NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Análisis del radioteatro a través de la obra de Julio Cortázar : Adiós, Robinson

 This research work is based on the study of the play Adiós, Robinson (Goodbye, Robinson), a radio script written by Julio Cortázar in 1977, published in 1984, reedited in 1995 -after the death of the author-, and broadcast in every continent in the late 1970s. The analysis of this piece was carried out taking into consideration two different but complementary perspectives: one more formal or technical and the other ideological. Thus, on the one hand, radio drama is examined as a type of discourse that uses a specific language -radiophonic language-, and constitutes “a theatrical presentation written for radio", based on the works of Rudolf Arnheim, Armand Balsebre and Etienne Fuzellier. On the other hand, the text contextualized by referring to the troubled situation in Latin America in the 1970s, and relating the topic of "decolonization" to that of liberation.   Before addressing the subject of radio drama -including its origins in Argentina, the first pieces for radio, and the characteristics of its format- and taking the author Jesús Martín-Barbero as a source of reference, a brief history of melodrama is presented. This genre, characterized by strong emotional content, is very much present in Latin America, particularly in radio drama and soap operas. After describing Cortázar’s writing style, the script is analyzed from a viewpoint that focuses mainly on the categories of space and time, which are especially of interest when studying a piece of radio drama. Finally, this study pretends to demonstrate that Julio Cortázar did not write Adiós, Robinson as a mere piece of radio entertainment. On the contrary, the author, aware of the power exercised by this type of media, uses it to reach a wider audience and present it with an anti-colonial fable. 

Keyphrases: Robinson Crusoe, decolonization, semiology of radio drama
Évaluation des effets de l’expansion palatine rapide assistée chirurgicalement (EPRAC) sur les voies aériennes supérieures
à l’aide de la tomodensitométrie à faisceau conique

Introduction: Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) is a treatment of choice for patients who have reached skeletal maturity and present a maxillary transverse deficiency. It is often mentioned that SARPE has the benefit to improve respiratory function, however, only a few research projects have investigated the effects of SARPE on the upper airways. The objective of this clinical prospective comparative study was to evaluate the three-dimensional effects of SARPE on the nasal cavity, the nasopharynx and the oropharynx using computed tomography. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 14 subjects (5 males, 9 females) whose mean age was 23.0 ± 1.9 years (range: 16 y. 4 mo. to 39 y. 7 mo.). All patients were treated using a bonded Hyrax expander and the mean expansion was 9.82 mm   (7.5-12.0 mm). A one-year retention period was undertaken before the beginning of any other orthodontic treatment. A cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) evaluation was performed at T0 (initial), T1 (6 months post-expansion) and T2 (1 year post-expansion), and then the nasal cavity, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal volumes and the oropharyngeal minimal cross-sectional area were measured on the three-dimensional volumes that were obtained.  Results: Radiological results have demonstrated a significant increase of the nasal and nasopharyngeal volumes and also an increase of the oropharyngeal minimal cross-sectional area at 6 months post-expansion. At one year post-SARPE, for these three parameters, a part of the gain was lost but did not return to the initial values. No significant effect on oropharyngeal volume was found. No significant correlation between expansion screw activation and radiological parameters were noted. Intra-class correlation analysis showed excellent intra-examiner reliability. Conclusions: SARPE causes significant changes of the nasal cavity and nasopharyngeal volumes. SARPE does not modify the oropharyngeal volume, but induces significant changes of the oropharyngeal minimal cross-sectional area. The observed effects do not have a correlation with the amount of expansion screw activation.

Keyphrases: Cbct, Sarpe, Upper airways, Cone-beam computed tomography, Surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion
Effet d’une orthèse d’avancement mandibulaire neutre combinée à un masque facial et nasal dans le traitement de l’apnée obstructive du sommeil par CPAP

The first line of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP used via a nasal mask. Some patients, unable to tolerate the nasal mask, have to turn to the facial mask, which sometimes requires a superior level of pressure to eliminate all the respiratory events. We believe that the force applied on the chin from a tight adjustment of the facial mask may retrude the mandible and diminish the upper airway caliber. Our objectives for this study were to: 1) demonstrate that a difference of effective therapeutic pressure between the nasal and facial masks does exist, 2) quantify the leaks associated with each mask, 3) evaluate the effect of a neutral mandibular appliance (NMA), that prevents the retrusion of the mandible, on the effective pressure of both masks and 4) evaluate if a link between the cephalometric values and varied individual responses to both masks exists. Methods: Eight subjects (2 females, 6 males) mean age 56.3 years (33-65y) participated in the cross-over design pilot study. All subjects underwent a complete orthodontic examination including lateral cephalometric radiograph before spending two nights in a sleep laboratory for a polysomnography in split-night protocol, where both mask were worn alone on the first night and with the NMA on the second night. Results: We found that the therapeutic effective pressure was higher with the facial mask compared to the nasal mask, and this difference was statistically significant. The leak was more elevated with the nasal mask, thus eliminating this factor as a probable cause of the higher pressure with the facial mask. The NMA did not have any statistically significant effect on both masks; however a possible positive effect might be seen if the Bi-level PAP was included in the protocol. Conclusion: Our results cannot confirm the role of the retrusion of the mandible, caused by the force applied by the facial mask, in the necessity of a superior level of pressure with that mask, but we cannot eliminate that possibility either. Our results suggest that this phenomenon is more frequent that we may think and that a link with some anatomical factors may exist.

Keyphrases: obstructive sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure, facial mask, nasal mask, neutral mandibular appliance, critical pressure
Vivre au chevet de la mort : une analyse phénoménologique et interprétative de l’expérience spirituelle et existentielle d’infirmières qui accompagnent des patients en fin de vie

The global objective of this thesis is to develop a better understanding of how health care providers psychologically negotiate death proximity, given the common contextual tendencies towards denial of death. To address this objective, we suggest an in-depth exploration of the spiritual and existential experience of palliative care nurses. This thesis is comprised of three articles. The first article is a systematic and exhaustive conceptual analysis of the empirical literature that provides an integrative definition of the concept of spirituality at the end of life.  The resulting synthesis suggests that spirituality can be defined as “developmental and conscious process, characterized by two movements of transcendence; either deep within the self or beyond the self.”   The objectives of the second article are to derive a better understanding of (a) how palliative care nurses handle daily confrontation with death, and (b) the spiritual and existential dimensions of their experience. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 11 palliative care nurses. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the data allowed the emergence of a typology that described three modes of affective regulation of death confrontation: “Integrating death”, “fighting death”, and “suffering death”. Furthermore, the results suggest a potential relationship between these three factors: (a) nurses’ affective regulation, (b) spiritual-existential experiences' and (3) intersubjective regulation in relationship with patients. The third article describes the effects of a Meaning-Centered Intervention on the spiritual and existential dimensions of nurses’ experience, both at a personal and at a professional level. Ten nurses were interviewed individually after participating in a group Meaning-Centered Intervention. From the nurses’ point of view, the intervention helped them to enlarge their spiritual and existential awareness by encouraging them to become more conscious of (a) the finiteness of life, (2) the sources of meaning in life, (3) the meaning of suffering and (4) the impact of mindfulness. Moreover, participants reported to have benefited from the containing function of the group experience by developing a common language and feeling validated through sharing their experience with peers. In conclusion, our results indicate the importance of individual differences in the psychological mechanisms involved in nurses’ experience of confrontation with death. Taken as a whole, the findings of the three articles suggest a coherent conceptual link between the role of death confrontation in the development of spiritual and existential experiences for palliative care nurses.

Keyphrases: Spirituality, Death confrontation, Palliative care, Existential approach, Interpretative phenomenological analysis, Nurse, Intersubjective regulation, Meaning
Les conditions d'une musicalité du sonore : étude comparative sur le statut musical du bruit en musique et au cinéma

This study is two-fold. To begin with, it explores the conditions that permitted the emergence and integration of “all sound” into the musical idiom of the twentieth century. With this end in mind, it revisits the theoretical writings of Luigi Russolo, Edgar Varèse and Pierre Schaeffer, three defining figures of the modern musical landscape. From their work, it extracts certain founding principles of the musicality of sound that permit us to conceive an “art of noise” (Russolo) based on the “organization of sound” (Varèse) in order to build “musical structures” (Schaeffer). Secondly, I bring these notions to bear on my own experience of designing the sound for the film Qui va droit son chemin (Michèle Gauthier, 2010, 24min 10secs) by examining each stage of production – writing the script, collecting sounds, sound editing and mixing – to explore the creative conditions which permit the emergence of musicality in the cinematographic acoustic environment. In doing so, with the help of various theoretical conceptions (Chion, Fano, Roy, Gallet), I attempt to discern and describe the foundations of an esthetic of musicalized sound in film.

Keyphrases: Son, Film, Music, Sound, Sound design, Musicality
Étude du caractère automatique du processus de contrôle en ligne lors de tâche de pointage manuel

Cursor-jump experiments have suggested the existence of quick, efficient, automatic and even reflexive (Franklin and Wolpert, 2008) online correction processes in manual aiming movements.  In the present study, we wanted to determine whether corrections for a cursor jump are purely automatic/reflexive or whether they are functional in that they occur only when they are required for the target to be reached. In a first experiment, we used different target sizes (5 mm to 30 mm) and cursor-jump amplitudes (5 mm to 25 mm) so that for some target size/cursor-jump combinations, no correction would be needed to reach the target. In all cases, we observed a correction for the cursor-jump.  This correction reduced the error induced by the cursor jump by 60-70%, regardless of target size.  In a second experiment, we asked  participants to point at a large wedge (30° of circular arc).  For some trials, a cursor-jump translated the location of the cursor laterally by 15 mm soon after movement initiation.  Participants never consciously detected the cursor-jump but clearly modified the trajectory of their movement in the direction opposite to that of the cursor-jump.  These corrections were smaller than those observed in the first experiment (42% of the cursor-jump).  Our results indicate that the initiation of a correction for a cursor-jump is more reflexive than it is functional.  A second correction process would tailor the movement's initial impulse based on the  target characteristics.

Keyphrases: Manual aiming, Visual feedback, Online control
La démographie des centenaires québécois : validation des âges au décès, mesure de la mortalité et composante familiale de la longévité

The recent rise in the number of centenarians within low mortality countries has led to multiple studies conducted on longevity, and more specifically on its determinants and repercussions. Some are trying to identify genes that could be responsible for extreme longevity. Others are studying the social, economic and political impact of the rise in life expectancy and population aging, or questioning themselves about the existence of a biological limit to the human life span. In this thesis, we first study the demographic situation of centenarians from Quebec using aggregated data (census data, vital statistics, and population estimations).   Then, we evaluate the quality of Quebec data at the oldest ages using the death records of centenarians belonging to the 1870-1894 birth cohorts. We are particularly interested in the mortality trajectories beyond 100 years old.  Finally, we analyze the survival of siblings and parents of a semi-supercentenarians (105 years and over) sample in order to assess the familial component of longevity.     The thesis is divided into three articles.  In the first article, we study the evolution of the centenarian population from the 1920s in Quebec.   With demographic indicators such as the centenarian ratio, the survival probabilities and the maximal age at death, we try to demonstrate the remarkable progress realised in old age mortality.  We also analyze the determinants of the increase in the number of centenarians in Quebec.  Among the factors identified, the improvement in late mortality is the main determinant of the increase of the number of centenarians in Quebec.  The second article deals with the validation of the ages at death of French-Canadian centenarians born in Quebec between 1870-1894. The validation results confirm that Quebec data at the highest ages at death are of very good quality. Therefore, the measure of centenarian mortality based on all death records is representative of the true trends.  The evolution of age-specific life table death rates beyond 100 years old assesses the mortality deceleration at the highest ages. Among men and women, the death rates reach a plateau at around 45%. Finally, in the third article, we study the familial predisposition for longevity.  We compare the survival probabilities of siblings and parents of semi-supercentenarians deceased between 1995 and 2004 to those of their birth cohort-matched counterparts.  The survival differences between the siblings and parents of semi-supercentenarians and their respective birth cohorts are statistically significant at a 0,01% level of significance.  The siblings and parents have a 1,7 to 3 times greater probability of survival from age 50 to 90 then members of their respective birth cohorts.  These findings support the existence of a substantial familial component to longevity.

Keyphrases: Longevity, Mortality trajectories, Centenarians, Data validation, Data quality, Heritability of longevity, Survival analysis, Quebec
Étude du transcriptome des cellules non tumorales de l’épithélium de surface de l’ovaire des femmes porteuses d’une mutation des gènes BRCA1 et BRCA2

We analyzed the transcriptome of nine primary cultures of non-tumor ovarian surface epithelium cells (NOSE) from four non-carriers, two BRCA1 and three BRCA2 carriers, and four primary cultures of tumor ovarian cells (TOV) from three BRCA1 and one BRCA2 carriers. We identified the first molecular signatures associated with the presence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in NOSEs and the first molecular signature associated with the transformation from NOSEs to TOVs in French Canadian women carriers of BRCA1 mutation. Moreover, we localized some co-regulated chromosomal domains associated with the presence of a BRCA1 mutation in NOSE cells. Wild-type and mutated BRCA2 allelic transcripts were expressed in tumor cells from 8765delAG BRCA2 mutation carriers, with the highest level of BRCA2 transcript expression and the highest contribution of the mutated allele in cells originating from the most aggressive ovarian tumors. The observed phenotype in BRCA2-mutated cells as well as the aggressiveness of the tumor could result from a dosage effect of the BRCA2 mutated allele.

Keyphrases: Transcriptome, Cellules tumorales ovariennes, BRCA1, BRCA2 8765delAG, BRCA2, Transcriptome, Co-regulated chromosomal domains, Non-tumor ovarian surface epithelium, Epithelial ovarian tumor
Analyse fonctionnelle de deux nouvelles mutations récessives de l’AQP2
impliquées dans le diabète insipide néphrogénique par expression dans les
ovocytes de Xenopus laevis

The autosomal nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is caused by mutations of the gene coding for the water channel aquaporine-2 (AQP2). An oftenly used model for the study of membrane proteins such as AQP2 is the heterogenous expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Unfortunately, the existing techniques of plasma membranes purification are either too long, too difficult or require too much material, which does not allow adequate analysis of targeting of the native and mutants forms, which is crucial for this type of study. We developed a fast and effective plasma membrane purification technique which combines partial digestion of the vitellin membrane, its polymerization with the plasma membrane followed by a serie of low speed centrifugations to collect the purified membranes. We used this technique to study of two new family cases of heterozygote patients carrying the V24A and R187C mutations in a case and K228E and R187C in the second case. For each mutation, we analyzed the functionality and the parameters of expression of the mutant proteins. The membrane permeability experiments show that the oocytes expressing AQP2- V24A (Pf = 16.3 ± 3.5 x 10-4 cm/s, 10 ng) and AQP2-K228E (Pf = 19.9 ± 7.0 x 10-4 cm/s, 10 ng) have similar activities to the oocytes expressing the native form (Pf = 14.4 ± 5.5 x 10-4 cm/s, 1 ng), while AQP2-R187C (Pf = 2.6 ± 0.6 x 10-4 cm/s, 10 ng) doesn’t seem to have any activity like the un-injected oocytes (Pf = 2.8 ± 1.0 x 10-4 cm/s). The coexpression studies showed an additive effect when AQP2-V24A and -K228E are injected with the native form and an effect being associated with negative dominance when AQP2-R187C was injected with AQP2-V24A, -K228E and the native form. Western blot results confirmed what was observed in the functionality studies. However, when the mutations were expressed in mIMCD-3 cells, there was a slight expression of the K228E mutation to the plasma membrane and a total absence of the mutations –V24A and R187C at the plasma membrane. The results of our studies showed that depending on the expression system the mutations –K228E and -V24A can be used in targeting studies using chemical chaperones.

Keyphrases: Aquaporine-2, mutation, Oocyte, Aquaporin-2, Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, mutation
Caractérisation fonctionnelle du gène AP1S1 mutant associé au syndrome de MEDNIK

Intracellular protein transport between organelles is mainly mediated by clathrin coated vesicles. Clathrin adaptor protein (AP) complexes participate in clathrin coated vesicle formation and in sorting protein cargo. We studied 5 families with MEDNIK syndrome, which is characterized by mental retardation, enteropathy, deafness, neuropathy, ichtyosis and keratoderma. All families affected with this autosomal recessive syndrome originate from an isolated population in the Kamouraska region of Quebec. The candidate genes identified in the positive region were sequenced and a founder mutation was identified in the acceptor splice slice of intron 2 of the AP1S1 gene. This gene encodes for the small subunit σ1 of the complex adaptor 1 (AP1). This splicing mutation leads to a premature stop codon, which is predicted to alter the normal function of this protein. To validate the pathogenic effect of this mutation we blocked the AP1S1 protein translation in zebrafish by injecting an anti-sense oligonucleotide designed against AP1S1. At 48 hours post fertilisation, the knockdown larvae showed reduced pigmentation, perturbation of skin formation, and severe perturbation of motor development and function motor development. Over expression of the human AP1S1 rescued the normal phenotype whereas the expression of the mutant AP1S1 did not. These results show that this mutation is causative for MEDNIK syndrome and demonstrates a critical role of the small subunit σ1 in epidermal organisation and in the development of the spinal cord.

Keyphrases: Genetic, MEDNIK syndrome, zebrafish, clathrin adaptor protein
Les médias chinois à Montréal

This research proposes by using quantitative and qualitative analyses, to highlight the role of the local Chinese media in the process of integration of immigrants into Québec society. We support the hypothesis that the Chinese media has built a new identity- Sino-Québécoise- which does more than adapt the Chinese heritage to Québec values and vice versa. This identity, in part, imagined and created by the Chinese media, fulfills a positive function and reacts in a constructive manner via the information they furnish, the activities that they organize and the integration strategies that they use so that their readers can adapt well and integrate themselves into their new culture. These roles can translate as follow: a trainer, an economic platform and an intermediary in a multicultural society as well as an animator for the community. We will proceed by analysing the quantitative content of the three Chinese publications and one Anglophone publication from Montréal; we are also including a qualitative analysis of news that treats different subjects. As well, we will conduct interviews with professionals regarding the Chinese media in Montréal.

Keyphrases: Immigration, Sino-québécoise, Chinese media, Newspaper, Identity, Chinese community, Analysis content
Les caractéristiques de la déviance des adolescentes judiciarisées à Dakar (Sénégal) en comparaison aux adolescentes judiciarisées de Montréal (Canada)

Despite problems caused by juvenile delinquency in Senegal, authorities'answers seem not to be very efficient, in particular with delinquent girls. This study aims to describe the family, the school and the peers of adjudicated adolescent females in Dakar and compare these features with those of adjudicated adolescent females in Montreal. The study occurs in Dakar with thirty adolescent girls interviewed with a questionnaire adapted from the MASPAQ. The similarities between the two samples are the girls' average age, their judiciary status, their socio-economic status which is disadvantaged and their family's structure which is for most of them a single-mother one. The other results describe the social bonds which are stronger for the Senegalese sample whereas the deviant behaviour is more important for the Montreal's girls. The social bonds may serve as a protection against deviance. The cultural context, as it facilitates social control, may also develop more internal constraints, which  constitute another protection against deviant conduct. One possible perspective is to replicate the study using the same questionnaire among samples of male offenders.

Keyphrases: Deviance, Young female offenders, Family's structure, Deviant behaviour, Social regulation theory, Social bonds, Peer group, Cultural context