La législature québécoise peut-elle implanter un système complet d'initiative et de référendum ?

In this article, the author asks himself whether it would be permissible for the Quebec Legislature to implement a full and complete initiative and referendum scheme, thereby giving to the people the means to enact their own laws. And the answer brought about is in the affirmative. The author reaches that conclusion, first, by looking at the concepts of sovereignty in the state, legislative supremacy and parliamentary sovereignty. The second step is related to the analysis of the power attributed to the Legislature to modify its own constitution. The author assumes that this large power of legislation coupled with the principle of legislative supremacy should be sufficient to make a court of justice sustain the constitutional validity of the legislative implementation of a complete initiative and referendum process. But some exceptions are made to that large and supreme legislative power. The « Office of Lieutenant Governor », the idea of making the Legislature the sole legislative organ in the state, the principles of representative democracy and responsible government, and the impossibility of binding the Legislature's future course of action are among the exceptions discussed in this article. Finally, the author urges the reader to take a new look at the case-law on the subject keeping in mind that traditonal values of government are not stuck in concrete: The B.N.A. Act, has it been recognized, has to keep up with today's reality. Direct democracy may be part of this reality

Variations séculaires du niveau d’eau dans le bassin de la rivière Boniface (Québec nordique) : une analyse dendroécologique

A l'aide des dates d'établissement et de mortalité et de la similitude des patrons de croissance radiale d'épinettes noires trouvées dans les platières lacustres et fluviales du bassin de la rivière Boniface (Québec nordique), on a dégagé les principales tendances dans révolution des niveaux d'eau depuis le XVIe siècle. La période la plus ancienne correspond à un bas niveau d'eau pendant les XVIe et XVIIe siècles, suivie d'une hausse à partir de la première moitié du XVIIIe siècle (entre 1720-1740). Un haut niveau d'eau s'est établi vers la fin du XIXe siècle et a culminé au XXe siècle, au cours des années 1930-1940. Une deuxième période de bas niveau d'eau a été enregistrée entre la fin des années 1950 et le début des années 1970. L'établissement massif de l'épinette noire au cours de cette période permet de confirmer l'importance de l'enneigement comme principal facteur de la variation du niveau d'eau pendant la saison de croissance. Ces données permettent de subdiviser le Petit Âge glaciaire en deux périodes distinctes sur la base du régime des précipitations: une première période relativement sèche et de bas niveaux d'eau s'étendant de la fin du XVIe siècle jusque vers 1720-1740 et une deuxième période, plus humide, qui fait la transition vers la période plus clémente du XXe siècle. La présence de cryosols dans les platières colonisées par les épinettes au cours de la première moitié du Petit Âge glaciaire indique que leur formation est associée à de bas niveaux d'eau.Establishment and mortality dates, and tree-ring patterns of black spruce found in lacustrine and fluvial shorelines of the Rivière Boniface watershed (northern Québec) were used to reconstruct water-level changes since the XVIth century. The oldest period correspond to a low level during the XVIth and XVIIth centuries, followed by a rising level during the first half of the XVIIIth century (between 1720 and 1740). A high water level prevailed at the end of the XIXth century and culminated during the XXth century, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s. A second period of low-water level occurred at the end of the 1950s and lasted until the beginning of the 1970s. The massive expansion of black spruce during that period was associated with snowless conditions, which suggests that snow precipitation is the major factor controlling height of the water level. Our data indicate that the Little Ice Age may be subdivided into two distinct periods, i.e. the first one being drier with low water levels from the end of the XVIth century to 1720-1740, and the second period, with moister conditions, which makes the transition towards the milder XXth century. Finally, the development of cryosols in the shoreline habitat during the Little Ice Age was associated with low water levels.Daten zu Ansiedlung, Sterblichkeit und Ahnlichkeit der an den Seen-und Fluss-Kustenlinien gefundenen Jahresringmustèr der schwarzen Fichten haben geholfen, die Haupttendenzen in der Entwicklung der Wasserniveaus seit dem 16. Jahrhundert aufzudecken. Die alteste Période entspricht einem niedrigen Wasserniveau wàhrend des 16. und 17. Jahrhunderts, worauf ein Anstieg ab der ersten Halfte des 18. Jahrhunderts (zwischen 1720-1740) folgte. Gegen Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts hat sich ein hones Wasserniveau durchgesetzt, das seinen Hôhepunkt im 20. Jahrhundert erreichte, wâhrend der Jahre 1930-1940. Eine zweite Période niedrigen Wasserniveaus wurde zwischen dem Ende der 50ger Jahre und dem Beginn der 70ger Jahre festgestellt. Die massive Ansiedlung der schwarzen Fichte wàhrend dieser Période bestâtigt wohl die Bedeutung des Schneefalls als hauptsàchlichen Faktor bei der Kontrolle des Wasserniveaus wàhrend der Wachstumszeit. Mit diesen Daten làsst sich die Kleine Eiszeit auf der Basis der Niederschlàge in zwei unterschiedliche Perioden unterteilen: eine erste, relativ trockene Période mit niedrigen Wasserniveaus, die vom Ende des 16. Jahrhunderts bis gegen 1720-1740 reicht und eine zweite, feuchtere Période, die den Ùbergang zu der milderen Période des 20. Jahrhunderts bereitet. Das Vorkommen von Eisbôden in den von den Fichten wâhrend der 1. Hâlfte der Kleinen Eiszeit besiedelten Kùstenlinien weist darauf hin, dass ihre Bildung mit niedrigen Wasserniveaus verbunden ist

Coupes forestières effectuées par les Indiens et par la Compagnie de la Baie d’Hudson à Poste-de-la-Baleine, Québec subarctique

Depuis plus de deux siècles, les Indiens Cris et les employés de la Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson ont exploité la forêt de la région de Poste-de-la-Baleine (Nouveau-Québec, 55°17'N, 77°47'0), notamment sur la terrasse au sud de la grande rivière de la Baleine. L'analyse dendrochronologique a permis la datation des coupes forestières depuis 1865, soit par l'augmentation de la croissance radiale des survivants, soit par l'âge des reprises de dominance apicale sur les arbres taillés ou par l'âge des cicatrices causées aux arbres par les coups de hache. Quelque 200 sites de camps et aires de coupe ont été cartographies et ont pu être datés précisément. Trois grandes périodes de fréquentation de la forêt ressortent de l'analyse. Pendant la période antérieure à 1954, la reconstitution de l'histoire des coupes révèle que la fréquentation de la forêt par les Cris était essentiellement estivale. Des coupes importantes ont aussi été effectuées pour le chauffage des établissements de la Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson. La période 1954-1973 se caractérise par une occupation de plus en plus continuelle du territoire par les Indiens. Les coupes s'intensifient à proximité du village, une quantité importante de bois y étant transporté pour le chauffage domestique. Enfin, on observe depuis 1973 une diminution importante du nombre et de l'étendue des coupes sur tout le territoire, cette période marquant la substitution du chauffage au bois par le chauffage à l'huile dans les habitations du village.The Crée Indians and Hudson Bay Company's staff have been exploiting the forests around Poste-de-la-Baleine (Nouveau-Québec, 55°17'N, 77°40'W) for more than two centuries, particularly those located south of the Grande Rivière de la Baleine. Dating of forest harvesting activities from 1865 to present has been provided through dendrochronological techniques, by evaluating increase in radial growth of the survivors, timing of apical dominance reiteration and dating the hacks on trees. As many as 200 campsites and forest harvesting areas were identified and mapped. Three different periods of fréquentation were distinguished: 1) Until 1954, the harvesting activities chronology shows that Crée Indians occupied the area only during summer. During the same period, there were also important harvesting activities for heating of Hudson Bay Company buildings; 2) Between 1954-1973, the forests were progressively exploited by the Indians, particularly around the village where they used wood for domestic heating; 3) After 1973, the harvesting activities declined all over the area because of increasing use of fuel for domestic heating.Seit mehr als zwei Jahrhunderten haben die Cris-lndianer und die Angestellten der Hudson Bay Company den WaId des Gebiets von Poste-de-la-Baleine genutzt (Nouveau Québec, 55°17' N, 77°47' O), vorallem auf der Terrasse im Sùden der Grande Rivière de la Baleine. Die dendrochronologische Analyse erlaubt eine Datierung der Waldschlâge seit 1865, sei es mittels Bestimmung der radialen Wachstumszunahme der ùberlebenden Baume, sei es mittels Altersbestimmung des Wiederbeginns des Wachens am Oberteil der gestutzten Baume oder mittels Datierung der den Bàumen durch Axtschlàge verursachten Narben. Etwa 200 Lager- und Waldschlagplâtze wurden kartographiert und konnten genau datiert werden. Die Analyse ergibt drei gro(3e Zeitspannen der Nutzung des Waldes. Wàhrend der Zeitspanne vor 1954 zeigt die Rekonstruktion der Geschichte der Waldschlâge, da(i die Cris den WaId hauptsàchlich im Sommer nutzten. Wichtige Waldschlâge wurden auch fur die Beheizung der Gebâude der Hudson Bay Company durchgefùhrt. Die Zeitspanne von 1954 bis 1973 zeichnet sich durch eine immer konstantere Besiedlung des Gebiets durch die lndianer aus. Die Waldschlâge wurden intensiver in der Nâhe des Dorfes, wohin eine grope Menge HoIz fur die Wohnraumbeheizung transportiert wird. SchlieBlich kann man seit 1973 eine bedeutende Abnahme der Zahl und Ausdehnung der Waldschlâge auf dem ganzen Gebiet feststellen, da dièse Période den Wechsel von der Heizung mit HoIz zur Ôlheizung in den Behausungen des Dorfes markiert

Hepatitis C infection: eligibility for antiviral therapies

Background Current treatments of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) are effective, but expensive and susceptible to induce significant side effects. Objectives To evaluate the proportion of HCV patients who are eligible for a treatment. Methods In a database comprising 1726 viraemic HCV patients, the files of 299 patients who presented to the same hepatologist for an initial appointment between 1996 and 2003 were reviewed. Results Patients' characteristics were age 43.1 +/- 15.6 years, 53% male and 92% Caucasian. The main risk factors were transfusion (43%) and drug use (22%). Genotypes were mostly genotype 1 (66%), genotype 3 (12%) and genotype 2 (10%). These characteristics were not different from those of the whole series of 1726 patients. A total of 176 patients (59%) were not treated, the reasons for non-treatment being medical contraindications (34%), non-compliance (25%) and normal transaminases (24%). In addition, 17% of patients declined therapy despite being considered as eligible, mainly due to fear of adverse events. Medical contraindications were psychiatric (27%), age (22%), end-stage liver disease (15%), willingness for pregnancy (13%), cardiac contraindication (7%) and others (16%). Only 123 patients (41%) were treated. A sustained viral response was observed in 41%. The treatment was interrupted in 16% for adverse events. Conclusions The majority of HCV patients are not eligible for treatment. This implies that, with current therapies, only 17% of patients referred for chronic HCV become sustained responders. Some modifications of guidelines could extend the rate of treatment (patients with normal transaminases), but an important barrier remains the patients' and the doctors' fear of adverse events

H3-receptor regulation of vascular gastrin and somatostatin releases by the isolated rat stomach.

We have studied the effects of the H3-receptor agonist (R) alpha-methylhistamine [(R) alpha-MeHA] and the H3-receptor antagonist thioperamide (Thiop) on basal- and carbachol-stimulated vascular gastrin release (GR) and somatostatin release (SR) by the isolated rat stomach. Carbachol dose-dependently stimulated and inhibited GR and SR, respectively. Maximal stimulation of GR (500 +/- 112 percent of basal; p < .01), and maximal inhibition of SR (-62 +/- 9 percent under basal; p < .01) were obtained with 1 micron carbachol. Neither (R)alpha-MeHA nor Thiop, up to 10 microns, affected GR. However, SR was dose-dependently enhanced by Thiop (25 +/- 8 percent for 10 microns). Carbachol stimulation of GR was strongly inhibited by Thiop (30 +/- 7 percent for 100 nM and 73 +/- 14 percent for 1 microgram), whereas it was potentiated by (R)alpha-MeHA. Carbachol inhibition of SR was reversed by Thiop and (R)alpha-MeHA. However, the reversal effect of (R)alpha-MeHA was prevented by the CCKB/gastrin receptor antagonist PD134308. These results support H3-receptor regulation of basal and cholinergically-stimulated GR and SR

Effectiveness and tolerability of pegylated interferon alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin for treatment of chronic hepatitis C: the PegIntrust Study

Background and study aims : Large international clinical trials conducted in the past 5 years rapidly improved the treatment of chronic hepatitis C; however, it is unclear whether the advances seen in clinical trials are being paralleled by similar improvements in routine clinical practice. PegIntrust is a Belgian community-based trial evaluating the sustained virological response. Patients and Methods : Observational study of 219 patients receiving pegylated interferon alfa-2b (1.5 mu g/kg/wk) and weight. based ribavirin (800-1200 mg/day) for 48 weeks. Primary study end point was sustained virological response (SVR), defined as undetectable HCV RNA 6 months after the completion of treatment. Results : In total, 108 patients (49.3 %) had undetectable HCV RNA at the end of therapy, 91(41.6%) attaining SVR. Of the 111 patients without an end-of-treatment response, 28 were non-responders, and 21 had virological breakthrough. In total, 134 patients attained early virological response (EVR); 88 (65.7%) of those patients attained SVR. In contrast, 82 (96.5 %) of the 85 patients who did not attain EVR also did not attain SVR. Age, fibrosis score and baseline viral load were identified as important predictors of treatment outcome. The most frequently reported serious adverse events resulting in treatment discontinuation were anemia (n = 10), fatigue/asthenia/malaise (n = 6) and fever (n = 3). Conclusion : Our data indicate that treatment of chronic hepatitis C with PEG-IFN alfa-2b plus weight-based ribavirin results in favourable treatment outcomes in a Belgian cohort of patients treated in community-based clinical practice. (Ada gastroenterol. belg., 2010, 73, 5-11)

Is there an integrative center in the vertebrate brain-stem? A robotic evaluation of a model of the reticular formation viewed as an action selection device

Neurobehavioral data from intact, decerebrate, and neonatal rats, suggests that the reticular formation provides a brainstem substrate for action selection in the vertebrate central nervous system. In this article, Kilmer, McCulloch and Blum’s (1969, 1997) landmark reticular formation model is described and re-evaluated, both in simulation and, for the first time, as a mobile robot controller. Particular model configurations are found to provide effective action selection mechanisms in a robot survival task using either simulated or physical robots. The model’s competence is dependent on the organization of afferents from model sensory systems, and a genetic algorithm search identified a class of afferent configurations which have long survival times. The results support our proposal that the reticular formation evolved to provide effective arbitration between innate behaviors and, with the forebrain basal ganglia, may constitute the integrative, ’centrencephalic’ core of vertebrate brain architecture. Additionally, the results demonstrate that the Kilmer et al. model provides an alternative form of robot controller to those usually considered in the adaptive behavior literature

Are all GMOs the same? Consumer acceptance of cisgenic rice in India

Citation: Shew, A. M., Nalley, L. L., Danforth, D. M., Dixon, B. L., Nayga, R. M., Delwaide, A. C., & Valent, B. (2016). Are all GMOs the same? Consumer acceptance of cisgenic rice in India. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 14(1), 4-7. doi:10.1111/pbi.12442India has more than 215 million food-insecure people, many of whom are farmers. Genetically modified (GM) crops have the potential to alleviate this problem by increasing food supplies and strengthening farmer livelihoods. For this to occur, two factors are critical: (i) a change in the regulatory status of GM crops, and (ii) consumer acceptance of GM foods. There are generally two classifications of GM crops based on how they are bred: cisgenically bred, containing only DNA sequences from sexually compatible organisms; and transgenically bred, including DNA sequences from sexually incompatible organisms. Consumers may view cisgenic foods as more natural than those produced via transgenesis, thus influencing consumer acceptance. This premise was the catalyst for our study-would Indian consumers accept cisgenically bred rice and if so, how would they value cisgenics compared to conventionally bred rice, GM-labelled rice and 'no fungicide' rice? In this willingness-to-pay study, respondents did not view cisgenic and GM rice differently. However, participants were willing-to-pay a premium for any aforementioned rice with a 'no fungicide' attribute, which cisgenics and GM could provide. Although not significantly different (P = 0.16), 76% and 73% of respondents stated a willingness-to-consume GM and cisgenic foods, respectively