Problématique : Le tabagisme est un facteur de risque établi pour le cancer de l'ovaire mucineux. Cependant, son association avec d'autres types de cancers de l'ovaire demeure incertaine. Ce mémoire examine l'association entre le tabagisme et le risque de cancer de l'ovaire, et plus spécifiquement, selon le comportement et les sous-types histologiques. Méthodes : Nous avons utilisé les données de l'étude sur la prévention du cancer de l'ovaire au Québec (PROVAQ), une étude cas-témoins qui comprenait 498 cas et 908 témoins recrutés entre 2011 et 2016. Ces données ont permis de conceptualiser des variables qui représentent les comportements tabagiques au cours de la vie. La régression logistique inconditionnelle a été utilisée pour estimer les rapports de cotes ajustés (OR) et les intervalles de confiance à 95 %. Résultats : Le risque de cancer épithélial de l'ovaire était augmenté à la fois chez les anciennes fumeuses (OR = 1,3, IC à 95 % = 1,01–1,67) et chez les fumeuses actuelles (OR = 1,27, IC à 95 % = 0,92–1,72) par rapport à celles n'ayant jamais fumé. Bien qu'aucune association n'ait été observée avec les tumeurs invasives, nous avons observé un risque accru de cancers de l'ovaire dans les limites de malignité chez les fumeuses actuelles (OR = 2,11, IC à 95 % 1,29–3,44) et les anciennes fumeuses (OR = 1,76, IC à 95 % 1,12–2,76), en particulier parmi celles avec une plus grande intensité et durée d’exposition. En accord avec les études épidémiologiques précédentes, nous avons trouvé un risque accru de cancers de l'ovaire mucineux chez les fumeuses actuelles. En outre, nous avons également trouvé une augmentation significative du risque de cancer ovarien séreux dans les limites de malignité chez les anciennes fumeuses (OR = 2,42, IC à 95 % 1,35–4,36). Conclusion : Tout en confirmant les associations rapportées dans les études précédentes, les résultats de ce mémoire suggèrent la nécessité d’appliquer des techniques histopathologiques plus avancées pour mieux comprendre l’effet du tabagisme sur le risque de cancer de l'ovaire. / Background: Cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for mucinous ovarian cancer. However, the association of smoking with other types of epithelial ovarian cancers remains unclear. This thesis examines the association between cigarette smoking and ovarian cancer risk, and more specifically, according to tumors behavior and histological subtype. Methods: We used data from the Prevention of Ovarian Cancer in Quebec (PROVAQ) study, a population-based case-control study that included 498 cases and 908 controls recruited from 2011 and 2016. Information on smoking behaviors was extracted and used to conceptualize various metrics that represent lifetime smoking behaviors. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The risk of epithelial ovarian cancer was increased in both former smokers (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.01–1.67) and current smokers (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 0.92–1.72) compared to never smokers. While no association was observed with invasive ovarian cancers, we observed an increased risk of borderline ovarian tumors among both current (OR=2.11, 95% CI 1.29–3.44) and former smokers (OR=1.76, 95% CI1.12–2.76), particularly among those with greater intensity and duration of exposure. In agreement with previous epidemiological studies, we found an increased risk of mucinous ovarian cancers among current smokers. In addition, a strong association between the risk of borderline serous with past smoking (OR=2.42, 95% CI 1.35–4.36) was also observed. Conclusion: While confirming associations reported in previous studies, the results from this thesis suggest the need to continue applying more advanced histopathology techniques to better understand the effect of smoking on ovarian cancer risk.

Contexte : La sclérose tubéreuse de Bourneville (STB) affecte approximativement une naissance vivante sur 6000. Les principales sources de morbidité chez les enfants sont des manifestations cliniques affectant le cerveau et le cœur. Quant aux adolescents et aux adultes, ils sont à plus haut risque de développer des angiomyolipomes rénaux (AML) et la lymphangioléiomyomatose pulmonaire (LAM). Objectif : Ce projet de recherche a pour principal objectif de déterminer la capacité du fardeau de la maladie chez l’enfant à prédire le développement futur d’AML et de LAM chez l’adolescent et l’adulte. Méthodes : Les données sur 2420 participants de la TSC (Tuberous sclerosis complex) Alliance Natural History Database ont été utilisées pour développer des modèles de régression logistique afin de prédire les AML et la LAM. Ces modèles comptaient comme variables dix manifestations cliniques de la STB en plus du sexe biologique et de la mutation génétique. Les modèles développés ont été convertis en scores de risque clinique et une validation interne a ensuite été effectuée avec rééchantillonage par bootstrap afin d’évaluer leur performance prédictive à l’aide de mesures de discrimination et de calibration. Résultats : 1000 participants ont été diagnostiqués avec un AML, alors que la LAM a été détectée chez 107 participants. Les scores de risque clinique les moins élevés prédisaient des risques d’AML et de LAM de 0 % et de 5 %, tandis que les scores les plus élevés pouvaient prédire des risques allant jusqu’à 96 % et 54 %, respectivement. La performance prédictive des modèles allait de bonne à excellente (C-Index variant de 0,75 à 0,85). Conclusion : Les scores de risque clinique développés indiquent une bonne capacité des manifestations cliniques sélectionnées à prédire le risque futur des tumeurs, principalement pour les AML. Une validation externe devra cependant être menée afin de confirmer les résultats obtenus dans la présente étude. / Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) affects approximately 1/6000 live births. The primary sources of childhood morbidity and mortality are manifestations affecting the brain and heart. Adolescents and adults, on the other hand, are at the greatest risk of developing renal angiomyolipoma (AML) and pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Objective: The main objective of this research project is to determine the ability of the burden of TSC in children to predict the risk of developing AML and LAM in adults. Methods: Data from 2420 participants in the TSC Natural History Database were used to develop logistic regression models to predict AMLs and LAM. Variables used for the models included 10 clinical manifestations of TSC, in addition to biological sex and genetic mutation. The models were converted into clinical risk scores and were internally validated using bootstrap resampling to evaluate their predictive performance with the help of discrimination and calibration measures. Results: 1000 participants were diagnosed with AML, while LAM was seen in 107 participants. The lowest clinical risk scores predicted a risk of AML and LAM of 5% and 0%, while the highest scores predicted a risk of 96% and 54%, respectively. The predictive performance of the models ranged from good to excellent (C-Indexes of 0.75 to 0.85). Conclusions: The clinical risk scores indicated a good ability for the selected clinical manifestations to predict the future risk of tumours, particularly of AML. External validation of the risk scores will be important to confirm the robustness of our findings.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Plant Pathology / William W. Bockus / James P. Stack / Wheat blast, caused by the Triticum pathotype of Magnaporthe oryzae (MoT), is a serious disease of wheat causing yield failures and significant economic losses during epidemic years in Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Although outbreaks occur only sporadically, wheat blast is considered a major disease affecting wheat production in South America and may be a threat to the wheat crop in the United States. Wheat is a major crop in the U.S. and wheat exports from the U.S. are important to food security of several countries around the World. Thus, it is important to understand the potential for MoT entry and establishment into the U.S. and to test U.S. wheat cultivars for susceptibility to MoT. The hypotheses of this research project were a) importing wheat grain from Brazil does not pose a risk for MoT establishment in the U.S., and b) resistance to MoT head infection does not exist in U.S. hard red winter wheat elite cultivars. Quantitative pathway analysis models were used to estimate the risk of MoT entry and establishment, in the coterminous U.S. and in a more targeted area within southeast North Carolina, via the importation of wheat grain from Brazil. The pathway model predicted that significant risk for MoT entry and establishment exists in some areas of the U.S. However, in approximately 60% of the coterminous U.S. winter wheat production areas the risk of MoT establishment was estimated to be zero. With respect to winter wheat growing areas in the U.S., conditions for MoT establishment and wheat blast outbreak occur only in small, restricted geographic areas. A higher resolution pathway analysis based on a ground transportation corridor in North Carolina indicated that conditions for MoT establishment exist seven out of ten years. Among U.S. cultivars tested, a continuum in severity to head blast was observed; cultivars Everest and Karl 92 were highly susceptible with more than 90% disease severity, while cultivars PostRock, Jackpot, Overley, Jagalene, Jagger, and Santa Fe showed less than 3% infection.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / Harvey Morgan Scott / A randomized controlled field trial was designed to evaluate the effects of two treatment strategies on ceftiofur and tetracycline resistances in feedlot cattle. The two strategies consisted of administering ceftiofur crystalline-free acid administration (CCFA) at either one or else all of the steers within a pen, and subsequent feeding/not feeding of therapeutic doses of chlortetracycline. Both strategies were hypothesized to reduce ceftiofur resistance. The effects of treatment strategies were evaluated via metagenome-based and culture-based assays. In this 26-day study, 176 steers were allocated to 16 pens of 11 steers each. The two strategies were randomly assigned to the pens in a two-way full-factorial manner resulting in four treatment groups. The blaCMY-2, blaCTX-M, tet(A), tet(B), and 16S rRNA gene copies/g feces were quantified using qRT-PCR from fecal community DNA. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined using microbroth dilution technique from the non-type-specific (NTS) E. coli isolates (n=1,050). The NTS E. coli DNA was screened for the presence of blaCMY-2, tet(A), and tet(B) genes. Pens in which all the steers received CCFA treatment showed an increase in blaCMY-2 and blaCTX-M log10 gene copies/g feces and in the proportion of ceftiofur-resistant and blaCMY-2 positive NTS E. coli. This was in contrast to the pens where only one animal received CCFA treatment. There was a significant decrease in quantities of tetracycline genes in community DNA in pens where all animals received CCFA treatment. In contrast to metagenome-based assay results, culture-based assays indicated an increase in the proportion of tetracycline resistant NTS E. coli upon CCFA treatment. Thereafter, chlortetracycline administration led to rapid expansion both of ceftiofur (blaCMY-2, blaCTX-M) and tetracycline [tet(A) and tet(B)] log10 gene copies/g feces. Chlortetracycline treatment delayed the return of the ceftiofur resistance prevalence to baseline among NTS E. coli and thus did not lead to the hypothesized decrease in ceftiofur resistance. Our data suggest that chlortetracycline use is contraindicated when attempting to avoid expansion of resistance to critically important 3rd generation cephalosporins in feedlot cattle. Further studies are required to better establish the animal-level effects of co-housing antimicrobial-treated and non-treated animals together at varying ratios on the levels of antimicrobial resistance.

Aims: To investigate the natural history of CHC, estimate the disease burden of CHC, and assess the cost-effectiveness of screening for CHC among immigrants living in Canada. Methods: A retrospective cohort study compared the prognosis of CHC between immigrant patients and native-born patients who had advanced fibrosis. A cross-sectional study assessed the association between obesity and hepatitis C viremia. The disease burden of CHC among immigrants was estimated through Markov cohort model. The cost-effectiveness of screening for CHC was assessed among immigrants. Results: The retrospective cohort study including 318 patients demonstrated that immigrant patients had significantly higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma than Canadian-born patients (p=0.005). The hazard ratio associated with ‘immigrant’ for hepatocellular carcinoma in multivariate Cox proportional-hazards analyses reduced to the least and non-significant (p=0.318) after adjusting age and type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of obesity in 1118 individuals tested positive for hepatitis C antibody was 28.8%. Multiple regression analyses and propensity score methods suggested a significant association between obesity and hepatitis C viremia. The disease burden study estimated that immigrants with CHC had much shorter average life years (26.9 years vs. 39.1 years) and quality adjusted life years (20.6 years vs. 32.4 years) than the age matched immigrants without CHC. The cost-effectiveness study indicated that screening for CHC among immigrants from 183 countries (72.1% of immigrant population in Canada) had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio less than $50,000 per quality adjusted life year gained. Conclusion: Immigrant patients with CHC could have a higher risk of HCC than native-born patients. The significant association between obesity and hepatitis C viremia could explain the observed high prevalence of type 2 diabetes in patients with CHC. CHC reduces the average life expectancy of immigrants with CHC more than 10 years. Screening for CHC is cost-effective among over 70% of immigrants living in Canada.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to assess patients’ preferences between radiofrequency ablation (RFA) versus hepatic resection (HR) for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Methods: Decision analysis was performed by using probability trade-off (PTO) technique to elicit patients’ preferences and the strength of their decisions. Results: The vast majority of the study population preferred RFA over HR (70% vs. 30%, p=0.001). Their initial choice changed if 5-year survival benefit after surgery was at least 14% superior to RFA and if the 3-year disease-free survival advantage was at least 13% better than ablation. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that fully informed cirrhotic patients would prefer RFA if diagnosed with early stage HCC even if able to undergo surgery.

La problématique de l’observance de la biosécurité est présente dans tous les types de production. Il est essentiel de définir des stratégies pour améliorer l’application des mesures de biosécurité. Cette étude décrit l’application des mesures de biosécurité à l’entrée et à la sortie de 24 bâtiments d’élevages avicoles au Québec, Canada. L’effet des audits et de caméras visibles sur l’observance a été étudié, de même que les déterminants de l’observance. De plus, la relation entre l’observance et les profils de personnalité, l’expérience et l’éducation a été décrite. L’application des mesures de biosécurité a été évaluée à l’aide de caméras cachées. L’observance à court terme (deux premières semaines) et à moyen terme (six mois plus tard) a été déterminée. Basés sur les résultats du groupe contrôle, 44 différentes erreurs lors de l’application des mesures de biosécurité ont été observées à l’entrée et la sortie des bâtiments. La plupart étaient reliées à la délimitation des zones (propre versus contaminée). La nature et la fréquence des erreurs suggèrent un manque de compréhension des principes associés aux mesures de biosécurité. Le visionnement des vidéos a révélé 3055 visites par 277 individus différents (136 employés, 123 visiteurs, 3 superviseurs et 15 éleveurs). Les résultats ont démontré que les audits n’avaient pas d’impact sur l’observance des employés. Les caméras visibles ont eu un impact, à court terme, sur le port de bottes et le respect des zones durant la visite. Par contre, six mois plus tard, l’observance avait significativement diminué, au point de ne plus être statistiquement plus élevée que le groupe contrôle. La durée et le moment de la visite, la présence de l’éleveur ou d’un observateur, la conception de l’entrée, le nombre de bâtiments, le nombre de mesures de biosécurité exigé, le type de bottes, le genre et être membre de la famille de l’éleveur étaient significativement associés à l’observance de certaines mesures. Finalement, trois traits de la personnalité étaient associés à l’observance: responsabilité, orienté vers l’action et complexité, de même que le nombre d’années d’expérience et le niveau d’éducation. Il est nécessaire d’améliorer la formation en matière de biosécurité en fournissant du matériel de formation à tous les intervenants qui démontrent pourquoi et comment appliquer les mesures de biosécurité. La formation continue devrait également aborder les problématiques reliées aux caractéristiques de visites et de fermes. Améliorer la conception des entrées de bâtiments devrait contribuer à augmenter et à maintenir l’observance. L’identification de traits de personnalité associés à l’observance peut avoir des implications sur la sélection des candidats à l’embauche ou sur l’attribution de tâches et sur la planification des programmes de formation. / Biosecurity compliance issue is present in all types of animal productions, Therefore, it is essential to define strategies to improve the implementation of biosecurity measures. This study described the application of biosecurity measures when entering and exiting 24 poultry barns in Québec, Canada. The effect of audits and visible cameras on compliance was investigated, as well as determinants of compliance. Also, the relationship between compliance and personality profiles, experience and education has been described. Application of biosecurity measures was evaluated using hidden cameras. Short term (first two weeks) and medium term (six months later) compliance were determined. Based on the control group, 44 different biosecurity breaches were observed when getting in and out of poultry barns. Most were related to area delimitation (clean versus contaminated). The nature and frequency of errors suggest a lack of understanding of biosecurity principles. Overall, video viewing revealed 3055 visits done by 277 different individuals (136 employees, 123 visitors, 3 supervisors and 15 growers). Results showed that audits did not have any impact on employee compliance. Visible cameras had a significant impact on changing boots and respecting areas during the visit for the short term period. However, six months later, compliance significantly declined and was no longer statistically higher compared to the control group. Duration and moment of the visit, presence of the grower or an observer, barn entrance design, number of barns, number of biosecurity measures requested, type of boots, gender and being a member of a grower’s family were significantly associated with compliance with some biosecurity measures. Finally, three personality traits were significantly associated with compliance: responsibility, action-oriented and complexity, as well as the number of years of experience and the level of education. There is a need to improve biosecurity training by making training material available to all poultry personnel demonstrating why and how to apply biosecurity measures. Educational meetings should also address issues related to visit and farm characteristics. Improving barn entrance design should contribute to enhance and maintain compliance. The identification of personality traits associated with compliance may have implications for the selection of job applicants or task attribution, and for developing educational materials and training programs.

INTRODUCTION La production biologique contribue de façon significative aux défis du développement durable. Les infections à Mycobacterium avium sous-espèce paratuberculosis (MAP), Neospora caninum (NC), au virus de la diarrhée virale bovine (BVD) et au virus de la rhinotrachéite infectieuse bovine (IBR) sont bien reconnues pour affecter de manière significative la production dans les élevages laitiers. Il n’existe toutefois aucune donnée sur l’importance de ces pathogènes dans les troupeaux biologiques. HYPOTHESE Ces quatre pathogènes sont présents dans les troupeaux laitiers biologiques, mais leur prévalence est moindre par rapport à l’élevage conventionnel. OBJECTIFS Estimer les séroprévalences de NC, MAP, BVD, IBR dans les troupeaux laitiers biologiques québécois. MÉTHODOLOGIE Dans la province du Québec, 60 troupeaux laitiers biologiques ont été sélectionnés aléatoirement. Un échantillon sanguin a été prélevé sur 30 vaches adultes, pour l’évaluation de NC et MAP, et sur 5 animaux plus de 6 mois non vaccinés, pour l’évaluation de BVD et IBR. Une détection d’anticorps par ELISA, pour NC et MAP, et par séroneutralisation pour BVD et IBR a été réalisée sur les sérums obtenus. Un questionnaire a été rempli par chaque éleveur. RÉSULTATS La séroprévalence individuelle de NC et MAP, avec un intervalle de confiance de 95%, étaient de 4.1% (3.2%-5.2%) et 0.8% respectivement (0.0%-1.3%). La séroprévalence de troupeau de NC, MAP, BVD, IBR, si au moins un animal est positif dans un troupeau étaient de 50.8%, 20.3%, 37.3%, 31.0% respectivement. Ces séroprévalences étaient de 30.5%, 3.4%, 28.8% et 18.9%, respectivement, si au moins deux animaux sont positifs. La taille du troupeau a un effet significatif sur le statut de BVD (p=0.02) et il y a une bonne corrélation entre le statut BVD et IBR (Kappa-0.54). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION La séroprévalence individuelle de NC, MAP, IBR semblent être moindre dans les troupeaux laitiers biologiques comparativement au conventionnel. Il ne semble pas y avoir de grandes différences entre la séroprévalence du BVD des troupeaux biologiques et celle des conventionnels. / INTRODUCTION Organic herds are important component of sustainable development. Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), Neospora caninum (NC), bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus infections are well known to have major impact on dairy production. However, there are actually no data on the prevalence of these pathogens in organic dairy herds. HYPOTHESIS These four pathogens are present among cattle organic herds but their prevalence is less than among conventional cattle herds. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the seroprevalence of NC, MAP, BVD, IBR in cattle organic herds in Québec province. METHODOLOGY In the province of Québec, 60 organic herds were randomly sampled. Thirty adult cows, to estimate NC and MAP, and 5 unvaccinated animals more than 6 months old, for BVD and IBR, were bled. An ELISA test, for NC and MAP, and seroneutralisation test for BVD and IBR were used to analyse the serum. A questionnaire was filled in by farmers. RESULTS Individual prevalence of NC and MAP (IC=95%) were 4.1% (3.2%-5.2%) and 0.8% (0.0%-1.3%) respectively. Herd level prevalence of NC, MAP, BVD, IBR, based on a herd-test cut point of 1 positive animal, were 50.8%, 20.3%, 37.3%, and 31.0% respectively. Based on a herd-test cut point of 2 positive animals, these prevalence were 30.5%, 3.4%, 28.8% and 18.9% respectively. Herd size was significantly associated with BVD herd prevalence (p=0.02).... There was a good correlation between herd prevalence of BVD and herd prevalence of IBR (Kappa=0.54). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION Prevalence of NC, MAP, and IBR seem to be less among cattle organic herds than in cattle conventional herds. It seems that there is no difference between prevalence of BVD among organic herds and conventional herds.

En Amérique du Nord, Mycoplasma bovis est le plus pathogène des mycoplasmes retrouvés chez les bovins. Les principales maladies qu’on lui associe (maladies respiratoires, mammites, arthrites septiques et otites moyennes et/ou internes) constituent un défi à l’industrie laitière à cause de la difficulté à les traiter et à les prévenir par une vaccination. L’objectif principal de ce projet était d’étudier l’excrétion nasale et la réponse sérologique à M. bovis chez les génisses de remplacement, entre la naissance et 7 mois d’âge, dans 4 troupeaux laitiers au Québec. Quatre-vingt-trois paires mère/génisse provenant de 4 cohortes de bovins laitiers étaient prélevées mensuellement (génisses : 0 à 7 mois ; mères : 0, 1 et 5 mois après vêlage). Écouvillons nasaux et échantillons de lait étaient analysés par culture bactériologique et par immunofluorescence indirecte. Les anticorps circulants étaient détectés par le test ELISA. À la naissance, la prévalence sérologique des génisses était supérieure à celle des mères (P = 0,01). La transmission de M. bovis aux génisses par le lait et par l’excrétion nasale des mères était faible. L’âge moyen (jour) d’une génisse à sa 1ère excrétion nasale et sa 1ère séroconversion à M. bovis était loin de la période néonatale: 77,5 ± 11,2 (n = 22) et 96,8 ± 7,4 (n = 36) respectivement. Conclusion, les vaches adultes n’ont constitué qu’une voie mineure de transmission de M. bovis aux génisses, la principale voie de transmission était fort probablement le contact direct ou indirect avec d’autres génisses excrétrices nasales de M. bovis. / In North America, Mycoplasma bovis is the most pathogenic mycoplasma found in cattle. The main diseases associated with it (respiratory disease, mastitis, septic arthritis and otitis median and/or internal) are a challenge to the dairy industry because of the difficulty to treat them and to prevent them by vaccination. The principal objective of this project was to study nasal shedding and serological response to M. bovis in replacement heifers, between birth and 7 months of age, in four dairy herds in Quebec. Eighty three pairs cow/heifer in 4 cohorts of dairy cattle were sampled monthly (heifers: 0 to 7 months; cows: 0, 1 and 5 months after calving). Nasal swabs and milk samples were analyzed by bacteriological culture and by indirect immunofluorescence. Circulating antibodies were detected by ELISA test. At birth, the serologic prevalence of heifers was significantly higher than the serologic prevalence of cows (P = 0,01). Transmission of M. bovis to heifers in milk and nasal shedding from cows was low. The average age (days) of a heifer for first nasal shedding and first seroconversion to M. bovis was far from the neonatal period: 77,5 ± 11,2 days (n = 22) and 96,8 ± 7,4 days (n = 36) respectively. Conclusion, cows were only a minor route of transmission of M. bovis to heifers, the main route of transmission was most likely the direct or indirect contact with other heifers shedding M. bovis in their upper respiratory tract.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering / Caterina Scoglio / Critical infrastructures are repeatedly attacked by external triggers causing tremendous amount of damages. Any infrastructure can be studied using the powerful theory of complex networks. A complex network is composed of extremely large number of different elements that exchange commodities providing significant services. The main functions of complex networks can be damaged by different types of attacks and failures that degrade the network performance. These attacks and failures are considered as disturbing dynamics, such as the spread of viruses in computer networks, the spread of epidemics in social networks, and the cascading failures in power grids. Depending on the network structure and the attack strength, every network differently suffers damages and performance degradation. Hence, quantifying the robustness of complex networks becomes an essential task. In this dissertation, new metrics are introduced to measure the robustness of technological and social networks with respect to the spread of epidemics, and the robustness of power grids with respect to cascading failures. First, we introduce a new metric called the Viral Conductance ($VC_{SIS}$) to assess the robustness of networks with respect to the spread of epidemics that are modeled through the susceptible/infected/susceptible ($SIS$) epidemic approach. In contrast to assessing the robustness of networks based on a classical metric, the epidemic threshold, the new metric integrates the fraction of infected nodes at steady state for all possible effective infection strengths. Through examples, $VC_{SIS}$ provides more insights about the robustness of networks than the epidemic threshold. In addition, both the paradoxical robustness of Barab\'si-Albert preferential attachment networks and the effect of the topology on the steady state infection are studied, to show the importance of quantifying the robustness of networks. Second, a new metric $VC_$ is introduced to assess the robustness of networks with respect to the spread of susceptible/infected/recovered ($SIR$) epidemics. To compute $VC_$, we propose a novel individual-based approach to model the spread of $SIR$ epidemics in networks, which captures the infection size for a given effective infection rate. Thus, $VC_$ quantitatively integrates the infection strength with the corresponding infection size. To optimize the $VC_$ metric, a new mitigation strategy is proposed, based on a temporary reduction of contacts in social networks. The social contact network is modeled as a weighted graph that describes the frequency of contacts among the individuals. Thus, we consider the spread of an epidemic as a dynamical system, and the total number of infection cases as the state of the system, while the weight reduction in the social network is the controller variable leading to slow/reduce the spread of epidemics. Using optimal control theory, the obtained solution represents an optimal adaptive weighted network defined over a finite time interval. Moreover, given the high complexity of the optimization problem, we propose two heuristics to find the near optimal solutions by reducing the contacts among the individuals in a decentralized way. Finally, the cascading failures that can take place in power grids and have recently caused several blackouts are studied. We propose a new metric to assess the robustness of the power grid with respect to the cascading failures. The power grid topology is modeled as a network, which consists of nodes and links representing power substations and transmission lines, respectively. We also propose an optimal islanding strategy to protect the power grid when a cascading failure event takes place in the grid. The robustness metrics are numerically evaluated using real and synthetic networks to quantify their robustness with respect to disturbing dynamics. We show that the proposed metrics outperform the classical metrics in quantifying the robustness of networks and the efficiency of the mitigation strategies. In summary, our work advances the network science field in assessing the robustness of complex networks with respect to various disturbing dynamics.