Geographies and displacements : theorizing feminism, migration, and transnational feminist practices in selected black caribbean canadian women's texts

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

The images produced by La Presse de Montréal of the Black community and crime

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Consumption of black tea and coffee and the risk of lung cancer

Objectif: Étudier l’association entre la consommation de café, la consommation de thé noir et le risque de cancer du poumon. Méthodologie: Cette recherche utilise les données obtenues lors d’une étude cas-témoin effectuée à Montréal avec des résidents canadiens âgés entre 35 et 75 ans recrutés entre 1996 et 2001. Les cas étaient des individus atteints du cancer et diagnostiqués entre 1996 et 1997 dans l’un des 18 hôpitaux de la région du Grand-Montréal. Les contrôles on été sélectionnés à partir de la liste électorale et appariés selon la fréquence de distribution des cas par groupe d’âge de 5 ans, par sexe et par district électoral. Au total, 1130 cas et 1484 contrôles ont été inclus dans cette étude. Les rapports de cote (RC) et les intervalles de confiance de 95% (CI) des associations entre la consommation de thé noir, de café et le cancer du poumon ont été estimés à l’aide de la régression logistique non conditionnelle. Quatre aspects de la consommation ont été analysés dans des modèles multivariés distincts: la fréquence de consommation, la consommation journalière moyenne, la durée de consommation et la consommation cumulative. Les covariables potentielles considérées incluaient : l’âge, le sexe, l’historique de tabagisme, le statut du répondant, l’ethnicité, la consommation d’alcool, la consommation de fruit et de légume, l’apport énergétique journalier, l’exposition a des agents professionnelle et les variables socio-économiques . Des analyses secondaires par le sexe, le tabagisme et le type histologique de cancer on été effectuées. Résultats : Aucune association statistiquement significative n’a été observée entre la consommation de thé noir et le cancer du poumon. Nos résultats suggèrent qu’une consommation de ≥ 50 ans était associée avec une augmentation du risque d’adénocarcinome comparée à aucune consommation. Nous avons observé une association inverse statistiquement significative entre la consommation occasionnelle de café et le cancer du poumon (RC : 0.32, 95%CI : 0.17-0.59). La durée de consommation de café n’était pas associée avec le cancer du poumon. Conclusion : Nos résultats suggèrent que la consommation à long terme de thé noir pourrait augmenter le risque d’adénocarcinome. D’un autre côté, la consommation occasionnelle de café pourrait réduire le risque de cancer du poumon.

Auto-reflexividad, erografía y leitmotivs liminales en la producción narrativa de Mayra Santos-Febres (1995-2009)

La recherche, construction et révision de l’identité nationale ont très longtemps constitué les éléments propulseurs de la production littéraire et intellectuelle de Porto Rico. Pourtant vers le milieu des années 90, un nouveau consensus émerge entre les écrivains qui revendiquent massivement la fin de la littérature en tant que lieu d’où forger la conscience nationale et refuse le leadership intellectuel qui avait jusqu’alors définit le travail littéraire. Les auteurs qui commencent à se manifester à ce moment se désintéressent du nationalisme comme thème littéraire. Le militantisme politique et la volonté de confrontation, modes représentationnels caractéristiques de la génération antérieure, disparaissent pour laisser place à une écriture exploratoire, centrée sur ses propres procédés, et apparemment apolitique. Une telle perte d’ancrages nationaux et territoriaux est significative de la conscience exacerbée que possèdent ces écrivains de la complexité des dynamiques culturelles qui régissent le monde postmoderne et globalisé, ainsi que de la « valeur » et de la position « marginale » qu’on leur attribue dans l’écologie mass-médiatique culturelle actuelle. La production narrative de Mayra Santos-Febres est paradigmatique de ces changements. J’aborde dans son écriture une série de dispositifs métalittéraires, autoréflexifs, « érographiques », et historiographiques qui, bien qu’ils résistent à une catégorisation homogène, démontrent un même intérêt pour des phénomènes interstitiels. En me basant sur les concepts de liminalité, principalement depuis la perspective de Victor Turner et d’écriture auto-réflexive (Patricia Waugh, Linda Hutcheon), j’analyse le positionnement liminal qu’assume Santos-Febres dans la structure culturelle globalisée actuelle, et la façon dont sa prise de position, également liminale, c’est-à-dire, sa prise de parole et son engagement se traduisent par un rapprochement narcissique à l’exercice littéraire autant dans les formes qu’elle crée qu’au niveau sémantique, narratif et discursif. Le premier chapitre analyse les contes « Dilcia M. » et « Acto de Fe » (Pez de vidrio) comme témoignages de l’érosion du patriotisme et militantisme antérieur; « La escritora» (Pez de vidrio) qui marque pour l’auteure un passage vers une esthétique centrée sus ses propres procédés créatifs; et le roman Cualquier miércoles soy tuya qui dramatise le positionnement assumé par les écrivains dans la chaine culturelle globalisée actuelle. Le second chapitre aborde la configuration des corps, espaces urbains et de l’écriture dans El cuerpo correcto qui, à travers une exubérance sexuelle/textuelle, projette des variantes réactualisées de la traditionnelle dichotomie corps/écriture. Le troisième chapitre se penche sur la configuration du travesti dans Sirena Selena vestida de pena. J’y propose de voir le travestisme, le boléro et l’écriture comme un triple exercice métalittéraire. Le dernier chapitre aborde le procédé de re-signification littéraire des images sédimentées de subordination et d’infériorité de sujet « noir ». Nuestra Señora de la Noche se penche sur la re-signification de l’hyper-sexualisation et « exotisation » qui a cimenté la construction de « l’immoralité » de la femme noire. Fe en disfraz aborde le sadomasochisme comme espace de re-signification des schèmes de domination et soumission inscrits dans l’histoire esclavagiste de Porto Rico et du trauma qui origine, et subsiste, d’une telle hiérarchie.

AFLATOXICOSIS AND ITS AMELIORATION IN BLACK TIGER SHRIMP,PENAEUS MONODON FABRICIUS

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the nutritional and pathological changes associated with aflatoxin B1 toxicity in Penaeus monodon and to determine the efficacy of vitamins E and K, and Amrita Bindu, herbal mixture in ameliorating the toxicity of AFB1. The main objectives the study is to document the pathological and immunological changes in P.monodon fed with AFB1 incorporated diets and to delineate the histological and ultrastructural changes and determine the presence of AFB1 residue in the shrimp body, to evaluate the growth performance of feed efficiency in P. monodon post larvae fed AFB1 added diets, to assess the interactive effect of heavy metals like copper and cadmium at sub-lethal levels in P. monodon postlarve fed AFB1 added diets, to decipher the ameliorative action of Vitamins E & K and a spicy herbal mixture, Amrita Bindu on AFB1 in P.monodon sub-adults. The study has revealed that Aflatoxin B1 significantly affects protein, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in the shrimp penaeus monodon. The remarkable effect was observed in the immune system, as AFB1 has elevatod the immune response during initial days of exposure and prolonged exposure to the toxin leads to weakening of the animal’s immunity. Aflatoxin B1 level above 50 ppb severely affected the growth and feed utilization which in turn reflects the damage caused to the hepatopancreas as evident from the histological and ultrastructural observations.

Synergism of Xanthate/Dithiocarbamate Accelerator in Carbon Black Filled NR Compounds

Zinc salts of ethyl, isopropyl and butyl xanthates were prepared in the laboratory. The effect of these xanthates with zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDC) on the vulcanization of HAF filled NR compound has been studied at different temperatures. The rubber compounds with the three xanthate accelerators and ZDC were cured at various temperatures from 60°C to 150°C. The sheets were moulded and properties such as tensile strength , tear strength , cross-link density, elongation -at-break, compression set, heat build up, abrasion resistance, flex resistance , etc. were evaluated . The properties showed that zinc xanthate/ZDC accelerator combination has a positive synergistic effect on the mechanical properties of NR compounds. The curing of HAF filled NR compound containing zinc xanthate /ZDC is slightly slower than the curing of the corresponding gum compounds . It is observed that, by gradually increasing the amount of the accelerator, the cure time of black filled NR compound can be made equal to that of the gum compou

Studies on Latex Stage Carbon Black Masterbatching of NR and its Blend with SBR

Carbon Black is incorporated In natural rubber latex in , the presence of polyethylene glycol. The dispersion of carbon blade in the vulcanizatea is analyzed using polaroid M.4 land camera The mechanical properties of the carbon black meeterbatched NR/SBR blend Is compared with that of conventional NR/SBR blend before and after ageing , The resilience, flex resistance and hardness are found to be superior for N-LCMISBR compounds. The compression set and abrasion resistance are comparable for both types of blends . The processebiity and die swell of these blends at different shear rates are also compared.

STUDIES ON SCATTERING AND QUASI-NORMAL MODES IN BLACK HOLE SPACE-TIMES

The question of stability of black hole was first studied by Regge and Wheeler who investigated linear perturbations of the exterior Schwarzschild spacetime. Further work on this problem led to the study of quasi-normal modes which is believed as a characteristic sound of black holes. Quasi-normal modes (QNMs) describe the damped oscillations under perturbations in the surrounding geometry of a black hole with frequencies and damping times of oscillations entirely fixed by the black hole parameters.In the present work we study the influence of cosmic string on the QNMs of various black hole background spacetimes which are perturbed by a massless Dirac field.

Studies on Thermodynamics and No-hair Theorem in Black hole Spacetime

Department of Physics, Cochin University of Science and Technology

Phytochemical investigations on ‘black glumed’ Njavara (Oryza sativa L.), the medicinal rice, as compared to staple varieties and evaluation of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects

The study was planned to investigate the bioactive compounds in Njavara compared to staple varieties and their bioactivity to substantiate the medicinal properties. Results of the study on chemical indices, antioxidant activity and antiinflammatory activity (in vivo) of Njavara black rice bran and rice in comparison with non-medicinal varieties like Sujatha and Palakkadan Matta rice bran and rice are given. The phytochemical investigation and quantification of Njavara extracts in comparison with staple varieties are detailed in this study. The last chapter is divided in three sections (A, B and C). Section A comprises the antioxidant activity by in vitro assays like DPPH, superoxide anion radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity of the compounds. Also, theoretical studies using DFT were carried out based on DPPH radical scavenging activity for understanding the radical stability and mechanism of antioxidant activity. Section B comprises the anti-inflammatory activity of the identified compounds namely tricin and two flavonolignans in both in vivo and in vitro models. Section C describes the cytotoxicity of the rare flavonolignans, tricin 4’-O-(erythro-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether and tricin 4’-O-(threo-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether towards multiple cancer cells belonging to colon, ovarian and breast tumours.

Studies on Quasinormal Modes and Late-time Tails in Black Hole Spacetimes

This thesis Entitled Studies on Quasinormal modes and Late-time tails black hole spacetimes. In this thesis, the signature of these new theories are probed on the evolution of field perturbations on the black hole spacetimes in the theory. Chapter 1 gives a general introduction to black holes and its perturbation formalism. Various concepts in the area covered by the thesis are also elucidated in this chapter. Chapter 2 describes the evolution of massive, charged scalar field perturbations around a Reissner-Nordstrom black hole surrounded by a static and spherically symmetric quintessence. Chapter 3 comprises the evolution of massless scalar, electromagnetic and gravitational fields around spherically symmetric black hole whose asymptotes are defined by the quintessence, with special interest on the late-time behavior. Chapter 4 examines the evolution of Dirac field around a Schwarzschild black hole surrounded by quintessence. Detailed numerical simulations are done to analyze the nature of field on different surfaces of constant radius . Chapter 5is dedicated to the study of the evolution of massless fields around the black hole geometry in the HL gravity.

Bacteriological quality of individually quick-frozen (IQF) raw and cooked readyto- eat shrimp produced from farm raised black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon

One thousand, two hundred and sixty four samples of individually quick-frozen (IQF) peeled and deveined raw and 914 samples of cooked ready to eat shrimp samples produced from farm raised black tiger (Penaeus monodon) obtained from a seafood unit working under HACCP concept were analysed for total aerobic plate count (APC), coliform count, Escherichia coli, coagulase positive Staphylococci and Salmonella. The overall bacteriological quality of the product was found to be good. Of the frozen raw shrimp, 96% of samples showed APC below 105 while 99% of the frozen cooked ready-to-eat samples showed APC less than 104. The APC ranged from 1·0´102 to 4·2´106 cfu/gm in frozen raw shrimp and from 1·0´102 to 6·4´104 cfu/gm in the frozen cooked shrimp. Prevalences of coliforms in raw shrimp and cooked shrimp samples were 14·4% and 2·9% respectively. The coliform count in raw products ranged from 1·0´101 to 2·5´103 cfu/gm and in the cooked products, from 1·0 ´101 to 1·8´102 cfu/gm. Although all the cooked shrimp samples were free of coagulase positive staphylococci, E. coli and Salmonella, 1·0, 2·0 and 0·1% of the frozen raw shrimp samples tested positive for coagulase positive Staphylococci, E. coli and Salmonella respectively. The Salmonella strain was identified as Salmonella typhimurium. The results of the present study highlight the importance of implementation of HACCP system in the seafood industry to ensure consistent quality of frozen seafood

Lignin recovery, Biochar Production and Decolourisation of Coir pith Black Liquor

Coir pith black liquor obtained as a dark brown filtrate from oxidative delignification needs to be decolourised before releasing to open environment. From this liquor industrially valuable lignin was recovered using acid precipitation method. ‘Biochar’ was produced by slow pyrolysis of coir pith at 500oC and 600oC. Water holding capacity and pH of the biochar were estimated. CHNS analysis was carried out to identify the nutrient profile. Structural characterization was done using FTIR and SEM Studies. Biochar produced at 600oC was found to be more suitable for decolourisation of the coir pith black liquor. FTIR analysis indicated peak changes while SEM analysis indicated surface area and porosity changes. Biochar decolourisation experiments were carried out on crude coir pith black liquor and also on lignin recovered coir pith black liquor.

Black yeasts from the slope sediments of Bay of Bengal: phylogenetic and functional characterization

Occurrence of black yeasts in the slope sediments of Bay of Bengal was investigated during FORV Sagar Sampada cruises 236 and 245. The black yeast population was found to be very scanty in the area and the isolates could be obtained from 200m to 1000m depth regions in the slope sediments. The isolates were identified as Hortaea werneckii by Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequencing. The biodegradation potential of these strains was found to be very high with all the strains exhibiting protease, lipase and amylase production. The optimum growth conditions were pH 8, salinity 30 ppt and temperature 30oC. The pigment melanin, in these organisms was identified to be of dihydroxynaphthalene type by NMR. The melanin was found to exhibit inhibitory activity against different human and fish pathogens. Melanin degrading enzyme could also be extracted from these organisms