Les expériences rares, qu’elles soient positives ou négatives, surprennent par leur avènement inopiné et brutal. Toutefois, le plus surprenant reste l’incapacité des organisations à en tirer des leçons appropriées. Les expériences rares challengent les approches traditionnelles de l’apprentissage organisationnel fondées sur la réplication et l’amélioration progressive. De plus, les expériences rares sont souvent complexes : elles sont composées d’une grande variété d’éléments qui interagissent de façon incertaine. De ce fait, elles sont marquées par un niveau élevé d’ambiguïté causale qui peut conduire à un apprentissage superstitieux. Dans ces conditions, la littérature souligne la nécessité de mettre en oeuvre un apprentissage délibéré fondé sur la codification des connaissances. Mais la codification est une arme à double tranchant, qui peut rigidifier l’organisation et la littérature reste assez silencieuse sur comment réaliser une « bonne codification ». Ce travail de thèse s’intéresse alors à la question suivante : comment développer et mettre en oeuvre une stratégie de codification appropriée pour faciliter un apprentissage organisationnel délibéré à partir d’une expérience rare et complexe ? Cette recherche menée au sein de l’Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire s’appuie sur étude de cas réaliste critique. Elle vise à étudier deux apprentissages délibérés mis en place au sein de l’institut pour apprendre de deux accidents nucléaires graves : l’accident Fukushima Daiichi et l’accident Three Mile Island. Les résultats obtenus identifient trois mécanismes générateurs clés du processus de codification, leurs modes d’activation et la façon dont ils se combinent. Ces mécanismes s’activent grâce à la fois au contexte environnemental et à l’apparition de structures dédiées à la codification, puis se combinent pour former différentes configurations qui supportent deux cycles distincts d’apprentissage. Ces deux cycles sont essentiels pour apprendre d’une expérience rare et complexe. / Rare experiences, whether they are positive or negative, surprise by their unexpected and brutal occurrence. However, more surprising is organizations’ incapability to draw lessons from such rare experiences. Indeed, these experiences challenge traditional approaches of organizational learning based on replication and incremental improvement. In addition, rare experiences are often complex: they are composed of a large variety of elements that interact in uncertain ways. As a result, rare experiences are characterized by a high level of causal ambiguity that can lead to superstitious learning. In these circumstances, the literature emphasizes the need to implement deliberate learning based on knowledge codification. However, codification is a double-edged sword, which can produce organizational rigidity. Besides, research remains quite silent on how to achieve a "well-performed codification”. This research addresses the following question: how to develop and implement an appropriate codification strategy to facilitate deliberate organizational learning from rare and complex experiences? This research is conducted in the Institute of Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety. It is based on a critical realist case study which aims to study two deliberate learning process implemented within the institute to learn from two serious nuclear accidents: Fukushima Daiichi accident and Three Mile Island accident. Our results identify three key generative mechanisms of the codification process, their activation modes and how they are combined. These mechanisms are activated by both the environmental context and the emergence of dedicated structures to codification. The combination of these mechanisms forms different configurations that support two distinct learning cycles which are essential for learning from a rare and complex experience.

Fritidshemmets traditionella verksamhet beskrivs som fri från dokumenterade utvärderingar, men står nu inför kravet att genomföra sådana. Nu behöver verksamheten som hittills skildrats som ett lärande i socialt samspel formulera metoder för ett systematiskt utvärderingsarbete. Syftet med den här studien är att undersöka hur grundlärare i fritidshem och rektorer arbetar med utvärdering i fritidshemmet, enligt kravet på systematiskt kvalitetsarbete.Genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med rektorer och pedagoger i fritidshems- verksamheten undersöker vi hur man arbetar med utvärdering i fritidshemmet enligt kravet på systematiskt kvalitetsarbete. Genom hermeneutisk och tematisk analys av empirin tolkas materialet genom ramfaktorteorin och Ove Karlssons fyra utvärderingsnivåer.Alla de utvärderingar vi kommit i kontakt med sker i form av självuppskattning främst i ett informellt ”horisontellt” utvärderingsarbete mellan kollegor. I vissa fall sker formella rapporteringar ”bottom up” av arbetet från personalgrupp till rektor eller från rektor till kommunförvaltningen. De ramar eller faktorer som påverkar och formar utvärderingsarbete mest är tid, kompetens, syfte och styrning. För att kunna utveckla former för utvärdering måste det avsättas tid till detta. Personalens och rektorernas kompetens i både fritidshemsverksamhet och det systematiska kvalitetsarbetet avgör vilka processer och resultat som skapas. En tydlig styrning som avgränsar syftet med verksamheten blir en förutsättning för att kunna genomföra ett systematiskt utvärderingsarbete.

Contexte : De nombreuses études ont établi que la maladie chronique d'un enfant représentait un risque suffisamment significatif pour les familles pour introduire le concept de résilience familiale, et ont défini des hypothèses quant à l'émergence de cette résilience. Objectif : En nous fondant sur le modèle psychosocial Family Systems Illness Model de John Rolland et sur la théorie du Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation de Hamilton McCubbin, décrire et analyser le processus de résilience de familles françaises élevant un ou plusieurs enfants atteints d'une maladie chronique rare. Méthodologie : évaluations quantitatives et qualitatives : des questionnaires standardisés (Fiche anamnestique détaillée, Impact on Family Scale, Family Index of Regenerativity and Adaptation, Family Relationship index), dont certains adaptés pour la première fois en France, et, auprès d'un nombre restreint de familles, des entretiens cliniques semi-structurés et des tests projectifs (Family Apperception Test, Dessin de famille). Résultats : 39 familles ont participé à l'étude quantitative et 7 à l'étude qualitative. Les 39 familles regroupent 37 mères, 27 pères, 26 enfants (14 frères et soeurs d'enfants malades et 11 enfants malades) et 3 « tiers » vivant au foyer familial. Les résultats montrent une bonne applicabilité des modèles et outils utilisés à une population française et à l'objet de notre étude. Les variables d'impact de la maladie sur les parents, d'ajustement et de fonctionnement familial se sont révélées très sensibles à la typologie clinique de la maladie. Ainsi, chez les parents, les caractéristiques de réduction de l'espérance de vie et de degré d'incapacités sont significativement associées à un impact plus lourd de la maladie, un moindre ajustement et une moindre qualité des relations familiales. Chez la fratrie, un lien négatif entre brutalité d'apparition et phase de la maladie, et variables dépendantes est observé. En terme de résilience, le soutien social, en particulier, joue un rôle important dans la stratégie d'ajustement, même si la nature du soutien utilisé diffère selon les membres de la famille. Un impact plus élevé de la maladie dans les familles monoparentales, une association positive entre niveau d'éducation de la mère et adaptation familiale, un impact négatif d'une longue durée d'obtention d'un diagnostic sur l'ensemble de la famille, ainsi qu'un lien entre les variables paternelles et la prédictabilité et la contrôlabilité de la maladie ont été relevés. Conclusion : Ces différents résultats nous ont permis, d'une part, de formuler des propositions cliniques en matière de prévention et de protection visant à soutenir les familles élevant un enfant souffrant d'une maladie chronique rare. Et d'autre part de présenter des perspectives de recherches futures, recherches qui devraient adopter une approche systémique et réaliser un suivi longitudinal de ces familles. / Context: Numerous studies have established that chronic illness is a sufficiently significant risk to allow the introduction of the concept of family resilience and have set hypotheses relating to the emergence of such resilience. Objectives: Using John Rolland's integrative psychosocial model about Families, Illness and Disability, and the McCubbin's Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustement and Adaptation, we describe and explain the construct of resilience among 39 French families with children suffering from a rare chronic illness. Methodology: quantitative and qualitative evaluations: standardized questionnaires (Detailed anamnestic form, Impact on Family Scale, Family Relationship Index, Family Index of Regenerativity and Adaptation), and, with a limited number of families, semi-structured clinical interviews and projective tests (Family Apperception Test, Draw-a-Family). Results: 39 families have participated in the quantitative study and 7 in the qualitative study. These families count 37 mothers, 27 fathers, 26 children (14 siblings and 11 ill children) and 3 close relatives living with the family. Results show a good applicability of the models and tools chosen to a French population and the subject of the study. Variables of parental impact of the disease, family adjustment and functioning have proved to be very sensitive to the clinical typology of the disease. Thus, a higher parental impact of the disease and a lower parental perception of family adjustment and relationships are significantly associated with a disease presenting potential reduction of the life span and incapacities. In siblings, an abrupt onset and the phase of the disease are negatively linked to the dependent variables. Speaking of resilience, social support plays an important role in the adjustment strategy, even if the nature of social support preferred for that purpose differs between members of the family. A higher impact of the disease on single families, a positive association between the mother's education level and family adaptation, a negative impact of a long diagnosis period on the whole family, and a link between the father's variables and the predictability and controllability of the disease, have been observed. Conclusion: These results have allowed us on the first hand to propose prevention and protection measures to support families raising a child suffering from a rare chronic disease, and on the second hand to present perspectives for future research, which should adopt a systemic and longitudinal approach.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 316-323).

This study considered the geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, formation and evolution of the heavy rare earth element (HREE) mineralised Lofdal alkaline carbonatite complex (LACC), which is located on the Bergville and Lofdal farms northwest of Khorixas, in the Kunene Region of the Republic of Namibia. . Field methods used included mapping, ground and hyperspectral airborne geophysics, and sampling. Analytical techniques used were optical petrography and CL, XRF, ICP-AES, backscattered and secondary electron imaging, electron microprobe, LA-ICP-MS, leaching, as well as carbon and oxygen stable isotope determination. The LACC comprises a swarm of dykes, mainly calcite carbonatite but also dolomite and ankerite carbonatite dykes (classified into five types) and two newly discovered plugs of calcite carbonatite (‘Main’ and ‘Emanya’), with associated dykes and plugs of phonolites, syenites and rare mafic rocks. These all intrude into the Huab Metamorphic Complex basement rocks within a NE-SW shear zone over 30 km long. The main HREE host mineral is xenotime-(Y). It occurs in highly oxidised iron-rich calcite carbonatite dykes mantling and replacing zircon, associated with hematite, thorite and apatite, or associated with monazite-(Ce), synchysite-(Ce), and parisite-(Ce), replacing the fluorocarbonates; it also forms aggregates in ankerite carbonatite. Although xenotime-(Y) occurs throughout the paragenetic sequence, there is much evidence for hydrothermal fluid activity at Lofdal, altering the dykes, and taking xenotime-(Y) into brecciated carbonate veins in albitised country rock (fenite). Radiogenic (Sr, Nd-Sm, U-Pb) and C and O stable isotope studies confirm that the carbonatite, derived from an enriched mantle, is the source of the REE. Mineralisation was contemporaneous with carbonatite emplacement at 765 ±16 Ma. Magmatic fluids >300°C were diluted with cool meteoric fluids. Abundant fluorite and carbonate indicate roles for F- and CO32- in addition to Cl- in REE transport. These ligands form the most stable complexes with HREE and since xenotime is soluble in concentrated alkali halide solutions, they could have preferentially transported and then deposited xenotime. Many of the features of Lofdal are common to other REE-rich carbonatite complexes but the xenotime-(Y) abundance is so far unique. The high amount of fluid activity in shear zones around the dyke swarm and probably a higher proportion of HREE in the original magmas seem to be the main differentiating features.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1983 J66 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 A42 / Master of Science

Niobium and rare earth elements (REE) are considered as strategic metals in industrialised countries, and are mainly derived from carbonatite-related deposits. Indicator mineral methods for carbonatites using of portable XRF and Quantitative Evaluation of Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy (QEMSCAN®), shows promise in exploration for Nb and REE. Portable XRF analysis of stream sediments from the Aley, Lonnie, and Wicheeda carbonatites identified 125-250 μm as the ideal size fraction for indicator mineral studies. QEMSCAN® provides (with no additional processing) detection and characterisation of indicator minerals (when found in high concentrations) from carbonatite deposits. Preconcentration by Mozley C800 separator is recommended for sediment samples with low concentrations of indicator minerals. Discrimination diagrams for pyrochlore supergroup and columbite-tantalite series minerals show that minerals from carbonatites occupy the pyrochlore field and extend slightly into the betafite field. Columbite-tantalite series minerals from carbonatites have Mn/(Mn+Fe) atomic ratios ≤0.25 and Ta/(Ta+Nb) ≤0.20. The compositional fields for pyrochlore supergroup and colubmite-tanatlite series minerals from different deposit types partially overlap. / Graduate / 0996 / 0411 / 0372

BACKGROUND: The lysosomal storage disorder, Niemann Pick type C1 (NPC1), presents a variable phenotype including neurovisceral and neurological symptoms. 2-Hydroxypropyl-ss-cyclodextrin (HPssCD)-based therapies are presently the most promising route of intervention. While severe cerebellar dysfunction remains the main disabling feature of NPC1, sensory functions including auditory and olfactory ones are also affected. Morphological and functional anomalies of Npc1 (-/-) mouse retina have also been observed, although the functional integrity of the visual pathway from retina to visual cortex is still unsettled. We have addressed this issue by characterizing the visual evoked potential (VEP) response of Npc1 (-/-) mice and determining if/how HPssCD administration influences the VEPs of both Npc1 (-/-) and Npc1 (+/+) mice. METHODS: VEP elicited by a brief visual stimulus were recorded from the scalp overlying the visual cortex of adult (PN, postnatal days 60, 75, 85 and 100) Npc1 (+/+) and Npc1 (-/-) mice that had received repeated injections of either HPssCD or plain vehicle. The first injection was given at PN4 and was followed by a second one at PN7 and thereafter by weekly injections up to PN49. Cholesterol accumulation and myelin loss were finally assessed by filipin staining and myelin basic protein immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We have found that the transmission of visual signals from retina to visual cortex is negatively influenced by the loss of Npc1 function. In fact, the VEP response of Npc1 (-/-) mice displayed a highly significant increase in the latency compared to that of Npc1 (+/+) mice. HPssCD administration fully rescued this defect and counteracted the cholesterol accumulation in retinal ganglion cells and dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus neurons, as well as the myelin loss in optic nerve fibers and axons projecting to the visual cortex observed in of Npc1 (-/-) mice. By contrast, HPssCD administration had no effect on the VEP response of Npc1 (+/+) mice, further strengthening the treatment efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: This study pinpoints the analysis of VEP response as a potentially accurate and non-invasive approach to assess neural activity and visual information processing in NPC1 patients, as well as for monitoring the progression of the disease and assessing the efficacy of potential therapies.

In this thesis, novel corrections to B → X˦ and B → Xl+l- decays, where X is a pseudoscalar or vector meson, are presented. These are the chromomagnetic matrix element, weak annihilation in a general four-quark operator basis and a long-distance charm loop contribution. The calculation of the chromomagnetic matrix element completes the calculation of matrix elements for all relevant effective weak operators in B → V decays, removing an infrared divergence which previous computations had treated in a very approximate way. It also encounters an interesting technical obstacle not previously seen in sum rule calculations, which is likely to be encountered regularly in future once higher order loop diagrams are calculated. The potential for this term to contribute to the CP asymmetry in D → V˦ in the presence of new physics is discussed. The improved computation of weak annihilation diagrams is applied to the analysis of isospin asymmetries in radiative and semi-leptonic B → (p;K(*)) decays, and the computation of long distance charm bubble terms is applied to produce an improved prediction for time-dependent CP asymmetries in various B → V decays.