NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Apprentissage et changement : l’Advocacy Coalition Framework et l’évolution de la politique militaire africaine de la France
1994-2008

France’s military policy in Africa is changing. It is henceforth difficult to contest the factual truth of this statement. This change is firstly observed in discourse where there is increasing reference to old, out-dated practices as well as the recognition that what was politically possible and acceptable twenty years ago is no longer today. This process of change is found secondly in the modification of action tools as well as the way and at which level these tools are implemented. Using these reflections as a starting point, the current study proposes to examine the factors at the root of this evolution. In referring to hypotheses put forth in the past, this study will shed new light on the struggles and dynamics at the base of these predicted or observed changes. Unlike existing literature which has, until now, favoured material and utilitarian approaches to explain the transformations already undertaken and promised in African military politics, this study will suggest a perspective inspired by cognitive approaches and centered on policy learning. Thus, rather than seeing these reforms as the exclusive result of structural or systematic changes which occurred in the economic, social or international environment of the States, our analysis will emphasize that this transformation was mainly an adaptation made following lessons learned over the course of previous experiences. This analysis is founded on the Advocacy Coalition Framework. Developed by Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith, the Advocacy Coalition Framework focuses on the interaction of advocacy coalitions, each composed of actors from various governmental and private organizations who both share a set of normative and causal beliefs and engage in a non-trivial degree of co-ordinated activity over time in order to transform the elements of their beliefs system into public policy.

Keyphrases: Africa, Africa, France, France, Rwanda, Rwanda, Military Policy, Policy Learning
Évaluation d'un nouveau complément à l'intervention en physiothérapie pour le torticolis postural chez les nourrissons

Postural Torticollis is a common condition in pediatric practices especially since parents have adopted “Back to Sleep” campaign’s guidelines. Parents are often instructed to carry out a home program of exercises; however there are few educational tools with comprehensive information about postural torticollis exercises. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the addition of the new Torticollis Intervention Booklet (TIB) on torticollis resolution (attainment of full passive neck range of motion), parental stress level, parental satisfaction and adherence to treatment received. Fifty-eight infants referred to physiotherapy for a postural torticollis were recruited and randomized during their initial visit to two groups: Physiotherapy + TIB (n=29) or Physiotherapy + Standard Care (n=29). Blinded evaluators assessed the patients at 1 and 3 months after their initial visit, thirty minutes before their physiotherapy consultation. Passive neck rotation range of motion (ROM) was measured by an arthrodial goniometer. Parental stress level was evaluated using the Parenting Stress Index- Short Form (PSI-SF). Parents received the PSI-SF at the end of the baseline visit and were requested to complete it at home and return it at their subsequent physical therapy appointment or at the second scheduled study assessment time. Parental satisfaction was evaluated using the Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC-56) at 3-months. Adherence to treatment was evaluated as the length of time per day parents reported having their children in the prone awake position in the week before follow-up visits. Analysis consisted of descriptive analyses for each group;  t-tests to compare  passive neck rotation ROM change scores between the baseline and 1-month visits and baseline and 3-month visits; and to compare subscale scores for PSI-SF (parental stress) and MPOC-56 (satisfaction with care) between the two groups. The Chi-square test was performed to compare adherence between the two groups at 1 and 3-months. The results showed a tendency to greater passive neck rotation (ROM) change at 1-month in the TIB group (95% Confidence Interval = 95%CI = 1.97- 8.77; p=0.17) but not at 3-months. Parents in the the TIB group showed lower global stress scores after receiving the intervention tool (95%CI= 49.20- 57.94; p = 0.01) and reported greater satisfaction than controls in the “coordinated and comprehensive care” (95%CI= 6.7-6.8; p=0.03) and « enabling and partnership » subscales (95%CI= 6.3-6.9; p<0.001). Finally, adherence was higher in the TIB group than controls especially at 3-months (p=0.01).  The new Torticollis Intervention Booklet accompanied by physical therapy treatment has a tendency to lead to an earlier restitution of passive neck rotation ROM, may help decrease stress levels, increase satisfaction with treatment, and improve adherence.

Keyphrases: Satisfaction parental, Postural torticollis, Physiotherapy, Educational tools, Parental stress level, Parent satisfaction, Parent adherence
Stabilité de l’acide ribonucléique pour la datation des fluides corporels en biologie judiciaire

Recent studies in forensic science have shown a possible correlation between the degradation rate of some RNA transcripts and the age of bloodstains. The time of deposition of a stain can be of major importance to determine the relevance of a sample in a forensic investigation.   In this thesis, we describe the degradation profiles of the 18S ribosomal RNA and the β-actin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and cyclophilin A mRNAs, measured by RT-qPCR and obtained from dried blood, semen and saliva stains stored at room temperature or frozen at -80°C up to 6 months.   Our results showed low inter-individual variation for blood and semen stains, but a high variation was observed between donors for saliva. Moreover, degradation profile of each transcripts was similar, but differed between fluids. Freezing samples prevented RNA degradation over time. Finally, RNA quantity was in relation with the time of storage and could be used to estimate the time since deposition of a stain when the effects of various storage conditions on RNA degradation profiles will be better documented.

Keyphrases: Datation, RT-qPCR, ARNr 18S, ACTB, PPIA, GAPDH, Ribonucleic acid, Body fluids, Stability, Degradation, Age determination, Forensic biology, RT-qPCR, 18S rRNA, ACTB, GAPDH, PPIA
La consommation d’alcool et de drogue chez les étudiants suite à la fusillade de Dawson en 2006 : une analyse différenciée selon le sexe

Objectives: To determine the incidence of a drug or alcohol addiction among the students who witnessed the Dawson shooting, in the 18 months that followed the event. Identify predictors of development of an addiction to a psychoactive substance, taking into account the severity of the exposure to the event. Consider whether alcohol consumption, 18 months after the event, is connected to the different categories of symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Method: The population under study includes the students at Dawson College at the time of the event. Analyses were conducted with data from 854 students enrolled at the College when the shooting took place. Results: In the 18 months following the shooting, 5 % of women and 7 % of men developed an addiction to a substance for the first time in their lives. For men, younger age (< 20 years old), the prevalence of suicidal thoughts throughout their lives, as well as having seen the perpetrator at the time of the shooting, were key predictors. No predictors were significant for women. Men and women also differed with regards to post-traumatic stress symptoms that predict alcohol consumption, 18 months after the shooting. Conclusion: The main outcome of this study stresses the importance of considering the gender of individuals, when evaluating their consumption of psychotropic drugs or alcohol after a trauma.

Keyphrases: Mass trauma, School shooting, Alcohol use, Drug use, Posttraumatic stress disorder, Sex differences
Efficacité d’un traitement intra-­mammaire prolongé à base de ceftiofur (Spectramast®) pour les mammites cliniques chez les vaches laitières

Little research has focused on extended therapy in lactating cows with clinical mastitis and none were with ceftiofur. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of an intramammary extended ceftiofur treatment for mild to moderate clinical mastitis, and to determine whether it would increase cure rates when considering any bacteria or more particularly Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and streptococci. Holstein dairy cows (n = 241) from 22 herds located in Quebec and Ontario, Canada, were included. The study was designed as a randomized clinical trial. For each case of mild to moderate clinical mastitis diagnosed, 125 mg of ceftiofur hydrochloride (Spectramast® LC) was administered intramammary once a day for 2 or 8 consecutive days. Clinical cure rate 21 days after the last treatment was identical in each group (89%; n = 98/110; p = 0.95). Bacteriological cure rates 21 days after the last treatment for the 2- and 8-day regimens were 32% (n = 15/47) and 61% (n = 25/41), respectively, for all bacteria (p < 0.01); 64% (n = 9/14) and 82% (n = 9/11), respectively, for streptococci (p = 0.50); and 0% (n = 0/20) and 47% (n = 9/19), respectively, for S. aureus (p < 0.01). There were no statistical differences between experimental groups for new intramammary infections. Extended therapy appears to be a reasonable choice for the treatment of mild to moderate clinical mastitis, particularly in cases where S. aureus is the pathogen involved.

Keyphrases: ceftiofur, extended therapy, ceftiofur, clinical mastitis, bovine
L’incidence de l’utilisation de l’ordinateur à des fins personnelles sur la motivation et l’engagement scolaire

This thesis’ subject was to study the relationship between the personal uses of computers and motivational attitudes in science. Even though computer uses in educational context have been extensively studied in recent years, the bulk of the research was focused on describing the impact of computer activities and utilizations at school on achievement and motivation in different subject matter. However, little is known about the impact of personal uses of computer on school experience. Moreover, despite an increase of households with computers, not every child has the same opportunity to use them. These children do not develop their computer literacy outside school, and this phenomenon could have an effect on academic related tasks. Some studies have focused on the effect of computers (their presence and use) on academic performance. Although they are unanimous about the positive impact of computers, researchers remain cautious in their conclusions (Beltran et al., 2008; OCDE, 2006). They stress that a direct cause to effect relation is not easy to establish. Moreover, those studies mainly examined school achievement. We wanted to address the issue differently: to determine the relation between personal computer uses and motivation at school. For this purpose, motivation in sciences was chosen. This subject matter often requires skills associated with ICT and computers. To do so, 331 students from public high schools in the Montreal area, in the regular sciences classes in 7th and 8th grade were selected. They completed a questionnaire composed of 7 motivational scales and several ICT usages questions. To meet our objectives, we established ICT profiles, based on personal uses of computer. With those profiles, we examined differences within motivational characteristics (competence beliefs, anxiety, interest and achievement goals) and commitment for the sciences courses. Our results show that time spent on personal computer use does not necessarily have a negative impact on school. We found that students who frequently use computers in their spare time, with a variety of usage, have more positive motivational characteristics. However, by delving deeper in our results, we found that the type of uses could be linked to positive or negative inducing effects on the motivation to learn. Indeed, students who use computers mostly for communication and playing games have less motivation that student with more various usages. Moreover, communication uses seem to be the most problematic type of usage while uses with intellectual nature have a more positive effect. Our study found that having a computer at home is not a synonym of frequent usage by young people. Our results suggest that the key to motivational success is the use made of the time spent in front of the computer not only the time spent. By encouraging uses of intellectual nature, we increase chances of developing positive technological habits that will be essential in tomorrow’s society.

Keyphrases: Motivation, Information and communication technology, Personal uses of computer
La traduction des motifs sonores dans les littératures africaines europhones comme réactivation du patrimoine poétique maternel

Recent publications explore Europhone African literatures as translation and in translation (Gyasi 2006, Bandia 2008, Batchelor 2009) insisting that these texts are better understood as a form of self-translation through oral subtexts, showing evidence of linguistic interplay by drawing on the writers’ native language(s). Yet hybridity as an encounter between oral and written literatures has seldom been explored in its poetic dimension. This lack of attention shapes the blueprint of this dissertation. Drawing on six original texts from African writers publishing in English (Farah, Hove and Armah) or in French (Waberi, Adiaffi and Djebar), I show in which extent these writings deserve to be labelled as poetic and how they are informed by the authors’ native literary background; occasionally I discuss other literary affiliations. In this specific context, I explore poetry in its melopoeic actualization (Pound 1954) as it relates to aural poetic devices (i.e. relying on their audible features). I then analyze, qualitatively and quantitatively, how this audible poetry has been reactivated by the translators: Bardolph, Richard, J. and R. Mane (translating Farah, Hove and Armah, respectively); Garane, Katiyo, Blair (translating Waberi, Adiaffi and Djebar, respectively). The last chapter suggests how reactivating sonorous poetic devices in translation relates to different literary modalities, especially audiobooks, as they represent a rapidly growing trend. The methodology draws on Antoine Berman’s translation project (1995) and Jacqueline Henry’s Traduire les jeux de mots (2003). Approaching the translation of aural/audible poetry in the specific context of these texts was facilitated by calling upon paradigms such as translational valency (Folkart 2007) and metonymy (Tymoczko 1999). Last but not least, this dissertation benefited from Fraser’s recent doctoral thesis (2007) dedicated to theorizing sound translation.

Keyphrases: Translation, African literature, Oral literature, Orality, Sound poetry, Aural poetry, Hybridity, Melopoeia
Histoire de Rome et providence divine selon Arnobe de Sicca

Adversus nationes is a polemical text in which the author, Arnobius of Sicca, defends Christianity in addition to attacking paganism.  This text includes the main accusations against Christianity as well as the counter-arguments intellectual Christians presented against pagans.  It is one of the last apologetic texts written before the peace of Milano (311).  Arnobius explains the importance of moving away from the mistakes of paganism and of adhering to Christianity in order to save one’s soul.   Although the nature of this text is not historical, Arnobius provides several hints on his conception of Roman history, to strengthen his argumentation.  Adversus nationes, which has not yet been completely translated into French, has not often been studied from the point of view of interpreting history.  Such a study allows a better understanding of its author’s thoughts on Rome, its history and its political systems.  The first part of this thesis presents a brief biography of Arnobius as well as an overview of the historical context in which he lived.  Then, the main rhetorical characteristics of history are exposed in the second chapter.   The second part of this thesis provides an analysis of key passages in Adversus nationes.  The third chapter focuses on major Roman figures.  The fourth chapter addresses divine providence in Roman history. Finally, the fifth chapter looks for Arnobius’s sources behind his treatment of important historical events.  In its conclusion, this thesis offers a new hypothesis regarding the date of book 1 of Adversus nationes and uncovers a new influence concerning certain historical accounts reported by Arnobius.

Keyphrases: Adversus nationes, Arnobius, Adversus nationes, apology, historiography, christianity, paganism, Roman Africa, Diocletian
Le droit de l'OHADA face au commerce électronique

Le droit de l’OHADA face au commerce électronique (OHADA law pertaining to e-commerce) is an epistemological reflection on the legal issues raised by e-trade conducted among members of the Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA). This forward looking analysis of the organization’s legal framework governing e commerce draws upon relevant experiments carried out notably in North America (Canada-Québec) and Europe. In Africa, as elsewhere, the new information technologies pose certain legal challenges. During the past several years, various regional and national initiatives have addressed these challenges. However, the heterogeneous nature of the different laws implemented impairs the regional-level legal security sought by OHADA. Building on legal transplant, this dissertation proposes, within the context of OHADA, a true harmonization that will ensure that “African specificities” are taken into account while making the Common Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA) in Abidjan the highest community jurisdiction in matters of e-commerce.

Keyphrases: Droit, Law, New technologies, Commerce électronique, E-commerce, OHADA, Africa
A detailed study of the lithiation of iron phosphate as well as the development of a novel synthesis of lithium iron silicate as cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

In this thesis, we demonstrate work on two different cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. First, the synthesis of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is reproduced from literature using two lithiation methods starting with amorphous iron phosphate (FePO4). For both reactions, the product at each step of the synthesis was analyzed using Mössbauer Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction in order to gain further insight of the reaction mechanism. The results of this work were published in Journal of Power Sources.     The second cathode material of interest was lithium iron silicate (Li2FeSiO4). A novel synthetic method was developed to produce lithium iron silicate cost effectively starting with low cost precursors and basic laboratory equipment. The material was synthesized using a solid- state synthesis after milling and carbon coating, electrochemical performance was evaluated. An attempt was made to synthesize off-stoichiometric lithium iron silicate in order to increase the electrochemical performance of the material.

Keyphrases: Lithium-ion batteries, Cathode materials, Amorphous, Lithiation, Lithiation, Lithium iron phosphate, Lithium iron silicate, Mössbauer spectroscopy
Perceptions d’étudiantes universitaires quant à l’effet d’un programme d’externat en soins infirmiers sur le développement de leurs compétences professionnelles

In Quebec, the nursing externship program allows the nursing student to work as an extern the following summer after their second school year. The studies that focused on apprenticeship during the externship program were all realized in United States and they are not supported by any theoretical framework that explains the learning vision of the authors. In addition, these studies did not link their results with professional competencies development.   The goal of this study was to describe the effect of the externship, as seen by Quebec university students, on the professional competencies development. This study was base on the second-generation competency approach. The approach was developed by the Nursing Faculty in Montreal University (Goudreau, Pepin, Dubois, Boyer, Larue et Legault, 2009). The results that were obtained rest on a descriptive qualitative study realized among a sampling of eight university nursing students. The analysis has been realized based on the integral transcripts of interviews as per the Miles & Huberman (2003) method. This study has permitted to identify the principal competencies developed during the externship program, as «Development of a nursing clinical judgment», «Collaborated within professional teams» and «Caring for patients and their families». The development of self confidence strongly shows the global perception of the nursing extern. Recommendations for management, formation and research arose from this study.

Keyphrases: Formation, Externship, Nursing, Competency approach, Formation, Apprenticeship
De la difficulté des enfants dysphasiques à décoder des émotions de base : 
éclairages sur un syndrome méconnu

Children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) can have social problems that are often explained by their language disorders. However, the ability to identify other people’s emotions could be caused by their emotion processing difficulties. We explore this question in children with SLI aged 9 to 12 years old. Children with and without SLI were tested on five emotional stimuli presented in dynamic video and audio format: unfiltered speech, filtered speech, facial expressions, facial expressions with unfiltered speech, and facial expressions with filtered speech. The children with impaired language do not differ significantly from the unimpaired children across all modalities and emotions. However, a subgroup of SLI children with mixed (expressive-receptive) delay commits more errors on the task than their age-matched peers. In fact only a subgroup of these children shows lower scores. These same children also show low IQ scores but language comprehension as good as their subgroup. Despite these significant differences the mixed SLI group’s scores are quite high, showing that deficits are subtle. Clinical implications of this study militate for a systematization of the evaluation by health practitioners of these abilities in children with SLI who might not show obvious signs of deficits in this domain in their everyday activities. Research should pursue the development of a sensitive evaluation tool to identify emotional decoding difficulties and should evaluate therapeutic strategies adapted to this population.

Keyphrases: Emotions, Specific Language Impairment, Emotion, Emotional processing