NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
La pertinence de l’obligation de divulguer l’origine des ressources génétiques et des savoirs traditionnels dans les demandes de brevets

The rapid development in the field of biotechnology can be attributed to a large degree to the innovative use of genetic resources (GR), a significant portion of which were based on traditional knowledge (TK). The biotechnological inventions resulting from these resources and knowledge are, for the most part, subject to patent protection. This legal protection is designed to allow creators of innovative inventions the possibility to recoup their investment by limiting the use of the resulting creation by people other than the inventor and his assignees. Indeed, the gradual recognition of the scientific and commercial value of such resources and associated knowledge has raised interest and fuelled rivalries that eventually led to conflict over the use and trade of such products between user and producing States.   A possible solution to resolve this conflict is the use of access and benefit-sharing agreements. One requirement proposed by producing States is an obligation to disclose the origin of GR and TK in patent applications. However, since the issues in this area, generally, exceed the national sphere, producing countries are attempting to make this requirement recognized at an international level. Accordingly the most effective and efficient means of doing so would be via the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in the World Trade Organization WTO. In this thesis, we will demonstrate that the obligation to disclose the origin of GR and TK in patent applications does not constitute an appropriate means that would lead to a fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their use.

Keyphrases: Genetic Resources, Traditional knowledge, Patents, Biotechnology, Benefit-sharing
Décrire la nature de la relation entraîneur-athlète entre des entraîneurs masculins et leurs équipes de volleyball féminin de différents niveaux de compétition

Objective : The main purpose of this study is to better understand certain aspects of the coach-athlete relationship. The relationship between a male coach and a female athlete in volleyball will be analyzed based on three different levels of competition: high school, cegep and university. The specific objectives of this study will be examined through three research questions: (1) Is the athlete’s perception of the coach-athlete relationship different based on the level of competition in which the athlete participates? (2) Is there any difference in the nature of the coach-athlete relationship within the same level of competition? (3) Does the number of years that an athlete plays for the same coach affect the nature of the relationship? Method:  The sample of this study consists of six volleyball teams, playing within the Quebec conference, and their respective coaches. The univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted using the following tests: the Welch test, the Pearson correlations and the Games-Howell post-hoc tests. Results: (1) High school athletes have a relationship with their coach that is of higher quality than athletes from cegep and university.  (2) The quality of the coach-athlete relationship differs within a same level of competition based on the athlete’s role in her team as well as the number of organised sports in which she participates (proportional relationships). (3) There is an inverse relationship between the number of years the athlete and the coach have been working together and the quality of their relationship.

Keyphrases: Co-orientation, Volleyball, Relationships, Coach, Athlete, Closeness, Complementarity, Co-orientation, Volleyball
L’affaire BCE et les devoirs des administrateurs lors d’une prise de contrôle

In recent years, financial markets have been marked by investors’ willingness, including private investment funds, to privatize public corporations. Several privatizations have been realized through acquisitions by way of a leveraged buy-out, partly because of low interest rates, a more available credit and a certain tightening of regulations applicable to public corporations.  In this context, this master thesis focuses on the impact on traditional legal concepts of the directors’ duties, further to the series of judgments rendered in the litigation regarding the leveraged buy-out offer by a consortium led by Teachers on BCE Inc. In this case, the debentureholders of the wholly owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., Bell Canada, have strongly opposed the acquisition. On an unprecedented scale in Canadian history, this transaction has been scrutinized by the highest Court of the country for its fair and reasonable character and its potentially oppressive character on debentureholders.  This study will initially address the evolving jurisprudence of Delaware on directors' duties in the context of a change of control. Delaware is the leading jurisdiction in corporate law in the United States and has therefore inspired the Canadian law. Then, this thesis will more particularly focus on the position of Canadian law and a landmark decision rendered by the Supreme Court of Canada in the case Peoples. This analysis will be complemented by a study of the underlying reasons rendered by the three levels of courts in the case of BCE and a discussion on the impact of these decisions on corporate law in Canada.

Keyphrases: Takeover, Directors’ duties, Business judgement rule, Plan of arrangement, Oppression remedy
Optimisation de la concentration en électrolytes au sein des matrices à base de HASCA pour la libération prolongée

HASCA, High amylose sodium carboxymethyl starch (amylose-amylopectin 60% 40%), a hydrophilic ionic polymer used in sustained release matrix tablets, is characterized by the formation of a hydrogel when in contact with the dissolution medium. Fickian diffusion and relaxation of the polymer chains are the main mechanisms controlling the release of the active ingredients (AI). On the other hand, a common method for sustaining the release of a drug is to decrease its solubility. It’s known that the solubility of a drug depends on the form used, either the free base versus its salt or the free acid versus its salt. A combination of the salt and acid forms or the salt and base forms in the same HASCA matrix tablet was proposed. The objective of this work is to study the effect of the polymer’s nature on the release profile of AI in an aqueous medium with a pH gradient because HASCA is characterized by the presence of a carboxylic group, ionized or not according to the acidity of the dissolution medium. The influence of the nature of the AI, the salt or free base versus the free acid or its salt, on the release profile is also studied by selecting models of AI in each category. The influence of the proportion between the free form (acid or base) and the combination with its salt on the release profile is also investigated. Therefore tablets containing HASCA with different proportion of either naproxen acid and naproxen sodium (acid AI and its salt) or tetracycline and tetracycline hydrochloride (basic AI and it salt) are used. This will be evaluated during dissolution tests in a medium similar to the gastrointestinal environment according to the standards of USP (UV spectrophotometry). Intrinsic dissolution tests will also be conducted on pure AI for different studied pH.  This study shows that using HASCA, it’s possible to obtain sustained release tablets for administration once a day using a combination of acid and salt as AI.

Keyphrases: tablets, polymer, matrix, naproxen, tetracycline
Les effets d’un traitement chronique aux antipsychotiques sur la poursuite d’une récompense conditionnée

Substance abuse problems are excessively common in schizophrenia. Chronic antipsychotic treatment might be involved in this co-morbidity by inducing supersensitivity in the brain’s dopamine system. We have shown previously in the rat that continuous (via osmotic subcutaneous minipump), but not intermittent (via daily subcutaneous injection), treatment with haloperidol potentiates the ability of amphetamine to enhance the pursuit of a conditioned reward. Here, we assessed the effects of the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine. Continuous treatment with haloperidol, but not with olanzapine, enhanced the capacity of amphetamine to potentiate the pursuit of a conditioned reward (a light-tone stimulus previously paired with water). In addition, continuous haloperidol treatment augmented both amphetamine-induced locomotion and striatal c-fos mRNA expression. These effects were either absent or less pronounced following continuous olanzapine treatment. Thus, continuous treatment with a typical, but not with an atypical, antipsychotic enhanced the incentive motivational properties of a reward cue, and this was potentially linked to the development of behavioural supersensitivity to amphetamine and to a greater ability of amphetamine to engage the caudate-putamen. Thus, a typical antipsychotic like haloperidol appears to modify the brain’s reward system in ways that could contribute to drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviour, but an atypical antipsychotic like olanzapine might be less likely to do so. We suggest that atypical antipsychotics might be a preferential option in schizophrenic patients at risk for drug abuse or addiction.

Keyphrases: Antipsychotics, Typical, Atypical, Conditioned reward, Dopamine supersensitivity, Immediate early gene, Caudate-putamen
L’éthique de la valorisation des bases de données et des banques de matériel créées à des fins de recherche : une étude empirique et normative

This master’s thesis focuses principally on the ethical issues faced by university researchers in the valorization (sharing, reuse and commercialization) of databases and material banks. First, I present the results of a qualitative study on the perceptions of 22 researchers at the Université de Montréal regarding various limitations to valorization, including the lack of resources, consent processes, participant confidentiality and competition between researchers. Despite these shortcomings, the sharing of databases and material banks is the mode of valorization most accepted by researchers at the University of Montreal. This sharing is advocated in the scientific literature as an ideal or norm of science. Second, I argue that if such sharing is prima facie ethical and beneficial, then practices which would limit sharing should be better understood and justified. I present an analysis of the main limitations to sharing which reveals that instances of a lack of integrity in research (that undermine collegiality or trust) are at the root of many of these limitations. Third, I conclude with reflections and general recommendations to achieve greater ethical sharing while still acknowledging the existence of certain justifiable constraints.

Keyphrases: ethics, valorization, sharing, database, material bank, integrity
La deuxième venue du Seigneur (parousie) d'après Paul et son application dans la théologie contemporaine

The subject of this thesis is the analysis and the characterization of Paul's doctrine on the parousia (the second coming) of Jesus, and the study of the interpretation of the parousia by the contemporary theologians, such as Rudolf Bultmann, the representative of the demythologization and the theologians of the liberation, Ignacio Ellacuria and Jon Sobrino. The key elements of the New Testament's doctrine of the parousia are described in Matthew 25,31-46, 1 Cor 15,20-28,1 Thess 4, 13-18 and 2 Thess 2,1-12. According to Paul, « There will be the shout of command, the archangel's voice, the sound of God's trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven ».The key question is: What do the contemporary men and women think of this doctrine? Is the second coming of Jesus according to Paul's description still believable to contemporary persons or is it rather a mythical element non essential to the Christian faith? Bultmann sees the parousia as a mythical issue. The parousia has not happened until now, and it will never occur. The only element that Bultmann proposes as valid is the kerygma. « The kerygma is the proclamation of the decisive act of God in Christ ». Ellacuria on the contrary, believes that the eschatological element is essential to understand history, which itself is oriented towards the end of time. Sobrino in a similar way, proposes the Kingdom of God as a key element of the eschatology. The theology of liberation presents as well the parousia like a future event, representing the integral implementation of the Kingdom of God, which should be understood as an eschatological perspective going further than the imagery of the parousia.

Keyphrases: Rudolf Bultmann, Ignacio Ellacuria, Jon Sobrino, Matthieu 25, 31-46, 1 Cor 15, 20-28, Parousia, Eschatology, Myth, Kingdom of God, Demythologization, Rudolf Bultmann, Ignacio Ellacuria, Jon Sobrino, Matthew 25, 31-46, 1 Cor 15, 20-28
Étude du rôle des lymphocytes T chez les receveurs pédiatriques de greffe de sang de cordon ombilical

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is increasingly used as a source of hematopoietic progenitor cells to treat a variety of disorders in children. UCB transplantation (UCBT) is associated with a reduced incidence of graft-versus-host disease, a robust graft-versus-leukemia effect, more frequent graft failures and a higher incidence of opportunistic infections (OI) compared to bone marrow transplantation; four processes in which donor-derived T lymphocytes are known to be predominantly involved. UCB T cells are mostly naïve. To examine the differential functionality of UCB T cells, CD8+ T cells specific for the melanoma-associated HLA-A2-restricted Melan-A26-35 A27L peptide were isolated from UCB and UCBT recipients, as it represents an abundant preimmune repertoire in human. Following in vitro stimulation, UCB T cells proliferated, oligoclonalized, acquired cell surface markers reflective of effector/memory differentiation, expressed cytolytic activity and produced IFN-γ. While functional properties of UCB T cells resembled their counterparts in adult peripheral blood, they were more likely to reach terminal differentiation following stimulation, produced less IFN-γ and were less frequently bifunctional (IFN-γ and cytolysis). Following UCBT, T cells became exhausted: they oligoclonalized dramatically, exhibited a terminal differentiation phenotype and a high frequency also expressed PD-1 (“ programmed death 1 ”) in the first 3-6 months post-UCBT. Moreover, very few patients developed an antiviral response during this period. Finally, the frequency of PD-1+ CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in subjects who subsequently experienced leukemic relapse. A second wave of T cells emerging at 6 months post-UCBT was observed and characterized by an increase in the repertoire diversity till 1 year, the development of a naïve population with polyfunctional potential and the progressive reconstitution of antiviral responses. This study reports to the biological properties of UCB-derived CD8+ T cells and provides a rationale for the characteristics of UCBT in terms of immune reconstitution and OI. These results also suggest that the first wave of CD8+ T cells in the first 3-6 months post-UCBT should be targeted in priority to improve both OI and leukemic relapse risks.

Keyphrases: Melan-A, PD-1, Umbilical cord blood transplantation, Leukemia, T lymphocytes
L’occupation amérindienne tardive du site Rioux (DaEi-19), île Verte : iroquoienne ou algonquienne?

The main goal of this research project was to determine the cultural identity of the aboriginal people who occupied the Rioux site (DaEi-19), île Verte, during the last centuries of the Late Woodland period. Many cultural groups are known to have travelled in the estuary region of the St. Lawrence River, such as the St. Lawrence Iroquoians, the Maliseet, the Mi’kmaq and the Innus (Montagnais). It is common knowledge that the Stadaconians would, on a regular basis, travel to the Estuary and the Gulf to exploit marine resources and engage in warfare. The influence of this group on the local Algonquians, and vice versa, is still a matter of debate. The cultural identity of the aboriginal groups who occupied the estuarine iroquoian-like sites is still today a sensitive matter, since sustained interactions could have transformed the material culture of the different groups involved.   The methodology used to answer the cultural identity issue is a holistic one in which the data from different archaeological and ethnohistoric sources are employed. This project allowed us to confirm the iroquoian nature of the archaeological remains and to suggest that small St. Lawrence Iroquoian groups established themselves on the Rioux site, mainly to intensively exploit the marine resources during the last centuries of the Late Woodland Period. Even though our project did not allow us to demonstrate an actual Algonquian presence on the site, their influence is felt though the lithic raw materials used, which leads us to believe that the Rioux site Iroquoians, and those that exploited the south shore of the river, were not intrusive to the region and that they participated in an important exchange network with the eastern Maritime Algonquians.   Our research project also allowed us to shed light on the limitations of our methodology and criticize the traditional archaeological approach based essentially on stylistic identification, typology and macroscopic identification.

Keyphrases: Mi’kmaq, Innus, Archaeology, Cultural identity, St. Lawrence Iroquoians, Stadaconians, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Innus, Late Woodland, Quebec
Substrats neuronaux du traitement sémantique des concepts concrets et abstraits :
apports de la neuropsychologie par l’étude de patients ayant subi une lobectomie temporale gauche ou droite

Research in the field of semantic memory has allowed to document the concreteness effect (advantage for concrete words relative to abstract words), and more recently, the reversal of the concreteness effect (advantage for abstract words relative to concrete words). These effects, observed in healthy subjects and in different clinical neurological populations, have yielded numerous theoretical interpretations, both on cognitive and on neuroanatomical levels. Indeed, this double dissociation between the two kinds of concepts suggests that their processing relies at least partly on distinct mental and neuroanatomical bases. Nevertheless, the origins of those differences remain largely debated and are marked by a notable lack of consensus.  The principal goal of the present thesis is to explore the cerebral substrates underlying the comprehension of concrete and abstract concepts. First, a literature review summarizes current knowledge about the processing of concrete and abstract concepts as well as their neural bases. This article emphasizes in particular the inter-hemispheric differences in the processing of those concepts (Article 1). Secondly, an experimental study of the comprehension of concrete and abstract concepts was conducted with a rare clinical population, patients who have undergone either i) a unilateral resection of the anterior part of the temporal lobe (temporal pole), either ii) a unilateral resection of the hippocampal region (internal temporal structures) (Article 2). The first article highlights the important heterogeneity of the results in the field, and suggests that the observed differences in the processing of concrete and abstract concepts can hardly be explained solely in terms of inter-hemispheric differences. Results of the second article indicate that damage to anterior temporal regions, either left or right, can cause a more pronounced deficit of concrete concepts, as compared to abstract concepts, while damage to internal temporal regions affects the semantic processing of both kinds of concepts in an equivalent way. The theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed, and the limits and future research perspectives are also addressed.

Keyphrases: Concepts abstraits, Semantic memory, Concrete concepts, Abstract concepts, Reversal of the concreteness effect, Anterior temporal lobe
Les effets de la cyberintimidation chez les filles qui en sont la cible

This study is based on Lazarus’ transactional model of stress in order to discover what impact cyberbullying has on young people and the various factors that may reduce or amplify this effect, such as cognitive representations, contextual aspects of the situation, its stress properties and the coping strategies adopted by the victims. Analyses are based on a sample of 844 cyberbullying victims aged 14 to 21 years, which includes 700 girls. These participants were recruited in groups on the social networking site Facebook and they completed an online questionnaire on the cyberbullying situation they have experienced. The results indicate first of all that female victims are more psychologically predisposed to be affected by situations of bullying, tend to experience cyberbullying situation that are more severe than those suffered by male victims and choose less effective coping strategies. It is little wonder then that they suffer more severe consequences in result of their cyberbullying situation. It also appears that instances of cyberbullying with offline bullying tend to be more severe then cyberbullying situations taking place online only. Finally, the results of path analyses suggest that the transactional model of stress of Lazarus can effectively analyze how cyberbullying situations may or may not have a negative impact on young female victims. The biggest risk factor for the severity of consequences is the adoption of the escape-avoidance coping strategy, followed by the occurrence of offline bullying during the situation, the adoption of the self-control coping strategy, the variety of cyberbullying acts, the victim’s level of self blame, the victim’s perception of the duration of the situation, and the frequency of offline bullying victimization. However, the possession of optimism and self-esteem reveals itself to be a significant protective factor against the impact of cyberbullying among girls.

Keyphrases: Cyberbullying, Bullying, Victimization, Youth, Consequences, Social media
Le retour des réfugiés et des personnes déplacées dans le cadre de la consolidation de la paix : les cas de la Croatie et de la Bosnie-Herzégovine

The work addresses the question of the return of the refugees and the displaced persons in Croatia and in Bosnia-Herzegovina, within the framework of the operations of peacebuilding, which took place in the region. Indeed, the reinstatement of the populations in their place of origin was presented as one of the priorities, by the international community and as the ideal solution to encourage the reconciliation in the region and to restore the ethnic diversity. However, the respective balance assessments of the former two republics towards the return of minorities present significant differences. The internal factors on which stumbled the processes of return in both countries were appreciably the same. In these conditions, the determining variable seems to have been located in the nature of the international interventions, which was deployed in Bosnia- Herzegovina and in Croatia. Altogether, Bosnia-Herzegovina benefited, on behalf of the diverse international actors, of an attention much more supported in this respect than Croatia. Therefore, Bosnia saw itself granted considerably more financial, logistic and diplomatic resources to propel the return of ethnic minorities considerably than Croatia. This observation highlights the inconsistency of the international rhetoric which defends principles associated with the defense of human rights, pluralism and multiethnicity but which the concrete application collides with the domestics imperative of the involved countries and with the other requirements related to the post-conflict reconstruction obligations.

Keyphrases: Intervention internationale, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Refugee return, Displacement, Peacebuilding, International intervention