Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Ahlberg Cameras is a company that manufactures advanced camera systems and inspection equipment for the nuclear industry. Every nuclear plant shuts down their reactors approximately every 18 months to perform visual inspections of the vessels to find cracks and other damage. The company has received a request from Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to develop a distance meter that will operate in the reactor vessel, placed in an inspection camera. The device should measure the distance between the camera and an object, and the angle between them. The measurement is performed in air and underwater and the device has therefore a requirement to be waterproof and radiation tolerant.   This thesis work has studied different possible technologies and technically excluded the ones that are not suitable for the intended application. A large part of the study has been about whether sound or light is a good enough source to use in the different technologies. The study has excluded to use sound mainly because the reflection back to the receiver at large angles becomes too weak. The choice of technology stands between structured light and a self-designed trigonometry technology, both using lasers. Tests have been made to determine if laser light underwater can be observed by the camera and the results indicates that lasers work well enough for this kind of application. Further in-depth studies into the sources of errors and measurement accuracy are needed for determining which of the two technologies is the most suitable.

"Mémoire présenté à la Faculté des études supérieures en vue de l'obtention du grade de LL.M. en droit option droit des technologies de l'information" / La question posée est: le vote par internet à distance est-il conforme aux exigences du droit électoral québécois et canadien? Ce mémoire procède en trois étapes. Premièrement, nous déterminons quels sont les principes directeurs qui assurent à une élection sa légitimité. Deuxièmement, nous raffinons notre recherche en ne conservant que les principes qui demeurent pertinents dans un contexte électronique. Le vote doit répondre aux principes suivants: suffrage universel, périodicité, égalité, secret, liberté, sécurité et transparence du processus. Troisièmement, nous transposons les étapes du cycle électoral sur internet. Les problématiques identifiées relèvent davantage de facteurs politiques que techniques ou juridiques. Ainsi la cryptographie et l'introduction du vote individuel multiple, qui n'enregistre que le dernier vote effectué, serviraient la confidentialité du vote. La sécurité du processus pourrait être atteinte notamment par des mesures de protection physique des serveurs, une chaîne de contrôles continue et la diffusion du code source du logiciel du vote. L'accès à la technologie serait accru par la mise en place d'un réseau gratuit de points d'accès publics à internet et des activités de formation. Quant à l'accès aux handicapés, la conformité du logiciel de vote à des principes reconnus d'accessibilité y contribuerait. Pour l'identification, la stratégie des secrets partagés, entre électeurs et autorité électorale, permettrait de dématérialiser cette étape. En conclusion, les lois électorales ne s'opposent pas, dans leur esprit, au vote par internet à distance. Il suffirait de les actualiser dans leur forme. / To come to an answer, this thesis employed a three step approach; firstly, we determined the guiding principles which ensure an election's legitimacy. Secondly, we refined our research by retaining only the principles relevant in an electronic context. The vote must abide by the following principles: Vote for all, periodicity, equality, secrecy, freedom, safety and transparency of the process. Thirdly, we transposed the stages of the electoral cycle on the Internet. The identified problems are more political than they are legal or technical. For instance, the confidentiality of the vote can be helped with the use of cryptography, and the introduction of the multiple individual vote, which would make it possible to record only the last vote cast. The safety of the process can be reached by measures of physical protection of the servers, a continuous control mechanism and an access to the source code of the voting software. Accessibility to the technology could be increased with a network of public access points to the Internet, and with education clinics. With respect to the handicapped voters, the voting software should comply with recognised principles of accessibility. To identify the voters, shared secrecies between the voter and the electoral authorities could allow a dematerialisation of this procedure. In conclusion, the spirit of our electoral laws would allow for the introduction of an Internet voting process.

The purpose of this study was to examine three experimental hypotheses: (1) each grade level in the study will show greater physical distances in interpersonal spacing as the grade level increases in both child-to-child and child-to-adult relationships, (2) interpersonal spacing will be greater in child-to-adult relationships than in child-to-child relationships, and (3) there will be a correlation between a child's self-esteem and his interpersonal spacing in both child-to-child and child-to-adult relationships. Two basic instruments were used in testing the hypotheses: (1) Interpersonal Spacing Measurement Apparatus and (2) modified Self-Esteem Inventory Short Form B. The three hypotheses were accepted and significant at better than the .01 level.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Notre recherche a pour objectif général de proposer l’adaptation du concept de la relation d’échange superviseur-subordonné (leader-member exchange ou LMX) à la nouvelle réalité du travail à distance. Il s’agit d’étudier la relation d’échange qui se développe entre le superviseur et le subordonné travaillant à distance. Plus précisément, nous visons à définir et à développer une échelle de mesure valide et fiable du concept du LMX à distance. Jusqu’à présent, aucune définition de cette relation d’échange superviseur-subordonné n'a été proposée et aucune échelle de mesure n'a été développée. Dans l’étude que nous proposons, la notion de la distance n’est pas considérée comme un élément contextuel, mais plutôt un élément indissociable du concept lui-même, contrairement à certaines études qui ont examiné la distance comme modérateur de la relation entre le LMX et ses résultantes (Bligh et Riggio, 2012; Brunelle, 2013). À cet effet, cette étude constitue la première sur le sujet. Étant donné l'importance du LMX à distance pour les travailleurs à distance et dont le nombre atteindrait plus de 50 % d’ici 2020 (ITIF, CAS et CoreNet Global), il est primordial de comprendre et d'analyser la relation d’échange superviseur-subordonné à distance afin de mieux comprendre sa nature et son processus de développement, ce qui permettra aux parties de la dyade superviseur-subordonné de mieux s’adapter à cette nouvelle réalité de travail et de développer des relations d’échanges de qualité. Cette recherche aidera les superviseurs travaillant à distance à mieux gérer leur potentiel humain. Pour cerner ce sujet de recherche, nous avons fait une revue approfondie de la littérature traitant du LMX traditionnel et de la notion de distance, et ce, afin de pouvoir proposer une définition du concept du LMX à distance. En outre, nous avons fait appel aux recommandations de la littérature portant sur la psychométrie et nous avons réalisé une étude exploratoire de nature qualitative pour développer son échelle de mesure. Nous avons donc effectué des entrevues individuelles semi-dirigées auprès de trente professeurs d’une université canadienne. Ces entrevues ont été analysées avec le logiciel qualitatif spécialisé Nvivo et ont permis de présenter une première échelle de mesure du LMX à distance composée de sept dimensions et de 27 indicateurs. En somme, nous avons tenu à acquérir une meilleure compréhension de ce phénomène qui est très répandu dans les organisations modernes et à offrir une plateforme théorique et pratique que les chercheurs pourront utiliser pour enrichir leurs connaissances sur le concept du LMX à distance. Enfin, notre étude permettra aux superviseurs et aux subordonnés de comprendre l'importance de développer et de maintenir des relations de qualité conduisant à des résultats organisationnels et personnels positifs. / In this research, we define the concept of distance leader-member exchange (distance LMX) and present a valid and reliable scale to measure it. We argue that the notion of distance is not a contextual element but is instead an integral component of the concept, unlike studies that have examined only the impact of distance in LMX relationships (Bligh and Riggio, 2012; Brunelle, 2013). Therefore we believe that our study is original and groundbreaking in the human resource management field. This measurement tool will allow the dyad parties to better adapt to this new working reality and will motivate them to collaborate and develop high-quality relationships. Our study thus offers an interesting contribution to help companies manage their employees and improve performance in cases of remote working. A review of the literature regarding traditional LMX and distance concepts was carried out to provide an accurate definition of the concept of distance LMX. We relied on the psychometric literature to build a measurement scale for this concept. This scale is the result of a qualitative exploratory study conducted among thirty Canadian university professors. For the data analysis we used Nvivo software to analyze the interviews. We present an initial measurement scale for distance LMX composed of 7 dimensions and 27 indicators. To summarize, we propose an approach to better understand the increasingly widespread remote-working phenomenon, and provide a theoretical and practical platform to help researchers better grasp this concept. Our study will surely help supervisors and subordinates understand the importance of developing and maintaining good relationships that will generate positive organizational and personal results.

Social work education is increasingly changing, and instructors are experimenting with new methods to deliver social work curricula to reach a larger population of social work students. Students previously excluded from university education based on their geographic location, financial limitations, family or work demands now have an opportunity to access social work programs in Canada using distance education, and distance education has become an emerging field of research. The current study identified instructor and student characteristics and university supports that were assessed as critical in creating an effective learning environment for delivering an entire undergraduate program of social work via distance education. The exploratory-descriptive study utilized a mixed-methods design to examine the perceptions of social work distance educators from four universities that offer a complete BSW degree accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE-ACFTS) through distance education: the University of Calgary, the University of Manitoba, the University of Victoria and Dalhousie University. Thirty-four social work distance educators completed a survey questionnaire, and 24 of these participated in qualitative interviews to identify the critical characteristics and university supports. Study findings suggest that effective performance of five distinct roles by both instructors and students are essential to creating an effective learning environment in social work distance education. The required university supports to maintain those roles are also identified. Based on these results a conceptual model for achieving effectiveness in social work distance education is identified. The study suggests what is needed to establish an effective learning environment in social work distance education and confirms the benefits of distance education in social work undergraduate programs. Suggestions for future research are included along with recommendations for building an effective distance learning environment in social work education. / May 2016

The determinants of success in venture capital financing are explored in this manuscript. 1247 venture capital funds formed over a twenty-year time period are empirically analyzed with results that support theoretical research from extant finance and economics literature. Venture capitalists' choices of portfolio size, distance from portfolio firms, location, and to some extent, level of diversification in their investment portfolio, are all significant factors in explaining the success rates of venture capital funds. These results are robust even when controlling for other characteristics of venture funds and entrepreneurial firms, such as the stage of development and industry of the portfolio firms, which may affect success rates of venture capitalist portfolios.

The concern of this study is the slow uptake of online learning at the Institute of Distance Education (IDE) in Swaziland. The Institute of Distance Education in Swaziland was set up in 1996 (Sukati, 2010) to offer distance learning to students. To date, most courses have used traditional print based materials, with some face to face contact in regional centres. IDE Policy makes clear that increasingly courses should be available online, using the institute’s learning management system (Moodle). However, uptake by lecturing staff of online learning has been very slow, and only a few courses are available on-line. The study identifies the factors that are perceived to support or inhibit the adoption and implementation of online learning at the IDE, and strategies that are seen as effective in facilitating its adoption and implementation. The research is located in the qualitative paradigm, and uses interviews as the main data gathering tool. Five different but coherent interview guides were used to collect data from staff offering online learning; staff not offering online learning; IDE programme coordinators; and two members of senior management. Some documentary analysis was also undertaken. The findings show that there were institutional factors, personal factors and external factors that both supported and acted as barriers to the adoption and implementation of online learning at the IDE. The study proposed strategies that might strengthen the supportive factors and overcome the barriers to adoption and implementation of online learning at the IDE. The conclusion drawn from the study was that there were more barriers than supporting factors and that this explains the slow adoption and implementation to online learning at the Institute. It also shows that while similar factors operate on the adoption and implementation of online learning at IDE as those identified in the literature, there are some factors which are particular to the IDE itself, and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, et al., 1989) is thus modified to show the factors operating in this context.

Orientador: Maria Teresa Miceli Kerbauy / Banca: Edson do Carmo Inforsato / Banca: Evelise Maria Labatut Portilho / Banca: Luci Pastor Manzoli / Banca: Marie Jane Soares Carvalho / Resumo: O processo de transformação social, política e econômica, pelo qual as sociedades contemporâneas têm passado, repõe a discussão sobre a democratização da educação numa perspectiva de livre acesso. A compressão do tempo-espaço ocasionada pelas novas tecnologias da informação e comunicação somada à constante necessidade de especialização gerada pelo mundo do trabalho têm feito com que antigas demandas populacionais pressionem cada vez mais o sistema público de ensino em busca de aperfeiçoamento. O sistema educacional, por sua vez, é pressionado para atender Sujeitos com necessidades diferentes e em tempos diversos. Neste cenário, a educação a distância (EAD) tem sido resgatada como uma importante aliada na tarefa de democratizar o acesso à educação. Além de outras ferramentas, a EAD tem feito uso intensivo dos audiovisuais como forma de potencializar a compreensão da mensagem, principalmente quando os Sujeitos do processo educativo estão separados fisicamente. Neste sentido, num contexto povoado pelas mídias, especialmente pela emergência de novos formatos digitais, o audiovisual adquire especial importância porque permite uma leitura diferenciada do mundo, além de seu potencial de abrangência que não pode ser ignorado. Verificase, no entanto, uma lacuna no que se refere aos parâmetros de produção de materiais audiovisuais educativos. Os estilos de aprendizagem permitem dar relevo às diferenças individuais e nortear os usos dos materiais audiovisuais que sejam mais adequados, segundo as necessidades específicas dos alunos. Assim sendo, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo geral compreender os materiais audiovisuais educativos de acordo com os estilos de aprendizagem, indicando caminhos e estratégias de utilização. Soma-se a este aspecto, o fato de que os audiovisuais educativos podem proporcionar o... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The process of social, political and economic transformation by which contemporary societies have been through restores the discussion about the democratization of education in a free access perspective. The compression of space and time caused by new information and communication technologies coupled with the constant need for expertise demanded by the world of work has made population older demands pressure ever more the public school system in search of improvement. The educational system, in turn, is pressed to meet Subjects with different needs and at different times. In this scenario, distance education has been redeemed as an important ally in the task of democratizing access to education. Among other tools, the distance education has made intensive use of audiovisuals materials as a way to enhance the understanding of the message, especially when the Subjects of the educational process are physically separated. In this sense, in a context populated by the media, especially the emergence of new digital formats, the audiovisual part acquires special importance because it allows a different reading of the world, besides its coverage potential that can not be ignored. There is, however, a gap in relation to production parameters of audiovisual educational materials. Learning styles allow you to highlight individual differences and guide the use of audiovisual materials that are more suitable, according to the specific needs of students. Therefore, this study had as a general objective to understand the educational audiovisual materials according to learning styles, indicating paths and use strategies. Added to this, the fact that they can provide the development of less developed styles in students, expanding learning opportunities.Through the methodology of qualitative analysis and analysis of discordant... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor