NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of oxytocin pharmacokinetic : pharmacodynamic profile and establishment of its cardiomyogenic potential in swine

Cell therapy has been suggested as a promising treatment for myocardial regeneration through cardiomyocyte replacement or by preventing apoptosis of surviving myocardium and/or improving neovascularisation. Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) express cardiac markers in vitro upon stimulation with different inducers. The BMSCs have been used as cell therapy after myocardial infarction (MI) in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Recent reports have uncovered the potential beneficial effects of oxytocin (OT) after MI. Particularly, OT is an inducer of cardiomyogenic differentiation of embryonic stem cells and this differentiation is mediated by the nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylyl cyclase pathway. However, some studies have shown that OT exhibits nonlinear pharmacokinetics and that this could explain the previously described controversial hemodynamic alterations.   Therefore the objectives of the present work were to:   1) Characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of different dosing regimens of OT in swine, by using a more suitable pharmacokinetic / pharmacodynamic modelization that could explain the time-course of cardiovascular and renal effects observed following OT administration.   2) To isolate, differentiate and find the optimum time of porcine BMSC (pBMSC) differentiation based on the expression of cardiac related transcription factors and structural proteins expressed at different passages.   3) To induce and quantify the OT-mediated cardiomyogenic differentiation of pBMSCs.   4) To document the role of the NO pathway in the OT-mediated cardiomyogenic differentiation of pBMSCs.   We found that OT pharmacokinetics are better explained by target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) kinetics, because the time-course of plasma OT concentration depends on the binding capacity to its receptor, as well as OT elimination (metabolism).  Also, we found that OT-mediated cardiomyogenic differentiation of pBMSCs should be induced during the first passages, because passaging affects the phenotypic profile of pBMSCs, as well as the differentiation potential of pBMSCs.   We observed that OT induces cardiomyogenic differentiation of pBMSCs, because OT-induced cells expressed cardiac markers, and the expression of cardiac specific proteins was more abundant in OT-treated cells vs. 5-azacytidine-treated cells, which has been used widely as a cardiomyogenic differentiation inducer of adult stem cells. Moreover, OT improved proliferation of pBMSCs. Finally, we observed that the inhibition of the NO pathway significantly affects the expression of cardiac specific proteins.  To conclude, these studies demonstrate some interesting potential in cardiomyogenic differentiation of adult stem cells for OT, but its precise role in cell therapy will need prudence and further investigations.

Keyphrases: Porc, Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic, Oxytocin, Adult stem cells, Cardiomyogenic differentiation, Nitric oxide, Swine, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics
L'interdiction du mensonge chez Kant

This essay is dedicated to the analysis of Kant’s thought on the notion of lying. As the Métaphysique des moeurs is divided in two parts, the first dealing with the second on morality, the essay treats the lie through these two angles. Based on Kant’s texts discussing the lie as a moral fault, i.e. the Leçons d’éthique, the Fondation de la Métaphysique des Moeurs and the Doctrine de la Vertu, one can note that Kant morally condemns lying mainly because it constitutes, in itself, the most serious violation of the human’s duty towards himself: sincerity. The individual who is not sincere, that is to say who deliberately says the opposite of what he thinks, not only goes against the inherent purpose of communication but also abandons his personality. In so doing, the human ceases to be a real human, that is to say where his thought and saying coincides, and becomes a semblance of human, namely someone who deliberately says the opposite of what he thinks. Referring to Kant’s treatment of lying from a legal point of view, i.e. D’un prétendu droit de mentir par humanité, one sees the idea that any attempt to tolerate a right to lie would make society impossible. Indeed, a right to lie would forever condemn humanity to a state of nature in that the confidence that is required in the original contract, marking the transition to a rule of law, would loss its meaning. In addition, a right to lie would ruin all contracts that rest, for their efficiency, on confidence. In other words, a right to lie is also contrary to law. The essay ends by showing how Kant’s position still holds meaning in the present world. A major part of this essay focuses on the controversial text of 1796, entitled D’un prétendu droit de mentir par humanité. While having shown of what consists Kant’s position, contrary to that of Constant, we analyzed many commentaries which were devoted to this polemical text, opposing Kant and Benjamin Constant, in order to show that the interpretation of the position of Kant on lying varies according to whether his moral philosophy or his philosophy of the right is exclusively mobilized.

Keyphrases: Éthique, Droit, Kant, Constant, Philosophy, Ethics, Law, Lie, Practical philosophy, Kant, Constant
Comparison of a leukocyte esterase test with endometrial cytology for the diagnosis of subclinical endometritis and correlation with first service pregnancy rate in postpartum Holstein cows

The point toward this study was to determine the diagnostic test characteristics of the leukocyte esterase activity test for subclinical endometritis in postpartum Holstein dairy cows. The objectives were 1) to compare uterine leukocyte esterase activity and the endometrial cytology (EC),  2) to compare leukocyte esterase activity of the cervix (CxLE) and the uterus (UtLE), 3) Compare two methods of assessing the slides (i.e. an exhaustive method and a rapid method). Two hundred eighty five post partum Holstein cows from 5 commercial dairy herds had a post partum evaluation between 21 and 47 days in milk (DIM). Sixty seven cows where diagnosed with clinical endometritis by transrectal and vaginoscopy examinations and were excluded from the study. Two hundred eighteen cows were enrolled for endometrial cytology and esterase activity test. The ovarian status was determined by transrectal examination. Computerized databank, dairy DSA (Dossier de Santé Animale) indexing all the cows was used to retrieve individual information for analysis. The percentage of neutrophils was significantly correlated with the LE from the uterus and cervix. The LE from cervix and uterus decreased significantly with DIM, however, they were not statistically associated with pregnancy risk at 90 DIM (n=186). Between 32-47 DIM, the percentage of neutrophils and risk of pregnancy at 90 DIM were associated (n=94, P=0.04). For the same period, survival analysis identified cows with > 2.6 % neutrophils on EC as subclinical endometritis cows with a prevalence of 56%. The two methods for assessing the slides were correlated by 81%. Subclinical endometritis diagnosed by endometrial cytology  between 32 and 47 DIM was associated with reduced risk of pregnancy at first service.

Keyphrases: Subclinical endometritis, Endometrial cytology, Leukocyte esterase
La régulation génique chez Solanum chacoense : de la pollinisation jusqu’à  l’embryogenèse

In higher plants, embryogenesis is a key phase of development during which the embryo establishes the main structures that will form the future plant, synthesizes, and accumulates the reserves that will define the yield and nutritional quality of the seeds. Thus, understanding the molecular and physiological events leading to the formation of the seed is of major agronomic interest. However, analysis of early stages of development is often difficult because the embryo is small and integrated within the maternal tissue. Solanum chacoense, whose relatively large flowers facilitate the isolation of ovules, was used to study the biology of reproduction, in particular the formation of female gametes, pollination, fertilization and embryo development. To analyze the transcriptional program induced during these stages of sexual reproduction, we produced amplicon-derived microarrays with 7741 ESTs isolated from ovules bearing embryos from different developmental stages. These chips were first used to compare cDNA of unfertilized ovule with ovule cells of each stage of embryonic development (from zygote to mature embryo). During embryogenesis, three major expression profiles corresponding to early, middle and late stages of embryo development were identified. Further analysis, of time points taken every 2 days from 0 to 22 days after pollination allowed the identification of a subset of stage-specific and transition-specific genes. Functional annotation of differentially expressed genes allowed us to identify the major cell processes implicated at each stage of development and revealed that embryos are engaged in active differentiation. The DNA microarrays were then used to compare different types of pollination (compatible, incompatible, semi-compatible and inter-species) to identify genes responding to various stimuli before the pollen tube reach the ovules (activation at distance). We found that the signal received by the ovary was different and depended on several factors including the pollen source and the distance traveled by the pollen in the style. Another analysis comparing different pollinations with wounding of the style showed that the genetic programs of pollination overlap with those of stress. This was confirmed by treating the flowers with a stress hormone, methyl jasmonate. lastly, we used the microarrays to study transcriptional changes in mutant ScFRK2. The over expression of FRK2 affect the ovule identity. We were able to select several candidate genes that may have a role in ovules identity signaling.   These chips were used to determine the variation in transcription of genes involved at various stages of sexual reproduction in plants and has allowed us to better understand these steps at the transcriptional level.

Keyphrases: Pollination, Activation at a distance, MAPK, MAPK, Embryogenesis, Ovule, Ovule, Solanum chacoense, Solanum chacoense
L’intégration socio-scolaire et les stratégies identitaires d’adolescents iraniens à Montréal

This exploratory research aims to study academic and social integration of teenagers of Iranian origin recently arrived in Québec. It attempts to identify conflicts of values between parents and these teenagers and to discover identity strategies of these teenagers vis-a-vis these conflicts. It also tries to identify the strategies used by these teenagers to attain social and academic integration in school. Moreover, we try to understand the perception of the parents of these teenagers towards these issues. In this study, social integration is mainly approached with respect to strategies of acculturation by conducting qualitative interviews with fourteen adolescents ages 13-18 and their parents (nine). The analysis of gathered data shows that these young people adapt easily to their new environment while preserving their attachment to their culture of origin. Their life choices are influenced essentially by their family environment. The influence of their friends, generally from diverse origins, mainly affects their leisure and use of free time activities. They believe in the Iranian traditional values while trying to be independent and free with a modern lifestyle, which can lead to potential conflicts with their parents. The preferred identity strategies of these teenagers are primarily those of complex coherence or coherence by moderation of the conflicts of codes. These young people have a positive opinion about their studies and do not seem to feel any conflict in their academic environment.  In short, we can state that Iranian youth, recently arrived in Quebec, adapts relatively easily to their new living environment while conserving their attachment to their culture of origin. This enables us to conclude that their process of integration has little similarities with the alienation of Moslem youth often mentioned and described in the international and national literature.  Keywords: Social and academic integrations, value conflict, identity strategies, adolescents, Iranian immigrants.  

Keyphrases: Adolescents, Social and academic integrations, Value conflict, Identity strategies, Adolescents, Iranian immigrants
L’entrée dans la vie parentale des jeunes couples de «classe moyenne» d’aujourd’hui :
un parcours négocié à partir des solidarités privées et publiques disponibles

This Master Thesis seeks to address the various ways in which young couples today are experimenting with their approach to parenthood and what they are doing to maintain and strengthen family life at the domestic, professional and social level. We first introduced the topics related to this issue, such as family solidarity, family policy, family changes as they relate in today's labour market where young people occupy a particular position. Interviews with "middle class" young mothers from Montreal, aged 25 to 35, enabled us to highlight the structuring terms that are in place, and that contribute to well-being of these young new parents. These can range between solidarities and practical arrangements. Following this qualitative analysis, we found that these couple’s practices are in fact structured to maximize any support potential available in their surroundings. From first step into parenthood, , solidarities are modulated according to needs and offers. However, it is apparent that parents and grandparents support is the main source of relief throughout their journey. Nevertheless, this group’s demand for autonomy changes through time. This inherent ambivalence does not only apply to for familyhood support, but to all kinds of support requirements as well. More generally, our findings lead us to sate that we must rethink family solidarity by placing it within an overall society vision.

Keyphrases: Family, Young adult, Nouveau parent, New parent, Public solidarity, Private solidarity, Family soldarity, Solidairy between generation, Family policy
Étude, par principes premiers, des effets de la corrélation entre électrons sur les
propriétés électroniques et magnétiques de polymères pontés et de
supraconducteurs à haute température critique

Description of complex systems by Density functional theory is treated in this thesis. First, the Density functional theory and a few functionals used to simulate cristals are presented. Specifically, the LDA and GGA functionnals are described and their limits are exposed. Furthermore, the Hubbard model as well as the LDA+U functionnal are addressed in this chapter. These methods enable the study of highly correlated materials. Then, results obtained on polymers are summarized in two articles. The first one treats the band gap variation of ladder-type polymers compared to non ladder type ones. The second article considers small band gap polymers. In this case, it will be shown that an hybrid functional, which contains exact exchange, is required to describe the electronic properties of the polymers under study. Finally, the last chapter address the study of cuprates superconductors. The LDA+U can account for the localization of electrons in copper orbitals. Consequently, a study of the impact of this functionnal on electronic properties of cuprates is conducted. The chapter is ended by an article treating magnetic orders in doped La2CuO4. Supplementary materials of the second article and a description of the theory of superconductivity of Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer are put in annex.

Keyphrases: Electronic correlation, LDA+U, LDA+U, Cuprates, Cuprates, Polymers, Magnetic orders
Louise Bourgeois dans le réseau de ses interprétations

This master's thesis is a study of the French born American artist Louise Bourgeois' critical review. More precisely, it considers the artist’s progress from her beginnings as an American sculptor in the forties to her critical but albeit late public recognition as an important figure in the art of the second half of the twentieth century. From a historiographical perspective, and working with texts dealing with modern sculpture in the U.S.A., feminism in the visual arts and more specifically the career of Bourgeois, we want to examine the situation of this artist amidst the different interpretations of her artworks. This study proposes to look at the subtleties in the construction of a web of interpretations. This web, we will see, is as complex as the production of an artist who created for more than seventy years. The intent of the first chapter is to grasp the position occupied by Bourgeois in some of the major texts constituting the history of modern sculpture. This overview will lead us to the second chapter where we will analyze the manner Bourgeois' work is addressed by feminist literature and practice. In this context, and by the fact that Bourgeois revealed tragic aspects of her childhood at the turn of the eighties, we will seek to understand the changes in the way her work has been perceived. The third chapter focuses on the study of the artist’s national and international recognition in parallel to the monographs having her as their main subject. Those texts, which have been often tied to biographical writing, reassess in a certain way the old concept of the mythical artist.

Keyphrases: Louise Bourgeois, Louise Bourgeois, Art history, Critical review, Feminism, Monograph, Biography
L'expérience de parents expertisés en matière de garde d'enfant et de droits d'accès

This study focuses on the experience of parents who have undergone an expertise in child custody and access rights. It seeks a better understanding of the experience lived by parents who meet with an expert to assess their parenting skills in regard with the best interest of their child. It aims to prompt stakeholders in the social and legal practices of expertise to reflect on their ethics and the improvement of their practices. This is an exploratory qualitative study. The data come from semi-directed interviews conducted with twenty parents, including ten mothers and ten fathers. These parents were evaluated by experts of the Service d'expertise psychosociale du Centre jeunesse de Montréal. Data analysis was carried out using the phenomenological approach and the method of content analysis. Results indicate that by participating in a psychosocial evaluation, parents are faced with a high level of risk in a power relationship with the expert, in which they aspire to be recognized as competent in accordance with social norms governing the best interest of their child. A third of the interviewed parents were satisfied with their experience, which has validated their perception of reality or restored their dignity. Two thirds of interviewed parents were however dissatisfied with their experience, which confirmed their fears about the inappropriate behaviour of the other parent and aggravated a loss of confidence in the justice system. These parents had the impression of having been invalidated and have developed some bitterness against the expert who did not meet their expectations and did not properly grasp, according to them, the family dynamics. This study helps understand the paramount importance for parents to preserve or restore their parental dignity. It also raises questions on the competency and adequacy of the experts. The critical views of the expertise that many parents shared emphasize the necessity for the experts to seriously hreview their attitude and practices in child custody and access rights.

Keyphrases: Expertise psychosociale, Parent, Expert, Psychosocial expertise, Child custody, Access rights, Parent, Expert, Hierarchical relationship, Risk, Norm, The best interest of the child, Parental abilities
Archéologies, suivi de Constructions et déconstructions de la totalité chez Perec, Bon et Ponge

The following master’s thesis, in both theory and creative writing, aims to explore by two different paths the literary possibilities of the construction (or deconstruction) of an object considered as a totality. The creative writing is bent by a strict rule: to allow chosen materials to awaken a narrative universe where their vocabularies, symbolisms and historical meanings will be revealed. Those same materials determine the order in which the texts are listed. The essay is aiming at similar goals, but proceeds by analysis of three modern authors: Georges Perec, François Bon and Francis Ponge. By the vast number of literary genres they experiment on, by their unique styles and by the richness of their corpuses, they prove to be perfect subjects for both isolated analysis and a common synthesis. The two parts work closely together to provide an open literary experiment.

Keyphrases: Georges Perec, François Bon, Francis Ponge, Totality, Exhaustion, Saturation, Essential, Exhaustiveness, Invisibility
Simulation de flammes interactives en temps réel

The synthesis of an open flame in a virtual 3D environment, remains to this day an arduous task, requiring a wise balance between realism and processing cost. In this M. Sc. thesis, we present a set of techniques for its simulation in real time while also modeling the interaction with external forces. Our goal is to minimize the cost while preserving a convincing appearance, thus facilitating integration of the techniques into existing systems without unduly affecting their performance. A velocity field is extracted from a spring-mass simulation which contributes to moving chains of particules that are used in modeling the flame shape through the configuration of a NURBS surface. In light of the importance they have on our perception of combustion, we also take care to duplicate the lighting, shadows and bloom the flame gives rise to.

Keyphrases: Vent, Simulation, Flame, Fire, Candle, Wind, Simulation, Real time, Lighting, Shadows
Caractérisation cytogénétique et clinique des gènes de fusion impliquant MLL dans les leucémies

The MLL (Mixed-Lineage Leukemia) gene, a human homolog of the Drosophila trithorax gene, located at chromosomal band 11q23, is frequently rearranged in several types of leukemia, mostly by chromosomal translocations. In different chromosomal translocations, the N-terminal part of MLL is fused to sequences of the partner gene. Despite the large number of fusion partners that have been reported, several gene fusions remain poorly characterized at the molecular level. Moreover, the prognostic impact of less frequent fusions is not well established. The aim of my project is to characterize different MLL fusions detected in 39 leukemic samples, collected by the Quebec Leukemia Cell Bank (www.bclq.gouv.qc.ca) and to correlate cytogenetics with the clinical and biological features of the corresponding leukemia. Identification of fusion partner genes in our series (30 samples studied), revealed fusion of MLL to one of the most frequent partners in 26 leukemias: MLLT3(AF9), AFF1(AF4), MLLT4(AF6), MLLT1(ENL), ELL; to a moderately common MLL fusion partner in 1 leukemia: MLLT6(AF17); and to a rare partner in 3 leukemias: GAS7 and AF15/CASC5 (2 cases). We have characterized the breakpoints of two fusions, MLL-ELL in a myeloproliferative syndrome (a rare association) and MLL-GAS7 (a rare MLL fusion) associated with acute myeloid leukemia.  Fusion transcripts analysis by RT-PCR and sequencing revealed respectively, a fusion of MLL exon 9 to ELL exon 2 and of MLL exon 7 or exon 8 (two transcripts) to GAS7 exon 2. This study is essential to perform functional studies and translational research projects using these well characterized leukemic specimens with different MLL rearrangements.

Keyphrases: MLL, translocation, leukemia, cytogenetic, fusion partner