NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Éthéréalisation : amorces d'une contre-histoire

This dissertation stands as an epistemological inquiry into the persistence of the notion of ether within technology’s discursive field. Most often, the word “ether” is understood as a conceptual model in pre-einsteinian physics which designates the medium responsible for the propagation of electromagnetic waves and light. However, this proves to be only one of the many figures of ether. In multiple mythologies and cosmogonies, ether was also the name employed to refer to a sublime and pure fire filling the highest spaces of the universe. Aristotle, for example, named “ether” what he considered to be the “fifth being,” or the “fifth element.” Chemistry also makes use of ether, where the name denominates the compound C4H10O, used as the first general anaesthetic agent at the end of the nineteenth century. From our point of view, the sustained occurrences of ether in these different figures, so disparate indeed that they appear unrelated, marks the manifestation of its persistence. We argue that this persistence should not be narrowed down to a constant attribution of a “word” or a “name” to several historical phenomenons, but rather should be viewed as the actualization of a same etherogeneous “signature.” Responding to an invitation by Italian philosopher Agamben, and building on Nietzsche’s and Foucault’s history-genealogy as well as on Derrida’s deconstruction, our dissertation proposes an historical program oriented towards a theorization of the signature. To do so, we suggest locating the ether, or rather the ether-signature, at the heart of several historical inquiries concerned with the contemporary problem with technology. Approaching some of theses issues –the legitimating of narrative knowledge, the suspension of the senses, pseudoscience and mysticism, information and industrial revolutions, wireless obsessions, body and corporeality, virtualization of communication, etc. –, our dissertation aims at locating and articulating as many baits towards an-other history, a counter-history.

Keyphrases: Cyberculture, Agamben, Foucault, Ether, Information technologies, Eternal return, Information revolution, Media theory, Wireless, Cyberculture, Agamben, Foucault, Mythology
L'effet des dons des entreprises privées sur les organisations-non-productrices-de-profit : le cas des universités de Montréal

Donations made by private companies seem to have long term effects on the different receiving non profit organizations.  Those companies that want to do what’s best in the communities they support also want to improve their image in those very same communities.  Non profit organizations have to juggle between serving the populations while being accounted for their actions before them at the same time they have to conform to certain conditions that accompany corporate donations.  They have to work in an environment that involves short term financing, numerous accountability measures imposed by donating companies and far from discreet donators.  This results in a business-like identity in non profit organizations that is blurred with corporate discourse, motives and actions.  This study tries to evaluate the impact of corporate donations of students from the four main universities in Montreal.  These students are likely to buy from donating companies as well as working for them.  They also consider themselves more as consumers of university products and services than participants in the development of their institutions.  Therefore, they seem to take on an identity that companies want from them because they are getting a financial return on their donations.

Keyphrases: Association, Don, Corporation, Philanthropy, Donation, Financing, University, Nonprofit, Community, Students
Questionnaire du climat social de l’équipe d’intervenants (QCSÉI) : structure factorielle et validité de critère dans un échantillon d’intervenants québécois

Even though it is largely recognized in various psychosocial intervention settings that the counselor is one of the main active component of an intervention efficacy – and it is one of the central postulate of psychoeducation –, there are still very few empirically-validated instruments for the assessment of a youth counselors’ team functioning. Still, there is one interesting instrument for assessing the social climate of a team, the Counselors’ Team Social Climate Questionnaire (“Questionnaire du climat social de l’équipe d’intervenants”, QCSÉI; Le Blanc, Trudeau-Le Blanc, & Lanctôt, 1999; Moos 1987). The QCSÉI is composed of 10 first order scales. In his theoretical writings, Moos (2003) suggested that the social climate is a hierarchical construct and that all instruments measuring different foci of the social climate should group into three higher-order dimensions, namely Relationships, Personal Growth, and System Maintenance and Change. A conceptual examination of the QCSÉI scales suggested that this theoretical model is problematic. This study aimed at evaluating if the hierarchical structure postulated by Moos was adequate in a sample of youth counselors from Quebec. The sample that was used was composed of youth counselors from Boscoville2000, a residential cognitive-behavioral intervention program for adolescents with serious adjustment problems. Exploratory factor analyses first demonstrated that the first order structure was well reproduced. Two additional scales judged as important aspects of the social climate were then added. Next, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed that the theoretical hierarchical structure with three higher-order dimensions was not well reproduced in the data. The analyses rather revealed an alternative structure that was conceptually more interesting and provided a better fit to the data. Correlations between the teams’ social climate and youth counselors’ personality traits, as well as socio-demographic and professional practice variables provided evidence suggesting that the instrument have acceptable criterion-related validity.

Keyphrases: Climat social, Intervenants, Social climate, Youth counselors’ team, Youth counselor, Personality traits, Professional practice
Les premiers textes de Miron, Gauvreau, Giguère, Lefrançois et Hébert : poétique des commencements et de l'émergence

The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the rising modes of the voice in five Quebec writer’s work; these authors have started to write between 1940 and 1970, and their artistic path led them all to express themselves, in the first place, through poetry. This thesis digs into the resources of recent poetic studies (Agamben, Blanchot, Didi-Huberman, Lyotard, Rey, Anzieu) and uses certain tools given by parallel academic disciplines such as psychoanalysis, sociocriticism, linguistic and philosophy. Also, certain personal documents extracted from private and public archive founds (letters, notes, drafts, journal) contribute to throw light on the emergence’s modes in action in the first poems of the chosen writers, in addition to demonstrate how the writings to come may see themselves foreshadowed in the initial work. Therefore, this thesis will try to demonstrate how these five poets battling with similar poetic issues (in particular with the great challenge that consists of creating an authentic language in a society where only elites could have access to culture and education) will initiate their creative process in Quebec province in the middle of the XXth century. Despite all their efforts to move forward, Gaston Miron, Alexis Lefrançois, Claude Gauvreau, Roland Gguère and Anne Hébert will remain partially shaped by the popular culture that has raised them, giving birth to poems that are deeply influenced by their inner quest and could only arise through a deeply intimate journey, of which I will try to show the impressive range, using my knowledge of their first texts.

Keyphrases: Poetic, Commencements, Beginnings, Emergence, Artwork, Psychoanalysis, Creative process, Modernity, Quebec’s literature
Échos d’une tradition mythologique américaine : Joseph Légaré et le tableau d’histoire (1825-1855)

The purpose of this study is to integrate the historical paintings of French Canadian painter Joseph Légaré (1795-1855) into an American tradition of pictorial representation. The analysis of the artist’s corpus suggests that he participates in the diffusion of American mythological narratives. Indeed, the comparison between the paintings of Légaré and those of the American painter Thomas Cole (1801-1848) underlines the presence of a similar cyclic structure, inspired by European myths, but in which are updated new territorial, cultural and political data specific to the American continent. From this perspective, the artistic production of Légaré organizes itself according to a main “archémythe”, one of national renewal, and some founding myths, which redraw the beginnings of colonial history, where the Amerindian and the Jesuit missionary predominated. The Indian, by symbolic association, becomes a rhetorical figure in the discourse of national identity formulated by the artist, whereas the Jesuit martyr is rather celebrated for his resistance and his courage in front of the other. In this regard, this study demonstrates the existence of an association made by the painter between French Canadians, Native people and Jesuit martyrs, which is based on the tragic fate that is associated with each group and the status of victim that they had to assume. Consequently, the national mythology represented in the works of Légaré is structured around depressant myths, based on the idea of a defeated nation, but which, by the creation of a collective memory, can, one day, rise from the ashes.

Keyphrases: Joseph Légaré, Arts, XIXe siècle, Mythe, Thomas Cole, Nation, Joseph Légaré, Quebec, Arts, 19th century, Myth, America, Thomas Cole, Nation, Memory
Comment le groupe informel agit sur la relation entre le leadership transformationnel et le climat organisationnel

The purpose of this study is to examine how informal work groups influence the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational climate.   First, transformational leadership theory will be presented in order to highlight its growing importance in today’s workplace. This particular leadership style and its relationship with organizational climate will be examined, as it would appear that both these concepts play a role in how employees perceive their experiences in the work environment. The results of our study confirm this hypothesis.   The central objective of this study is to explore how informal work groups affect the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational climate. We are interested in whether simply belonging to an informal work group can moderate the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational climate. Our results did not succeed in confirming this model. In addition to this, we explore a more indirect pathway, where informal work groups mediate the relationship between our two other variables. We were able to establish correlations between our three variables. Interestingly, when controlling for the effect of transformational leadership, organizational climate and informal work groups are no longer linked.   We thus conclude that an organizational situation where transformational leadership is present is better suited to respond to employees’ needs, and that such a situation reduces the necessity of having one’s needs met by informal work group members. If this is the case, the way that informal work groups function may need to be reexamined in regard to the extent that they benefit their members.

Keyphrases: transformational leadership, organizational climate, informal work groups
Potentiel d’une approche populationnelle orientée vers la reconfiguration des environnements urbains pour améliorer la sécurité des piétons

INTRODUCTION: In an urban environment, improving pedestrian safety is a public health challenge.  For every death attributable to road injuries, there are hundreds of injured people and, in richer countries, decreases in the number of pedestrian deaths may reflect a reduction of walking as a mode of transportation. The predominant preventive strategies have limited or no effect on traffic volume, which is the most important predictor of the number of pedestrians injured by motor vehicles. Moreover, environmental interventions are usually limited to sites that have had the greatest number of deaths or injuries. The purpose of this thesis is to describe the contribution of environmental factors such as traffic volume, local walking practices and street geometry, on the number and the distribution of pedestrian injuries in an urban setting.     METHOD: The design of the study is descriptive and cross-sectional.  The main data sources were Urgences-santé ambulance service records (road injuries), the Origin-Destination survey (traffic volume), the Geobase for the Montreal road network (street geometry) and the census of Canada (local walking practices, socioeconomic status). The descriptive analyses included map locations (x, y coordinates) for all collision sites. Multi-level regression models nested intersections in census sectors and in boroughs.    RESULTS: The descriptive analyses showed a great deal of dispersion of collision sites within neighbourhoods. The multivariate analyses showed the significant effects, independent of traffic volume, of the presence of an artery and of a fourth leg at the intersection, and of pedestrian volume in the neighbourhood, on the number of pedestrian injuries at intersections. The multi-level analysis showed extensive spatial variation in the effect of traffic volume. This spatial variation in the number of casualties, and the socioeconomic gradient observed, were in large part explained by traffic volume, the presence of an artery and of a fourth leg at the intersection.  DISCUSSION: The great dispersion of collision sites supports an approach which is not limited to sites with the highest number of injured pedestrians. This thesis suggests that preventive strategies based on environmental and population approaches could considerably reduce the number of injured pedestrians , as well as road injury inequalities across urban neighbourhoods.

Keyphrases: Injuries, Road safety, Pedestrians, Cyclists, Motor vehicles, Public health, Social inequalities in health
Adoption d'une intervention systémique visant à faciliter la communication entre les infirmières et les familles dans un contexte de soins intensifs en traumatologie

Abstract  The purpose on this study was to adopt systemic nursing interventions to enhance communication with families in a context of traumatology intensive cares. This participative study has the benefit of reflecting the real needs expressed by the persons concerned. The terms of reference for this study comprised the conceptual model as well as Wright and Leahey’s (2005) family systems nursing approach and the caring theory of Jean Watson (1979). The data collection was inspired by Lehoux, Levy and Rodrigue (1995) over five family interviews and three nurses’ meetings. The data collection was performed over a period of seven months. All of the interviews and meetings were recorded on audio tape and the verbatim’s were fully transcripted. The data analysis was done according to Huberman and Miles’ (2003) model, where analytical activities and data collection establish a continuous and interactive approach. The results obtained revealed ten specific systemic nursing interventions to enhance communication with families in this context and revealed the importance of the three levels of communication: cognitive, affective and behavioral. Moreover, the results are used to identify well-established interventions and recommend those who have to be improved.

Keyphrases: Communication, Communication, Family, Nursing interventions, Intensive care unit, Traumatology
Les effets d’une commotion cérébrale d’origine sportive sur le fonctionnement cognitif de l’enfant évalués à l’aide de potentiels évoqués cognitifs et de tests neuropsychologiques

Sport-related concussions are common injuries among professional athletes as well in adolescents and children participating in organized sports. Although the majority of concussions resolve rapidly in adults (7-10 days), recovery could be different in younger athletes. Several studies using event-related potentials show that adult athletes have cerebral anomalies in the absence of clinical symptoms. However, the consequences of a sport-related concussion on the developing brain are less known. The purpose of this study was to determine whether age differences exist with respect to cognitive functioning following a sport-related concussion. This cross-sectionnal study assessed cognitive functioning using standardized neuropsychological tests as well the neuronal mechanisms associated with the re-orienting attention (P3a) and with the update of information in working memory (P3b), using event-related potentials. Athletes were divided into three age groups [9-12 yrs (n=32); 13-16 yrs (n=34); and adults (n=30)] half of whom suffered from a sport-related concussion. Group comparisons were investigated with a series of ANOVAs. Specifically, concussed adolescents showed persistent deficits in working memory compare with their non injured counterparts. Concussed athletes from all age groups had significantly lower amplitude for the P3b component of their ERPs compared to their non injured teammates. No age-related differences for ERP’s were found among the concussed groups. These data suggest persistent neurophysiological deficits that are present at least 6 months following a concussion. Children appear to be as sensitive as adults to the consequences of a concussion and adolescents seem experience the most severe outcomes.

Keyphrases: sport, concussion, children, event-related potential, neuropsychology
Des pensées criminelles et des traits de personnalité de fraudeurs incarcérés, sous l’angle de la psychopathie

Developping specific intervention programmes for frauds raises the issue of personality characteristics. Studies suggest that the personality of fraudsters presents certain similarities with psychopathic traits. The goal of the study is to describe and explore the personality of incarcerated specialized fraudsters by using psychometric tests such as the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI) and the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS). Three groups of inmates (35 men, 17 women) completed the questionnaires: fraud specialists (n = 23), offenders who committed non-violent crimes (n = 19) and offenders who committed violent crimes (n= 10). A group of students (n = 430) also completed the PPI, thereby adding a comparison group. Analyses revealed few differences between the psychopathic traits of fraudsters and those of the other groups' respondents. However, it was revealed that fraudsters were less likely to adopt criminal thoughts, common in psychopaths, than are the respondents from the AAV group.

Keyphrases: PPI, PICTS, Fraudsters, Personality traits, Criminal thinking
Étude du lien entre la qualité des pratiques parentales et la qualité des relations
d’amitié des enfants selon la méthode des différences entre jumeaux monozygotes

This study used the monozygote twin differences method to analyze the links between positive or hostile maternal practices by the mother at 29 months and children’s friendship quality at 6 years of age. This new methodology can control for any possible genes-environment correlations. We also controlled for temperament, weight at birth, gender and socioeconomic status and we tested whether gender moderated the link between variables. Results are unexpected: 1) the twin who received the most positive maternal practices had the friend who evaluated the most negatively their friendship, 2) the twin who received the most hostile practices from his mother had the friend who evaluated the less positively their friendship. We propose different explanations to understand the results and we make suggestions for future studies.

Keyphrases: Monozygote twin differences method, Positives parental practices, Hostile and reactive behaviours, Mother, Friendship's quality
Histoire de l'interprétation de la transition néolithique : évolution des théories, modèles et hypothèses

This dissertation reconstructs the history of theories, models and hypotheses which have been proposed in order to explain the birth of agriculture, that is the neolithic transition or revolution. These explanatory schemes are described chronologically from the birth of prehistoric archaeology, in the first half of the 19th century, until today. They are classified according to the main schools which have played a leading role in prehistoric archaeology since its birth: multilinear evolutionism, the culture-historical school, processualism, neodarwinism and postprocessualism. The specific theories (also called “middle-range” or “regional”) which have been proposed by these schools are presented the chronological order: the theories of desiccation, oases, hilly flanks, periphery, population stress, competitive feasting, revolution of symbols, etc. Finally, this dissertation lays the ground for a multifactorial theory integrating or synthesizing the main factors which may have influenced the birth of agriculture and the neolithic transition.

Keyphrases: Neolithic transition, Desiccation, Oases, Population pressure, Competitive feasting, Symbolic revolution
Gender and work identity among Canadian cowboys

English abstract: The overall aim of this thesis is to understand the implications of gender in the work identity of cowboys within the framework of working and living on a contemporary Canadian cattle ranch. The study seeks to contribute to gender studies by applying established theories to a new field. A theoretical framework drawing from, on the one hand, gender theory originating from feminism and masculinity studies, and on the other hand, the history of the cowboy of the west is applied to the study. This research investigates the importance of gender in the division of labour at the Ranch and the significance of work identity for cowboys, while looking at how gender plays a part in this work identity. To collect data, fieldwork including participant observation and semi-structured interviews has been conducted. Using a thematic analysis of the information gathered, the study found that gender was a guiding principle in the division of labour at the Ranch, and that the work identity had an enormous importance for research participants. Furthermore, it revealed that gender played an important part in their work identity in different ways because ideals revolving around a heteronormative masculinity and those related to being a cowboy went hand in hand, whereas the idea of the feminine gender was presented as being in conflict with the idea of the cowboy. Interestingly, old traditions of the cowboy trade are still important to contemporary cowboys, who seek to balance the romantic picture of the cowboy life painted in fiction with the reality of hard, never-ending work. Moreover, similarities are found between cowboys who participated in this study and Swedish teenage girls studied by Ambjörnsson (2004), in terms of how they create a group identity based on the construction of gender.

Keyphrases: Gender, Masculinity, Anthropology, Work identity, Cowboy