1,173 research outputs found
Towards a Semantic Search Engine for Scientific Articles
Because of the data deluge in scientific publication, finding relevant
information is getting harder and harder for researchers and readers. Building
an enhanced scientific search engine by taking semantic relations into account
poses a great challenge. As a starting point, semantic relations between
keywords from scientific articles could be extracted in order to classify
articles. This might help later in the process of browsing and searching for
content in a meaningful scientific way. Indeed, by connecting keywords, the
context of the article can be extracted. This paper aims to provide ideas to
build such a smart search engine and describes the initial contributions
towards achieving such an ambitious goal
Problématique linguistique en Haïti et réforme éducative : quelques constats
Cet article traite de la situation du français en HaĂŻti. AprĂšs un survol de l'aspect historique de la situation diglossique en HaĂŻti, l'auteur expose les visĂ©es de la derniĂšre rĂ©forme de l'Ă©ducation, Ă savoir accroĂźtre la scolarisation de base et l'utilisation du crĂ©ole en classe. Une Ă©tude des donnĂ©es du ministĂšre de l'Ăducation nationale, de la Jeunesse et des Sports ne montre pas de gain Ă©ducatif depuis dix ans. La rĂ©forme, faute d'appuis pertinents, n'a pas atteint ses objectifs, notamment quantitatifs, mĂȘme si elle a contribuĂ© au maintien d'une sĂ©quence de scolarisation normale. Chez les jeunes, la valorisation du crĂ©ole n'est pas Ă©vidente malgrĂ© les acquis que la langue a enregistrĂ©s dans le domaine de la vie politique.This article describes the state of the French language in HaĂŻti. Following a review of the historical aspect of diglossia in HaĂŻti, the author delineates the objectives of the last educational reform which included an increase in the level of basic schooling and the use of crĂ©ole in the classroom. A study of the data from the Minister of National Education, Youth, and Sports shows no increase in the level of education in the last 10 years. While the reform did not attain this objective, due to lack of support, the author notes that it did contribute to maintaining the normal schooling sequence. For young people, the value of the crĂ©ole is not strong even though the language has acquired more status in the political sphere.En este articulo se discute la situacion del francĂ©s en Haiti. DespuĂ©s de un resumen del aspecto historico de la situacion diglosica en Haiti, el autor expone los objetivos de la ultima reforma educativa, a saber, aumentar la escolaridad de base y el uso del crĂ©ole en la clase. Un estudio de datos provenientes del Ministerio de Educacion, Justicia y DĂ©portes no muestra ninguna ganancia educativa en los liltimos diez anos. Carente del apoyo necesario, la reforma no alcanzo sus objetivos, particularmente cuantitativos, aun cuando contribuyo al mantenimiento de una secuencia de escolaridad normal. En los jovenes, la valorization del crĂ©ole no es Ă©vidente a pesar de las ganancias hechas por esa lengua en la vida politica.Dieser Artikel befasst sich mit der Lage des FranzĂŽsischen in Haiti. Der Autor stellt zunĂąchst zusammenfassend die Geschichte der ungleichen Zweisprachigkeit in Haiti dar und erklĂąrt dann, was mit der jiingsten Erziehungsreform angestrebt wurde, nĂ mlich eine breitere schulische Erfassung und den Gebrauch des Kreolischen in der Schule. Eine Untersuchung der Daten des Erziehungsministeriums zeigt keinen schulischen Gewinn seit zehn Jahren. Vor alien Dingen in quantitativer Sicht konnte die Reform ihr Ziel nicht erreichen, auch wenn sie zu einem grĂŽfieren Parallelismus zwischen Altersstufen und Schuljahren beigetragen hat. Das Kreolische ist bei den Jugendlichen noch kaum valorisiert, obwohl diĂšse Sprache auf politischem Gebiet mittlerweile hoher bewertet wird
A new test methodology based on structural resonance for mode I fatigue delamination growth in an unidirectional composite
A specific device has been set up to test by vibration resonance the mode I fatigue delamination growth onset of composite laminates. This test system, based on the DCB test specimen, is a mass-spring-specimen dynamic system designed to resonate. The defined operating conditions allow performing delamination propagation tests under imposed load and stopping the test under reproducible conditions, identical to the ones recommended in the ASTM-D6115 standard. This system allows fatigue tests to be driven up to 100Hz, reducing the time taken by a factor of ten without detrimental heat being generated in the material. The effect of frequency on the fatigue delamination growth on mode I has been investigated through a comparison with standard tests performed at 10Hz. A decrease in resistance to the propagation of delamination is observed with the increase in frequency for the composite studied. This frequency effect seems to be a strain rate effect and was taken in consideration by using dynamical critical energy restitution rate for the G-N curve plotting
La mémoire retrouvée : le centenaire du CCF et la recherche de son histoire
Cet article aborde en deux temps une rĂ©flexion sur lâhistoire dâentreprise. En premier lieu, il dresse un certain nombre de constats prĂ©liminaires sur lâintĂ©rĂȘt portĂ© aujourdâhui par les entreprises Ă leur histoire et sur la nĂ©cessitĂ© de la conservation de la mĂ©moire. Quelques pistes sur les perspectives technologiques quâouvre la modĂ©lisation des connaissances sont par la mĂȘme occasion esquissĂ©es. En second lieu, la dĂ©marche accomplie par le CCF Ă lâoccasion de la cĂ©lĂ©bration de son centenaire en 1994 est prĂ©sentĂ©e de façon dĂ©taillĂ©e. Lâarticle dĂ©veloppe les intentions initiales, prĂ©sente les mĂ©thodes dâinvestigation utilisĂ©es, dĂ©finit le rĂŽle des partenaires. Il Ă©voque la dĂ©marche globale de communication rĂ©alisĂ©e par le CCF Ă lâintention de ses publics internes et externes (clients, prescripteurs). Par ailleurs, il prĂ©sente les diffĂ©rents supports rĂ©alisĂ©s dans le cadre du centenaire (livre dâhistoire, film, convention dâentreprise, opĂ©rations destinĂ©es Ă la clientĂšle, etc.). Enfin, aprĂšs une Ă©vocation des retombĂ©es du centenaire et de la poursuite de lâaction de sauvegarde historique, une conclusion aborde la portĂ©e rĂ©elle dâune communication historique.This article addresses the field of corporate history, in two parts. Its begins by reviewing the current way if interest among corporations for research into their past and the need to preserve historical records. It identifies a few areas in which new technologies based on modeling techniques offer promising prospects. Secondly. the author takes a defailed look at the program adopted by CCF at the time of the bankâs centenary in 1994. The article examines the bankâs initial objectives. describes how it went about achieving these, and defines the roles of the partners involved. Il discusses the overall Communications policy adopted by CCF for internal and external purposes (clients, decision-malers), and reviews different products developed to commemorate the centenary : a corporate history in book form. film, a company-wide agreement, special operations targeting clients, etc. After reviewing spin-offs of the centenary celebration and the banks on-going efforts to preserve records of its past, the conclusion considers the scope and impact of a Communications drive based on corporate history
La raison dâĂȘtre de lâengagement professionnel chez des enseignantes du primaire selon une perspective existentielle
Cet article fait Ă©tat des rĂ©sultats dâune recherche sur le processus de dĂ©veloppement et de maintien de lâengagement professionnel chez des enseignantes du primaire. La recherche sâest appuyĂ©e sur le postulat que toute personne a besoin de donner un sens Ă sa vie et que ce sens peut se trouver par lâengagement dans un travail signifiant, en lâoccurrence lâenseignement. Lâanalyse des donnĂ©es recueillies lors des entretiens rĂ©alisĂ©s auprĂšs de douze enseignantes a rendu possible lâĂ©tablissement dâune thĂ©orie ancrĂ©e. Ce texte portera sur les motivations existentielles des enseignantes qui ont participĂ© Ă cette recherche Ă sâengager dans la profession, soit la construction du soi, le dĂ©vouement Ă lâautre et la contribution sociale.This article presents results of a research on primary teachersâ process of development and maintenance of their professional commitment. This research is based on the theory that each person needs to give meaning to his life, that meaning can be found through a commitment to significant work, in this case, teaching. An analysis of data collected in interviews with twelve teachers allowed the authors to establish a foundation for their theory. This text describes the participant teachersâ existential motivations regarding commitment to the teaching profession, including the construction of oneâs self-image, the devotion to others, and the social contribution.Este artĂculo presenta algunos resultados de una investigaciĂłn sobre el proceso de desarrollo y de sostenimiento del compromiso profesional de maestros de la primaria. La investigaciĂłn se fundamentĂł en el postulado que toda persona necesita dar sentido a su vida y que este sentido puede encontrarse en el compromiso en un trabajo significante, en este caso, la docencia. El anĂĄlisis de los datos recolectados durante las conversaciones realizadas con doce maestros ha hecho posible el planteamiento de una teorĂa precisa. Este texto se refiere a las motivaciones existenciales para involucrarse en la profesiĂłn de las maestras que participaron a esta investigaciĂłn, es decir en la construcciĂłn del sĂ, la dedicaciĂłn al otro y la contribuciĂłn social
Alignment of Cells and Extracellular Matrix Within Tissue- Engineered Substitutes
Most of the cells in our body are in direct contact with extracellular matrix (ECM) compoâ
nents which constitute a complex network of nano-scale proteins and glycosaminoglycans.
Those cells constantly remodel the ECM by different processes. They build it by secreting difâ
ferent proteins such as collagen, proteoglycans, laminins or degrade it by producing factors
such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). Cells interact with the ECM via specific receptors,
the integrins [1]. They also organize this matrix, guided by different stimuli, to generate patâ
terns, essential for tissue and organ functions. Reciprocally, cells are guided by the ECM, they
modify their morphology and phenotype depending on the protein types and organization
via bidirectional integrin signaling [2-4]. In the growing field of tissue engineering [5], control
of these aspects are of the utmost importance to create constructs that closely mimic native tisâ
sues. To do so, we must take into account the composition of the scaffold (synthetic, natural,
biodegradable or not), its organization and the dimension of the structure.
The particular alignment patterns of ECM and cells observed in tissues and organs such as
the corneal stroma, vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), tendons, bones and skeletal musâ
cles are crucial for organ function. SMCs express contraction proteins such as alpha-smoothmuscle
(SM)-actin, desmin and myosin [6] that are essential for cell contraction [6]. To result
in vessel contraction, the cells and ECM need to be organized in such a way that most cells
are elongated in the same axis. For tubular vascular constructs, it is suitable that SMCs align
in the circumferential direction, as they do in vivo [7, 8]. Another striking example of alignâ
ment is skeletal muscle cells that form long polynuclear cells, all elongated in the same axis.
Each cell generates a weak and short contraction pulse but collectively, it results in a strong,
long and sustained contraction of the muscle and, in term, a displacement of the member. In the corneal stroma, the particular arrangement of the corneal fibroblasts (keratocytes) and
ECM is essential to keep the transparency of this tissue [9-13]. Tendons also present a pecuâ
liar matrix alignment relative to the muscle axis. It gives a substantial resistance and excepâ
tional mechanical properties to the tissue in that axis [14, 15]. Intervertebral discs [16],
cartilage [17], dental enamel [18], and basement membrane of epithelium are other examples
of tissues/organs that present peculiar cell and matrix organization. By reproducing and
controlling those alignment patterns within tissue-engineered substitutes, a more physiologâ
ical representation of human tissues could be achieved.
Taking into account the importance of cell microenvironment on the functionality of tissue engineered
organ substitutes, one can assume the importance of being able to customise the
3D structure of the biomaterial or scaffold supporting cell growth. To do so, some methods
have been developed and most of them rely on topographic or contact guidance. This is the
phenomenon by which cells elongate and migrate in the same axis as the ECM. Topographic
guidance was so termed by Curtis and Clark [19] to include cell shape, orientation and
movement in the concept of contact guidance described by Harrison [20] and implemented
by Weiss [21, 22]. Therefore, if one can achieve ECM alignment, cells will follow the same
pattern. Inversely, if cells are aligned on a patterned culture plate, the end result would be
aligned ECM deposition [23].
The specific property of tissues or materials that present a variation in their mechanical and
structural properties in different axis is called anisotropy. This property can be evaluated eiâ
ther by birefringence measurements [24, 25], mechanical testing in different axis [26], immuâ
nological staining of collagen or actin filaments [23] or direct visualisation of collagen fibrils
using their self-fluorescence around 488 nm [27, 28].
Several techniques have been recently developed to mimic the specific alignment of cells
within tissues to produce more physiologically relevant constructs. In this chapter, we will
describe five different techniques, collagen gel compaction, electromagnetic field, electroâ
spinning of nanofibers, mechanical stimulation and microstructured culture plates
La formule de financement de la fonction enseignement des universités
Le MinistĂšre de lâĂ©ducation, du sport et du loisir (MELS) attribue plus de 2,5 milliards de dollars annuellement pour le fonctionnement des universitĂ©s. La plus grande partie de cette somme, Ă savoir 1,5 milliard, va Ă la fonction enseignement et est rĂ©partie entre les universitĂ©s selon une formule prĂ©dĂ©terminĂ©e. Câest Ă cette formule que les auteurs sâintĂ©ressent. Les rĂ©sultats de leurs analyses cherchent Ă rĂ©pondre Ă la question suivante : le MELS utilise-t-il adĂ©quatement les montants mis Ă sa disposition par le gouvernement pour financer la fonction enseignement des universitĂ©s? Le Rapport rappelle dâabord le contexte qui a menĂ© Ă lâadoption en fĂ©vrier 2000 de la Politique quĂ©bĂ©coise de financement des universitĂ©s â Politique qui modifiait, dâune façon majeure, la formule de financement historique des Ă©tablissements universitaires Ă partir de 2000-2001. AprĂšs avoir analysĂ© lâimplantation de cette nouvelle formule par le MELS, on traite ensuite du dĂ©veloppement par un ComitĂ© conjoint MELS-CREPUQ dâune grille de poids relatifs devant servir au financement de la fonction enseignement, conformĂ©ment aux prescriptions de la Politique ministĂ©rielle. Suit un examen de lâinsertion en 2006-2007 par le MELS dâune nouvelle grille de pondĂ©ration Ă lâoccasion dâun rĂ©investissement net dans les universitĂ©s. Finalement, on fait ressortir lâinadĂ©quation de lâutilisation de la grille de pondĂ©ration pour le financement des rĂ©sidents en mĂ©decine. Les auteurs tirent de leurs analyses neuf recommandations.
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