NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Characterization of in vivo vertebral growth modulation by shape memory alloy staples on a porcine model for the correction of the scoliosis

The search for a new ways of correction of idiopathic scoliosis was started long ago. Conventional treatments of idiopathic scoliosis comprise predominantly bracing and open correction of the deformity. Since their introduction, both methods have proven effective. However, despite evident positive characteristics, these methods can pose a significant number of undesirable effects to patient health.. There for fusionless techniques for the treatment of scoliosis seems to be a perspective alternative of traditional treatment as it presents less surgical risks and complications then conventional methods including maintenance of disc mobility. However the use of mentioned techniques demands a deep knowledge of vertebral growth modulation. The principal objective of present study is to estimate the potential of SMA staples to modulate the growth of porcine vertebrae by measuring bone growth on the growth plate of instrumented vertebrae in comparison with the control group. The method is based on the Hueter-Volkmann law. We choose NiTi SMA staples for our study and Landrace domestic pigs as an experimental animal. The staples were inserted on 5 thoracic levels from T6 to T11. Additionally, radiographs were taken every 2 weeks. The presence of shape memory alloy staples led to creation of significant scoliosis curves in 4 of 6 loaded animals and considerable slowing of bone growth (up to 35.4.%) comparatively to control and sham groups. The study has demonstrated in vivo the potential of the shape memory alloy staples to modulate the growth of vertebrae by creating scoliotic curves on radiographs and by slowing the growth rate on the instrumented growth plates. Accurate position of the staple is essential for the bone growth modulation and the development of experimental scoliosis.

Keyphrases: Shape memory alloy staples, Growth modulation, Fusionless treatment, Scoliosis
Polymorphisme du papillomavirus humain de type 52 et lésions du col de l'utérus

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the main etiological agents of cervical cancer. Our study aims to describe HPV52 polymorphism in the long control region (LCR) and in the E6 gene, and to investigate the association between LCR and E6 polymorphism and high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2,3) or invasive cervical cancer in 216 canadian women with various grades of cervical disease. Age was significantly associated with cervical cancer (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.02-1.17, p=0.005). The MTL-52-LCR-02 variant, with a nucleotide substitution in the LCR at position 7436, was also associated with cervical cancer. MTL-52-LCR-02 has been identified in 28.6% of women with cervical cancer and in 0.0% of women without cervical cancer or CIN2,3 (p=0.015). In a multivariate analysis, after adjusting for age, ethnicity, detection of HPV16 or 18, and study site, a deletion at nucleotide position 7695 (OR 5.7, 95% CI 1.2-27.9), a variation at nucleotide position 7744 (OR 8.3, 95% CI 1.-61.0) in the LCR and the K93R variant of the protein E6 (OR 9.5, 95% CI 1.3-68.9) were associated with CIN2,3. This study confirms that HPV52 polymorphism in the LCR and in the E6 gene is associated with risk of development of CIN2,3 and possibly invasive cancer of the uterine cervix.

Keyphrases: HPV, cervical cancer, viral polymorphism, dysplasie cervicale, cervical dysplasia
Régulation de la fonction ovarienne par la voie de signalisation des WNTs

WNTs are secreted glycoproteins that act to regulate several processes such as cell fate determination, proliferation, differentiation and many more. To transmit their signal, WNTs bind the co-receptors Frizzled (FZD) and Low-density-lipoprotein receptor Related Protein (LRP) 6 or 5, which leads to the activation of one of three signaling pathways: WNT/β-catenin (canonical), Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) or WNT/Ca2+ pathways (both non-canonical). Secreted Frizzled Related Proteins (SFRPs) are antagonists of WNT signaling that act by directly binding WNTs and preventing their interaction with FZD receptors. Even if members of the WNT signaling pathway have been found to have important roles in adult ovarian regulation, the exact mechanism(s) involved remain poorly understood. The global objective of this thesis was to better understand WNT signaling in the adult rodent ovary, by characterizing two components of this pathway: FZD1 and SFRP4. Generation and analyses of Fzd1 and Sfrp4 KO mice first demonstrated that FZD1 is required for the induction of cumulus expansion-related genes, in the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC). Also, we demonstrated that SFRP4 is also required for the regulation of cumulus expansion-associated genes but this time, in mural granulosa cells. In vivo and in vitro data suggested that the PCP pathway, and not the canonical pathway, could be induced in granulosa cells of Sfrp4 KO mice, possibly by WNT4 and WNT5a. All the data presented herein permitted the creation of a hypothetical model that summarizes the roles of WNT signaling in ovarian regulation. This model will serve to develop new projects that will ultimately result in the better understanding of ovarian signaling and related pathological processes. This knowledge may then be useful for the treatment of many human ovarian disorders.

Keyphrases: Fzd, Wnt, Fertility, Granulosa cells, Ovary
Évolution des émotions, des obsessions et des compulsions chez les personnes souffrant de Trouble obsessionnel-compulsif au cours d’une thérapie basée sur les inférences

Cognitive approach of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has suggested a bidirectional link between emotions and cognitions. Few studies have looked at a link between those two components. Although some studies tend to show a relationship between emotions and OCD, no study has looked into the relationship between emotions, cognitions and behaviours over the course of a cognitive therapy.   The present case series examines the relationship between cognitive, behavioural and emotional processes over the course of an inference-based therapy (IBT) in OCD clients. More precisely, we looked at how emotions and OCD symptoms influence each other and how they influence each other over time (through therapy). Clients filled in daily diaries rating key emotions, behaviours and beliefs over the course of treatment. A longitudinal analysis based on an event-based approach was used to maximize the potential of longitudinal data. Results showed that anxiety, sadness and joy share similar trajectories with beliefs and behaviours over the course of therapy.  Strengths and limitations of the study are noted. Implications for targeting emotions and thoughts at different stages of therapy are also discussed.

Keyphrases: Obsessional-compulsive disorder, Emotions, Primary inferences, Inferenced-based therapy, Psychology
Citoyenneté, identité et mobilisation communautaire autour du VIH dans une organisation de travailleuses du sexe au Karnataka, en Inde

This thesis questions the present and future possibilities for concerted actions to challenge social exclusion structures affecting social groups designated as being at risk, in part by making them more vulnerable to HIV infection. In India, the increasing attention given to sex workers (SW) by public health instances in HIV prevention contributes in shaping the identities of the targeted groups as associated to the epidemic and its prevention. The acceptance and reorganization of this label of SW act as basis for the organization of collective efforts for a SW organization in Mysore, in the state Karnataka. The members of this collective, named Ashodaya, use concerted actions to question the limits of these assigned labels (with attempts to defuse certain dynamics of social exclusion associated with stigmatization), and impose itself as a group of full-fledge citizens by including themselves in civil life as citizens representing an occupation, and not as marginalized individuals or “representative” of a disease. The inclusion of Ashodaya in the HIV prevention efforts offers an access to human and material resources that would not be otherwise available. However, it also limits its action possibilities in restricting its participation to prevention. The particular context of the engagement and the program of Avahan, Indian chapter of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, highlight the fragility of the work of groups like Ashodaya.

Keyphrases: HIV, citizenship, sex work, Community mobilization, India
Recherche d'un neutrino lourd avec le détecteur ATLAS au LHC

This M.Sc. thesis describes a search for fourth generation heavy leptons using data from the ATLAS detector at LHC. The total integrated luminosity is 1.02 fb$^{-1}$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV. This analysis study the single production of fourth generation neutral heavy lepton (N) via the charged channel and where W decays leptonically : $ pp \to W \to N  e \to e  W e \to e e \nu_{\ell} \ell $ ($\ell$ = $e$ ou $\mu$), which depends on the mixing element between the heavy lepton and the light lepton. The model of fourth generation leptons is constructed using FeynRules while the production of events is done by MadGraph 5.1.2.4.  As point of reference, we chose a mass of 100 GeV for the fourth generation neutral heavy lepton (N) with $\xi_{Ne}^{2} = 0.19$, which produce a cross section of 0.312 pb. The generation of the signal was done privately in Montreal and not by the ATLAS collaboration. Therefore the results cannot be considered official. With the simulation, the expected superior limit at $95\%$ C.L. on the cross section is 0.145 pb with 0.294 pb for $\sigma$ and 0.519 pb for 2$\sigma$. The expected superior limit at $95\%$ C.L. on $\xi_{Ne}^{2}$ is 0.09.

Keyphrases: ATLAS, LHC, particules, ATLAS, LHC, physics, particles, heavy leptons, fourth generation
Conditionnement de l’endothélium de l’artère pulmonaire par thérapie d’inhalation avant la circulation extracorporelle

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) triggers a systemic inflammatory response, an ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury and endothelial dysfunction in the pulmonary circulation. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a consequence of this insult. The latter increases right ventricle work and may cause difficult separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and increased vasoactive requirements after cardiac surgery. Administration of inhaled milrinone or epoprostenol has been shown to reduce endothelial dysfunction in the pulmonary artery. The aim of this work is to evaluate different nebulisators for the administration of milrinone and to evaluate the effect of pre-emptive treatment with inhaled milrinone and epoprostenol on postoperative outcome in cardiac surgery.   Two different studies were done. In the first, three groups of swine were compared: (1) ultrasonic nebulisator inhaled milrinone group; CPB and reperfusion preceded by 2.5 mg inhaled milrinone, (2) simple jet nebulisator inhaled milrinone group; CPB and reperfusion preceded by 2.5 mg inhaled milrinone, and (3) control group; CBP 90 minutes followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion without treatment. During the procedure, hemodynamic, biochemical and hematologic parameters were measured. After sacrifice, pulmonary arterial endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine and bradykinin were studied in organ chamber experiments. There was a greater improvement in endothelium-dependent relaxations to bradykinin and acetylcholine in the ultrasonic nebuliser inhaled milrinone group compared with the control group and the simple jet nebulisator inhaled milrinone group. In the second study, a retrospective analysis of 60 high-risk surgical patients with PH operated at the Montreal Heart Institute was conducted. Two groups were compared: (1) 40 patients received both inhaled milrinone and inhaled epoprostenol before CPB (treatment group); (2) 20 patients with equivalent preoperative data did not receive any inhaled medication before CPB during the same period (control group). Post-operative vasoactive requirement was reduced at 12 hours and 24 hours post-operatively in the treatment group. Use of ultrasonic nebulisation has a favourable impact on the pulmonary endothelial dysfunction induced by CPB when compared to the simple jet nebulisation traditionally used. Pre-emptive treatment of PH with a combination of inhaled milrinone and epoprostenol prior to CPB was associated with a significant reduction in vasoactive support in the intensive care unit during the first 24 hours after cardiac surgery.

Keyphrases: Hypertension  pulmonaire, Milrinone, Cardiac surgery, Cardiopulmonary bypass, Ischemia-reperfusion phenomenon, Pulmonary hypertension, Nebulisation, Milrinone, Epoprostenol
La Main ou le théâtre de l'identité trafiquée chez Michel Tremblay

The primary objective of this thesis is to examine St. Laurent Street, which has played, since its early stages, a fundamental role in the city of Montreal. Due to its motley face and its heterogeneousness, this street marked the history of the metropolis and fed the imagination of many writers. Michel Tremblay is one who, within his work, explores most abundantly the twilight and the oddness of this urban corridor. His writing, which is considered controversial, raw and theatrical, pertinently frameworks the universe of The Main and, more specifically, the world of the Redlight District where his most colourful characters find themselves. Having left their place of origin, the characters bring about radical changes in order to fit in with the nature and the activities of their new neighborhood. This thesis will therefore aim to think out the « trafficked identity » (identité trafiquée) of Tremblay’s characters as the condition of their belonging on St. Laurent Street. Moreover, it will take a keen interest in the theatrical spirit of this main road, which influences transvestites and artists of all kinds to play a role and embody a made-up persona. Through the use of masks – notably disguises, make-up and cross-dressing, as well as language which they modulate in order to fit with their character –, they project an unstable identity that unveils the ambiguity that lies in them. The present study will also focus on the marginalized individuals who pace The Main as a group of people who look forward to (re)defining their cultural identity, due to the feeling of being stuck between the American and French culture. Although this community tries to build up its own identity, it struggles to define itself without imitating the models from which it attempts to dissociate itself. Such a contradiction evokes the paradox that faced immigrant communities on St. Laurent Street, whose slow adaptation to North-American culture took place with many gains and losses of their culture of origin. It will therefore be interesting to examine how these apparently irreconcilable groups find in the same universe a favorable context to lead their quest for identity.

Keyphrases: Michel Tremblay, Identité, Quebecois Literature and Theatre, St.Laurent Street, Theatrality, Identity, Masks
Évaluation des jeux Kinect à l’aide du suivi physiologique, du suivi oculaire et des réactions faciales du joueur

The gesture-based video games offers interesting new ways of interacting between the player and the game. In order to evaluate this new type of games, current subjective methods of evaluating games isn't sufficiently robust. Our research tries to combine the objective and subjective methods for measuring the qualities of immersion of video games played with Kinect - an accessory for Xbox console from Microsoft, to play without the controller. Our corpus consists of 18 subjects (intensive and casual players) and 3 Kinect games. Our goal is to develop a method for assessing the quality of gesture-based video games. We relied in part on a questionnaire developed from the criteria for player enjoyment in games (Sweetser and Wyeth, 2005) and the usability questionnaire (Nielsen, 1994a, b; Bastien et Scapin, 1993; Johnson et Wiles, 2003), designed by the researchers of DESS Design de jeux, University of Montreal. And secondly, we integrated the measures of physiological responses (the galvanic skin response, the blood volume pulse, the respiration), the ocular reactions (the pupil’s diameter, fixation time) and facial expressions (joy, sadness, anger, fear, surprise and disgust) of the player. We relied on theoretical assumptions from the field of human-computer interaction and games design. We studied in particular physiological responses, eye movements, facial expressions and the notions of presence and immersion in video games. The analysis shows correlations between the physiological reactions, the eye movements and the player's subjective responses. For example, we observed negative correlation between blood volume pulse (BVP) and the concentration of the player, positive correlations between respiration and pupil diameter and the sense of immersion the player, etc. These results would confirm the feasibility of our evaluation method. Then, we compared these three games in terms of five components of immersion to find the most immersive game. The result showed that the game Body and Brain Connection was most appreciated by the participants and that the level of challenge properly calibrated and the ease of control were the two main factors of success of the game Body and Brain. ￼iii We also compared intensive gamers and casual players according to the components of immersion to see the difference between their attitudes toward the Kinect. The result showed that there was no difference between the two types of players.

Keyphrases: Kinect, Video games evaluation, Immersion, Presence, Physiological monitoring, Eye-tracking, Emotion, Gestural interface, Facial expressions, Flow
L’intégration des Nord-Coréens en Corée du Sud : la persistance de la division dans les représentations identitaires

This Master’s thesis aims at furthering the understanding of the integration process of North Korean migrants into South Korean society, through the analysis of the relationships between North and South Koreans. The specific objectives hereof are to identify an ethnicisation process, to define the place of North and South Korean culture in the Korean identity and to identify the identity reconfiguration necessary in order to access the recognition of the majority group. Fieldwork was completed in South Korea in September 2010, allowing for the interview of four North Koreans and the meeting of people working in organisations promoting North Korean integration into South Korea. The data analysis led us to a better understanding of how the division of the Korean nation is persisting and how it is influencing the integration process of North Koreans in South Korea. In the first place, belonging to the group Hanminjok (Korean nation) is granted, but the prominence of “ethnic markers” is restraining accessibility of North Koreans to the majority group. Secondly, the presence of essentialist discourses is deepening negative social representations which are deleterious to the social and symbolic integration of North Koreans into South Korean society. Finally, the results show that the lack of social relations between North and South Koreans plays a major role in the problematics of integration and is compromising accessibility to employment and therefore to economic integration.

Keyphrases: Ethnicisation, Anthropology, North Koreans, Ethnicisation, Belonging, Integration, South Korea, Internal orientalism, Migration
Conséquences de l’acclimatation à différents régimes thermiques sur les taux métaboliques standards des tacons du saumon de l’Atlantique(Salmo salar)

Fish that inhabits river are subjected to circadian fluctuations in water temperature. These fluctuations can influence growth, digestion and metabolic processes. Bioenergetic models are traditionally modeled using data recorded from fish kept at constant water temperatures. These models could underestimate the energy spent by fish subjected to fluctuating temperatures. Thus, with intermittent-flow respirometry, the objectives of this study were to: (1) quantify the differences between standard metabolic rates of fish acclimatized to a constant temperature (20.2 oC ± 0.5 oC) and two circadian fluctuating temperatures (19.8 oC ± 2.0 oC; 19.5 oC ± 3.0 oC)  and (2) compare two methodology for calculate standard metabolic rates of fish subjected to circadian fluctuating temperatures: intermittent-flow respirometry with (a) constant temperature or (b) fluctuating temperatures. Fish held at circadian fluctuating temperatures have higher standard metabolic rates than fish acclimatized to a constant temperature. At 20.2 oC ± 0.5 oC, standard metabolic rates was 25% to 32% lower for fish held at constant temperature than for fish held under circadian fluctuations. However, results of the two different strategies used to calculate standard metabolic rates of fish subjected to circadian fluctuating temperatures did not differ.

Keyphrases: Fluctuation circadienne, Salmo salar, Atlantic salmon, Circadian fluctuating temperature, Oxygen consumption, Intermittent-flow respirometry, Standard metabolism, Temperature, Thermal regime
Élaboration d’un référentiel de compétences pour les futurs enseignants de FLE

Competency frameworks and professional education of teachers have become subjects of great interest among educational researchers (Paquay, 1994 ; Perrenoud, 2001 & Berchoud, 2007). This study is a Research & Development research that has as main objective to design and develop a competency framework for the future teachers of French as foreign language (FFL). To achieve this objective, our general approach was primarily based on the analysis of teacher education competency frameworks and performance standards that existed across the world. This analysis has led to identify the common points and subsequently, find the relevant elements that could inspire us in the development of a first draft of our competency framework. Thus, we have compiled a list containing the key performance domains for the education of the future teachers that we have identified based in our review of literature. To develop this list, we have consulted some experts in Egypt where French is taught as a second foreign language in public schools. By means of three research tools, interviews, focus-group and questionnaire, we have developed and validated the performance standards relevant to each of these domains as well as some indicators for each identified standard. The statistical analysis of data collected have allowed us to make an overall description of this data to confirm points of convergence significantly and also to identify some items subject of discussion. Hence, we could develop our competency framework that includes three main components: performance domains, standards and indicators. This framework consists of twenty performance standards that are essential for the education of future teachers of FFL. These standards are grouped under six categories called domains: language competence, communication, teaching process, classroom management, assessment and professionalism. The framework includes also sixty-three indicators related to the defined standards.  Thus, the result of our research is this competency framework designed for the future teachers of FFL that its components have been validated in Egypt. We believe that this tool will be used, on the one hand, as a reference for the professors in faculties of Education helping them in the selection of the course content ; on the other hand, it will be used as guide for the future teachers enabling them to self-assess in reference with the defined performance standards.

Keyphrases: Teacher education, French as foreign/second language (FFL/FSL), Competency framework, Performance standards, Research & Development research