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Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 29 novembre 2023) / Ce mémoire porte sur la pensée de l'écrivain allemand Hermann Hesse et s'intéresse au thème du sens de l'existence humaine. L'objectif principal du mémoire consiste à appuyer l'hypothèse selon laquelle le sens de l'existence humaine, pour Hermann Hesse, se trouve dans la recherche d'harmonisation de soi. Pour ce faire, nous avons privilégié l'analyse philosophique d'œuvres littéraires, plus précisément l'analyse des romans Narcisse et Goldmund et Le Jeu des perles de verre de Hesse. La pensée de l'écrivain s'éclaire lorsqu'on prend en considération trois idées fondamentales qu'il aborde dans les essais Sur l'idée d'unité et Un peu de théologie : le développement de l'âme, la fluctuation des pôles opposés et l'unité au-delà des oppositions. L'examen de ces trois idées permet de poser un cadre théorique et conceptuel pour analyser les romans sélectionnés. L'étude de ces deux romans permet de constater que la vie des personnages qui nous intéressent particulièrement, en l'occurrence Goldmund et Joseph Valet, acquiert un sens lorsque ceux-ci recherchent l'harmonisation d'eux-mêmes. Cette harmonisation se caractérise par une volonté de rapprocher les pôles « Geist » (raison ou esprit) et « Natur » (nature) - inhérents à l'être humain. Bien qu'il y ait un rapprochement de ces pôles à la fin des romans, leur essence rend impossible une parfaite harmonisation. Nous soutenons que cet échec nécessaire éclaire la pensée de Hesse et sa conception de l'existence humaine en indiquant que le sens de l'existence se trouve dans la recherche d'harmonisation de nos tendances opposées - plutôt que dans leur harmonisation effective. / This dissertation focuses on the thought of the German writer Hermann Hesse and explores the theme of the meaning of human existence. The main objective of this study is to support the hypothesis that, according to Hermann Hesse, the meaning of human existence is found in the search for self-harmonization. To achieve this objective, we have favored the philosophical analysis of literary works, more specifically the analysis of Hermann Hesse's novels Narcissus and Goldmund and The Glass Beads Game. The writer's thought becomes clearer when we take into consideration three fundamental ideas which he addresses in the essays On the Idea of Unity and A Bit of Theology: the development of the soul, the fluctuation of opposite poles and the unity beyond oppositions. The examination of these three ideas allows us to establish a theoretical and conceptual framework for analyzing the selected novels. By studying the two novels, we see that the lives of the characters who are of particular interest to us, namely Goldmund and Joseph Valet, acquire meaning when they seek harmonization of themselves. This harmonization is characterized by a desire to bring together the poles "Geist" (reason or mind) and "Natur" (nature) - inherent to the human being. Although there is a convergence of these poles at the end of the novels, their essence makes perfect harmonization impossible. We argue that this necessary failure sheds light on Hesse's thought and his conception of human existence by indicating that the meaning of existence is found in seeking the harmonization of our opposing tendencies - rather than in their effective harmonization.

The analysis of engineering structures which are subjected to dynamic forces is an area of study which has received considerable attention in recent years. In some cases, an understanding of the behavior of a structure under its expected time-varying loads is imperative so that the designed facility fulfills its intended purpose. Such structures might be simple beams, columns, rigid frames, electrical, and mechanical equipment, etc. In general, there are three types of motion which the design engineer might be required to investigate due to certain prescribed loads, namely, transient response, steady-state vibrations, and random vibrations. The motion studied usually depends upon the expected or predicted load which is sometimes called the input of the system. In what follows, only transient responses of systems subjected to short time-duration loads are considered. These impulsive-type forces might arise from sources such as earthquake tremors, wind gust forces and pressure, and pressure waves from explosions. Of the various assumptions which the engineer must make when studying the dynamic response of structures, one of the most important is perhaps the model representation of the true structure. One method of representation is to judiciously idealize the structure into concentrated mass and to connect, each lumped mass to its neighbor by weightless springs and dashpots. The number of masses and the constraints or lack of them on each mass determine the number of degrees-of-freedom of the system. The differential equations which describe the motion of the model are either linear or nonlinear, depending upon the behavior of each mass, spring, and dashpot. / Ph. D.

This Dissertation deals with statistical inference on the mutation rates α₁ and α₂ of a population genetic model introduced by Moran [Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. 54 (1958), pp. 60-71]. The deductive theory by approximate methods of such models has reached an advanced stage but little has been done along the line of statistical inference. Moran's model is a model of the Markov chain type. It was selected for investigation because it is the only finite population genetic model for which the cteductive theory by exact methods is well enough established to stimulate an investigation of statistical inference. The first broad area of discussion of this dissertation deals with the simultaneous consideration of the mutation rates α₁ and α₂. Maximum likelihood estimates for α₁ and α₂ are obtained iteratively from the Newton-Raphson scheme for simultaneous solution of two equations in two unknowns. Several theorems are given which ensure that the log likelihood function involving α₁ and α₂ has a unique maximum in the parameter space of useful values. The transition matrix consists of conditional probability elements involving the unknown parameters α₁ and α₂. These elements are the probability of a transition from one state to another in at most unit steps. The eigenvalue expression along with the corresponding pre- and post-eigenvector matrices are given. The post-eigenvector matrix has elements consisting of Hahn polynomials. The pre-eigenvector matrix is obtained by inverting the post-eigenvector matrix for which an expression is given. The Hahn polynomials form a family of orthogonal polynomials. They were introduced by Hahn [Math. Nach. 2 (1949), pp. 4-34], and further discussed by Karlin and McGregor [Scripta Math, 26 (1961), pp. 33-46]. These polynomials form the foundation and are basic to many of the results of the dissertation. The expression for the expected value of the number of transitions from one state to another is given and this expression is also in terms of Hahn polynomials. Finally for this positively regular transition matrix involving both of the mutation rates α₁ and α₂, asymptotic multivariate normality of the maximum likelihood estimates α₁, α₂ is discussed along with hypothesis testing. Also discussed are large sample approximations., methods of designing and conducting experiments and replicated experiments. The second broad area of this dissertation deals with an absorbing Markov chain. That is, α₂ is set equal to zero and investigation on α₁ only is carried out. For this case the above transition matrix becomes an absorbing one (regular) and inferences are obtained from realizations on this absorbing chain whose peculiarities provide some unique difficulties. The eigenvalue expression with the corresponding post-eigenvector matrix whose elements are also Hahn polynomials and the expression (in terms of Hahn polynomials) for the expected number of transitions from one state to another are all given. Of particular interest are several postulated theorems on the maximum likelihood estimate α₁ of the mutation rate α₁ of the absorbing Markov chain in which an attempt is made at establishing the properties and normality of α₁. The estimate is again obtained iteratively. An outline of the proofs of the postulated theorems is presented. Gaps in the proof are a result of unresolved questions in positive regular Markov chain theory. In connection with the above theory and postulated theorems a simulation study on the IBM 650 was undertaken. This study substantiated many of the assumptions of the postulated theorems. The study, however, was not extensive enough to be conclusive. A further study is proposed. Replicated experiments are also discussed. Of particular interest here is a geometric type stopping rule in which the negative binomial is employed. Methods of conducting and designing experiments are discussed. An appendix discusses the Hahn polynomial system along with many of its important properties. / Ph. D.

A soluble enzyme system has been isolated from biotin-deficient rat liver acetone powder which catalyzes the synthesis of propionyl holocarboxylase from d-biotin and its apocarboxylase, in the presence of ATP and Mg++ ions. The enzyme system has been partially purified by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation and resolved into two obligatory components by alumina C y gel fractionation. The gel supernatant fraction has been further purified by DEAE cellulose ion-exchange chromatography. Since the active component in the gel supernatant fraction and the endogenous propionyl holocarboxylase have the same elution pattern when chromatographed on DEAE cellulose, it appears likely that the gel supernatant contains the propionyl apocarboxylase. The gel eluate most likely contains an enzyme which catalyzes the covalent bonding or d-biotin to propionyl apocarboxylase and other proteins. In order to measure the activity of the propionyl holocarboxylase synthesizing system, two assay procedures were used. One assay procedure employed the incorporation of biotin-1-c¹⁴ into protein as a measure or the activity of the enzyme system. The other assay was based upon the biotin and ATP dependent increase of propionyl carboxylase activity catalyzed by the enzyme system. Both procedures gave similar results. Propionyl holocarboxylase formation was found to be ATP specific since neither CTP, OTP, ITP, nor UTP could replace ATP. In addition, a mixture or all five nucleoside triphosphates was no more effective than ATP alone. Versene inhibited the reaction and MgCl₂ was able to reverse this inhibition, indicating a Mg++ ion requirement. The ability of various biotin derivatives to replace d-biotin in propionyl holocarboxylase formation was investigated. It was round that if either the valeric acid side chain is altered. as in homo- or nor-biotin, of if the sulfur atom is removed or substituted, as in desthiobiotin or oxybiotin, holocarboxylase formation did not occur. Similarly, neither of these derivatives inhibited the bonding of c¹⁴-biotin to protein. Biocytin has been eliminated as an intermediate in propionyl holocarboxylase formation. Hydroxylamine does not inhibit the reaction. nor is CoA required. These data would appear to eliminate the involvement of free carboxyl activated biotinyl intermediates in the formation of the holocarboxylase from its apocarboxylase and biotin. Although the evidence suggests a concerted mechanism for the reaction, mechanisms involving enzyme bound intermediates are not completely eliminated by these data. In order to determine the nature of the attachment of biotin to propionyl carboxylase, c¹⁴-biotin labeled propionyl carboxylase was prepared. The labeled carboxylase was enzymatically hydrolyzed and chromatographed on Whatman 3MM paper. The biocytin peak contained nearly 100% of the radioactivity recovered. This peak was eluted and rechromatographed by ion-exchange chromatography. The only radioactive component obtained by this procedure was biocytin. The data presented indicate that the propionyl holocarboxylase synthesizing system catalyzes the ATP dependent covalent bonding of d-biotin to the lysyl-(-amino groups or propionyl apocarboxylase. / Ph. D.

Colony counts of proteolytic ruminal bacteria in the order of 1 x 10⁹ organisms per gram of whole rumen contents and total colony counts in the order of 2 to 3 x 10⁹ organisms per gram were obtained from rumen contents of cattle fed a maintenance ration of hay and grain. The proteolytic counts averaged 381 of the total counts. An anaerobic, differential medium characterizing proteolytic colonies by clear zones in an opaque skim milk suspension was utilized. Proteolytic isolates were assigned to the following taxa; Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens, Selenomonas ruminantium var. lactilyticas, Borrelia, Bacteroides (butyric acid-producing R•2 group of Bryant), and selenomonad-like organisms similar to B-385 group of Bryant. 1 A portion of the Ph.D. dissertation by the senior author. 2 Present address: Division of Natural Sciences, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Proteolysis in the ruminal fermentation may benefit the host animal if the resulting products are later synthesized to digestible microbial proteins of higher biological value than the feed protein, or conversely this activity may be detrimental because of net protein loss. In spite of the nutritional significance of this activity the proteolytic ruminal bacteria have received relatively little attention as a physiological group. Studies have largely been restricted to observations of the degradation of gelatin or casein incidental to other studies of ruminal organisms. Gelatin proteolysis was reported among isolates from the rumen by Bryant (1951), Bryant and Burkley (1953a, 1953b, 1953c), Bryant and Small (1956a), Bryant et al. (1958a), Hamlin and Hungate (1956), Buhtanen and Gall (1953), Hungate (1957), and Hann et al. (1954). Bryant and Doetsch -- (1954) also reported isolates which attacked casein but not gelatin and Bryant (1956) reported a strain of Selenomonas ruminantium which digested casein but not gelatin. Bryant (1959) revealed the paucity of information on the proteolytic flora of the rumen in his excellent review of the bacteriology of the rumen. A casein medium designed for the isolation of proteolytic ruminal bacteria was described by Appleby (1955). Blackbum and Hobson (1960a) found proteolytic activity in all fractions of rumen contents (protozoa, large bacteria and small bacteria) and they initiated isolation of proteolytic bacteria from the ovine rumen (Blackburn and Hobson, 1960b). Fulghum (1958) described the development of two anaerobic, differential media for the isolation and enumeration of proteolytic ruminal bacteria, these media were developed through modification of the media of Hamlin and Hungate (1956) and ling and Smith (1955), and of the medium used by Donovan and Vincent (1955) for studying proteolytic organisms from milk. Fulghum (1958) found the optimum level of clarified rumen fluid added to these media to be 401. Colonies of proteolytic organisms in these media were characterized by clear zones in opaque skim milk or plant protein suspensions in the media. Plant proteins failed to maintain a uniform opacity and were therefore of limited value in delineating the proteolytic segment of the flora even though the plant proteins stimulated total counts by a factor of from three to five. Earlier Fulghum et al. (1958) reported that dispersion of whole rumen contents in anaerobic diluting fluid in a blendor increased total counts by a factor of four when compared with total counts obtained from rumen fluid samples which were diluted by shaking in anaerobic diluting fluid. Proteolytic counts were the same from both inocula. In later studies (Fulghum, 1958), proteolytic counts were also found to be increased by a factor of four when dispersed whole contents were compared with shake dilutions of rumen fluid. Proteolytic and total counts were found to be slightly higher in the dorsal sac of the rumen than in the ventral sac, although this phenomenon was variable with regard to time of sampling following feeding of animals. Similarly, the ratio of proteolytic to total counts varied at different times following feeding. The proteolytic flora remained constant while the total counts varied. The sequence of fluctuation was different in each individual animal. / Ph. D.