NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Confesser un homicide : le rôle de l’enquêteur et de la preuve

The studiess on factors influencing a suspect’s decision to confess his crime during a police questioning, reveal that the strength of evidence (Moston et al., 1992 and Des Lauriers-Varin and St-Yves, 2006) and the detective’s behaviour (Holmberg et Christianson, 2002 et Kebell et al., 2005) are considered key factors. However, past studies show notable contradictions. The present work focuses on the role of the two aforementioned factors, in the suspect’s decision to confess a crime and the potential interaction effect among them. The data were obtained by visioning and analyzing 50 questionings of a suspect linked to a homicide investigation. The logistic regression’s results show that the detective’s behaviour is the predominant factor in obtaining a confession from a suspect. Theses results are maintained when both the characteristic of the suspect and the weight of evidence are controlled for. Moreover, our results suggest that a “positive” attitude from the detective’s part is associated with a greater propensity toward confessing. Also, the results indicate that the greater available evidence to support the case, will translate into more “dominant” style of questioning from the detectives. The results are discussed in relation to the effects of the different dynamics taking place between the detective and the suspect during the questioning.

Keyphrases: police interrogation, confession, detective’s behaviour, police evidence, police investigation
Caractérisation de l’implication de β-caténine dans les  tumeurs surrénaliennes

Adrenal lesions occur in the general population at a prevalence of about 2-3%. Several mutations have been identified in adrenocortical tumours. β-catenin mutations were recently found to be the most frequent genetic alteration in both sporadic adrenocortical adenomas and carcinomas (20-30%). β-catenin is the central player in canonical Wnt signaling which plays a key role in organ/ gland development, maintenance of homeostasis and tumourigenesis. Activation of Wnt signaling by altered regulation of β-catenin levels evokes -catenin accumulation in the nucleus, and interaction with the TCF/LEF-1 proteins that activates the transcription of target genes.  These target genes are believed to be highly cell and context specific and are linked to developmental and cell cycling functions. β-catenin target genes in adrenocortical tumours are unknown. Using microarray technology, we found 490 transcripts that are deregulated in adrenocortical adenomas harbouring β-catenin activating mutations in comparison to non mutated adenomas and normal adrenal glands. These genes differ highly in function and many are poorly characterized genes. Differential expression of ISM1, RALBP1, PDE2A, CDH12, ENC1, PHYHIP and CITED2 in adenomas with activating β-catenin mutations was confirmed by real-time PCR. Treatment of human adrenocortical carcinoma cells, H295R (CTNNB1 Ser45Prol), with β-catenin/TCF inhibitors (PKF115-584 and PNU74654) further confirmed the implication of β-catenin on the transcriptional regulation of ISM1, RALBP1, PDE2A, ENC1 and CITED2. In conclusion, we have found new potential β-catenin target genes that may be involved in adrenocortical tumourigenesis.

Keyphrases: WNT signaling, Adrenal gland, adrenocortical adenoma, Microarray, microarray, tumourgenesis, adrenocortical carcinoma, CTNNB1/β-catenin, PKF115-584, PKF115-584, H295R, H295R
Contrôle de la réponse immunitaire par l’indoleamine 2,3-dioxygénase : étude de la régulation d’une molécule immuno-suppressive dans les cellules cancéreuses et les lymphocytes B chez l’humain

The immune system is under tight control to avoid inappropriate and excessive immunological responses. Many mechanisms allow the maintenance of peripheral tolerance and mediate attenuation of the immune response after pathogen clearance. Such mechanisms are also exploited by tumors, thereby favoring their escape from assault by the immune system. These immunosuppressive mechanisms hamper host natural immune responses against tumor cells, but also represent an obstacle to the successful clinical manipulation of the immune system in attempts to generate an anti-tumor response through immunotherapy. One immune escape mechanism used by tumors is the production of enzymes responsible for amino acid metabolism, amongst which indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is of major importance. IDO degrades tryptophan, thus leading to its depletion from intracellular pools and local microenvironments. This culminates in multi-pronged negative effects on T lymphocytes neighboring IDO-expressing cells, notably on proliferation, function and survival. The regulation of IDO expression has been largely studied in antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells, but its regulation in human tumor cells must still be characterized. We hypothesized that different factors produced by tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIIC) regulate IDO expression in tumor cells. Accordingly, we have demonstrated that IDO expression is induced in human tumor cells upon interaction with TIIC. This induction is cell contact-independent, and results mainly from interferon-gamma (IFN-g) produced by activated T lymphocytes, while being antagonised by interleukin (IL)-13. Moreover, the chemotherapeutic agent fludarabine inhibits activated T lymphocyte-dependent IDO induction in tumor cells. This observation could have major clinical consequences, considering the large proportion of human cancer clinical samples expressing IDO. Finally, B lymphocytes, which interact closely with T lymphocytes and are found infiltrating human tumors, are also susceptible to transcriptional and translational IDO induction. This enzyme is however produced in an inactive form, suggesting that B lymphocytes do not exploit this mechanism to impede the immune response. In conclusion, our work brings crucial information on the regulation of the immunosuppressive molecule IDO in human tumor cells. We demonstrate that IDO expression is dependent on the nature of cytokines present in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, its expression is inhibited by fludarabine, a compound used to treat some types of cancer. These data should be taken into consideration in planning future immunotherapy trials and could impact anti-tumor clinical responses.

Keyphrases: Interleukine-13, Immunotherapy, Breast cancer, Kidney cancer, Human, Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, Activated T lymphocytes, Interferon-gamma, Interleukin-13, B lymphocytes
Apport d’une évaluation biomécanique 3D du genou dans la prise en charge orthopédique de patients ayant une rupture du ligament croisé antérieur

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is involved in approximately 20% of all sports-related knee injuries. An injury to the ACL, the primary stabilizer of the knee, will lead to knee joint instability and functional impairment. Unfortunately, current clinical assessments of ACL-deficient patients present limitations with respect to the investigation of the impact of the injury on knee function. A 3D knee biomechanical assessment could provide innovative information to overcome these drawbacks. The main objective of the doctoral theses is to demonstrate the role of biomechanics in (1) the investigation of the impact of the injury on knee function and in (2) the diagnostic process.  Twenty-nine ACL-deficient patients and a control group of fifteen healthy participants took part in a 3D knee biomechanical assessment during treadmill walking.   By assessing the 3D knee biomechanical patterns of each group we observed that ACL-deficient patients adopted a gait compensatory mechanism: the Pivot-shift avoidance gait. The explanation for this adaptative strategy is to avoid placing the knee in a position biomechanically favorable to anterolateral rotatory instability during gait.  Furthermore, an automatic classification method capable of distinguishing ACL deficient patients from an asymptomatic population was developed. Features were extracted from the 3D knee biomechanical patterns using a wavelet decomposition method and then classified by the nearest neighbour rule. The proposed classification method obtained a level of accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 88%, 90% and 87% respectively. This method shows great potential as a diagnostic aid in a clinical setting.  This thesis demonstrates that biomechanics plays a substantial role in the management of ACL injuries by improving the understanding of the impact of the injury on knee function and by its capacity to serve as a diagnostic aid.

Keyphrases: Classification, 3D, Anterior cruciate ligament, ACL, Knee, Biomechanics, Orthopedics, Gait analysis, Classification, Kinematics, Joint moment, 3D
Grothendieck et les topos : rupture et continuité dans les modes d'analyse du concept d'espace topologique

The thesis presents a conceptual analysis of the evolution of the topological space concept. More specifically, it looks at the transition from topological spaces inherited from Hausdorff to Grothendieck toposes.  This analysis intends to show that, in comparison to traditional topological spaces, toposes radically transform the topological conceptualization of space. While a topological space is a set of points equipped with a structure induced by some of its subsets called open, a topos is a category satisfying exactness properties.  The most important aspect of this transformation is the reversal of the dialectic between a space and its points. A topological space is totally determined by its points who are in turn understood as being indivisible and devoided of any structure. The identity of the space is thus that induced by its points. Conversely, the points and the open of a topos are determined by its very structure. This entails a change in the nature of the points: they are no longer seen as basic nor as indivisible. Indeed, the points of a topos actually have a structure.   The analysis also shows that the evolution of the topological space concept followed a pattern of rupture and continuity. From 1945 to 1957, algebraic topology and, to a lesser extend, algebraic geometry, went through fundamental changes. The books Foundations of Algebraic Topology by Eilenberg and Steenrod and Homological Algebra by Cartan and Eilenberg as well as sheaf theory deeply modified the way topological spaces were studied. However, these ruptures were not deep enough to change the topological conceptualization of space itself. From the point of view of the evolution of the topological space concept, they therefore must be seen as microfractures.  The definitive rupture only occurred in the early 1960s when Grothendieck introduced toposes in the context of his reform of algebraic geometry. The key was his novel use of category theory. While mathematicians before him saw category theory as a convenient language to organize or express mathematical ideas, Grothendieck used it as a tool for conceptual clarification. Grothendieck thus put forward a new approach to mathematics best described as axiomatico-categorical.  Yet, this rupture was dependent of the innovations associated with Foundations of Algebraic Topology, Homological Algebra and sheaf theory. It is category theory that allowed Grothendieck to reveal the full potentiel of the ideas introduced by these partial ruptures.  From an epistemic point of view, the transition from topological spaces to toposes must therefore be seen as revealing a change of normative position in mathematics, that is that from modernist mathematics to contemporary mathematics.

Keyphrases: Alexandre Grothendieck, Foundations of Algebraic Topology, Homological Algebra
Réparation par excision de nucléotides spécifique au cycle cellulaire : implications pour la résistance à la chimiothérapie dans le cancer de l'ovaire humain

Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal cancers.  Patients usually respond very well to chemotherapy but most will eventually relapse.  Many molecular processes have already been shown to influence chemotherapy resistance, including more efficient DNA repair by nucleotide excision repair.  One commonly used drug for the treatment of ovarian cancer is cisplatin, a drug inducing lesions on DNA that can be repaired by NER.  A previous study in our lab has shown that NER can be deficient specifically in S-phase.  This effect is dependent on the kinase ATR.  Thus, we chose to explore the possibility that this deficiency has an impact on resistance to cisplatin.  Our objectives are: (i) to study the repair profile by NER in S-phase in ovarian cancer cell lines; (ii) to test if chemotherapeutic treatment can modulate nucleotide excision repair in cell lines by selecting cells that repair damage by NER more efficiently; (iii) to measure the sensitivity of these cell lines to cisplatin; (iv) to test if this deficiency can be attributed to ATR signalling.  We show in this study that many ovarian cancer cell lines have an important defect in GG-NER specifically in S-phase.  Pairs of cell lines that were isolated before and after chemotherapeutic treatment show an increase in their GG-NER efficiency in S-phase, suggesting a role for this enzymatic process in chemotherapy resistance.  Also, we have found a correlation between the efficiency of GG-NER in S-phase and the sensitivity to cisplatin in the cell lines used in our study.  However, the defect in GG-NER in S-phase in these ovarian cancer cell lines doesn’t seem to be due to ATR because the phosphorylation of H2AX in response to UV is equivalent between the different cell lines.  This study will have an impact on our understanding of the fundamental aspects of DNA repair but could also provide insights on a potential novel mechanism of resistance to chemotherapy.

Keyphrases: NER, NER, cancer, cancer, ovarian, S phase, chemotherapy, cisplatin, UV, UV, MMC, MMC
Les rationalisations du médium numérique

Starting from personal observations on the place hold by techniques and technologies in the production of music, this thesis project was created around Max Weber’s Sociology of Music. First, the relations between music, technology and society are critically questioned in order to underline the possible ways of further research concerning the technical mediation of music. The latter are now characterized through the changes brought by the implementation of Informatics in many societies and the modification of the social or power relationships by the new possibilities of the digital medium. It seems that the Internet has shaken the music industry. However, in this socio-technical system new ways are being shaped allowing the overcome the traditional limitations of the music technologies. These ways takes the form of philosophies but also of social popular among the younger generations observable through changes in social practices. Using the Weber’s conceptual tools, two ideal types are created—representing as many diffusion modes of music on the Internet. Two dimensions regarding the difference between these social and musical practices are stressed: the perpetuation of traditional diffusion practices integrated on the Internet platform and the reflexives practices characterized by a diffusion mode expressing the network type of information circulation of the Internet culture. These ideal types, and the related cases chosen to construct and describe them, serve to discuss the multiple motives of action of different social agents relevant for the diffusion practices, and, finally, the various modalities of the rationalization of music diffusion through the digital medium.

Keyphrases: Max Weber, Radio Internet, Rationalization, Music, Ideal type, Web radio, Web 2.0, MySpace.com
Analyse des bornes extrêmes et le contrôle des armes à feu : l’effet de la Loi C-68 sur les homicides au Québec

Context and objectives. Laws with extensive background checks and making mandatory the registration of all guns have been adopted by some governments to prevent firearms-related homicides. On the other hand, methodological flaws found in previous evaluations question the potential of such laws to prevent gun homicides. By taking into account previous limitations, the main objective of this study is to estimate the effect of Bill C-68 on homicides committed in the Province of Quebec, Canada, between 1974 and 2006. Methodology. Using extreme bounds analysis, we assess the effect of Bill C-68 on homicides. Estimates of the immediate and gradual effects of the law are based on a total of 372 equations. More precisely, interrupted time series analyses were conducted, using all possible variable combinations, in order to overcome biases related to model specification. Results. We found that Bill C-68 is associated with a significant and gradual decline in homicides committed with a long gun (either a riffle or a shotgun). The substitution effects are not robust with respect to different model specifications. Patterns observed in homicides involving restricted or prohibited firearms suggest that they are influenced by different factors, not considered in our analyses. Conclusion. Results suggest that enhanced firearm control laws are an effective tool to prevent homicides. The lack of tactical displacement supports the concept of firearm as a crime facilitator and suggests that all homicides are not carefully planned. Other studies are however needed to pinpoint law provisions accountable for the decrease in homicides.

Keyphrases: Homicides, Dissuasion, Homicides, Firearms, Legislations, Interrupted time series, Extreme bounds analysis, Accessibility, Availability, Deterrence
Propriétés supramoléculaires des cations diimidazolium disubstitués : des complexes d’inclusion en solution aux interactions à l’état cristallin et cristal liquide

Imidazolium salts play an important role in different proteins and nucleic acids and have been used many times in supramolecular assemblies due to their unique properties. Diimidazolium salts derived from imidazolium salts are less known. To date, they have only been used as precursors for N-heterocyclic carbenes, which are used to catalyze various cross-coupling reactions. Their properties are not well known in supramolecular chemistry. This class of compounds attracted our attention because of the ease of tuning their properties by modifying their chemical structure. The main goal of the research presented in this thesis was to study the supramolecular properties of disubstituted diimidazolium salts in solution (aqueous or organic solution), in the solid state and in the liquid-crystalline state. The role of the spacer between the two imidazolium moieties, of the sidechains and of the counterions was studied. Firstly, the complexation between diimidazolium salts and various macrocycles was studied. Bromide salts were studied in aqueous solution with cyclodextrins and cucurbit[7]uril, while hexafluorophosphate salts were studied in organic solution with a DB24C8 crown ether and a calix[4]arene. This novel class of compounds showed very promising complexation properties with these macrocycles in solution and also allowed us to control the formation of various supramolecular assemblies at the air-water interface. Secondly, phenylenediimidazolium salts were studied and allowed the modification of the complexation properties in aqueous solution. Multiple complexes can be formed simultaneously with cucurbit[7]uril in aqueous solution. The same class of compounds also has the ability to yield ionic liquid crystals when the alkyl sidechains are long. The resolution of the crystalline structures of some synthesized diimidazolium salts allowed us to understand the nature of the intermolecular interactions in the solid state. The research presented in this thesis is a complete study of the supramolecular properties of diimidazolium salts in every accessible state of matter.

Keyphrases: Complexes, Imidazolium, Cucurbituril, Supramolecular chemistry, Host-guest chemistry, Liquid crystals, Crystal engineering, Self-assembly, Cyclodextrin, Crown ether
Régulation de l’identité des membres postérieurs par le facteur de transcription à boîte T Tbx4

Forelimbs and hindlimbs are a classical example of serial homology, suggesting they share an evolutionary common generic program that directs their formation. Identity is presumably derived from specific modulations of that program in different limb type. Transcription factors are prime candidates to link these structural differences to specific modulations and three factors with limb-specific expression have been identified. Pitx1 and Tbx4 expression is restricted to the hindlimbs while Tbx5 is restricted to the forelimbs and they have all been ascribed functions in both growth and identity from knockout and overexpression studies. Recent studies have produce evidence that Tbx4 and Tbx5 are interchangeable, sharing identical properties to support growth but not identity of the limbs, the latter being a direct consequence of Pitx1 expression. Indeed, Pitx1 deficient mice have been previously described as undergoing a hindlimb-to-forelimb transformation in addition of growth defects.  To better assess the shared and specific properties of Tbx4 and Tbx5, we assessed their capacities to rescue identity and growth defects by expression studies in Pitx1-/- hindlimbs. Specifically, previous studies had shown that Pitx1 deficiency causes the loss of hindlimb features, the transformation of hindlimb features toward forelimb-like morphology, the gain of a forelimb feature and the asymmetric loss of growth at the level of the femur. Targeted expression in the limbs of both Tbx4 and Tbx5 rescued the growth defects similarly. Interestingly, only Tbx4 was able to restore identity features affected in absence of Pitx1. To further assess these shared and specific properties, we conducted transcriptional assays that revealed the presence of a shared and conserved transactivating domain in the C-terminal moiety of these proteins. Moreover, we could identify a repressor domain specific to Tbx4. Human small patella syndrome maps to TBX4 and a coding mutation, TBX4Q531R, that specifically inactivates the repressive properties of Tbx4 prevents it from rescuing identity to the Pitx1-/- hindlimbs but not from rescuing growth. We also conducted a yeast two-hybrid assay that allowed the identification of putative co-factors of Tbx4, of which one seems to act as a co-repressor.  Together, our results support the presence of a Tbx4/Tbx5 conserved activating domain required for limb outgrowth that is an integral part of the limb bauplan. Importantly, we identified a molecular basis for the determination of limb identity through the Tbx4-specific repressor domain and reveal a novel path through which limb identity may have emerged during evolution.

Keyphrases: Tbx4, Tbx5, Pitx1, Transcription, Tbx4, Tbx5, Pitx1, Transcription, Limb development, Identity, Morphogenesis, Skeletal pattern, Transgenesis
Le rôle des émotions dans le processus de sensemaking : l’analyse communicationnelle de récits d’expériences de personnes travaillant
dans une résidence pour personnes âgées

Over the past decades, scholars have stressed the importance of investigating emotions and Weick’s (1995) sensemaking in organizational settings. However, few studies have examined the intricate relationships between these concepts. To address this issue, this interpretive study explores the role of emotions in processes of sensemaking in the context of a nursing home, based on an in-depth analysis of experiences histories of 6 of its employees. This narrative analysis reveals key differences and similarities in the way emotions color these employees’ sensemaking of everyday work interactions. In turn, this research shows that a focus on emotions can shed light on particular aspects of organizational sensemaking that otherwise remain taken for granted (or hidden).

Keyphrases: sensemaking, interaction, emotion, interaction, organizational communication, experiences stories