NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
L’injection percutanée de cartilage sur le dorsum nasal chez le lapin

Abstract: Objective: To compare the long-term viability of percutaneously injected crushed auricular cartilage to surgically implanted cartilage in the rabbit. Methods: Auricular cartilage was harvested bilaterally in 10 New Zealand white rabbits. A 1 cm2 cartilage graft was harvested and implanted surgically on the upper nasal dorsum. The remaining cartilage was crushed and percutaneously injected on the lower nasal dorsum. Volume and mass of each graft were compared between pre-implantation and after 3 months of observation. A histological study was conducted to evaluate chondrocyte viability and degree of fibrosis on the grafts. Results: Mass and volume remained similar for surgically implanted cartilage grafts. Mass and volume diminished by an average of 47% and 40% respectively after 3 months for the injected crushed cartilage grafts. Chondrocyte viability was an average of 25% lower in the injected grafts.  Conclusion: Cartilage injection is a promising technique that must be refined to increase long term chondrocyte viability. Developing an appropriate injection apparatus would improve this technique.

Keyphrases: Cartilage injection, Nasal dorsum, Rabbit
La RMR de Saguenay, entre croissance et décroissance, perceptions et interventions des acteurs locaux

Since around twenty years, the Saguenay CMA seems to have underwent a population decline and important economic transformations, wich would have confronted citizens and local actors to a situation of a possible decline. In a context of an ageing population generalized to the whole Quebec, the Saguenay CMA can be seen as a precursor territory of the population decline phenomenon for a medium-sized city. It’s the scale and the extent of the phenomenon wich seem to have become more important. In this context, is it possible to reverse the situation from an urban planning based on growth,  to a planning that takes into account the possiblity of the decrease and the ageing of the population, as well as the reorganization of econimic activities?   The analysis of the actors’s speech, who are involved in planning, economic development and politics, raise the question of the difficulty to conceive the decrease of the population and the economic tranformations, not as an occasional phenomenon, but as a possibly structural phenomenon that may last over time. The subject of the decline seems to generate a form of discomfort among the actors, going even to the complete reject of the situation as a possible reality. For several, the eventuality of a generalized decline is inconceivable, the decrease can be perceived as a political failure. It appears that most of the strategies put in place to correct the situation, are based on the goal of a return to the growth. From the signs in the built framework, through the strategy of territorial marketing and municipal interventionism, until the appearance of urban brownfields, the impacts of the population decrease and the economic transformations seems, for the greater part very subtile, but to be present on the territory of the CMA. The shrinking cities phenomenon is observed in this study according to a new approach that confronts the actors’s speech, the territory reality and the analysis of the economic and demographic dynamics. It is thus an exploratory research wich tries to question the current way of thinking the urban growth.

Keyphrases: Shrinking cities, Urban decline, Urban shrinkage, Local actors planning strategies, Saguenay CMA, economic and demographic dynamics
Dietary supplement use and its impact on nutritional adequacy for British Columbia and Manitoba First Nations adults living on reserve

Background: The use of dietary supplements is prevalent among general US and Canadian populations; however, little is known about consumption of nutritional supplements among the Canadian Aboriginal population.  Objective: The overall goal of this study was to integrate supplement use into dietary intake for the assessment of nutritional adequacy in British Columbia and Manitoba First Nation adults living on reserve.  Design: Data were collected by the First Nations Food, Nutrition, and Environment Study from 1103 BC and 706 MA First Nation adults aged 19-70 years old. The study used 24-hour food recalls (with a second recall in a subsample) to assess diet. Dietary supplement and antacid use were collected by a frequency questionnaire. Using SIDE software to account for intra-individual variation in food intake and bootstrap weights to obtain regionally representative estimates, vitamin A, D, C, and calcium supplement use were incorporated to food intake estimates.   Results: About 30% of British Columbia and only 13.2% of Manitoba First Nation people aged 19-70 y living on reserve reported use of at least one dietary supplement within the prior 30 days. When considering the nutrients of interest, a smaller percentage of the populations took them varying from nutrient to nutrient from 14.8 to 18.5% in British Columbia and from 4.9 to 8% in Manitoba population. The prevalence of use of any dietary supplement was higher among women than men in all age groups and increased with age in both genders. The highest prevalence of inadequate intakes from food alone was observed for vitamin D and calcium in both British Columbia and Manitoba varying from 75 to 100%, and for vitamin A in Manitoba (73-96%). After considering the use of dietary supplements, more than three fourth of participants still failed to meet the EAR for these nutrients. Vitamin C was the micronutrient with the lowest percentage of BC and Manitoba participants bellow the EAR with or without supplements consumption.

Keyphrases: Canadian Aboriginal population, Dietary supplement use, Nutritional adequacy
Recyclage des candidats dans l'algorithme Metropolis à essais multiples

Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms are methods that are used for sampling from probability distributions. These tools are based on the path of a Markov chain whose stationary distribution is the distribution to be sampled. Given their relative ease of application, they are one of the most popular approaches in the statistical community, especially in Bayesian analysis. These methods are very popular for sampling from complex and/or high dimensional probability distributions. Since the appearance of the first MCMC method in 1953 (the Metropolis algorithm, see [10]), the interest for these methods, as well as the range of algorithms available, continue to increase from one year to another. Although the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm (see [8]) can be considered as one of the most general Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms, it is also one of the easiest to understand and explain, making it an ideal algorithm for beginners. As such, it has been studied by several researchers. The multiple-try Metropolis (MTM) algorithm , proposed by [9], is considered as one interesting development in this field, but unfortunately its implementation is quite expensive (in terms of time). Recently, a new algorithm was developed by [1]. This method is named the revisited multiple-try Metropolis algorithm (MTM revisited), which is obtained by expressing the MTM method as a Metropolis-Hastings algorithm on an extended space. The objective of this work is to first present MCMC methods, and subsequently study and analyze the Metropolis-Hastings and standard MTM algorithms to allow readers a better perspective on the implementation of these methods. A second objective is to explore the opportunities and disadvantages of the revisited MTM algorithm to see if it meets the expectations of the statistical community. We finally attempt to fight the sedentarity of the revisited MTM algorithm, which leads to a new algorithm. The latter performs efficiently when the number of generated candidates in a given iteration is small, but the performance of this new algorithm then deteriorates as the number of candidates in a given iteration increases.

Keyphrases: Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, Random walk, Independent sampler, Gibbs sampler, Multiple-try Metropolis algorithm, Reversibility, Acceptance probability
La fécondité des immigrantes africaines au Québec de 1986 à 2010

Like many other western countries, Canada is facing a dramatic decrease of its birth rate as well as an ageing of its population. Immigration was chosen as a solution to make up for the workforce deficit in order to avoid a slowdown of the economic growth. For the purpose of this study we focus on African women immigrants in Quebec and we assess their contribution to fertility. To reach this objective, data from files of the birth registry of the Institut de la Statistique du Québec and from the 2006 census of Canada were pooled and used. In order to perform the analysis, firstly, we have measured (with the files of the birth registry) the evolution over time of the contribution of African women immigrants to the Quebec birth rate. And secondly, we have evaluated the relation between the women’s region of origin and the variable “having a child less than 1 year old” (recent maternity) obtained from the census. We have done a descriptive as well as a multivariate analysis, by using a logit model and by considering socio-demographic factors. Our findings show that African women immigrants have a higher fertility level than native women or other immigrant women. Their contributions, mostly the contribution of those who are from North Africa, to the Quebec fertility rate were the highest among all immigrant women. In addition, results of the logit model highlight that African immigrant women of the first generation are more likely to have a child than Quebec native women. We also observed an effect of the duration of stay on the fertility of African women immigrants. The fertility behavior of African immigrant women of the second generation is relatively close to those of native women. Finally, we found that the fertility of African women immigrants who arrived at a very young age in Quebec tends to be lower than that of native women.

Keyphrases: Migration, Native, Fertility, Women, Immigration
La défense de provocation : une articulation des principes de détermination de la peine

The present work addresses the question of the moral basis for the defense of provocation. The concepts used today to analyze these bases are usually those of justification and excuse. It is suggested that the defense of provocation should rather be interpreted as a particular articulation of the principles governing the sentencing. The first two chapters cover, respectively, the concepts of justification and excuse, and aim to refute the paradigms of analysis attached to each concept regarding the basis of the defense of provocation. The third chapter demonstrates that it is quite easily possible to conceptualize the defense of provocation as an articulation of the sentencing principles.

Keyphrases: Provocation, Excuse, Justification, Sentencing
L'enchaînement de phrases par coordination et par subordination à l'écrit chez les élèves de première secondaire : mise à l'essai d'une séquence didactique

This research proposes a series of lessons for working subordination and coordination. The goal is to foster the transfer of grammar knowledge in writing compositions.   First, we have noticed that students learn grammar rules, but they have a great difficulty to tranfer this knowledge in writing contexts. A lot of researchers (Bilodeau, 2005; Paret, 1992; Chartrand, 2003) stress the relevance of breaking the limits of the various  domains of the study of French in class (grammar, writing and reading). This “open” approach is seens as helping the transfer of grammatical knowledge, notably with the use of an heuristic approach (cf. Chartrand, 1996). We focused on the syntax of the sentence, more specifically the construction of complex sentences by linking simple sentences together. We consider these grammatical notions as difficult for most of the students at the beginning of «secondary school », and believe that the teaching is too often rare or totally separate from witing.   So, we created a series of lesson that aims at working these grammatical concepts, keeping in mind that it is primordial to foster the transfer of grammatical knowledge to writing contexts. We have tested the series of lesson in an experimental group of the first year of secondary school (age 12-13) and we have verified its efficacity using a pretest and a posttest (written composition and interview on the text).    By comparing the experimental and the control group, the results of the research show us qualitative (but not quantitative) that the didactic sequence has a positive effect on the experimental group.  After an analysis of the results conducted by a professional statistician, we unfortunately could not prove that the sequence has an significant impact on the experimental group.

Keyphrases: subordination, coordination, french, instruction, grammar, writing, transfer, sentences, relative
Le formalisme du contrat électronique dans l’ASEAN : définition et interprétation des notions d’écrit et de signature

More than ten years after the implementation of the harmonization project of e-commerce law, ASEAN, "The Association of Southeast Asian Nations" gathering ten Member States in Southeast Asia, is still not able to provide each of their Member States with a harmonized legislation in this respect.  In this context, we try, in contribution to this harmonization, to demonstrate the problematic situation on e-commerce law in six of the ten ASEAN Member States where, in addition to their statutory non-uniformity, these national laws governing the formalism of electronic contract are difficult to understand, to interpret and therefore to apply; sometimes causing interpretative errors or total neglect of these texts. This experience is not unique to ASEAN, because there are also similar situations in other jurisdictions such as Canada and the United States.  To address this disconnect between the law and jurisprudence, we propose a search for a method of interpretation as a possible solution that seems most relevant to the state of the texts already in place and to the objective of harmonizing of the electronic commerce law in ASEAN. Among the wide variety of interpretive methods, we are able to identify the contextual approach, as large as it is, as the most appropriate method regarding to the particular characteristics of the formalism of electronic contract, namely the electronic writing and electronic signature. We propose an analytical method that consists of legal, technical and social contexts that will help lawyers, especially judges, to better understand the meaning of the texts and to give them a "best interpretation" in favor of the objective of harmonization of law in ASEAN.

Keyphrases: signature, electronic contract, formalism, evidence, definition, writing, purposive approach, contextual approach, functional equivalence, technological neutrality
Le droit québécois du travail et la mise en oeuvre du principe d'égalité dans les milieux de travail syndiqués

This thesis follows on from research into the principles and measures that can be used to apply the principle of equality effectively in unionized workplaces in Québec. Guided by the sociology of legal orders, completed and supported by Luhmann’s systems theory, we carried out a study of the legal orders governing the legal aspects of labour relations, and then assessed public policies concerning equality. The study is divided into three sections. The first section explores legal pluralism and the sociology of legal orders, and presents the legal orders applicable to workplace issues. The second section considers the history of union action, labour law and public policies relating to equality, while the third assesses those public policies and takes a normative construction approach to the principles and measures that can be used to implement the principle of equality effectively.  With respect to assessment, we began with an empirical legal study of a major complaint submitted to Québec’s Human Rights Commission, namely the freeze on pay scales in the collective agreement of school board teachers. We then reviewed the literature dealing with public policies relating to equality, and analyzed the benefits for unionized workplaces offered by the two main methods of implementing equality, namely grievances and arbitration on the one hand, and complaints to the Human Rights Commission on the other (with, in the latter case, recourse to the Human Rights Tribunal where necessary). With respect to normative construction, we used a sociological, historical and evaluative analysis as a basis for designing the policy elements required to achieve the goals.

Keyphrases: Discrimination, Equality, Discrimination, Legal pluralism, Legal order, Union, Duty of representation, Charter of rights, Social trust, Individualism
Validation de l'échographie des bulles tympaniques pour le diagnostic d'otite moyenne chez le veau

Otitis media is a common disease in calves but can remain subclinical, making diagnosis challenging on the farm. The objective of this study is to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasound imaging technique of tympanic bulla for the diagnosis of clinical and subclinical otitis media, and to determine its repeatability. Forty calves 19-50 days of age were selected from a veal calf farm, on the basis of results of ultrasound examination performed on the farm (A). Ultrasound examination was performed a second time by the same ultrasonographer (A') and by another ultrasonographer (B), and diagnosis was recorded for both tympanic bulla as negative, suspicious or positive. Images were recorded for further re-reading. Calves were euthanized and submitted for necropsy, and histopathologic diagnosis was used as gold standard. Based upon histology, 45 bullae were affected with otitis media and 35 bullae were unaffected. Depending on ultrasonographer and on classification of suspicious bullae, sensitivity varies from 32% to 63% and specificity varies from 84% to 100%. Repeatability is moderate, with kappa values of 0.53 for A'-B, 0.48 for A-A', and 0.58 and 0.75 for re-reading of A' and B, respectively.

Keyphrases: histopathologie, calf, otitis media, ultrasonography, tympanic bulla, histopathology
Impact of the elderly on household health expenditure in Bihar and Kerala, India

In the context of an ageing population in India, we have examined the impact of the elderly on catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and three related access impacts (avoidance of treatment, loss of income, and alternate sources of funding). We used data from the National Sample Survey Organization (India) survey on healthcare in 2004. We chose one developed state (Kerala) and one developing state (Bihar) to compare and contrast the impact of ageing on households. Our results showed that CHE was higher in Kerala and that this was likely due to more elderly that in turn have more chronic disease. We expected the use of private treatment to lead to higher levels of CHE, and while it did for some households, the impact of private treatment on CHE, varied by state, presence of elderly, and type of health service (inpatient or outpatient). We also found that elderly females in Bihar were at a disadvantage with regards to health services utilizations, that larger household size might have a protective effect on elderly households, and that some scheduled caste and Muslim households have to borrow more often than other groups in order to fund their treatment. While the elderly, chronic disease and private treatment are linked to CHE, our results suggest that other groups may simply be delaying the consequences of paying for healthcare, by avoiding treatment or borrowing money. We hope that these results be used to explore the impact of the elderly in more detail in future research, or that it contribute to health policy discussions.

Keyphrases: Catastrophic health expenditure, Elderly, Chronic disease, Private healthcare, India
L’étude des questions environnementales pour la consolidation de la paix : une approche intégrative et participative de la sécurité

How to perceive security and violent conflict of today? This study analyses the relevance of environmental issues for security governance in a peacebuilding framework. We attempted to describe the link between environmental issues, security and violent conflict, to study the potential of environmental based projects for security governance purposes, to draw recommendations to improve the sustainability of those initiatives, and to analyse the eco-philosophies. Using Grounded Theory approach, our data collection comprised qualitative data; i.e. seven interviews conducted with professionals having experiences in environment and peacebuilding, as well as four webcasts and nine written documents. Our results indicate a reciprocal influence between environmental deterioration, security and armed conflict dynamics. Moreover, environmental cooperation and natural resource management are used primarily to establish dialogues between belligerents for confidence building, but also to improve sustainable development. Furthermore, building resilience for communities and institutions using public participation approach to deal with rapid environmental and social changes would help to improve sustainable human security. Therefore, security and governance reforms should engage in greater civic integration. In conclusion, we attempted to produce a model for integrating environmental issues in order to improve governance of security for postconflict peacebuilding purposes. In the form of six practical statements, we explain the importance of integrating the concepts of human and environmental security, to take advantage of the opportunities around interdependent situations, to consider more local interventions, to adopt participatory approaches and the usefulness of environmental cooperation and, finally, to favor strategic approaches in order to establish win-win solutions.

Keyphrases: Peacebuilding, Post-conflict, Human security, Environmental security, Environmental governance, Environmental cooperation, Environmental peacebuilding, Bottom-Up, Grounded theory, Green criminology
A Salute to Feminine Utopia: Part One Feminist Manifestos and Utopian Fiction and Part Two Cwenaland an Odyssey

There is considerable and interesting overlap between the manifesto as a literary art form and utopian fiction in regards to feminist writing. Both use an imagined image of the future or of a better future condition in order to criticize and denounce conditions in the present, and the past that gave rise to them. The thesis looks at both the manifesto and writings about utopia/dystopia in order to frame a place for female and the feminine. This utopian place is more than a place to go. It is a place that expresses what femininity is based on - more than simply that which is not masculine - and offers some kind of fulfillment outside and beyond the rigid masculine-feminine dichotomy of patriarchal society. I first examine terminology then I discuss the manifesto as a literary form of particular interest to women writers. I then review notions of utopian fiction, which leads me to the important opportunities that language offers to women to have a voice, and to express that which is feminine. I examine closely Renée Gladman’s book The Activist to support my arguments regarding the performative power of the manifesto as a form that overlaps with utopian fiction in imagining space for the feminine. In Part Two I imagine and describe a fictional utopia as part of a personal exploration of how to identify that which is expressive of the feminine. The narrative takes readers on a journey to Cwenaland. At each stage in the narrative other voices pierce and slice the prose. Some are in the form of an image or a portrait; others disrupt the narrative voice like a shout or a wail. These voices that are tangential and diagonal to the narrative ground my fictional utopia in the many levels of feminine experience and expression.

Keyphrases: manifesto, Renée Gladman, feminism, manifesto, Utopian fiction, the feminine, Renée Gladman, masculine hegemony, patriarchy