Innovative Projects Realized

Investigating the effect of novel nutritional compounds on skeletal muscle protein synthesis and growth in vivo

Resistance exercise training combined with adequate post-exercise protein ingestion is known to increase muscle mass when completed repeatedly over a prolonged period of time (>6 weeks). Due to this knowledge much research has been conducted to identify the best protein supplements which allow for the greatest muscle growth with training. This project will test if a novel protein supplement, which also includes natural compounds believed to stimulate muscle stem cells, can increase muscle size when combined with resistance exercise training when compared to post-exercise branched chain amino acid or carbohydrate ingestion. The results of this project will then inform the industry collaborator, Iovate, on the effectiveness of this supplement and how best to market it.

Retrospective molecular subtyping of pediatric medulloblastomas and the evaluation of BTIC gene signature in tumors with poor prognosis

Medulloblastoma is the most common brain tumor in children. It is treated with a combination

of surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiation. Radiation to a child’s brain can have

harmful side effects that may have implications in later development. We intend to use

molecular gene expression to classify archived tumors into 4 subgroups with associated low

and high risk. Along with this, we will analyze the expression of genes associated with a

highly resistant subpopulation of cells called brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs). These BTICs

may be responsible for cancer recurrence and be driving factors in high-risk cases. Tumor

RNA will be isolated from paraffin blocks and analyzed for expression of 43 different genes

using NanoString nCounter technology. Molecular gene expression and clinical outcome will

be correlated to better understand trends in this disease. We hope to avoid irradiating mild

cases unnecessarily while ensuring aggressive treatment for poor prognosis

medulloblastomas.

Geographic mapping for small-diameter gas pipelines in a city

Geographic location of a pipeline is important information for pipeline maintenance and fault detection. Usually, the geographic location of a pipeline on the ground can be measured directly with global positioning system (GPS) technology, but it is much difficult to determine the geographic position of an inaccessible underground pipeline in a city. In this research, a new geographic mapping methodology is proposed for small-diameter gas pipelines in a city. A pipeline mapping micro robot equipped with a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) based inertial measurement unit (IMU) and odometers is developed. The technique of motion identification and measurement is proposed based on the odometers. A new estimation approach is proposed to reconstruct robot path based on the features of a pipeline, the bending angles and the identified motion modes. The geographic location of a pipeline is obtained by the path optimization algorithm. The proposed methodology can help the partner organization obtain the 3-dimensional (3D) map of old gas pipelines in a city, facilitate the maintenance and leak position detection, so as to reduce troubles in the pipeline and avoid economic losses.

Improving the Accuracy of Data Loss Prevention Systems

Scotiabank employs teams of cybersecurity specialists across its global operations and partners with a variety of external organizations to prevent and investigate any electronic attempts to gain access to the Bank’s data. At the same time, employees are continuously educated and expected to look for warning signs and efforts to infiltrate that data as well. Currently, Scotiabank’s Data Loss Prevention (DLP) systems have a high false positive rate in identifying data breaches and cyber-attacks, which require significant manual intervention. The project will use machine learning algorithms, data mining principles, and cybersecurity threat modelling to improve the accuracy of Scotiabank’s DLP systems by reducing the false positive rate. We will also develop automated reporting systems and reduce the need for manual verification of data loss events. This project will benefit the partner by improving upon the accuracy and automation of their DLP systems, as well as benefiting Canadian consumers who rely on Scotiabank to keep their personal data safe.

Tracing CO2 behavior using HGS and PEST in the shallow aquifer of the K-COSEM research site, Korea

To reduce greenhouse gases, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) can be an option. This method is being used all around of the world for stopping global warming. The goal is to remove an excess CO2 in the air. My research uses modeling methods, such as HydroGeoSphere (HGS) and Parameter ESTimation (PEST), which will evaluate how CO2 moves when CO2 is artificially injected in groundwater. Also, I develop the way to find out CO2 leak location and time when CO2 is leaked. Successful completion of this study will make it easier to identify CO2 leakage location and time when CO2 emissions are detected. It could be applied not only to CO2 but also to other sources of contamination of groundwater.

Development of fast photocrosslinking bioinks for visible light-based stereolithography 3D bioprinting

The research projects aims to develop the fast photocrosslinking bioinks for visible light-based stereolithography 3D bioprinting.
In order to prepare bioinks for 3D bioprinting, alginate was modified with tyramine which is phenol group and gelatin was modified with glycidyl methacrylate. Compound with alginate-tyramine derivatives(Alg/Tyr) and gelatin-methacrylate(GelMA) will improve its 3D printability, mechanical properties and cell interaction.
The requirments of bioinks for 3D bioprinting are fast gelation time, excellent cell proliferation and mechanical properties. The gelation time of bioinks will be promoted with tyramines of Alg/Tyr, methacrylates of GelMA and tyrosines of gelatin. In order to supplement the limited cell adhesion of alginate, gelatin will play good cell interactions. With its photo-crosslinking between several phenol and methacrylate moieties, the mechanical properties of Alg/Tyr and GelMA compounds will be enhanced.
Consequently, this project will be successfully accomplished by Professor Keekyoung Kim’s diverse research experience and the ability to conduct advanced research on 3D bioprinting.

Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass or waste materials into value-added products via hydrothermal fractionation and liquefaction/gasification

I propose the study on intermediate (value-added) product production from distributed lignocellulosic biomass or waste materials through hydrothermal fractionation/liquefaction/gasification. In future, supply-chain network system is important because of reduction of electric loss. It can avoid food and unused land use issues. also, biofuels are considered carbon-neutral as the plant recycle the CO2 released from their combustion during photosynthesis. Through this study, we will improve a study on the conversion of distributed biomass resources into high quality products as biocrude-oil or hydrogen gas etc. in the concept of region and centralization with Western University in Canada. These product is clean and alternative source that is suit with current environment and energy policy direction. It can be contributed to the renewable energy industry by applying the advanced knowledge, technology, and know-how in Korea and Canada.

Comparison of transformation products of tetracycline using ozonation and photo-Fenton reaction and evaluating their toxicities

Tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) have received significant interest due to broad-spectrum antibiotics. TCs are detected worldwide in surface water, ground waters, and even drinking water sources because of excreting through urine and feces. The presence of TCs represents a threat to humans and ecosystems by developing drug-resistant bacteria and the toxicity of the antibiotics Thus, it is very important to remove TCs from contaminated water before discharging it into the environment. However, it is difficult to remove TCs using conventional water treatment processes owing to their stable structure. Photo-Fenton process is an attractive method in advanced oxidation processes to remove TCs in as H2O2 and iron is an environmentally friendly compounds. Despite these advantages, many studies have been performed on removing TCs using ozonation to date, while a few of studies were conducted by photo-Fenton. Therefore, the aims of the proposed research are to compare the degradation efficiencies of TCs using the photo-Fenton and ozonation, to identify TCs transformation products in the photo-Fenton and ozonation, and to assess toxicities of transformation products of TCs by measuring bioluminescence of V. fischeri and by predicting toxicity using modeling.

Targeting the RSK Axis to Eliminate Medulloblastoma

Brain cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in children. Current treatment

options are chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, which either prolongs the

child’s life for only two years or leaves them with negative side effects such as

slowed development. Thus, there is a pressing need for new therapeutics.

Mitacs Proposal Pambid, Mary

One of the focuses of our lab is to repurpose targeted therapies. The intern

narrowed down a list of drugs in clinical trials. One of the top leads, BI-D1870,

inhibits p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK). We have demonstrated in breast cancer

that BI-D1870 significantly kills all cancer cells including the cells responsible for

relapse. It is thought that there is a set of cells in the bulk of the tumour that is left

over after treatment to reform a new tumour. We will apply this concept of RSK

inhibition to medulloblastoma.

In the research project, the intern will begin by determining the functional role of

RSK in medulloblastoma. Following this, we….

Fabry-Perot Pressure Sensors for High Temperature Applications

The use of advanced manufacturing methods and analysis tools and bringing them to the plant floor is crucial for modern manufacturing. A gap that has become apparent is that often engineering capabilities are not available within many facilities – and this requires robust design and new thinking to ensure manufacturers ensure quality product. The pressure transducer is a device thathas not changed much over the past twenty year. This work will provide guidance through an improved pressure sensor for high-temperature applications by introducing optical approaches. The sensor will be fully modeled allowing ease of design modifications through the market lifetime.

Optimal Selection of Data Augmentation Transformations

To achieve useful results in training deep neural network, one typically needs huge number of labelled images. In most practical cases, it is often time consuming, expensive and sometimes even near impossible to get the required numbers of labelled images. Data augmentation consists in a set of image processing techniques that can be applied to an image to generate another slightly different image. By doing so, one can efficiently increase the number of different images to feed the training phase of a neural network. This works well until the generated images are too different from the original images. When this happens, the performance of the trained neural network is negatively impacted. The objective of this project is to learn the combination of image processing techniques that can be applied to a given set of images that will yield the best possible trained neural network. The complexity lies not only in the construction of the image processing pipeline but also in the configuration of each image processing algorithms inside the aforementioned pipeline.

A Comparative Study of the Explicit and Implicit Attitudes of Heterosexual College Students in China and Canada towards Lesbian Women

In a heterosexual-based sociocultural environment, homosexuality has often been ostracized. Negative social attitudes towards homosexuality has impacted the legalization of gay marriage, of LGBTQ2 peoples’ access to social support and their mental health experiences. Before the 1990s, researchers often studied social attitudes at only a conscious, or explicit, level. Later research has suggested that implicit social cognitive processes also play an important role in the formation and changing of social attitudes towards others. Research with Chinese college students has shown that that they hold a positive explicit attitude towards homosexuality, whereas implicit bias exists. However, there are only few studies on the causes of this phenomenon, and, therefore, there is little research examining explanations for why Chinese college students have a negative attitude towards lesbian women.

This work will be an extensive review of existing literature to identify variables that may be contributing to a difference in implicit and explicit attitudes towards lesbian women in Canadian and Chinese samples. Based on these identified variables, this work will propose an appropriate quantitative or qualitative methodology that would be appropriate for answering my research questions of interest.