En Guinée, le constat a été établi par divers auteurs que l’intensification de l’exploitation des ressources démersales sur ces dernières décennies a induit une baisse générale de leur abondance. Cette intensification est supposée avoir induit également des modifications de la structure multi-spécifique et fonctionnelle des assemblages de poissons de cette zone, mais peu d’études ont permis d’en juger jusqu’ici, la plupart des travaux antérieurs sur ces ressources ayant concerné des approches strictement mono-spécifiques et des approches strictement taxonomiques. Dans ce contexte, l’objectif de cette thèse est de contribuer à un diagnostic écosystémique plus complet de l’état actuel des ressources marines guinéennes et de déterminer en particulier si la diversité taxonomique et fonctionnelle des assemblages de poissons a été affectée par la pêche.Les données de campagnes de chalutages scientifiques collectées sur le plateau continental guinéen entre 1985 et 2012, les statistiques sur les captures de pêche et dix-sept traits fonctionnels liés aux fonctions de locomotion et d’acquisition de nourriture de 50 espèces de poissons démersaux sont étudiés à travers divers indicateurs de diversité pour analyser l’impact de la pêche.Les résultats montrent que l’intensification de la pêche a eu des effets significatifs sur certaines caractéristiques générales du peuplement en question. Depuis 1985, on observe ainsi une baisse de la densité et du niveau trophique moyen des poissons ainsi qu’un turnover des dominances, par lequel les espèces principales, à forte valeur commerciale, caractérisées par des masses corporelles importantes et une croissance lente sont progressivement remplacées par des espèces de plus petites tailles à moindre valeur commerciale et à croissance rapide. On observe également une baisse significative de la richesse fonctionnelle dont l’évolution conforte les résultats obtenus à partir des évaluations taxonomiques et confirme que l’écosystème côtier du plateau continental est perturbé en lien avec la pression de pêche. / In Guinea, was highlighted by various authors that the intensification of the exploitation of demersal resources over recent decades has led to a general decline in abundance. This intensification is supposed to have also induces changes in the specific and multi-functional structure of the fish assemblages of this zone, but few studies have Judging far, most previous work on these resources with relevant strictly mono-specific approaches and strictly taxonomic approaches. In this context, the aim of this thesis is to contribute to a more complete ecosystem diagnosis of the current state of the Guinean marine resources and in particular whether the taxonomic and functional diversity of fish assemblages was affected by fishing. Data from scientific trawl surveys collected on Guinean continental shelf between 1985 and 2012, statistics on catches of fishing and seventeen functional traits related to locomotion functions and food purchase 50 groundfish species are studied diversity through various indicators to analyze the impact of fishing.The results show that the intensification of fishing has had significant effects on certain general characteristics of the population in question. Since 1985, we thus observed a drop in the density and the mean trophic level of fish and a turnover of dominance, whereby major species of high commercial value, characterized by substantial body masses and slow growth are gradually replaced by species of smaller sizes at lower commercial value and rapid growth. There is also a significant decrease in functional richness whose evolution confirms the results obtained from the taxonomic assessments and confirms that the coastal ecosystem of the continental shelf is disrupted in connection with fishing pressure.

L'utilisation de termes équivalents ou sémantiquement proches est nécessaire pour augmenter la couverture et la sensibilité d'une application comme la recherche et l'extraction d'information ou l'annotation sémantique de documents. Dans le contexte de l'identification d'effets indésirables susceptibles d'être dûs à un médicament, la sensibilité est aussi recherchée afin de détecter plus exhaustivement les déclarations spontanées et de mieux surveiller le risque médicamenteux. C'est la raison qui motive notre travail. Dans notre travail de thèse, nous cherchons ainsi à détecter des termes sémantiquement proches et à les regrouper en utilisant plusieurs méthodes : des algorithmes de clustering non supervisés, des ressources terminologiques exploitées avec le raisonnement terminologique et des méthodes de Traitement Automatique de la Langue, comme la structuration de terminologies, où nous visons la détection de relations hiérarchiques et synonymiques. Nous avons réalisé de nombreuses expériences et évaluations des clusters générés, qui montrent que les méthodes proposées peuvent contribuer efficacement à la tâche visée. / The use of equivalent terms or semantically close is necessary to increase the coverageand sensitivity of applications such as information retrieval and extraction or semanticannotation of documents. In the context of the adverse drug reactions identification, sensitivityis also sought to detect more exhaustively spontaneous reports and better monitordrug risk. This is the reason that motivates our work. In our work, we thus seek to detectsemantically close terms and the together using several methods : unsupervised algorithms, terminological resources exploited with terminological reasoning and methodsof Natural Language Processing, such as terminology structuring, where we aim to detecthierarchical and synonymous relations. We conducted many experiments and evaluations of generated, which show that the proposed methods can efficiently contribute tothe task in question.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

This study examined how isiXhosa-speaking women street traders in Cape Town's Langa Township exercised agency in responding to similar structural constraints and opportunities that affected their livelihoods. Drawing on Giddens's Structuration Theory and Sen's Capabilities Approach, I unpacked and conceptualised agency as five dimensions (reflexivity, motivation, rationality, purposive action and transformative capacity). This analytical framework was then used to assess the ways in which women from a poor township community exercised their agency as street traders. A case study methodology (n=25) was adopted using participant observation and in-depth interviews. Miles and Huberman's thematic coding approach guided the qualitative analysis. The study found that structurally imposed constraints were rooted in class, multiple sources of power dynamics, and material constraints related to health; while opportunities emanated from market mechanisms of supply and demand, community social support systems in the form of social capital and social networks, family support and statutory social welfare programmes. Other key findings included resistance to patriarchy, cultural norms and practices, such as submission to abusive partners and unreasonable demands from extended family members. The findings report structure and agency as mutually constitutive in so far as familial circumstances, previous work experience, social capital, educational achievements and temporality either reinforced or diminished the participants' agency. Three profiles of agency among the women traders emerged from the data. The profiles demonstrated varying degrees of enablement (most enabled, moderately enabled and least enabled) and that individual agency was a distinguishing factor. Reflexivity, as a dimension of agency, presented as more fluid and malleable than the other four dimensions. The findings show that agency is reasonably elastic and it can expand capabilities and opportunities for enablement. Finally, the study proposed a diagnostic tool for assessing and enhancing agency with potential applications in entrepreneurial training for development. My study contributes to a theoretical understanding of the concept of agency, the role it plays in development at a micro-level and criteria for assessment. Furthermore, lessons learnt from the profiles can be applied to development practice and entrepreneurial training among African women traders.

CHARLES UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Master's Thesis 2021 Daniela Bonilla Machado Page 1 of 5 CHARLES UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AND SOCIAL POLICY Changes in Asylum-Seeking Policies Through the Lenses of the Structuration Theory: The Case of the 'Salvini Decree' in Italy Master's thesis Author: Daniela Bonilla Machado Study programme: Public and Social Policy Supervisor: Doc. Marie Jelínková Year of defence: September 2021 Page 2 of 5 Declaration 1. I hereby declares that I compiled this thesis independently, using only the listed resources and literature. 2. I hereby declare that the thesis has not been used to obtain any other academic title. 3. I fully agree to his work being used for study and scientific purposes. Prague, 27th of July 2021 Daniela Bonilla Machado Page 3 of 5 References BONILLA MACHADO, Daniela. Changes in Asylum-Seeking Policies Through the Lenses of the Structuration Theory: The Case of the 'Salvini Decree' in Italy. Prague, 2021. 68 pages. Master's thesis (Mgr.). Charles University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Public and Social Policy. Supervisor Marie Jelínková, PhD. Length of the thesis: 113,886 Page 4 of 5 Abstract This paper explores the complex relationship between the structuration theory, proposed by Anthony Giddens and the...

La diversité des systèmes de culture et des variétés joue un rôle important dans la capacité des agricultures familiales à résister aux chocs socio-économiques et environnementaux. Pour une meilleure conservation, cette diversité agricole doit d’être caractérisée et suivie dans l’espace et le temps. Tandis qu’ils étaient dominés par des éléments sur le prix, les surfaces et les productions jusqu’à récemment, les systèmes de suivi agricole commencent à intégrer les questions de diversité. Alors que jusqu’à la fin des années 1990 elle était considérée comme un facteur limitant dans l’amélioration de la productivité des systèmes d’exploitations dans le processus de sélection variétale. Or dans une situation d’incertitude pluviométrique, pour réduire le risque de cet aléa, les agriculteurs ont recours à plusieurs espèces et variétés pour survivre et produire au travers de tous les aléas rencontrés. La stratégie paysanne consiste à cultiver à la fois plusieurs variétés présentant diverses caractéristiques agronomiques (précocité, rendement, résistance aux pathologies, aux parasites, à la sécheresse, etc.) et culinaires dans un même champ ou dans des champs différents. Cette stratégie permet aux paysans de cultiver les variétés s’adaptant le mieux aux conditions pédologiques de leurs champs et répondant à la fois à leurs divers besoins.C’est dans ce contexte que se situe la présente thèse qui vise principalement à analyser la structuration spatiale de l’agrobiodiversité dans la zone cotonnière. Pour atteindre cet objectif, plusieurs méthodes et approches ont été utilisées. L’approche adoptée combine l’analyse numérique d’images satellitaires et l’utilisation de données issues d’enquêtes de terrain. L’analyse de ces données s’appuie sur la distribution spatiale de la biodiversité et sa corrélation avec les pratiques et les conditions agro-écologiques, les résultats et les performances agronomiques.Les principaux résultats issus de l’analyse des données de l’étude sont :a) On observe une grande hétérogénéité et une diversité des paysages dans la zone cotonnière du Mali-Sud avec au total, onze (11) unités de paysages ;b) On constate une grande diversité au niveau spécifique et des systèmes de culture. Les valeurs moyennes de l’indicateur de diversités spécifiques les plus sont enregistrées dans les villages où la moyenne pluviométrique est comprise entre 700 à 1000 mm d’eau suivis par des villages de moins de 700 mm ;c) L’indicateur de pression spécifique montrant une répartition géographique des pressions des différentes espèces culturales. En effet dans les villages où le coton est en tête de rotation, il exerce une forte pression sur les autres espèces. Dans ces villages, la surface en coton est beaucoup plus importante que celle des autres espèces ;d) Le rendement fait constater que la plupart des villages ont des moyens de coton au-dessus de la moyenne nationale en 2015. En analysant son évolution entre 2013 et 2015, on constate une baisse de rendement dans la plupart des villages même si cette baisse est très souvent en dent de scie avec des hausses en 2013 et 2014.e) L’indicateur de stabilité du rendement montrant que les rendements sont stables avec toutes les espèces sauf le maïs.f) Ces résultats ouvrent la voie à une plus grande contribution de la géographie dans l’analyse agronomique. / The diversity of cropping systems and varieties plays an important role in the ability of family farms to withstand socio-economic and environmental shocks. For better conservation, this agricultural diversity needs to be characterized and monitored in space and time. While they were dominated by elements of price, area and production until recently, agricultural monitoring systems are beginning to integrate diversity issues. The diversity of cropping systems and varieties plays an important role in the ability of family farms to resist socio-economic and environmental shocks, whereas until the end of the 1990s it was considered as a limiting factor in improving the productivity of farming systems in varietal selection processes. In a situation of uncertain rainfall, to reduce the risk of this hazard, farmers use several species and varieties to survive and produce through all the hazards encountered. The peasant strategy consists in cultivating several varieties with different agronomic characteristics (early maturity, yield, resistance to diseases, parasites and drought, etc.) and culinary in the same field or in different fields. This strategy allows farmers to cultivate the varieties best suited to the soil conditions of their fields and to meet their diverse needs.It is in this context that this thesis focuses on the spatial structuring of agrobiodiversity in the cotton zone. To achieve this objective, several methods and approaches have been used. The approach adopted combines the digital analysis of satellite imagery and the use of data from field surveys. The analysis of these data is based on the spatial distribution of biodiversity and its correlation with agro-ecological practices and conditions, agronomic performance and performance.The main results from the analysis of the study data are:a) There is a great heterogeneity and diversity of landscapes in the cotton zone of Mali-Sud with a total of eleven (11) landscape units;b) There is great diversity at the specific level and in cropping systems. The mean values of the most specific indicator of diversity are recorded in villages where the mean rainfall is between 700 and 1000 mm of water followed by villages of less than 700 mm;c) The specific pressure indicator shows a geographical distribution of the pressures of the different crop species. Indeed, in villages where cotton is at the head of rotation, it exerts strong pressure on other species. In these villages, the cotton area is much larger than for the other species;d) For yield, most villages have average yields of cotton above the national average in 2015. Analyzing its evolution between 2013 and 2015, there is a decline in yield in most villages if this decline is very often sawtooth with increases in 2013 and 2014.e) The yield stability indicator shows that yields are stable with all species except maize.These results open the way for a greater contribution of geography in agronomic analysis.

In today’s complex society, organizational change is crucial for organizations’ survival. Previous research regarding organizational change has studied restructuration, mergers and cultural change. However, a research gap was identified in understanding a planned organizational change through the theoretical framework Four Flows. Therefore, a qualitative case study was conducted at an organization that recently changed from a flat to a hierarchical structure. The aim of the study was to create an understanding through Four Flows for how communicative flows at a digital agency, Digitalbyrån, changed in connection to the implementation of a new organizational structure. The methods used in the study were semi-structured interviews in combination with a qualitative content analysis. An organizational document was also collected for background information. The theoretical framework applied consisted of Robert McPhee and Pamela Zaug’s (2000) CCO theory Four Flows, and selected notions from Anthony Giddens’ (1984) Structuration theory. The results from the study showed that communicative flows at Digitalbyrån changed to a certain degree when comparing the communicative flows pre- and post-restructuring. More specifically, a moderate change was found in the flows membership negotiation, self-structuring and activity coordination and a significant change was found in the flow institutional positioning. Furthermore, the study showed that implemented change in an organization and change in communicative flows do not always change accordingly. Thus, the study demonstrated that actual change is constituted through the communicative flows, rather than being the result of the implemented change per se.

abstract: Previous researchers documented that music teachers negotiate their identities throughout their career, but none of these studies examined identity negotiation from the perspective of both music teachers and their students. Assuming that music teachers and students negotiate their identities through the same interactions, how do music teachers and students together shape their social context and continually pursue possibilities for who they are becoming? I conducted an instrumental case study to explore the encounters of one veteran orchestra teacher—Steve—with three of his students to understand how they negotiated their identities together and pursued possibilities for who they were becoming. I used strong structuration theory (Stones, 2005) as a theoretical lens to organize and frame my study. Each time Steve assessed students and placed them within the orchestra’s seating hierarchy, he experienced a tension in his identity as a music teacher. To relieve this tension, Steve changed the orchestra seating structure from a hierarchical-ranked structure to a randomized-rotating structure. This allowed him to provide individualized feedback to students as they rotated into the front row without issuing social sanctions. But this structural change also disrupted some of the students’ identities as musicians and the labels they used to position themselves in orchestra. Steve’s insistence that the student sitting in first-chair was the “leader for the day” continued an element of the hierarchical seating that conflicted with the students’ understandings of meritocracy and leadership. Additionally, by decoupling the students’ seating from the playing tests, Steve delegitimized his primary form of assessment. Based on my findings, I discuss implications for music education practice, and music teacher education. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Music Education 2019

This study presents an exploration of the autonomy-dependence paradox inherent in organization-public relationships that is informed by paradox theory, structuration theory and scholarly and philosophical literature on authenticity. These theories suggest that relationships between organizations and their publics are defined by interdependence, or the centripetal and centrifugal forces of autonomy and dependence that cause tensions that can influence the decision making of the relational partners. They also suggest that organizations must use their agency, their knowledge of relational structures, and their understanding of their authentic selves to manage their own behavior and communication rather than that of their publics. The case studies presented in this paper were assembled from fourteen semi-structured in-depth interviews of museum professionals at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art, museum archival documents, and news media reports. The data shows that organizations can benefit from adopting a framework based paradox theory, structuration theory, and authentic leadership theory to avoid harmful defensive mechanisms and vicious cycles by seeking divergent solutions. The value of this study is that it illustrates how paradoxical tensions can influence the decision-making process in organizations, as well as the ways in which organizations can manage their own behavior and communication in spite of natural tendencies to manage and control stakeholders and publics. This study also shows a need for future research to explore other paradoxes in the field of public relations, conduct more case studies of different types of organizations, and develop methodologies to evaluate the effect of these strategies on the health of organization-public relationships.

This study uses political philosophy to understand how democracy is communicated as transmutating or transitioning in superhero narratives. The study combines a conflict-based conceptualisation of democracy with Anthony Giddens’ structuration theory to discuss the characters’ actions in relation to their respective society. The analysis is conducted through a narrative analysis, using the hero’s journey as a tool to define the material from the narratives of a hero, a villain, a hero-turned-villain, a villain-turned-hero, and an antihero.  The analysis shows that spaces can be created within a democracy where other political ideals are produced, called pockets of alternate ideals. Also, the conditions of the characters’ actions influence how they can emerge as heroes or villains, which in turn influence how the characters produce or reproduce their societies. The discussion finds that the superhero narratives suggest that a strong democratic society needs a common enemy to fight, as the focus on the outside enemy rallies the people to mitigate the conflicts within society. To conclude, the point of democracy is that the people have the power, meaning that they have the responsibility to be active citizens who continue to reproduce democracy, as portrayed by the hero narrative.