes de fées russe. Traditionnellement, …  Lire la suite

The author calls into question the primacy of the optimism/pessimism split within modern discourses on technology and suggests rather that the dominant thematic division in these discourses is that between mastery over and enslavement to technology. Each of these is criticized with respect to the faulty conception of control it implies. The author concludes with a view of technology as a social practice in order to move beyond mastery or enslavement.  Lire la suite

In the present studies, two previable human fetuses at mid-pregnancy were perfused with L-14-C-acetate and 7-alpha-3H-cholesterol. Cholesterol synthesis from L-14-C-acetate was demonstrated in the fetal adrenals and liver. Minute amounts of pregnenolone and 17-alpha-hydroxy-pregnenolone were isolated from the adrenals of one perfusion study, suggesting that neither acetate nor cholesterol serves as an efficient precursor for the formation of neutral steroids in the human fetus. Under identical experimental conditions, 7-alpha-3H-cholesterol sulfate was perfused in a previable human fetus and it was not metabolized by any of the tissues analysed, indicating that the human fetus at midterm does not seem to utilize …  Lire la suite

The suppression of the formation of corticosterone by the rat adrenal tissue in vivo and in vitro by androgens is reported. There is some evidence that androgens can be converted to more polar compounds by the incubated glands. Two such metabolites of 17α-methyl-Δ5-androstene-3β, 17β-diol (MAD) have been investigated. One is methyltestosterone, probably formed by the oxidation of MAD by the enzyme, 3β-hydroxydehydrogenase. The other may, in addition, contain one or more extra hydroxyl groups. Even more polar compounds have been observed. Whether these originate from the exogenous androgens or arise as a consequence of diversion of corticoid synthesis from corticosterone …  Lire la suite

This study was designed as an investigation of the role of changes in muscle force and changes in muscle length on the EMG for the Tibialis Anterior (TA). Using surface electrodes we examined the EMG for 4 contraction levels at 5 ankle positions over 60$ sp circ$ of ankle rotation. The change in median frequency with muscle length identified a significant shift in the power spectrum to lower frequencies with increasing muscle length. To further investigate our results we performed three other experiments: First, using X-rays to identify the relative change in distance between two intramuscular wire electrodes we found …  Lire la suite

Hallaq, Wael (Supervisor1)  Lire la suite

Determining whether stoning for adultery and hand-amputation for theft were practiced in pre-Islamic Arabia represents the first phase in exploring the origins and evolution of these penalties in Islamic law. Should both punishments prove to predate Islam, then it would appear the Qur'an broke with stoning and confirmed amputation of the hand. An extensive survey of pre-Islamic, Near Eastern legal materials in search of parallel penalties has thus been attempted in this thesis. Remarkably, not only stoning and hand-amputation, but nearly the entire range of Islamic adultery and theft legislation have pre-Islamic parallels. The nature of these parallels, however, does …  Lire la suite

The Lucy Orebody is a deposit of iron carbonate (siderite) located in the Michipicoten district of Ontario. Field information for this thesis was gathered during the summer of 1950 while the writer was in the employment of Jalore Mining Company, Josephine, Ontario, and laboratory investigations were conducted at McGill University. In this thesis the petrology, structure and origin of the rocks in, and adjacent to, the orebody will be discussed. Acknowledgements The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Dr. J. E. Gill for his supervision of this thesis and his many valuable suggestions and helpful advice. To Dr. E. …  Lire la suite

Gill, J. (Supervisor)  Lire la suite

Very little work has been done with regard to the presence and distribution of coprophilous Pyrenomycetes in the Province of Quebec. So far only the Ungava Bay area and the Lake Mistassini area of the province have been surveyed by Cain(l957) concerning the presence offimicolous Ascomycetes. Barr(l961) in her study of the Pyrenomycetes of Gaspesian Park, Quebec recorded the presence of a few coprophilous species. No survey of the occurrence of coprophilous Pyrenomycetes has been done on the island of Montreal and vicinity. Thus theaim of this study is to make such a survey in this area,which will be helpful …  Lire la suite

In 1929 the American Geographic Society undertook the planning and financing of a research programme which included a socio-economic study of the Canadian Prairie Provinces. A research body, the Canadian Pioneer Problems Committee, whose members are on the Staffs of Canadian Universities, was formed for the express purpose of directing the Canadian part of the programme. A five-year project is under way and it includes a survey of social and economic conditions in selected areas of the Prairie Provinces. The survey is a direct outcome of a growing body of opinion that foundations ought to be laid for a science …  Lire la suite

It was in 1930 that the first l6-alpha-hydroxysteroid, namely estriol, was isolated from human pregnancy urine by Marrian (1) and Doisy et al (2). In the ensuing years, a number of 16-alpha-hydroxysteroids, both neutral and phenolic, have been isolated from various sources. A large quantity of l6-alpha-hydroxylated metabolites have been isolated from normal human urine, from the urine of individuals with various diseases and from human pregnancy urine. Neher et al (3) isolated 3-alpha,16-alpha-dihydroxy-5-alpha-pregnan-20-one and 3-alpha,16-alpha-dihydroxy-5-beta-pregnan-20-one from the urine of a subject with the salt-losing form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. [...]  Lire la suite