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 […]

World population is expected to increase between 8 and 11 billion people by 2050. This growth will be accompanied by an increasing demand in food. Additionally, climate change is expected to have consequences on crop productivity because there will be changes in temperature and precipitation patterns. For that reason, there is an increasing concern over […]

The research project examines how social and political groups make critical policy choices in a challenging economic context. Focusing on the sub-provincial cases in China, the project aims to examine the process of financial reform during a period of declining economic growth. Examining the government-business relations, the research addresses the challenges that the Chinese political […]

This project explores regional differences during the Shang dynasty (1600-1045BCE) in China by investigating cooking practices and cooking technology. Since cuisine is intimately connected to local culture, researching different approaches to cooking in the archaeological record can help us understand how different regions developed their own culinary traditions and identities even under the same political […]

The first part of this thesis project consist in a study of the structural behavior, mainly focusing on shear resistance, of concrete elements affected by alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR), an internal swelling reaction. Especially in the presence of moisture, this reaction causes the concrete to expand and form internal cracks. This expansion and formation of cracks […]

Pesticide application in crops has been considered a potential cause of bat population declines in Europe. However, no research on this topic has been conducted in tropical agrosystems, where the use of pesticides is extensive and bat diversity is higher. Considering that insectivorous bats can eat more than 90% of their body mass every night, […]

As our population ages, the burden of dementia is growing. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia; currently we do not have any disease-modifying treatments for AD. There is motivation to better understand the mechanisms of AD development and expression to control the burden of disease. Frailty is related to neuropathological features […]

Aeroengines operate at very high speed and high temperatures. Therefore, the transmission system of an aeroengine becomes a critical design process because of its proximity to the combustion chamber. As a result, engineers must understand very well the fluid mechanics phenomena involved in the lubrication and cooling of the transmission components such as the bearing […]

The purpose of the study is to explore the similarities and differences between both Canadian and Chinese education systems in terms of language and culture. This particular study will focus on the impact that language immersion has on the learning of the English language. The impact of immersion will be explored via English as a […]

The proposed research project investigates two transnational teacher communities between Ontario and Shanghai secondary schools. Teachers’ cross-cultural professional learning is the focus of the study. To understand how, why, and what teachers learn from each other, the project needs to collect data from both countries. While in China, data collection will be completed in two […]

Cahn-Hilliard, appears in mathematical physics, describes the motion of two phase separating from each other. It has a wide range of applications in diverse fields such as material sciences, nanotechnology and semiconductor fabrication. There is a considerable research interest in studying the solution of the equation; however, the exact solution is hard to find. Therefore, […]

Yirun Ryan Li will be closely working with Dr. Shen, on his project that aims to observe, through empirical data, how IPO affects the Chinese market and how this effect is changing as IPO regulations evolve over time. Under Dr. Shen’s guidance, Ryan will study literature in the history of Chinese IPO regulations and identify […]