NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Méthylation de gènes liés au stress à travers différents tissus périphériques humains, et la pertinence pour le fonctionnement cérébral

Early environmental factors influence gene expression via epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation. Peripheral DNA methylation of stress-related genes has been associated with early adversity and vulnerability to different mental health outcomes. Commonly used peripheral samples are derived from blood, saliva or buccal cells. However, it is still not known whether peripherally derived DNA methylation in a specific cell type is most strongly associated with human brain processes and behavior. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between peripherally derived NR3C1 and FKBP5 methylation, frontal-limbic brain function and resting-state functional connectivity in healthy adults, and to compare the strength of these associations across different peripheral tissue samples. Additionally, cross-tissue convergence and two-year stability of DNA methylation were assessed for both genes. Saliva derived NR3C1 methylation was associated with greater fronto-limbic resting-state connectivity, whereas buccal cell-derived FKBP5 methylation was positively associated with bilateral middle frontal and left parahippocampal response to sad emotional stimuli. Saliva- and buccal cellderived FKBP5 methylation levels were significantly correlated to one another, and methylation in both genes remained stable for two years. Results regarding cross-tissue convergence and were not replicated for NR3C1. These findings suggest that methylation in different genes and in different peripheral tissues might differently capture brain processes, and that DNA methylation tissue specificity and time stability might in turn be gene specific.

Keyphrases: Stress, NR3C1, FKBP5, Epigenetics, DNA methylation, Brain Imaging
La pathophysiologie de la maladie de Ménière au niveau du sac endolymphatique : une étude immunohistochimique de l’aquaporine-2, le récepteur de Vasopressine V2R, NKCC2 et TRPV4

Objectives: Endolymphatic sac (ELS) pathophysiology in Ménière’s Disease (MD) remains poorly understood. We identified from the literature a group of proteins expressed on the ELS and involved in endolymph volume regulation: Aquaporin-2 (AQP2), vasopressin receptor V2R, Sodium Potassium Chloride Cotransporter type 2 (NKCC2) and TRP channel type V4 (TRPV4). Our objective was to determine whether their ELS expression was altered in MD, to better understand the pathophysiology of endolymphatic hydrops. Methods: Patients with definite MD undergoing endolymphatic duct blockage surgery were recruited, as well as controls undergoing surgery for vestibular schwannomas (VS). ELS biopsies and blood samples for plasma Arginine Vasopressin (AVP) were obtained. Immunohistochemistry for AQP2, V2R, NKCC2 and TRPV4 was performed. Slides were scanned digitally for highly sensitive pixel density analysis by specialized software (VIS by Visiopharm®). Results: 27 definite MD patients and 23 VS controls were included. Global scores generated by the software represent total and relative protein expression density of 3 staining intensity levels, exclusively on ELS epithelium. AQP2 expression density was significantly elevated in MD compared to VS (p = 0.018). There was no significant difference in plasma AVP, V2R, NKCC2 and TRPV4 expression. Conclusion: This original study evaluates simultaneous in-situ expression of AQP2, V2R, NKCC2 and TRPV4 on the human ELS in MD, with a VS control group. Our results show only AQP2 up regulation on the ELS of MD patients. We suggest a constitutively increased expression of AQP2 in MD, independent of its regulatory axis (AVP-V2R). Acquired regulator sequence mutations could support this model.

Keyphrases: Aquaporin-2, Vasopressin receptor V2, NKCC-2, TRPV-4, Vasopressin, Ménière's Disease, Endolymphatic sac, Vestibular Schwannoma
Étude de la mort cellulaire via CD40 et BCR en fonction de l'activation cellulaire

CD40 is a type I glycoprotein belonging to the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFRs) superfamily. The CD40 is expressed on hematopoietic cells, mainly B cells, and on nonhematopoietic cells such as epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Its classical ligand, CD154, is transiently expressed on different cell types such as activated T cells. CD40 is able to interact with both the membrane-bound and the soluble forms of CD154. CD40 plays an important role in the humoral immune response. Its ligation with CD154 induces B cell proliferation and differentiation, antibody class switching, germinal center formation, memory B cell generation and B cell survival. Other studies have demonstrated its implication in cell death. Indeed, our studies have demonstrated that signalling via CD40 leads to a rapid B cell death mainly observed in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)- transformed B cell lines, although it is well documented that the engagement of CD40 on immature B cells rescues them from IgM-mediated death. However, it is unknown if CD40-mediated cell death occurs in non-EBV B cell lines. The work presented in this thesis focuses on the study of the role of CD40 in Ramos cell death, which is an immature B-cell model, EBV negative, and on its influence on the apoptotic signaling induced via the B-cell receptor (BCR). Our results show that CD40 is unable to induce Ramos cell death but Ramos activation with the phorbol ester (PMA) sensitises them to death via CD40, which is more significant following its interaction with the ligand (CD154) resistant to cleavage. However, CD40 interaction with CD154 is also able to protect both resting and activated Ramos from BCR-mediated death and this occurs equally well with both forms of CD154. Together these studies suggest that CD40 can regulate the immune response by delivering survival signals necessary for antibody production and can contribute to the resolution of the immune response by inducing death in activated B cells. Furthermore, CD40 can also represent a therapeutic target in B cell lymphomas.

Keyphrases: BCR, CD40, CD154, Cell death
Analyse d’implantation d’un programme de jardinage éducatif en services de garde à la petite enfance : perceptions des intervenantes du milieu

Healthy eating starting during early childhood is essential for obesity prevention. To be successful, its promotion must be done everywhere children evolve, including in child-care settings. This is one of the goals pursued by the organization Croquarium with their program Un trésor dans mon jardin (a treasure in my garden) (UTJ). Objective. To analyse child care providers’ and Croquarium team members’ perceptions of the implementation and impact of UTJ on the food environment of children exposed to this project. Methods. Respondents’ perceptions were obtained by semi-structured interviews. Qualitative analysis of the data was based on an adaptation of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Social Theory. Results. In the end, fourteen interviews were conducted. Respondents perceived changes in many areas, like in the type of activities realized with children and their behaviours around food, but also in the communications with parents. Furthermore, it seems that the major obstacles of UTJ’s continuity is the lack of time, the lack of involvement from child-care providers and insufficient financial resources. Conclusion. This study gives us a better understanding of how UTJ is implemented in child-care settings. Also, it appears that UTJ has a positive influence on the food environment of participating children. However, data suggest that the involvement of every stakeholder is needed.

Keyphrases: Gardening, Child-care centre, Food, Early childhood, Child-care providers
Attentes et motivations des jeunes relativement aux services alimentaires de la Commission scolaire de Montréal

Introduction: Childhood obesity is increasing throughout the Western world. The diets of young Canadians and Quebeckers are lacking in nutritional quality. According to the ecological concept of Story et al. (2002), school food services are an environmental factor affecting food intake. The school lunchroom is a promising place to work on increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables. In 2011, the Commission scolaire de Montréal (CSDM), a school board in Montreal, integrated into its school meal services a policy framework created in 2008 for a healthy diet and a physically active lifestyle, the effects of which have yet to be measured. Objective: To analyze the expectations and motivations of elementary and high school students regarding the food offering from CSDM’s school meal services. Method: In 2014, CSDM elementary and high school students completed an online survey with an open-ended question on their expectations of the food offering in high schools. In another question, high school students only were asked to share their motivation(s) for using their school’s meal service. The researchers developed two coding grids. Frequencies were obtained with SPSS statistical software (version 21.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois). Results: 1,253 elementary school students from 65 schools and 2,613 high school students from 27 schools answered questions on their expectations of meal services. While most answers were about specific foods, some contained underlying food motivations, such as trademarks, health, freshness, variety, taste, ingredients and price. In total, 2,518 high school students answered the question about their motivation for using their school’s meal service. The food offering was a motivation for some (53%), but students also cited the conditions related to physical (15%) or social environment (12%). Discussion: Elementary school students are different in that their expectations of the food offering are compatible with the current school food policy. High school students are more drawn to foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt. Both elementary school and high school students expect fruits and vegetables in high school meal services. Literature shows that interventions focusing on fruit and vegetable availability have been successful. An intervention targeting fruit and vegetable availability could have a positive effect on children and youth’s fruit and vegetable intake. Further analysis of dimensions related to variety and meal service environments is also warranted. Conclusion: The results make it possible to more clearly identify the expectations and motivations of elementary and high school students. The CSDM can use this information to guide its future actions in managing the food offering in schools.

Keyphrases: Sastisfaction, Perception, Motivation, youth, Students, Secondary, Primary, Food, Food policy, Meal service, Quebec, School food environnement, Cafeteria
Dégradation de CXCL11 et CXCL10 par les lymphocytes T activés

During the immune response, T lymphocytes are activated in lymph nodes by antigen-presenting  cells. Following activation, T cells up-regulate the chemokine receptor CXCR3, which allows them to infiltrate inflamed tissues by a migratory process named chemotaxis. To do so, CXCR3  allows the cells to detect concentration gradients of the chemokines CXCL11 and CXCL10  which are secreted locally, at the inflammation site. The chemokine gradient represents a  directional cue, indicating to cells in which direction to migrate. Chemokine gradients must be  regulated to assure an appropriate immune response. However, how these gradients are formed,  maintained and eliminated is not well understood. It has been shown in other contexts that cells  participate in gradient shaping. To do so, they express specialised chemokine receptors who  scavenge chemokines, reducing chemokine levels in the environment. These receptors are  considered atypical because they do not induce chemotaxis. In this work, we provide evidence for the regulation of the chemokines CXCL11 and CXCL10 that is in line with self-generation of chemokine gradients by chemotaxing activated T cells.

Keyphrases: CXCR3, CXCL11, CXCL10, CXCR3A, CXCR3B, β-arrestin, Chemotaxis, Chemokine gradient, Chemokine degradation, Self-generated gradients
Cdx-mediated co-integration of Wnt and BMP signals on a single Pax3 neural crest enhancer

In vertebrates, a first draft of the central nervous system from the neurectoderm is obtained by neurulation. This process leads to the formation of the neural tube (NT) from the neural plate. Neurulation is coordinated with the induction of a population of multipotent cells at the neural plate border: neural crest cells (NCCs). The Pax3 gene encodes a transcription factor that is essential for the formation of the NT and NCCs. A small regulatory region of ~250bp in the proximal promoter of Pax3, called NCE2, is sufficient to recapitulate the induction of Pax3 and its restriction to the lateral borders of the neural plate. The Pax3NCE2 is known to incorporate anterior-posterior (AP) instructive cues from the Wnt pathway, via CDX proteins (CDX1, 2, 4), which can induce the expression of Pax3 in the posterior neural plate (PNP). We have demonstrated that, in addition to the AP cues, Pax3NCE2 integrates instructive dorsal-ventral (DV) cues from the BMP pathway, via SMAD1/5 proteins. Our results indicate that SMAD1/5 proteins could be the missing co-factor in the CDX-dependent expression of Pax3 that restrict Pax3 expression to the lateral borders of the PNP. To support this assertion, we provide further evidence that the activity of BMP-SMAD1/5 on the expression of Pax3 is mediated by CDX proteins. As defects affecting the formation of the NT and NCCs are the basis of many genetic syndromes and birth defects in humans, our results provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these pathologies.

Keyphrases: Pax3, SMAD1/5, Canonical Wnt signalling, BMP signalling, Neural crest, Neural tube, Mouse
Pour ne pas perdre le Nord : vers une protection efficace du milieu marin arctique

The Arctic is currently facing significant environmental threats. Yet, because of its particular precariousness, those threats will possibly impact its ecosystem and local communities. As those problems are posing unique management challenges, some solutions have been put in place, but are not really effective. In order to protect the arctic marine environment, several hard law and soft law instruments have been set at the international, regional, subregional, bilateral and national scales, but they are all facing serious shortcomings. The question of arctic marine environmental governance has therefore become inevitable in addressing those issues. The needs to protect the arctic marine environment, its ecosystem and inhabitants and the economic imperatives of resources exploitation and economic growth have to be balanced. Thus, arctic marine environmental protection has to (1) put forth an instrument with more implementation and conformity mechanisms, with more flexibility, more precision and depth, and more transparence and accountability; (2) be thought in terms of continuum and synergies of the different levels of governance instead of approaching them separately; (3) put forward an international regimes complex; (4) include a plethora of actors in the governance system and (5) establish marine protected areas that recognize the concepts of ecosystem-based management and respect some environmental principles. In this way, equilibrium between environmental, social and economical needs and effectiveness in governance will be reached.

Keyphrases: pollution marine, international environmental law, law of the sea, environment, Arctic, marine environment, international law, climate change, marine pollution, environmental protection, marine protected areas, MPAs, Arctic Council
État de droit et lutte antiterroriste : étude parallèle des systèmes juridiques français et canadien quant à la collecte et au partage des renseignements

In 2015, two laws related to intelligence were simultaneously adopted in Canada and France. Both of these laws highlight major faults in Canadian and French legal frameworks regarding the collection and sharing of intelligence. Despite undeniable differences between both countries with regards to organizational frameworks and institutional practices, their legal breaches are relatively similar and emphasise a weakening of the rule of law’s principles in the name of the security and counterterrorism. Intelligence services have greater powers than ever before and are more inclined to bypass national mechanisms designed to protect citizens’ fundamental rights. Moreover, when it comes to the sharing of information, these powers, combined with the lack of intelligence norms on an international scale, lead to numerous human rights violations. This dissertation focuses on the balance between security and human rights in light of counterterrorism. We will outline the existing challenges faced by the principles of the rule of law in relation to the collection and sharing of intelligence.

Keyphrases: Rule of law, Intelligence services, Intelligence, Fundamental rights, Human rights, Security, Counterterrorism
Les répercussions de la responsabilité de protéger sur le droit international public

The Responsibility to Protect was elaborated in 2001 by the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty following the controversies surrounding humanitarian interventions lead during the 1990s. The Responsibility to Protect aimed at reconciling intervention for human protection purposes and sovereignty in order to ensure the universal protection of civilian populations, notably through the Security Council, while respecting the principles constituting the foundation of the international society based on the Charter of the United Nations. Since its acceptance by the 191 Member States of the United Nations during the 2005 World Summit, the concept has become a subject of first importance at the international stage. The implementation of the Responsibility to Protect by the Security Council in 2011 during the Civil War in Libya and the post-electoral crisis in Ivory Coast has put the concept on the headlines of the international news. Our thesis aims at determining the juridical repercussions that the Responsibility to Protect had on the State Sovereignty principle and on the institutional functioning of the Security Council.

Keyphrases: Responsibility to Protect, State Sovereignty, United Nations Security Council, Protection of civilian populations, Charter of the United Nations, Authorization to use the force, Right to Veto, Public international law
Vivre avec les conséquences d'un diagnostic de TDA/H : la voix des personnes diagnostiquées

Although the subject of Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity has been widely studied, most studies have not considered directly the experiences of diagnosed persons. Thus, this exploratory research analyses the life narratives of 8 people aged between 20 and 30 years old whom have been diagnosed in their infancy or teenage years. Certain themes have been discussed throughout the interviews such as : their relationship with their families, their relationship with school, their perceptions of medication, their diagnosis’ process, their relationship with experts, the possibility of living simultaneously others “problems” and their perception of others’ opinion regarding the diagnosis. As their story is told, the listener understands the complex relation they have with their diagnosis which cannot be reduce to a few aspects. Thus, it is necessary to consider their experience in order to paint a picture as complete as possible and to better understand the consequences a diagnosis has on their life.

Keyphrases: TDA/H, ADD/ADHD, Diagnosed persons, Life narrative, Risk discourse, Medicalization
Les travailleurs victimes de lésions professionnelles : du processus d’indemnisation aux problèmes de santé mentale

The main objective of this master’s thesis is to better understand the role of the different actors encountered by workers in work stoppage, due to an accident which occurred because of work or while working, on their mental health and on their path. Secondly, it is important to determine the effect that social support can have on the level of psychological distress felt by these workers. In order to carry out this research, data were collected from interviews with patients of a polyclinic of Montreal who were in work stoppage.  Based on a sample of 12 workers, this study revealed that different actors have an influence on the path of those workers and that multiple social support factors have an impact on the level of well-being or psychological distress of those individuals. Indeed, having emotional, material, instrumental, informational, esteem, affiliation or tangible support, being integrated socially, feeling useful and needed, being able to confirm its value and to obtain practical or material support, are all social support factors which protect against psychological distress. Conversely, being excluded from the labor market, not being able to have access to those different forms of support or even the simple fact of perceiving it as such, are all factors which significantly increase the level of psychological distress.

Keyphrases: Work accident, Work stoppage, Depression, Psychological distress, Occupational injury, Compensation process, Worker's claim, Mental health, Social support, Work, Workers
Le marketing politique chez les partis politiques québécois lors des élections de 2012 et de 2014

This dissertation studies the adoption of political marketing by the political parties in Québec. We hear by political marketing a succession of integrated steps (marketing process) which allows a political party to identify a need from the electorate and to create a product to answer it. Thereby, to the question, "Did the four main political parties in Québec (Parti Québécois, Parti libéral du Québec, Coalition Avenir Québec and Québec solidaire) used political marketing during the past provincial elections of 2012 and 2014?" we had the hypothesis that the Québec context, in 2012 and 2014, did not allow the political parties to adopt a marketing approach during their campaign. In this respect, we led a qualitative study based on interviews led with political campaign managers from each party, who worked during the past elections of 2012 and 2014. A collection of qualitative data and an analysis based on two elements (political marketers and the way they followed the marketing process) allowed us to counter our initial hypothesis and to establish that the some political parties used the political marketing during the elections of 2012 and 2014, while others focused on tactical marketing.

Keyphrases: Québec, Political Marketing, Political Communication, Political Campaign, Political Party, 2012 Quebec General Election, 2014 Quebec General Election, Marketing Process, Political Marketer, Tactical Approach, Electoral campaign