Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

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Mobile Learning (M-learning) refers to any kind of learning which takes place within and beyond the traditional learning environment via wireless mobile devices. These devices are able to move with the learner to allow learning anytime, anywhere. M-learning is considered as the next step beyond electronic learning (E-learning) and distance learning (D-learning) by using mobile wireless devices with internet connectivity to facilitate formal and informal learning. Over the past decade M-learning has become gradually popular in university settings by providing mobile access to learning resources, collaborative learning and to exchange formative evaluation and feedback between students and instructors. Therefore, M-learning involves learning activities that are not restricted to a specific time or place. Despite the familiarity with M-learning as a new paradigm in modern education, there has been a shortage of research concerning how to deploy this technology in a successful way. The integration of M-learning in a university environment needs to involve some aspects in terms of the readiness of users and institutions, users‟ acceptance and engagement, and the sustainability of the system. There are some initial models that investigate the implementation of M-learning which provide some guidelines that work as starting point for the future of M-learning deployment. However, there is no theoretical model that provides guidelines for staged deployment of M-learning. In addition, there was no clear definition of sustainability factors that will assure continues evaluation and upgrade of M-learning systems after deployment. The aims of this research work are to study students‟ readiness for M-learning, investigate the factors that affect students‟ acceptance and analyse M-learning literature in order to propose and evaluate a model which can be used to foster the sustainable deployment of M-learning within teaching and learning strategies in higher education institutions. The research was conducted in Brunel University, West London. Data were collected from School of Information, Computing and Mathematical Science students using three surveys: the first studied students‟ readiness for M-learning, the second investigated factors that affect students‟ acceptance of M-learning and the last one developed and evaluated a sustainable M-learning deployment model. The outcome of this research lead to a conceptual model that gives a wide overview of all elements that need to be addressed in the M-learning environment and bridges the gap between the pre- and post-implementation phases in order to ensure sustainability. Furthermore, the model provides university educators with a planned approach to incorporate M-learning in higher education curriculums with the aim of improving teaching and learning.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the impact of the varying environmental conditions on the taxonomic and phenotypic diversification of a geographically widespread and ecologically successful Old World primate genus, the macaques (Cercopithecidae: Macaca). To this end, the relationship between geography, ecology, phylogeny, and phenotypic variation among macaques was investigated. Constraints to phenotypic variation – and thus evolution – were also analysed in the form of observed amounts of phenotypic variation and patterns of phenotypic integration. A total of 72 standard linear measurements of teeth and associated cranial and mandibular structures were taken for a total sample of 744 specimens from 13 species of macaques. Climate and ecological data were collated from the literature. Univariate and multivariate statistics were employed for the analysis. Patterns of variation, covariation, and allometry were analysed in the dentition, both within and between species. The ecogeographical analysis was carried out by means of two-block partial least squares and a type of multivariate regression, both in a phylogenetic framework. Phylogenetic signal was tested for by means of Blomberg’s K. Macaque teeth differ in their variability. All teeth covary with each other, although correlations are strongest within tooth classes. Size was a strong contributing factor to dental integration, as evinced by lower correlations between teeth once allometric effects were removed. Integration patterns also showed modularity between the anterior and the posterior dentition. Between-species variation in overall craniodental size was associated with temperature, latitude, and body size. Species also varied, albeit to a lesser degree, along an antero-posterior contrast in relative tooth size. Larger anterior were found to be associated with frugivory and tropical ecology, whereas a larger posterior dentition was linked to a more folivorous diet and temperate environments. The latter pattern was largely a function of phylogenetic relatedness. Phylogenetic signal was generally strong in the dentition, although it was substantially greater in the anterior teeth (incisors and canines) than in the posterior teeth (premolars and molars). Macaques show adaptive differentiation in body size in response to temperature along a latitudinal cline, corroborating the presence of the Bergmann effect in macaques. There was no conclusive support for further adaptive differentiation, despite an association between relative tooth size and diet. Allometry appears to channel evolutionary divergence of macaques along a line of least evolutionary resistance, and developmental modularity allows for partly uncoupled evolution of the anterior and posterior dentition. Future research should be aimed at broadening the taxonomic scope to include craniodental variation of the African papionins and cercopithecins in order to put the observed macaque patterns in a broader evolutionary context.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 27-30, 1997 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / This paper analyzes the performance of an M-ary spread spectrum system with orthogonal codes. A new scheme of M-ary spread spectrum communication with phase shifted msequence is proposed, and the method to implement code synchronization in the scheme is given. The performance of the new scheme is analyzed, and compared to conventional spread spectrum systems and orthogonal code M-ary systems. The results show that stronger anti-interference ability, and better data transmission efficiency, and lower complexity is achieved in the system employing phase shifted m-sequence.

M.A. (African Languages) / This study presents an analysis of A.S.M. Zuma's poetry using the methodological assumptions of Russian Formalists. It gives a detailed account of the aspects of language responsible for the transformation of everyday language into the language of poetry that is discernible in A.S.M. Zuma's anthology "Indlela yomcacamezelo". For practical purposes, this study is divided into five chapters each with definite service to render towards the analysis of Zuma's poetry. For instance, Chapter One introduces the study and also gives a biographical sketch of A.S.M. Zuma. Chapter Two gives a theoretical outline of Russian Formalism. Chapter Three deals with textual patterning and linguistic deviation as mechanisms of "literariness". Chapter Four looks at the use of imagery in committing poetic violence to practical language. Chapter Five is a concluding statement that looks back into the four chapters and also gives aspects not covered in this study.

Este trabalho envolve um estudo espectroscópico voltado para estimativas de metalicidades de uma amostra de estrelas anãs M. As estrelas M de baixa massa constituem os objetos estelares mais numerosos na Galáxia e com tempos de vida de sequência principal que excedem a atual idade do Universo. Sendo assim, podem ser vistos como grandes laboratórios para estudo da estrutura e evolução da Galáxia. Os esforços deste trabalho se concentraram em traçar paralelos entre a força de algumas bandas moleculares presentes nos espectros dessas estrelas e a metalicidade. Seguiu-se para isso metodologias presentes na literatura. A motivação para o trabalho foi dar continuidade a um estudo iniciado por Sebastien Lépine e colaboradores, em 2007, utilizando, pela primeira vez uma amostra de anãs M do hemisfério sul. Além disso, uma reavaliação da calibração de metalicidade para anãs M norteou o estudo. O trabalho utilizou o espectrógrafo Goodman do observatório SOAR para obtenção dos espectros estelares. As estimativas de metalicidade da amostra foram obtidas a partir do n-sspp, uma adaptação do Segue Stellar Parameters Pipeline (sspp), pipeline do SDSS. Os objetos considerados são sistemas binários constituídos por uma estrela de tipo espectral F ou G e outra de tipo espectral M. A estrela primária (F ou G) é utilizada para se determinar a metalicidade da estrela M (secundária), diante da hipótese de que o sistema se formou a partir de uma mesma nuvem mãe. Apesar de todos esforços empregados neste estudo, não foi possível refinar a calibração de metalicidades para as estrelas em questão. O índice calibrador desenvolvido por Lépine et al. (2007) mostrou-se um fraco indicador de metalicidades, resultado já documentado por eles em 2012. Com isso, os estudos para calibrações de metalicidade de estrelas anãs M devem ser incentivados. / The aim of this work is to obtain metallicity calibration for a sample of M dwarfs stars through spectroscopic studies. The low-mass M stars are the most numerous objects in the Galaxy and their main sequence lifetimes exceed the current age of the Universe. Thus, they reveal themselves as large laboratories for studying the structure and evolution of the Galaxy. The efforts of this work are focused in the construction of relations between the strengths of some molecular bands and metallicities for M stars. For that, methodologies in the literature were followed. The motivation of this work was to continue a study initiated by Lépine et al. (2007) using for the first time a sample of M dwarf from southern hemisphere. Besides that, there is yet no definitive metallicity calibration for M dwarfs. Goodman spectrograph at SOAR was used to obtain the stellar spectra. Metallicities estimates for the sample were obtained from an adapted version of the Segue Stellar Parameters Pipeline (sspp), the SDSS\'s pipeline. The studied objects are binary systems consisting of a F or G spectral type star and a M stars. The primary star (F or G) is used to estimate the metallicity of the M star (secondary), since it is assumed that the system is formed from the same parent cloud. Despite all efforts made in this work, it was not possible to refine the metallicities calibration for the analyzed sample. The index originally developed by Lépine et al. (2007) proved to be a poor metallicity indicator, as already documented by them in 2012. Thus, metallicity calibration studies for M dwarf stars should be encouraged.

Tsui Yuk-Chun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-91). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Chapter Chapter One --- Introduction: Autonomous vs Relational Selves --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter Two --- The Relational Self in J. M. Coetzee's Boyhood --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter Three --- The Relational Self in J. M. Coetzee's Youth --- p.52 / Chapter Chapter Five --- Conclusion --- p.86 / Works Cited --- p.87

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Alberta, 2010. / "A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta." Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on February 12, 2010) Includes bibliographical references.

Background and aim Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease (CD), collectively labelled as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are idiopathic, chronic inflammatory disorder of the bowel with a remitting and relapsing course. IBD are associated to poor emotional functioning and psychological distress. We have investigated the brain involvement in patients with IBD using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Materials and methods We developed an emotional visual task to investigate the emotional functioning in 10 UC patients and 10 healthy controls (HC). Furthermore, we have compared the brain stress response between a group of 20 CD patients and a group of 18 HC. Finally, we evaluated potential morphological differences between 18 CD patients and 18 HC in a voxel based morphometry (VBM) study. Results We found brain functional changes in UC patients characterized by decreased activity in the amygdala in response to positive emotional stimuli. Moreover, in CD patients, the brain stress response and habituation to stressful stimuli were significantly different in the medial temporal lobe (including the amygdala and hippocampus), the insula and cerebellum. Finally, in CD patients there were morphological abnormalities in the anterior mid cingulated cortex (aMCC). Conclusion IBD are associated to functional and morphological brain abnormalities. The previous intestinal inflammatory activity in IBD patients might have contributed to determine the functional and morphological changes we found. On the other hand, the dysfunctions of the brain structures we found may influence the course of the disease. Our findings might have clinical implications. The differences in the emotional processing may play a role in the development of psychological disorders in UC patients. Furthermore, in CD patients, the different habituation to stress might contribute to stress related inflammatory exacerbations. Finally, the structural changes in the aMCC might be involved in the pain symptoms associated to the bowel disorder.