Innovative Projects Realized

Examination of beneficial effects of copper fabric on cardiometabolic status, and mechanistic role of gut microbiome

Copper has long been proposed to have important biological properties. Designed to deliver the health benefits of copper, CuTEC yarn is a USPTO|EPO patent pending, bio-engineered copper-based yarn that can be produced as products such as clothing and mattress ticking. Although many believe in the positive properties of copper for well-being, many remain retiscent to believe strong anecdotal evidence with regards to benefits of exposing skin to a pure metal or metal alloy. The current project aims to elucidate via robust experimental approaches whether the copper fabric can act to delay or attenuate inflammation, and associated complications, in mice. The new customers that will be generated by positive research are hard to predict, but for the small extra cost per item, Fine Cotton Factory predicts that copper products will dominate the textiles market, and under protection of its filed patents, copyrighted materials, advertising campaigns, internet sales, and first to market benefit, the ensuing revenue generation and exports would be enormous. Data from this project will guide Fine Cotton Factory in their future strategy and potential future collaborative research endeavours. The economic benefit would be robust to the Canadian economy.

Nutritive values of a conventional Soybean meal and high energyextrudedSoybean meal in broiler production

This study aims at determining whether an extruded soy bean meal may cause chickens to grow faster and contribute in reducing feed costs. A total of 480 chicks will be divided into 2 groups and fed one of two diets. In group 1, 240 chicks will be raised in 6 pens (n=40 each) and fed a diet formulated

with extruded soybean meal whereas group 2 chicks (n =240) will be fed a diet containing

conventional soybean meal. At weekly intervals, birds will be group weighed by pen. At the same

time, feed consumption will be measured for calculations of feed efficiency. At 21 and 35 d of age, 4

birds per pen (n=24 per treatment) will randomly be selected and sacrificed. The digesta of jejunum segment of the intestine from 4 birds per pen will be pooled into 2 sample and analyzed for viscosity using a rheometer. Digesta of the ileum………………….

Stereoretentive-Enantioconvergent Catalysis: A New Concept in Asymmetric Synthesis

This project will experimentally establish a completely new method for accessing enantiopure materials starting from racemic substrates: stereoretentive-enantioconvergent catalysis. The ability to synthesize chiral molecules in enantiopure form is vitally important, most recognizably for the pharmaceutical industry. This is because the molecules of life are chiral (e.g., D-sugars and L-amino acids) and enantiomers often interact very differently with living organisms. Classically, asymmetric synthesis utilizing racemic substrates is limited to achieving a maximum yield of 50%. Enantioconvergent catalysis avoids this limitation with both enantiomers of the starting material being converted into a single enantioenriched product. This project will establish a conceptually new stereoretentive-dimerisation approach that results in both enantiomers of the starting material being incorporated into the product with no de-racemization required. This new concept will prove highly valuable for the synthesis of small enantiopure building blocks and complex molecules, which will be of high value in all areas of synthesis.

Mineralogy and Shock Effects in Martian Regolith Breccias

In Martian history, asteroids have continuously collided with Mars. The catastrophic activity (impact) can produce high pressure, and finally affected properties of minerals in meteorites, which means the minerals were shocked. The force of impact for ejecting Martian meteorites can be 60 GPa, about 600,000 times of the atmosphere pressure on Earth surface. When the minerals are shocked, their X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and spectral characteristics are different with the ones of “normal” (unshocked) minerals. Nicknamed “Black Beauty”, meteorite NWA 8171 is unique because it is the only Martian surficial sample and it has abundant water-bearing components and the minerals may have been shocked by more than one impact! The mineralogy, including hydrous components and the distinctive shock features of minerals will be identified using XRD and spectral methods. Habitability assessment on Mars will be achieved based on the information of hydrous phases.

Contrôle des interactions non linéaires dans les fibres optiques

Lorsqu’une impulsion lumineuse intense se propage dans une fibre optique, des interaction non linéaires surviennent et modifient le contenu spectral de l’impulsion. De façon imagée, l’impulsion lumineuse change de “couleur” à mesure qu’elle se propage dans la fibre. Ces interactions non linéaires sont étudiées exhaustivement depuis l’avènement du laser en 1960. Cependant, l’étude de la dynamique des interactions non linéaires dans les fibres optiques multimodes demeure relativement peu explorée. Des études récentes démontrent que de nouvelles interactions non linéaires dans les fibres multimodes ont le potentiel d’améliorer les performances des sources laser supercontinuum (sources ayant un large spectre continu) pour les propulser vers de nouvelles applications en médecine et en sciences fondamentales. Dans cette optique, ce projet vise à étudier le contrôle des interactions non linéaires dans de nouvelles fibres optiques multimodes pour générer une source supercontinuum plus performante. De plus, un des sous-objectifs du projet est de démontrer pour la première fois un phénomène non linéaire appelée « amplification paramétrique » entre deux modes différents de la fibre optique.

Transactive Electric Distribution System

Electric power distribution systems physically connect the newer active transactive energy (TE) elements such as energy storage, demand response, electric vehicles, and renewables to customer loads and electric supply from the transmission system.
The proposal outlines a Transactive Electric Distribution System (TEDS) framework which enables the creation of a robust distribution system market in Canada and elsewhere. It encompasses building three sets of algorithms for optimal planning, optimal operation, and forecasting for the distribution system sector market, one set each for the Load Distribution Operator (LDO) market, aggregators, and prosumers.
When implemented, the TEDS framework will unlock the economic potential of TE elements in the distribution sector and enable the flow of private capital into the distribution sector, minimizing the cost of electricity to customers while maximizing reliability. The TEDS framework provides an informed path forward, advancing Canada’s leadership in smart grid technology and innovation.

La gentrification par le prisme des études critiques de la race et de la blanchité

De New York à Portland, les ménages aisés sont de plus en plus nombreux à (re)conquérir les quartiers populaires – souvent racisés – des mégalopoles étasuniennes, un phénomène complexe inédit communément appelé « gentrification » (Glass, 1964). Impactant le quotidien de milliers d’individus marginalisés, la gentrification a paradoxalement peu fait l’objet d’études sociologiques critiques (Slater, 2006). Le présent projet se propose de prendre le contre pied de cette tendance. Via l’analyse ethnographique de Crown Heights (Brooklyn), quartier Afro-caribéen en pleine gentrification, nous analyserons le positionnement social adopté par les nouveaux arrivants blancs : comment ces derniers se définissent-ils dans ce nouvel environnement urbain, auparavant ségrégé ? Dans quelle mesure le contexte gentrifié les stimule-t-ils dans la défense de leurs intérêts de race ?
Grâce à notre travail de terrain, nous chercherons donc à vérifier si et comment cette mutation urbaine encourage les tensions raciales et impacte la cohésion sociale aux Etats-Unis.

Monitoring the response of tropical dry forests to drought driven by El Niño

Tropical dry forests(TDFs), comprising of 42% tropical forests worldwide, are considered as the first frontiers for economic development in Latin America because TDFs not only provide a source of agricultural and urban land but also a source of goods and ecosystem services for people who live around them. Due to the driving force for economic and social advance, TDFs are considered as the most heavily utilized and disturbed ecosystem in the world. As TDFs undergo tremendous human disturbances, ongoing climate change is affecting the provision of ecosystem services. Much of these changes are via droughts. Droughts can introduce great damages to tropical forests in terms of their biophysical properties and ecosystem services. Many of drought events are driven by El Niño events. However, the studies about the response of TDFs to drought driven by El Niño events are limited. In my project, we attempt to narrow the gap. The objective of the project is,for a latitudinal cross section of TDF across the Americas, to assess the response of vegetation drought conditions induced by El Niño (2002-2003, 2004-2005, 2006-2007, 2009-2010, and 2014-2016).

Efficient Cross-Platform Data Communication for Smartphones & Tablets

To compare how the two basic application model, namely pure native app and embedded browser app can access NFC, Bluetooth for inter device communication and HTTP (e.g. long polling, comet, websocket) and push protocols for state synchronization. This research will offer a better understanding of the abilities and limitations of using native or embedded browser approaches with these communication approaches.

Student Intentions Study – 3 Years Later

This project will provide some insights into the change or durability of student intentions and perceptions in the province with regard to key skilled trade and ocean industry careers, and provide evidence of progress (or not) relating to coaching, awareness building and teacher development initiatives that have occurred during the three years between studies. This data will give us an idea if we are making progress in shifting the perceptions of these career opportunities that are essential and crucial to economic progress for this region. The data from this study will show us if current initiatives are having an impact, where there is still work to be done, and what is having the best/least influence on youth perceptions of career opportunities in our region. This data will help to inform future teacher development initiatives, community outreach, ocean literacy, career literacy, and industry involvement as they relate to raising and improving awareness of key regional career opportunities in the broader ocean economy.

Development of a biosensor for high-throughput screening of novel ezrin inhibitors for treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Treatment of metastatic breast cancer is often unsuccessful and lead to 5000 deaths in Canada each year. Therefore, there is an unmet need for new drugs for prevention and/or treatment of metastatic disease. Ezrin is a protein marker commonly over-expressed in metastatic breast cancer. Preclinical studies show that blocking ezrin can significantly reduce metastasis in breast cancer models. In this proposal, the intern will develop novel biosensors to screen large numbers of compounds with the ability to block ezrin’s activity in cancer cells. The results of this project can be used to identify novel therapeutics to minimize metastasis in breast cancer. Additionally, the path to developing of new drugs can be expedited to clinical trials through our industry partner, Tika Therapeutics.

Influence of walking speed and trunk sway on collision avoidance with a virtual human

During human navigation, vision plays a key role in efficiently guiding movements towards a goal by taking into account the interaction between the environment and the observer. Collision avoidance is comprised of two main aspects: visually perceived information, and behavioral adaptations. Previous research has demonstrated that humans alter their collision avoidance behaviours depending on situational characteristics, such as initial angle and distance. Little is known about the effects of personal characteristics such as an approaching person’s walking pattern. The purpose of the proposed study is to decipher the behavioural variables during collision avoidance with a human avatar at various walking speeds and degrees of trunk sway.
We expect that the walking speed and sway degree of an approaching person will influence navigational strategies, resulting in more conservative behaviours. It is suggested that successful collision avoidance around a human avatar will result in slower reaction and regulation phases when the avatar is walking at a faster rate and with a greater degree of trunk sway to allow for more visual processing of the situation to adequately anticipate future events.