NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Impacts de l’ego depletion sur l’autorégulation de la réponse sexuelle des hommes

Men tend to engage more frequently than women in problematic sexual behaviors, such as infidelity, sexual risk taking, and coercive sexual strategies. Although men’s stronger sexual response is often proposed as a possible explanation, few studies have directly investigated specific mechanisms of sexual self-control. Adopting a bimodal self-regulation perspective, this thesis seeks to explore individual and situational factors that could hinder men’s voluntary control of their sexual arousal as a possible step leading to problematic sexual behaviors. The ego depletion effect, understood as a fluctuation in the capacity to exert voluntary control over an automatic response, could be one of those situation factor. More specifically, it was proposed that men with high sexual reactivity and low self-regulation capacities would have more difficulty to control their sexual arousal under successive self-regulation demands.   The double task paradigm has been used to observe the impact of ego depletion on the sexual self-regulation capacities of men. In the first study, 36 men were asked to first memorise an aversive picture and to do a Stroop task. Then had to use to memory of this picture to try to control their genital response while viewing an erotic film. Only individuals high on sexual inhibition due to consequences of performance and those low on attentional focus were less effective to control their physiological arousal following the experimental manipulation. Results from the second study shed light on possible attentional mechanisms associated with ego depletion, where 82 men completed a Dot-probe task following a Stroop. An attentional bias caused by a faster orientation toward sexual cues was observed in men who tend to adopt a more passive mode of control when confronted with difficult conditions.    Taken together, these results suggest a modest effect of ego depletion on men’ sexual self-regulation. A cognitive control model rather than a limited resources account of ego depletion is proposed to better understand this effect. Enhancing self-control motivation and favoring cognitive control in high risk situation could be effective intervention and prevention strategies for men’s problematic sexual behaviors.

Keyphrases: Ego Depletion, Male Sexual Response, Self-Regulation, Infidelity, Sexual Risk Taking, Sexual Coercion, Penile Plethysmography, Dot-Probe Task, Cognitive Control
Mesures des préférences sexuelles envers les enfants : intégration des stimuli auditifs et virtuels

The presence of sexual interests towards children remains one of the foremost factors predicting the risk of sexual recidivism and one of the diagnosis criteria for pedophilic disorder. Nevertheless, assessing these subjective interests objectively remains difficult and requires the use of objective tools including penile plethysmography (PPG). This tool uses erectile responses to assess a variety of sexual interests (deviant or not). To accomplish this, PPG depends on the ability of stimuli (e.g., visual or audio) to generate erectile responses. This dependence constitutes one of PPG’s strengths and weaknesses, since rigours ethical norms are applied to the use of real images of children and therefore, some of the stimuli currently used, have difficulty in generating valid results caused by a significant rates of invalid PPG profiles. This doctoral research is an attempt to improve the number of valid profiles by attacking this problematic on two fronts.  In the first study, in order to reduce the number of invalid profile, we combined standard audio stimuli with images of computer-generated characters in order to create a new set of audiovisual stimuli capable of producing stronger penile responses than both the audio or visual stimuli presented individually. Erectile responses from two groups of participants (sexual offenders against children and non-offenders) were recorded and compared, while they were presented with three blocks of stimuli (audio, visual and audiovisual). For the second study, we attempted to show that these new audiovisual stimuli could be used in a conjuncture with pupillometry to obtain a second objective measure of sexual interests. This was done by recording and comparing pupillometric and plethysmographic data PPG from the same groups of participants while they were presented with the audiovisual stimuli. Results from the first study support the efficacy of the audiovisual stimuli using computer generated characters to generate stronger penile responses than both other modalities, while reducing the number of invalid PPG profiles when compared to the original audio stimuli. Furthermore, results demonstrate that the new audiovisual stimuli are as good as the standard audio stimuli at categorizing participants in their appropriate group.  Results for the second study support the use of pupillometry as a complementary measure to PPG with both measures capable of adequately categorizing participants in their appropriate groups. Results also suggest that the audiovisual stimuli using computer generated characters are good and ethical alternative to conventional visual stimuli. These two studies also emphasise the importance of new technologies as a means of enhancing tools already known, whilst maintaining rigorous ethical norms.

Keyphrases: Penile Plethysmography, Pupillometry, Child Molesters, Deviant Sexual Interests, Virtual Stimuli
Évaluation systématique des effets de la tDCS sur le DLPFC et applications en technologies de l'information

Despite promising results with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and other non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, literature reviews on the cognitive effects of these techniques conclude that some protocols do not produce significant results (Berryhill et al., 2014) or cannot conclude on significant effects due to methodological problems (Horvath et al., 2015a; Tremblay et al., 2014). It seems necessary to systematically evaluate the effects of tDCS on cognition while considering the known caveats related to this field of research.  This thesis first translates and validates an executive function battery, the NIH-Examiner (Kramer et al., 2014), which can address many critiques reported in the aforementioned literature reviews by using latent variables (statistical approximations of the concepts) such as psychometric representations of executive functions, rather than using performance variables such as response time and accuracy.  A randomized, repeated measures, double blind and placebo-controlled study was then conducted with the NIH-Examiner to evaluate the effects of tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and on right supra-orbital area. Despite practice effects in two of the four latent variables, no significant effects were attributable to stimulation condition.  Meanwhile, the popularity of tDCS as a means to promote cognitive enhancement is growing (Jwa, 2015) and these techniques are now being used in applied and clinical research communities such as, information systems (IS) research. To address this growing interest, a literature review on NIBS is presented to provide IS researchers a description of NIBS based on a state-of-the-art fundamental science. An investigation of the causal implication of the DLPFC in the perceived ease of use (PEoU) of a system, as shown in Dimoka (2011), follows to provide IS researchers an example NIBS use in applied IS research. Stimulation of the DLPFC with tDCS did not modulate PEoU, but perception of responsiveness of the website was altered, and other behavioral and neurophysiological indicators were also affected by stimulation. This thesis suggests that there are limited effects of tDCS on cognitive functions. It’s use and application for cognitive enhancement is suggested to be at bets, limited. We also highlight the need to determine whether any possible behavioral effect of tDCS is attributable to a specific task or to a cognitive function. Ways to improve the understanding of the effects of tDCS and NIBS, in light of the present results, are discussed.

Keyphrases: Neuropsychology, Cognitive evaluation, Translation validation, Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, Transcranial direct current stimulation, Executive functions, Information systems
Contingency Management and Brief Motivational Interviewing Interventions for Impaired Driving Offenders

This thesis focuses on the efficacy of interventions to reduce alcohol and drug use among driving under the influence (DUI) offenders. Convicted offenders have higher likelihoods of engaging in DUI behaviour or being involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes than non-offenders. The development of effective interventions to reduce risky behaviour in this population is therefore imperative to traffic safety.  The first article of this thesis systematically reviews literature on motivational interviewing (MI) for preventing DUI. Eleven randomised controlled trials were identified. Results showed MI is promising among recidivists and hospital patients with alcohol problems while research is required to determine whether MI is efficacious for young and first-time offenders. The second article evaluated the efficacy of a contingency management (CM) intervention with a pilot randomised controlled trial in DUI offenders. Objective and subjective data on alcohol consumption was gathered from 37 first-time and recidivist male DUI offenders wearing alcohol monitoring ankle bracelets for 42 days and assigned to one of three groups: CM, non-contingent feedback, bracelet-only control. Participants were also queried with regards to the acceptability of the bracelet. Results showed a significant reduction in objective alcohol consumption for all groups over time but no between-group differences. The bracelet was generally perceived favourably but some disadvantages were reported. Overall, results suggest CM is as effective as two control conditions in reducing alcohol consumption among DUI offenders. The bracelet showed promise for providing a sensitive measure of alcohol consumption. The third article evaluated the potential of interventions targeting alcohol to reduce drug use among DUI offenders. Secondary analyses were conducted on two randomised controlled trials: i) brief motivational interviewing (BMI; n = 184; Brown et al., 2010); ii) and CM (n = 37). No significant effects were detected for either intervention.  Reducing DUI among offenders is a challenge requiring new approaches to treatment. The results of this thesis suggest that i) MI is promising for recidivists with alcohol use problems, ii) treatments targeting subgroups of DUI offenders (i.e., young offenders, those with drug use problems) warrant further study.

Keyphrases: toxicomanie, driving under the influence, crash prevention, alcohol, substance use, contingency management, motivational interviewing
Étude de l'influence de la composition du cœur des naines blanches sur le calcul des âges

The goal of this thesis is to quantify the impact of the uncertainty of white dwarf core composition on the computation of ages using white dwarf cosmochronology. To this end, we use white dwarf evolutionary sequences in order to build theoretical luminosity functions. We extrapolate the helium atmosphere white dwarf evolutionary sequences to low luminosity, where the helium opacity is unknown. We study the impact on the computed ages of the uncertainties associated with the white dwarf core composition, the extrapolation of the helium atmosphere evolutionary sequences, the thickness of the hydrogen envelope, the choice of the inital-final mass relation used and the choice of the relation used that links the time spent on the main sequence to the mass of the star. We come to the conclusion that the uncertainty on the core composition dominates the uncertainty on the ages when we use white dwarfs. We then use the observed luminosity function of the globular cluster M67, combined with a precise measurements of its age, in order to determine the mean core composition of white dwarfs in this cluster. We find that the most probable core composition is 70% carbon and 30% oxygen but we can not rule out other compositions. We determine the age of the solar neighbourhood by comparing its observed luminosity function to our theoretical ones. We obtain an age of 9.3 Gyr (negative uncertainty: 0.8 Ga, positive uncertainty: 1.1 Ga, errors at 68% of confidence level), where the uncertainty is dominated by the uncertainty on the core composition and to a lesser extent by the uncertainty on the size of the sample. We then determine the ages of four clusters. We find ages consistents with the ones determined by other teams that also use white dwarf evolutionary sequences. The uncertainty that we determine takes into account the uncertainty on the white dwarf core composition, that dominates the uncertainty on the inferred age, and the ones on distance, that also have a non-negligeable impact. The ages determined by the main sequence turn-off are consistent with the ones we find, except for NGC 6791. However, this cluster has a peculiar white dwarf luminosity function, suggesting its history is not well understood. We conclude that white dwarf cosmochronology is a very promising technique to infer ages but the uncertainty on core composition is an obstacle to obtaining precise ages.

Keyphrases: Galaxy: solar neighborhood, globular clusters: individual (47 Tucanae, M4, NGC 6397), open clusters and associations: individual (NGC 6791), stars: evolution, stars: interiors, stars: luminosity function, stars: white dwarfs
Étude fondamentale du traitement du bois dans les plasmas N2-O2

Plasma treatment of wood has been investigated by means of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and black spruce (Picea mariana) samples were exposed to the flowing afterglow of a dielectric barrier discharge produced in N2 and O2. Surface caracterization by contact angle measurements showed it was possible to obtain a more hydrophilic sugar maple surface in N2 and a more hydrophobic surface in N2-O2. Further chemical and anatomical modifications were detected by FTIR, XPS and SEM. In order to explain the surface changes, a caracterization of the DBD was performed by electrical diagnostics and optical emission spectroscopy. The results were then used in a collisional-radiative model coupled to the Boltzmann equation for electrons in order to estimate number density of the different plasma species in N2 DBD. To isolate the role of certain species, a comparison with treatments occuring in a reduced-pressure N2-O2 flowing afterglow optimized for UV emission and in an ozone generator was performed. We have determined that ozone and atomic oxygen generated by UV photons and N2(A) metastables were responsibles for the N2-treated surface hydrophilization and lead to an etching of the cell walls and the foramation of lignin precipitates. The hydrophobization of N2-O2-treated surfaces was due to an increase of the gas temperature to 350 K following a transition from a homogeneous discharge in N2 to a filamentary discharge in N2-O2, causing a deacytylation followed by a depolymerization of hemicelluloses leading to the formation of furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural compounds and subsequent cross-linking between those compounds and lignin.

Keyphrases: XPS, Dielectric barrier discharge, Wood treatment, Optical emission spectroscopy, Contact angle, FTIR
Experimental and numerical study of a magnetic realization of a Bose-Einstein Condensate in a purely organic spin-1/2 quantum magnet (NIT2Py)

The research presented in this thesis focuses on studying the magnetic properties of a purely organic free radical molecule NIT2Py, which can condense into highly stable crystals at room temperature. The magnetization measurements reveal that each molecule carries a magnetic moment due to the existence of a spin-1/2 unpaired electron. The magnetic order is found to be antiferromagnetic (AFM). The field dependence of the magnetization isotherm measurement at 0.5 K shows a 1/2 magnetization plateau. Temperature dependence specific heat and magnetocaloric effect are used to produce the (H,T) phase diagram. In the vicinity of a quantum critical point, the (H,T) phase boundary moves towards a power law with a critical exponent of 1.47(9) that is compatible with the universal value of 1.5 for a 3D BEC. The dome-shaped field-induced ordering phases and the intersecting spin levels observed in NIT2Py are signatures of magnetic realisation of BEC, which is seen for the first time in a purely organic quantum spin-1/2 AFM.       We propose a relevant model spin Hamiltonian based on the Heisenberg exchange interactions. We exploit state-of-the art electronic structure calculations through density functional theory combined with the broken-symmetry and the energy mapping approaches to evaluate the exchange coupling constants (Js), which in turn provide us with the sign and strengths of the exchange interactions in the system. The strongest exchange interactions are found to be related to three AFM Js. An appropriate magnetic lattice, which is a repeat pattern of a minimal set of strong Js, is constructed. We found that the magnetic lattice consisting of spin tetramers, each having four spins with two intratetramer AFM interactions, explains the magnetic properties of NIT2Py. By resorting to mean-field approximation, we establish a magnetization model for a system of interacting tetramers, which can reproduce the magnetic properties of the system such as the two-step saturation with an intermediate plateau at half saturated magnetization. Furthermore, an exact diagonalization of the Heisenberg Hamiltonian for a system including four tetramers is carried out, and yields the magnetization and other required thermodynamic properties of the system.

Keyphrases: Free radical crystal, Organic quantum magnet, Heisenberg Hamiltonian, Exchange coupling, Electronic structure calculation, Density functional theory, Broken symmetry approach, Energy-mapping approach, 1/2 magnetization plateau, Antiferromagnetic, Dimer, Tetramer, Bose-Einstein condensate
Applications du tomodensitomètre à double énergie en radio-oncologie

The additional information obtained from dual energy computed tomography (DECT) offers new possibilities in the field of radiation oncology without subjecting patients to additional ionizing radiation. This thesis aims to develop new applications for this imaging modality for the improvement of radiotherapy treatments. In certain circumstances, the presence of an iodine-based contrast agent is required during a computed tomography (CT) imaging exam. Visualization of target volumes, such as the tumor, is improved due to the presence of an element with a high atomic number, iodine, which strongly attenuates the X-rays.  The first objective of this thesis is to develop and compare methods for extracting iodine concentration as well as physical parameters necessary for dose calculation from DECT images in the presence of a contrast agent. The methods developed in this paper may eventually allow the direct use of contrast-enhanced DECT images for radiotherapy treatment planning and thus eliminate an imaging exam. The second objective is to exploit the contrast agent concentration maps as an indicator of lung function and to compare it with the clinical gold standard, SPECT/CT.  The proof of concept is performed on five patients with lung cancer. The information acquired directly during the pre-treatment CT scan could further optimize patient treatment plans for lung cancer to avoid parts of the most functional lung areas. Finally, the last paper presents a methodology to evaluate the pulmonary function changes caused by radiotherapy treatment for lung cancer from DECT image with contrast agent. A longitudinal study of a small four patients cohort made it possible to test the proposed procedure.

Keyphrases: Dual energy computed tomography, Radiotherapy, Virtual non contrast scan, Contrast agent, Iodine, Pulmonary function
Mesures d'étalonnage aux neutrons et caractérisation par étude Monte Carlo de la réponse des détecteurs à gouttelettes surchauffées conçus pour la recherche et la détection directe du neutralino (la matière sombre) menant aux résultats finaux de l'expérience PICASSO

The astronomical and cosmological observations predict the existence of dark matter,  and that it would make up 85% of the total mass of the universe. In parallel, supersymmetry which explains shortcomings of the standard model, also predicts the existence of dark matter, which would take the form of a new fundamental particle named the neutralino.  The PICASSO project was set up to directly detect nuclear recoils induced by the collision  between a neutralino and a fluorine atom of the freon that makes up the active mass of the superheated droplets detectors.  The freon (C4F10) is being maintained in a liquid metastable state, and an energy deposition occasioned by a nuclear recoil can trigger a phase transition from the liquid to the gaseous phase. This process generates through the detector a pressure wave and the resulting acoustic signal can be recorded by piezo-electric sensors.  The calibration of the superheated droplets detectors with neutrons is essential in order to understand their functioning  and to predict their response to neutralinos. This is done with the Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator at the University of Montreal.  The measurements taken at the accelerator are then compared to Monte Carlo simulations implemented with the software development  environment GEANT4 (GEometry ANd Tracking 4) which reproduce the calibration experiment entirely, from the setup geometry  to the deposited energy after nuclear interactions.  The results from the calibrations allow to obtain better exclusion limits on the spin dependent cross-section of the  neutralino-proton interaction which are extracted from the experimental data acquired at the SNOLAB underground laboratory.

Keyphrases: PICASSO, PICO, SNOLAB, WIMP, Neutralino, Tandem Van de Graaff, GEANT4, Particle astrophysics, Astrophysics, Particle physics, Nuclear physics, Dark matter, Supersymmetry, Direct detection, Superheated droplets detectors, Droplets detectors, Bubble detectors, Seitz theory, Neutron calibration, Mono-energetic neutron response, Particle accelerator, Monte Carlo simulations, Background measurements, Exclusion limits