NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Un monde de silence : musique pour documentaires aquatiques

This thesis looks back on my work and my approach to composing, producing and interpreting original music for four feature-length documentaries between 2006 and 2010 (Facing Darkness, H2O Secrets: The J.B. King, Axis Mundi and Héen Táak). I have selected these films for analysis due to their shared theme – the aquatic world – and because they were directed by the same filmmaker, Nathalie Lasselin. We will examine how some characteristics of the underwater world, including its formidable silence, its strange landscapes and its fantastic creatures, had an influence on my creative process.   Throughout this dissertation, I will explain the composition techniques used for these films. These include the electroacoustic montage of instrumental music and the guided improvisation of music executed for the purpose of creating musical-objects and sound-objects that substitute for or are added to virtual instruments and synthesizers. I will also explain my approach to writing empathetic music for varied documentary film sequences of a didactic and scientific nature. In particular, I will introduce and expand upon the notion of identifying emotional anchor points in the content of each film. These can then be associated with a musical resource that represents, for me, a semiotic function relative to a characteristic that must be emphasized.     Taking a novel approach, I will comment not only on the relationship between the music and each film’s final soundtrack but also on the music’s relationship to the guide track used temporarily during post-production and composition. To demonstrate the relationship between the score, the film and the soundtrack, the DVD’s included with this dissertation contain multiple audio tracks allowing the viewer to individually select either the official soundtrack, the soundtrack’s remix with emphasis on the music, the music without the soundtrack, the audio guide and the audio guide mixed with the music.   The third chapter will provide a contextual analysis for each film’s score. It will offer a chronology of key events in the evolution of individual projects and explain, in detail, the material, instrumental and human resources used for composition since these have an intrinsic connection with the score’s final result. An overview of the overall shape of each score will be given graphically and by quantifying the image to music ratio. I will analyze, in detail, the themes, motifs (rhythmic and melodic) and recurring sounds that contribute to the uniqueness of each of the film scores. Also, cues are chosen from each project for further analysis.

Keyphrases: Film, Nature, Composition, Music, Wildlife film, The silent world, Documentary, Underwater, Aquatic, Subaquatic
Estimation simplifiée de la variance dans le cas de l’échantillonnage à deux phases

In this thesis we study the problem of variance estimation for the double expansion estimator and the calibration estimators in the case of two-phase designs. We suggest to use a variance decomposition different from the one usually used in two-phase sampling, which leads to a simplified variance estimator. We look for the necessary conditions for the simplified variance estimators to be appropriate. In order to do so, we consider the following particular cases : (1) Poisson design at the second phase, (2) two-stage design, (3) simple random sampling at each phase, (4) simple random sampling at the second phase. We show that a crucial condition for the simplified variance estimator to be valid in cases (1) and (2) is that the first phase sampling fraction must be negligible (or small). We also show in cases (3) and (4) that the simplified variance estimator can be used with some calibration estimators when the first phase sampling fraction is negligible and the population size is large enough. Furthermore, we show that the simplified estimators can be obtained in an alternative way using the reversed approach (Fay, 1991 and Shao and Steel, 1999). Finally, we conduct some simulation studies in order to validate the theoretical results.

Keyphrases: Two-phase sampling, Double expansion estimator, Calibration estimators, Variance estimation, Reversed approach, Simulation study
Etude ab initio du pnicture de fer supraconducteur LaOFeAs

We present DFT calculations of the electronic structure of LaOFeAs, the parent compound of the new family of superconductors, the iron pnictides, in this master thesis. Specifically, we are going to take a look at the present state of the research done on this material before giving a quick introduction to DFT. Then, we will compare the optimized structural parameters as calculated by our DFT code with the experimental data as well as results obtained by other groups. We studied the electronic structure of LaOFeAs using the standard set of tools : band structure, density of state (DOS), fermi surface and fermi surface nesting. We used theoretical methods to determine the allowed phonon modes in this crystal structure. This, in turn, enabled us to explore the electron-phonon coupling in our material for the most important modes. We’ll also discuss the influence different functionals may have for calculating the electronic structure. This will allow us to validate our results. In detail, we will compare results obtained with the following functionals: LDA and PBE, as well as LDA+U and PBE+U.

Keyphrases: LaOFeAs, DFT, Superconductivity, Electronic structure, Electron-phonon coupling, Fermi surface nesting, Band Structure, Antiferromagnetism, Strongly correlated materials, Fermi surface, Functionals
Étude sur les déterminants psychosociaux de la vaccination contre le virus A(H1N1) auprès des parents d’enfants qui fréquentent des services de garde éducatifs de Montréal

Background In June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the 2009 A(H1N1) swine flu a pandemic. Despite the recommandations from public health authorities when setting up the mass immunization campaign in Quebec against the influenza A(H1N1), some population groups were more likely to be vaccinated than others. This underlines the importance of psychosocial determinants of human behaviour, which gave a framework for our study. Objectives The aim of this study was to document the attitudes, knowledge and social influences of parents whose children attend early childhood centers (ECC) regarding the vaccination against the pandemic and its coverage. Methods A self-administered and anonymous questionnaire based on the theory of reasoned action of Triandis was distributed to parents of children aged 0-59 months in nine childcare centers on the island of Montreal. Results The response rate of the survey was 32.0% (N=185). The vaccination uptake for children was 84%; this represents a higher coverage than the average regional and national levels. However, only 46% of the parents said that they would vaccinate their child again if a new flu pandemic was being declared by the World Health Organization. The most significant factors associated with vaccination uptake were positive personal beliefs, getting seasonal flu vaccines and the influence of media, all measured by several indicators (respective odds ratio 7,7, 3,1 and 4,2, p<0,05). Conclusion Several contextual factors played in favour of acceptable vaccination rates among children. However, the establishment of a campaign of vaccination by government authorities and public health agencies while using various media to spread information could contribute to higher vaccination rates in a future case of epidemic or pandemic.

Keyphrases: Vaccination, Attitudes des parents, Promotion de la vaccination, Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, Parents’ attitudes, Children, Immunization promotion
Attitudes et pratiques d’éducatrices en milieux de garde au Québec à l’égard de l’alimentation des enfants

Context. More and more children go to daycare centres and have their meals in these settings. Caregivers are role models whose attitudes and feeding practices may contribute to the development of children's eating habits. However, few studies have been conducted on this subject.  Objectives. To describe the attitudes and strategies of caregivers working in daycare settings with respect to children’s diets and identify dominant feeding styles.  Methodology. Data collection was conducted by means of a survey on the www.nospetitsmangeurs.org website.  A total of 86 statements were used to document the feeding styles and practices of caregivers as revealed through eight scenarios: a main dish not liked by the caregiver, a specific food not liked by a child, a new meal refused by children, a picky eater who does not want to eat, a child who is not hungry, an overweight little girl, a underweight girl and a child who has not finished his/her meal.  Statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics, reliability scales and correlations were generated. T tests for paired samples were also used to assess the relative importance of feeding styles.  Results. A total of 371 respondents completed the questionnaire. Overall, the caregivers use a democratic feeding style. They mentioned being role models for the children. They also encourage children to eat and they favor division of responsibilities. However, the most widely used feeding practice related to the authoritarian style is the pressure to eat, a practice contrary to the division of responsibilities concept.  Conclusion. This study indicates that caregivers demonstrate positive attitudes towards child feeding. Despite some discrepancies with respect to strategies used, these results are encouraging since a democratic feeding style allows children to recognize their hunger and satiety cues.

Keyphrases: attitudes, feeding styles, feeding practices, attitudes, caregivers, child care setting, preschool children, healthy eating, eating behaviors
Qualité des jeux de bataille père-enfant et adaptation sociale de l'enfant d'âge préscolaire

Today’s fathers are increasingly more involved with their children. During the preschool years, rough-and-tumble-play (RTP; including play-fighting) is a significant aspect of paternal interaction style. A few studies suggest that this type of play is linked to children’s social adaptation. However, many contradictions remain in the current literature, particularly concerning the link between the quantity of father-child RTP and social adaptation measures, RTP quality indicators and their measurement, and gender differences. There is also a debate regarding the optimal control level (or mutuality) during play. Moreover, very few studies have investigated the link between father-child RTP and children’s anxiety/withdrawal. The current thesis has four objectives: 1) to verify the presence of a link between father-child play-fighting quantity and preschooler’s social adaptation measures (i.e., social competency, aggressiveness/irritability, physical aggression and anxiety/withdrawal); 2) to verify if mutuality or control measures moderate the relationship between father-child play-fighting quantity and social adaptation; 3) to explore the potential role of other play-fighting quality cues; 4) to clarify the role of child gender. The sample consists of 100 father-child dyads from the Montreal region. Correlational analyses suggest that the frequency and duration of play-fighting are not directly linked to children social adaptation. The regressions for moderation models indicate that father-child mutuality in play-fighting initiations, as well as the fear expressed by the child during play, moderate the relationship between playfighting duration and the preschooler’s social competency. Mutuality also moderates the link between play duration and child aggressiveness/irritability. Although fathers do not report a higher frequency or duration of play-fighting according to their children’s gender, post-hoc analyses show that three out of four moderating models are significant only for the boys. iv The data is interpreted according to evolutionary and developmental theories. It is argued that a measure of competition could shed light on the relationship between aggressiveness and social competency in social adaptation, and that these two variables may not systematically be opposed as it is commonly perceived in RTP literature.

Keyphrases: rough-and-tumble-play, play-fighting, social competency, aggressiveness, physical aggression, anxiety, father, child
Étude sur le Staphylococcus aureus résistant à la méthicilline chez le porc à l'abattoir au Québec, Canada

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) found in food producing animals is a major public health concern. Transmission to humans has been reported and MRSA represents a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes. Little is known on how MRSA successfully establishes colonization and how it is able to persist in the host. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence and the antimicrobial resistance profile of MRSA from abattoir pigs and their level of seroconversion toward S. aureus (SA). A total of 107 isolates were identified as MRSA from 660 samples. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined by broth microdilutions. Fifteen clones were identified by MLVA with clones VI (40.1%; 43/107) and XI (17.7%; 19/107) being the most predominant. All MRSA isolates were pvl-, tst-, eta- and etb-negative. Most isolates were SCCmec type V (70.1%; 75/107). All MRSA isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, gentamicin, levofloxacin, linezolid, quinupristin/dalfopristin, rifampin, streptomycin, trimethroprim/sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin. However, resistance was observed toward clindamycin (29%), daptomycin (0.9%), erythromycin (29%) and tetracycline (98.1%). Multi-resistance was confirmed in MRSA since 28% of all isolates were resistant toward three antimicrobials other than β-lactams. The effect of MRSA carriage on seroconversion was examined to see whether the host responded differently to MRSA or SA colonization. The presence of SA-specific antibodies in pig serums was measured for each animal using indirect ELISA and a mixture of two widespread SA antigens (IsdH [HarA] and IsdB). Regardless of the colonization site, SA-/MRSA- pigs (n=34) and SA+ pigs (n=194) showed 20.6% and 32.5% seroconversion, respectively. Notably, pigs colonized by MRSA at one body site and no SA at the other sampling site (n=18) showed a significantly lower (5.6%) seroconversion (P < 0.05) compared to pigs colonized by SA at one or both vi sites without MRSA. The findings of the study show that the nares and axillae of abattoir pigs can harbor MRSA strains with multiple antimicrobial resistances. In addition, these MRSA were possibly able to colonize the host either without stimulating antibody production, by attenuating the immune response or by colonizing pigs that are less immunocompetent. This may explain the success of MRSA colonization and persistence in pigs. Further studies are required to better elucidate MRSA colonization in abattoir pigs and their public health risk.

Keyphrases: MLVA, SCCmec, Abattoir, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Pig, Antimicrobial, Typing, Multi-resistance
Connectivité hydrologique et signature géochimique à l'échelle événementielle dans un bassin versant forestier

In watersheds, hydrologic connectivity consists of a hydrologic state that links the upper part of a hillslope to the riparian zone. Its impacts on streamflow generation and transfer of dissolved elements towards the stream are considered substantial. This study aims to 1) detect hydrotops and hydrologic connections with a network of wells that allow measurements of water table (WT) fluctuations; 2) identify spatial and temporal variability and the geochemical signature of potential sources of water with major and trace elements and 3) examine the spatial and temporal contribution of sources of water within the watershed during a storm event. The study takes place in a small forested watershed of the Canadian Shield (the Hermine). We demonstrate the existence of four hydrotops representing a water convergence gradient, highlighting diversity of behavior of the WT. Hydrological connections are characterized by high Spearman coefficients of the relationship between WT depth and streamflow in their downstream portion. Some hydrological connections are engaged by the fill and spill mechanism. WT behavior is influenced by the distance limits of the basin, soil horizonation and subsurface topography. In sum, three water sources connect the hillslope to the riparian zone during the storm event in chronological order: 1) WT and B horizons of the entire basin (Sr), 2) LFH horizons of convergence zones (Ba and Zn) and 3) a depression of wet soil on north hillslope (Co and Mn).

Keyphrases: Hydrologic connectivity, Hydrotops, Trace elements, Sols forestiers, Forested soils, Subsurface flow, Zones humides, Wetlands, Redox, Canadian Shield
Étude des mécanismes associés aux effets bénéfiques de la restriction calorique sur la fonction somatotrope du rat vieillissant

In somatotroph cells, growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) binding to its receptor (GHRH-R) stimulates growth hormone (GH) secretion and cell proliferation. In mammals, aging is characterized by a decrease of GH, associated with a decline of GHRH somatotroph sensitivity. In the aged rat, changes in GHRH-R mRNA levels and decrease of GHRH affinity and capacity were reported. In the course of aging, significant increase of glucose and free fatty acid (FFA) serum levels are observed, suggesting that gluco- or lipotoxicity could contribute to somatotroph dysfunction.   Up to now, long-term moderate caloric restriction (LTMCR) has been the most efficient intervention to prevent or delay age-related deteriorations. Studies have shown beneficial effects of LTMCR on somatotroph axis during aging, through the maintenance of GHRH-R binding parameters. Knowing the importance of this axis, an understanding of the mechanisms associated with the effects of somatopause and benefits of LTMCR is important.  Therefore, the main objectives of this thesis were: 1) to determine the effects of LTMCR on rat pituitary GHRH-R and somatotroph sensitivity to GHRH, 2) to identify the mechanisms associated to somatopause and the beneficial effects of LTMCR and 3) to specify the effect of gluco- or lipotoxicity on the rat somatotroph axis and their implications in somatopause.  Eight-month-old rats were submitted to a 40% LTMCR until the age of 18 to 20-months and where compared to young and old rats fed ad libitum (AL). This study highlighted beneficial effects of LTMCR on GHRH-R regulation and functionality and suggested that high circulating levels of glucose and FFA could be involved in somatotroph aging. A microarray study was also performed, allowing the identification of genes associated to cellular protection and damage repair mechanisms regulated by aging and LTMCR in the anterior pituitary. Finally, effects of a gluco- or lipotoxic stress on the somatotroph function was assessed in 2- and 6-month-old rats submitted to a 72-h glucose and/or Intralipid infusion, to mimic the levels of glucose and FFA found in aged rats. The results showed that glucotoxicity affects the regulation of specific genes in the somatotroph, such as the GHRH-R gene, and suggest that the response capacity against this type of stress is altered with age very early on. Mechanisms by which glucotoxicity exerts these effects might include oxidative stress production.   Altogether, these results proposed novel mechanisms that could contribute to delay somatopause and, ultimately, to the development of new nutritional or pharmacologic interventions targeting the same pathways as LTMCR, with a similar or greater efficiency.

Keyphrases: GHRH-R, Somatotroph, Aging, Long-term moderate caloric restriction, Glucotoxicity, Lipotoxicity, Oxidative stress, Growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor
Utilisation de la visualisation interactive pour l’analyse des dépendances dans les logiciels

Understanding the structure of software is an important first step in solving tasks of analysis and maintenance on it. However, in addition to the links defined by the hierarchy, there exists another type of links between elements of software that are called adjacency links. A complete understanding of software must take account of all these types of links. Visualization tools are generally effective in helping a developer in his understanding of software by presenting the information in a clear and concise manner. However, viewing these two types of links generate in general a lot of visual clutter, making these visualizations inefficient to provide useful information on these links. We propose in this M.Sc. thesis a 3D visualization tool that can represent both the hierarchical structure of an application and the adjacency relationships between its elements. Our tool uses three different types of layout to represent the hierarchy. Each layout can support efficiently the display of adjacency links. To represent adjacency links, we propose a 3D version of the Hierarchical Edge Bundles algorithm. We also use a metaheuristic algorithm to improve our layouts to further reduce visual clutter in the adjacency links. Moreover, our tool provides a set of interaction possibilities that allows a user to navigate through the information provided by our visualization. Our contributions have been evaluated successfully on large software systems.

Keyphrases: Visualisation of hierarchical structure, Visualisation of adjacency links, Layout algorithm, Interaction possibilities
La géographie du dollar et la Chine : analyse géoéconomique d'une sédition monétaire

Present world economic stability rests on a structural asymmetry whose main antagonists are the United States and East Asia. Inducing the very existence of this axis is the question of the worldwide representation of value. The dollar’s domination in this matter allows the United States a disproportionate access to planetary resources. The creditor countries, among which China, hesitate to adopt a floating exchange rate and challenge this peculiar dimension of hegemony directly through the foreign exchange market. As time goes by the global imbalances intensify along with the corresponding political tensions. In effect, the dollarized global monetary system acts as a pillar of a unipolar world. The present international monetary system does not offer, by itself, a resolution to this polarisation process its existence generates. This mémoire offers a perspective on China’s geoeconomic strategies destined to extract itself from the dollar system. This is done through the observation of three sets of indicators : Forex reserves, commercial relations and domestic demand.

Keyphrases: dollar, yuan, dollar system, money, international monetary system, United States, China, yuan, global imbalances, geoeconomy, geography, geopolitics, development