NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Effect of mindfulness meditation on the neural substrates of emotion processing and resting state in experienced and beginner meditators

Mindfulness meditation promotes emotional stability, yet little is known of the brain mechanisms through which this is achieved. The impact of mindfulness on the neural and subjective responses to negative, positive, and neutral pictures in experienced meditators and beginners was investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Mindfulness attenuated emotional intensity via distinct neural pathways for each group. For beginners, mindfulness induced a deactivation of the amygdala during emotional processing compared to meditators. For meditators (relative to beginners), mindfulness induced deactivations of areas involved in the evaluation of emotional significance and the default mode network (DMN) across all picture categories (medial prefrontal cortex [MPFC], posterior cingulate cortex). The DMN consists of functionally connected brain areas typically activated at rest and deactivated during goal-directed tasks. It remains unknown whether meditation training influences functional connectivity within DMN regions, and if so, whether these effects persist beyond a state of meditation per se. Functional connectivity within DMN regions at rest was examined using fMRI in beginners and meditators. Relative to beginners, meditators exhibited decreased connectivity between MPFC subdivisions, and increased connectivity between the right inferior parietal lobule and three other DMN regions. These findings may reflect that early beneficial effects of mindfulness on psychopathology are due to deactivations of limbic regions involved in emotional reactivity. On the other hand, long-term effects of meditation on emotional stability may occur through a down-regulation of prefrontal and cingulate regions involved in the evaluation of emotional significance, and altered functional connectivity within DMN regions at rest.

Keyphrases: Meditation, Pleine conscience ('mindfulness'), Mindfulness, Amygdala, Default Mode Network, Emotion Regulation, Prefrontal Cortex, Functional Connectivity
Le rôle des fréquences spatiales dans l’effet d’encombrement en identification de lettres

Visual crowding, which impairs our ability to accurately identify a target stimulus when surrounded by flankers, is ubiquitous across a wide variety of stimulus classes. Target eccentricity and target-flanker distance constitute fundamental factors in crowding. Target-flanker similarity appears as another key factor based on findings obtained with non-linguistic stimuli. The present study investigated the impact of these factors in conjunction with spatial frequency content on single letter identification performance. We presented spatial frequency filtered letters to neurologically intact nondyslexic readers while manipulating target-flanker distance, target eccentricity and target-flanker similarity (metric based on published letter confusion matrices). Spatial frequency filtering conditions were broadband, low-pass, high-pass and hybrid (i.e. medium spatial frequencies, known as optimal for letter recognition, removed from the stimulus). These conditions were matched on overall contrast energy. Participants were required to identify the target letter as fast and as accurately as possible. The results show that high target-flanker similarity enhances crowding, i.e. the joint effects of distance and eccentricity. This extends past findings on the impact of similarity on crowding to the visual identification of linguistic materials. Most importantly, the magnitude of the crowding effect is greatest with low-pass filtering, followed by hybrids, high-pass, and broadband, with all pairwise contrasts significant. We conclude that: 1- medium spatial frequencies provide optimal protection from crowding in letter recognition; 2- when medium spatial frequencies are absent from the stimulus, low spatial frequencies magnify crowding and high spatial frequencies protect against it, most likely through their opposite impact on the availability of distinctive feature information.

Keyphrases: Visual crowding, spatial frequencies, confusability, letter identification, letter confusability, spatial frequencies
Caractérisation moléculaire du rôle de facteurs accessoires ArgR et PepA au niveau de la recombinaison spécifique sur le site cer

My research project involved the role of two proteins, ArgR and PepA, which act as accessory factors in the ColE1 cer recombination system from the gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli.  These two proteins, in addition to the tyrosine recombinases XerC and XerD, catalyze a site-specific recombination event at the cer sequence which converts unstable multimeric forms of ColE1 into more stable monomers. Our study mainly focused on the C-terminal end of the ArgR. This region of the ArgR protein possesses a structural and amino acid sequence similarity with the AhrC protein from Bacillus subtilis. Moreover, AhrC, the Arginine repressor of this bacterium, is able to complement Escherichia coli mutants deficient in ArgR. The C-terminal regions of these proteins, display a very high region of similarity. Previous work from our laboratory has shown that ArgR mutants with mutations in this region, especially the mutants ArgR149, a truncated 149 amino acids form of ArgR, and ArgR5aa, a form containing a five amino acid insertion in the C-terminal part, lost the ability to perform a recombination reaction at two cer sites in the plasmid pCS210. Despite this defect in promoting cer recombination, the mutants were still able to bind specifically to DNA, and to repress an argA :: lacZ genetic fusion. In this work, both wild type and mutant ArgR proteins were overexpressed as 6-histidine fusion proteins. Crosslinking analysis showed that both wild type and ArgR5aa efficiently formed hexamers in vitro, while ArgR149 formed lower molecular weight multimers. Truncated forms of ArgR that were 150 amino acids or longer, were able to support cer recombination. The substitution mutants between positions 149 to 151 all showed that single amino acid substitutions at this region had little effect on cer recombination. Protein-protein crosslinking experiments showed that wild type and mutant forms of ArgR, were able to interact with and the other accessory protein involved in cer recombination, PepA. In vitro recombination experiments using wild type and mutant forms of ArgR, combined with purified PepA, XerC and XerD showed that the ArgR149 mutant did not support recombination, but the ArgR5aa mutant did promote Holliday junction formation, raising the possibility that these two mutants interact differently with the Xer recombination machinery. Topology experiments showed that after adding topoisomerase 1, PepA is able to protect DNA from topoisomerase 1, and prevent ArgRWt binding to DNA. The two mutants ArgR149 and ArgR5aa are protecting DNA with more supercoiling. When PepA is added, migration profiles with the two mutants showed a binding problem with PepA. Other experiments involving the LEL triplet (leucine-glutamic acid-leucine) and amino-acids around it should be done in order to know the existence of a possible binding site for PepA.

Keyphrases: ArgR, PepA, ArgR C-terminus part, recombination, multimers, Holliday junction, protein to protein interaction
Métriques de routage dans les réseaux maillés sans fil

In recent years, wireless technologies have developed sharply. They allow the establishment of high performance wireless networks. Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) is a new generation of wireless networks that offer high throughput compared to classical Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) or ad-hoc networks. WMNs have attracted significant research due to their features that include dynamic self organization, self configuration, easy maintenance and low cost. WMNs nodes can be equipped with multiples-radios and multiples-channels. This type of network can increase significantly the performance of WMNs. However, several problems must be solved including routing in WMNs.         Routing in WMNs is a great challenge. The main goal of routing protocols is to find best paths i.e. paths that maximize throughputs and minimize delays when transmitting packets. Route quality can be strongly affected by interference, collisions, congestions etc. Then protocols should be able to detect these problems and take them into account during route selection.         We propose a new routing metric for WMNs, called MBP that captures the impact of intra-flow and inter-flow interference in multi-radio, multi-channel networks. Results show that MBP has better performances than some existing and popular metrics like ETT, WCETT and iAWARE.

Keyphrases: wireless mesh networks, performances, metric, routing, measure
Profil et déterminants comportemental et physiologique de l’ascension à la dominance en milieu naturel chez les femelles d’une espèce de poisson hautement sociale

Although social rank is known to have a strong influence on fitness, factors affecting rank and changes in rank remain poorly understood. In addition, studies of dominance and its relation to aggression rarely focus on females. We address these issues in this study using Neolamprologus pulcher, a cooperatively breeding fish species from Lake Tanganyika. The probability of social ascension was manipulated in the field and the physiological and behavioural changes as well as plasma testosterone level associated with subordinate female ascension were characterized. Both helping effort (degree of cooperation) and body size were greater in ascending versus paired same social group non-ascending females. After one week of social ascension, ascending females did not differ behaviourally but were physiologically different (higher body condition, smaller, lighter) from dominant females. Dominant, ascending females and subordinate females did not differ in plasma testosterone levels. Understanding the benefits of helping behaviour for subordinates has long been an evolutionary challenge and our results imply that this costly metabolic behaviour may have been selected by enhancing future fitness via territory and rank inheritance. Furthermore, helping effort could be a signal of quality detected by both competitors and collaborators.

Keyphrases: Cichlidae, Neolamprologus pulcher, Social ascension, Dominance rank, Social prestige, Cooperation, Hierarchy, Testosterone, Ciclidae, Neolamprologus pulcher, Lake Tanganyika
Évaluation d’un prototype de détecteur de glucose dans le tissu interstitiel sans aiguille, le PGS (Photonic Glucose Sensor)

Objective: To determine the reliability and precision of a prototype of a non-invasive  device for continuous measurement of interstitial glucose, the PGS (Photonic Glucose  Sensor), using multi-level glycaemic clamp.  Methods: The PGS was evaluated in 13 subjects with type 1 diabetes. Two PGS were  tested with each subject, one on each triceps, to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity,  reproducibility and accuracy compared to the reference technique, the glucose analyzer  Beckman®. Each subject was submitted to a multi-level 8 hour glucose clamp at 3, 5, 8  and 12 mmol / L, 2 hours each.  Results: The correlation between the PGS and the Beckman® was 0.70. For the  detection of hypoglycaemia, the sensitivity was 63.4%, the specificity 91.6%, the  positive predictive value (PPV) 71.8% and the negative predictive value (NPV) 88.2%.  For the detection of hyperglycaemia, the sensitivity was 64.7% the specificity 92%, the  PPV 70.8% and the NPV: 89.7%. The ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristics) curve  showed an accuracy of 0.86 and 0.87 for hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia  respectively. Reproducibility according to the Clark Error Grid was 88% in the A and B  zone.   Conclusion: The performance of the PGS was comparable or better than other  continuous glucose monitoring devices on the market (Freestyle® Navigator, Medtronic  Guardian® RT, Dexcom® STS-7) with the advantage that it has no needle. It is therefore  an interesting device and hopefully, which could facilitate the monitoring in the  intensive treatment of diabetes.  Key words: Diabetes, type 1 diabetes, PGS (Photonic Glucose Sensor), ROC curve,  Clark Error Grid, continuous glucose monitoring, CGMS.

Keyphrases: PGS (Photonic Glucose Sensor), «Clark Error Grid», Diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, ROC curve, Continuous glucose monitoring, CGMS
L'usage des sources primaires dans les manuels du secondaire en Histoire et éducation à la citoyenneté au Québec

Educational Renewal, established in Quebec in 2005 at the secondary level had the effect of forcing many teachers to question their teaching practices with the skills approach. Considering that research on the old history program showed that teachers used mostly textbook as a unique tool, that contained few primary sources and these sources are now prescribed by the ministry of Education, Recreation and Sport, we determine in this research the use of primary sources in the new history and citizenship education textbooks of at the secondary level.  The analysis of our results allowed us to provide the tools necessary to answer our research question. Our first observation was to note the presence of the majority of primary sources in the textbooks. They were not always included in a learning situation, including at least one of disciplinary skill and, in even fewer cases, in a complex task in connection with the historical method.

Keyphrases: Primary sources, Textbooks, Historical teaching, History and citizenship education
L'espace public de Jürgen Habermas, 
réexaminé à la lumière de ses écrits de jeunesse

Jürgen Habermas' The structural transformation of the public sphere (1962) is often read as the first landmark of his career. Our study sets out to shed a different light upon it, to read The structural transformation of the public sphere as the arrival point of Habermas' 1950s thought. While we explore a certain number of minor and major pre-1962 works, his thesis reveals itself as some kind of critical theory of society, still deeply rooted in Marxism, that embodies a partial synthesis of his early works.

Keyphrases: Habermas, Philosophy, Social theory, Public sphere
Utilisation des TIC dans l’enseignement secondaire et développement des compétences des élèves en résolution de problèmes mathématiques au Burkina Faso

This study entitled "Use of information and communication technologies in secondary education and development of students in mathematical problems solving skills in Burkina Faso" is a mixed descriptive research examining both qualitative and quantitative data. It examines the math problem solving skills of students from Burkina Faso to reveal possible relationships between them and the use of ICT by students or teachers in mathematics. The interest of this research is to provide information as well on the reality of ICT in secondary education in Burkina Faso as on the effect of their presence in teaching and learning mathematics. The theoretical elements used for data analysis are presented in three areas: problem solving, skills development and the relationship between ICT, skills development and problem solving. From crossing these areas rose three directions in witch the response to the concern of the study is presented: 1) describe the use of computers by students from Burkina Faso to improve their learning of mathematics; 2) identify possible relationship between the use of computer by students and their mathematical problems solving skills; 3) identify relationships between mathematics teachers ICT skills and their students problems solving skills. The problem solving process is presented according the gestalt theory that takes it through an enlightenment, and according to the communication theory approach that links it to the type of problem to solve. Mathematical problems solving goes through characteristic stages that determine the subject’s abilities. The concept of competence is presented using the approach of Le Boterf. The data show that students from Burkina Faso are using the computer in a transmissive way taking it as a substitute for the teacher. Subsequently, in mathematical problem solving skills there is no meaningful difference between students who use computer and those who do not use it. Similarly, the study found that students whose teacher has ICT skills were not more competent in mathematical problems solving than those whose teacher does not have ICT skills.

Keyphrases: Burkina Faso, problem solving, skills, Burkina Faso
The left atrial ganglionated plexus : its function and pathways relative to atrial fibrillation surgery

The cardiac autonomic nervous system has recently become the target of ablative therapy in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. We investigated the pathways and function of the left atrial ganglionated plexus (LAGP) to clarify the pathophysiologic validity of therapies involving this cluster of neurons. Methods: Twenty-two bilaterally thoracotomized canines were instrumented with atrial epicardial plaques. LAGP stimulation was performed in the basal state and successively following 1) vagal decentralization, 2) radiofrequency ablation of the peri-aortic/superior vena caval (Ao/SVC) plexi, and 3) of the right atrial ganglionated plexus (RAGP). Denervation was carried out in either the aforementioned order (n=17, antegrade) or reversed (n=5, retrograde). Results: In 17 of 22 animals, LAGP stimulation induced a sinus bradycardia (149±34bpm to 136±28bpm, p<0.002) and atrial isointegral repolarization changes (REPOL∆). In the antegrade group, response was suppressed by vagal decentralization (n=1), Ao/SVC plexi ablation (n=4), and RAGP ablation (n=5). Changes persisted throughout in 2 canines. Surface area of REPOL∆ diminished with successive denervation, from 365±252 at baseline to 53±106mm2 following RAGP ablation (p<0.03). With retrograde denervation, chronotropic and repolarisation changes were suppressed following RAGP ablation in two canines, and following Ao/SVC ablation in three. Surface area of REPOL∆ diminished following RAGP ablation as well (269±144mm2 vs 124±158mm2, p<0.05). Conclusion: The LAGP can be identified intraoperatively by the bradycardic response to direct stimulation in most cases. The RAGP appears to be the primary, but not the only, gateway to the sinus node. These results could have important clinical implications relating to ablative treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Keyphrases: Atrial fibrillation, Intrinsic cardiac nervous system, Left atrial ganglionated plexus, Ablation, Neurocardiology, Autonomic nervous system, Atrial repolarisation, Isointegral mapping, Ganglionated plexus
L’adoption des innovations dans les systèmes PACS et la perception des bénéfices :
le concept de l’alignement tâche-technologie comme outil d’évaluation

Context: The first PACS deployments date to the early 1980’s. The recent upgrade of PACS in a university teaching hospital has offered the opportunity to study the introduction of innovations in a mature technology. Objective: First, to conduct a literature review of studies evaluating user perceptions following deployment of PACS. Second, to evaluate in a case study if task-technology fit predicts utilisation and perceived benefits. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify studies evaluating user perceptions. An adaptation of the Task-Technology-Fit model developed by Goodhue (1995) served as a theoretical basis for the case study conducted with an auto-administered survey. Results: The models used in the studies identified in the review are more suited for initial deployments of PACS, rather than mature systems in a state of continuous evolution. There is a significant correlation between the level of task-technology fit and the users’ perception of net benefits, as well as use. The study also revealed a divide between the perception of users and that of developers involved in product evolution. Conclusion: The findings validate the use of task-technology fit to study a PACS upgrade. It is important to maintain a continuous interaction between users and developers beyond the early phases of product development.

Keyphrases: PACS, Innovation, Task technology fit, Radiology information systems, Technology assessment, Organizational innovation
Histoires de langues : Montréal, a once-divided city ; La logeuse d'Eric Dupont ; et Heroine de Gail Scott

Refering to the theories of Lise Gauvin, Sherry Simon and Catherine Leclerc on «linguistic superconsciousness» (surconscience linguistique), «impact of languages» (choc des langues), and « contact zones» (zones de contact), this thesis produces a Montreal literature which is based on languages, French and English, in a contemporary context. Motivated by the debates around anglo-quebec literature and anglo-quebec writers, this thesis analyses two novels from the points of view of languages : Eric Dupont's La logeuse and Gail Scott's Heroine. The main objective of this study is to show that the concept developed by Gilles Marcotte in « Neil Bissoondath disait » which forbids comparisons between French an English texts, is obsolescent following the reading of the two novels. This thesis shows that in the context of Montreal, languages can create a specificity when they are not anymore a pretext to division, but the sign of a reconciliation.

Keyphrases: Gail Scott, Eric Dupont, Langues, Montreal Literature, Quebec Literature, St-Lawrence Boulevard, Anglo-Quebec Literature, Anglo-Montreal Imaginary, Languages, Eric Dupont, Gail Scott