NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Personnes âgées, peur du crime et expériences de victimisation criminelle

This study offers to explore, between certain variables of vulnerability, those that explain better the fears of the elders towards criminal victimization. The use of validity measures instruments in French and adapted to an elder generation of Quebec, the WAV ‘Worry About Victimization’ permitted us to study the fear of crime distantly depending of its emotional, cognitive and behavioral dimensions. The sample tested is made of 387 responding elders aged between 60 & 98 years old. The elders’ samples were taking in urban area in Montreal, Sherbrooke & Trois-Rivieres. The results shows us that the preoccupation towards crime in general, the preoccupation towards crime in specific situation and also that the precautions taken against crime are explained by vulnerability characteristics. For these three last dimensions, the sex represents the best proving facts. The other dimensions (the protection measures - the perception of victimization risk – concern towards facing being personally a crime victim one day) are explained by the vulnerability characteristics and some protection factors to this last one. It’s important to notice that in these three last dimensions, the sex is not ranked by explaining factors. Some analyses more precise about the sex also shows that the men fears are less often touched by their vulnerability characteristics than the women. The experiences of criminal victimization as well as the social network characteristics are factors which better explain the fears of the men than that of the women. This study concludes that the consideration of other theories, in association with the vulnerability theory could be beneficial according to the studied dimension of the worries and depending on the sex of the elder. The use of the WAV seems to be the first step towards knowledge obtaining more qualified and more detailed in regards of different fears connected to victimization.

Keyphrases: Elderly, Fear of crime, Criminal victimization, Vulnerability, Social support
Effets des nanoparticules d'argent sur les processus enzymatiques des sols

Nanomaterials are increasingly included in manufactured consumable products. Silver is the metal that is most often used in nanotechnology for its antimicrobial properties. By different pathways, silver nanoparticles (nAg) can end up in the environment, in significant quantities. They are especially expected to be found in soils due to the use of landfills. In the presence of silver (Ag) negative effects on the terrestrial microbial communities with a subsequent impact on soil fertility and biogeochemical processes are expected. Measurements of enzyme activity have already shown their effectiveness and sensitivity in the detection of chemical and physical disturbances of soils. In this document, the potential effects of nAg on the terrestrial ecosystem have been evaluated by measuring the activities of the enzymes β-D-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21), leucine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.1), phosphomonoesterase (EC 3.1.3) and arylsulfatase (EC 3.1.6.1), which are involved in the cycling of the essential elements C, N, P and S, respectively. The enzyme activity is measured using a fluorescence based technique that employs synthetic substrates linked to a fluorophore. A sandy soil was sampled at Macdonald Campus of McGill University (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Qc) and then exposed to nAg (size ~ 20 nm) or free silver (Ag+, as Ag-acetate) at nominal concentrations of 1.25 × 10-3, 1.25 × 10-2, 0.125, 1.25, 6.25 and 31.25 mg Ag kg-1 soil. The role of organic matter (OM) was evaluated by adding leaf compost to the soil. The proportion of the toxicity that could be attributed to the nAg was evaluated by performing Ag speciation analyses in all soil samples. Dissolved Ag concentrations were determined after filtration through a 0.45 µm membrane or a 3 kDa ultrafiltration membrane (~ 1 nm) in order to separate the particulate phase from the dissolved ions. In general, inhibition of the enzyme activities was observed for the four enzymes as a function of increasing Ag concentrations (total and dissolved), however effects were significantly less dramatic in the OM-amended soil. The results suggested that the inhibition of enzyme activities at low-concentrations of nAg appeared to be due to the nanoparticles since a very small fraction of the nAg was actually dissolved and no significant effect was observed for soils treated with similar concentrations of Ag+. On the other hand, the effects measured at high concentrations of Ag were similar for the exposures to both nAg and Ag+, suggesting that, at these concentrations, colloidal Ag may have played a role in the inhibition of the soil enzymatic processes.

Keyphrases: Silver nanoparticles, Soil enzymes, Toxicity, Speciation, Organic matter
Prise en charge clinique en physiothérapie oncologique: promotion d’une décision partagée dans le contexte des soins palliatifs

Many physiotherapists are reluctant to treat a client with bone metastases, as treatment indications are not clearly defined. The paradigmatic case presented here, and a review of the literature, allow us to highlight some ethical and clinical issues in physiotherapy care at the end of life, particularly for patients with bone metastases. The objective of this article is not to create an ethical decision making model but rather to serve as additional guidance to existing decision models in rehabilitation. This guidance is based on Principlism and is specific to the oncology clients in palliative care. The proposed principles, without being exhaustive, are beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for autonomy and justice. With a review of clinical indications and precautions, the article also helps to clarify both the theoretical and the evidence-based risks. These principles provide avenues for reflection to guide the management of these patients. The physiotherapist will then be able to conduct a critical analysis, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, whose goal is to respect the client’s right to appropriate care at the right time and that is based on clinical need.

Keyphrases: Principlism, oncology, bone metastases, palliative care, code of ethics
Ouvrir la porte à des pratiques euthanasiques? Pas aussi simple que les Rapports de la Société royale, du Barreau du Québec et de la Commission spéciale sur le mourir dans la dignité le laissent croire

The Royal Society of Canada, the Bar of Quebec and the Special Commission on Dying with Dignity took position in favour of voluntary euthanasia. The Quebec government has prepared a draft bill in which voluntary euthanasia can be considered as an option in end-of-life care. This bill aims to define regulatory guidelines that, if followed, will protect medical doctors from lawsuits. The main argument supporting this project is based on respect for autonomy. This article argues that other values, such as pursuit of the common good, ought also to be taken into account. This article describes the experience of the Netherlands to show that a slippery slope is possible and that legal measures do not necessarily bring more transparency in medical practices concerning euthanasia. Prudence requires that adequate palliative care be accessible for all before defining legal measures on voluntary euthanasia.

Keyphrases: euthanasia, Netherlands, slippery slope, palliative care, Quebec draft bill
Déterminants des politiques de lutte contre la pauvreté en Irlande durant la décennie 1997-2006

This master thesis is a case study in the field of public policies and deals with policies to fight against the poverty and social exclusion. Ireland succeeded in diminishing poverty and social exclusion during the 1997-2006 decade and even though if   economic development was also spectacular, it did not explain completely this result, neither could it explain the political engagement that brought the Irish government to make the reduction of the poverty a major objective. This thesis tries to define and identify the factors that have contributed to the emergence of this political orientation.  As it is a case study, the research mostly qualitative. The dependant variable is then the conception and the implementation of a new set of social policies, centered on poverty reduction.  The proposed explanation places the emphasis on ideas, interests and institutions.

Keyphrases: poverty, Ireland, public policies, Combat Poverty agency, social partnerships, ideas, interest, institutions, institution, neo-institutionalism, Celtic Tiger, 3 i
Le rôle et la régulation du pyroglutamylated RF-amide peptide dans le tissu adipeux lors de l’obésité

Obesity is defined as an excess of fat tissue mass. Obesity is a public health problem which became pandemic in developed countries. The condition of obesity predisposes to potentially fatal diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The increase in intra-abdominal adipose tissue mass is intimately associated with the development of insulin resistance. An increase in fat tissue mass occurs by preadipocytes hyperplasia, preadipocytes differentiation into adipocytes and adipocyte hypertrophy. The differentiation of preadipocytes occurs during adipogenesis and is regulated by multiple factors but inhibited by inflammatory stimuli that are responsible for insulin resistance and the emergence of obesity-related dysfunctions. We identified a new autocrine/paracrine system of regulation of adipogenesis in adipose tissue cells. The pyroglutamylated RF-amide peptide (QRFP), previously known for its role in the regulation of appetite, is an activator of adipogenesis by activating its receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 103 (GPR103). QRFP is expressed in adipocytes and macrophages whereas the GPR103 subtype b is expressed in adipocytes only. Treatment of adipocytes with QRFP increases fatty acids uptake, lipid accumulation, LPL enzyme expression and activity. QRFP upregulates gene expressions of fatty acids transporters CD36 and FATP1, of the fatty acid activating enzyme ACSL1 and of transcription factors PPAR-γ and C/EBP-α, which are all involved in adipogenesis. In addition to its effects on adipogenesis, QRFP shows an inhibitory effect on lipolytic activity induced by catecholamines. We have shown that QRFP expression is decreased in adipose tissues of obese mice. According to our results, this decrease could be explained by an increase of circulating endotoxins in obesity, called metabolic endotoxemia, which mediate its effect, in part, by the induction of interferons in macrophages. Signaling pathways of these effects have been identified. We demonstrated another example of inflammatory stimulus downregulating adipogenic signals.

Keyphrases: GPR103, QRFP, Adipocytes, Macrophages, Interferons, Inflammation, Obesity, Adipogenesis, Metabolic endotoxemia
Anti-VEGFA therapy reduces tumor growth and extends survival in a murine model of ovarian granulosa cell tumor

Ovarian granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) are potentially malignant tumors that have a tendency for late recurrence and cause death in 80% of women with advanced GCT due to recurrent disease. Although GCTs represent 5% of ovarian tumors in women, few studies have evaluated adjuvant treatment protocols for advanced or recurrent disease. Our goal was to determine the potential of targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) signaling pathway for the treatment of GCT. We used a genetically engineered mouse model, Ptentm1Hwu/tm1Hwu; Ctnnb1tm1Mmt/+; Amhr2tm3(cre)Bhr/+ (PCA), which imitates the advanced human disease. A monoclonal anti-VEGFA antibody was administered by intra-peritoneal injection once a week beginning at 3 weeks of age. Anti-VEGFA therapy significantly decreased tumor weights by 6 weeks of age (p<0.05) and increased survival in treated animals in comparison to controls. Significant decreases in tumor cell proliferation (p<0.05) and microvessel density (p<0.01), but no significant difference in apoptosis was found in PCA tumors. p44/p42 MAPK, a VEGFA receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signaling effector associated with cell proliferation, was significantly less activated in anti-VEGFA-treated tumors (p<0.05). In contrast, AKT activation, a VEGFR2 signaling effector associated with cell survival was similar among all groups. These results suggest that anti-VEGFA therapy effectively reduces cell proliferation and microvessel density in PCA mice by inhibition of the VEGFR2-MAPK pathway, resulting in inhibition of GCT growth. We conclude that anti-VEGFA therapy merits further investigation in the form of controlled randomized trials for the treatment of human GCT.

Keyphrases: Granulosa cell tumor, Anti-VEGFA therapy, Angiogenesis, Adjuvant therapy, Preclinical mouse model, AKT signaling, MAPK signaling
Professors and the Management of Unavoidable Conflicts of Interest: Don’t Always Need the Heavy Artillery of Policy

Conflicts of interest (COI) in the university context are receiving growing attention, but the focus has been largely on problematic financial COI arising from university-industry relations, which clearly need to be avoided. The result, unfortunately, is a pejorative perception of COI as being equivalent to fraud and thus an issue of academic misconduct. In this paper, the aim is to show that while some financial and non-financial COI are particularly problematic and so should be avoided, many are pervasive and actually the norm in academia even if they are still largely ignored and misunderstood. Through a reflection on my own experiences as a university professor, I describe a diversity of common financial, non-financial and institutional COI of varying degrees of risk, that arise in the day-to-day activities of a professor, in order to then consider how these COI can and should be managed in practice. It is essential to attend to the full range of COI and to think about appropriate policies, procedures, or guidelines to prohibit some COI and mitigate the risks of others; but these “hard” mechanisms are only part of the solution. This paper will focus on elucidating the various “soft” mechanisms – such as education, self-awareness, humility, and dialogue (with colleagues, students, staff) – that can empower professors to manage those COI that cannot be prevented or avoided.

Keyphrases: students, conflicts of interest, financial, non-financial, management, university professors
Nothing New (Ethically) Under the Sun: Policy & Clinical
Implications of Nanomedicine

Nanotechnology research is beginning to see widespread coverage in the media and popular science literatures, but discussions of hopes and fears about nanotechnology have already become polarised into utopian and dystopian visions. More moderate discussions focus on the near-term applications of nanotechnologies, and on potential benefits and harms. However, in exploring the social and ethical implications of nanotechnology (or nanomedicine, the focus of this paper), important lessons should be learned from experiences in other fields. In particular, studies of the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) of genetics research have successfully mapped out many of the issues (and social and political responses) that arise when new technologies are deployed. It is our contention that, for the most part, the ethical and social issues arising in nanomedicine are not altogether new, and thus do not require novel ethical principles or frameworks, nor a massive investment in ‘NELSI’ research. Instead, what is needed is support for the development of a culture of ethics amongst scientists and clinicians, basic scientific and medical knowledge for bioethicists, and a social competency for citizens to participate actively in debates about the implications of new technologies in general.

Keyphrases: nanotechnologies, nanotechnology, ethics, research financing, policy, ELSI
L'oeuvre d'art fictive dans le roman contemporain : immersion, intermédialité et interaction

This thesis focuses on the presence of fictional works of art in the contemporary novel. Through their precise descriptions, the fictional works of art challenge the codes of representation and transform the reader’s experience in front of the artwork. It is through the concepts of immersion, intermediality and interaction that the fictional nature of the works of art in the text will be addressed here through three different novels which are The Body Artist by Don DeLillo, La carte et le territoire by Michel Houellebecq and Oeuvres by Édouard Levé. The transformation of the reading experience suggests a renewal of literary aesthetics, showing the importance of the reader’s participation in the artistic process and creating new opening possibilities for the transmission of contemporary art. Specific narrative devices are put forward to integrate the visual medium and to questions the meaning of the work of art, its interpretation and perception. This thesis attempts to provide opportunities for contemporary art to manifest itself outside the traditional museum institutions, thus considering the literary immersion not only as a reading experience, but also as an approach to experience visual art .

Keyphrases: Fiction, Immersion, Interaction, Transmission, Don DeLillo, Michel Houellebecq, Édouard Levé, Work of art, Reading, Fiction, Immersion, Intermediality, Interaction, Transmission, Don DeLillo, Michel Houellebecq, Édouard Levé
Intervention infirmière brève auprès de familles dont un proche présente un délirium suite à une chirurgie cardiaque

Introduction : Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder affecting 47% of cardiac surgery patients. This complication results in higher postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. In addition to its many consequences on the patient’s condition, delirium also affects family caregivers: three-quarters report feelings of severe anxiety during an episode, and helplessness in relation to their ability to provide support to the delirious patient. The lack of evidence on family caregivers’ needs and effective interventions limits the support that can be provided by the nursing staff. In response to this increasingly problematic situation, we tested a personalized intervention with family caregivers of cardiac surgery patients as part of a Master’s degree project.  Method : Semi-structured interviews, inspired by the Calgary Model for Family Intervention (Wright & Leahey, 2009), were conducted to enhance our understanding of their needs during the delirium episode as well as the support they desired from the nursing staff. The student then provided a short and personalized intervention based on the needs expressed by the family caregivers during the interview. The effect of the intervention was assessed one to two weeks following the interview to collect the families’ impressions of the project. A clinical tool was developed from a comprehensive literature review combined with suggestions from the family caregivers who were interviewed. This tool has been validated by nurses expert in the field of family intervention and in cardiac surgery related delirium, as well as nurses working on the units where the project took place. Conclusion : Family caregivers are important allies in the prevention, detection, and management of delirium. This project is expected to guide nurses’ interventions aimed at offering adequate support to family caregivers of delirious cardiac surgery patients.

Keyphrases: Delirium, Family, Acute care, Cardiac surgery, Cardiology, Nursing, Systemic, Assessment, Elderly
La perception de l’ennemi japonais dans les médias écrits américains pendant la Deuxième Guerre mondiale

This master’s thesis offers a summary of the state of research on the perception of the Japanese enemy in the United States before and during World War II which reveals that the question of the American newspapers’ treatment of the Japanese enemy and of who is accountable for Japan’s actions during the war deserves more attention. An analysis of the articles published in three major American newspapers in the three months following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and preceding the official end of the war suggests that the American newspapers presented the Japanese enemy in a light similar to that of the other media. However, this treatment of the Japanese and the Japanese enemy tended to be more nuanced and varied in the three months preceding the end of the war as important dissensions appeared between the newspapers about the accountability of Japan’s war actions, which suggests the existence of different values and perceptions of the Japanese people in general within the United States.

Keyphrases: World War II, newspapers, United States, enemy, histoire, Japan, racism, medias
Un projet de recherche exempté d’évaluation éthique : une suggestion de clarification sur le processus d’évaluation
éthique

This letter proposes a clarification regarding the use of the TCPS2 for ethics review in response to the exemption from review of a specific research proposal by the research ethics board of the organisation.

Keyphrases: research ethics, ethics review, qualitative research, research participant
Les conflits d’intérêts des groupes de défense de patients financés par l’industrie pharmaceutique : le cas du remboursement public des médicaments

Some patient interest groups and other pressure groups in the health sector solicit the pharmaceutical industry to obtain funding. I raise and discuss some issues that can result from this type of relationship.

Keyphrases: conflict of interest, interest groups, pharmaceutical industry, anti-cancer
L'éthique à l'écran. Compte-rendu de What's Good on TV? – Understanding Ethics Through Television, de Jamie Watson et Robert Arp, et de Seeing the Light – Exploring Ethics Through Movies, de Wanday Teays

What’s Good on TV ? – Understanding Ethics Through Television by Jamie Watson and Robert Arp, and Seeing the Light – Exploring Ethics Through Movies by Wanday Teays, undertake each in their own way to show the interest of audiovisual fictions – film and television – for teaching ethics.

Keyphrases: ethics, bioethics, fiction, television, series, pedagogy
L’utilisation du TENS en physiothérapie : la situation particulière des soins palliatifs oncologiques

Trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a treatment against pain that uses the application of an electric current. Some studies suggest that TENS would reduce the pain associated with certain types of cancer and this treatment is regularly used in therapy in contexts of interdisciplinary practice specializing in palliative oncology. However, the use of TENS in cancer cases is a matter of controversy, and its application is contraindicated by Canadian standards governing the practice of physiotherapy. This article aims to present, through a case study, some principles to guide decision making regarding the choice of this therapy in cases of cancer. Scientific evidence, standards of practice and ethical principles that should guide the choice of therapy are discussed. The use of TENS therapy in palliative care is a paradigmatic example of a common situation: the weighing by health care professionals of the benefits and potential costs, such as potential adverse effects of treatment. In the case of TENS, the benefits are associated with the reduction of pain, while a potential adverse effect would increase tumour proliferation. This difficult calculation has implications for the various stakeholders such as patients and health professionals.

Keyphrases: TENS, physiotherapist, precautionary principle, palliative care, oncology
Ethics at War: Review of Elizabeth Scannell-Desch and Mary Ellen Doherty, Nurses in War: Voices from Iraq and
Afghanistan

In Nurses in War: Voices from Iraq and Afghanistan, Elizabeth Scannell-Desch and Mary Ellen Doherty take a journey through the lived experiences of 37 United States military nurses who served in Iraq or Afghanistan during the war years 2003 through 2010.

Keyphrases: military nurse, war, Iraq, Afghanistan, ethics