NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Modèles de flammelette en combustion turbulente avec extinction et réallumage : étude asymptotique et numérique, estimation d’erreur a posteriori et modélisation adaptative

We are interested here in the modeling errors of subgrid flamelet models in nonpremixed turbulent combustion. The goal of this thesis is to develop an a posteriori error estimation strategy to determine the best model within a hierarchy, with a numerical cost at most that of using the models in the first place. Firstly, we develop and test a dual-weighted residual estimator strategy on a system of advection-diffusion-reaction equations. Secondly, we test that methodology on another system of equations, where quenching and ignition effects are added. In the absence of advection, a rigorous asymptotic analysis shows the existence of many combustion regimes already observed in numerical simulations. We obtain approximations of the quenching and ignition parameters, alongside the S-shaped curve, a plot of the maximal flame temperature as a function of the Damköhler number, consisting of three branches and two bends. When advection effects are added, we still obtain a S-shaped curve corresponding to the known combustion regimes. We compare the modeling errors of the asymptotic approximations in the two stable regimes and establish new model hierarchies for each combustion regime. These errors are compared with the estimations obtained by using the error estimation strategy. When only one stable combustion regime exists, the error estimator correctly identifies that regime; when two or more regimes are possible, it gives a systematic way of choosing one regime. For regimes where more than one model is appropriate, the error estimator’s predicted hierarchy is correct.

Keyphrases: Adaptive modeling, Flamelet, Modeling errors, A posteriori error estimation, Turbulent combustion, Nonpremixed combustion, Quenching, Ignition, Asymptotic analysis
Study of the diffusion in polymer solutions and hydrogels by NMR spectroscopy and NMR imaging

In an effort to study the diffusion and release of small molecules in a polymeric system, the self-diffusion coefficients of a series of star polymers with a cholic acid core bearing four poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) arms in aqueous solutions and gels of poly(vinyl alcohol) were determined by pulsed gradient spin-echo NMR techniques. The results have been compared with those of linear and dendritic PEGs to elucidate the effect of the architecture of the polymers. The amphiphilic star polymers show similar concentration-dependent diffusion behaviors in the dilute regime to their linear homologues. They diffuse more slowly in the semi-dilute regime than the linear PEGs due to the presence of the hydrophobic core. The conformation of the star polymers in the solutions was studied by measuring the T1 values of the core and the arms of the diffusants. NMR imaging was used to study the swelling of polymeric tablets and diffusion in the polymer matrix. The tablets investigated were made of cross-linked high amylose starch (CHAS) and loaded with acetaminophen (10, 20 and 40 wt%). The swelling, water uptake and diffusion in the CHAS network are faster at higher drug loading levels, while the drug release rates are similar among all the tablets. The in vitro swelling of the tablets made of a polyelectrolyte complex based on chitosan and carboxymethylated starch has also been studied by NMR imaging. These tablets showed pH-sensitive behavior. They swelled much more in acidic media than in neutral media due to dissociation of the two components and the protonation of the amino groups in the chitosan residues. The comparison of the results with those obtained with the CHAS tablets indicates that the two matrices have similar swelling and drug release profile in neutral media, while the complex tablets showed a greater extent of swelling in acidic media due the dissociation of the chitosan from the complex.

Keyphrases: Pulsed gradient NMR spectroscopy, NMR imaging, Self-diffusion coefficients, Star polymer, Chitosan
Le développement normatif et institutionnel relatif aux peuples autochtones en droit international au regard des fondements de leurs revendications
politiques : le droit à l'autodétermination comme théorie unificatrice?

This essay is dedicated to the issue of the normative claims of indigenous peoples in international law. It exposes the significant challenge that the recognition of these normative claims represent for both international institutions and the liberal philosophy which is at its foundation. This recognition will be gradually accepted by major international institutions concerned with human rights. An international body of standards specifically dedicated to aboriginal aspirations and needs will thus be developed. The definition of indigenous identity exposes the justifications for a particular treatment of indigenous peoples in international law. It is based on two axes. The first one is cultural, suggesting a difference based on a holistic view that aboriginals have of the world which is intimately linked to land. The second axis is historical, supposing a long territorial presence, sometimes referred to as immemorial, which is prior to a contact with an invader that will eventually lead to their marginalization. These foundations of indigenous identity are at the source of the justification of indigenous normative claims. However, these foundations pose problems of characterization which are difficult to reconcile with the diversity of indigenous rights beneficiaries. They also pose significant difficulties in terms of political theory, which seeks to reconcile aboriginal claims with liberalism and contemporary political structures. Undeniably, reconciliation between indigenous peoples and states raises difficult questions of legitimacy and justice. To avoid the risks of an «indigeneity» trapped in a cultural-historical paradigm, S. J. Anaya proposes the concept of self-determination as the sole basis of aboriginal claims. This concept, however, must itself meet a challenge of reconciliation with the existing political structures. We shall see that even if it does help to lay the basis for a new political relationship, the right to self-determination of indigenous peoples seems unable to overcome the foundations of culture and history associated with aboriginal identity.

Keyphrases: indigenous peoples, international law, international institutions, multiculturalism, self-determination, political theory, cultural rights
Implantation des futures sur un système distribué par passage de messages

This master’s thesis presents an implementation of lazy task creation for distributed memory multiprocessors. It offers a subset of Message-Passing Interface’s functionality and allows parallelization of some problems that are hard to statically partition thanks to its dynamic partitionning and load balancing system. It is based on Multilisp, a Scheme dialect for parallel computing, and implements an MPI like interface on top of it. It offers a richer and more expressive language than C and simplify the work needed to developp programs similar to those in MPI. Finally, dynamic partitioning allows some programs that would be very hard to develop in MPI. Tests were made on a 16 cpus computer and on a 16 cpus cluster. The system gets good accelerations when compared to equivalent sequential programs and acceptable performances when compared to MPI. It shows that it is possible to use futures as a dynamic partitioning method on distributed memory multiprocessors.

Keyphrases: Functional programming languages, Scheme, Scheme, Multilisp, Multilisp, Futures, Futures, Parallel computing, Distributed computing, Lazy task creation
Les gangs de rue en prison

Today, street gangs are of great interest for many researchers because of the threat they seem to pose to society and its institutions.  In recent years, the Quebec Correctional Services has seen an increase of incarcerated street gang members which has created a number of issues related to the growth of these groups in prison.   Furthermore, few studies have addressed the issue of street gang members in prison although they seem to be the source of several serious problems in penal institutions.   Street gangs are often associated with criminality and violence, whether in the medias or in scientific papers.  They seem to be a great source of concern for the public; and, in general; they are perceived to be unpredictable, and violent, which is creating fear.    These groups are ever-evolving, diversified and constantly re-immerging.  Thus, the study of these groups is essential largely due to their characteristics, but also necessary in order to grasp their complexity and eventually, to be able to succeed in the control, repression and prevention of these groups.  This master seeks to understand the experience of street gang members in provincial prisons.  In this context, the choice of the qualitative approach seems entirely justified. The qualitative interviews we conducted with individuals identified by the correctional services to be closely associated to or members of street gangs seemed to us to be in line with the choice of the qualitative approach and were necessary in order to focus on the views and experiences of their life in prison.  The twenty-one interviews we conducted with inmates that are associated to a street gang have permitted us to further understand and capture the mentality of those in detention.  From these interviews, three major issues have emerged; firstly, the social organization of street gangs, secondly, the harsh prison conditions in which these groups operate and thirdly, how they function and operate in prison.  Finally, we have identified some facts from our interviews. When street gang members arrive in prison, they are experiencing a double-labelling, are living in harsh prison conditions and are all housed together.  Thus, the characteristics displayed of street gangs in prison is somewhat similar to the behaviour within the community; such as, their subculture, their structure, their positions, the family spirit that characterizes them in the community, their solidarity and violence.  The deprivation endured by incarceration added to the characteristics of street gangs lead to a further form of solidarity.  This solidarity allows the street gang members to adapt to any hostile environment, including the prison.  Finally, this solidarity is certainly an important inherent obstacle to the control of these groups in prison.

Keyphrases: Street gangs, prisons, prisons, experience, solidarity, importation theory
L'impact des changements technologiques sur le travail de Paul Baillargeon dans la série Star Trek

Canadian composer Paul Baillargeon wrote the music for more than forty television shows for the Star Trek series, now translated and broadcasted around the world. Star Trek was one of the last television series produced by a complete symphonic orchestra when Paul Baillargeon started using computers and digital samples, thereby replacing those musicians that were perpetuating Hollywood’s acoustical tradition. Not only do these tools affect the music of Paul Baillargeon, they also transform his work among the postproduction team of the popular television series. This close look at how musical technology influences composition and music production for that particular composer is part of a vast context in which technological progress has transformed our cultural and social fields for the past two decades.

Keyphrases: composition, Paul Baillargeon, postproduction, Star Trek, computer, music samples, orchestra, scoring, soundtrack, synthesizer
La réception des expositions d'art engagé à la fin du XXe siècle au Québec : entre reconnaissance et institutionnalisation

The present thesis aims to understand how audience and critical reception of politically and socially engaged art exhibitions articulates itself in the museum context in Quebec. In order to do so, two case studies will be examined: Art et féminisme (1982) and Pour la suite du Monde (1992). Within the scope of this thesis, a thorough study will be facilitated by selecting exhibitions which took place in a single institution, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal. Before directly addressing reception and in order to better define the artistic and theoretical context of the 1980’s and 1990’s, the first chapter will be dedicated to the different theories and practices regarding exhibitions as they were developed in that period. As such, the work of exhibition practitioners and theorists Jérôme Glicenstein, Mieke Bal, Yves Michaud, Nathalie Heinich and Michel Pollak, as well as Daniel Buren, will be summarised. The second and third chapters will exclusively address the Art et féminisme and Pour la suite du Monde exhibitions. While their reception will be examined, the specific conceptual and socio-historical context in which they were deployed will be detailed. The aim of this exercise is to fully comprehend the way in which an exhibition enunciates its subject matter when the latter is closely linked to its political, cultural and institutional reality.

Keyphrases: Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, Art et féminisme, Pour la suite du Monde, socially engaged art, exhibition, twentieth century
Rôle des topoisomérases de type IA dans la ségrégation des chromosomes chez Escherichia coli

E. coli possesses two type IA topoisomerases (topos), namely topo I (topA) and topo III (topB). The major function of topo I is the relaxation of excess negative supercoiling. Much less is known about the function of topo III. Cells lacking both type IA topos suffer from severe chromosome segregation and growth defects. We show that these defects are mostly related to the presence of gyrase mutations that prevent excess negative supercoiling in topA null mutants. Indeed, increasing gyrase activity by spontaneous mutations, by substituting a gyrB(Ts) allele for a wild-type one or by exposing cells carrying the gyrB(Ts) allele to permissive temperatures, significantly corrected the growth and segregation defects of cells lacking type IA topo activity. We also found that topB mutants are hypersensitive to novobiocin due to gyrase inhibition. Our data also suggest that unregulated replication occurring in the absence of topA and rnhA (RNase HI) exacerbates the need for topo III activity. Moreover, when topA and rnhA were absent, we found that topo III overproduction reduced the extensive DNA degradation that took place in the absence of recA (RecA). All together, our results lead us to propose a role for topo III in chromosome segregation when gyrase activity is suboptimal, thus reducing replication forks collapse, especially when replication is unregulated due to the absence of topo I and RNase HI.

Keyphrases: Gyrase, RNase HI, Type IA topoisomerase, Chromosome segregation, Replication, Cell division, DNA supercoiling
Exploitation de contraintes photométriques et géométriques en vision : application au suivi, au calibrage et à la reconstruction

The topic of this thesis revolves around three fundamental problems in computer vision; namely, video tracking, camera calibration and shape recovery. The proposed methods are solely based on photometric and geometric constraints found in the images. Video tracking, usually performed on a video sequence, consists in tracking a region of interest, selected manually by an operator. We extend a successful tracking method by adding the ability to estimate the orientation of the tracked object. Furthermore, we consider another fundamental problem in computer vision: cali- bration. Here we tackle the problem of calibrating linear cameras (a.k.a: pushbroom) and video projectors. For the former one we propose a convenient plane-based cali- bration algorithm and for the latter, a calibration algorithm that does not require a physical grid and a planar auto-calibration algorithm. Finally, we pointed our third research direction toward shape reconstruction using coplanar shadows. This technique is known to suffer from a bas-relief ambiguity if no extra information on the scene or light source is provided. We propose a simple method to reduce this ambiguity from four to a single parameter. We achieve this by taking into account the visibility of the light spots in the camera.

Keyphrases: Vision 3D, Computer vision, 3D reconstruction, Pushbroom camera, Shape-From-Shadow, Video tracking, Calibration, Auto-calibrage plan, Planar auto-calibration, Projector-Camera system
Towards a philosophical reconstruction of the dialogue between modern physics and Advaita Vedanta : an inquiry into the concepts of akasa, vacuum and reality

Toward the end of the 19th century, the Hindu monk and reformer Swami Vivekananda claimed that modern science was inevitably converging towards Advaita Vedanta, an important philosophico-religious system in Hinduism. In the decades that followed, in the midst of the revolution occasioned by the emergence of Einstein's relativity and quantum physics, a growing number of authors claimed to discover striking "parallels" between Advaita Vedanta and modern physics. Such claims of convergence have continued to the present day, especially in relation to quantum physics. In this dissertation, an attempt is made to critically examine such claims by engaging a detailed comparative analysis of two concepts: akasa in Advaita Vedanta and vacuum in quantum physics. What is examined is the claim that both concepts would refer to the same reality — an enduring, subtle and all-pervading physical substratum out of which the constituents of the world come into existence and to which they ultimately return. Based on this study, the dissertation argues that comparisons relying on conceptual affinities alone generally fall short of establishing a productive dialogue between Advaita Vedanta and modern physics. Another approach is to bring into focus the epistemological limits respectively encountered by these systems when attempting to define the content of "reality-in-itself" or "ultimate reality." Emphasis is given to epistemology and the problem of reality in Advaita Vedanta, and scientific realism and philosophical implications of nonseparability in quantum physics.

Keyphrases: Dialogue, Advaita Vedanta, Akasa, Dialogue, Natural sciences, Eastern Spiritual Traditions, Advaita Vedanta, Modern Physics, Philosophy of Science, Akasa, Vacuum, Reality, Epistemology
Analyse de la localisation génomique et identification de nouvelles fonctions des sous-unités Rpb4/Rpb7 de l’ARN polymérase II et des facteurs TFIIF, TFIIS et UBR5

Biochemical, genetic and structural studies made over the last years bring a new view on the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) machinery and the process by which it decodes the genetic information. They provided new insights into the diversity of the transcriptional regulation mechanisms, and on the role played by the general transcription factors (GTFs).  The studies presented in this thesis provide new evidence on the role of human GTFs in the regulation of different stages of transcription.  In the first part of the thesis, we investigated the function of the human Pol II and GTFs in living cells, by systematically analyzing their genomic location. The location profiles obtained by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) of TAP (tandem-affinity purification) tagged versions of these factors indicate new in vivo functions for several components of this machinery, and for structural elements of the Pol II. These results suggest that TFIIF and the heterodimer Rpb4–Rpb7 have a specific function during the elongation stage in vivo. Additionally, our study offers for the first time a general picture of GTFs function during the Pol II transcription reaction in live mammalian cells, and provides a framework to uncover new regulatory hubs.   Secondly, we report on the identification of a new function of the factor TFIIS in the regulation of CDK9, the kinase subunit of the Positive Transcription Elongation Factor b (P-TEFb). We identify two interaction partners for TFIIS, namely CDK9 and the E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR5. We show that UBR5 catalyzes the ubiquitination of CDK9 in vitro. Moreover, the polyubiquitination of CDK9 in human cells is dependent upon both UBR5 and TFIIS, and does not signal its degradation. We also show that UBR5, CDK9 and TFIIS co-localize along specific regions of the  fibrinogen (FBG) gene, and that the overexpression of TFIIS increases the occupancy of CDK9 along this gene in a UBR5 dependant manner. We propose a new function of TFIIS in the transition between initiation and elongation stages, by regulating the stability of the early CDK9-Pol II transcribing complexes.    Key words: chromatin immunoprecipitation, general transcription factors, tandem-affinity purification, RNA polymerase II, Rpb4–Rpb7 heterodimer, transcription factor IIF (TFIIF), transcription factor IIS (TFIIS), UBR5 ubiquitin ligase, Positive Transcription Elongation Factor b (P-TEFb), CDK9 ubiquitination.

Keyphrases: Tandem-affinity purification, Positive-Transcription Elongation Factor b (P-TEFb)
Vieillissement et réorganisation neurofonctionnelle pour le traitement du sens métaphorique des mots

Given the significant increase in life expectancy of the general population observed in recent decades, the study of alterations in cognitive functions during normal and pathological ageing is of great importance. The results reported in this thesis contribute to a better understanding of the nature of the age-related changes on processing metaphoric meaning of words and the phenomenon of functional reorganization underlying these processes. After a brief literature review (chapter 1), a first article offering a general view of the problem of language processing in normal aging introduces the series of studies presented in this thesis. This article, presented in Chapter 2, points out the importance of developing specific protocols aiming to establish a link between the different hypotheses concerning cognitive changes during normal aging and those related to changes in neurobiological substrate of language. Chapter 3 presents a behavioural study aiming to assess the availability of attentional resources for the phonological and semantic processing of words and its possible evolution with age. The findings of this study are consistent with the idea of an age- related restriction of available attentional resources for the processing of metaphorical meaning of words. Chapter 4 presents a neuroimaging study. This study was conducted to compare patterns of brain activation of young and older participants during the processing of metaphoric meaning of words. The results emphasize that both, younger and older participants, require the sharing of attentional resources during processing metaphorical meaning of words, but show a functional reorganization in the older group. Taken together, the studies presented here support the hypothesis of an age-related restriction of available attentional resources and of an age-related functional reorganization for the processing of metaphorical meaning of words. The results enrich our understanding of neurocognitive aging models regarding the evolution of neurobiological bases of language.

Keyphrases: Aging, Functional reorganisation, Language, Semantic processing, Right hemisphere, Left hemisphere, Functional magnetic resonance imaging