La résolution de conflits familiaux chez les Canadiennes musulmanes à Montréal : un système de justice parallèle?

Cet article présente, à partir de données tirées d’entrevues menées lors d’une recherche qualitative entreprise à Montréal (2005-2007), les différents modes alternatifs de résolution de conflit, leurs acteurs et processus, sollicités par les Canadiennes musulmanes vivant des conflits familiaux. L’analyse des discours de ces acteurs et des Canadiennes musulmanes nous a amené à conclure qu’il n’y a pas, à Montréal, de système juridique musulman, informel et organisé qui existerait en parallèle au système judiciaire étatique. Nous avons plutôt découvert l’existence de différents processus au coeur desquels on retrouve le conseiller religieux. Dans ces processus, ce sont davantage son rôle de conseil, la négociation et le consentement du couple ainsi que leur bonne volonté qui sont mis en exergue, qu’un quelconque pouvoir de trancher un litige du conseiller.This article is based on qualitative research conducted in Montreal between 2005 and 2007 on alternative modes of conflict resolution that are sought by Canadian Muslim women who experience family disputes. Analysis of the narratives of the social actors in processes of conflict resolutions and of Canadian Muslim women leads us to conclude that there is no such thing as an unofficial and organized Muslim legal system in Montreal that exists parallel to the State justice system. Instead, as we note, there are a variety of processes centered around individual religious counselors. These processes depend more on the advice of the counselor, as well as on the negotiation and the consent of the couple, backed by their good will, rather than on any adjudicative role of the counsellor

Optimization of geothermal power plant design for evolving operating conditions

The main goal of this work is to determine optimal geothermal power plant designs by taking into account the transient evolution of the plant/reservoir system. To do so, a geothermal reservoir model is developed, where the permeability of the ground is represented by a series of parallel pipes inside which the underground water can flow. The reservoir model is coupled to an evolving Organic Ranking Cycle (ORC), where the pressure at the condenser adapts to the conditions in the geothermal reservoir (temperature of the brine and mass flow rate) based on the Stodola equation. The system is then optimized in order to maximize the total energy output of the power plant over its lifetime. A series of parametric analyses was performed for relevant design parameters (e.g., overall conductance of the heat exchanger at the evaporator, turbine sizes, number of years of operation, etc.), while other parameters were optimized, namely the working fluid to geofluid mass flow rate ratio, the pressure at the evaporator, and the geofluid mass flow rate. The optimal values that were found were values that yielded viable cycles over the entire exploitation period of the plant and that did not deplete the thermal reservoir prior to the end of the plant lifetime. ORC cycles that were optimized by considering the time evolution of the system were then compared against cycles optimized under the assumption of constant geothermal reservoir properties. It was also demonstrated that by allowing key design parameters to change over the course of the exploitation of the plant, it was possible to further increase the plant performance

Modélisation et optimisation des canaux réactifs de microréacteurs et des piles à combustible à hydrogène

Les piles à combustible à l’hydrogène (PACH) sont des engins qui produisent de l’énergie électrique à l’aide d’une réaction chimique entre l’hydrogène et l’oxygène. Ces dispositifs sont des candidats potentiels pour le remplacement des moteurs à combustion interne conventionnels. Cependant, les PACH ne sont toujours pas compétitives sur le plan commercial, car leur coût, leur poids et leur volume sont encore trop élevés. Un défi est donc d’améliorer l’efficacité des PACH en améliorant leur design. L’objectif de ce projet est de développer des outils de modélisation mathématique et de simulation numérique, pour ensuite optimiser le design des piles à combustible à l’hydrogène. Dans un premier temps, les phénomènes de transport à très petite échelle dans les milieux poreux qui constituent les PACH sont formulés mathématiquement, et une stratégie de lissage spatial est appliquée à ces équations pour les transformer en équations lissées valides à l’échelle macroscopique. Le nouveau modèle développé démontre que l’équation de conservation de la masse contient un terme volumique additionnel, tandis que l’équation de la quantité de mouvement reste similaire à la loi de Darcy. Dans un second temps, un modèle numérique est développé pour optimiser la géométrie des canaux catalytiques dans lesquels un fluide réagit chimiquement. Ce type d’écoulement peut représenter, entre autres, les réactants qui circulent dans les canaux se trouvant dans les PACH. Des corrélations sont développées analytiquement pour prédire les designs optimaux, et ces corrélations sont corroborées par des résultats numériques. Dans un troisième temps, un modèle mathématique et numérique complet de PACH est développé et validé. Ce modèle est utilisé pour optimiser l’allocation de catalyseur entre l’anode et la cathode, et pour optimiser la distribution de catalyseur dans la cathode. Les résultats montrent qu’une allocation inégale de catalyseur entre anode et cathode permet d’augmenter le courant généré par une PACH, et une distribution non-uniforme de catalyseur dans la cathode mène aux courants les plus élevés. Enfin, les paramètres les plus influents du modèle numérique ont été identifiés par une analyse de sensibilité.Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are devices that produce electricity by means of a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. These devices are possible alternatives for the replacement of internal combustion engines. However, they are not yet competitive, because their cost, weight and volume are still too large. A challenge is thus to increase PEMFC efficiency by optimizing their design. The main objective of the present project is to develop mathematical and numerical modeling tools in order to optimize the PEMFC design. First, small-scale transport phenomena in the porous media of PEMFC are formulated mathematically, and then a volume averaging method is used to transform these equations into equations that are valid at a larger scale in the porous media. The new mathematical model obtained with this strategy shows that the mass conservation equation contains an additional term, while the momentum equation remains similar to Darcy’s Law. Second, a numerical model is developed in order to optimize the geometry of catalytic channels in which a fluid undergoes chemical reactions. This kind of flow may represent, for example, the reacting species that move in PEMFC channels. Correlations are developed analytically in order to predict the optimal designs for these channels. These correlations were validated with numerical simulations. The results obtained may be applied to several different devices (e.g., microreactors, monolith, PEMFC). Finally, the mathematical and numerical model of a PEMFC are developed and validated. This model is used to optimize catalyst allocation between the anode and cathode sides of the fuel cell, and also to optimize catalyst distribution within the cathode catalyst layer. The analysis shows that an unequal allocation of catalyst between the anode and cathode sides results in a higher electric current. It was also shown that a non-uniform catalyst distribution within the cathode layer yields higher electric current. Finally, the most influential parameters of the numerical model were identified by a sensitivity analysis

Geothermal power plants with maximized specific power output : optimal working fluid and operating conditions of subcritical and transcritical organic rankine cycles

In this paper, the design of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is optimized by means of numerical simulations. The systems of interest are the subcritical and transcritical thermodynamic cycles. Optimizations are performed with the objective of determining the design that maximizes the specific power output. The design variables include the operating parameters (pressures, mass flow rates), and the best working fluid is determined by comparing the performance of 36 refrigerants. Optimization runs are performed for a wide range of geofluid temperatures (from 80 to 180 °C), and for a wide range of condenser temperature (from 0.1 to 50 °C). The results are summarized in charts that may be used as efficient tools for designing optimal geothermal power plants. Finally, an approximate analysis allowed to develop a new correlation for predicting the maximal specific power output of an ORC

Maximizing specific work output extracted from engine exhaust with novel inverted Brayton cycles over a large range of operating conditions

The heat contained in internal combustion engine exhaust gases can be converted into mechanical energy by using an Inverted Brayton Cycle (IBC). In this paper, five different IBC versions are numerically modeled and optimized to maximize their specific work output: (i) basic IBC, (ii) IBC with liquid water drainage (IBC/D), (iii) IBC with liquid water drainage and a steam turbine (IBC/D/S), (iv) IBC with liquid water drainage and a refrigeration cycle (IBC/D/R), and (v) IBC with liquid water drainage, a steam turbine and a refrigeration cycle (IBC/D/S/R). The three latter cycles are presented for the first time in literature. The optimization is performed for a wide range of inlet gases temperatures (600–1200 K) and heat sink temperatures (280–340 K). Among the five IBCs, the IBC/D/S/R has the highest specific work output for the whole range of operating temperatures. A comparison with the subcritical Rankine cycle and Organic Rankine Cycles using isobutane and benzene shows that an IBC system might be a better choice for specific operating temperatures. Liquid water addition in the IBC/D/S/R leads to optimized designs using only the steam turbine at high inlet gas temperatures, indicating that a Rankine cycle is better suited for these conditions

Conflict of Interest Policies at Canadian Universities and Medical Schools: Some Lessons from the AMSA PharmFree Scorecard

ArticleLancée en 2007, l’American Medical Students Association (AMSA) PharmFree Scorecard est un classement annuel des politiques de conflit d’intérêts (CI) de centres médicaux américains. Il se concentre sur les CI qui peuvent survenir lorsque la formation médicale est influencée par les relations université-industrie, en particulier ceux concernant l’industrie pharmaceutique et les dispositifs médicaux. Le PharmFree Scorecard s’est montré influent dans l’initiation de modification des politiques concernant la gestion des CI dans les institutions médicales américaines. Il fournit donc un point de départ utile pour une réflexion sur la manière et les raisons pour lesquelles les établissements d’enseignement médicaux dans d’autres pays - et pour nos fins, le Canada - devraient accorder plus d’attention à l’identification et à la gestion appropriée des CI. La méthodologie de la PharmFree Scorecard consiste à examiner la diversité des facteurs et des intérêts qui pourraient influencer l’enseignement médical, il s’agit donc d’une approche intéressante pour l’analyse des politiques de CI des écoles de médecine. Pour évaluer son utilité et son applicabilité à l’extérieur des États-Unis, nous avons décidé d’appliquer le PharmFree Scorecard aux politiques de CI des 16 universités canadiennes accueillent les écoles de médecine. Dans l’ensemble, les institutions canadiennes se classent très mal, particulièrement en ce qui concerne la disponibilité d’outils d’éducation et de formation concernant l'identification et la gestion de CI pour le personnel, les étudiants et les professeurs. Cependant, les différences entre les contextes d’enseignement médical aux États-Unis et au Canada (en ce qui concerne la gouvernance et le financement des universités par exemple) limitent, dans une certaine mesure, l’applicabilité directe du classement AMSA. Même si elles peuvent et doivent aller plus loin en élaborant leurs propres politiques de CI et procédures, les écoles de médecine canadiennes - et leurs universités d’accueil - ont néanmoins beaucoup à apprendre des indications fournies par le classement AMSA PharmFree Scorecard.Launched in 2007, the American Medical Students Association (AMSA) PharmFree Scorecard is an annual ranking of conflict of interest (COI) policies at American medical centres; it focuses on COIs that may occur when medical education seems likely to be influenced by university-industry relationships, especially those with the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. The PharmFree Scorecard has proven influential in stimulating changes in policy regarding the management of COI at American medical institutions, thus it provides a useful jumping off point for reflection on how and why medical education institutions in other countries – and for our purposes, Canada – should pay more attention to the appropriate identification and management of COI. The PharmFree Scorecard methodology examines a diversity of factors and interests that could influence medical education; as such, it is an interesting approach to analysing the COI policies of medical schools. To test its utility or applicability outside the US, we decided to apply the PharmFree Scorecard to the COI policies of the 16 Canadian universities hosting medical schools. Overall, Canadian institutions rank very poorly, especially in ensuring that education and training tools are provided to staff, students and faculty members to enable the identification and management of COI. However, differences between the US and Canadian medical education contexts, e.g., with regards to the governance and funding of universities, limit to some extent the direct applicability of the AMSA ranking. Canadian medical schools – and their host universities – nonetheless have much to learn from insights provided by the AMSA PharmFree Scorecard ranking, although they can and should go further in developing their own COI policies and procedures

Maximizing specific work output extracted from engine exhaust with novel inverted Brayton cycles over a large range of operating conditions

The heat contained in internal combustion engine exhaust gases can be converted into mechanical energy by using an Inverted Brayton Cycle (IBC). In this paper, five different IBC versions are numerically modeled and optimized to maximize their specific work output: (i) basic IBC, (ii) IBC with liquid water drainage (IBC/D), (iii) IBC with liquid water drainage and a steam turbine (IBC/D/S), (iv) IBC with liquid water drainage and a refrigeration cycle (IBC/D/R), and (v) IBC with liquid water drainage, a steam turbine and a refrigeration cycle (IBC/D/S/R). The three latter cycles are presented for the first time in literature. The optimization is performed for a wide range of inlet gases temperatures (600–1200 K) and heat sink temperatures (280–340 K). Among the five IBCs, the IBC/D/S/R has the highest specific work output for the whole range of operating temperatures. A comparison with the subcritical Rankine cycle and Organic Rankine Cycles using isobutane and benzene shows that an IBC system might be a better choice for specific operating temperatures. Liquid water addition in the IBC/D/S/R leads to optimized designs using only the steam turbine at high inlet gas temperatures, indicating that a Rankine cycle is better suited for these conditions

Barriers to Research on Research Ethics Review and Conflicts of Interest

R esearch on research ethics-regarding both the governance and practice of the ethical review of human subjects research-has a tumultuous history in North America and Europe. Much of the academic literature focuses on issues to do with regulating the conduct and quality of ethics review of research protocols by ethics committees (research ethics boards (REBs) in Canada and institutional review boards (IRBs) in the United States). 1 In addition, some of the literature attends to issues particular to the review of qualitative research, 2 and still other literature addresses the challenges posed by and the need for research on REBs/IRBs. 3 It is this third group of literature within which our article is situated. In 2009, we initiated an empirical bioethics project to advance REBs' understanding and management of conflicts of interest in their ethics review of research projects. Because we were interested in the experience of the REB as a group-not specifically of individual members-our plan to conduct interviews meant that an REB had to review and approve the proposed project. We obtained approval from one of the REBs at our university in early 2010. However, as we also wished to interview REBs in medical centers, we were obliged to submit our project through Canada's provincial multicenter process (also known as a multisite review). This necessitated a second full application to a central REB (which was based in a hospital), as well as to the dozen REBs we hoped to recruit as "participants" in our study. We were interested in learning from the experiences of REBs that dealt mainly with clinical research, from those that reviewed psychosocial, behavioral and public health research, as well as from REBs that reviewed non-health related research. This second review process proved much more complicated and time consuming. Moreover, it involved unduly demanding and inappropriate requests due to 1) an apparent "clinical trial bias" on the part of some REBs (i.e., a bias against qualitative research based on the view that all research projects require the same level of risk analysis and protections as clinical trials), and 2) structural elements imposed by the multicenter process (e.g., substantial paperwork, requirement to have local respondents, and ethics review at all participating medical centers)

Genes to Diseases (G2D) Computational Method to Identify Asthma Candidate Genes

Asthma is a complex trait for which different strategies have been used to identify its environmental and genetic predisposing factors. Here, we describe a novel methodological approach to select candidate genes for asthma genetic association studies. In this regard, the Genes to Diseases (G2D) computational tool has been used in combination with a genome-wide scan performed in a sub-sample of the Saguenay−Lac-St-Jean (SLSJ) asthmatic familial collection (n = 609) to identify candidate genes located in two suggestive loci shown to be linked with asthma (6q26) and atopy (10q26.3), and presenting differential parent-of-origin effects. This approach combined gene selection based on the G2D data mining analysis of the bibliographic and protein public databases, or according to the genes already known to be associated with the same or a similar phenotype. Ten genes (LPA, NOX3, SNX9, VIL2, VIP, ADAM8, DOCK1, FANK1, GPR123 and PTPRE) were selected for a subsequent association study performed in a large SLSJ sample (n = 1167) of individuals tested for asthma and atopy related phenotypes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (n = 91) within the candidate genes were genotyped and analysed using a family-based association test. The results suggest a protective association to allergic asthma for PTPRE rs7081735 in the SLSJ sample (p = 0.000463; corrected p = 0.0478). This association has not been replicated in the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) cohort. Sequencing of the regions around rs7081735 revealed additional polymorphisms, but additional genotyping did not yield new associations. These results demonstrate that the G2D tool can be useful in the selection of candidate genes located in chromosomal regions linked to a complex trait