<p>Actor-observer bias är tendensen där människan som aktörer tillskriver sitt beteende till yttre omständigheter medan observatörer tenderar till att tillskriva aktörens beteende till personliga faktorer. Syftet med denna studie var att få en klarare bild av hur människor i sin roll som aktör eller observatör attribuerar ett riskabelt bilkörningsbeteende. Deltagarna bestod av 101 svenska studenter från en högskola i Mellansverige varav 77 stycken var kvinnor och 24 stycken var män. Deltagarna fick svara på en enkät angående actor-observer bias och riskfullt bilkörningsbeteende. Resultaten visade att andras beteende förklaras mer av personliga egenskaper än då personen själv kör riskfullt medan yttre omständigheter inte gav skillnad för vare sig andra eller en själv. Betydelsen av detta och implikationer för framtida forskning diskuterades.</p>

Actor-observer bias är tendensen där människan som aktörer tillskriver sitt beteende till yttre omständigheter medan observatörer tenderar till att tillskriva aktörens beteende till personliga faktorer. Syftet med denna studie var att få en klarare bild av hur människor i sin roll som aktör eller observatör attribuerar ett riskabelt bilkörningsbeteende. Deltagarna bestod av 101 svenska studenter från en högskola i Mellansverige varav 77 stycken var kvinnor och 24 stycken var män. Deltagarna fick svara på en enkät angående actor-observer bias och riskfullt bilkörningsbeteende. Resultaten visade att andras beteende förklaras mer av personliga egenskaper än då personen själv kör riskfullt medan yttre omständigheter inte gav skillnad för vare sig andra eller en själv. Betydelsen av detta och implikationer för framtida forskning diskuterades.

<p>Over the past decade, the development of macromolecular drugs based on peptides, proteins and nucleic acids has increased the interest in microparticulate drug delivery, i.e., the delivery of drug systems in the nanometer and micrometer ranges. However, little is known so far about the effect that microparticulate systems have on various tissues after administration. Additionally, the knowledge of mechanisms responsible for the uptake and transport of microparticles across the human intestine is incomplete and requires further investigation to improve both the safety profiles and the efficiency of these drug delivery systems.</p><p>This thesis is comprised of two parts. The first one investigates gene expression responses obtained from DNA arrays in local and distal tissues after microparticulate drug delivery. The second part focuses on the mechanisms responsible for the transport of microparticles across epithelial cells lining the intestine.</p><p>The results presented in the first part demonstrated that gene expression analysis offers a detailed picture of the tissue responses after intramuscular or pulmonary administration of microparticulate drug delivery systems compared to the traditional techniques used for such evaluations. In addition, DNA arrays provided a useful and sensitive tool for the initial characterization and evaluation of both local and distal tissue responses, making it possible to distinguish between gene expression patterns related to each studied delivery system.</p><p>The results presented in the second part demonstrated that the surface properties of the microparticle were important for the extent of transport across an <i>in vitro</i> model of the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE), comprised of intestinal epithelial cells specialized in particle transport (M cells). Another important finding was that the enteropathogen bacterium, <i>Yersinia pseudotuberculosis</i>, induced microparticle transport across the normal intestinal epithelium, represented by Caco-2 cells and excised human ileal tissue. This transport was most probably mediated by an increased capacity for macropinocytosis in the epithelial cells.</p>

Over the past decade, the development of macromolecular drugs based on peptides, proteins and nucleic acids has increased the interest in microparticulate drug delivery, i.e., the delivery of drug systems in the nanometer and micrometer ranges. However, little is known so far about the effect that microparticulate systems have on various tissues after administration. Additionally, the knowledge of mechanisms responsible for the uptake and transport of microparticles across the human intestine is incomplete and requires further investigation to improve both the safety profiles and the efficiency of these drug delivery systems. This thesis is comprised of two parts. The first one investigates gene expression responses obtained from DNA arrays in local and distal tissues after microparticulate drug delivery. The second part focuses on the mechanisms responsible for the transport of microparticles across epithelial cells lining the intestine. The results presented in the first part demonstrated that gene expression analysis offers a detailed picture of the tissue responses after intramuscular or pulmonary administration of microparticulate drug delivery systems compared to the traditional techniques used for such evaluations. In addition, DNA arrays provided a useful and sensitive tool for the initial characterization and evaluation of both local and distal tissue responses, making it possible to distinguish between gene expression patterns related to each studied delivery system. The results presented in the second part demonstrated that the surface properties of the microparticle were important for the extent of transport across an in vitro model of the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE), comprised of intestinal epithelial cells specialized in particle transport (M cells). Another important finding was that the enteropathogen bacterium, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, induced microparticle transport across the normal intestinal epithelium, represented by Caco-2 cells and excised human ileal tissue. This transport was most probably mediated by an increased capacity for macropinocytosis in the epithelial cells.

Women represent 45% of the entire workforce in the United States, but only comprise 26% of the high-tech industry. Early introduction and interest in video games, contributes to computer literacy and self-confidence in terms of computing skills. Socially pervasive gender stereotypes, found in ubiquitous software, specifically games, factor in the alienation of young girls from active participation in computing. Currently marketed gaming software perpetuate this societal bias in the guise of overly-sexualized game avatars, and fail to adequately address documented female gaming preferences. Gender inclusive design is more a pragmatic approach to ameliorating gender bias, than creating a pink box “girl’s game.” Such games cater solely to stereotypical “female” interests, and are uncomfortably close to the concept of “separate but equal.” In the scope of this research a gender inclusive computer role playing game (CRPG) interface was designed and evaluated. The advantage of a CRPG is that it may be played individually or single player mode, as in the prototypic interface, or allow collaborative game play within a smaller group (2-12) when migrated to a multiplayer online environment. Small groups, involved in CRPG collaborative play, may reduce the incidence of online harassment or intimidation by male players, often encountered by experienced female gamers when engaged in Massively Online Multiplayer games. The Xanthia: A Fae’s Battle CRPG, was designed with the intent of studying key female preferences outlined in this research. The design utilized a stylized “cute” but strong female protagonist, featured a compelling storyline, and a backstory narrative. The game broached real world environmental issues with an underpinning of moral dilemma in the guise of good versus evil. Competitive but not combat-centric play was utilized in the game design, which enabled leveling up without the demise of the central protagonist. Fantasy-themed conflict resulted in transformations of both protagonist and antagonists when a change of state occurred during battle, thus eliminating the violence of gory death scenarios. This formative study endeavored to examine the underlying reasons for female underrepresentation in the high-tech and computing fields. The CRPG used in the study, incorporated key gender inclusive game elements found in current literature, in order to acquire insight into female gaming preferences. Two survey instruments were utilized to gather data from 35 female Barry University students, who had disparate gaming experience, comfort with computers, and academic majors. A pre-game questionnaire pertained to motivations for play, level of gaming expertise, and self-perceived comfort with computing. Additional data were gathered regarding access in early childhood to a gaming console or computer in the participants’ childhood homes and the incidence of tinkering. The female sample pool provided CRPG feedback post-game engagement. Examination of survey responses indicated that identification with the central female protagonist was a key element in positive game engagement for the majority of the study’s participants. In general, experienced gamers were more apt to tinker with the hidden features of the game. Experienced gamers also enjoyed competiveness and challenge more than their inexperienced or non-gamer counterparts. The primary component of positive engagement for this female sample group was “fun.” Social interaction was a key motivator for engagement in video game play for the majority of the participants. Empirical data collected from survey instrumentation suggested that individuals who had the easiest access to video game consoles and computing equipment, participated at greater rate in tinkering in childhood. The participants who tinkered, had a higher self-perception of comfort with computing.

Ce mémoire se penche sur la co-construction du rapport au travail et au syndicalisme des enseignant·e·s du secteur scolaire québécois membres d’un syndicat local affilié à la Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE). D’une part, il pose le problème de « l’impasse » du syndicalisme nord-américain (MacDonald 2014) dans l’optique d’une métamorphose de « l’esprit du syndicalisme » (Goldthorpe et al 1972). D’autre part, il opère un dialogue entre les conceptions de la citoyenneté de Christopher McAll (1999, 2009) et la thèse de Rolande Pinard (2000, 2008 ; 2018) quant à la mutation du sens social-politique (ouvrier ou syndical) au profit de l’invention managériale de la catégorie de l’emploi. En mobilisant le concept de rapport au travail et l’approche compréhensive de la perspective des parcours de vie et professionnels (Côté 2013 ; Demazière 2019), il (re)construit les expériences de travail et syndicales de trois des neuf enseignant·e·s rencontré·e·s afin de dégager les significations que ces personnes octroient à leur travail ainsi qu’au syndicalisme. L’analyse des matériaux de recherche confirme partiellement la thèse de Pinard. Elle démontre que la catégorie de l’emploi occupe une place déterminante dans l’appréhension du syndicalisme chez les participant·e·s. Par ailleurs, en se saisissant exclusivement du regard « d’en bas », c’est-à-dire des expériences des membres non-élu·e·s (MNE) et des personnes déléguées (PD), l’analyse déployée dans ce mémoire permet également de saisir la transversalité et la singularité des événements, activités et rencontres interpersonnelles qui façonnent, dans l’espace et dans le temps, le rapport au travail et au syndicalisme des personnes enquêtées, lesquels sont traversés par des rapports de pouvoir (intra et inter syndicaux) ainsi que trois univers sociosémantiques : 1) celui de la famille ; 2) celui de la gestion/pensée experte et 3) de la religion. Trois figures ont été pensées pour illustrer les situations et réalités sociales qui modulent le rapport au syndicalisme des enseignant·e·s interrogé·e·s : 1) celle du syndicat presque-fantôme et la notion d’illusion syndicale ; 2) celle du syndicat-manager et 3) celle du syndicat-taylorisé. / This dissertation examines the co-construction of the relationship to work and unionism among teachers in the Quebec school sector who are members of a local union affiliated with the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE). On the one hand, it poses the problem of the "impasse" of North American unionism (MacDonald 2014) from the perspective of a metamorphosis of the "spirit of unionism" (Goldthorpe et al 1972). On the other hand, it operates a dialogue between Christopher McAll's (1999, 2009) conceptions of citizenship and Rolande Pinard's (2000, 2008; 2018) thesis on the mutation of the social-political meaning (worker or trade union) in favour of the managerial invention of the employment category. By mobilizing the concept of relationship to work and the comprehensive approach of the life-course and career perspective (Côté 2013; Demazière 2019), it (re)constructs the work and union experiences of the teachers met in order to identify the meanings that they attribute to their work and to unionism. The analysis of the research materials partially confirms Pinard's thesis. It shows that the employment category plays a decisive role in the participants understanding of unionism. Moreover, by looking exclusively from "below", i.e. from the experiences of non-elected members (MNEs) and delegates (PDs), the analysis in this dissertation also makes it possible to grasp the transversality and singularity of the events, activities and interpersonal encounters that shape, in space and time, the relationship to work and trade unionism of the persons surveyed, which are traversed by power relationships (inside and between trade union) as well as three socio-semantic universes: 1) related to family; 2) management/expert thought and 3) religion. Three figures have been thought to illustrate the social situations and realities that modulate the relationship to unionism of the teachers interviewed: 1) that of the near-ghost union and the notion of union illusion ; 2) that of the union-manager and 3) that of the taylorized union.

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