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In this article, we are interested in the life and scientific work of the Belgian mathematician Paul Mansion. The year 2019 marks the centenary of his passing. We bring some new insights into Paul Mansion's work thanks to his scientific correspondence at the Royal Library in Brussels., Comment: in French

This study is about the properties of the sets of objects associated in a structure resulting from multiple-processes involving chance as are materials whose texture is unordered and random. Being a paper scientist the author refers to the sheet of paper which is a stochastic fibrous set whose porous texture can be considered as an archetype for many natural or artificial human structures. The paper properties are correlated with its texture by taking account the effect of chance occurring during its manufacturing process. The theoretical developments, the formalism and the application methods presented in this study have a general significance beyond the only paper material.A specific property of sets of objects randomly unorderly distributed in space is their interfaces orientation distribution. This distribution is usually obtained by the analysis of images sampled in the object sets. The density of orientation probability of the fibers or of the texture interfaces, weighted by their length or by their area, can be interpreted as the radius of curvature of an outline or of a warped surface which characterizes, from a global and statistical point of view, the texture geometry in two or three dimensions. This figure named by the author the "equivalent pore", is with its elliptical shape similar to the one of the mean pore defined by the mean directional chord between the interfaces in the texture. Different methods of "equivalent pore" establishing are analyzed : by conformal map of the fiber network or of the texture interfaces, by images stereometric analysis of texture tomographical cuts, by scattering and diffraction of a laser light beam impacting the fibrous texture or the material surface replica, by hard X-ray absorption and phase contrast at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facilities(ESRF), in Grenoble. The "equivalent pore" concept allows us to study random unordered sets behavior in strength fields while simplifying this analysis. Thus a phenomenon occurring in a plane set, in two dimensions, can be analyzed on its "equivalent pore" linear outline, and a phenomenon which occurs in volume in a three dimensional set can be analyzed on its "equivalent pore" warped surface. This concept has been applied for physical, mechanical, optical and ionic conduction properties of materials like papers, boards, felts, nonwoven textiles, polymer foams, metallic alloys with grain joints, geological grounds, and for the surface mapping of natural relief and of materials with different gloss, worn or roughness levels.The ellipse and the ellipso\"id, as well as multi-modes compositions of it, are the most appropriate figures to represent the "equivalent pore" of materials with a random unordered texture. The fact that a law, which defines the curvature of an elliptic deterministic geometrical configuration, is essential to represent interface orientation allocation of elements whose spatial distribution is probabilistic is a noteworthy fact that makes us wonder. This assertion is corroborated by fluid flow analysis through porous media. The global dissipated energy for fluid flow is distributed along the motion (translation and rotation) and fluid deformation components on the "equivalent pore" whose surface is conformal to the texture interfaces tangential space. The porous media being homogenous and the fluid particles indistinguishable each ones from the others, due to permanent stochastic exchanges from one fluid volume element into another, we conclude that their motion quantification is invariant on each point of the "equivalent pore" surface. This quantification can be represented by a group of elliptical cylinders.The "equivalent pore" and cylinders group surface intersections define the fluid particle probabilistic paths in the porous media. One singular geometrical configuration of the elliptic cylinders group union with the ellipsoidal "equivalent pore" fulfills the minimal energy dissipation requirements in the stress field applied to the fluid. The resulting paths are ellipso\"ido-cylindrical curves carpeting the ellipso\"id by a beam of isoperim\'etric lacets, in close or open loops depending on the possible pairing off the curves in their nodals and isoclinal tangency points. The flow laminarity and unrotationality are globally established in the porous media at the macroscopic scale, for Reynold's number small values, in agreement with the results found moreover. The so defined ellipso\"ido-cylindrical curve is a stationary curve at the average least action meaning, for a punctual mobile or a deformable volume element moving on the surface of the ellipsoid from a nodal spot to the other in an antipodal position. This curve establishes a gauge which characterizes, from a global point of view, the physical space embraced by the fluid during its flow, in dynamical balance conditions compatible with the stress field. The ellipso\"ido-cylindrical curve allows to carpet the ellipso\"id as a function of one cyclic angular variable, which is a new construction for the ellipso\"id. When the set of the objects is isotropic the curve is sphero-cylindrical whose plan mapping permit to decipher the tai-chi figure of the Tao\"ist Buddhism philosophy.This study of random unordered object sets, and more specially of fibrous porous media, allows to establish a structural link between their small scale texture stochastic disorder and the harmonious order that emerges from these sets at a larger scale. The largest chance possible, compatible with the stress field which put a strain on these sets, is the necessary and sufficient variable which allows to best globally adjust their behaviors according to the probabilistic and deterministic laws governing their evolution.The vocabulary used in this study is issued from the common language, most of the time adapted to the material class, it is transposable in other fields of interest. The text is completed by notes and a bibliography which refer to the works done following the presented concepts or in relation to this field of studies., Comment: Derni\`ere version, in French

In 1942, the famous astronomer and physicist Belgian Georges Lemaitre (1894-1966) published in the Bulletin of the class of Sciences of the Royal Academy of Belgium, an article in which he proposes a method that he calls "rational iteration". He rediscovers both the $\Delta^{2}$ Aitken process and the Steffensen's method. We will see how the scientific concerns of Georges Lemaitre in the year 1942 (resolutions of differential equations) have led to this rediscovery., Comment: in French

Written in English and French, this paper outlines current Canadian intellectual property legislation as it relates to Aboriginal people in Canada, and provides a general review of the implications and limitations of this legislation for protecting the traditional knowledge of Aboriginal people. An initial discussion of Aboriginal perspectives highlights the difference between sacred traditional knowledge, products, and services associated with traditional lifestyles of Aboriginal people, and innovations or new creations of an individual or an Aboriginal company. Not all traditional knowledge is considered to be intellectual property under Canadian law, therefore a web of strategies is suggested to better protect and control traditional Aboriginal knowledge. These strategies include community guidelines for researchers and businesses wanting access to traditional knowledge, codes of conduct, statutory options, and legal agreements and contracts. A section on intellectual property protection of Indigenous knowledge describes ownership, nature of rights, criteria for protection, scope of protection, duration, costs, enforcement, and international protection. A section on intellectual property rules applicable to Aboriginal contexts discusses copyrights, neighboring rights, industrial designs, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, plant breeders' rights, integrated circuit topographies, and licensing intellectual property. The conclusion points out the need for new techniques and laws that are more appropriate for protecting Aboriginal traditional knowledge and recommends educating non-Aboriginals to increase respect and understanding for Aboriginal traditional knowledge. Information sources presented include 17 federal, international, general, and Aboriginal Internet sources; 11 organizations; and 20 references. (TD)

This report provides an overview of child care in rural areas of Ontario. Chapter 1 outlines the paper's purpose, defining "child care" and "rural." It discusses the nature of rural Ontario in the 1990s and the need for child care in rural areas. Also, implications for child care provision in a rural context are highlighted. Chapter 2 reviews child care in Ontario with regard to the roles of different levels of government. Issues of child care availability, affordability, and quality are discussed, along with child care reform initiatives. Chapter 3 looks at rural child care in Ontario in terms of the characteristics of rural communities and characteristics of successful child care programs. Chapters 4 through 6 focus on rural center-based child care, regulated home child care, and the provision of care in the child's own home, including the special challenges and issues related to each setting. Chapter 7 considers resource centers, school-age care, and care for children with special needs. Finally, chapter 8 highlights programs in Alberta, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec that specifically target the needs of rural families. A list of key informants, demographic information, and information on the availability and affordability of child care in Ontario are topics covered in the four Appendices. (Contains a 37-item bibliography and glossary). (AC)

The geographic distribution of college-level technical programs is one of the major elements which has distinguished the development of the system of "colleges d'enseignement general et professionel" (CEGEP's) in Quebec. Spring 1992 efforts to identify inactive or scarcely viable programs afforded the Commission on Professional Education of the Council of Colleges the opportunity to reflect on the development of technical education and the more optimal geographic distribution of programs within the service areas of the CEGEP's. This working paper offers preliminary thoughts on the redistribution of technical programs and invites comments from other interested sectors of the provincial government. Part 1 provides a context for the discussion of the distribution of technical programs, and the educational objectives which inspired the investigation. Part 2 attempts to reconcile different ways of determining program locations; e.g., based on economics, educational supply and demand, and institutional characteristics. Part 3 appeals to different types of educational commitments, presenting calls for leadership, student-centered decision making, change and development, and system coherence. Extensive appendixes provide data on enrollment projections, regional program administration and authorization, college admissions, and student mobility. (AC)

The rapid expansion of charter schools would suggest that there is evidence of their effectiveness, but this is not the case. The lack of objective evidence of their success reinforces the claim that charter school reforms are political and ideological rather than educational reforms. The arguments in favor of charter schools have exploited some myths, and these myths have swayed some people whose goals are to strengthen the quality of public education. The following myths are addressed and countered: (1) there is a crisis in public education; (2) thecharter school movement invented school choice; (3) charter schools make choice equally available to all; (4) the competition of market forces improves the quality of education; (5) charter schools improve curriculum, instruction, and student achievement; (6) charter schools promote equity; (7) results from charter schools have been favorable; (8) charter schools break the "gridlock" of bureaucracy; (9) teachers support charter schools; and (10) charter schools are an innovative educational reform. (Contains 67 references) (SLD)

A survey was undertaken in ten countries to assess several aspects of education in multicultural societies: the attitudes of elementary teachers in training concerning different cultural groups, attitudes about separation of cultural groups for teaching purposes, and the fit between teacher attitudes and the system's provisions. In addition, a questionnaire was developed to measure these factors. The questionnaire was administered in ten countries: Bolivia; Spain; Mauritius; Jordan; Lebanon; Mexico; Pakistan; Poland; Senegal; and the Czech Republic. Monographs have been published separately for each country; comparisons are reported here. The first section of the report presents a brief literature review, and the second describes the study's methodology, including difficulties encountered with it. The third part summarizes results concerning the schools' objectives, the teacher's role, teachers' reasons for choosing their career, and the solutions they envision for schooling problems. After this, findings concerning teaching facilities, attribution of causes for teaching problems, and awareness of cultural distance between groups are reported. The final section offers a summary and discussion of findings. Contains 37 references. (MSE)

This report presents the results of a survey of both elementary and secondary level teachers in French-language schools in Ontario which was conducted to determine the usage of educational television in these schools. The 630 responses to the questionnaire yielded information on: (1) educational television usage, both live broadcast and videotaped recordings; (2) the availability of electronic equipment such as television sets and videotape recorders; (3) regional use of live television; (4) access to videocassettes produced or distributed by La Chaine; (5) sources of videocassettes other than those of La Chaine; (6) the primary function of educational television; (7) the relevancy of La Chaine broadcasts; (8) teacher planning processes; (9) teacher training needs; and (10) computer usage. It was concluded that educational television in general--and La Chaine in particular--are used widely and with great success because of the quality of the programs and the efficiency of the medium as an instructional tool in schools. Appendices include a copy of the questionnaire sent to teachers; a discussion of decisions made based on responses to the questionnaires; breakdowns of responses by gender, region, and elementary/secondary level; and a list of television series used at the elementary level together with the percentage of respondents who used the particular series. A summary of the findings in English is included. (DB)

English and French versions of the Canadian Home Economics Association's position paper describe the place of home economics/family studies (HEFS) in education and worldwide trends indicating the need for HEFS. Suggests it is the only subject with the primary focus on preparing students for everyday life in an increasingly complex global society. (SK)