La dernière décennie est marquée par l’émergence, au nord comme au sud de la Méditerranée, de nombreux organismes portant dans leur appellation le terme « observatoire ». Le transfert de ces dispositifs de l’astronomie aux sciences humaines et sociales et leurs usages protéiformes requièrent un retour sur leurs fondements historiques, théoriques et méthodologiques. Cette exploration est le point de départ d’une recherche sur l’articulation entre observatoires, intelligence territoriale et développement durable dans le contexte aride du sud-tunisien. Ainsi les défis, les exigences et les mutations des sociétés rurales de Menzel Habib (Gabes) sont-ils nombreux et profonds. Devant la désertification et la dégradation continue qui affectent la dynamique de développement de ce territoire aride se pose, entre autres, la question sur les capacités de l’observatoire de Menzel Habib à générer la concertation et la valorisation des interactions territoriales. En ce sens, nos travaux constatent l’existence, dans bien des cas, d’un décalage entre les capacités d’évolution de l’observatoire et l’utilisation qui en est faite en matière de communication entre les différents acteurs territoriaux. Il ressort de cette recherche, inscrite dans le programme de recherche Langages, Objets, Territoires et Hospitalités (LOTH), que les thématiques du développement durable et de l’intelligence territoriale sont susceptibles de se rejoindre et de se compléter dans le cadre de projets locaux des observatoires socio-économiques et environnementaux. Cette dynamique de développement nécessite toutefois une mutualisation de l’information couplée à une démarche de confiance, de participation, de communication et de concertation territoriale. Aussi proposons-nous l’application d’un processus d’intelligence territoriale adapté (PITA) qui s’inscrit dans une voie prospective d’intégration des nouvelles attitudes susceptibles d’être au fondement d’un nouveau rapport de gouvernance rurale / The last decade has witnessed the appearance, in both north and south of the Mediterranean, of several institutions that carry in their names the word ‘observatory’. The introduction of these astronomical observations into the social sciences has called for a thorough investigation into the origins, theories and methodologies of these observatories. Such an investigation is at the origin of some substantial research into the interaction between these observatories, territorial intelligence and continuous development in the arid region of the Tunisian south. Accordingly, the changes and developments of rural society in the region of Menzel Habib, Gabes are complex and far-reaching. In front of the ever-expanding desertification and the continuous developmental recess in this arid region, what remains to be seen is the capacity of Menzel Habib Observatory to stimulate and value interaction between territories. This research argues that there is a discrepancy between the growth rates of this observation post and the role it assumes to link the different territorial actors. This research, conducted within the framework of the research program “Languages, Objects, Territories and Hospitalities (LOTH)”, argues that the content of continuous development and territorial intelligence should be linked to complete each other within local socio-economic and environmental projects of such observatories. However, this dynamic of development necessitates a sound data circulation, a firm process of participation, communication and mutual consultation. Thus, it is suggested to apply an adapted territorial intelligence process (ATIP) within a prospective approach of integration of the new susceptible attitudes as a basis for an upgraded rural governance.

Dynamic regulation of the actin cytoskeleton is required for synapses to form and maintain their shape. The actin cytoskeleton is regulated by Rho GTPases in response to genetic and extracellular signals. Rho GTPases are regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs). Syd-1 is a protein that has been identified as necessary for synapse formation in worms, with similar proteins in flies, and mice. Little is known about the molecular mechanism by which Syd-1 is acting. While genetic techniques are great tools for examining synapse development, they are limited by their inability to consider the molecular nature of the protein product. By studying the biochemical nature of synaptic proteins, we can begin to understand their function with a new level of clarity. Syd-1 has a predicted Rho GAP domain; however it is thought to be inactive. The activity of the fly protein, Dsyd-1, has never been examined although it has been speculated that it is inactive in all invertebrates. Recently the mouse version was reported to have Rho GAP activity. By performing GTPase activity assays on purified proteins, I found the GAP domain of Dsyd-1 increased the GTPase activity of Rac-1 and Cdc42 but not RhoA. Members of our lab found the activity of Dsyd-1 is necessary for proper synapse formation both at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction as well as in R7 neurons. In Caenorhabditis elegans, Syd-1 was found to interact with presynaptic protein RSY-1. Since RSY-1 is evolutionarily conserved, I tested whether or not RSY-1 has a similar effect on R neurons in Drosophila. I also isolated mRNA from R neurons and evaluated the possibility of analyzing mutant neurons using comparative transcriptomics. This dissertation includes previously unpublished coauthored material.

Primitive, mantle-derived magmas provide important clues about the formation and equilibration conditions of magmas at depth. In subduction zones, it is uncommon for primitive magmas to ascend through the shallow mantle and crust without undergoing chemical modification. Instead, magmas commonly differentiate through fractional crystallization, crustal assimilation, or magma mixing. Those rare primitive lavas that do erupt along a volcanic arc are useful for elucidating subduction-related processes within the mantle wedge (~30–80 km depth) and are the focus of this research. I used piston-cylinder apparatuses to investigate the high-pressure, high-temperature, H2O-undersaturated phase equilibria for several primitive compositions that have erupted at volcanic arcs. I aimed to reveal the permissible residual mantle mineralogy, as well as the P-T- H2O conditions over which the putative mantle melts last equilibrated before erupting. My work focuses on the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB), where primitive compositions span a range of SiO2, total alkalies (K2O+Na2O), magmatic H2O, and incompatible trace element enrichments. Variations among these components are presumed to result from melting heterogeneous mantle that has been affected, to varying degrees, by a subduction component. Chapter III focuses on the phase equilibria of a Mexican basaltic andesite and an Aleutian basalt. Results show that hydrous basaltic andesite equilibrated with harzburgite in the shallow mantle, whereas the basalt equilibrated with lherzolite. The former appears more common in continental arcs and the latter in intraoceanic arcs. Chapter IV focuses on two alkaline lavas of varying K2O content from the TMVB that are transitional between potassic, hydrous minette and H2O-poor intraplate alkali basalt. Experimental phase relations and trace element modeling reveals that melting and/or mixing of peridotite and clinopyroxene-rich veins are likely involved in producing these transitional lava types. These experimental data are integrated with other petrologic and geophysical data to provide an along-arc perspective of mantle-melt equilibration in the TMVB. Primitive melts appear to commonly equilibrate with chemically heterogeneous mantle at depths above the "hot nose" of the mantle wedge. It is apparent that the shallow mantle wedge is a key component for understanding the geochemical complexities of subduction zone magmas. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored material.

The analysis of marsh cores from the tidal zones of the Siuslaw, Umpqua, and Coos River systems on the south-central Oregon coast provides supporting evidence of coseismic subsidence resulting from megathrust earthquakes and reveals the landward extent of the zero-isobase. The analysis is based on lithostratigraphy, paleotidal indicators, microfossil paleotidal indicators, and radiocarbon age. Coseismic activity is further supported by the presence of anomalous thin sand layers present in certain cores. The analysis of diatom assemblages provides evidence of relative sea-level displacement on the order of 1 to 2 m. The historic quiescence of local synclinal structures in the Coos Bay area together with the evidence of prehistoric episodic burial of wetland sequences suggests that the activity of these structures is linked to megathrust releases. The distribution of cores containing non-episodically buried marshes and cores that show episodically buried wetlands within this area suggests that the landward extent of the zero-isobase is between 100 km and 120 km from the trench. The zero-isobase has a minimum width of 10 to 15 km. Radiocarbon dating of selected buried peat sequences yields an estimated recurrence interval on the order of 400 years. The apparent overlapping of the landward margin of both the upperplate deformation zone (fold and/or thrust fault belt) and the landward extent of the zero-isobase is interpreted to represent the landward limit of the locked zone. The earthquake magnitude is estimated to be 8.5 based on an arbitrary rupture length of 200 km and a locked zone width of 105 km. The identification of the zero-isobase on the southcentral Oregon coast is crucial to the prediction of regional coseismic subsidence and tsunami hazards, the testing of megathrust dislocation models, and the estimation of megathrust rupture areas and corresponding earthquake magnitudes in the Cascadia Margin.

Le Sénégal est actuellement confronté à une forte socialisation du littoral liée, entre autres, au dynamisme de la pêche piroguière qui a évolué, en moins d'une cinquantaine d'années, d'une activité traditionnelle à une pêche artisanale. L'approche territoriale, appliquée à trois niveaux d'échelles spatiales (les territoires de pêche, les pôles halieutiques et les territoires littoraux) apporte de nouveaux éléments informatifs sur la gestion durable des ressources, la nature et les dynamiques des territoires et sociétés halieutiques ainsi que sur le rôle de la pêche artisanale dans la structuration des territoires littoraux. Étant donné les écueils que comporte une démarche scientifique en terre africaine, la méthodologie s'appuie sur une approche participative du terrain. L'analyse de trois sites-témoins démontre que la pêche artisanale constitue une menace pour la pérennité des ressources du fait d'une extraversion croissante de la filière de commercialisation. Elle révèle que la politique nationale en matière de pêche, fortement influencée par la politique et la coopération internationales, contribue à cette extraversion. Néanmoins, les sociétés halieutiques se distinguent par une plus grande résistance à l'occidentalisation des mœurs et coutumes qui, en d'autres lieux du littoral, est à l'origine de profondes recompositions territoriales. Les territoires littoraux, en plus d'être soumis à des dégradations environnementales et des concurrences territoriales, sont en effet le théâtre d'une dualité entre les dynamiques endogènes et des facteurs exogènes que les politiques de gestion doivent pleinement intégrer. Cette réflexion soulève le problème des relations Nord/Sud puisque la globalisation libérale apparaît comme une continuité de l'exploitation coloniale et prouve la nécessité de renouveler les approches scientifiques et politiques en matière de développement.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Principal faculty advisor: George W. Luther, III., College of Marine and Earth Studies. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (February 23, 2006) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2004. Graduate Programme in Geography. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 182-194). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ99255

Innovation and regional development are two topics that were (separately) very much discussed by scholars, and in recent literature there have been attempts to combine and show how the former can contribute to the latter. At the same time, different types of regional agglomeration systems have been developed and discussed such as: clusters, hubs, innovation systems, technopolies, and knowledge cities. However, there is a significant gap in literature when it comes to innovation zones. As a result, there is a need to look into the role of innovation zones in regional development and examine the possible benefits (if any) that the innovation zones can provide to the region to which they are affiliated   . / MASTERS THESIS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Highway lane closures cause reductions in the traffic throughput which lead to premature queuing. To minimize user delays, contractors are required to keep highway lanes open during the peak traffic hours and work at nights. However, these limitations can reduce the quality of the work and extend project duration. Finding a right balance between the times that the lanes can be closed and the times they should be kept open can increase the efficiency of the contractors’ work. Over 100 hours of throughput data were collected in two phases from 2007 to 2010 from Southern Ontario highways. Using regression analysis, a generic and a highway specific model were developed predicting the mean throughput in approximately 50% of cases within one hundred vehicles per hour per lane of the actual mean. Also the Simplified Work Zone User Delay Analysis model, developed in Phase 1, was refined to investigate the resulting queues.