Innovative Projects Realized

Exploring medical potential of cannabinoids

Evaluating the medicinal use of cannabinoids represents an area of massive untapped potential, especially considering its upcoming legalization in Canada. Currently, a significant proportion of medical cannabis research is based on self-reported use and outcomes, rather than carefully-designed research studies. Here, we aim to better understand the impact of cannabis administration in adults with obesity or tobacco dependence and its potential as an opioid-sparing medicine, using randomized controlled clinical trials. Results of these investigations may potentially drive the development of novel pharmacological approaches for the treatment of these conditions.

A novel, bioactive compound, found in the leaves and bark of a tree species abundant on the west coast of British Columbia, as a candidate natural pesticide

In nature, plants have evolved sophisticated defense mechanisms against insects, fungi, and other pests. When isolated, many of these chemicals have tremendous potential as natural pesticides, as they pose little threat to the environment, are non-toxic to the user, and are readily biodegradable. Recent research has determined a correlation between a novel compound found at significant concentration in a tree species abundant on the west coast of Canada, and increased resistance to leaf eating pests. The primary focus of this study will be to test this compound as a potential natural pesticide. The compound will be extracted and purified for testing against insects and fungi. If insecticidal or fungicidal activity is observed, the intern will formulate the compound into a natural pesticide formulation for eventual licensing by the partner organization.

Effet de la taille des particules sur le transport du Li dans le LiFePO4

Dans ce projet, diverses approches de synthèse du LFP seront utilisées soit par plasma thermique à couplage inductif, par méthode sol-gel et par méthode co-précipitation. Ces matériaux seront caractérisés par spectroscopie d’impédance électrochimique pour déterminer les valeurs de coefficients de diffusion des ions lithium dans les particules. Afin de déterminer ceux-ci, nous proposons un modèle de circuit équivalent comprenant une composante de diffusion sphérique interne finie des ions lithium qui permet une meilleure représentation du transport de ceux-ci dans le LFP. L’utilisation d’une cellule à trois électrodes munie d’une micro-référence d’or (apport de Pr. Gasteiger) représente une opportunité unique afin de pousser les limites du modèle proposé en permettant des prises de données plus précises, exactes et spécifiques au matériau actif étudié. Les coefficients de diffusion calculés seront évalués à différents paramètres de vieillissement (température, vitesse de charge/décharge, etc.) et seront corrélés aux différentes propriétés physiques des particules de LFP synthétisées (taille et porosité des particules, etc.) […]

Understanding Expertise: A Study of Craft Knowledge in Plato

My research project aims to study the notion of ‘expertise’ (techne) in the philosopher Plato who wrote many influential works during the 5th and 4th century Classical Greece. During his lifetime, Greece was undergoing radical transformations both intellectually and politically. As a response, Plato engaged with many issues concerning democracy, education and morality, the insights he offered continue to impact thinkers in the Western world today. One key development during his lifetime was the emergence of professionalization. Plato was interested in questions such as what makes someone an expert in a particular field? What is expert knowledge? How can professionals demonstrate their expertise? How can ordinary citizens distinguish between a real expert and a quack? My research will investigate and clarify Plato’s understanding of expertise. Most importantly, I will examine how his views of expertise shaped his thinking on political and ethical issues. Should political leaders be experts? If so, what is their expertise? How can citizens judge the competence of political candidates? Should moral wisdom be taught, learned and practiced like a specialized skill? My research project will answer these puzzling issues and contribute to a neglected area in Platonic studies.

Contribution of Viable, Non-viable, and Cell Fragments to the Immunomodulatory Functions of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) hold promise as cell-therapy candidates for numerous diseases such as Graft v. Host disease due to their ability to influence the immune system. MSCs have been shown to be capable of a broad range of immunomodulatory effects, including the production of factors that allow them to serve as Medicinal Signaling Cells in the body at the sites of inflammation, influencing nearby cells through direct contact, transfer of organelles, enzymes, and vesicles, or taken up by immune cells entirely and change the immune cell to become anti-inflammatory. Although MSCs harbour great potential in the treatment of diseases associated with an aberrant immune system, experimental results obtained from the lab do not precisely correlate with clinical outcomes. One of the main reasons for this disconnect from “benchside” to “bedside” is that the MSC’s mechanisms of action still require further elucidation. As a potential cell therapy candidate, MSCs are usually used as a frozen allogeneic product that is thawed at the treatment site and administered via intravenous infusion. Thus, patients receive a heterogeneous population of viable, dead and fragmented cell product […]

Measuring Physical Activity in Preschool aged children

Due to increasing rates of childhood obesity, it is important to investigate the relationship between motor skill development, physical activity, body composition and sleep patterns. Previous research in this area has focused on school-aged children and adults, when daily habits have already formed and are difficult to modify. The purpose of this project is to investigate the relationship between energy expenditure (obtained using accelerometers), motor skill development and body composition in children aged 3-6 years. We expect that children with higher motor skills will have increased physical activity and body composition measures (i.e. increased fat free mass). A secondary purpose is to investigate algorithms used to determine sleep from raw accelerometer data and analyze the relationship between physical activity and sleep. It is predicted that children with higher levels of physical activity will have less movement or wake time periods during sleep.

Hydraulic evolution of fractured porous media during hydraulic stimulation

Hydraulic stimulation is a technique that is being used to increase the productivity and efficiency of natural resources under the ground. Hydraulic fracturing is a hydraulic stimulation method, in which the water is being injected into a borehole and that creates additional fractures within the hard rock formations. This may extend the flow network within the formation and increase the productions such as oil or gas. The formation with enhanced permeability is more efficient for hydrocarbon exploitations. The mechanics of the new propagated fractures due to the hydraulic fracturing have been the important subject for many numerical and experimental studies. This project is to develop a numerical approach to model the fully coupled fluid-rock interactions during fracture growth and investigate fracture sustainability during hydraulic stimulation.

Input-output Equation for Spherical Four-bar Linkages

Four-bar linkages, consisting of four rigid links coupled by revolute joints forming a closed chain, can be found in a variety of applications, such as windshield wipers, pumps, window cranks, suspension systems, robots, and extraterrestrial rovers just to name a few. Designers of such mechanical systems are commonly confronted with the task of determining the appropriate link lengths that allow the system to function as optimally as possible.

The objective of my work in Austria is to develop the required theoretical knowledge by working with internationally reputed experts to derive a universal algebraic Input-output equation for spherical four-bar linkages. It is expected that the proposed work will lead to a new parametric method for not only identifying the optimal link lengths for four-bar linkages, but also identifying the optimal joint types. Hence, it will become a better computational tool for designing mechanisms that need to be extremely accurate. This is especially important if the four-bar linkage is being used for manufacturing, assembly, medical, or even extraterrestrial applications.

Facteurs de contrôle sur la minéralisation aurifère du gisement Philibert, corridor de déformation de Guercheville, district minier de Chibougamau-Chapais

Le Québec est un important producteur d’or. Cette situation enviable provient en grande partie de la fertilité des roches. Néanmoins l’expertise, tant au niveau de l’exploration aurifère que de la mise en valeur, est un facteur déterminant pour cette production. Un élément fondamental, qui guide l’exploration vers des découvertes et une production éventuelle, réside dans les études de caractérisation des gisements aurifères. En fait, plusieurs types génétiques de minéralisation sont possibles. Établir l’origine de la minéralisation est donc essentiel pour l’exploration, car cette connaissance permet de mieux définir les facteurs de contrôle sur la distribution spatiale des minéralisations. Le projet proposé vise à étudier les caractéristiques des minéralisations aurifères associées à un complexe intrusif sous la forme de filons-couches dans un secteur en émergence comme camp aurifère. Le gisement Philibert est au stade d’exploration-développement et bénéficie de nombreux forages carottés qui constitueront notre matériel d’étude. TO BE CONT’D

Cryosphere Reduction Impacts on Arctic Seabird Ecology

Arctic temperatures are increasing twice as fast than the global average. In fjordic ecosystems of Svalbard, the Atlantification, the process leading to warmer conditions in the area impose new challenges to Arctic living community. Those changes alter cryosphere regime (i.e., ice component covering the surface) and associated species habitats. The black-legged kittiwake is a predator that has been associated to ice-related feeding habitat in the Arctic, promoting its use as indicator of marine ecosystem changes in Svalbard.

This study aims to investigate whether the lost of ice would impact significantly seabird populations. Data is already collected and cover the regime shift process for a decade. Specifically, the objectives to complete under this proposed 3 months internship is first, to complete the writing of my 1st chapter of my PhD thesis and 2) to perform the statistical analyses of my 2nd chapter. Analyses, as the cryosphere and population dynamic modelling, will be prioritised under my stay. Those objectives would necessitate extensive collaborations with local experts. Two papers are expected to be produced from this international internship.

Evaluation of Phytosanitary Measure Efficacy Using Genomics

In recent years, globalization and increasing international traffic have allowed tree infecting micro-organisms and pests to colonize new forests and plantations. These invasions are a threat to global trade and the delicate ecological balance of our forests. Good examples are the Sudden Oak Death (SOD) outbreak caused by Phytophthora ramorum in California and the emerald ash borer in eastern Canada. Such epidemics can wreak havoc and halt international trade resulting in loss of millions of dollars. A set of practices including monitoring, heat or chemical treatments of wood products enforced by Government regulatory agencies is referred to as Phytosanitary measures by the industry. We believe that rigorous surveillance involving monitoring for pathogenic microbes before and after phytosanitary measures is essential to keep these organisms under control. Although great progress has been made in wood treatment for insects and nematodes, the assessment of treatment efficacy remains challenging for pathogens that are impossible to detect. We propose a genomic solution to this challenge.

Bounties in Open Source Software on GitHub

Due to the voluntary nature of the open source software, it can be hard to find a developer to work on a particular task. For example, some issue reports may be too cumbersome and unexciting for someone to volunteer to do them, yet these issue reports may be of high priority to the success of software. To provide an incentive for implementing such issue reports, one can offer a monetary reward, i.e., a bounty, to the developer who completes that particular task.
In this project, we study bounties in open source software on GitHub to better understand how bounties can be leveraged to evolve such softwares in terms of addressing issue reports.