Projets novateurs réalisés

Méthode de construction d’entrepôt de données temporalisées de santé guidée par les ontologies

Les systèmes informationnels sont désormais au centre des décisions en santé. Ainsi, les dispositifs médicaux, les dossiers cliniques et sociaux, la recherche, etc. génèrent un très grand volume de données chaque jour associé à des évènements interreliés temporellement. Les établissements de santé désirent réutiliser ces données pour différents types d’analyse et les partager d’une façon exploitable. L’efficacité des études cliniques dépend de la quantité et de la qualité des données recueillies.
D’une part, l’extraction des informations d’intérêt à des fins d’études demeure un grand défi au vu du grand nombre de sources hétérogènes, du grand volume de données, des besoins et des connaissances diversifiées, etc. D’autre part, la temporalisation est devenue un enjeu crucial afin de garder les traces de l’évolution des données et d’améliorer la prise de décision clinique. TO BE CONT’D

Évaluation des méthodes diagnostiques actuelles dans la création de nouvelles applications pronostiques

En 2016, 25 700 Canadiennes développeront un cancer du sein, représentant 26.1% de tous les cancers diagnostiqués et on estime que 5000 femmes en décèderont cette année. Contrairement à un diagnostique, un pronostique nous permet de prédire l’évolution d’une maladie. La recherche de nouvelles méthodes de pronostic non invasive d’un cancer est importante pour déterminer l’avenue thérapeutique optimale unique à chaque individu et favoriser le succès des traitements. Depuis 2007, l’agence américaine des produits alimentaires et médicamenteux a approuvé le un nouveau test de diagnostic « GeneSearchTM Breast Lymph Node Assay » qui évalue l’expression de mammaglobine 1 (MGB1), un gène impliqué dans la majorité des cancers du sein. Notre équipe de recherche à découvert plusieurs formes de MGB1 qui possèdent un potentiel pronostic du cancer du sein. Une collaboration avec les experts de l’Institut Paoli-Calmette nous permettra d’élucidé les capacités de MGB1 comme outil pronostic de cette maladie.

Relations entre les processus inflammatoires et la perméabilité d’un modèle de BHE aux nanoparticules

L’administration de molécules actives au cerveau est sévèrement limitée par la présence de la barrière hématoencéphalique (BHE) qui sépare le compartiment sanguin du système nerveux central (SNC). L’utilisation de nanoparticules polymères, transportant des actifs, pourrait permettre d’améliorer le traitement des maladies touchant le SNC en permettant la traversée de la BHE.

Les interactions entre les nanoparticules et les cellules constituant la BHE sont mal connues. Les nanoparticules pourraient induire des processus inflammatoires affectant négativement les fonctions de la BHE. Par ailleurs, les processus inflammatoires pourraient modifier l’accessibilité des nanoparticules aux tissus cérébraux en modulant la perméabilité de la BHE.

Nous nous attendons à démontrer que les propriétés de surface des nanoparticules moduleront les effets inflammatoires et que celle-ci modulera la perméabilité aux nanoparticules.

La compréhension des mécanismes inflammatoires, nous permettra d’optimiser des systèmes de transport de médicament au SNC pour les maladies actuellement difficilement traitées comme les glioblastomes, les maladies neurodégénératives (Alzheimer, Parkinson).

Doubly-resonant sum frequency generation studies of rhodamine 6G films

The potential for solar cells as renewable energy sources is increasingly recognized as better devices come to the market. It has been recognized that the use of organic dyes as sensitizers can greatly enhance their performance. As a result, there has been an increased effort to develop new dye-sensitized materials for more efficient light harvesting. In order to optimize the conversion of solar energy into electricity, the surface orientation and conformation of the dye is a critical aspect of its performance. We propose to study the organic dye rhodamine 6G using two-color nonlinear optical spectroscopy. Combining the spectroscopic data with computer modeling and calculations will enable me to extract information about the structure of the dye at glass and metal interfaces, as well as its interaction with the conducting material in the device. Such investigations are critical to improving electron transfer in dye-sensitized solar cells, which will produce devices with greater efficiencies.

Improving Cellulose NanocrystalPerformance through Understanding of Thermal and Colloidal Stability

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are natural bio-based nanoparticles that can be used to modify the viscosity and improve the performance of various fluids. For this reason, they are of interest to the oil and gas industry, where they can replace other expensive and non-biodegradable polymers that are commonly used. CNCs must first be modified so that they do not degrade or settle at high temperatures and pressures. To accomplish this, CNCs will be extracted from cotton using a variety of methods or by post-modifying the nanoparticle surface to have new chemical groups and new functionality. The produced CNCs will be subjected to high temperatures and pressures and their properties will be measured before and after heat treatment. It is hypothesized that by altering the amount and type of surface groups on the CNCs, the stability of these nanoparticles at high temperatures can be maintained.

Édition critique de «La Sauvagesse» d’Alain-René Lesage

Mon projet de recherche consiste à procurer une édition de la pièce La Sauvagesse, qui fait partie du recueil Le théâtre de la foire, ou l’opéra-comique revu et corrigé par M. Alain-René Le Sage (1668-1747). Bien qu’elle fasse partie d’une catégorie de théâtre plus modeste, elle donne une représentation exotique des Amériques sous l’Ancien régime. Comme elle n’a pas été rééditée depuis le XVIIIe siècle, il est essentiel d’établir le texte en comparant différents exemplaires (au Canada, en France et en ligne) afin de dresser une liste de variantes. En effet, encore au XVIIIe siècle, les textes étaient souvent corrigés au moment de l’impression et ne
garantissaient pas toujours un texte identique dans tous les exemplaires. TO BE CONT’D

Understanding the social function of pre-trial detention: A comparative study between Canada and France

Understanding the recent frequent use of pre-trial detention in Canada and France is crucial, considering its impact on the lives of individuals that are detained while still being presumed innocent, as well as the significant financial costs for the state. This project aims to compare the institution of pre-trial detention and examine the role that it is currently playing in Canada and France – two countries that share different legal traditions namely common law and civil law. The objectives of this research are threefold. It will not only reveal the ways that this institution is implemented in both jurisdictions, but also the social functions that this mechanism plays within the criminal justice system. Finally, from a comparative perspective, it will allow legal comparativists to understand whether criminal justice institutions, such as pre-trial detention, can share similar social functions despite the fact that they are part of different legal traditions.

Direct and indirect effects of deer on nitrogen cycling processes and microbial communities in the forests of Haida Gwaii

Introduced non-native species are altering the ecology of natural communities at an unprecedented rate, threatening the services they provide, and becoming another driver of climate change. On the Canadian archipelago of Haida Gwaii in 1878, non-indigenous Sitka black-tailed deer were introduced, and in the absence of predators, deer populations have exploded, with detrimental impacts on native aboveground plant and animal communities. In comparison, knowledge on how deer affect belowground organisms and processes is lacking and needed, given the vital role soil organisms play in soil carbon storage and nutrient cycling and the consequent feedbacks to plant nutrition and growth. Deer may directly enrich soil through deposition of high quality litter and waste products. Conversely, their selective foraging increases the abundance of plants with lower quality litter, impacting soil productivity. TO BE CONT’D

Harnessing epigenetics to improve muscle stem cells function in degenerating myopathies

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is an incurable progressive myopathy, caused by the absence of the dystrophin protein. It is characterized by permanent myofiber necrosis, leading to continuous activation of muscle stem cells (MuSCs), that eventually cannot support muscle repair leading to replacement of the muscle by fibro/fatty tissue. We have observed that epigenetic changes in human MuSCs from DMD patients contribute extensively to reduced muscle regeneration. Taking advantage of the complementary skills and expertise of the French and Canadian labs, the proposed project aims to prevent loss of muscle regeneration in DMD
by restoring the healthy epigenetic state in the diseased MuSCs. Importantly, the proteins that control the epigenetic state are potential targets for intervention using small molecule drugs. Thus, the knowledge gained from these studies will be important to the development of new drug therapies to treat muscle degeneration in DMD.

Junior hockey competence analytics – Year two

We are developing a wearable hardware sensor and analysis software. The sensor collects activity and performance data, which is then analyzed by software and used to present feedback that players and coaches can use to improve performance.

Junior hockey competence analytics

Analytics is about awareness of the states of knowledge of users. Users can become aware of their owns states of knowledge at different levels. Analytics measures such levels of each user, and engages them in taking initiatives to hop from one knowledge state to the next.
The hops happen mostly gradually, depending on the capacity of the user, punctuated by dramatic jumps. Analytics identifies such scenarios where dramatic jumps are necessary and offers the information needed to enact such jumps.
Learning Analytics, in the context of Ice Hockey, is the study of detection, analysis, and generation of moments of progress awareness about skater, goaltender, and team experiences.
By employing recent advances in statistics, machine learning algorithms and sensor technologies, this research aims to build a big data learning analytics solution that provides progress awareness scenarios and means to improve junior hockey player competency and self-reflection. TO BE CONT’D

Supercritical Fluid Extraction and Chromatography of Softwood Plants Oils

This project will be with ANPI Canada Inc., a Canadian company focused on essential oil extract from softwood in Bolton, Ontario. Presently, ANPI uses various extraction techniques for isolation of essential oils particularly cedar oil from cedar leaves, branches, and mulch. These essential oils have applications in the food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. ANPI have found that their current extraction methods do not provide a suitable yield of essential oil as well as high purity of active components of oil. This project will investigate the supercritical fluid extraction and chromatography process of softwood plants essential oil such as cedar, pine and cypress using CO2 within different range of temperatures and pressures. Effect of extraction time, modifier amount and flow rate will be investigated for development and optimization of the extraction and chromatography process. TO BE CONT’D