Étude de certains aspects du droit nucléaire canadien

The law respecting nuclear energy has to date been the subject of relatively few studies in Canada. Considering, however, the growing importance of nuclear energy as a new or additional form of energy, besides oil, gas, coal and hydroelectric power, and on the other hand, the increase in public concern about the possible consequences of the nuclear option, especially on health and the environment, this area of law is undoubtedly bound to experience a major development. The purpose of the present article is to study existing federal legislation on the matter, as well as its effects on certain provincial jurisdictions, more particularly in Quebec. The author, after recalling certain technical data concerning components and functions of nuclear reactors, proceeds to analyse the main intervenors in the nuclear field, as contemplated by the Atomic Energy Control Act. One cannot help but acknowledge that the Atomic Energy Control Board, by means of its important supervisory and regulatory powers, intervenes at all stages of the nuclear cycle. The author also studies the constitutional basis for the federal intervention in this field of activity. After eliminating the national defence power, the national dimension theory and the emergency power as possible alternatives, he concludes that while Parliament may perhaps invoke its residuary power, its declaratory power appears as the surest constitutional basis for asserting its legislative authority over that particular matter. In the last part of the article, the author attempts to emphasize the effects of federal intervention on provincial property rights over uranium mines, and on provincial jurisdictions over labour relations, health and safety at the workplace and environmental protection. This analysis points out that provincial legislative authority over the management and development of their natural resources is not only inapplicable in respect of uranium, but that their property rights over uranium mines are rather precarious. It seems clear, further, that jurisdiction over labour relations within nuclear undertakings lies exclusively with the federal authority. One could argue that such is also the case with those aspects of nuclear undertakings which are connected with workers' health and safety as well as environmental protection, since those matters are intimately linked with the control of atomic energy. Two main conclusions can be drawn from this study. Firstly, it appears certain that Parliament, in legislating as it did, intended to regulate the whole nuclear energy cycle, from the extraction of uranium ore to the ultimate disposal of nuclear waste. Secondly, that authority could hardly be challenged by provinces or any other interested party, at least on constitutional grounds

Mesure et incidence des dépenses fiscales au Québec

Nous étudions l’incidence des dépenses fiscales provenant des déductions sur le revenu imposable des particuliers accordées par les gouvernements fédéral et provincial au Québec. Utilisant des données originales pour l’année 1977, nous mesurons séparément les dépenses fiscales des deux niveaux de gouvernement. Nous considérons une vingtaine de déductions et une grille de vingt classes de revenus. Nous calculons et analysons plusieurs statistiques qui mesurent la progressivité de ces déductions. Nous trouvons, en particulier, que les dépenses fiscales du gouvernement fédéral sont sensiblement plus importantes que celles du gouvernement du Québec. De plus, les déductions sont en général régressives et les déductions accordées par le gouvernement fédéral sont nettement plus régressives que celles accordées par le gouvernement du Québec.We study the incidence of tax expenditures due to deductions from taxable income of individuals by the federal and provincial governments in Quebec. Using original data for the year 1977, we measure separately the tax expenditures of the two levels of government. We consider twenty deductions and a grid of twenty income brackets. We compute and analyze several statistics measuring the progressivity of the deductions. In particular, we find federal tax expenditures of the federal government to be appreciably more important than those of the provincial government. Further, deductions are generally regressive. Those granted by the federal government are sizably more regressive than those granted by the provincial government

Mesure et incidence des dépenses fiscales au Québec

We study the incidence of tax expenditures due to deductions from taxable income of individuals by the federal and provincial governments in Quebec. Using original data for the year 1977, we measure separately the tax expenditures of the two levels of government. We consider twenty deductions and a grid of twenty income brackets. We compute and analyze several statistics measuring the progressivity of the deductions. In particular, we find federal tax expenditures of the federal government to be appreciably more important than those of the provincial government. Further, deductions are generally regressive. Those granted by the federal government are sizably more regressive than those granted by the provincial government. Nous étudions l’incidence des dépenses fiscales provenant des déductions sur le revenu imposable des particuliers accordées par les gouvernements fédéral et provincial au Québec. Utilisant des données originales pour l’année 1977, nous mesurons séparément les dépenses fiscales des deux niveaux de gouvernement. Nous considérons une vingtaine de déductions et une grille de vingt classes de revenus. Nous calculons et analysons plusieurs statistiques qui mesurent la progressivité de ces déductions. Nous trouvons, en particulier, que les dépenses fiscales du gouvernement fédéral sont sensiblement plus importantes que celles du gouvernement du Québec. De plus, les déductions sont en général régressives et les déductions accordées par le gouvernement fédéral sont nettement plus régressives que celles accordées par le gouvernement du Québec.

Positive pleiotropic effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor on vitiligo

BACKGROUND: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are commonly used in medicine to control blood lipid disorder. Large clinical trials have demonstrated that statins greatly reduces cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality in patients with and without coronary artery disease. Also, the use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors has been reported to have immunosuppressive effects. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe an unusual case of regression of vitiligo in a patient treated with high dose simvastatin. The relation between simvastatin and regression of vitiligo in this case report may be related to the autoimmune pathophysiology of the disease. CONCLUSION: This unexpected beneficial impact provides another scientific credence to the hypothesis that immune mechanisms play a role in the development of vitiligo and that the use of statins as immuno-modulator could be of use not only for treatment relative to organ transplant but in other pathologies such as vitiligo

Synthèse et analyse d'une scène de spectacle dynamiquement reconfigurable

Tableau d'honneur de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales, 2005-2006Ce mémoire présente les travaux effectués dans le cadre d’une association entre le laboratoire de robotique ainsi que celui des nouvelles technologies de l’image, du son et de la scène (Lantiss), tous deux issus de l’Université Laval, relativement au développement d’une scène de spectacle dynamiquement reconfigurable. Une part importante de l’analyse traite de l’aspect esthétique des mouvements et des poses d’une telle surface, face à son utilisation dans le monde du spectacle. L’autre champ d’étude fait référence à des aspects techniques. Ainsi, les solutions qui sont artistiquement intéressantes sont analysées et optimisées afin de pouvoir être réalisées mécaniquement. C’est à cet effet que des études cinématiques et dynamiques de mécanismes ainsi que des optimisations de paramètres géométriques sont exposées. Finalement, ces démarches théoriques mènent à la fabrication et à la commande d’un prototype respectant les attentes artistiques de la scène mobile.Québec Université Laval, Bibliothèque 201

Une extension conforme au développement du pays : la décentralisation judiciaire dans le district de Saguenay au XIXe siècle (1800-1878)

Tableau d’honneur de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales, 2007-2008

Hemodynamic and physical performance during maximal exercise in patients with an aortic bioprosthetic valve Comparison of stentless versus stented bioprostheses

AbstractOBJECTIVESThe objective of this study was to compare stentless bioprostheses with stented bioprostheses with regard to their hemodynamic behavior during exercise.BACKGROUNDStentless aortic bioprostheses have better hemodynamic performances at rest than stented bioprostheses, but very few comparisons were performed during exercise.METHODSThirty-eight patients with normally functioning stentless (n = 19) or stented (n = 19) bioprostheses were submitted to a maximal ramp upright bicycle exercise test. Valve effective orifice area and mean transvalvular pressure gradient at rest and during peak exercise were successfully measured using Doppler echocardiography in 30 of the 38 patients.RESULTSAt peak exercise, the mean gradient increased significantly less in stentless than in stented bioprostheses (+5 ± 3 vs. +12 ± 8 mm Hg; p = 0.002) despite similar increases in mean flow rates (+137 ± 58 vs. +125 ± 65 ml/s; p = 0.58); valve area also increased but with no significant difference between groups. Despite this hemodynamic difference, exercise capacity was not significantly different, but left ventricular (LV) mass and function were closer to normal in stentless bioprostheses. Overall, there was a strong inverse relation between the mean gradient during peak exercise and the indexed valve area at rest (r = 0.90).CONCLUSIONSHemodynamics during exercise are better in stentless than stented bioprostheses due to the larger resting indexed valve area of stentless bioprostheses. This is associated with beneficial effects with regard to LV mass and function. The relation found between the resting indexed valve area and the gradient during exercise can be used to project the hemodynamic behavior of these bioprostheses at the time of operation. It should thus be useful to select the optimal prosthesis given the patient’s body surface area and level of physical activity

Post-exercise heart rate recovery and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

SummaryAbnormal heart rate recovery (HRR) after exercise, a marker of cardiac autonomic dysfunction, is associated with poor prognosis in various populations. As chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with cardiac autonomic dysfunction, we tested the hypothesis that patients with COPD have a lower HRR than healthy people, and evaluated whether a delay in HRR is associated with an increased risk of mortality in COPD. The records of 147 COPD patients were reviewed (65.1±9.1 years, mean±sd, 42 women/105 men, forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1): 42±15% predicted) and compared to 25 healthy subjects (61.6±4.5 years, 5 women/20 men, FEV1: 100±14% predicted) during recovery after an exercise test. Heart rate was measured at peak exercise and at 1-min recovery, the difference between the two being defined as HRR (11±9 beats in COPD patients vs. 20±9 beats in healthy subjects, P<0.0001). During a mean follow-up of 43.1±22.0 months, 32 patients died. Abnormal HRR (⩽14 beats) was a strong predictor of mortality in COPD patients (adjusted hazard ratio: 5.12, 95% CI [1.54–17.00]). In conclusion, COPD patients have a lower HRR than healthy subjects, and have a worse prognosis when presenting abnormal HRR