Innovative Projects Realized

Pharmacological properties of selective MT1 receptor partial agonists in an animal model of bipolar disorder.

Preliminary data suggest a possible involvement of the melatonin MT1 but not MT2 receptor in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. The main objective of this short project is therefore to investigate at preclinical level whether the first selective MT1 receptor partial agonist to be synthesized (UCM871) can improve the bipolar symptomatology of the mice genetically modified for the Clock gene. This genetically modified mouse model is the one that today best represents the human bipolar pathology in mice. Furthermore, we will start to explore the possible neuronal mechanism of action of the novel drugs. For this purpose, we will use behavioral pharmacology tests that will allow us to evaluate the pharmacological effects of the novel drug on symptoms of mania measured as increased locomotor activity in the open field test. TO BE CONT’D

Using fractal analysis to determine if physical impairment in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) reduces behavioural movement complexity

Free ranging and wild animals sometimes experience challenges of physical wellbeing and optimal movement ability, but assessing if they are stressed in these situations can prove difficult. My research will be focusing on a population of Japanese macaques on Awaji Island, Japan that are born with very high incidences of limb malformations that cause physical impairment. This circumstance provides a rare opportunity to observe behavioural responses to disabilities. Previous work suggests that disabled individuals in the population spend a similar amount of time engaged in locomotion compared to non-disabled individuals since they live within social groups. However, fully understanding and quantifying the costs of these disabilities remains a challenge. Fractal Analysis is a non-invasive method for quantifying subtle variations in the complexity of movement behaviour patterns and sequences. Using Fractal Analysis, I plan to test the hypothesis that impairment caused by congenital limb malformations will alter the complexity of movement behaviours for disabled monkeys under free-ranging conditions; either becoming more stereotypical or conversely more random in their behaviour patterns. This research will potentially reveal whether animals are experiencing subtle difficulties without disturbing them in their natural environments.

Variational integrator for the RSW equation on the sphere under local uncertainty

Numerical simulation is a cornerstone of modern science and industry, and is used in many facets of our everyday lives. While many of us are familiar with short-term weather forecasting, substantially more computational effort is dedicated to longer-term simulations of the Earth’s ocean and atmosphere, for climate and other reasons. In such simulations, certain properties of the physical system, such as conservation of mass and energy, are critical to achieving physical fidelity, and much research effort has been devoted to developing simulation algorithms that preserve these and other properties, known as variational or geometric numerical integrators. During my stay, I will work with Drs. Werner Bauer and Etienne Mémin on the development of a stochastic variational integrator on refined grids for the rotating shallow water equations on the sphere. TO BE CONT’D

Production d’un extrait riche en antioxydants à partir de la complémentarité et de la synergie des petits fruits par cryoconcentration et évaluation du potentiel antioxydant

L’objectif principal de ce projet est d’évaluer l’effet de la

cryoconcentration pour la production d’un extrait riche en molécules antioxydantes

à partir des petits fruits de la région du Lac-St-Jean. Ces études

auront permis d’ouvrir la voie à des projets industriels en vue de valoriser les

petits fruits produits de la région. Une analyse de la capacité anti-oxydante des

extraits permettrait de vérifier si l’activité des molécules bioactives est préservée

plus longtemps au cours de la cryoconcentration et l’entreposage. De plus, une

analyse portera sur l’étude de la stabilité des différents composés au cours de

réhydratation des extraits. Pour ces travaux, il serait intéressant, pour Opti-bleu,

de développer des nouveaux produits à haute teneur en antioxydant et de

pouvoir valider l’efficacité des extraits afin d’obtenir une homologation des

molécules bioactifs d’origine végétale auprès d’organismes tel que Santé

Canada.

Storm Shelters Resilient to Changing Canadian Climate

The recent tornado that hit the Ottawa-Gatineau region in September 2018 damaged hundreds of homes and many hydro poles/towers leaving more than 450K customers without power. In Canada, the average annual loss due to local events (i.e. thunderstorms, tornados and downbursts) is in the order of $200M. The number of these extreme local events has been increasing during the past three (3) decades due to climate change and is expected to continue increasing. The storm shelter industry in the United States has progressed in terms of addressing hurricane and tornado winds, but this is not the case in Canada. Most available shelters in the US are not designed to withstand the Canadian climate (i.e. extreme temperature variation), require heavy construction and/or costly transportation and are not multi-purpose. The proposed research project focuses on designing an affordable, easy-to-transport/install storm shelter suitable for local storms in Canada. The shelter is inspired by the “bunkie” concept. The design relies on conducting Computational Fluid Dynamic simulations to identify a potential shelter solution(s), which will be tested at Ryerson University’s wind tunnel for further validation and evaluation of the maximum wind speed the shelter can withstand.

Nano Processing Technique for Flexible Electronics

Conductive polymer nanocomposites have become increasingly popular due to the combined flexibility and low cost. The presence of a conductive filler network, which is reconfigurable by applied strain, can be used in sensors. The materials to be developed are ideal for the biomedical field and wearable electronics where flexible non-invasive devices can be worn outside the body to monitor vitals such as heartrate and movement. This research is to tailor the phase morphology, electrical conductivity, and the piezoresistivity of polymer nanocomposites. To fabricate the smart materials, thermoplastic polyurethane and high-density polyethylene are mixed with nanoparticles (e.g., carbon nanotubes or silver nanowires) using various nanostructuring techniques to ensure a reconfigurable conductive networks can developed in the polymer matrices, which can be porous or non-porous. This material could have a substantial impact on many industries such as smart electronics and textiles, which could see these sensors embedded in clothing and biomedical devices.

The cost of life in the slow lane: Linking metabolic rate to activity metrics and temperature in Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus)

The metabolic theory of ecology states that the rate at which an organism uses energy is a key driver of its ecology and can provide a framework for the study of its behaviour, life history, population dynamics, and impact on the ecosystem. Despite being an important aspect of a species’ biology, metabolic rate has not been thoroughly studied in large sharks because of the many logistical and biological challenges associated with doing so. My goal for this project is to estimate the metabolic rate of wild Greenland sharks inhabiting the waters of the Canadian Arctic. I will do so by combining activity and temperature data from sharks equipped with archival biologgers, with measurements of oxygen consumption from respirometry trials. By developing a model to estimate the field metabolic rates of Greenland sharks, we can begin predicting their ecological role as consumers in Arctic food webs.

The Role of Values and Beliefs in Dried Fish Production: A Focus on the Well-Being of Producers in the Indian Sundarbans

Values and beliefs within social-ecological systems (SES) are a fundamental aspect of perception and cognition, which have largely been neglected within the social-ecological systems literature. The purpose of this research is to understand the values and beliefs of dried fish producers and how they contribute to the producers’ well-being in Sundarbans region, West Bengal, India.
The research will be guided by three main questions:
1- What are values and beliefs of the producers of dried fish in selected village communities of Indian Sundarbans?
2- What are the key drivers that influence, both positively and negatively, the values and beliefs around dried fish production?
3- What is the role of dried fish related values and beliefs in strengthening the producers’ well-being?
The result of this project will give voice to the diverse actors who populate the processing and marketing of dried fish activities, including women and men. TO BE CONT’D

La fatigabilité neuromusculaire peut-elle expliquer la fatigue chronique chez les personnes atteintes de sclérose en plaques ?

La fatigue représente le symptôme le plus fréquemment rapporté par les patients atteints de la sclérose en plaques (SP). Cette fatigue liée à la SP s’avère limitante pour les tâches du quotidien. Jusqu’à maintenant, peu d’études ont mesuré la fatigue neuromusculaire à la suite d’un exercice fatigant exigeant de larges masses musculaires comme celles exigées lors des activités quotidiennes. De plus, peu d’études ont évalué le lien entre la fatigue mesurée et la fatigue perçue par les patients. Le présent projet vise à évaluer les mécanismes menant à la fatigue à la suite d’un exercice représentatif du quotidien, et d’établir un possible lien entre la fatigue perçue par les patients atteints de SP et la fatigue mesurée. Une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes de fatigue neuromusculaire chez ces patients permettrait la mise en place de programmes optimaux d’entraînement visant à réduire l’impact négatif de la fatigue sur les tâches quotidiennes.

L’acceptabilité sociale et les instances démocratiques intermédiaires

Le projet portera sur la thématique de l’acceptabilité sociale, c’est à dire, l’opinion qu’a la population d’un projet ou une décision (Gendron, 2014). Il vise à analyser les dynamiques sociales entourant une controverse qui sera débattue devant la Commission Nationale du Débat Public, en France entre les mois de mai et juillet 2019. La CNDP est une institution indépendante qui a pour but de rendre l’information accessible au public et de s’assurer que celui-ci puisse participer aux débats et au processus d’élaboration de projets importants. En prenant connaissance des documents déposés par les acteurs et en étant présent lors de toutes les rencontres de la Commission, nous analyserons les techniques employées par la CNDP afin de rendre le débat accessible à tous, l’efficacité de celle-ci à structurer et gérer le débat parmi les intervenants et finalement le degré de confiance qu’accorde la population face au processus. Nous analyserons également les stratégies et techniques utilisées par le promoteur du projet afin de favoriser la participation du public et le transfert d’information ainsi que sa réceptivité aux commentaires des citoyens.

EU Institutions Promoting High-Skilled Migration for Innovation & Growth

This project seeks to understand the role different European Union (EU) institutions play in the global competition for highly-skilled migrant professionals. While EU member states still retain sovereignty over the long-term admission of third country nationals, the EU Commission, Council and Parliament have started to propose and push policy initiatives related to high-skilled migration. Triggered by the 2008/09 economic downturn and the recent ‘migration crisis’ (2015/16), the policy context has fundamentally changed. Analyzing the EU’s earlier policy initiatives and based on elite interviews with representatives of EU institutions, member states and industry and other lobby groups in Brussels, this project addresses important gaps in scholarship and policy-related understanding. It examines the change of positions and strategies on high-skilled migration. To what extent are EU institutions still lobbying for greater openness to highly-skilled migration? What policies are currently envisioned? How do different member states position themselves? And to what extent is industrial lobbying impacting on EU policy initiatives in the area of high-skilled migration?

Fonctionnalisation du CO2 par des dérivés silanes ou boranes

Dans ce projet de recherche, l’objectif est d’étudier et d’analyser différentes molécules synthétisées afin de découvrir leur réactivité avec le CO2. Le projet se concentrera donc sur la mise en place et la production de ces différentes molécules, dans un premier temps. Par la suite, l’application de ces molécules avec du dioxyde de carbone (CO2) sera mis en place afin de découvrir les différents produits associés à ces réactions. Le CO2 est un gaz à effet de serre et découvrir des façons de le modifier à grande échelle pourra permettre la réduction des gaz à effet de serre dans l’atmosphère. La dernière partie du projet se concentrera sur la production de CO2 dans le laboratoire, si cela est possible, en faisant réagir des molécules carbonées avec des molécules contenant de l’azote, une ressource très abondante dans l’atmosphère.