NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Étude biomécanique comparative de la propulsion en fauteuil roulant manuel à celle sur un dynamomètre motorisé

Objectives: To compare propulsion biomechanics on a newly developed wheelchair  simulator to overground natural propulsion.  Design: A repeated cross-sectional research design  Participants: Seventeen individuals (15 men and 2 women) with spinal cord injury  between T4 and T12 who used their manual wheelchair as their primary mean of mobility.  Methods: Participants completed two 20-meter propulsion trials on a tiled surface and two  1-minute propulsion sessions on the simulator at a self-selected natural velocity.  Participants and simulator wheelchair was equipped with instrumented wheels to record  handrim kinetics The main outcome measures were perceived exertion, heart rate, spatiotemporal  and pushrim kinetic propulsion parameters during the push phase. T-test and  Pearson correlation were generated for the main outcome measures.  Results: Perceived exertion, heart rate, tangential force and energy output were found to  be similar (p<0.05) between overground and simulator settings at their self-selected  natural velocity; whereas velocity, contact angle, total force and power were found to be  greater (p<0.05) at overground propulsion when compared to the simulator propulsion  setting. Correlation between settings were found to be "very good" for the total force  (r=0.89), tangential force (r=0.91) and power (r=0.90), and "good" for the mechanical  effective force (r=0.76). The propulsion total and tangential forces, MEF and power  intensities were found to be symmetrical without any preferential side regardless of the  settings.  Conclusion: The propulsion biomechanics on the simulator can be compared to those  overground in terms of mechanical propulsion profiles, but that the simulator does not  perfectly emulate overground propulsion in terms of spatio-temporal parameters and total  force intensity.

Keyphrases: propulsion, biomechanics, paraplegia, rehabilitation, wheelchair, spinal cord injury
L'individu dans les rouages de l'objectivation : déficience intellectuelle, justice pénale et travail en réseau

The apparent proliferation of so-called "complex-profile" individuals in regulatory settings such as prisons, psychiatric wards and streets is not unrelated to discursive practices changes regarding those individuals’ relation to these institutions, and by extension, the society. Since now observed from the stance of their singularity, this individual that raises a social problem appears to be multiple problems related, complex, cumbersome, and difficult to satisfy. When facing cases of individuals multiplying problematic statuses (i.e.: delinquent, disabled, ill, dangerous, vulnerable), but above all regarded as citizens, the institutional machinery, that use to consolidate the individual with his problem and the institutional response, now jams. The regulatory logics deployed around the so-called problematic individual are multiplied and the intervention’s legitimacy, challenged. Faced with a singularly problematic individual, who does what, and most of all, in what name? Drawing upon the case of people with intellectual disabilities facing the criminal justice system, this doctoral thesis deals with the contemporary management of so-called problematic individuals and the objectivation process of reality that arises from expertise networking (disciplinary, professional, experiential).

Keyphrases: Criminal justice system, Intellectual disability, Institutional network
«Déménager ou rester là»: rapports sociaux inégalitaires dans l’expérience des locataires

This doctoral dissertation focuses on the production of social inequalities in tenants’ housing experience and aims to 1) describe the housing experience as expressed by the tenants themselves and 2) to identify social inequalities that present themselves in their account of this experience. To do so, we turned to the notion of social experience and propose a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews and over 100 hours of observation of a Montréal tenants’ association activities. Analysing accounts of social experiences allowed us to categorize them as belonging largely to three types of “épreuve” (hardships or challenges), as conceptualized by Martuccelli (2006): relational, financial and spatial. For each of these hardships, we analysed the processes of the production of unequal social relations as constructed through social interactions (McAll, 2008a). We conceptualized three such processes: 1) exploitation, the appropriation by others of their capacity to produce and reproduce; 2) exclusion and segregation, the monopolistic appropriation of territories and resources; and 3) symbolic violence, the appropriation by others of their capabilities to think and to decide. Firstly, the analysis of those “épreuves” that tenants faced revealed that the housing experience is primarily a spatial challenge. Given that housing is inseparable from the spaces that contextualise it, the financial and relational challenges, while important, serve mainly to give substance to the spatial challenge. Secondly, we learned how unequal social relations are constructed through interactions between tenants and other housing actors. This finding leads us to give more importance to “symbolic violence” as a process of production of social inequality, in so far as it makes the other processes acceptable or even invisible to tenants.

Keyphrases: exploitation, exclusion, Housing, Tenants, Phenomenology, Ethnography, Social inequalities, Social exclusion, Symbolic violence
Childhood poverty and behavior problems in early adolescence : examining the links over time and potential mechanisms

Background: Poverty is a well-established risk factor for behavior problems among children and adolescents. Yet, research is needed to clarify whether the association varies over the course of development, as well as the mechanisms through which such associations may occur. The purpose of the current work is to investigate specific links between poverty and the behavior problems, using statistical and epidemiological approaches applied to longitudinal data to ascertain predictive pathways. Objectives: The overall aim of the present work is to assess the risk of behavior problems and underlying mechanisms related to poverty exposure at various stages of development. Three research objectives, each corresponding to a research paper forming the main body of this dissertation, are : (1) To investigate the potential for mediators relating to family characteristics in the association between chronic poverty and behavior problems during early childhood; (2) To investigate the patterns of change in the association between poverty and behavior problems over the course of childhood; and (3) To examine the timing and duration of childhood poverty in the prediction of behavior problems in early adolescence. Methods: The data originated from the 1998–2011 waves of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD), a population-based longitudinal study of children followed prospectively from 0.5 to 13 years (N=2120). Poverty was defined based on low-income lines defined by Statistics Canada. Outcomes variables were behavior problems reported by mothers and teachers, including hyperactivity, opposition and physical aggression. Multiple regression analysis and linear mixed-effects models were applied to estimate the longitudinal associations between poverty and behavior problems. Implications: The overall scope of this thesis resides in informing the timing and targets for prevention programs aimed at reducing the detrimental impact of poverty on behavior problems. Future initiatives may consider time and duration of exposure to poverty when prioritizing resources aimed at reducing poverty in families with young children.

Keyphrases: Poverty, Hyperactivity, Physical aggression, Opposition, Life course
Comparative Analysis of first scene of Prologue of Mussorgsky's "Boris Godunov" 
in orchestrations by  Mussorgsky and Shostakovich, 
also presentation of my own compositions:
“Youth” Overture and Viola concerto N2

This thesis consists of two main chapters: the first is a comparative analysis of Modest Mussorgsky's original orchestration of the opening scene in the prologue from his opera "Boris Godunov", and an orchestration by Dimitri Shostakovich of the same material. In the second chapter, I present my own compositions, “Youth Overture", and Viola concerto № 2, discussing the main elements of my style. The comparative analysis was a significant help in improving my orchestration skills, which is an important aspect as I begin to develop my own musical language. It was very educational and fascinating to see how the different orchestrations of the same music could give such contrasting results.  Shostakovich achieves highly effective crescendos and diminuendos by strategically adding or removing instruments, skilfully uses a larger palette of instrumental colours, especially percussion instruments and very specific bowing indications to achieve more dramatic culminations.

Keyphrases: comparative analysis, Modest Mussorgsky, Dmitry Shostakovich, music composition, orchestration, composition musicale, Modest Moussorgki
Musiques pour éponge : la composition pour un nouvel instrument de musique numérique

This thesis presents a Digital Musical Instrument (DMI) used for the purpose of performing composed works or improvising with other musicians.  This instrument is called the sponge and looks like a rectangular piece of foam covered with synthetic fabric.  It is wireless and it contains sensors that detect its deformations.  Sensor signals are then mapped to sound synthesis parameters.  The technical specifications of the sponge are covered in depth and the changes made over the last nine years are explained and justified.  The various mapping strategies developped for and used with the sponge are described.  Mapping is discussed from both artistic and technical perspectives.  We introduce the ideas of "controling'' versus "playing'' and explain how these concepts can help us further our understanding of the art of mapping.  We conclude with the presentation of three pieces composed and played on the sponge.  There are two solo pieces and one sponge duet.  We also discuss the specificities of improvising with a DMI such as the sponge.

Keyphrases: DMI, Digital Musical Instrument, NIME, New Interfaces for Musical Expression, Interface musicale, Electroacoustic, Controler, Acousmatic, Electronic music, Mapping, sensor, Sensors
Revue systématique de l’évaluation de la qualité et du contenu scientifique des guides de pratique

Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are statements that include recommendations for optimizing patient care based on a thorough review of evidence that should be explicitly and consistently linked to the content of the recommendations. Many practice guides suffer from a lack of rigor in their development and their quality is suboptimal. In addition, there may be some discrepancy between the content of the guide's recommendations and the data from the primary studies on which they are based so that some recommendations may be inappropriate. The challenge, therefore, is to determine the level of quality of a practice guide, not only how the practice guide was developed, but also the value of the content or validity of the recommendations it contains.   Objective: The objective is to characterize the tools available to assess the quality of practice guidelines and in particular the validity of the content of the recommendations and potentially propose an improvement in this respect. Methods: A first systematic review was undertaken in order to identify existing reviews that have already reviewed practice guidelines assessment instruments. Pubmed and Embase databases were consulted from January 1990 to December 2015. Then, this review was supplemented by a second systematic review which only covered primary studies, i.e. instruments that had been developed since the most recent review.   Pubmed, Embase and Evidence Based Medecine databases were consulted from January 2011 to December 2015. A scientific watch using the same research strategy was maintained until December 2017.  Results: The first systematic review identified 3 systematic reviews counting 47 assessment instruments. The second systematic review added 5 more instruments. It appears that the AGREEII instrument is somehow considered as the gold standard for evaluation tools. It is complete without being excessive and allows a specific evaluation by domain as well as a global evaluation in addition to having been validated. Reflecting on situations where inappropriate scientific content may go unnoticed has led to the suggestion of specifically assess for each of the key recommendations: • Whether there is an explicit link between the recommendation and the supporting evidence; • Whether the evidence used is still up to date; • Whether the evidence used still applies to current patients.  Conclusion: The suggested addition to the AGREEII tool is likely to enhance the ability to gain insight into the value of the scientific content of practice guideline CGP recommendations.

Keyphrases: AGREE, Clinical practice guidelines, Appraisal
La composition interactive immersive : une approche participative à la composition électroacoustique

The constant evolution of the technological means available to artists allows for the creation of interactive systems that integrate the audience’s participation.  Interactivity can also improve the immersive quality of a piece when it is integrated in a transparent fashion with the other elements in play, be they related to sound, narrativity or scenography. This thesis first discusses the concepts related to interactivity and immersion in music, before reviewing the two main projects created for this research-creation.  The first one, Evo[1], is an electroacoustic concert piece requiring the participation of the audience in order to give it its intended shape.  By interacting with a website, the users can control the sound objects that make up the piece. The second work, La démonstration, is a piece-installation for a single participant.  The user interacts with scenographic objects which influence the narrative shape and the content.  This sonic universe is renewed with each performance owing to the integration of generative algorithms, along with an important pre-composed musical library.   These two projects allowed for the experimentation of different types of  interactive processes in electroacoustic compositions.

Keyphrases: Installation sonore, Composition, Interface, Interactivity, Immersive, Sound installation, Narrative, Smartphone, Electroacoustic music, Digital media
Adopter le risque et l’imprévu : approches de l’improvisation à la composition et la performance électroacoustique

This master’s thesis reports the place taken by practice and considerations of improvisation in my musical works both in studio and in a performance. We will see the different aspects improvisation took in a number of pieces and projects I conducted throughout my master’s. The keystone of my research lays on a three-part effort of skills that an improviser is likely to develop in his practice. We will see how this three-way split of expertise takes place in different kind of projects, from acousmatic music, to mixed music and improvised performances.

Keyphrases: improvisation, performance, instrument making, electroacoustic music, mixed music, creation process
Mémoire de la Guerre civile espagnole : l'engagement politique de Roberto Gerhard dans ses ballets Don Quixote et Pandora

This thesis studies the political commitments of Catalan composer Roberto Gerhard (1896-1970) through his ballets Don Quixote (1940-1941) and Pandora (1942-1943). It examines how Gerhard constructs a network of symbolic references to Catalan culture through the scenic action of the ballet and the music he composes, in order to show that he associates Catalan culture with the representation of an ideal, and thereby denounces the Francoist regime in Spain that was suppressed Catalan culture after the events of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).  In the first chapter, the approach is based on a comparative analysis of the chapters of Cervantes Don Quijote and the story line Gerhard wrote for his ballet. It demonstrates that Gerhard articulates his libretto to highlight the opposition between two interpretations of the Quijote, an idealist and a realist one. Accordingly, Gerhard exemplified this opposition in the music by determining a set of musical characteristics corresponding to each of these interpretations.  In the second chapter, Pandora is analyzed in order to determine how Gerhard reuses the strategies established in Don Quixote. In this score, Gerhard transforms some of these characteristics to highlight the fact that Queen Pandora is not a true ideal but merely a pale imitation of one. In the third chapter, folkloric themes cited by Gerhard in these works are studied in order to establish a clear link between the ideal and Catalan culture. Apart from the distinction between idealism and realism, Gerhard uses folkloric themes to represent Dulcinea, who represents Don Quichotte’s ideal, and Psyche and The Youth, who personify respectively the Good as an ideal, and the pursuit of it in Pandora. A comparative analysis of the text and the musical treatment of these folk melodies in Don Quixote and Pandora shows that Gerhard created a complex fabric of references to evoke the politic situation of his homeland, Catalonia.

Keyphrases: Roberto Gerhard, Don Quixote, Pandora, Ballet, Musical analysis, Nationalism, Political commitment, Spanish Civil War, Catalan culture, Francoism
L’efficacité in vitro d'un inhibiteur de VCP de première génération (CB-5083) contre le lymphome canin

Valosin-containing protein (VCP) is central to the maintenance of cellular protein homeostasis through its role in protein degradation, a process crucial for cancer cell survival. The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy and elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of CB-5083, a first-in-class small molecule inhibitor of VCP designed for in vivo use, in a canine lymphoma model system. Using lymphoma cell lines (CLBL-1, CL-1 and 17-71) and freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as controls, we first determined the effects of CB-5083 on cell viability and apoptosis by trypan blue exclusion and Caspase Glo assays. We then evaluated its effect on ER stress, the aggresome-autophagy pathway, and the unfolded protein response (UPR) by immunoblot and RT-PCR analyses. Results showed a preferential cell kill (lymphoma lines vs PBMCs) at concentrations in the nanomolar range (IC50:120-360 nM). Cell death was attributed to increased apoptosis, as confirmed by increased caspase 3/7 activity as early as 6 hours post treatment (1μM, P<0.0001).  Although the aggresome-autophagy path was not affected by CB-5083 treatment, ER stress and the UPR were rapidly induced, as evidenced by increased expression of DDIT3 and ATF4 following increased phosphorylation of eIF2α. These results validate CB-5083 as a potential therapeutic agent for canine lymphoma treatment, and identify DDIT3 as a biomarker for target inhibition that can be translated to in vivo studies.

Keyphrases: VCP, CB-5083, DDIT3, canine lymphoma, proteotoxic stress
Caractérisation de la zinc métalloprotéase de Streptococcus suis sérotype 2

Streptococcus suis is an important swine pathogen and zoonotic agent responsible for sudden death, septic shock, and meningitis. Although several putative factors have been described to be involved in the S. suis virulence, the first steps of the S. suis pathogenesis remain misunderstood. Among these factors is the S. suis serotype 2 zinc metalloprotease, which has been described as an IgA1 protease and it was demonstrated to be a critical virulence factor for S. suis serotype 2.  Moreover, this protein was a protective antigen in a mouse model of infection. However, contradictory results have been obtained regarding the role of the S. suis serotype 2 zinc metalloprotease and its IgA protease function has been question. More recently, phylogenetic analyses suggested that this protein would be homologous to the ZmpC of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which does not possess an IgA protease activity. Consequently, the main objective of this project was to characterize the S. suis serotype 2 zinc metalloprotease and to determine its role in the pathogenesis.  To do this effect, different cleavage and activation experiments have been carried out with the different targets of the IgA protease and the ZmpC protein of S. pneumoniae, whether the human IgA1, matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9), P-selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL-1), and mucin 16 (MUC16). Results showed that S. suis was unable to cleave human IgA1, thus confirming the lack of IgA protease activity by this pathogen. In addition, S. suis was unable to activate MMP-9 and to cleave PSGL-1 ectodomains. By contrast, Zmp partially cleaves MUC16 ectodomains. However, Zmp was not a required for colonization of the respiratory tract by S. suis nor for its virulence in both pig and mouse models of infection. Yet, and as previously described, the Zmp protein is a protective antigen with protection strongly influenced by the adjuvant used. Overall, this study showed that S. suis serotype 2 does not possess an IgA protease activity and that its zinc metalloprotease is not a critical virulence factor. Taken together, these results emphasize, once again, the importance of confirming the functions associated with critical S. suis virulence factors by different research teams worldwide.

Keyphrases: Streptococcus suis, controverse, Zinc metalloprotease, controversy, Mucin 16, Protective antigen
Effet de TDP-43 sur l’épissage alternatif et l’agrégation d’hnRNP A1 dans la sclérose latérale amyotrophique

RNA binding proteins such as TDP-43 and hnRNP A1 are mutated in ALS cases and are often mislocalized into cytoplasmic aggregates within motor neurons of affected patients. In the case of TDP-43, cytoplasmic inclusions, which are observed in most ALS cases and nearly half of FTD cases, are accompanied by a depletion of nuclear TDP-43. We report here that TDP-43 binds HNRNPA1 pre-mRNA and modulates its splicing. Depletion of nuclear TDP-43 results in increased inclusion of a cassette exon in the HNRNPA1 transcript and consequent elevated protein levels of an isoform containing an elongated prion-like domain, referred to as hnRNP A1B. Using both in vivo and in vitro approaches, we demonstrate that this isoform has greater fibrillization propensity, drives protein aggregation, and negatively impacts cell survival. Finally, accumulation of hnRNP A1B is observed in sporadic ALS patients with documented TDP-43 pathology. Our data indicate that TDP-43 mislocalization may contribute to neuronal vulnerability and loss via alterations in hnRNP A1 pre-mRNA splicing and function. Given that TDP-43 and hnRNP A1 each bind, and thus modulate, a third of the transcriptome, these data suggest a much broader disruption in RNA metabolism than previously considered.

Keyphrases: TDP-43, hnRNP A1, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, alternative splicing, protein aggregation, prion-like domain