NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
L'art dans tous ses territoires au jardin des Premières-Nations : regards sur l’immatériel dans les œuvres du Concours d’œuvre murale éphémère

From 2003 to 2017, the First Nations Garden of the Montréal Botanical Garden has exhibited each year the mural artwork of an Indigenous artist as part of the Ephemeral mural contest launched by Sylvie Paré. This memoir brings together all of this exhibition in order to highlight the general discourse and the relations that the artworks have with each other, with the Garden and with the physical and imaginary territories. Through a formal and symbolic analysis of this exposition, that integrates the ontologies, epistemology and methodologies of the First Nations, I wish to reflect on the links that unite the notions of gaze, territory, interconnection and memory. The first chapter focuses on the distance generated by the sight seen as an intermediary “objective” of human experience, and the separation (or schism) that it created between the conceptions of nature and culture. I will then look at how the First Nations Garden questions this rupture. The second chapter of this dissertation focuses more specifically on the oblique perspectives adopted by the mural artworks in that they focus on memories and cultural marks left by the indigenous nations on the territories for more than 10,000 years. Moreover, if the murals generally express an environmental concern, they do so through the eyes of different “entities” circulating fluidly and circularly in space, time and intersubjectivity. They explore the physical and imaginary traces of relationships with the territory and highlight the existence of a relationship of reciprocity with the universe in which the territory plays a dynamic role.

Keyphrases: Art autochtone, Indigenous Art, First Nations, First Nations Garden, Montreal Botanical Garden, Mural artwork, Territory, Sight
La surveillance financière à l’ère du Big Data : l’implantation d’outils algorithmiques dans le cadre de la lutte au blanchiment d’argent et au financement du terrorisme

Today, banks are the first line of defence in the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism. Banks have to monitor thousands or even millions of financing transactions every day, which makes it difficult for them to detect potentially suspicious transactions. Therefore, banks utilize algorithms, which is a common practice in the security realm more especially in surveillance, as automatized detection means. This research focuses on an algorithm device implantation in a Canadian bank used in the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight individuals working for that bank. The results of the research put forward the changes in surveillance after the device implantation.

Keyphrases: Institutions financières, Implantation
Studies of molecular pathways associated with blood neutrophil corticosteroid insensitivity in equine asthma

Equine asthma is characterized by bronchial hyperactivity, neutrophilic inflammation, and structural alterations of the airways. Asthmatic patients with neutrophilic inflammation, are insensitive to corticosteroids. The hypothesis of this study is that hypoxia and/or oxidative stress in the microenvironment of the asthmatic lungs may contribute to this insensitivity of neutrophils to corticosteroids. Horses are unique animal models naturally affected by neutrophilic asthma and share several pathophysiological features with humans. Viability, apoptosis, IL-1, TNF- and IL-8 gene expression were measured in neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood of severe asthmatic horses (N = 8) and healthy horses (N = 8) in culture conditions stimulating hypoxia and oxidative stress, in the presence or absence of corticosteroids (Dexamethasone (Dex)). IL-1 and TNF- but not IL-8 were downregulated in the presence of Dex under pyocyanin-induced oxidative stress conditions. Also, in IL-17 and LPS stimulated equine neutrophils, pro-inflammatory gene expression did not decrease after Dex administration. In hypoxemic conditions induced by CoCl2, gene expression of TNF- was significantly reduced by Dex, this was also true in conditions without hypoxia. In conclusion, oxidative stress, but not hypoxia, leads to insensitivity to corticosteroids, which presents a selective gene regulatory pathway (that of IL-8). Both groups of horses demonstrated a similar response indicating a reaction to dexamethasone and not related to asthmatic inflammation.

Keyphrases: Asthma, Corticosteroid, Equine, Hypoxia, Neutrophil, Oxidative stress
Séroprévalence à Coxiella burnetii et facteurs de risque associés dans la population humaine du sud-ouest du Québec

Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic bacterium for which the main source of transmission to humans are ruminants, especially small ruminants. A human infection with this pathogen can, in its persistent phase, and to a lesser extent in its acute phase, cause severe health problems. Very little information is available about the risk of infection with this pathogen in the human population of Quebec. A study was therefore undertaken in five administrative regions of southwestern Quebec (Lanaudière, Laurentides, Laval, Montérégie and Montréal) to provide information on the risk of infection with C. burnetii in the general adult population of these regions and to investigate potential risk factors of seropositivity to this bacterium. Observed seroprevalences of 1.2% (95% CI : 0.0-6.5), 2.6% (95% CI : 0.0-5.6), and 5.9% (95% CI : 3.0-8.9) were estimated in the regions of Montréal, Lanaudière and Montérégie respectively. One seropositive individual (1/9) was detected from the region of Laval, while no seropositive individuals (0/14) were detected from the Laurentides region. A higher percentage of seropositive results was identified among veterinarians compared to participants whose work does not involve contact with animals (OR = 6.21; 95% CI : 1.61-23.99; P <.01), as well as participants who had worked or lived on a small ruminant farm during their lifetime in comparison to participants who never did (OR = 5.35; 95% CI : 1.62-17.68; P <.01). The greatest number of cases was observed in the region of Montérégie where the density of ruminant farms is the highest. Also, people with a significant occupational contact with domestic animals showed a higher seropositivity to C. burnetii.

Keyphrases: Coxiella burnetii, Q fever, seroprevalence, human, risk factor, bovine, caprine, ovine, environmental characteristic
Assessment of chronic pain in companion animals : development and concurrent validation of neurophysiological methods

Pain is a complex experience involving sensory and perceptual components. It causes stress, suffering and decreased quality of life. Chronic painful conditions such as osteoarthritis (OA) and bone cancer affect cats and dogs. Pain in these conditions results from numerous mechanisms affecting the peripheral and central nervous systems which generate and maintain pathological pain in affected individuals. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) are means to quantify the sensory component of pain. In combination with observed analgesic efficacy, they can be used to study mechanisms of pain. Initial work on cats and dogs with OA has helped to develop and validate some QST methods; however, questions remained unanswered in cats with OA, and this methodology was not yet explored in dogs with bone cancer. Our main hypotheses were: 1) osteoarthritic cats are affected by neurophysiological changes characteristic of central sensitization which can be detected by QST and the concomitant administration of centrally-acting analgesics; and 2) bone cancer in dogs causes peripheral and central sensitization with deficient descending modulating mechanisms. Our main objectives were: 1) to provide evidence of mechanism-based therapy in cats with OA using QST; and 2) to test the ability of a QST protocol to provide evidence of peripheral and central sensitization in dogs with bone cancer including the development and validation of a conditioned pain modulation test, and to test the efficacy of a step-wise palliative analgesic protocol in these patients. Using static and dynamic QST in osteoarthritic cats, we demonstrated that centrally-acting analgesics such as tramadol can reverse central sensitization as measured by facilitated temporal summation of pain, while the same is not observed when a peripherally-acting analgesic such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, meloxicam, is administered. These findings highlight the importance of mechanism-based approach for the treatment of chronic pain. The QST protocol developed for use in dogs revealed that dogs with bone cancer are affected by primary and secondary hyperalgesia and brush allodynia when compared 5 with healthy dogs. A conditioned pain modulation test which can be easily applied into clinical practice was developed and demonstrated ability to differentiate between healthy and cancerous dogs. Using this methodology, the latter population was found to be affected by deficient descending modulating systems. These studies provided evidence of the similarities in sensory profile between people and companion animals affected by OA- and bone cancer-related pain. The use of QST is valuable in veterinary pain research and should be accompanied by the highest standards of animal care and study design, conduct and reporting.

Keyphrases: Cats, Bone cancer, Central sensitization, Chronic pain, Dogs, Quality of life, Quantitative sensory testing, Osteoarthritis, Peripheral sensitization
The Fed as a moral enterprise - a framework for decision-making

Central bankers are currently rethinking the frameworks of monetary policy in light of the extreme disruptions and unprecedented policies of the Global Financial Crisis. The paper examines whether a rule based approach that incorporates moral considerations beyond economic utilitarianism could provide a more fair, effective and stable monetary system. It demonstrates that criticisms of Fed policies raise moral questions that reflect a widely held normative framework in the monetary arena. The paper abstracts from the criticisms and elaborates a pluralistic framework based in the work of moral philosopher W.D. Ross consisting of the basic duties of non-harm, beneficence, fidelity, justice, and reparation. It outlines a decision system that relies on moral intuition and strict attention to the facts to balance competing considerations and derive the duty to be followed in the particular circumstance.

Keyphrases: Philosophy, Ethics, Economics, Monetary policy, Fed, W.D. Ross
Grey relational grades and neural networks : empirical evidence on vice funds

This research examines time-series predictability of Vice Funds Indices through the Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), and also applies three types of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) model, namely, Back- propagation Perception Network (BPN), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), and Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN) to capture nonlinear tendencies of Vice Funds indices. The study finds that among the three ANN models, BPN has the best predicting power. When the data is separated into 10%, 33% and 50% testing data sets to test the proficiency of the available forecasting information in the time- series of the predictors, the predictive power of the BPN model again dominated the findings 60% of the time. Traders, investors and fund manager can rely on BPN predicting power with large or even small data set. Nevertheless, the result also suggests the predicting power of both RNN and RBFNN model with smaller data sets. Overall, it is suggested that traders and fund managers have stronger chance of achieving more accurate forecasting using the BPN model in Vice Funds indices. Findings of this research have policy implications in the creation of forecasting and investing strategies by examining models that minimize errors in predicting Vice Funds indices.

Keyphrases: Philosophy, Ethics, Economics, Vice funds indices, Grey relational analysis, Artificial neural network
Les technologies d’édition numérique sont-elles des documents comme les autres ?

Digital publishing technologies are the mean of production of documents such as articles or books, these technologies are therefore original examples of born-digital object. Dynamic, modular, protean. Several recent examples of these technologies tend to question their status. Our starting point is the comparison between documents and digital publishing technologies. However, we will separate them by emphasizing the reflective dimension of these technologies. This paper presents three examples : Distill, a journal whose articles are managed as computer programs ; Quire, a publishing framework that generates multiform books ; Stylo, a semantic text editor that allows writing in a scholarly publishing context. Our methodology consists in the analysis of these three publication systems, emblematic of the digital transformations at work, based on three criteria (structure, registration and reflection). The main interest of these three initiatives is to bring together many of the specificities of born-digital objects that now surround us, whereas traditional editing technologies rely mainly on print workflow.

Keyphrases: Publication, Document, Publishing, Digital publishing technologies
Méta-analyse sur les effets cognitifs à long terme des commotions cérébrales chez des athlètes adultes

Background: Research suggests that athletes with a history of concussion (HOC) may present long-term cognitive impairments in processing speed, attention, executive functions (EFs), and episodic memory. However, there is still a lack of consensus regarding the presence of these persisting impairments. Methods: This study undertook a literature search of seven databases for studies investigating the long-term impact of concussions in college-aged (18–35 years) athletes with a HOC, compared to a control group without a HOC, using neuropsychological measures. The assessment had to be completed at least two months after the last sport-related concussion. Results: We conducted a meta-analysis according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). The results support the observation that relative to the control group without HOC, those with HOC are associated with statistically significant, small to medium effect-sized impairment in visual learning memory (Hedge’s g = - 0.44, p = 0.02). Moreover, although not significant, small effect sizes were also found in focal selective attention and EFs strategy generation and regulation. Neuropsychological measures did not detect differences between the groups on the other cognitive domains studied. Conclusion: It is important to bear in mind that most individuals who sustain sports concussion experience a relatively quick recovery from their injury. Nevertheless, we cannot reject the possibility of long-term cognitive impairment for a minority of athletes with HOC. Thus, this meta-analysis highlights some methodological limitations of the concussion  iv literature, and as such, directs future research to better understand potential long-term cognitive impairments.

Keyphrases: Sport-related concussion, Cognitive impairments, Long-term, Athletes, Clinical neuropsychology, Meta-analysis
Prédiction du devenir fonctionnel à long terme des patients ayant subi un traumatisme craniocérébral mesuré à l’aide de l’Inventaire d’adaptabilité Mayo-Portland-4 (MPAI-4)

Introduction. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is likely to cause several persistent symptoms that interfere with long-term patient functioning. The objective of the study was to explore the functional outcome of TBI patients one year after the accident using the Mayo- Portland Adaptability Inventory-4 (MPAI-4) and to identify the best variables for predicting long-term outcome. Methods. A total of 74 TBI patients were included in this study. Sociodemographic and accident-related variables were collected in acute care. Cognition was assessed by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) during the first two weeks after TBI while acute functional status was assessed using the Disability Rating Scale (DRS) upon acute care discharge. The MPAI-4 was administered by telephone one year after the accident. Results. The score on the MPAI-4 Adaptation scale is higher (more functional limitations) and the Participation scale score was lower (less functional limitations) than the other subscales and the total score. In addition, the level of education, severity of TBI, acute functional outcome and presence of frontal injury were associated with functional outcome one year after the accident. Conclusion. MPAI-4 is a useful tool to measure long-term functional outcome following TBI. Future studies are needed to refine the prediction model.

Keyphrases: MPAI-4, Traumatic brain injury, Functional outcome, Recovery, Neuropsychology.
Étude sur la flexibilité mentale et l’inhibition et leurs relations avec l’autonomie fonctionnelle suite à un traumatisme craniocérébral en âge avancé

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate executive functions and functional outcomes in elderly patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to explore the effects of demographic and TBI-related variables on these factors. Methods. The sampled population included 53 older adults (≥ 55 years old) divided into two groups: a TBI group (n = 29) and a control group (n = 24). The Trail Making Test (TMT), the Stroop, the Go – No Go and Conflicting instructions subscales from the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) along with the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI-4) were administrated to both groups. Information about age, education, Glasgow coma score (GCS), length of time post-TBI and lesion location was collected. Results. Differences between healthy participants and individuals with TBI were found in TMT-A, TMT-B, MPAI-4 total score and all subscales scores. Age was associated with TMT -A and TMT-B while education was associated with TMT-A and the ratio score (TMT B/TMT-A). Stroop was associated with length of time post-TBI and occipital lesions. Furthermore, GCS scores were associated with Go – No Go scores. Finally, deficits in TMT-B and frontal lobe lesions were associated with MPAI-4 Abilities Subscale scores. Conclusion. Elderly patients with TBI are slower than control group and show a lower outcome although no executive function deficit was observed. Demographic factors and executive functioning are not associated with functional outcome while age, education, length of time post-TBI influence performances in executive tasks.

Keyphrases: Trail Making Test, Stroop, Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI-4), Traumatic brain injury, Executive functions, Aging, Functional outcome, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB)
Portrait des grossesses ectopiques au Québec et leurs retombées sur la santé reproductive

Introduction: The number of ectopic pregnancies has increased in the Occident. In order to stop the increase, studies have focused on risk factors for ectopic pregnancy. However, little is known about the future reproductive and maternal health of women with ectopic pregnancy.  Objectives: The objective of this study is to characterize ectopic pregnancies in Quebec from 1989 to 2014. It aims to assess the association between ectopic pregnancy and adverse outcomes in future pregnancies. In addition, this study aims to identify risk factors for ectopic pregnancy.  Methods: This study is a longitudinal cohort study that was carried out in Quebec, Canada, from 1989 to 2014. We followed women who were hospitalised for an ectopic pregnancy or a delivery in Quebec for a maximum period of 25 years. Log-binomial regressions were performed to calculate relative risks of adverse outcomes in next pregnancy among women with ectopic versus no ectopic pregnancy. Finally, we calculated the relative risk of an ectopic pregnancy for women with a prior adverse pregnancy outcome vs. no prior adverse outcome.  Discussion: Women with an ectopic pregnancy are older, had at least three previous pregnancies, do not have any comorbidities, and were less likely to be hospitalised after 2010. At next successful pregnancy, women with a previous ectopic pregnancy have a higher risk of preterm birth, low and very low birth weight, caesarean, placental abruption, severe maternal morbidity, antepartum hemorrhage, and multiple birth. Finally, preterm birth, low and very low birth weight, caesarean, placental abruption, severe maternal morbidities, antepartum hemorrhage and multiple birth are risk factors for ectopic pregnancy.  Conclusion: Women with ectopic pregnancy may benefit from counselling to improve future pregnancy outcomes.

Keyphrases: Ectopic pregnancy, Maternal health, Reproductive health, Perinatality
Puntito : deux œuvres audiovisuelles portées par l’expérience de l’individualité

This text presents the creative process of two projects inspired by the theme of individuality. Through the music video Puntito_visual and the performance Puntito_machine, this thesis will explain the different steps of the creation of these visual music works. They explore the relation between sound and image while including social related ideas into their discourse. I will discuss the mechanisms used to make this union conceptually possible and accurate but also the performance implications of a new audio-digital interface.

Keyphrases: performance, interface, social, Visual music, Music video, Individuality
Compositions musicales à partir d'oeuvres visuelles basées sur l’émotion et le mouvement

This master’s thesis introduce the work on the transition into music of extra-musical elements. It brings together music compositions based on visual arts such as sculpture or cinema and on emotional events. Also, the works express the notion of mouvement through those different arts. This text present : a construction of orchestral texture with specific instruments, with a full orchestra or not; the use of themes and patterns repeated in cyclical way; their meanings in movies and musical adaptations of visual works.

Keyphrases: Composition, Sculpture, Adaptation musicale, Mouvement, Cycle, Chamber orchestra, Musical adaptation, Movie soundtrack, Movement
Exploration de la forme miniature et les influences de la musique iranienne à travers mes onze compositions

This dissertation is an analytical approach to my eleven original works created during two years of my master’s degree. It includes Nostalgia for fifteen musicians, four Miniatures for solo piano, three Epilogues for brass ensemble, two Bagatelles for piano, violin, and cello, Novelette for piano, clarinet, violin, cello, Miniature for solo clarinet, and Novelette for symphonic orchestra. My works have been composed to show my compositional competences on short forms and to integrate in my pieces elements of traditional Iranian music. I tried to establish a relationship between the traditional elements such as Iranian modes, instrumental techniques of Iranian music and the forms of western classical music. This project gave me a new way to composer music and gave me a particular musical perspective. These works have been written for different instruments and ensembles. These works were composed for various instrumental ensembles. After an introduction and a first chapter devoted to the general explanation of the structure of traditional Iranian music, I will present an analysis of the different short forms.

Keyphrases: Composition, Analyze, Short structure, Music, Iranian traditional