Past earthquakes (e.g. 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, 1994 Northridge Earthquake, 2010 Haiti Earthquake, 2011 Tohoku Earthquake in Japan) and wind storms (e.g. 2005 Hurricane Katrina, 1992 Hurricane Andrew, 2007 Cyclone Sidr, 2008 Cyclone Nagris) resulted in loss of human lives, economic losses and social disruptions. The current building codes and standards in Canada and the […]

Massive, complex, interlinked information is collected by scientific research in different spheres of natural and social sciences. Graphs are commonly selected as a model of such information: graphs can successfully represent imprecise, uncertain, noisy data; graphs are well suited for the data structure analysis; graph theory has a well-developed mathematical apparatus forming a solid and […]

For over than thirty years, chemists have applied sulfur-based organic molecules to gold sheets to form coatings with a single molecule thickness. Although these coatings have potential applications in sensors and microelectronics, they gradually decompose under moderate heat and in air, limiting their applications. In 2014, the Crudden group demonstrated that N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), which […]

There are about 10 millions manual wheelchair users in developed countries. This has given rise to several problems. Many users suffer from upper-body injuries sustained during propulsion of their wheelchairs. Research needs to be undertaken to suggest ways of reducing those injuries. Wheelchairs can be used in many difficult-to-navigate environments but their users need to […]

Pulmonary hypertension or elevated blood pressure in the lung caused by left heart diseases such as mitral valve stenosis is classified as Group 2 under the World Health Organization pulmonary hypertension classification system. Group 2 pulmonary hypertension is the most common type of pulmonary hypertension, but currently there is no approved therapies for this disease. […]

The purpose of this proposed research is to obtain a nuanced understanding of the potential differences in how symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are manifested and reported by both Japanese and American families living in Okinawa, and how such differences are interpreted by ADHD researchers. This project situates itself at the front-line of social studies […]

Among Drosophila species, volatile organic compounds are key for host- and mate-finding behaviour. Recently, it was discovered that a single olfactory receptor channel (Or69a) in D. melanogaster that is tuned to both host odours and sex pheromones (Lebreton et al. 2017). Phylogenic analysis suggests this receptor is conserved across all Drosophila species; however, Or69a is […]

After hurting someone, an effective way to reconcile relationships and repair harm is to apologize. Apologizing is a process that involves expressing regret, and acknowledging wrongdoing and responsibility. For individuals from Western cultures that value independence, apologies are often resisted as one must give up their power. Conversely, individuals from Eastern cultures that value interdependence […]

My project focuses on using a chemistry-based approach to improve the delivery of an insoluble compound, gambogic acid (GA). GA is a natural product that has great potential as an anti-inflammatory drug. However, its clinical application has been limited due to the poor aqueous solubility and significant toxicity against red blood cells. I am currently […]

Nanoscale gas sensors have a many potential applications such as toxic gas sensing, air quality monitoring, early disease detection and point of care diagnostics. Recently a novel gas sensing design based on a nano-mechanical membrane has been developed, known as the membrane-type surface stress sensor (MSS). The membrane is coated with a gas sensing material […]

Natural hazards, such as floods and earthquakes, threaten communities and infrastructure systems throughout the world. In some cases, these natural hazards may trigger the release of hazardous materials, cause damage to critical lifeline systems, or result in other technological disasters. Assessment of so-called Natech (NAtural disaster-triggered TECHnological disaster) disasters is an area of expertise at […]

Lionfish have become the poster child for marine invasive species since their introduction to Floridian waters in the 1980s. While considerable efforts have attempted to quantify their impacts on native communities, research on lionfish and their feeding ecology remains in its infancy, as does knowledge about their competition with and impact on native predators. This […]