La thèse a visé à mieux comprendre les représentations sociales (RS) culinaires de cuisiniers domestiques (cuisiniers non professionnels). Existe-t-il différentes RS de la préparation culinaire ? Si oui, comment identifier ces groupes ayant des RS différentes ? Ainsi, nous nous sommes penchés sur le concept de distance à l’objet (DAO), qui, en interrogeant l’individu sur son niveau de pratique, de connaissance et d’implication, permet d’éclairer le lien entretenu par l’individu avec l’objet (qui est ici la « préparation culinaire ») en soulignant que ce lien est soumis à des variables sociales et psychosociales.Nous nous sommes alors questionnés sur l’intérêt de l’utilisation de la DAO comme variable de segmentation de l’échantillon ad hoc, et en quoi cette DAO serait un dispositif pertinent pour analyser les RS, les pratiques et leur lien étroit.Pour répondre à ces interrogations, avec une stratégie de triangulation, nous avons procédé en deux étapes. La première étape portait sur l’étude des RS de la préparation culinaire et l’impact de la DAO sur celles-ci. La seconde étape portait sur l’étude de la préparation culinaire comme « pratique signifiante » et de l’impact de la DAO sur celles-ci. Elle s’est faite par le biais d’une methode innovante basée sur des observations filmées de cuisiniers domestiques préparant un plat, suivies d’entretiens d’explicitations.L’ensemble de nos résultats nous a permis de mettre en lumière l’intérêt de la DAO comme moyen de segmentation de l’échantillon, ainsi que l’impact de la DAO sur le contenu et l’organisation des RS culinaires. Nos résultats sont discutés au regard des apports théoriques et opérationnels concernant les RS et la DAO. / The thesis aimed to understanding social representations (SR) of domestic culinary chefs (non-professional cooks). Are there different SR of culinary preparation? If so, how to identify these groups with different SR? So we focused on the concept of distance to the object (DO), which, by interviewing the individual on his level of practice, knowledge and involvement, sheds light on the link between the individual and the object (which is here the "culinary preparation") emphasizing that this link is submitted to social and psychosocial variables.We then asked about the interest of the use of DO as ad hoc segmentation variable of the sample, and how this DO would be an appropriate system to analyze SR, practices and their close connectionTo answer these questions, with a strategy of triangulation, we proceeded in two steps. The first step was the study of social representations of culinary preparation and the impact of the distance to the object (DO) on them. The second step was the study of the culinary preparation as "signifying practice" and the impact of CAD on them. It is made through an innovative method based on observations filmed domestic chefs preparing a dish, followed by explications of interviews.All our results allowed us to highlight the interest of the DAO as a means of sample segmenting, and the impact of the distance to the object on the content and structure of culinary social representations. Our results are discussed in terms of theoretical and operational contributions about social representations and distance to the object

Notre thèse s’attache à l’étude des systèmes représentationnels impliqués par la parenté par recours au don de spermatozoïdes. D’un point de vue théorique en psychologie sociale, l’objectif est de saisir la logique de ces systèmes (contenus et processus d’élaboration et de transformation) et leur efficacité au sein de la pratique sociale. La problématique porte sur les manières dont le sens commun traduit les enjeux anthropologiques relatifs à la parenté et au don dans le cas du don de spermatozoïdes. Nous nous inscrivons dans une approche sociogénétique des représentations sociales nous permettant de retracer les éléments et les jalons des processus d’appropriation symbolique en œuvre pour ceux qui ont pour tâche d’institutionnaliser ces pratiques et pour ceux qui en ont une expérience vécue. Nous avons développé un plan de recherche fonctionnant selon le principe de la triangulation des méthodes et organisant une étude multi-niveaux des phénomènes représentationnels. Grâce au partenariat scientifique avec la Fédération française des CECOS, nous avons rencontré des parents par recours au don de spermatozoïdes dans le cadre d’enquêtes quantitative et qualitative (entretiens individuels et focus groups). L’analyse des débats parlementaires de la révision de 2011 de la loi relative à la bioéthique complète ce design méthodologique. Les résultats ont permis de mettre au jour les systèmes représentationnels actualisés dans la sphère publique pour penser la parenté par recours au don, via la mise en évidence des tensions entre catégories de pensée fondamentales (thêmata) qui organisent le champ représentationnel des acteurs parlementaires. Le croisement des analyses dégage des similarités entre les logiques parentales et parlementaires (pro-anonymat) quant à cet anonymat du donneur, sans qu’il n’y ait de détermination, par ce régime anonyme, des pratiques parentales (majoritaires) de récits de sa conception à l’enfant. Les analyses des processus d’inscriptions psychosociales et culturelles du vécu de la parenté par recours au don témoignent toutefois d’un projet représentationnel partagé qui s’ancre dans des modes de parenté normalisés. Il s’actualise de manières paradoxales par un ensemble signifiant de pratiques (récits à l’enfant du recours au don ; dons d’ovocytes) qui se constituent en actions représentationnelles. La discussion souligne l’intérêt qu’il y a à considérer une pluralité de sociogenèses. Elles produisent des états représentationnels composites et la complexité de phénomènes en tensions, dont des actions représentationnelles transgressant et prolongeant l’ordre établi des attendus culturels et des rapports sociaux. / This thesis focuses on the representational systems involved in family building through sperm donation. Drawing on psychosocial theories, it investigates the logic behind these systems and their efficacy in social practices. Specifically, we explore how anthropological issues to do with kinship/relatedness and giving-receiving relationships are transformed into common sense knowledge in the case of sperm donation. This issue is considered using a sociogenetic approach, through the lens of social representations theory. Adopting this theoretical perspective allowed us to trace the elements and milestones of the processes of symbolic coping at play among those whose task is to institutionalise these practices, and among those who experience them.We developed a research programme organised according to principles of method triangulation, hence conducting multi-level studies of representational phenomena. Owing to our scientific partnership with the French federation of CECOS (certified clinics), we conducted quantitative and qualitative research (interviews and focus groups) with parents who conceived their children using sperm donation. A further aspect of our research was based upon an analysis of parliamentary debates regarding the 2011 revision to bioethics legislation in France.Our findings indicated the significance of representational systems for meaning making about parenthood through sperm donation. Specifically, the representational fields of parliamentary players were shown to be organised by tensions between fundamental categories of thought (themata). We found similarities between parental and parliamentary logics that both favoured anonymity, but no relationship between parents’ disclosure decisions and donor anonymity. We did however observe that parents make sense of sperm donation through a shared - yet negotiated - representational project anchored in a rather traditional family model. This project was found to be enacted paradoxically by a set of significant practices (disclosure strategies; egg donation) that constitute representational actions.Our discussion underlines the intense dynamic that underpins the investigated representational systems, studied in different areas of production and transformation. It leads to complex and tense representational phenomena, including actions that transgress and prolong the established cultural and social order.

L'associaèdre se situe à l'interface de plusieurs domaines mathématiques. Combinatoirement, il s'agit du complexe simplicial des dissections d'un polygone convexe (ensembles de diagonales ne se croisant pas deux à deux). Géométriquement, il s'agit d'un polytope dont les sommets et les arêtes encodent le graphe dual du complexe des dissections. Enfin l'associaèdre décrit la structure combinatoire qui définit la présentation par générateurs et relations de certaines algèbres, dites << amassées >>. Du fait de son omniprésence, de nouvelles familles généralisant cet objet sont régulièrement découvertes. Cependant elles n'ont souvent que de faibles interactions. Leurs études respectives présentent de notre point de vue deux enjeux majeurs : chercher à les relier en se basant sur les propriétés connues de l'associaèdre ; et chercher pour chacune des cadres combinatoire, géométrique et algébrique dans le même esprit.Dans cette thèse, nous traitons le lien entre combinatoire et géométrie pour certaines de ces généralisations : les associaèdres de graphes, les complexes de sous-mots et les complexes d'accordéons. Nous suivons un fil rouge consistant à adapter, à ces trois familles, une méthode de construction des associaèdres comme éventails (ensembles de cônes polyédraux), dite méthode des d-vecteurs et issue de la théorie des algèbres amassées. De manière plus large, notre problématique principale consiste à réaliser, c'est-à-dire plonger géométriquement dans un espace vectoriel, des complexes abstraits. Nous obtenons trois familles de nouvelles réalisations, ainsi qu'une quatrième encore conjecturale dont les premières instances constituent déjà des avancées significatives.Enfin, en sus des résultats géométriques, nous démontrons des propriétés combinatoires spécifiques à chaque complexe simplicial abordé. / The associahedron is at the interface between several mathematical fields. Combinatorially, it is the simplicial complex of dissections of a convex polygon (sets of mutually noncrossing diagonals). Geometrically, it is a polytope whose vertices and edges encode the dual graph of the complex of dissections. Finally the associahedron describes the combinatorial structure defining a presentation by generators and relations of certain algebras, called ``cluster algebras''. Because of its ubiquity, we regularly come up with new families generalizing this object. However there often are only few interactions between them. From our perspective, there are two main issues when studying them: looking for relations on the basis of known properties of the associahedron; and, for each, looking for combinatorial, geometric and algebraic frameworks in the same spirit.In this thesis, we deal with the link between combinatorics and geometry for some of these generalizations: graph associahedra, subword complexes and accordion complexes. We follow a guidelight consisting in adapting, to these three families, a method for constructing associahedra as fans (sets of polyhedral cones), called the d-vector method and coming from cluster algebra theory. More generally, our main concern is to realize, that is geometrically embed in a vector space, abstract complexes. We obtain three new families of generalizations, and a fourth conjectural one whose first instances already constitute significant advances.Finally in addition to the geometric results, we prove combinatorial properties specific to each encountered simplicial complex.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / A control system was developed for autonomous visual tracking of a stationary target using a small unmanned aerial vehicle. The kinematic equations of this problem were developed, and the insight obtained from examination was applied in developing controllers for the system. This control system controlled the orientation of the camera to keep it constantly pointing at the target, and also controlled the trajectory of the aircraft in flight around the target. The initial control law that was developed drives the aircraft trajectory to a constant radius around the target. The range to the target is not directly measurable, so it was estimated using steady state Kalman filters. Once a range estimate is obtained, it is used to control the range to the target, and the aircraft trajectory is driven toward a circle with a specified radius. Initial tests of the control system with Simulink simulations have shown good performance of the control system. Further testing with hardware will be conducted, and flight tests are scheduled to be conducted in the near future. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations for further study are presented. / Ensign, United States Navy

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

Nous avons constaté, au Québec, que les grands-parents étaient les grands oubliés de la littérature sur la famille. En effet, les recherches sociologiques sur les grands-parents au Québec sont trop peu nombreuses et il nous semble donc important de les développer davantage. Avec les changements que connaissent les familles aujourd’hui (divorce, recomposition, etc.), les relations entre grands-parents et petits-enfants en sont des plus affectées. Cette relation est souvent laissée au bon vouloir des parents qui ont le rôle de génération intermédiaire. Ces derniers contrôlent l’accès de leurs enfants aux relations avec leurs grands-parents et aux représentations qu’ils en ont. Manifestement, il semble que la relation grand-parent et petit-enfant soit à penser de manière triangulaire. Il peut sembler alors que cette triangulation caractérise la qualité de la relation entre les grands-parents et leurs petits-enfants. En fait, il est des plus intéressant d’étudier l’importance du rôle médiateur que jouent les parents, à l’intersection du lien grands-parents et petits-enfants dans la transmission des valeurs au Québec. Il ressort également de l’analyse le rapport à la grand-parentalité à travers plusieurs générations ainsi que le résultat de reproduction sociale du rôle de grands-parents. / We have determined that in Québec literature the grand-parents have been forgotten. In fact, whit the changer in family structurer (divorce, step-parent, etc.) the relationship between grand-parents and grand-children need to be researched. The important sociological impact needs to be developed and understood. The carrent relationship is one of triangulation where there is ago between grandparents to parents then parents then parents to children. This triangulation determined the characteritcs of the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren. Based on this, it has been more interesting to study the importance of the mediator role than play the parent as the intersection of the bond grandparents and grandchildren in the transmission of the values in Québec. It also arises from the analysis the report/ratio to large-parentalité through several generations as well as the result of social reproduction of the role of grandparents.

Cette recherche s’intéresse aux représentations mentales d’adultes ayant des expertises différentes en biologie végétale.Comme l’indiquent les nombreuses études faites dans ce domaine, l’expertise a des conséquences sur le système cognitif : augmentation et profondeur des connaissances et organisation différente de ces connaissances. Nous nous intéressons à différents types d’expertise en considérant des tout-venant, des viticulteurs et des biologistes. Le premier test consiste à mesurer les connaissances des participants sur la biologie végétale. Puis, à l’aide de deux outils, le modèle de codage SFC de Goel et al. (1996) et l’analyse du discours, nous avons recueilli les connaissances contextuelles (test 2) et des productions d’inférences (test 3) des participants afin d’observer les différentes représentations mentales selon le modèle de la triangulation systémique (Le Moigne, 2006) et les caractéristiques des connaissances. Le nombre de connaissances et leurs caractéristiques observées sont compatibles avec nos hypothèses, toutefois, nous ne constatons pas de différence entre les représentations des tout-venant et des viticulteurs en termes de pôles systémiques (structure, fonction, comportement).L’ensemble des résultats confirme l’intérêt porté aux types d’expertise dans un même domaine. Nous proposons dans une recherche future d’explorer l’effet de la transmission culturelle chez le jeune enfant en fonction de l’expertise des parents. / This research looks into the mental representations of adults who have different levels of expertise in vegetal biology.As many studies in this field indicate, expertise has consequences on the cognitive system: increase and depth of knowledge, and different organization of this knowledge. We focus on different types of expertise by considering all-comers, wine-growers and biologists. The first test is meant to measure participants’ knowledge in vegetal biology. Then using the SBF coding model of Goel et al. (1996) and analysis of discourse, we gathered participants’ contextual knowledge (test 2) and productions of inferences (test 3) in order to observe the different mental representations according to the systemic triangulation model (Le Moigne, 2006) and the characteristics of knowledge. The amount and characteristics of knowledge we observed are in accordance with our hypothesis; however, we do not observe any difference between all-comers’ and wine-growers’ representations in terms of systemic poles (structure, function, behavior). The results as a whole confirm the interest in types of expertise within one field. In a future research, we suggest the study of the effect of cultural transmission on young children according to their parents’ level of expertise.

Shifting attention from the plane to the sphere and torus, we extend the study of pseudo-triangulations. Planar representations of each surface are used. A number of theorems and concepts are taken from the plane and applied to the sphere and torus not only for pseudo-triangulations but for triangulations as well. We found the number of edges and faces in a triangulation on n vertices in the plane, on the sphere and on the torus.

The purpose of this study is to examine and understand why parastatals in Nigeria are on the face of it performing so poorly. Parastatals are critised for being ostensibly immersed with ethnicism, corruption, nepotism, patronage, clientelism, low accountability and transparency. These issues were explored in the context of Ajaokuta Steel; an enterprise that was substantially complete two decades ago but subsequently progressed no further. Ajaokuta Steel is an industrial giant meant to take the lead of industrialising, developing, and taking Nigeria and Africa from poverty and unemployment. To pursue this study the researcher employed mixed methods of research with interpretivism combined with a critical ambition and a case study as the main research strategy. The researcher used questionnaires, observations, interviews to gather data. Theoretical framework based on neopatrimonialism was used to guide the researcher in the empirical work and in the study. The interviews from the case site and stakeholders were analysed from the voice recorder and those from the questionnaires were analysed using descriptive statistics. The use of several data collecting methods was to achieve triangulation and because of the seriousness of the problem which needed an in-depth investigation to unveil the mystery behind the non-completion of the giant moribund industry. The results of the interviews, case study and questionnaires indicated that the problems of governance and accountability of parastatals in Nigeria are that governing board members and chairmen who formulate policies are appointed to boards based on political patronage, ethnic balancing and religious considerations, thereby loading boards with unqualified people who may ultimately compromise an organisation such as Ajaokuta Steel. Interviewees and respondents also identified a lack of political will on the part of the government, suggestions of an international conspiracy, corruption, military incursions in politics, the geographical location of Ajaokuta Steel and the culture of neglecting projects, as further contributory factors. Interviewees and respondents mentioned also lack of accountability and transparency in the affairs of parastatals. These factors have greatly affected all parastatals in Nigeria. It was recommended that parastatals should appoint board members, the CEO and staff based on track records of good antecedents; publish their accounts in the national newspapers; or be privatised by Public Private Partnership (PPP) so that government will be able to concentrate on its primary duties of providing security, health services and education for its citizens.

A posição filosófica chamada de externismo semântico caracteriza-se pela tese segundo a qual a individuação do conteúdo de estados mentais deve recorrer a fatores que não podem ser localizados na região geralmente circunscrita pela noção mesma de mente. Tal tese implica, em todo caso, que a suposta interioridade da vida psicológica não se basta para tornar inteligível as condições de possibilidade que o pensamento conceitual requer. Assim, se fatores externos aos indivíduos são vistos como desempenhando uma contribuição decisiva na própria determinação de seu conteúdo mental, isto é algo que torna necessário compreender em que sentido mente e mundo podem ser tomados como intrinsecamente relacionados. A aposta teórica do presente trabalho é a de que apenas uma concepção da individuação liberada dos grilhões substancialistas permite fornecer um solo ontológico fértil para uma teoria externista do conceito. Daí que a noção de triangulação, que Donald Davidson forjou para dar conta de alguns fatores cruciais na gênese da conceitualidade, seja lida a partir de filosofias que ressaltam o caráter decisivo da vida como referencialidade fundamental do conceito. Logo, é na ordem vital que se busca dissolver os impasses ligados à origem da normatividade e à dualidade entre interno e externo, oposição a partir da qual a subjetividade desde muito tempo tem sido pensada. / The philosophical position called semantic externalism is characterized by the thesis according to which the individuation of the content of mental states must make reference to traits that cannot be placed inside the sphere usually circumscribed by the very notion of mind. Such a thesis implies, anyway, that the supposed interiority of the psychological life is not enough to make intelligible the conditions that conceptual thought requires. If factors external to individuals are seen as entertaining a decisive contribution in the very determination of their mental content, that is makes it necessary to understand in what sense mind and world can be taken as intrinsically related. The theoretical bet of the present thesis is that only a conception of individuation free from the substantialist commitments can provide a fertile ontological ground to an externalist theory of the concept. In this sense, the notion of triangulation, that Donald Davidson has forged to explain some crucial elements in the genesis of conceptuality, is read from the standpoint of philosophies that highlight the decisive character of life as fundamental referentiality of the concept itself. So, it is in the vital order that some deadlocks concerning the origins of normativity and the inner outer duality structural opposition under which from a long time subjectivity is thought upon, are dissolved.