1,364 research outputs found
A fluid flow perspective on the diagenesis of Te Aute limestones
Pliocene cool-water, bioclastic Te Aute limestones in East Coast Basin, New Zealand, accumulated either in shelfal shoal areas or about structurally shallow growth fold structures in the tectonically active accretionary forearc prism. Up to five stages of carbonate cementation are recognised, based on cement sequence-stratigraphic concepts, that formed on the seafloor during exposure of the limestones before burial, during burial, uplift, and deformation. Two principal fluid types are identified--topography-driven meteoric fluids and compaction-driven fluids. We have developed conceptual and quantitative models that attempt to relate the physical characteristics of fluid flow to the cement paragenesis. In particular, we have simulated the effects of uplift of the axial ranges bordering East Coast Basin in terms of the degree of penetration of a meteoric wedge into the basin. The dynamics of meteoric flow changed dramatically during uplift over the last 2 m.y. such that the modelled extent of the meteoric wedge is at least 40 km across the basin, and the penetration depth 1500 m or more corresponding with measured freshwater intersections in some oil wells. Cement-fluid relationships include: (1) true marine cements that precipitated in areas remote from shallow freshwater lenses; (2) pre-compaction cements that formed in shallow freshwater lenses beneath limestone "islands"; (3) post-compaction cements derived from compaction-driven flow during burial; (4) early uplift-related fracture-fill cements formed during deformation of the accretionary prism and uplift of the axial ranges; and (5) late uplift-related cements associated with uplift into a shallow meteoric regime
An Intuitive Automated Modelling Interface for Systems Biology
We introduce a natural language interface for building stochastic pi calculus
models of biological systems. In this language, complex constructs describing
biochemical events are built from basic primitives of association, dissociation
and transformation. This language thus allows us to model biochemical systems
modularly by describing their dynamics in a narrative-style language, while
making amendments, refinements and extensions on the models easy. We
demonstrate the language on a model of Fc-gamma receptor phosphorylation during
phagocytosis. We provide a tool implementation of the translation into a
stochastic pi calculus language, Microsoft Research's SPiM
Jalons pour une thĂ©orie pragmatique de lâinterprĂ©tation du contrat : du temple de la volontĂ© Ă la pyramide de sens
La thĂšse insiste sur les diffĂ©rents aspects du terme interprĂ©tation. Si son sens varie dâune discipline Ă lâautre, il varie Ă©galement dâun juriste Ă un autre. Partant du constat de lâinadĂ©quation de la thĂ©orie classique reposant sur la distinction entre mĂ©thode subjective et mĂ©thode objective dâinterprĂ©tation, la thĂšse propose une nouvelle thĂ©orie interprĂ©tative basĂ©e sur les thĂ©ories de la communication (la rhĂ©torique et la pragmatique). La thĂ©orie pragmatique ainsi dĂ©veloppĂ©e est par la suite illustrĂ©e Ă lâaide de la jurisprudence de la Cour dâappel du QuĂ©bec. Ceci afin de dĂ©montrer quâil nây a pas une thĂ©orie interprĂ©tative, mais bien des thĂ©ories interprĂ©tatives du contrat au sein des magistrats. Ces thĂ©ories se distinguent par la prĂ©pondĂ©rance quâelles accordent aux arguments de volontĂ©, de logique et dâeffectivitĂ©. De plus, la thĂšse fait la dĂ©monstration de la nĂ©cessitĂ© de distinguer entre la production de la norme (opĂ©ration intellectuelle suivie par lâinterprĂšte inaccessible pour lâauditoire) et la justification de la norme (argumentation dĂ©veloppĂ©e par lâinterprĂšte afin de convaincre lâauditoire). Sâil peut y avoir adĂ©quation entre ces deux Ă©tapes, il peut Ă©galement y avoir discordance entre le processus suivi afin dâarriver au rĂ©sultat interprĂ©tatif et la justification de ce dernier. Tel est le cas notamment lorsque lâinterprĂšte argumente Ă lâaide de la thĂ©orie de lâacte clair voulant quâun texte clair nâait pas besoin dâĂȘtre interprĂ©tĂ©.The thesis focuses on the different aspects of the term interpretation. If its meaning varies from one discipline to another, it also varies from one lawyer to another. Noting the inadequacy of the classical theory based on the distinction between subjective and objective method of interpretation, the thesis proposes a new interpretative theory based on the theories of communication (rhetoric and pragmatic). The pragmatic theory thus developed is then illustrated by the case law of the Court of Appeal of Quebec. This is to demonstrate that there is not an interpretative theory, but many interpretative theories of contract. These theories are characterized by the dominance they grant to arguments of will, logic and effectiveness. In addition, the thesis demonstrates the need to distinguish between the production of the standard (Process followed by the interpreter inaccessible for the audience) and the justification of the standard (arguments employed by the interpreter in order to convince the audience). While there may be balance between these two stages, there may also be a discrepancy between the process followed to arrive at interpretive statement and justification of the latter. This is the case especially when the interpreter argues with the clear words theory wanting a plain text does not need to be interpreted
Impact de la prolificité sur la rentabilité de l'entreprise ovine québécoise : approche par modélisation
Tableau dâhonneur de la FacultĂ© des Ă©tudes supĂ©rieures et postdoctorales, 2010-2011L'objectif du prĂ©sent travail Ă©tait de vĂ©rifier, par simulations informatiques, l'impact d'une augmentation du taux de prolificitĂ© sur la rentabilitĂ© de l'entreprise ovine quĂ©bĂ©coise. Plusieurs sources de donnĂ©es ont Ă©tĂ© utilisĂ©es afin de bĂątir quatre troupeaux dont les niveaux de prolificitĂ© variaient de 1,5 Ă 2,4 agneaux nĂ©s par agnelage. Ces troupeaux ont Ă©tĂ© simulĂ©s Ă l'aide d'un logiciel dĂ©veloppĂ© spĂ©cifiquement pour le projet. Les simulations ont permis de montrer qu'une hausse de la prolificitĂ© de 1,5 Ă 2,4 agneaux nĂ©s par agnelage permet une amĂ©lioration annuelle de la marge brute de prĂšs de 24 000 $. Ă la lumiĂšre des rĂ©sultats de l'analyse de sensibilitĂ©, il est possible d'affirmer que cette relation est lĂ©gĂšrement sensible aux changements apportĂ©s au contexte de production
Ocean-Atmosphere Application Scheduling within DIET
In this report, we tackle the problem of scheduling an Ocean-Atmosphere application in an heterogeneous environment. The application is used for long term climate forecast. In this context, we analyzed the execution of an experiment. An experiment is composed of several identical simulations composed of parallel tasks. On homogeneous platforms, we propose a heuristic and its optimizations, all based on the same idea: we divide the processors into disjoint sets, each group executing parallel tasks. On heterogeneous platforms the algorithm presented is applied on subsets of simulations. The computation of the subsets is done greedily and aims at minimizing the execution time by sending each subset on a cluster. We performed experiments on the french research grid \emph{Grid'5000} which exhibited some technical difficulties. We also present some modifications done to the heuristics to minimize the impact of these technical difficulties. Our simulations are then validated by experimentations
CHSLD, gestion publique et Ă©valuation de programmes
Les Centres dâhĂ©bergement de soins de longue durĂ©e (CHSLD) sont au coeur de la crise de la COVID-19. Pour lâadministrateur public aguerri, plusieurs des lacunes mises en Ă©vidence peuvent apparaĂźtre stupĂ©fiantes. Ce qui Ă©tonne, câest quâelles font surface maintenant alors quâelles concernent une intervention publique qui existe de longue date. Il est vrai que les crises sont propices Ă rĂ©vĂ©ler dans quelle mesure nos systĂšmes organisĂ©s sont prĂ©parĂ©s Ă affronter des situations imprĂ©vues. Les analyses de ces Ă©vĂ©nements catastrophiques comme lâouragan Katrina, la crise du verglas ou les inondations au QuĂ©bec ont gĂ©nĂ©ralement permis dâillustrer certaines forces et certaines faiblesses des organisations impliquĂ©es (Therrien et al., 2017). Câest particuliĂšrement le cas pour les organisations publiques, car câest souvent leur rĂŽle dâintervenir dans lâimprĂ©vu. Les analystes porteront un regard critique sur lâefficacitĂ© des interventions mises de lâavant par ces organisations, pointeront leurs angles morts, jugeront sâil y a mauvaise gestion ou encore pure nĂ©gligence. En dehors des dĂ©bats de nature plus politique, le but est de tirer des leçons pour sâamĂ©liorer et Ă©viter que les mauvais coups ne se reproduisent. Comme câest le cas actuellement avec la pandĂ©mie de la COVID-19 et Ă propos des CHSLD, ces analyses se dĂ©roulent parallĂšlement Ă la crise. La gravitĂ© de la situation pousse Ă se demander pourquoi certains problĂšmes nâavaient pas Ă©tĂ© formellement traitĂ©s auparavant dans le cadre des activitĂ©s rĂ©guliĂšres de nos institutions. Dans le processus de gestion publique, ne devrait-il pas y avoir des mĂ©canismes institutionnels formels et scientifiquement reconnus pour prĂ©venir ce genre de catastrophe induite par une intervention publique dĂ©ficiente
Analyse de lâinitiative FRQ-IGN sur le dĂ©veloppement dâindicateurs dâĂ©valuation de programme suivant une approche de coproduction avec les parties prenantes
Ce rapport de recherche a pour objectif de documenter et dâanalyser une dĂ©marche expĂ©rimentale dans le dĂ©veloppement dâindicateurs dâĂ©valuation de programme. Lâinitiative Ă©tudiĂ©e a Ă©tĂ© menĂ©e conjointement par les FRQ et lâInstitut de gouvernance numĂ©rique. Elle a amenĂ© les parties prenantes du programme Grands dĂ©fis de sociĂ©tĂ© des FRQ Ă Ă©laborer les indicateurs de performance qui devaient servir Ă Ă©valuer le programme
CHSLDs, public management and program evaluation
CHSLDs (Long-Term Healthcare Centres) are at the core of the COVID-19 crisis. For the experienced or seasoned Public Administrator, many of the identified deficiencies may appear staggering. What is surprising is that they are popping up now even though they relate to a long-standing public intervention. It is true that crises are conducive to reveal the extent to which our organized systems are prepared for unforeseen situations. Analyses of such catastrophic events as Hurricane Katrina, the Quebec 1998 ice storm or 2019 recent floods in Quebec have generally illustrated some of the strengths and weaknesses of the organizations involved (Therrien et al., 2017). This is particularly the case for public organizations because it is often their role to intervene amidst unexpected circumstances. Analysts will take a critical look at the effectiveness of the interventions undertaken by these organizations, expose their blind spots, judge whether there is mismanagement or even resounding negligence. Apart from debates of a more political nature, the objective is to enable us to learn lessons in order to improve ourselves, prevent other wrong decisions and avoid mistakes from happening again. As it is currently the case with the COVID-19 pandemic and with respect to CHSLDs, these analyses are taking place in parallel with the ongoing crisis. The alarming importance and seriousness of the situation raises the question of why certain problems had not been formally addressed before within the framework of the regular activities of our institutions. Within the public management process, should there not be formal and scientifically recognized institutional mechanisms that can avert this kind of disaster generated by defective public intervention
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