The exploration of mixed-use principle as an ingredient to improve the viability and vitality of town centres in Mauritius

This thesis has been realised through a scholarship offered by the Government of Canada to the Government of the Republic of Mauritius under the Programme Canadien de Bourses de la Francophonie

Projets et utopies au Québec : Les années 1960 et 1970 : entre sculpture et architecture

Depuis la publication de l’Utopia de Thomas More au XVIe siècle, la notion d’utopie s’est vue appropriée par différents domaines d’expression artistique. Bien vite, l’architecture et l’urbanisme en font leur apanage lorsqu’il est question de concilier, en des dessins et des plans, des sociétés idéalisées et leurs représentations. La modernité et les nouvelles technologies modifient les modalités de l’utopie qui tend alors vers l’actualisation de ses modèles en des projets construits. Le XXe siècle est aussi marqué par une abondance de formes et d’idées dont la transmission et le partage sont accélérés par la création de nouveaux médias. Si les années 1960 et 1970 sont le lieu d’émergence de formes expérimentales et de projets utopiques, notamment alimentés par la Révolution tranquille et Mai 68, il est encore difficile au Québec de retracer ces projets en arts et en architecture puisqu’ils sont peu documentés. Par l’étude de la pratique artistique d’Yvette Bisson (1926-), de Robert Roussil (1925-2013) et de Melvin Charney (1935-2012), ce mémoire propose d’observer les différentes tactiques d’appropriation de l’espace auxquelles s’apparentent les modalités de la sculpture de ces trois artistes. Par l’intermédiaire de Michel de Certeau, Henri Lefebvre et Louis Marin, nous chercherons à expliquer quelle est la teneur critique des imaginaires mis en œuvre par les trois artistes pour créer de nouveaux lieux utopiques de la sculpture.

Effect of Polymer Architecture on the Structural and Biophysical Properties of PEG-PLA Nanoparticles

Polymers made of poly(ethylene glycol) chains grafted to poly(lactic acid) chains (PEG-g-PLA) were used to produce stealth drug nanocarriers. A library of comb-like PEG-g-PLA polymers with different PEG grafting densities was prepared in order to obtain nanocarriers with dense PEG brushes at their surface, stability in suspension, and resistance to protein adsorption. The structural properties of nanoparticles (NPs) produced from these polymers by a surfactant-free method were assessed by DLS, zeta potential, and TEM and were found to be controlled by the amount of PEG present in the polymers. A critical transition from a solid NP structure to a soft particle with either a “micelle-like” or “polymer nano-aggregate” structure was observed when the PEG content was between 15 to 25% w/w. This structural transition was found to have a profound impact on the size of the NPs, their surface charge, their stability in suspension in presence of salts as well as on the binding of proteins to the surface of the NPs. The arrangement of the PEG-g-PLA chains at the surface of the NPs was investigated by 1H NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). NMR results confirmed that the PEG chains were mostly segregated at the NP surface. Moreover, XPS and quantitative NMR allowed quantifying the PEG chain coverage density at the surface of the solid NPs. Concordance of the results between the two methods was found to be remarkable. Physical-chemical properties of the NPs such as resistance to aggregation in saline environment as well as anti-fouling efficacy were related to the PEG surface density and ultimately to polymer architecture. Resistance to protein adsorption was assessed by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) using lysozyme. The results indicate a correlation between PEG surface coverage and level of protein interactions. The results obtained lead us to propose such PEG-g-PLA polymers for nanomedecine development as an alternative to the predominant polyester-PEG diblock polymers.

Effect of polymer architecture on Curcumin 1 encapsulation and release from PEGylated polymer nanoparticles: toward a drug delivery nano-platform to the CNS

We developed a nanoparticles (NPs) library from poly(ethylene glycol)–poly lactic acid comb-like polymers with variable amount of PEG. Curcumin was encapsulated in the NPs with a view to develop a delivery platform to treat diseases involving oxidative stress affecting the CNS. We observed a sharp decrease in size between 15 and 20% w/w of PEG which corresponds to a transition from a large solid particle structure to a “micelle-like” or “polymer nano-aggregate” structure. Drug loading, loading efficacy and release kinetics were determined. The diffusion coefficients of curcumin in NPs were determined using a mathematical modeling. The higher diffusion was observed for solid particles compared to “polymer nano-aggregate” particles. NPs did not present any significant toxicity when tested in vitro on a neuronal cell line. Moreover, the ability of NPs carrying curcumin to prevent oxidative stress was evidenced and linked to polymer architecture and NPs organization. Our study showed the intimate relationship between the polymer architecture and the biophysical properties of the resulting NPs and sheds light on new approaches to design efficient NP-based drug carriers.

Profils des toxicomanes judiciarisés en traitement dans deux centres de réadaptation publics au Québec

L’objectif de la présente étude consiste à tenter de mieux connaître la population judiciarisée qui se présente en traitement pour des problèmes de toxicomanies. Deux cent seize clients admis en traitement dans deux centres de réadaptation en toxicomanie du Québec constituent l’échantillon. Ces sujets ont répondu à l’Indice de gravité d’une toxicomanie (IGT-ASI), au Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI), à l’Inventaire de personnalité Jesness, et au University of Rhodes Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA). Ces outils nous serviront à décrire la popula~tion étudiée. L’analyse des données nous entraîne dans une réflexion à deux niveaux. D’une part, l’observation de problématiques multiples dans la population à l’étude nous questionne sur les possibilités de mettre en place des services de traitement adéquats pour ces personnes qui apparaissent éprouver des problèmes d’adaptation à plusieurs niveaux. D’autre part, le niveau des problèmes de toxicomanie des personnes référées par le système de justice nous interroge sur la pertinence de certaines de ces références.

Des animaux pour humaniser les soins : Éthique des soins et récits de zoothérapie canine auprès de résidents de centres d’hébergement de soins de longue durée

Travail créatif / Creative Work

STUDIES ON TAXONOMY, DISTRIBUTION, ECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF ROTIFERS FROM SELECTED CENTRES IN COCHIN BACKWATER SYSTEM, KERALA

The studies were conducted in nine stations with varying ecological characteristics along Cochin backwaters and adjoining canals. Many workers opined that the distribution of rotifers is cosmopolitan. The significance of rotifers as first food for early larvae was indicated by Fujita. Aquaculture is a fast growing field in fisheries sector and it is gaining more importance as the fish landings and supply are getting irregular. A consistent supply of fish/shellfish can only be achieved through aquaculture. The success of any culture activity depends on the timely production of seeds of finfishes/shellfishes. The availability of wild seed is seasonal and erratic. So, a dependable source of seed of fishes and shellfishes is possible only through large scale production in hatchery. A successful seed production activity depends on the availability of a variety of suitable live feed organisms in sufficient quantities at the proper time for use in the larval stages. As the live feeds promote high growth rates, easy digestion, assimilation and the quality of not contaminating the culture water when compared to other artificial feeds, make the culture of live feed organisms the principal means of providing food for the larvae of finfishes and shellfishes. Rotifers are considered to be an excellent and indispensable food for larvae of many finfishes and crustaceans. It (1960) was the first to culture Brachionus plicatilis for feeding marine fish larvae, and now it is being extensively used as live feed in hatcheries all over the world. They are a group of microscopic organisms coming under the Phylum Rotifera which comprises of about 2000 species. Their slow swimming habits, ability to tolerate a wide range of salinities, parthenogenetic mode of reproduction and ability to get enriched easily, make rotifers an ideal live feed organism. The major factors such as temperature, salinity and food that influence the reproductive potential and thereby the population size of rotifer, Salinity is one of the most important aspect influencing the reproductive rate of rotifers. The feed type and feed concentration play a vital role in influencing the reproductive rate of rotifers. For culture of rotifers, the commonly used micro algae belong to Chlorella, Nannochloropsis, Isochrysis and Tetraselmis. While some studies have suggested that, algal diet has little effect on reproductive rates in 1979 while using the rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis as feed for the larvae of red sea bream, Pagrus major. It is generally accepted that rotifers play a pivotal role in the successful rearing of marine fish larvae.

BIOCHEMICAL GENETIC STUDIES ON THE OIL SARDINE, Sardinella longiceps (CUVIER AND VALENCIENNES, 1847) FROM SELECTED CENTRES OF THE WEST COAST OF INDIA

The main objective of the present investigation was to study the biochemical genetic variability within the species and genetic structure of its regional populations from west coast. Realising the recent report of occurrence of oil sardine fishery in east coast of India, population samples from Mandapam and Madras were also included in the present investigation. The original data gathered on the population genetics of the species have helped to interpret and evaluate the results objectively. The important conclusions drawn from a detailed discussions on the subject would throw some light on the probable process of problematic fluctuations in the abundance of oil sardine fishery of India. The academic and applied values of present discoveries need not be emphasised. The data used for the doctoral thesis were generated during the ICAR ad-hoc project on the "Population genetic studies on oil sardine, sardinella longiceps to identity distinct genetic stocks", carried out at CMFRI, Cochin during the years, 1988-1991

Indian Mathematics Related to Architecture and Other Areas With Special Reference to Kerala

Department of Mathematics, Cochin University of Science and Technology

An Error-Localization, Validation and Optimization Tool for Embedded Code Augmentation: an Architecture Oriented Approach

Embedded systems are usually designed for a single or a specified set of tasks. This specificity means the system design as well as its hardware/software development can be highly optimized. Embedded software must meet the requirements such as high reliability operation on resource-constrained platforms, real time constraints and rapid development. This necessitates the adoption of static machine codes analysis tools running on a host machine for the validation and optimization of embedded system codes, which can help meet all of these goals. This could significantly augment the software quality and is still a challenging field.Embedded systems are usually designed for a single or a specified set of tasks. This specificity means the system design as well as its hardware/software development can be highly optimized. Embedded software must meet the requirements such as high reliability operation on resource-constrained platforms, real time constraints and rapid development. This necessitates the adoption of static machine codes analysis tools running on a host machine for the validation and optimization of embedded system codes, which can help meet all of these goals. This could significantly augment the software quality and is still a challenging field.Embedded systems are usually designed for a single or a specified set of tasks. This specificity means the system design as well as its hardware/software development can be highly optimized. Embedded software must meet the requirements such as high reliability operation on resource-constrained platforms, real time constraints and rapid development. This necessitates the adoption of static machine codes analysis tools running on a host machine for the validation and optimization of embedded system codes, which can help meet all of these goals. This could significantly augment the software quality and is still a challenging field.Embedded systems are usually designed for a single or a specified set of tasks. This specificity means the system design as well as its hardware/software development can be highly optimized. Embedded software must meet the requirements such as high reliability operation on resource-constrained platforms, real time constraints and rapid development. This necessitates the adoption of static machine codes analysis tools running on a host machine for the validation and optimization of embedded system codes, which can help meet all of these goals. This could significantly augment the software quality and is still a challenging field.This dissertation contributes to an architecture oriented code validation, error localization and optimization technique assisting the embedded system designer in software debugging, to make it more effective at early detection of software bugs that are otherwise hard to detect, using the static analysis of machine codes. The focus of this work is to develop methods that automatically localize faults as well as optimize the code and thus improve the debugging process as well as quality of the code.Validation is done with the help of rules of inferences formulated for the target processor. The rules govern the occurrence of illegitimate/out of place instructions and code sequences for executing the computational and integrated peripheral functions. The stipulated rules are encoded in propositional logic formulae and their compliance is tested individually in all possible execution paths of the application programs. An incorrect sequence of machine code pattern is identified using slicing techniques on the control flow graph generated from the machine code.An algorithm to assist the compiler to eliminate the redundant bank switching codes and decide on optimum data allocation to banked memory resulting in minimum number of bank switching codes in embedded system software is proposed. A relation matrix and a state transition diagram formed for the active memory bank state transition corresponding to each bank selection instruction is used for the detection of redundant codes. Instances of code redundancy based on the stipulated rules for the target processor are identified.This validation and optimization tool can be integrated to the system development environment. It is a novel approach independent of compiler/assembler, applicable to a wide range of processors once appropriate rules are formulated. Program states are identified mainly with machine code pattern, which drastically reduces the state space creation contributing to an improved state-of-the-art model checking. Though the technique described is general, the implementation is architecture oriented, and hence the feasibility study is conducted on PIC16F87X microcontrollers. The proposed tool will be very useful in steering novices towards correct use of difficult microcontroller features in developing embedded systems.

Performance of District Industries Centres in Kerala

This thesis "Entitled performance of district industries centres in kerala :An application of augmented solow model.The first chapter deals with evolution of approaches for promoting small scale production and the growth of small scale industries in india.the developing countries face the problems like sluggish growth capital shortages high levels of unemployment,enoromous rural-urban economic disparities regional inequalities increasing concentration of capital and chronic difficulities in the export sector.Review of literature and methodology of the study are presented in the second chapter. In the third chapter an attempt has been made to make an in-depth study of the emergence and growth of district of district industries centres.In the chapter four an attempt was made to study the organisational structure of DICs functions and responsibilities assigned to the functional managers and performance of the functionaries.

A Generic Software Architecture for a Domain Specific Distributed Embedded System

In this paper, we have evolved a generic software architecture for a domain specific distributed embedded system. The system under consideration belongs to the Command, Control and Communication systems domain. The systems in such domain have very long operational lifetime. The quality attributes of these systems are equally important as the functional requirements. The main guiding principle followed in this paper for evolving the software architecture has been functional independence of the modules. The quality attributes considered most important for the system are maintainability and modifiability. Architectural styles best suited for the functionally independent modules are proposed with focus on these quality attributes. The software architecture for the system is envisioned as a collection of architecture styles of the functionally independent modules identified

Use of Online Information Resources for Knowledge Organisation in Library and Information Centres: A Case Study of CUSAT

The paper discusses the use of online information resources for organising knowledge in library and information centres in Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT). The paper discusses the status and extent of automation in CUSAT library. The use of different online resources and the purposes for which these resources are being used, is explained in detail. Structured interview method was applied for collecting data. It was observed that 67 per cent users consult online resources for assisting knowledge organisation. Library of Congress catalogue is the widely used (100 per cent) online resource followed by OPAC of CUSAT and catalogue of British Library. The main purposes for using these resources are class number building and subject indexing

A Hybrid Architecture for Recognising Speech Signals in Malayalam

Speech is the primary, most prominent and convenient means of communication in audible language. Through speech, people can express their thoughts, feelings or perceptions by the articulation of words. Human speech is a complex signal which is non stationary in nature. It consists of immensely rich information about the words spoken, accent, attitude of the speaker, expression, intention, sex, emotion as well as style. The main objective of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is to identify whatever people speak by means of computer algorithms. This enables people to communicate with a computer in a natural spoken language. Automatic recognition of speech by machines has been one of the most exciting, significant and challenging areas of research in the field of signal processing over the past five to six decades. Despite the developments and intensive research done in this area, the performance of ASR is still lower than that of speech recognition by humans and is yet to achieve a completely reliable performance level. The main objective of this thesis is to develop an efficient speech recognition system for recognising speaker independent isolated words in Malayalam.