Projets novateurs réalisés

An archeology of self-representation: from the Renaissance to the Selfie

I am proposing to research the historical tradition of self portraiture as a way to reflect on the very contemporary preponderance of self portraits in digital media/networks. On order to identify links between art history and contemporary self-representations, I will examine and document different collections of self-portraits and artworks related to the depiction of the self at museums, churches and galleries in Venice, Florence and Rome, starting with the archives at Ca’ Foscari University.
Based on this documentation, I will then produce a new archive of images and related notes, grouping them according to body postures and facial expressions, which I will later compare to current digital self-depictions.
Expected outcomes will take form in a collaborative art piece with performance artist and PhD candidate Sergio Valenzuela. Theoretical aspects developed with Professors Dalla Gassa (Italy) and Hughes (Canada) will be integrated into my written thesis, which I will present at conferences and academic events in Canada and abroad.

Development of wine smoke-taint analysis strategies to provide more accurate risk-assessments and guide in-winery and in-vineyard amelioration methods

The proposed research project will focus on understanding the in-vineyard and in-winery mechanisms responsible for the phenomenon of smoke-taint in wines—that is, the tendency of grapes exposed to forest fire smoke to produce smoke-flavoured wines in the absence of any perceptible aroma in the grapes. Of interest here is discerning exactly how the flavoured compounds of smoke are biochemically stored within ripening grapes in addition to how they are released again by yeast enzymes during the fermentation process. A clearer (bio)chemical understanding of smoke-taint will necessarily involve the development of improved analytical methods and testing procedures which the partner organization (Supra Research and Development) will be able to offer to North American grape and wine producers. TO BE CONT’D

Toolkit: Alternative Models for Affordable Housing

Metro Vancouver is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. While responses to the crisis have tended to focus on our most at-risk populations, the reality is that even with a stable income, the high cost of housing is one of the primary reasons people and families of all ages are leaving the region. This research project will explore non-profit development of affordable ‘workforce’ rental housing for household’s earning between $20,000-$100,000 per year. The focus will be the documentation of Catalyst Community Developments Society’s successful non-profit model, as well as the sourcing of alternative financing to enable these projects, ensuring equitable, secure and long-term affordable housing is available for British Columbians.

Development of a hybrid biocomposite sorbent based on Chitosan and Oxidized fibers for water treatment applications

The contamination of surface waters by toxic substances from industrial and agricultural activities is a major environmental problem worldwide. Heavy metals are particularly of concern due to their recalcitrance and persistence in the environment and thus should be strictly controlled to meet drinking water standards. Adsorption onto activated carbon is widely used for heavy metal removal from wastewater. However, activated carbon is too expensive to treat very large volumes of contaminated water. Therefore, there is a growing need to find cheap and effective alternative sorbents to activated carbon. My project is aiming at the development of a hybrid biocomposite sorbent made from natural polysaccharides such as chitosan and cellulose. These polysaccharides are potential substitutes for organic and inorganic adsorbents due to their structure, physicochemical properties, high reactivity and high affinity for toxic metals. To meet our research objectives, the biocomposite sorbent should have high strength properties, generate low pressure drop, high adsorption capacity and low fouling behavior.

Pulse Positive: An educational campaign to increase awareness and consumption by integrating pulses into Elementary Schools

Saskatchewan is among the largest producer and exporter of pulses to various countries across the globe. However, pulses are not widely consumed in Canada. In Canada, the variety of pulse-based products is limited compared to those made from other legumes such as soybeans or from cereal grains. Consumers, including young children, will consume newly developed pulse-based products and ingredients if these are introduced into their diets. The project seeks to increase the demand for pulse by focusing on increasing pulse awareness and consumption among elementary school children and their caregivers in selected elementary schools in Saskatchewan. This will be achieved through a school-wide campaign and trainings targeting students, their caregivers and school teachers. TO BE CONT’D

Sinking Rate of Skeletonema Mutants in Reponse to Gene Inactivation and Nutrient Status

Sinking is an important cellular response in diatoms that allows them to exit the upper mixed layer of the water column when conditions are unfavourable for growth. We know that diatoms have physiological control over sinking, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood.

The goal of my project is to identify the genes and environmental conditions that contribute to sinking in diatoms. I will do this by:
1) Performing sinking assays on mutants of the diatom Skeletonema. I will be provided cells that have genes inactivated at random and will identify those with mutations in “sinking genes” by selecting those with an altered sinking rate.
2) Measuring the sinking rate in response to varying nutrient levels.

This project will help us understand how primary producers respond to environmental changes, with major implications for global processes.

Development of Coxsackievirus B3 as an Oncolytic Virus for KRAS-Mutant Lung Cancer Treatment

In Canada, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both sexes. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes ~85% of lung cancer cases. Mutations in the KRAS and EGFR genes are two most common oncogenic drivers for NSCLC and responsible for ~30% and ~15% of NSCLCs, respectively. Unlike the EGFR-mutant type, KRAS-mutant NSCLC is currently undruggable and associated with poor prognosis. Our lab has recently demonstrated that Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a potent oncolytic virus against KRAS-mutant NSCLC. Nevertheless, it was observed that efficient tumor suppression is accompanied with damage to multiple organs, particularly the heart. Here we propose to develop an innovative CVB3-based oncolytic virus with enhanced tumor-specificity. If a therapeutic effect is achieved, the clinical significance may grant Virogin Biotech Ltd. one possibility to provide the first-ever effective and safe treatment for this deadly disease for Canadians.

Optimization of a hybrid membrane/enzyme CO2 capture process

The firm CO2 Solutions Inc (CSI) from Québec has developed an enzyme-accelerated CO2 capture technology which may be appended to a variety of gas scrubbing equipments. Simultaneously, our Université Laval research group has been working on membrane gas phase separations using polymeric hollow fibers and mixed matrix membranes. The objective of the present Engage proposal together with the Mitacs Accelerate program is to explore the possibility that a hybrid process allowing to concentrate CO2 to some intermediate concentration (for example 40-50% CO2) using a membrane module, before the gas is fed to the enzyme process would lead to some lower cost per ton of CO2.

Production de butanol à partir de la biomasse lignocellulosique

Ces dernières années, le biobutanol a attiré l’attention dans le domaine de la recherche car ses propriétés sont supérieures à celles l’éthanol telles que sa valeur énergétique et son indice d’octane, il peut donc être un substitut de l’éthanol dans l’essence sans toutefois impliquer les problématiques généralement associées à l’éthanol (tel que l’hygroscopicité). De plus, il apporte de meilleures propriétés au niveau de la valeur énergétique. La demande mondiale de butanol dépasse actuellement 1.2 milliard de gallons par an, ce qui représente plus de 6 milliards USD. Le marché du butanol se développe à un taux de 3% par an, qui devrait attendre 9.9 milliards USD d’ici 2020. Dans le cadre de ce projet, l’objectif est obtenir le butanol à partir de llignocellulose en passant par la production du lévulinate de méthyle qui est une molécule plateforme et potentiel substitut au biodiesel. Ce projet permettra d’ouvrir la voie vers de nouveaux produits (c-chemicals) et de nouveaux biocarburants (c-fuels) dans le cadre des recherches menées au sein de la Chaire de recherche industrielle d’éthanol cellulosique et biocommodités (CRIEC-B) de l’Université de Sherbrooke au Canada […]

Processing and Preservation of Moringa oleifera

Examine the effects of different drying methods on colour and flavour compounds in Moringa oleifera leaves and drumsticks. The proposed hypothesis is that flavouring and colouring compounds of Moringa leaves and drumsticks are unstable and/or highly volatile during drying process. This exchange between the University of Toronto and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University will explore and identify these compounds. By identifying the unique flavouring compounds, better processing and preservation methods and products may be developed using Moringa.

The mechanisms by which high fructose consumption leads to hypertension

The main goal of this research project is to understand how the consumption of fructose can lead to the developement of hypertension.
Hypertension is one of the most world spread health condition and a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, stroke and death. The high presence of fructose in the body, whether directly due to high consumption of fructose rich products or transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, is found to correlate with the increase in obesity, which represents one of the major risk factor for hypertension. Although most mechanisms of development of hypertension remain complex and elusive so far, many therapeutic approaches still rely on an rigorous control of classical risk factors such as the influence of diet in the case of obesity. A better understanding of what specific elements in our diet and these elements lead to the development of these conditions might provide the key to improve and adapt future therapeutical strategies.
Furthermore, since many health conditions are not exclusively driven by environmental factors such as diet, this research project will also put a big emphasis on the role of genetic and how it works in combination with environmental factors to influence the mechanisms of development of hypertension.

Canadian Bioscience Education Through DNA Barcoding

A Canadian scientific innovation known as DNA barcoding is advancing species identification

and discovery through the analysis of short, standard gene regions. This has led to the

widespread use of DNA barcoding as a tool for species identification in a diverse array of

practical applications, from ecological monitoring to food fraud. Graduate students from the

University of Guelph, the intellectual birthplace of barcoding, are engaged in internships with

two of Canada’s leading science education NGOs (Earth Rangers and Lets Talk Science) to

bring the bioscience behind DNA barcoding to primary and secondary school students across

Canada. The interns are being immersed in state-of-the-art approaches to learning and public

engagement while transferring technical knowledge on the practice and theory of barcoding

to the partners. Students will benefit through connecting key bioscience concepts with

exciting practical applications through state-of-the-art learning modules made accessible on

the web.