NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
La protection du consommateur dans le commerce international passé par Internet: une analyse comparée des systèmes juridiques
européen, français, canadien et québécois

With the exponential development of the Internet and the consequent expansion of online commerce, the fate of cyberconsumer protection has become a topic of increasing concern in the 21st century. In fact, in a virtual world where new methods and technologies are used-as are abusive clauses in unilaterally drafted contracts-a feeling of mistrust between cyberconsumer and cybermerchant is certainly setting in. National and international laws and community norms have been adopted in order to rigorously control the contractual process and to thereby re-establish consumer confidence and further Internet commerce. However, due to the frequent presence of foreign elements in on-line commercial contracts, the fundamental question which naturally arises for those who are studying the subject is whether the classic rules of private international law have become outdated by the incredibly rapid development of this type of commerce, or whether such laws are in fact adapted. One can also question whether the legal framework offered to the cyberconsumer is able to procure the same level of protection that a consumer would benefit from in cases of traditional commerce. This study aims to present certain elements of a response, first, by analyzing substantive internal law in the realm of consumer protection in the European, French, Canadian and Quebec legal systems, in order to examine areas of conflict that are likely to exist during the lifespan of this sort of contract. In the second part, this study demonstrates that the classic methods of resolving conflicts of jurisdiction and conflicts of law in private international law, while requiring certain adaptations, can nevertheless be effectively applied to the context of the Internet with the objective of protecting cyberconsumers. The results of this analysis and evaluation of the private international rules of conflict then lead to an assessment of the new measures that are required.

Keyphrases: Internet, Protection, Cybermarchand, Loi applicable, Law, Consumption, Contract, Internet, Cyberconsumer, Protection, Cybermerchant, Private international law, Applicable law, Competent court
La transmission religieuse et culturelle au sein de familles 
maghrébo-québécoises à Montréal

This research is on the religious and cultural transmission to the children from Maghrebian-Quebecker and Islamic-Christian couples in Montreal. After analyzing the content of 10 semistructured interviews made with parental couples, we have tried to give some answers to the following questions : What is the religious affiliation that the parents want to transmit to their child(ren) ? How do their choices reflect in their religious practice, particularly in the religious rituals ? What compromises do the parents make to reach family and identity balance for the child(ren) ? By what means do they legitimate their parental choices ? To properly answer these questions, we gave ourself the following specific objectives : 1) Document the choices of the parents concerning the religious and cultural transmission; 2) Define how the religious practices and beliefs of the parents influence their choices; 3) Explain in what way these choices manifest themselves in their ritual practices with their children; 4) Identify the legitimations of the parents toward their choice of transmission. After completing our analyses, we have not found a transmission logic that would apply to all our parents. Nevertheless, we observe that the children from our sample are identified by their parents as either Muslims (5 family out of 10) either with no religion (5 family out of 10). No couple has chosen Catholicism for their child, even when one member of the couple was a practicing Catholic. The parental choices related in particular to the circumcision ritual, as well as the celebration of the most important religious holidays, enable us to bring out some common anchor points regarding the symbolic transmission. Whatever the position of the Muslim parent—practicing or not, or atheist—toward the religion, he remains deeply attached to the ritual of the circumcision for his child for cultural transmission purposes. Bicultural transmission, where religious holidays of both lineage are celebrated is the most common.

Keyphrases: transmission, religion, rites, islam, transmission, religion, identity, family, mixedness, rituals, Catholicism, Islam
Les représentations sociales du politique: 
une analyse sémantique de l'idéologie nationale fédéraliste québécoise durant les deux périodes référendaires

In this paper we will look at socio-political roles in the daily media.  The objective of this study is to understand the meaning of national space in Quebec during a historical period of transformation that was taking place in numerous societies.  More specifically, we aim to examine the conflict at the heart of the nation’s social role, from the perspective of an ideological federalist work by the Quebecois, who see themselves as promoters of their nation while simultaneously integrated in Canada’s national jurisdiction.  The results of this qualitative study come from a semantic analysis of editorial articles from the newspaper La Presse.  We have analyzed the different categories of information made available while the national space movement was taking place, as well as how they were organized around views during two referendums in 1980 and 1995.  This study is therefore created in a context of socio-journalistic information. The social view points, derived from the study of social roles and sociology in the media, can only be considered in the context of the network of social relationships of which they are a product.   Here we are trying to define the meaning of the specifications in editorial views, as well as the various areas of knowledge used in this text.  Thanks to a diachronic description we can look at the evolution of social roles within Quebec’s national space between the two periods of time studied.  Once we’ve defined our subject concerning national space, we will then analyze the way in which the views are structured.  Through this process of identifying the different types of view; rhetorical and argumentative, created to persuade and justify the action (the rejection of the two referendums, and the adhesion to promises of renewed federalism), and the logic of the views used to show the nation as a rational political focus or not. Definitively, the editorial views help us to shed light on the cognitive organization of knowledge, which is almost mechanically structured between the rational (editorialism, federalism, economics, universalism, accepted social thinking) and the irrational (souverainism, having only dreamers and idealists as leaders), situated, since then, in a political debate more resembling propaganda than an admirable initiative proposed by editorial views.

Keyphrases: social role, semantic analysis, editorial articles, national space in Quebec, sociology of knowledge
Connivence et non connivence : les modes d’intervention des professionnels auprès d’aidants familiaux ayant un proche atteint de la maladie d’Alzheimer

This thesis will portray the intervention modes which health professionals maintain with respect to helping caregivers having an ill relative affected by Alzheimer-type cognitive disease. Using a qualitative approach, we explore which are the intervention modes that experts privilege, in a context of technocratic requirements. Thus, using content analysis, we explored the interviews of 12 practitioners from several professional fields and having a direct relationship with caregivers. Results indicate that there are two types of intervention. On one hand, there are practitioners who adopt an approach of complicity with the caregivers and, on the other hand, there are those who adopt an approach of non complicity with the caregiver. These two types of practitioner differ mainly on having or not practical experience.

Keyphrases: Alzheimer, Health system in Quebec, Alzheimer, caregivers, intervention modes, management, content analysis, practitioners
L’expérience de la maternité des Ouagalaises : d’une génération à l’autre

This thesis explores the maternity experience of women from Ouagadougou and its evolution through time. It focuses on the unfolding of the first pregnancy, the delivery process and the entrance in maternity for two generations of women. Using a analytic induction approach in qualitative methodology, our research is based on 31 semi-directed discussions with woman, 15 hours of participative observation on maternity, and, on 10 semi-directed interviews with mid wives.   The results of the analysis demonstrate that the accumulated knowledge surrounding maternity, has always been transmitted from generation to generation [among woman,] and that it’s still largely influenced by the elderly. However, the transformations happening in the burkinabé society and most importantly in their health care system, is having an impact on this ‘sharing of knowledge.’ Young woman are now receiving more information on their reproductive health, and are more inclined to recognize both, the signs of pregnancy, and the on-set of labour.  Because the old women doesn’t have access to the delivery room, and because of the mid wives’ growing power, the birth process of the women is changing.  Even though the elderly women don’t have the same influence over their parturients during the delivery process, their impact is still present during the post-partum period. Countless of these young urban women are now residing with their mother-in-law, translating into increased power of the mother-in-law in many facets of the pregnancy. This exertion of power is now more noticeable than ever before compared to any prior generation.

Keyphrases: Ouagadougou, Sage-femme, Pregnancy, Delivery process, Maternity, Ouagadougou, Generation, Experience, Mid wives, Care practice
Étude du rôle des gènes TGF-β1 et HSP-70 lors du processus de régénération du membre chez l’axolotl

Urodele amphibians, such as the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), have the unique ability, among vertebrates, to perfectly regenerate many parts of their body throughout their life. Among the complex structures that can be regenerated, the limb is the most widely studied. Limb regeneration is divided in two main phases. The preparation phase, which begins right after amputation, includes wound healing and the formation of an apical ectodermal cap. During this phase, dermal fibroblasts and muscle cells will lose their characteristics and become pluripotent through a process called cellular dedifferentiation. The dedifferentiated cells migrate and accumulate under the apical ectodermal cap to form the blastema. During the redevelopment phase, the cells in the blastema proliferate and redifferentiate to regenerate the lost structures. It is interesting to highlight the fact that regeneration never leads to scar formation in the axolotl. In order to learn more about the molecular control of limb regeneration, the genes Heat-shock protein-70 (Hsp-70) and Transforming growth factor-β1 (Tgf- β1) were selected for their important roles in stress response and wound healing in mammals. HSP-70 is a molecular chaperone which is produced to protect cellular proteins when the cell faces a stress. TGF-β1 is a cytokine produced after wounding that activates the inflammatory response and stimulates wound closure in amniotes. Results presented in this thesis show that Hsp-70 is expressed and regulated during limb development and regeneration in the axolotl. We were also able to isolate the cDNA coding for axolotl Tgf-β1 and our results show that this gene is expressed specifically during the preparation phase of limb regeneration. Treatment of regenerating axolotls with a specific inhibitor of Tgf-β signalling, SB-431542, led to complete inhibition of regeneration. This directly implies that Tgf-β signalling is essential for limb regeneration in axolotl.

Keyphrases: Axolotl, Hsp-70, Tgf-β1, Regeneration, Salamander, Wound healing, Development, Limb, Morphogenesis, Urodele
L’impact de la grossesse sur l’amplitude et la diversité de la reconnaissance antigénique des lymphocytes T cytotoxiques dirigés contre le VIH-1

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV-1 is one of the major issues of the pandemic. Characterization of HIV-specific immunity during pregnancy, especially cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTL), will lead to a better understanding of HIV pathogenesis and facilitate design of optimal strategies to prevent MTCT. Our objective is to describe the magnitude and the breadth of antigen recognition of HIV-specific CTL responses before, throughout and after pregnancy in a group of HIV-infected women. Our results revealed for the first time that initiation of pregnancy by itself doesn’t change the magnitude of CTL responses in terms of IFN- production. These findings support the fact that HIV-infected women maintain immunocompetence throughout gestation, at least in the context of effective antiretroviral treatment. These results provide a novel understanding of the dynamics of HIV-specific CTL responses during pregnancy and may help to promote maternal immunization as a strategy to prevent MTCT of HIV-1.

Keyphrases: Cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes, CTL, HIV, Pregnancy, IFN-γ, Gag, Mother-to-child transmission, TME, MTCT
Mécanismes de défense immunitaire innée impliqués dans l’hépatite aiguë induite par le virus de l’hépatite murine de type 3

Mouse hepatitis virus type 3 (MHV3) is an excellent model to study immunological disorders related to viral infections. The fulminant acute hepatitis induced in susceptible C57BL/6 mice is characterized by the presence of necrotic and inflammatory foci in the liver associated with B and T cell immunodeficiencies leading to the death of the animals in 3 to 5 days post-infection. The fulminance of this viral infection suggests a deficiency in the natural immunity mechanisms under control of NK and NK-T cells and an imbalance between the hepatic tolerance and the inflammatory responses. To understand the different mechanisms involved in the acute hepatitis, in vivo infections have been done in C57BL/6 mice with either the pathogenic L2-MHV3, or with its attenuated variants: the weak attenuated 51.6-MHV3, the highly attenuated CL12-MHV3 or the non-pathogenic YAC-MHV3 viruses, possessing different tropisms for liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells. The results demonstrate that splenic and myeloid NK cells are impaired during a MHV3 infection. This impairment is due to a recruitment of these cells in the liver and a virus-induced apoptotic phenomenon. The recruitment and the subsequent apoptosis of NK and NK-T cells during the first three days of infection are in relation with the pathogenicity of the MHV3 variants. In spite of the fact that hepatic recruited NK cells are still cytotoxic, these cells undergo apoptosis due to viral replication via the formation of syncytia. Addition of IL-12 and IL-18, which are impaired during the acute hepatitis, promote a synergistic IFN-g production by NK cells depending of both the p38 MAPK pathway and the viral replication. Moreover, the specific viral receptor CEACAM1a (carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule 1a) is essential for this response but also exerts an inhibitory action. Levels of the immunosuppressive cytokines IL-10, TGF-b and PGE2, mainly produced by Kupffer cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells, and implicated in the natural hepatic tolerance, are in inverse correlation with the pathogenicity of the MHV3 variants. Finally, viral infection promotes the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-a by macrophages, triggered by the fixation of viral particules to TLR2 and heparan sulfate receptors rather than the engagement of CEACAM1a receptor and viral replication. In conclusion, our results suggest new mechanisms by which the MHV3 virus disturbs the innate immunity under control of NK and NK-T cells, as well as the cytokines involved in the hepatic tolerance to the detriment of the inflammatory response.

Keyphrases: Acute hepatitis, MHV3 virus, NK and NK-T cells, Kupffer cells, Endothelial sinusoidal cells, IFN-gamma, CEACAM1a, Toll-like receptors, Cytokines
Profil de pratique des médecins omnipraticiens en santé mentale au Québec

In Quebec, considering the high prevalence rate of mental health disorder and the scarcity of psychiatrists, general practitioners (GPs) hold an importante role in the management and the follow-up of mental health care.  In the context of the ongoing mental health system reform aimed at reinforcing collaboration between GPs, psychiatrists and mental health teams, our objectives are to have a better understanding of clinical practice and collaborative practice, developed by GP and their assessment of working tools and quality of mental health services, in order to improve the complementary of primary mental health care.     The study was carried out using a cross-sectional design, involving 1415 GPs from nine Quebec territories. The final sample included 398 GPs, representing diverse practice places, and the response rate was 41%.  The study highlighted that GPs have different clinical and collaboration practices according to the seriousness of mental disorder patients seen, i.e. transient and moderate mental disorder (TMMD) or serious and permanent mental disorder (SPMD); and GPs strongly support care coordination efforts with all mental health professionals. Therefore, it appears important to reinforce GP accessibility to other mental health professionals, particularly psychiatrists, and to inform them on the presence of all actors in mental health in their territory, in order to develop collaboration and quality of primary mental healthcare.

Keyphrases: Troubles graves, Collaboration, General practitioners, Mental health, Primary care, Serious/persistent trouble, Transitory/moderate trouble, Collaboration, Shared-care
Nouvelles stratégies d’imageries afin de faciliter l’étude des interactions entre les récepteurs couplés aux protéines G

Studies of the assembly and plasma membrane trafficking of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling complexes will play an important role in the development of new drugs with fewer side effects. Tools for this purpose have already been developed, but a more versatile tool which would allow assessment of multiple aspects of GPCR trafficking and protein/protein interaction could greatly facilitate and expedite these studies. The SNAP tag is without doubt an interesting candidate for this task. Using this tag, it is possible to label one receptor construct, with a variety of different substrates. A construct encoding the β2AR receptor was engineered with a C-terminal SNAP tag. This construct, when expressed in HEK 293 cells, was able to bind ligand, to traffic to the plasma membrane and to form homodimers. The expressed protein was then labelled with the BG-430 fluorophore. Non-specific fluorescence was detected in the cell, even in the absence of the SNAP tag. A BRET assay was developed using the HA-β2AR-SNAP as a BRET acceptor. The SNAP tag as used in this initial study was not as good as thought previously because uneacted substrate remains trapped in cells (i.e. the background was too high). Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and its receptor (PAF-R) play a critical role in many inflammatory responses and the receptor for prostaglandin F (FP) plays a role in pre-term labour. A better understanding of signalling complexes associated with these receptors might be the first step in a better understanding of their signalling in health and disease. As an initial step in this direction, we used BRET to study basic interactions between these receptors and known signalling partners. PAF-R and FP receptors homodimerize. A heterodimer between the FP and PAF receptors was also detected. Gβγ subunits interact with these receptors in a constitutive way. In the case of the Gα, no BRET signal was detected with or without agonist stimulation suggesting more work is required to optimize the system.

Keyphrases: β2AR, FPR, BRET, GPCR, β2AR, FPR, SNAP tag, BRET
Études Structurales par Résonance Magnétique Nucléaire (RMN) du Site Actif du Ribozyme VS de Neurospora

We are studying the Neurospora VS ribozyme as a model system to increase our knowledge of the structure-function relationship in RNA and to better understand the mechanism of the cleavage reaction. It has been previously postulated that the A730 internal loop of stem-loop VI (SLVI) forms the active site of the VS ribozyme and binds magnesium ion(s) that may participate in catalysis. To get insights into the catalytic mechanism, we have determined by NMR spectroscopy the structure of a SLVI fragment containing the A730 loop. The structure we obtained is in agreement with previous biochemical studies and contains one or more magnesium-ion binding sites in the active site. Based on kinetic and mutagenesis studies, it has been proposed that an adenine in the A730 loop, A756, is important for catalysis and may participate in general acid/base catalysis. Previous pH-dependent enzymatic studies identified a catalytic pKa of 5.2-5.8, which likely corresponds to the protonation equilibrium of this A756 adenine in the A730 loop. Using 13C NMR methods, we have identified a shifted pKa for A756, which gives additional support to the role of this residue in the general acid/base mechanism. The NMR studies presented here therefore increase our understanding of the cleavage reaction in the VS ribozyme.

Keyphrases: pKa, RNA, Neurospora VS ribozyme, Three-dimensional structure, Catalysis, pKa, Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
Caractérisation et étude d'un élément régulateur du gène codant pour le récepteur à la vasopressine de type 2

Transcriptional control is the primary means of regulating genes expression in eukaryotes cells. In the genome of the latter, regulatory elements can be localised with very long distance from the gene which they control. The laboratory identified six independent families with X-linked nephrogenic diabete insipidus (NDI) bearing large deletions upstream of the AVPR2 gene leaving intact AVPR2 and AQP2 coding sequences. Males bearing these deletions have classical renal X-linked NDI. The sequencing and analysis of 30 and 31 kilo bases upstream and downstream, respectively, encompassing the AVPR2 gene had led to identify 6 deletions in 6 ancestrally independent families including, 5 larger than 7 kilo bases and one of 102 base paires shared by the other deletions. In male patient bearing the 102 bp upstream deletion, urinary osmolality was unresponsive to dDAVP but, unlike patients with mutations in the coding sequence, their coagulation and hemodynamic responses to dDAVP were normal. This suggests that V2 receptors are not expressed in renal collecting duct cells but normally expressed in endothelial cells. Our goal is thus to understand the regulatory mechanism controlling the AVPR2 locus and more precisely the tissu specific expression of this gene.. The studies carried out in vivo, in the Hprt system, confirm the enhancer role of the sequence of 102 bp: intense coloration of the collecting tubules with construction comprising the deleted zone and abscence with construction not containing it. However, in vitro undertaken experiments seem to indicate that this effect depends on the extracellular context, isotonic or hypertonic, of the nature of the cells, of the tubule proximal or collecting duct, as well as promoter of the AVPR2. The identification of proteins potentially binding one of the ends of the deletion revealed the presence, either of regulating proteins, or of unknown sequences, all expressed in the kidney.  In the long term, these studies, like those while rising, will make it possible to position the AVPR2 gene like a target of choice in the treatment of the diabetes insipidus, central and nephrogenic, by genic therapy.

Keyphrases: AVPR2, AVPR2, AQP2, AQP2, Transcriptional control, Deletions, X-linked nephrogenic diabete insipidus, Hprt system