L’objectif général de cette thèse est d’étudier l’évolution au cours du vieillissement des processus automatiques et contrôlés, nécessaires à une bonne adaptation cognitive quotidienne. Nous nous intéressons à l’influence de différentes variables cognitives (mémoire de travail, vitesse de traitement et vocabulaire) ainsi qu’aux préférences de routinisation sur l’expression de ce possible effet de l’âge. Des épreuves de fluidités sémantiques simples (Expérience 1) et alternées (Expérience 2 et 3) et des formats simples (Expérience 5a et 6a) et alternés (Expérience 5b et 6b) de la tâche de Hayling ont été réalisés par des adultes jeunes (18-30 ans), âgés (60-74 ans) et très âgés (75 ans et plus). Ces épreuves nous permettent d’étudier le processus automatique à travers la diffusion de l’activation en mémoire sémantique et les processus contrôlés par le biais de l’inhibition et de la flexibilité. L’activité cérébrale associée à l’exécution de fluidités simples et alternées est étudiée chez des participants âgés à l’aide de l’imagerie optique (Expérience 4). Les résultats obtenus sont en faveur d’une réduction avec l’âge de l’efficience des processus contrôlés alors que celle des processus automatiques semble conservée. Des phénomènes de compensation se mettraient en place au cours du vieillissement, s’appuyant sur les processus automatiques et les connaissances accumulées. / The aim of this thesis is to investigate the changes in automatic and controlled processes during aging which are necessary for satisfactory daily cognitive adaptation. The focus is the impact of various cognitive variables (i.e., working memory, speed of processing and vocabulary) and preferences for routines on the expression of this possible age effect. Simple (Experiment 1) and alternating fluency tasks (Experiments 2 and 3) as well as a simple (Experiments 5a and 6a) and alternating version of the Hayling task (Experiments 5b and 6b) were administered to young adults (18-30 years old), older adults (60-74 years old) and older-old adults (75 years old and over). These tasks allowed the study of automatic processes through spreading activation in semantic memory and of controlled processes through inhibition and flexibility. The cerebral activity associated with simple and alternating fluency task execution was investigated in elderly adults with near-infrared spectroscopy (Experiment 4). The results suggest a decrease with age in the efficiency of controlled processes whereas the efficiency of automatic processes seems to be preserved. Thus, compensation based on automatic processes and accumulated knowledge may appear during aging.

Les études en neurosciences cognitives ont mis en évidence des phénomènes de neuroréorganisation au cours du vieillissement et des corrélats neuronaux spécifiques à la maturation de l’enfant, lors de la réalisation de tâches de mémoire épisodique. Examiner l’évolution des corrélats neuronaux de la récupération en mémoire et déterminer si les patterns cérébraux spécifiques à l’enfant et à l’adulte âgé sont bénéfiques à la performance mnésique constituaient les objectifs majeurs de ce travail. Les résultats ont mis en évidence que les patterns de neuroréorganisation liés à l’âge (modèle PASA et modèle HAROLD) sont déjà présents chez l’adulte jeune et ne sont donc pas spécifiques au cerveau âgé. En accord avec l’hypothèse de compensation, la neuroréorganisation observée chez les adultes âgés, sous la forme d’un shift frontal, apparait bénéfique à la performance mnésique et est liée à un meilleur fonctionnement exécutif. Enfin, l’activité pariétale et frontale chez l’enfant est associée au processus de familiarité, alors que chez les adultes jeunes l’activité pariétale est liée à la remémoration. Chez les adultes âgés, l’activité frontale est associée au processus de remémoration, suggérant un phénomène compensatoire. / Studies in cognitive neurosciences have highlighted neural reorganization phenomena in aging and specific neural correlates associated with children’s maturation during episodic memory tasks. To examine the evolution of the neural correlates of the memory retrieval and to determine if brain patterns specific to children and older adults are beneficial to the memory performance, were the major objectives of this work. Results showed that age-related neural reorganization patterns (PASA model and HAROLD model) are already present in young adults, therefore they are not specific to the older brains. In agreement with the compensation hypothesis, the neural reorganization observed in older adults, taking the form of a frontal shift, appears to be beneficial to memory performance and associated with a better executive functioning. Finally, frontal and parietal activities in children are associated with the familiarity process, whereas in young adults the parietal activity is related to a recollection process. In older adults, the frontal activity is associated with a recollection process, suggesting a compensatory phenomenon.

This thesis considers two allegations which conservatives often level at no-fault systems — namely, that responsibility is abnegated under no-fault systems, and that no-fault systems under- and over-compensate. I argue that although each of these allegations can be satisfactorily met – the responsibility allegation rests on the mistaken assumption that to properly take responsibility for our actions we must accept liability for those losses for which we are causally responsible; and the compensation allegation rests on the mistaken assumption that tort law’s compensatory decisions provide a legitimate norm against which no-fault’s decisions can be compared and criticized – doing so leads in a direction which is at odds with accident law reform advocates’ typical recommendations. On my account, accident law should not just be reformed in line with no-fault’s principles, but rather it should be completely abandoned since the principles that protect nofault systems from the conservatives’ two allegations are incompatible with retaining the category of accident law, they entail that no-fault systems are a form of social welfare and not accident law systems, and that under these systems serious deprivation – and to a lesser extent causal responsibility – should be conditions of eligibility to claim benefits. / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Humanities, 2007.

Les capteurs d'images CMOS sont de plus en plus utilisés dans le domaine industriel : la surveillance, la défense, le médical, etc. Dans ces domaines, les capteurs d'images CMOS sont exposés potentiellement à de grandes variations de température. Les capteurs d'images CMOS, comme tous les circuits analogiques, sont très sensibles aux variations de température, ce qui limite leurs applications. Jusqu'à présent, aucune solution intégrée pour contrer ce problème n'a été proposée. Afin de remédier à ce défaut, nous étudions, dans cette thèse, les effets de la température sur les deux types d'imageurs les plus connus. Plusieurs structures de compensation sont proposées. Elles reprennent globalement les trois méthodes existantes et jamais appliquées aux capteurs d'images. La première méthode utilise une entrée au niveau du pixel qui sera modulée en fonction de l'évolution de la température. La deuxième méthode utilise la technique ZTC (Zero Temperature Coefficient). La troisième méthode est inspirée de la méthode de la tension de référence bandgap. Dans tous les cas, nous réduisons de manière très intéressante l'effet de la température et nous obtenons une bonne stabilité en température de -30 à 125°C. Toutes les solutions proposées préservent le fonctionnement initial de l'imageur. Elles n'impactent également pas ou peu la surface du pixel.

<p>CEO compensation is a relevant topic in today's society that touches both political and economic questions which are of interest for the whole general public. It affects people indirectly through CEOs actions and how these actions affect company performances. Due to the fact that there is a financial crisis, this thesis has its aim to catch some light over CEO compensation and its relation to company performances, if there is one.</p><p>The purpose was to investigate if we could find a relation between CEO compensation and company performances by using variables which we considered significant for this study. These variables are collected from each company's annual reports and which we have chosen to focus on the two past years 2007 and 2008, as it is the most recent data. For the principle of our thesis a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was applied, to best suite the purpose. When finding a sustainable and significant result, regressions of different variables from the annual reports were drawn and the outcomes of these were interpreted and analyzed. Our findings show that turnover is the only variable which indicated any significant p-value in the regressions drawn. Of all regressions three show significance and all arerelated to turnover. Given these results we can conclude that the other variables are not related to the CEO compensation in this case study.</p>

CEO compensation is a relevant topic in today's society that touches both political and economic questions which are of interest for the whole general public. It affects people indirectly through CEOs actions and how these actions affect company performances. Due to the fact that there is a financial crisis, this thesis has its aim to catch some light over CEO compensation and its relation to company performances, if there is one. The purpose was to investigate if we could find a relation between CEO compensation and company performances by using variables which we considered significant for this study. These variables are collected from each company's annual reports and which we have chosen to focus on the two past years 2007 and 2008, as it is the most recent data. For the principle of our thesis a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was applied, to best suite the purpose. When finding a sustainable and significant result, regressions of different variables from the annual reports were drawn and the outcomes of these were interpreted and analyzed. Our findings show that turnover is the only variable which indicated any significant p-value in the regressions drawn. Of all regressions three show significance and all arerelated to turnover. Given these results we can conclude that the other variables are not related to the CEO compensation in this case study.

This thesis is composed of two parts: a 3¡ÑVDD mixed-voltage-tolerant I/O buffer with 1¡ÑVDD CMOS standard device, and a PVT detector for 2¡ÑVDD output buffer with slew-rate compensation. In the first topic, a 3¡ÑVDD bidirectional mixed-voltage-tolerant I/O buffer, which has been implemented using a typical TSMC 0.18 £gm CMOS process, is proposed with a Dynamic gate bias voltage generator to provide appropriate gate drives for the stacked output stage. Besides, a Gate-tracking circuit and a Floating N-well technique are adopted to prevent 1¡ÑVDD device from gate-oxide overstress problems and leakage currents. The maximum data rate is simulated to be 166/166/166/100/80 MHz when VDDIO is 5.0/3.3/1.8/1.2/0.9 V, respectively, given an equivalent probe capacitive load of 10pF. The second topic is a process, voltage, and temperature¡]PVT¡^detector for 2¡ÑVDD output buffer with slew-rate compensation. The threshold voltage¡]Vth¡^ of PMOSs and NMOSs varying with process variation could be detected, respectively. In addition, the voltage and temperature variations could be monitored, respectively, by detecting different charging and discharging times of delay buffers at each PVT corner. By adjusting output currents, the slew rate of output signals could be compensated over 24¢H. Moreover, the maximum data rate with compensation is 133 MHz in contrast with 100 MHz without compensation when VDDIO ¡× 1.8 V, in transmitting mode.

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

La délégation du pouvoir de gestion aux administrateurs et aux gestionnaires, une caractéristique intrinsèque à la gestion efficace de grandes entreprises dans un contexte de capitalisme, confère une grande discrétion à l’équipe de direction. Cette discrétion, si elle n’est pas surveillée, peut mener à des comportements opportunistes envers la corporation, les actionnaires et les autres fournisseurs de capital qui n’ont pas de pouvoir de gestion. Les conflits entre ces deux classes d’agents peuvent émerger à la fois de décisions de gouvernance générale ou de transactions particulières (ie. offre publique d’achat). Dans les cas extrêmes, ces conflits peuvent mener à la faillite de la firme. Dans les cas plus typiques, ils mènent l’extraction de bénéfices privés pour les administrateurs et gestionnaires, l’expropriation des actionnaires, et des réductions de valeur pour la firme. Nous prenons le point de vue d’un petit actionnaire minoritaire pour explorer les méchanismes de gouvernance disponibles au Canada et aux États‐Unis. Après une synthèse dans la Partie 1 des théories sous‐jacentes à l’étude du pouvoir dans la corporation (séparation de la propriété et du contrôle et les conflits d’agence), nous concentrons notre analyse dans la Partie 2 sur les différents types de méchanismes (1) de gouvernance interne, (2) juridiques et (3) marchands, qui confèrent du pouvoir aux deux classes d’agents. Nous examinons comment les intérêts de ces deux classes peuvent être réalignés afin de prévenir et résoudre les conflits au sein de la firme. La Partie 3 explore un équilibre dynamique de pouvoir corporatif qui cherche à minimiser le potentiel d’opportunisme toute en préservant une quantité de discrétion suffisante pour la gestion efficace de la firme. Nous analysons des moyens pour renforcer les protections des actionnaires minoritaires et proposons un survol des pistes de réforme possibles. / The delegation of power to corporate directors and officers (Insiders), an essential trait of modern firm management in the context of capitalism, presents desirable efficiency advantages. However, it also confers broad discretion to Insiders . This discretion, when unchecked, may lead to self‐interested opportunistic behaviour detrimental to the firm and to the outside shareholders (Outsiders) who supply finance to the firm but do not have management power. Conflicts between Insiders and Outsiders may emerge from either general governance decisions or from particular transactions (ie. takeovers). In extreme cases, these conflicts can lead to the bankruptcy of the firm or, in more typical cases, to the extraction of private benefits for Insiders, shareholder expropriation and value‐reducing actions for the firm. We take the perspective of an outside shareholder to explore corporate governance mechanisms available in the US and Canada. After reviewing in Part 1 the core theories underlying the study of power in the modern corporation (separation of ownership and control and agency conflicts), we focus in Part 2 on the (1) internal governance, (2) regulatory and (3) market mechanisms through which both Insiders and Outsiders draw power. We examine how Outsiders can harness these mechanisms to check Insiders, as well as to prevent and resolve various types of conflicts. In Part 3, we explore a corporate power equilibrium that helps to minimize Insider opportunism, while reserving sufficient Insider discretion for effective firm management. We make the case for strengthening protections for shareholders and provide an overview of potential legislative reform paths.

Tiriamoji problema ir darbo aktualumas. XIX amžiaus antrojoje pusėje galutinai buvo atsisakyta medicinos, kaip meno, sampratos : medicinos mokslo atradimai leido paaiškinti fiziologinius procesus, atskleidė daugelio patologinių procesų priežastis, sparčiai plėtojamos technologijos suteikė galimybę ne tik stebėti visas organizmo funkcijas, bet dažnai – jas kontroliuoti. Viena vertus, sparti medicinos mokslo ir praktikos raida lėmė akivaizdų sveikatos rodiklių gerėjimą (kūdikių mirtingumo mažėjimas, laukiamos vidutinės gyvenimo trukmės ilgėjimas), kita vertus, teko pripažinti, kad galimybės kontroliuoti gydymo procesą ir pasiekti norimą rezultatą yra ribotos . Nanotechnologijų ir genų inžinerijos taikymas medicinoje iškėlė individo tapatumo išsaugojimo problemas, todėl reikėjo konceptualiu lygmeniu iš naujo apsvarstyti sveikatos priežiūros srityje besiformuojančių santykių prigimtį ir esmę bei pacientų teisių apsaugą užtikrinančių priemonių, tarp jų – ir teisinių instrumentų, veiksmingumą. Pacientų teisių ir pareigų reguliavimo bei teikiamos teisinės apsaugos efektyvumo problematiškumą nulemia šie veiksniai: gydytojo ir paciento santykių daugialypiškumas ir sudėtingumas, dažnos etinės problemos, kylančios gydymo ir tyrimo metu, fragmentiškas gydytojo ir paciento santykių reglamentavimas nacionaliniu lygiu ir gausios nekodifikuojamos vadinamosios minkštosios teisės (angl. soft law) normos, valstybės, teikiančios socialines garantijas pacientams, dalyvavimas gydytojo ir paciento... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Researched problem and relevance of the paper. In the second half of the 198th century the concept of medicine as art was finally refused: achievements of the science of medicine allowed to explain physiological processes, revealed the reasons of many pathological processes, quickly developed technologies granted a possibility not only observe all functions of an organism, nut frequently – to control them as well. On one hand, rapid development of the science of medicine and practice determined an obvious improvement of health indicators (decrease of babies’ mortality, extension of average lifetime), on the other hand, it has to be admitted that possibilities to control the treatment process and to achieve the desired result are limited . Application of nanotechnologies and genes engineering in medicine aroused the problems of the preservation of the identity of an individual, therefore it had to be discussed anew the nature and essence and the effectiveness of the means ensuring the protection of patients’ rights including the effectiveness of legal instruments. The topic of the regulation of patients’ rights and duties and the effectiveness of the provided legal protection are determined by the following factors: multiplicity and complexity of the relationship of the physician and patient, frequent ethnical problems arising during treatment and examination, fragmentary regulation of the relationship of physician and patient at the national level and abundant non-codified... [to full text]