Jeu de poursuite sur graphe non réflexif

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

The Acquisition of Diminutives in Moroccan Heritage Speakers in France

This study addresses the acquisition of diminutive forms by Moroccan heritage speakers in France. Diminutive formation depends on stem modification. 15 Moroccan-French participants took part in this study. In a production experiment, participants were asked to form diminutives for 6 types of stems, since the stem type determines the diminutive pattern. The findings of this study show that the mean percentage of source-like use of the diminutive forms is 38%. The results revealed that just two patterns that were acquired by a significant number of participants: CCiCa and CCiCjCjəC. Diminutive forms that do not require complex processes are acquired by a significant number of participants and the percentage of source-like use is high as well. Irregular stems present difficulties to HS. Non-source like data is rule-governed as 69% of the non-source-like data shows the use of either initial consonant cluster or insertion of the glide, which means that participants produce rule-governed errors. The findings of this study also propose an implicational hierarchy for the acquisition pattern of diminutive forms. For example, if a learner only knows one diminutive pattern, it will be the [CCiCa] pattern. For instance, 27% of the participants acquire just one diminutive pattern and it is [CCiCa]

The Acquisition of Morphology in Moroccan Heritage Speakers in France

There are two major perspectives regarding heritage speakers’ (henceforth HS) ultimate attainment. Some researchers on HS in the U.S. conclude that HS have incomplete grammars (Benmamoun, Montrul & Polinsky, 2013). It is argued that heritage languages (henceforth HL) do not fully develop (Montrul, 2016), and they are not completely acquired because of shifting to a dominant language (Benmamoun et al., 2013). Other researchers argue that HS’ grammars are complete, but simply different as monolingual and HS experience different linguistic realities (Pascual y Cabo & Rothman, 2012). While there is abundant research on Arabic as a HL in the U.S., research on HS in Europe has been rather limited (Montrul, 2016). This dissertation focuses on Moroccan Arabic (henceforth MA) as a HL in France and aims at contributing to the understanding of the linguistic outcomes of the acquisition of Arabic as a HL in an immigrant context. The current study investigates the acquisition of nominal morphology and verbal-derivational patterns by Moroccan HS in France. Nominal morphology was represented by plural and diminutive formation, and verbal derivations were represented by four patterns. Nominal morphology gives insights into both concatenative and non-concatenative morphological processes. Verbal derivational processes are characterized by the use of non-concatenative morphological processes, and semantic notions such as causativeness and reciprocity are lexicalized within the MA verb-pattern system. The studied patterns are the basic (P1), causative (P2), medio-passive (P5), and reciprocal (P6). 15 Moroccan-French participants took part in this study. The data were gathered through three production experiments. Experiment 1 investigated the acquisition of 3 sound morphemes and 14 broken plurals. In experiment 2, participants were tested in diminutive formation, exemplified by the six types of diminutives, and experiment 3 examined the acquisition of verbal derivations. Experiment 1 revealed that participants’ plural system is mainly characterized by concatenative processes as just two sound plural morphemes were acquired by a significant number of participants. All the participants acquired the morpheme -at and 80% of the participants acquired the sound morpheme -in. Participants depend on overgeneralization and simplification of their plural system. The sound morphemes characterize the HL and were overgeneralized in broken plural targeted data. Additionally, the sound plural [-at] seems to be the underspecified default morpheme in the HL. The findings of experiment 2 show that the mean percentage of source-like use of diminutive forms is 38%. The results revealed that just two patterns were acquired by a significant number of participants: CCiCa and CCiCjCjəC. Diminutive forms that do not require complex processes are acquired by a significant number of participants and the percentage of source-like use is high as well. In this study, a brief analysis of diminutive derivational processes was given, and participants’ patterns of acquisition correspond to the suggested continuum of complexity. Irregular stems present difficulties to HS as complex processes are applied. Non-source like data is rule-governed as 69% of the non-source-like data shows the use of either initial consonant cluster or insertion of the glide /-j/, and these are the main processes characterizing diminutive processes. Additionally, the requirement of having two syllables was met. Participants tend to regularize diminutive formation and show a preference to the following processes: initial constant cluster and insertion of the palatal glide. Generally, HS’s variety is mainly characterized by two patterns. Experiment 3 reveals that the basic pattern (P1) was acquired by all the participants and 40% of the participants acquired the causative (P2). The medio-passive pattern (P5) and the reciprocal patterns (P6) were not acquired. ANOVA showed that there were statistically significant differences among the use of the four patterns. The main finding of this study is that semantic distinction realized by pattern alternation is neutralized in the HL. Specifically, the basic pattern (P1) and periphrastic constructions were used predominantly in P5 and P6 targeted data. It is likely that the basic pattern is used as a default morphological device because it unmarked. The three experiments demonstrate that participants omit irregularities and non-source like forms are rule governed. Less complex and less marked morphological structures characterize the HL. Specifically, morphological aspects thought to be acquired earlier in language development are the ones characterizing the HL. Additionally, the findings of the experiments propose implicational hierarchies for the acquisition of the studied morphological structures. Adopting overgeneralization in nominal morphology, and neutralization in verb patterns showed that HS speak a variety that is reanalyzed. Accordingly, HS in France have a distinct variety that was shaped by their linguistic experience. Their variety is different, reanalyzed and does not comprise all the patterns attested in the source language

Studies on the mechanosensory innervation of muscle using organotypic culture, reinnervation and immunohistochemistry

This thesis studies sensory innervation in mammals using an organotypic co-culture of spinal cord-dorsal root ganglion and skeletal muscle of embryonic rat, the histological changes of reinnervated muscle spindles after nerve section and the localisation of the calcium-binding protein calretinin in cat mechanoreceptor organs. The immediate importance of this project concerns the better understanding of how the normal process of development differs from reinnervation following nerve lesion or section. A range of classical and well defined materials and methods as been used in the work described. The thesis Is divided into Ove chapters: Chapter 1 reviews aspects of the mechanosensory organs which have been studied experimentally in relation to their sensory innervation, including proprioceptive muscle spindle development, reinnervation, and finally, the presence of the calcium-binding protein, calretinin in the mechanoreceptor organs. This provides an introduction and background to the work. Chapter 2 describes the organotypic organisation of spinal-cord, dorsal-root ganglia and skeletal muscle co-culture in vitro. Results show that slices of the spinal-cord, dorsal- root ganglia survive well under experimental conditions and can live for several weeks with feeding every 1-3 days. Sensory neurons can develop and grow in a medium without any additional promoting factor. The presence of structurally identifiable synapses indicates that other neurons are also maintained in culture and have functional connections. In the organotypic culture new muscle fibres can form either from the original explant or from the additional explant. In chapter 3 I describe two abnormal endings present in spindles of the tenuissimus of the cat that had been reinnervated following section of the nerve more than one year previously. The reconstruction of the endings of these two spindles supports the hypothesis of modulation of the primary-ending response by the mechanical properties of the intrafusal muscle fibres, rather than by intrinsic properties of the la afferent itself. They further indicate that, in the absence of a la afferent, intrafusal-fibre differentiation can be maintained by a group II afferent. Chapter 4 concerns the localisation of the calcium-binding protein calretinin, which was studied immunohistochemically in the abductor digiti quinti medius muscle of the cat hind limb. The calretinin immunoreactivity was found in some intrafusal fibres, the primary endings and the cqjsule of the muscle spindles and the sensory terminals of tendon organs and Paciniform corpuscles. The present findings contradict a recent hypothesis that calretinin is associated with rapid adaptation, but suggest that calretinin has a specific function in muscle proprioceptors. Finally, Chapter 5 outlines the conclusions of this study and gives some suggestions for continuation of the work in the future

First record of three species of "Pythium" from Moroccan waters

First record of three species of Pythium from Moroccan waters. Species of Pythium, including P.torulosum, P.catenulatum and P. "Group F", isolated from dam near Rabat city (capital of Morocco) in northern Africa, are described. Taxonomic and morphological details of the fungi are discussed. This work is the first report of these species from Moroccan waters.Primeras citas de tres especies de Pythium para Marruecos. Se describen especies de Pythium, incluyendo P. torulosum, P. catenulatum y P. "Group F", aislados cerca de la ciudad de Rabat (Marruecos) en el norte de Africa. Se discuten detalles taxonómicos y morfológicos del hongo. Este trabajo es la primera refencia de estas especies en aguas de Marruecos

Spotlight on nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor in the treatment of pain

In our society today, pain has become a main source of strain on most individuals. It is crucial to develop novel treatments against pain while focusing on decreasing their adverse effects. Throughout the extent of development for new pain therapies, the nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor (NOP receptor) has appeared to be an encouraging focal point. Concentrating on NOP receptor to treat chronic pain with limited range of unwanted effects serves as a suitable alternative to prototypical opioid morphine that could potentially lead to life-threatening effects caused by respiratory depression in overdose, as well as generate abuse and addiction. In addition to these harmful effects, the uprising opioid epidemic is responsible for becoming one of the most disastrous public health issues in the US. In this article, the contributing molecular and cellular structure in controlling the cellular trafficking of NOP receptor and studies that support the role of NOP receptor and its ligands in pain management are reviewed