This essay investigates what may constitute a hypnotic digital artefact from a design standpoint. This essay is meant to help designers who want to create hypnotic digital artefacts in the shape of a game, or researchers who wants to further this field. With a case study analysing the game Cultist Simulator, this essay observes applications from this essay’s frameworks: NLP, Procedural Rhetorics, Flow, Trance, and Ericksonian Hypnosis. The case study serves to demonstrate how a larger scale reflection of intrinsic cross over points between hypnosis and the video game medium may take place within state-of-the-art discourse. This essay fulfils its design-aid purpose by charting factors that can be put in place to facilitate a trance and a hypnosis in a game, in a design table summarising design methods discussed. The means that may put a player’s mind in abeyance are posited here regarding how this may influence the game experience, including induction techniques, where suggestions are provided in how these might translate to a game format. Through its frameworks and case study, hypnotic content generation is put in focus, where this essay finds that games utilising metaphors and depicting inner spaces carry significance in this pursuit. It also finds that mirroring communication of the unconscious, such as adhering to rules of a dream state, and acknowledging the unconscious’ uses and capacities, has potential in this pursuit. Importantly, the essay includes a discussion on Cultist Simulator’s decadent aesthetics and its role in leading a player towards an alternate state of consciousness.

Cotutelle entre l'Université de Montréal et l'Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 / Le fauteuil roulant manuel (FRM) est nécessaire à la participation de ses usagers lors de la vie active. Cependant, le geste répétitif de propulsion est contraignant pour l’épaule, ce qui mène à l’apparition de lésions au niveau des tendons de la coiffe des rotateurs, impactant négativement la mobilité, l’autonomie et la qualité de vie de l’usager. Bien que plusieurs études aient essayé de caractériser la propulsion pour identifier des prédicteurs de douleurs, la complexité technique de la propulsion associée à celle anatomique de l’épaule entravent la compréhension des pathomécanismes associés à l’usage du FRM. Aussi, la variabilité des contextes de propulsion en milieu urbain (trottoirs, pentes, etc.) nécessite d’identifier les adaptations de l’usager pour mieux représenter son quotidien. L’objectif principal de cette thèse était d’approfondir notre compréhension des pathomécanismes de l’épaule associés à la propulsion en FRM. À cet égard, il était important de comprendre l’effet de la charge imposée par le FRM sur l’épaule à différentes échelles allant de la cinématique à la contrainte au sein des tissus mous, en passant par les forces articulaires. Nos objectifs spécifiques étaient de (1) Identifier les adaptations de la technique de propulsion à la présence d’un dévers, habileté représentative de la propulsion le long des trottoirs ; (2) Prédire des forces musculaires physiologiquement plausibles qui expriment le rôle des muscles dans la stabilité articulaire ; (3) Prédire le champ de déformations au niveau de la coiffe des rotateurs en utilisant un simulateur hybride de l’épaule, c’est-à-dire un modèle éléments-finis piloté par les excitations musculaires et la cinématique articulaire prédite par un modèle multi-corps rigides. (1) À partir des données cinématiques, cinétiques et électromyographiques de neuf utilisateurs de FRM, nous avons analysé l’adaptation de leurs techniques de propulsion sur un dévers. Si tous les participants ont réussi à se propulser, leurs techniques d’adaptation variaient en termes d’efficacité et de risque de blessures. Ce qui souligne l’importance de l’enseignement des habiletés en FRM. (2) Nous avons adapté une boite à outils de calibration de modèle neuro-musculo-squelettique pour exprimer les contraintes de stabilité gléno-humérale. Le modèle calibré a été ensuite implémenté pour prédire les forces musculaires et de réaction gléno-humérale. Cette approche nous a permis d’exprimer le rôle de la co-contraction musculaire dans la stabilité articulaire. Les forces de réaction prédites indiquaient que la propulsion est une tâche déstabilisante pour l’articulation gléno-humérale. Enfin, la comparaison des modèles calibrés de participants avec des capacités fonctionnelles variées a mis en en évidence les limites de la calibration numérique. (3) Un modèle éléments-finis de l’épaule avec muscles tridimensionnels a été développé pour simuler un cycle de propulsion. Les muscles ont été activés à partir des données électromyographiques expérimentales. La scapula et l’humérus ont été pilotés par la cinématique articulaire extraite d’un modèle multi-corps rigides. L’analyse des déformations de l’unité musculo-tendineuse du supra-épineux nous a permis de proposer des explications potentielles pour la prévalence des déchirures tendineuses chez les utilisateurs de FRM, particulièrement au niveau de la zone antérieure et interstitielle de ce tendon. Notre analyse semble rejoindre la littérature, soulignant que la répétitivité de la propulsion pourrait être plus contraignante que sa charge. Cette thèse a permis de développer des outils numériques de modélisation biomécanique, qui pourraient être implémentés pour l’étude d’autres pathologies qui touchent les muscles de la coiffe. Elle a aussi permis d’identifier des pathomécanismes potentiels de l’épaule associés à la propulsion en FRM. Plus d’études restent nécessaires pour valider nos résultats pour des populations plus larges et plus hétérogènes. / Manual wheelchairs (MWC) are essential for their users’ participation in active life. However, the repetitive propulsion motion is straining on the shoulder, leading to the injury of the rotor cuff tendons, which negatively impacts the mobility, autonomy, and life quality of the users. While numerous studies tried to characterise propulsion to identify pain predictors, the technical and anatomical complexities of the propulsion and shoulder, respectively, hinder the understanding of the pathomecanisms associated with the MWC use. Additionally, the variability of the propulsion conditions within an urban environment (sidewalks, slopes, etc.) entails assessing users’ adaptations to better represent their daily life. The main objective of this thesis was to further our understanding of the shoulder pathomecanisms associated with MWC propulsion. For this purpose, it was important to understand the effect of the load imposed by MWC propulsion on the shoulder at different scales ranging from the kinematics to soft tissue stress through joint forces. Our specific objectives were to (1) Identify adaptations of the propulsion technique across a cross-slope, as this skill is representative of propulsion along sidewalks; (2) Predict physiologically plausible muscle forces that express the role of muscles in joint stability; (3) Predict the deformation field at the rotator cuff using a hybrid shoulder simulator, i.e., a finite element model driven by muscle excitations and joint kinematics predicted by a rigid multi-body model. (1) Using kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic data from nine MWC users, we analysed the adaption of their propulsion techniques across a cross-slope. While all participants propelled themselves, their adaptation techniques varied in terms of efficiency and injury risk. This highlighted the importance of training of MWC skills. (2) We adapted a neuromusculoskeletal calibration toolbox to express glenohumeral stability constraints. The calibrated models were then implemented to predict muscle and glenohumeral joint reaction forces. This approach allowed us to express the role of co-contraction in joint stability. The predicted joint reaction forces indicated that propulsion is a destabilizing task for the glenohumeral joint. Finally, the comparison of models calibrated to participants with varying functional abilities highlighted the limitations of numerical calibration. (3) A finite element model of the shoulder with three-dimensional muscles was developed to simulate a propulsion cycle. The muscles were activated using experimental electromyographic data. The scapula and humerus were driven by joint kinematics extracted from a rigid multi-body model. The analysis of the deformations of the supraspinatus muscle-tendon unit suggested potential explanations for the prevalence of tendon tears in MWC users, particularly in the anterior and interstitial zone of this tendon. Our analysis seems to agree with the literature, emphasizing that the high repetition of the propulsion cycle might be more taxing than its load. Through this thesis, we developed numeric tools for biomechanical modelling, which could be implemented for the study of other pathologies that affect the rotator cuff. We were also able to identify potential pathomecanisms of the shoulder that are associated with MWC propulsion. Mores studies are still needed to validate our results for larger and more heterogeneous populations.

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The aim of this research is to calibrate conductive polymer nanocomposite materials for large strain sensing and develop a structural health monitoring algorithm for gossamer structures by using nanocomposites as strain sensors. Any health monitoring system works on the principle of sensing the response (strain, acceleration etc.) of the structure to an external excitation and analyzing the response to find out the location and the extent of the damage in the structure. A sensor network, a mathematical model of the structure, and a damage detection algorithm are necessary components of a structural health monitoring system. In normal operating conditions, a gossamer structure can experience normal strain as high as 50%. But presently available sensors can measure strain up to 10% only, as traditional strain sensor materials do not show low elastic modulus and high electrical conductivity simultaneously. Conductive polymer nanocomposite which can be stretched like rubber (up to 200%) and has high electrical conductivity (sheet resistance 100 Ohm/sq.) can be a possible large strain sensor material. But these materials show hysteresis and relaxation in the variation of electrical properties with mechanical strain. It makes the calibration of these materials difficult. We have carried out experiments on conductive polymer nanocomposite sensors to study the variation of electrical resistance with time dependent strain. Two mathematical models, based on the modified fractional calculus and the Preisach approaches, have been developed to model the variation of electrical resistance with strain in a conductive polymer. After that, a compensator based on a modified Preisach model has been developed. The compensator removes the effect of hysteresis and relaxation from the output (electrical resistance) obtained from the conductive polymer nanocomposite sensor. This helps in calibrating the material for its use in large strain sensing. Efficiency of both the mathematical models and the compensator has been shown by comparison of their results with the experimental data. A prestressed square membrane has been considered as an example structure for structural health monitoring. Finite element analysis using ABAQUS has been carried out to determine the response of the membrane to an uniform transverse dynamic pressure for different damage conditions. A neuro-fuzzy system has been designed to solve the inverse problem of detecting damages in the structure from the strain history sensed at different points of the structure by a sensor that may have a significant hysteresis. Damage feature index vector determined by wavelet analysis of the strain history at different points of the structure are taken by the neuro-fuzzy system as input. The neuro-fuzzy system detects the location and extent of the damage from the damage feature index vector by using some fuzzy rules. Rules associated with the fuzzy system are determined by a neural network training algorithm using a training dataset, containing a set of known input and output (damage feature index vectors, location and extent of damage for different damage conditions). This model is validated by using the sets of input-output other than those which were used to train the neural network. / Ph. D.

Mémoire en recherche-création / L’usage de smart drugs pour améliorer les capacités cognitives est devenu un problème majeur depuis les années 1970 et revêt une importance croissante dans le contexte moderne (Denis, 2021). Ce mémoire explore les motifs d’usage de psychotropes à des fins de performance parmi les programmeurs. L’objectif principal est de comprendre si l’usage des substances vise principalement l’amélioration personnelle et le dépassement de soi, ou si elle découle de problématiques plus complexes et multifactorielles. Pour y parvenir, la méthodologie repose sur une approche qualitative en trois étapes : 1) Netnographie — analyse de 40 fils de discussion sur un forum de programmeurs pour appréhender de manière globale la profession et les motivations liées à cette utilisation; 2) Entretiens semi-structurés — réalisation de quatre entretiens avec des programmeurs pour comprendre leurs expériences professionnelles, les compétences requises, les pressions subies et les défis rencontrés. Les entretiens ont été transcrits, codés dans le logiciel Nvivo et soumis à une analyse thématique; 3) Triangulation des données – croisement et confrontation des informations des deux premières étapes afin d’approfondir l’analyse du phénomène, améliorer la compréhension, et renforcer la validité et la fiabilité des résultats. Les données analysées révèlent que les programmeurs font face à des pressions professionnelles accrues, avec des motivations de consommation allant de la recherche de performance à la gestion du stress. Toutefois, une pression sociétale valorisant la réussite personnelle et professionnelle sous-tend ce contexte. / The use of smart drugs to enhance cognitive abilities has become a major issue since the 1970s and is of increasing importance in the modern context (Denis, 2021). This dissertation explores the motives for performance-enhancing psychotropic drug use among programmers. The main objective is to understand whether substance use is primarily aimed at self-improvement and self-transcendence, or whether it stems from more complex, multifactorial issues. To achieve this, the methodology is based on a three-stage qualitative approach: 1) Netnography - analysis of 40 discussion threads on a programmers' forum to gain an overall understanding of the profession and the motivations associated with this use; 2) Semi-structured interviews - conducting four interviews with programmers to understand their professional experiences, the skills required, the pressures experienced and the challenges encountered. The interviews were transcribed, coded in Nvivo software and subjected to thematic analysis; 3) Data triangulation – cross-referencing and confrontation of information from the first two stages in order to deepen analysis of the phenomenon, improve understanding, and reinforce the validity and reliability of results. The data analyzed reveals that programmers are facing increased professional pressures, with consumer motivations ranging from the quest for performance to stress management. However, a societal pressure to value personal and professional success underpins this context.

Achtsamkeit wird mit vielen positiven Effekten für das psychische Wohlbefinden assoziiert, wobei Fähigkeiten wie Emotionsregulation (ER) und soziale Kognition (SC) zu den wichtigsten Mechanismen gehören. In der vorliegenden Doktorarbeit wurde die Beziehung zwischen Achtsamkeit, ER und SC mit verschiedenen methodischen Ansätzen untersucht. In Studie I wurde mithilfe von Literatur und empirischen Modellen die Beziehung zwischen Achtsamkeit und ER ausgearbeitet und verschiedene psychologische und neurokognitive Mechanismen diskutiert. Studie II zielte darauf ab den ER-Mechanismus bei „Trait-Achtsamkeit“ zu entschlüsseln. Hier zeigte sich, dass es sowohl bei Probanden mit einer Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung als auch bei gesunden Teilnehmern einen mediierenden Effekt von Selbstmitgefühl gab, der Achtsamkeit mit ER-Merkmalen verband. Studie III untersuchte den Zusammenhang zwischen ER und SC mit Hilfe von Verhaltens- und Neuroimaging-Experimenten, mit Fokus auf dem Konzept der sozialen ER (die Fähigkeit, die Emotionen anderer zu modulieren). Es zeigte sich, dass bei der Regulierung der Emotionen anderer der eigene Stress reduziert wird, wobei wichtige "soziokognitive" Hirnregionen (z.B. Precuneus) an der Vermittlung dieser Effekte beteiligt sind. Studie IV untersuchte im Rahmen einer Neuroimaging-basierten randomisierten Kontrollstudie ER-Mechanismen während einer achtsamkeitsbasierten Intervention (MBI). Die Studie zeigte eine durch die MBI induzierte ER-Verhaltensplastizität im Gehirn, sowohl für die Eigen- als auch für die soziale ER. Ein Effekt im Vergleich zu SC (kognitive und emotionale Empathie) wurde nicht gezeigt. Unter Einbezug aller Ergebnisse wurde ein Modell postuliert, das den Austausch und die Regulierung von Emotionen im Kontext von sozialen Interaktionen integriert. Die Dissertation bietet neue Einblicke in die ER-Mechanismen der Achtsamkeit und beleuchtet die individuellen Determinanten sozialer Prozesse durch das Zusammenbringen von ER und SC. / Mindfulness, the capacity to fully attend to the present experience, has been linked to a myriad of mental health benefits, being abilities such as emotion regulation (ER) and social cognition (SC) of the main potential active mechanisms. The current doctorate thesis investigated the relationship between mindfulness and ER and SC using a range of methodological approaches from trait level individual differences to behavioral and brain mechanisms. Study one explored the relationship between mindfulness and ER by examining the diverse literature and empirical models, discussing different psychological and neuro-cognitive mechanisms. Study two intended to unravel the ER mechanism of trait mindfulness, showing in both borderline personality and healthy subjects the mediating effect of self-compassion linking mindfulness and ER traits. Study three further investigated the link between ER and SC using behavioral and neuro-imaging experiments, addressing the notion of social ER (the capacity to modulate others’ emotions). It showed that when regulating others’ emotions, an individual’s own distress is reduced, being key ‘sociocognitive’ brain regions (i.e. precuneus) engaged in mediating these effects. Study four investigated the fine-grained ER mechanisms of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), comparing the MBI with a reading group (READ), in the context of a neuroimaging-based randomized controlled trial. This study revealed ER brain behavioral plasticity induced by the MBI, for both self and social ER. It also showed a lack of effect over SC (cognitive and emotional empathy). Articulating overall findings, a model that integrates exchanges and regulation of emotions in the context of social interactions is proposed. The dissertation offers new insights into mindfulness’ ER mechanisms, from dispositions to neuro-behavioral levels, and also sheds light onto individual level determinants of social processes, linking ER and SC.

There is considerable opportunity to develop new modelling techniques within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) framework for the development of sustainable marine cage culture. However, the spatial data sets are often uncertain and incomplete, therefore new spatial models employing “soft computing” methods such as fuzzy logic may be more suitable. The aim of this study is to develop a model using Neuro-fuzzy techniques in a 3D GIS (Arc View 3.2) to predict coastal environmental vulnerability for Atlantic salmon cage aquaculture. A 3D hydrodynamic model (3DMOHID) coupled to a particle-tracking model is applied to study the circulation patterns, dispersion processes and residence time in Mulroy Bay, Co. Donegal Ireland, an Irish fjard (shallow fjordic system), an area of restricted exchange, geometrically complicated with important aquaculture activities. The hydrodynamic model was calibrated and validated by comparison with sea surface and water flow measurements. The model provided spatial and temporal information on circulation, renewal time, helping to determine the influence of winds on circulation patterns and in particular the assessment of the hydrographic conditions with a strong influence on the management of fish cage culture. The particle-tracking model was used to study the transport and flushing processes. Instantaneous massive releases of particles from key boxes are modelled to analyse the ocean-fjord exchange characteristics and, by emulating discharge from finfish cages, to show the behaviour of waste in terms of water circulation and water exchange. In this study the results from the hydrodynamic model have been incorporated into GIS to provide an easy-to-use graphical user interface for 2D (maps), 3D and temporal visualization (animations), for interrogation of results. v Data on the physical environment and aquaculture suitability were derived from a 3- dimensional hydrodynamic model and GIS for incorporation into the final model framework and included mean and maximum current velocities, current flow quiescence time, water column stratification, sediment granulometry, particulate waste dispersion distance, oxygen depletion, water depth, coastal protection zones, and slope. The Neuro-fuzzy classification model NEFCLASS–J, was used to develop learning algorithms to create the structure (rule base) and the parameters (fuzzy sets) of a fuzzy classifier from a set of classified training data. A total of 42 training sites were sampled using stratified random sampling from the GIS raster data layers, and the vulnerability categories for each were manually classified into four categories based on the opinions of experts with field experience and specific knowledge of the environmental problems investigated. The final products, GIS/based Neuro Fuzzy maps were achieved by combining modeled and real environmental parameters relevant to marine fin fish Aquaculture. Environmental vulnerability models, based on Neuro-fuzzy techniques, showed sensitivity to the membership shapes of the fuzzy sets, the nature of the weightings applied to the model rules, and validation techniques used during the learning and validation process. The accuracy of the final classifier selected was R=85.71%, (estimated error value of ±16.5% from Cross Validation, N=10) with a Kappa coefficient of agreement of 81%. Unclassified cells in the whole spatial domain (of 1623 GIS cells) ranged from 0% to 24.18 %. A statistical comparison between vulnerability scores and a significant product of aquaculture waste (nitrogen concentrations in sediment under the salmon cages) showed that the final model gave a good correlation between predicted environmental vi vulnerability and sediment nitrogen levels, highlighting a number of areas with variable sensitivity to aquaculture. Further evaluation and analysis of the quality of the classification was achieved and the applicability of separability indexes was also studied. The inter-class separability estimations were performed on two different training data sets to assess the difficulty of the class separation problem under investigation. The Neuro-fuzzy classifier for a supervised and hard classification of coastal environmental vulnerability has demonstrated an ability to derive an accurate and reliable classification into areas of different levels of environmental vulnerability using a minimal number of training sets. The output will be an environmental spatial model for application in coastal areas intended to facilitate policy decision and to allow input into wider ranging spatial modelling projects, such as coastal zone management systems and effective environmental management of fish cage aquaculture.

Les travaux de cette thèse visent à apporter des éléments de solutions au problème de la durée de vie des systèmes pile à combustible (FCS – Fuel Cell System) de type à « membrane échangeuse de protons » (PEM – Proton Exchange Membrane) et se décline sur deux champs disciplinaires complémentaires :Une première approche vise à augmenter la durée de vie de celle-ci par la conception et la mise en œuvre d'une architecture de pronostic et de gestion de l'état de santé (PHM – Prognostics & Health Management). Les PEM-FCS, de par leur technologie, sont par essence des systèmes multi-physiques (électriques, fluidiques, électrochimiques, thermiques, mécaniques, etc.) et multi-échelles (de temps et d'espace) dont les comportements sont difficilement appréhendables. La nature non linéaire des phénomènes, le caractère réversible ou non des dégradations, et les interactions entre composants rendent effectivement difficile une étape de modélisation des défaillances. De plus, le manque d'homogénéité (actuel) dans le processus de fabrication rend difficile la caractérisation statistique de leur comportement. Le déploiement d'une solution PHM permettrait en effet d'anticiper et d'éviter les défaillances, d'évaluer l'état de santé, d'estimer le temps de vie résiduel du système, et finalement, d'envisager des actions de maîtrise (contrôle et/ou maintenance) pour assurer la continuité de fonctionnement. Une deuxième approche propose d'avoir recours à une hybridation passive de la PEMFC avec des super-condensateurs (UC – Ultra Capacitor) de façon à faire fonctionner la pile au plus proche de ses conditions opératoires optimales et ainsi, à minimiser l'impact du vieillissement. Les UCs apparaissent comme une source complémentaire à la PEMFC en raison de leur forte densité de puissance, de leur capacité de charge/décharge rapide, de leur réversibilité et de leur grande durée de vie. Si l'on prend l'exemple des véhicules à pile à combustible, l'association entre une PEMFC et des UCs peut être réalisée en utilisant un système hybride de type actif ou passif. Le comportement global du système dépend à la fois du choix de l'architecture et du positionnement de ces éléments en lien avec la charge électrique. Aujourd'hui, les recherches dans ce domaine se focalisent essentiellement sur la gestion d'énergie entre les sources et stockeurs embarqués ; et sur la définition et l'optimisation d'une interface électronique de puissance destinée à conditionner le flux d'énergie entre eux. Cependant, la présence de convertisseurs statiques augmente les sources de défaillances et pannes (défaillance des interrupteurs du convertisseur statique lui-même, impact des oscillations de courant haute fréquence sur le vieillissement de la pile), et augmente également les pertes énergétiques du système complet (même si le rendement du convertisseur statique est élevé, il dégrade néanmoins le bilan global). / This thesis work aims to provide solutions for the limited lifetime of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Systems (PEM-FCS) based on two complementary disciplines:A first approach consists in increasing the lifetime of the PEM-FCS by designing and implementing a Prognostics & Health Management (PHM) architecture. The PEM-FCS are essentially multi-physical systems (electrical, fluid, electrochemical, thermal, mechanical, etc.) and multi-scale (time and space), thus its behaviors are hardly understandable. The nonlinear nature of phenomena, the reversibility or not of degradations and the interactions between components makes it quite difficult to have a failure modeling stage. Moreover, the lack of homogeneity (actual) in the manufacturing process makes it difficult for statistical characterization of their behavior. The deployment of a PHM solution would indeed anticipate and avoid failures, assess the state of health, estimate the Remaining Useful Lifetime (RUL) of the system and finally consider control actions (control and/or maintenance) to ensure operation continuity.A second approach proposes to use a passive hybridization of the PEMFC with Ultra Capacitors (UC) to operate the fuel cell closer to its optimum operating conditions and thereby minimize the impact of aging. The UC appear as an additional source to the PEMFC due to their high power density, their capacity to charge/discharge rapidly, their reversibility and their long life. If we take the example of fuel cell hybrid electrical vehicles, the association between a PEMFC and UC can be performed using a hybrid of active or passive type system. The overall behavior of the system depends on both, the choice of the architecture and the positioning of these elements in connection with the electric charge. Today, research in this area focuses mainly on energy management between the sources and embedded storage and the definition and optimization of a power electronic interface designated to adjust the flow of energy between them. However, the presence of power converters increases the source of faults and failures (failure of the switches of the power converter and the impact of high frequency current oscillations on the aging of the PEMFC), and also increases the energy losses of the entire system (even if the performance of the power converter is high, it nevertheless degrades the overall system).