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No description available.

This research program investigated the reasonable possibility that differential information processing strategies can be manifestations of racist prejudgments. Our research design applies a technique often used in social cognition studies. This technique captures evidence of a rather habit-driven (though not instantaneous) decision made by subjects rapidly presented with information about (typically fictional) characters. These target characters are associated (in the context of the experiment) with some form of generalized expectancy (i.e., they are typically presented as a likable or unlikable person). This is accomplished either by creating the expectancy artificially, or by using targets that are members of a conspicuously or notably-stereotyped group. The rather non-conscious decision involved is one of either bolstering one's pre-conceived notions or engaging in inconsistency resolution (e.g., either marshaling evidence to bolster your prejudicial expectation or pondering more earnestly those pieces of information which are inconsistent with your expectancy or well-known prejudicial stereotypes). Typically, the likelihood of pursuing one strategy or the other is manipulated in experimental settings by first providing an artificial expectation, then altering the structure of the person-memory task or adjusting the rate of information flow to the subjects. We hoped to reveal how a non-artificial pre-existing race-based prejudicial expectancy (of a largely non-evaluative as in non-likable/dislikable nature) might effect the pursuit of one strategy or the other. By and large, tests of our five hypotheses provide only mixed support for use of a person-memory associative network model in this context. The first and second hypotheses have some visual support (i.e., recall proportions across sentence types start out roughly equal for low prejudicial expectation - PE -- subjects then branch out; high PE subjects seem to treat sentence types differently from the start); however, these differences are not amenable to clearly interpretable statistical tests. Analysis of the third and fourth hypotheses was confounded because the candidate contaminating covariate failed to have consistent effects. This, coupled with the floor effect of the PE scale, the unexplained (and substantial) variability in recall behavior, and some other control issues (detailed below), made the use of the continuous DVs less than fruitful. The floor effect of the PE scale was especially problematic - with many subjects compressed at this floor, relations would be difficult to see even if present. In an attempt to detect weak effects of prejudice, we aggregated subjects by PE (as in high and low prejudice). Aggregation probably made the floor effect-driven range restriction less problematic (the subjects lumped together on PE's floor are probably less-afflicted with well-practiced prejudicial expectations than the high half of PE scorers). This exercise generated weak support for the third hypothesis: the time interval data feebly indicates that high PE subjects manifest a negative impression-centered person-memory schema in their storage of sentences about a Black target - and, unlike the low PE subjects, they apparently do this starting with the earliest blocks of sentences. The median split approach failed to generate support for the fourth hypothesis - where we expected to see bolstering replace inconsistency resolution (in the slow condition) since subjects were afforded the time. There was weak evidence, however, that more inconsistency resolution was occurring in the fast condition (as the proposed model had predicted). This evidence was in the form of greater recall time interval differences seen when comparing high PE subjects and their schema-speeded versus non-speeded intervals. The bottom line for the first four hypotheses is still this: we failed to create a condition where prejudice would paradoxically favor recall of laudable or admirable inconsistencies associated with a fictitious Black target. The fifth hypothesis was just intended to verify that racial prejudice does not predict recall behavior when the target is White and so are the subjects. So using a White target, we performed the same sort of tests seen above. Fortunately, relations with PE ranged from weak to very weak - and, of course, were non-significant. In sum, these outcomes suggest that Hastie-Srull associative network (H-SAN) processing effects may not reliably or consistently manifest themselves in the prejudiced rater/performance appraisal arena -- at least not in designs similar to those used previously to illustrate H-SAN effects. There were some clear exceptions, however, in our data. Taken together, our results suggest that H-SAN mechanisms may apply when appraising performance potential, but have a difficult time manifesting themselves in substantial ways. / Ph. D.

This is a visual story of my attempt at understanding impression. / Master of Architecture

Yes / Purpose: Storytelling is claimed to be an effective way of communicating corporate strategy within organisations. However, previous studies have tended to focus holistically on storytelling in organisations rather than investigating how different groups may use and be influenced by stories. This paper addresses these gaps in the literature by investigating how storytelling in internal communication can either support or subvert corporate strategy. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative study was conducted into storytelling in two large companies in the UK energy industry. Data was collected through 70 semi-structured interviews, documentary research, and observation research. Impression management theory was used to analyse how stories supported or subverted corporate strategy. Findings: Storytelling by employees in the corporate and customer service areas of the organisations showed the greatest support for corporate strategy. There was more subversive storytelling in the operational areas, particularly by lower level employees. Stories subverted corporate strategy by recounting incidents and encouraging behaviour that contradicted the organisation’s vision/goals and values. Originality/value: The study shows the important contribution of employees to the collective sensemaking process in organisations, by narrating supportive or subversive stories. Engaging employees in storytelling can enhance support for corporate strategy, however managers should also see subversive stories as an opportunity to identify and address problems in the organisation.

This study uses three case studies to show how authenticity is fabricated in food culture. Conceptualizing food as a cultural product makes possible the analysis of social processes through food. In doing so, food becomes a mirror reflecting the happenings within the broader social world. This study examines three empirical cases to sociologically understand food culture: southern barbeque, Top Chef, and ramps and quinoa. Southern barbeque allows the examination of the role of fabricated authenticity within food culture. Top Chef is evidence of how chefs actively produce distinction to legitimate their position and status within the field. Ramps and quinoa are examples of two ingredients that have been exploited from their original context to become elite and mainstream ingredients without concern for the consequences to the people who relied on them in the quest for the exotic. Together these cases provide examples of how research on the fabrication of authenticity and impression management can be expanded to include food. / Ph. D. / This study uses three case studies to show how authenticity is created in food culture. Conceptualizing food as a cultural product makes possible the analysis of social processes through food. In doing so, food becomes a mirror reflecting the happenings within the broader social world. This study examines three empirical cases to understand food culture: southern barbeque, <i>Top Chef</i>, and ramps and quinoa. Southern barbeque allows the examination of the role of fabricated authenticity within food culture. <i>Top Chef</i> is evidence of how chefs actively produce distinction to legitimate their position and status within the field. Ramps and quinoa are examples of two ingredients that have been exploited from their original context to become elite and mainstream ingredients without concern for the consequences to the people who relied on them in the quest for the exotic. Together these cases provide examples of how research on the fabrication of authenticity and impression management can be expanded to include food.

Les capteurs électroniques sont utilisés dans une grande variété de domaines afin de répondre à différents besoins dans notre société. La médecine, la robotique et les téléphones intelligents en sont seulement quelques exemples qui marquent notre quotidien. Dans le cadre du Réseau canadien du CRSNG sur l'électronique imprimée verte (GreEN) le développement de capteurs (temps, température, humidité) imprimés à base de matériaux verts pour application dans les emballages intelligents figurent parmi les principaux objectifs de ce réseau pancanadien qui regroupe des chercheurs académiques de renom et des industriels du domaine de l'impression, de l'emballage et de l'alimentation. Le développement d'une étiquette « intelligente » permettrait la trace efficace, en temps réel, de produits alimentaires sensibles en assurant l'intégrité de la chaîne de froid afin de préserver la salubrité et les qualités gustatives des aliments. Plusieurs projets sont actuellement consacrés au développement de cet emballage fonctionnel dont le miens. En effet, mon projet de maîtrise vise principalement le développement d'un capteur de température imprimé en collaboration avec l'Institut National d'Optique (INO). Le principal objectif est de remplacer la thermistance à base de poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrène sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) actuellement utilisé dans les capteurs de température développés à l'INO par un matériau dont les propriétés seraient indépendantes de l'humidité. Pour ce faire, des nouveaux matériaux, inspirés du PEDOT, ont été synthétisés et étudiés comme thermistance. Ces matériaux sont, contrairement au PEDOT:PSS qui est une suspension, 100% soluble dans l'eau ce qui facilite grandement l'impression. Dans le cadre de ce mémoire, la formulation, l'impression et la fabrication d'un capteur de température utilisant cette nouvelle génération de PEDOT seront présentés. / Electronic sensors are used in a wide variety of fields to meet different needs in our society. Medicine, robotics and telephones are just a few examples that mark our daily lives. As part of the "NSERC-Green Electronics Network", the development of sensors (time, temperature, humidity) printed on the basis of green materials for application in smart packaging are among the main objectives of this pan-Canadian network which brings together renowned academic researchers and manufacturers in the field of printing packaging and food. The development of the "smart" label would allow the efficient, real-time trace of sensitive food products while ensuring the integrity of the cold chain in order to preserve the safety and taste qualities of food. Therefore, several projects are currently devoted to the development of this functional packaging, including mine. Indeed, my master's project mainly aims at the development of a printed temperature sensor in collaboration with the National Optics Institute (INO). The main objective is to replace the thermistor based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) currently used in temperature sensors developed at INO with a material whose properties are independent of humidity. To do this, new materials, inspired by PEDOT, have been synthesized and studied as thermistors. These materials are, unlike PEDOT:PSS which is a suspension, 100% soluble in water which greatly facilitates printing. As part of this thesis, the formulation, printing and fabrication of a temperature sensor using this new generation of PEDOT will be presented.

L'impression 3D de produits pharmaceutiques pourrait offrir des solutions pour la fabrication de médicaments au point d'intervention, c'est-à-dire la fabrication de produits pharmaceutiques au chevet des patients. Toutefois, dans la pratique, des considérations réglementaires demeurent des obstacles au déploiement de médicaments personnalisés imprimés en 3D. Pour mettre en œuvre efficacement cette approche, des méthodes doivent être développées pour garantir la qualité et l'utilisabilité des produits pharmaceutiques imprimés en 3D, en particulier les matériaux mous. Dans cette étude, nous nous sommes penchés sur deux problèmes liés aux médicaments imprimés au chevet du patient : le contrôle de la qualité et le processus de livraison. Le contrôle de la qualité : La fabrication au chevet du patient implique un circuit de distribution dans lequel un sponsor (c'est-à-dire une entreprise) commercialise une technologie permettant aux cliniciens de fabriquer un produit pharmaceutique localement. Pour aider les cliniciens à mieux contrôler la qualité des médicaments fabriqués, le promoteur doit fournir des procédures opératoires normalisées (POS) solides sur lesquelles les cliniciens peuvent s'appuyer. Pour ce faire, une meilleure compréhension des processus d'impression 3D est nécessaire. Nous émettons l'hypothèse que la combinaison du traitement d'images avec des analyses de plans d'expérience (DoE) et l'apprentissage automatique (ML) pourrait améliorer la compréhension du processus d'impression 3D. Nous avons étudié l'impact de trois paramètres critiques du processus (vitesse d'impression, pression d'impression et pourcentage de remplissage) sur trois attributs critiques de qualité (AQC) (poids du gel, surface totale et hétérogénéité). Les échantillons ont été imprimés dans une forme cylindrique simple, avec différents paramètres d'impression, sur une imprimante Cellink BioX. La DoE et l'apprentissage automatique ont généré des modèles prédictifs pour chaque AQC. Les approches DoE et d'apprentissage automatique ont respectivement obtenu environ 50 % et 72 % de précision. Ces résultats montrent que l'algorithme d'apprentissage automatique offre un modèle prédictif amélioré par rapport aux équations fournies par les analyses DoE. En utilisant l'algorithme et leurs ensembles de données expérimentales, les promoteurs des technologies d'impression 3D pourraient donc établir les paramètres d'impression qui sont les moins susceptibles d'échouer au chevet du patient (i.e., une SOP « infaillible ») et qui pourront assurer la qualité du médicament imprimé en 3D, dans divers contextes et environnements. Processus de livraison : Pour administrer des matériaux souples imprimés en 3D, des méthodes doivent être développées pour permettre leur manipulation, tout en préservant l'intégrité structurelle de l'objet. Notre hypothèse est qu'un support plastique flexible peut être utilisé pour transformer les matériaux imprimés en 3D en formats injectables. Nos objectifs sont de caractériser les dimensions et la géométrie du support plastique et de confirmer sa capacité à contenir et à délivrer des liquides de différentes viscosités. À l'instar d'une seringue, ce dispositif est envisagé comme un baril avec un piston qui peut être utilisé pour pousser et administrer l'hydrogel. Différentes géométries de supports plastiques (symétriques et asymétriques) ont été comparées. La capacité du support plastique à contenir et à délivrer des liquides de différentes viscosités a été établie par gravimétrie (à l'aide d'un gel modèle). Nous avons montré que lorsqu'un baril en plastique est en position horizontale, il est capable de contenir tout le liquide, quelle que soit sa viscosité. En revanche, lorsque le baril est positionné verticalement, la capacité de rétention varie entre 45 et 100 % en fonction de la structure de fermeture du dispositif et de la viscosité du gel. Nous avons également démontré qu'il y a généralement une perte de gel lors de l'injection, allant de 20 à 75 % de la quantité totale de gel, en fonction de la viscosité du gel et de la structure du cylindre. Ensuite, trois modèles d'impression d'hydrogel ont été étudiés pour imprimer le gel sur le dispositif de plastique pliable (monolithe, quatre prismes et un grand prisme). L'objectif était d'évaluer l'intégrité de la structure du gel à différentes étapes, notamment après l'impression, après la fermeture du support et après l'extrusion. Les résultats ont montré que le gel conserve son intégrité au cours de ces étapes, en particulier lorsque deux hydrogels sont imprimés conjointement. Les images en fluorescence ont également prouvé que les deux gels ne se mélangent pas, lors de la manipulation du support et après l'extrusion hors du cylindre. En optimisant encore l'approche, la structure pliable pourrait offrir des solutions pour l'injection de matériaux souples imprimés en 3D afin d'améliorer la fabrication de médicaments au chevet du patient. / The 3D printing of pharmaceutical products could offer solutions for point-of-care drug manufacturing - that is, the fabrication of drug products at the bedside of patients. However, in practice, regulatory considerations remain obstacles to the deployment of personalized 3D printed drugs. To efficiently implement this approach, methods must be developed to ensure the quality and usability of 3D-printed pharmaceuticals, specifically soft materials. In this study, we have looked into two problems with on-site printed drugs: quality control and the delivery of soft materials. Quality control: Point-of care manufacturing would involve a distribution loop where a sponsor (i.e., a company) would market a technology allowing clinicians to fabricate a drug product at the bedside of their patients. To help clinicians have a better control over the quality of the drug they fabricate, sponsors must provide robust and reliable standard operating procedures (SOP). To achieve this, better understanding of the 3D printing processes is necessary. We hypothesize that combining image processing with design of experiment (DoE) analyses and machine learning (ML) could increase the understanding of the 3D printing process. Herein, we investigated the impact of three critical process parameters (printing speed, printing pressure and infill percentage) on three critical quality attributes (CQA) (gel weight, total surface area and heterogeneity). Samples were printed in a simple cylinder shape, under different printing parameters, using a Cellink BioX printer. Both DoE and ML generated predictive models for each CQA. Using independent data, the accuracy of the DoE and machine learning approaches reached approximately 50% and 72%, respectively. These results support that the ML algorithm offers an improved predictive model, compared to the equations provided by DoE analyses. Using the algorithm and their experimental datasets, sponsors of 3D printing technologies could therefore establish printing parameters that are the least susceptible to fail at the point-of-care (i.e, "infallible" SOP) and can provide reliable 3D printed materials at the point of care, in a variety of conditions and environments. Delivering process: To administer 3D-printed soft materials, methods must be developed to enable their handling, while preserving the object's structural integrity. Our hypothesis is that a flexible plastic support can be used to transform 3D printed materials into an injectable object. Our objectives are to characterize the dimensions and the geometry of the plastic support and confirm its ability to hold and deliver liquids of different viscosity. Comparable to a syringe, this device is designed as a barrel with a piston that can be used to push and deliver the hydrogel. Different geometries for plastic support (symmetrical and asymmetrical designs) were compared. The ability of the plastic support to hold and deliver liquids of different viscosity was established gravimetrically (using a model gel). We have shown that when a plastic barrel is in a horizontal position, it is able to hold liquids, regardless of their viscosity. In contrast, when the barrel is positioned vertically, the total liquid retained in the syringe varies between 45 and 100%, depending on the type of barrel closure and the gel viscosity. We have also demonstrated that there is typically a gel lost during injection, ranging from 20% to 75% of the total amount of gel, depending on both the gel viscosity and the barrel structure. For the 3D printing of soft hydrogels, three printing patterns were studied to print the gel on the folding mat (monolith- four prism and one large prism). The objective was to evaluate the integrity of the printed gel at different steps: after printing, after closing the support, and after extrusion. The results showed that the gel maintains its integrity during these steps, even when two hydrogels are printed simultaneously. Fluorescence images also proved that the two gels did not blend after folding the mat and after extrusion from the barrel. Further optimisation of the approach could offer solutions to the injection of soft 3D printed materials to improve point-of-care drug manufacturing.

La fabrication additive regroupe une famille de procédés de mise en forme des métaux permettant la fabrication de pièces à géométrie complexe qui n’étaient pas réalisables auparavant. Selon l'industrie, cette nouvelle technologie est intéressante au niveau économique et au niveau des nouvelles possibilités de conception de pièces que celle-ci rend maintenant possible. Parmi les nombreux procédés de fabrication, la Déposition sous Énergie Dirigée (DED) se distingue des autres technologies de fabrication additive par sa méthode de déposition de matière particulière. Utilisant une puissante source d’énergie sous la forme d’un laser, d’un faisceau d’électrons ou d’un arc plasma, celle-ci permet de créer des pièces en 3 dimensions à l’aide de poudre ou de fil d’apport. La DED est notamment reconnue pour sa capacité à réparer des pièces de manière efficace et sa facilité à créer des pièces présentant des gradients de composition chimique. Ces deux applications particulières ont fait l’objet de trois projets de recherche distincts qui composent ce mémoire de maîtrise. Le premier s’intéresse aux propriétés mécaniques de composites à matrice métalliques d’alliage detitaneTi-6Al-4V renforcés à l’aide de carbures de tungstène conçus à l’aide d’un appareil de type DED. Le second explore les propriétés mécaniques et la microstructure de pièces d’acier inoxydable 316L-Si entièrement construites et réparées avec un appareil DED. Finalement, le dernier ouvrage s’intéresse aux propriétés mécaniques et à la microstructure de pièces d’alliage d’aluminium AlSi7Mg entièrement construites et réparées grâce à la DED. / Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a novel manufacturing process that allows the creation of complex shaped metallic parts from scratch in a layer-by-layer fashion conversely to conventional subtractive processes. This new technology is interesting for many manufacturing industries since it can enable significant cost savings and allows the creation of completely new and more efficient designs that were not achievable before. Directed Energy Deposition (DED) is a sub-category of AM processes that set itself apart from the others with its clever deposition process design.Using a high-density energy source such as an electron beam, a laser or a plasma arc, this process melts feedstock in powder or wire form onto a base plate the create a dense depositand a final part in an iterative way. Thanks to its deposition process, DED apparatuses can create Functionally Graded Materials (FGM) parts exhibiting varying mechanical or physical properties within their volume and repair defective or broken parts. These two main applications were the subject of three different studies that are presented in this master’s thesis. In the first one, complex shaped Ti-6Al-4V Metal Matric Composites (MMC) reinforced with different fraction of tungsten carbides (WC) created with a DED apparatus were studied in terms of mechanical behavior and wear properties.The next paper looked at tensile properties and microstructure of completely built and repaired 316L-Si stainless steel parts with DED. Finally, the last one studied the microstructure and the mechanical properties of entirely built and repaired AlSi7Mgparts using DED.

Årsrapporter producerade av bolag anses vara det traditionella sättet att kommunicera mellan publika aktiebolag och dess intressenter. Enligt tidigare forskning i andra länder har dock årsrapporters storlek och struktur förändrats. Uppsatsen syftar till att undersöka hur årsrapporters storlek och struktur har förändrats över en 11-årsperiod (2004-2014) i svenska noterade bolag, samt hitta motiven till varför årsrapporterna har förändrats. Väsentliga teorier valdes för att få en bättre förståelse avseende området, men även som möjliga motiv för förändrade årsrapporter. En innehållsanalys på de största noterade svenska bolagen mätt i omsättning år 2015 gjordes för att skapa en kartläggning av deras årsrapporter. Vi utgick från flera parametrar för att få en bild av förändringen, t.ex. sidantal, bilder och ord. Delar som vanligtvis ingår i årsrapporter kartlagdes även för att få en inblick i hur delarna har förändrats över tidsperioden. Studien visar på att årsrapporter i svenska noterade bolag generellt har ökat i storlek och att strukturen har förändrats från 2004 till 2014. Hållbarhetsredovisningen är den del i årsrapporter som procentuellt har ökat mest av alla delar. Vidare finner vi motiv och orsaker som kan vara påverkande faktorer för varför förändringen har sett ut som den gör. Införandet av IFRS 2005, Finanskrisen 2007-2008 samt teorierna information overload, impression management och legitimitetsteorin används för att nå resultatet. / Annual reports produced by companies are considered to be the traditional medium between limited companies and its stakeholders. However, according to previous research made in other countries, annual report size and structure has changed during the last decades. This essay aims to examine how annual reports size and structure has changed over an eleven year period (2004-2014) in Swedish listed companies, and to find the causes/reasons to why the annual reports has changed. Essential theories were mainly chosen to better understand the area, but also as possible motives for changed annual reports. A content analysis on the 25 biggest listed Swedish companies measured in revenue year 2015 was made to map how the change have looked for the companies. We started from several parameters to get a picture of the change, for example from number of pages, pictures and words. Parts that is usually included (e.g. management report, sustainable report, CEO/Chairman’s letter) in annual reports was mapped so that we could get an insight in how the parts had changed over the time period. The study shows that annual reports of Swedish listed companies generally have increased in size and that the structure has changed from 2004 to 2014. The sustainable reporting is the part of the annual reports that increased the most in percent of all the parts. Furthermore, we find motives and causes that can be seen as affecting factors to why the changes looks the way it does. The introduction of IFRS 2005, the financial crisis 2007-2008 and the theories information overload, impression management and legitimacy theory are used to reach the result of the study.