NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Impact of (pro)renin receptor deficiency in adipose tissue using a genetically engineered mouse model

Stimulation of the (pro)renin receptor [(P)RR], a recently discovered member of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), increases the activity of the RAS and stimulates angiotensin II-independent signaling pathways. To investigate the possible impact of the (P)RR on obesity development, we hypothesized that mice deficient in the (P)RR specifically in their adipose tissue (KO) would have a decrease in body weight by targeting adipose tissue metabolism, locomotor activity and/or food intake. As such, KO mice were generated using the Cre/Lox technology. Weekly weight gain and food intake were assessed in both male and female KO and wild-type (WT) littermates for 4 weeks on a normal diet. A group of females were also placed for an additional 6 weeks on a high-fat/high-carbohydrate diet (HF/HC). Body composition and physical activity were evaluated using EchoMRI and Physioscan cages, respectively. Adipose tissues were collected and weighed at sacrifice. Moreover, perigonadal fat was used for Gene assay and histological analysis. (P)RR mRNA expression levels were evaluated using real-time PCR. Different circulating metabolites and proteinuria were measured by ELISA kits.          As the (P)RR gene is located on the X chromosome, males were complete KOs and females were partial KOs. KO body weights were significantly lower compared to WTs, the differences being more pronounced in males. Female KOs were resistant to obesity development when placed on a HF/HC diet and as such, had significantly smaller fat mass as well as lower circulating leptin levels compared to WTs. All KO perigonadal fat had a reduced number of adipocytes but of bigger size. Although there were no changes in food intake, an almost 3-fold increase in activity was detected in males. Moreover, they presented with shorter tibial length which strongly suggests that they may have developmental issues. Gonadal fat of KO mice showed a reduced expression of ABLIM2 gene (Actin binding LIM protein family, member 2) which is associated with type II diabetes in humans. Conversely, no obvious changes in glycemia were detected while tendencies for lower proteinuria could be observed.        The data collected thus strongly suggests that the (P)RR is implicated in body weight regulation.

Keyphrases: (Pro)renin receptor, Adipose tissue, Renin-Angiotensin system, Obesity, Knocked out mice
Facteurs de risque de sévérité de la 
papillomatose respiratoire juvénile

Juvenile Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis is caused by Human Papillomavirus genotypes 6 or 11. It is characterised by recurring warts most commonly in the larynx. The severe form of the disease has a devastating impact on health and life quality of the child and its family because of the consequences of multiple surgical procedures and the constant risk of airway obstruction.   Objectives: To study the risk factors associated with severe forms of RRP.   Method: We conducted a retrospective case series of the 31 patients diagnosed between January 1995 and December 2008. We analyzed demographic and clinical variables, as well as viral and host factors. Logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the impact of each of independent variables on the disease severity.   Results: Our data suggest that risk factors for severe forms of RRP in children could be associated with female gender (OR=2.60, 95% CI: 0.44-15.44), being first-born (OR=3.51 95% CI: 0.17-72.32), lower socio-economic status (OR=5.31, 95% CI: 0.17-164.19), younger age (OR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.68-1.01), high viral load (OR=3.81, 95% CI: 0.230-63.16) and history of condylomas of the mother during pregnancy, (OR=12.05, 95% CI: 0.97-149.85).   Conclusion: The severity of the RRP would be the result of a combination of factors which would favor the cellular growth particularly in the young children. Therapeutics and preventive measures to restrict the contamination and the replication of the virus could reduce considerably the burden of this disease.

Keyphrases: Papillomes, Papillomas, Juvenile, Risk, Severity, Surgery, Recurrence, HPV
The effect of oxygen and parenteral nutrition on the redox potential and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely
preterm infants

Introduction: oxygen supplementation and total parenteral solution (TPN) are two main clinical practices that sustain oxidative stress. Glutathione is a key molecule that detoxifies peroxides resulting in a more oxidized redox potential. We hypothesize that O2 supplementation and longer TPN duration are associated with both more oxidized redox potential and more severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Patients and methods: A prospective observational study including infants of less than 29 weeks gestational age. GSH and GSSG from whole blood sampled on day 6-7 and at 36 weeks of corrected age (CA) were measured by capillary electrophoresis and redox potential was calculated using Nernst equation. BPD was classified according to NICHD guidelines. Results: There was a significant association between FiO2 ≥ 25% on day 7 of life and TPN duration longer than 14 days and both more oxidized redox potential and more severe BPD. TPN duration explained both 15 % of total variation observed in redox potential and 42 % of total variation in BPD severity. These associations remained significant after adjustment for gestational age and illness severity. The relation between the severity of BPD and the redox potential in blood was not significant. The statistic power (1-β) to show an effect of redox potential on severity of BPD was 52%. Conclusion: Both redox potential of glutathione and BPD severity are both associated with early O2 supplement and TPN. Strategies targeting judicious use of O2 supplement and either decreasing the duration or using safer formulation of TPN are expected to help reducing BPD.

Keyphrases: premature infants, oxygen, total parenteral nutrition, oxidative stress, bronchopulmonary dysplasia
La reconnaissance des qualifications professionnelles comme condition à l’immigration au Québec? : cadre juridique et enjeux politiques d’une réforme de procédure en amont

Canada, Australia and the European Union represent among the most coveted destinations for the vast number of highly-qualified immigrants around the globe. Supported by national policies and initiatives seeking their integration, the increasing mobility of these workers nevertheless poses great challenges, as host countries strive to coordinate economic objectives with long-term demographic supply. The recognition of foreign qualifications consistently figures among the main stakes in the management of these migratory flows, imposing itself in the admission process to regulated professions in Quebec as in other provincial, national and Community jurisdictions. Our research aims at explaining the correlation between the economic selection model chosen specifically by Quebec and the laborious labour market integration efforts on behalf of the newly-arrived qualified immigrants. We examine the viability and usefulness of reforming the pre-migratory administrative procedure in permanent residency applications by including within it a mandatory credential assessment by competent regulatory authorities. Drawing upon legal arrangements to this effect in force in Australia and the European Union, we seek to determine whether the importing of such a rigorous selection process is realistic and desirable for the particular Quebec context.

Keyphrases: Immigration models, Recognition, Foreign qualifications, Quebec, Australia, European Union
Jean Pierron (1631-1700) : missionnaire, diplomate et peintre en Amérique

The following study is devoted to the Jesuit father Jean Pierron (1631-1701). Arriving from Lorraine in 1667, Pierron participated in the Catholic mission to the Mohawk of the Hudson Valley, after being formally introduced to delegates of this nation by the intendant Jean Talon. Working in a half-dozen villages, Pierron designed an audiovisual method of conversion based upon didactic drawings and paintings. The missionary was also an energetic traveller, both within Mohawk territories and to the English colonies. These journeys point to Pierron’s earlier experiences and more precisely, to the network of contacts he seems to have developed in Europe. In sum, the life of this polyglot missionary, diplomat and painter underscores the importance of the broader strategic and political context of the Jesuit missions.

Keyphrases: Jean Pierron, Jesuit Missions, New France, Seventeenth Century, Jean Pierron
Hydrolyse assistée par micro-ondes : synthèse de cystéines a-substituées sur échelle multi-grammes; Synthèse catalytique énantiosélective d’alkylidènecyclopropanes 1,1-di-accepteurs

The present M.Sc. thesis will be divided into two main subjects. The first part will be focused on the development of an efficient microwave-assisted hydrolysis of thiazolidines for the synthesis of a-substituted cysteines. The second part will be on the development of methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of 1,1-di-acceptor alkylidenecyclopropanes. First, the role and the importance of quaternary amino acids, more specifically of a-substitued cysteines, will be described, then a review of the available enantioselective methods for their syntheses will be reported. Afterward, the development of a fast and efficient microwave-assisted hydrolysis of thiazolidines will be presented. Finally, the studies toward the applicability of the methodology for the multi-gram synthesis of -substituted cysteines using flow and high-throughput reactors will be detailed. In the second part, the general applications and syntheses of alkylidenecyclopropanes will be described. More specifically, the applications of 1,1-di-acceptor alkylidenecycloproanes as well as their syntheses will be exhaustively covered. Then, the development of a catalytic enantioselective methodology for the synthesis of di-acceptor alkylidenecyclopropanes will be presented. The extension of this methodology for the synthesis of cyclopropane and cyclopropene derivatives, as well as the applications of 1,1-diacceptor alkylidenecyclopropane in stereospecific derivatizations will be briefly discussed.

Keyphrases: Cyclopropanes, Quaternary amino acids, a-Substituted cysteines, Microwave irradiation, MARS system, 1,1-Di-acceptor alkylidenecyclopropanes, Cyclopropenes, Allenes
Planification en contexte mégaévénementiel et reconversion urbaine :  le cas du Green Point Urban Park à Cape Town en Afrique du Sud

 Since the year 2000, there has been an increasing number of developing countries hosting mega-events. By welcoming such events, developing countries have been improving their urban landscape and providing opportunities for foreign investments. That being said, their lack of infrastructure and equipment has shown to be a challenge in the organization of mega-events, events that must abide by strict regulatory frameworks set by international organizations, like FIFA.     We believe the planning process, where local and international normative frameworks are negotiated, has an impact on the reconversion of mega-event developments. Through the analysis of Cape Town’s Green Point Urban Park (GPUP), this study aims to evaluate the planning process’ impact on the reconversion phase. To do so, we’ve divided our study in three parts. The first describes the planning process, the second exposes our evaluation of the site’s reconversion potential and the third evaluates the relationship between the GPUP reconversion potential and its planning process.    Overall, this study seeks to demonstrate the dominating role played by the international normative framework during the GPUP’s planning process phase and how this has ultimately hindered the site’s potential of reconversion after the 2010 World Cup.

Keyphrases: Reconversion, FIFA, Cape Town, Mega-event, Planning process, Reconversion, Urban regeneration, Sport Stadia, FIFA, Cape Town, South Africa
La conciliation en Colombie

Conciliation, an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, allows the maintenance of a business relation and the revival of communication as well as an equilibrium of power between two opposing parties. It's true spirit consists in allowing the citizen to recover his principal role in the resolution of his conflicts and enables him to do so without the intervention of the State. Unlike other judicial systems, the Columbian judicial system gives the conciliator a decisional power and/or consultative in a particular case. Also, the terms mediation and conciliation are sometimes used like synonyms. However, those terms are differentiated by the participation of a third party conciliator or mediator in the process of conflict resolution. In addition, even though those concepts are universal thanks to the judicial texts, those mechanisms remain unknown to most citizens.  The practice of conciliation has no boundaries; it is widespread all over the world. In the 1990's, Latin countries, more specifically Columbia, started to investigate the possibility of taking part in this enriching experience thanks to legislative and institutional progress in the field of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.  In the field of conciliation, in Columbia, there is a vast normative richness but the laws, dispersed and difficult to interpret, generate insecurity and judicial uncertainty. Also, the conciliation process can be initiated by many ways, the most controversial being without a doubt the obligatory conciliation beforehand. This imposed method has been the target of many critics. In fact, those critics concerns the obligatory nature of the conciliation which impedes on the voluntary aspect, a fundamental pillar in the conciliation process. Also, the third party conciliator, possessing a highly trained background, represents a pivotal role in the conciliation process: a high level of responsibility weighs upon his shoulders as he oversees this alternate conflict resolution method.

Keyphrases: Alternative dispute resolution, Conciliation, Conciliation, Mediation, Colombia, Ministry of the Justice and of the law, Bogota Chamber of Commerce
Exposition à la caféine durant la grossesse :
les facteurs prédictifs de la consommation et association aux issues indésirables de grossesse

BACKGROUND: Several studies have been conducted on the association between several adverse pregnancy outcomes and caffeine intake during pregnancy; but, no study has yet been conducted on the predictors of such exposure. However, a consideration of these factors would contribute in making nutritional recommendations in this regard more efficient. In addition, few studies had evaluated the risk of small for gestational age infants (SGA) compared to other adverse pregnancy outcomes.  OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine the frequency of caffeine consumption during pregnancy and its predictors, 2) Quantify the association between SGA outcome and this exposure.  METHODS: 3458 participants were randomly selected from the Quebec Pregnancy Registry (QPR) created by the linking of three administrative databases: RAMQ, MED-ECHO and ISQ. Statistical analyzes were used to examine predictors of the use and case-control study was conducted to quantify the risk of SGA associated with it.  RESULTS: 87.3% of participants consumed caffeine prior to pregnancy and 71.4% during. Maternal age, smoking, hypertension and hospitalizations before pregnancy are predictors of caffeine consumption during pregnancy. A 20% increase in SGA risk was observed [OR = 1.19, 95% CI (1.01 - 1.40)].  CONCLUSION: Caffeine consumption during pregnancy is common and safety of this use must be questioned. Our results suggest that caffeine consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of SGA.

Keyphrases: caffeine, frequency, predictors, small for gestational age (SGA)
Efficacité et toxicité de l'eugénol administré à des doses anesthésiantes chez des grenouilles Xenopus laevis

Eugenol has been shown to induce surgical anesthesia in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) without causing lesions after a single administration in large frogs (90-140g). The first objective of this study was to determine the duration of anesthesia in small (7.5 ± 2.1 g) and medium (29.2 ± 7.4 g) Xenopus laevis frogs and evaluate CNS depression and changes in oxygen saturation and heart rate relative to exposure time in a eugenol bath (350 µL/L). After immersion for 5 or 10 minutes, no responses to the acetic acid test (AAT), withdrawal reflex, and righting reflex were seen for 1 h (small frogs) or 0.5 h (medium frogs), and small and medium frogs were under surgical anesthesia for a maximum of 15 and 30 minutes respectively. Oxygen saturation was not significantly affected by anesthesia, but heart rate was depressed for as long as 1 hour post-exposure in both groups of frogs. The second objective was to determine the toxicity of eugenol in medium frogs after one or three administrations at anesthetic doses, with or without a 1 week recovery period. Histopathology revealed renal tubular apoptosis and pulmonary hyaline membranes after 1 administration, as well as hepatic necrosis and adipose tissue hemorrhages after 3 administrations. These results suggest that body weight is an important parameter to consider when using a eugenol bath for anesthesia of Xenopus laevis frogs.

Keyphrases: Xenopus laevis, Eugenol, Clove oil, Xenopus laevis, African clawed frog, Amphibian, Anesthesia, Body weight, Toxicity
Processus d'implantation d'une mesure législative favorisant la sécurité des patients : le cas de la Loi 113 au Québec

In Quebec, Bill 113 was passed in 2002 to reduce the incidence and consequences of adverse events during health care. This law requires making several changes in both administrative and clinical settings, including the establishment of risk management committees, establishing policies for disclosure to patients and systematic reporting of adverse events in hospitals. However, the ability of these institutions to implement the measures required by law has been questioned by some authors. The aim of this thesis was to study the process of implementing Bill 113 from a theoretical framework integrating organizational development, institutional and political approaches. To do so, we conducted a multiple case study, each case being represented by a type of hospital qualified in the context of our study as « small », « large » and « academic ». Data collection procedures consisted of interviews with administrators and health professionals, observation of risk management committee meetings, and analysis of administrative documents from each institution.  The results suggest a gradual implementation of the law that varies from one hospital to another and the presence of conflicts between professional and organizational practices and new legal standards. The latter seem to have been adopted at the administrative level, while the professional and organizational standards have continued to dominate the clinical level, a situation that led to a climate of mistrust between the administrative and clinical settings, particularly among doctors from each hospital. The results of our study also suggest that strategies that have most contributed to change result from a strong and legitimate leadership of the principal agents of change, such as steering and risk manager, and stewardship of the organizational environment. However, despite ongoing efforts mobilized within each institution to implement the law, there has been continuing resistance by some key players. In conclusion, the involvement and contribution from stakeholders inside and outside the organization are necessary to achieve a shared vision and align the different interventions to ensure the successful implementation of the law.

Keyphrases: Patient safety, hospital, legislation measures, Change
Un projet de recherche exempté d’évaluation éthique : Réflexions et questionnements sur l’article 2.1 de l’Énoncé de politique des trois Conseils

This case study presents the Article 2.1 of the Tri-council Policy Statement, which now allows some qualitative research with minimal risk to be exempt from ethics review. However, its application raises questions.

Keyphrases: qualitative research, minimal risk, ethics evaluation, research participant, non-vulnerable subjects, research ethics
Choosing Thesis Juries: The Costs of Taking a Strict Line on Conflicts of Interest

This case study examines the conflicts of interest (COI) that can arise in the selection of jury members to evaluate a PhD thesis, and the costs (time, personnel, expertise) associated with trying to avoid COI.

Keyphrases: thesis evaluation, conflict of interest, university
Bob and Jane go to Argentina: The Ethics of Cross-Border Care

This case study presents the story of a typical North American couple searching for fertility treatments on the Internet. This search leads to sites of clinics in other countries, which gets them thinking about traveling abroad for medical services – also known as medical tourism.

Keyphrases: medical tourism, reproductive tourism, in vitro fertility treatments
Will Kymlicka et les angles morts du libéralisme - Vers une théorie non-libérale du droit des minorités?

Will Kymlicka defends a liberal theory of minority rights, arguing that we must protect minority cultures from outside influences, as these cultures provide individuals with a meaningful context of choice that allows autonomous decision-making. This defence of minority rights limits the scope of his theory by focusing on 'cultural' minorities, that is to say, national minorities and immigrants, which can provide individuals with this meaningful context of choice. Obviously, the injustices experienced by these two types of minorities, however severe they are, do not exhaust the injustices experienced by members of minority groups and minoritized groups (i.e. sexual minorities, women, African Americans, etc.). One might be tempted to expand the scope of the theory of minority rights to account for all the injustices experienced as a minority. However, I argue that this extension is not possible within a liberal theorical framework where 'ideal theory' limits the critical force of Kymlicka’s thesis and in which the centrality of individual autonomy prevents liberals to realize that certain individual decisions contribute to the perpetuation of unjust systems, values and norms.

Keyphrases: Will Kymlicka, Justice, Injustice, Liberalism, Minority rights, Political philosophy, Multiculturalism