Innovative Projects Realized

Développement d’un protocole d’extraction des polymères de proanthocyanidines de canneberge pour améliorer la santé intestinale

Le projet vise à mettre au point une méthode d’extraction des procyanidines de canneberges (PACc) et à vérifier leur effet sur l’inflammation de bas niveau et sur la modulation du microbiote intestinale dans un modèle de souris obèses. Les PACc seraient responsables des effets positifs des polyphénols sur la santé. Ces molécules réduisent en effet l’inflammation de bas niveau induite par une diète obésogène, améliorent la dyslipidémie et réduisent la glycémie de sujets souffrant du syndrome métabolique. Ces molécules moduleraient aussi le microbiote intestinal. Nous comptons donc développer un procédé d’extraction permettant de récupérer les PACc qui se retrouvent en quantité appréciables dans le résidu fibreux généré par le procédé d’extraction éthanolique utilisé par Nutra Canada. Nous développerons aussi une méthode pour purifier des polymères de PACc par CPC. Nous comptons enfin démontrer que c’est la fraction de PACc qui est active au niveau de l’inflammation de bas niveau.

The nature of the Archean environment revealed through micro-analyses of fluid inclusions

Much is still unknown about the early Earth environment. In this study we are exploring the Archean Eon (4.0-2.5 billion years ago) through micron scale measurements of multiple sulfur isotopes on 3.5 billion year old fluid inclusions from Western Australia. Different bacteria reflect unique environments, which they occupy and some species have been linked to oxygen in the atmosphere due to their metabolic requirements. Our goal in this project is to measure the multiple sulfur isotope composition of ancient microbial poop (waste products, in this case H2S) to discriminate between such species and enhance our understanding of the Archean environment. In this pursuit we will be pushing the limits of current analytical abilities which will set the stage for a number of questions to be addressed in the geosciences.

Grain Farmers of Ontario Internship: Assessment of plant to plant yield variation in Ontario corn fields.

Differences in plant growth rate and development stage of corn plants within a field have been associated with lower yields. This plant-to-plant variability has been attributed to temporal variability in plant emergence, plant spacing variability, and post-emergent environmental stresses. The role that

basic corn production practices such as tillage, crop rotation, and nutrient application play in plant-to-plant variability is understudied. A further understanding of this relationship can lead to further yield gains in the future.

An internship with the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), an organization that represents all 28,000 grain farmers in Ontario allows me to apply this research to actual corn producers and members of the GFO to provide insights on complex corn production issues. It will also give me the opportunity to network with GFO members, employees, and industry partners by being involved in several industry-wide events throughout the summer.

An Analysis of Flax Breeding Programs in Western Canada

Canada is the largest producer of flax in the world and the demand for flax is expected to increase significantly due to its proven health benefits. At the same time, the number of flax breeding programs in Western Canada has recently decreased from three programs to just one breeding program. The producer funded Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission (SaskFlax) is contemplating an expansion of flax breeding activity to address the deficit. The objective of this project is to undertake an economic assessment of the breeding requirements for flax industry in Western Canada and to develop a business plan with several options to scale up breeding operations in the Crop Development Center at the University of Saskatchewan. The knowledge created in this project will allow the SaskFlax to make informed decisions about investing in additional flax breeding. Experience in other crops suggests that these investments could create substantial economic benefits for flax producers and the industry as a whole.

Supply chain metrics during the product lifecycle (extension)

Ciena Corporation is a global supplier of telecommunications networking equipment, software and services. The company operates in a high product mix, low volume environment with short product cycle times. As a consequence, it has difficulty estimating product volumes and end-of-life inventory. The project will determine the best set of metrics during product lifecycle stages in order to measure supply chain performance, to estimate total product volumes, and to minimize end-of-life inventory. The study will use a product lifecycle framework to evaluate the metrics used by Ciena now and those suggested through the study of other companies. The data from several of Ciena’s historical products will be evaluated using these metrics and the framework. A supply chain process model will be simulated using the proposed metrics and supply chain data to evaluate potential supply chain performance.

Combined Physical Testing and Finite Element Modelling of Masonry Systems

Finite element modelling (FEM) can be used enhance the understanding of physical testing results and will be applied to two distinct structural problems. The first problem will involve compressive testing of concrete masonry units, and the second problem will involve the performance of adhered stone veneer under wind loading. Compressive testing has been conducted previously on standard compressive testing samples and numerical modelling will build on these results to evaluate and potentially modify current code factors to improve their accuracy. Adhered stone veneer will be analysed with a combination of physical testing and numerical modelling. This research would involve testing of walls over 3.2m (10’) in height, for which design must be done on a case-by-case basis. Such a testing regime will improve the understanding of the performance of these components under wind loading.

Citizen science for agricultural land management

Grassland habitat and agricultural activities go hand in hand on the Ontario landscape. The project will develop citizen science monitoring tools for agricultural producers in southwest Ontario. The purpose of the project is to engage participants in monitoring environmental change by documenting observations farming activities throughout the farming season. Many producers are cognizant of the natural partnership between the environment and economic productivity, and regularly look for opportunities to further their support for sensitive species relying on these critical habitats. OSCIA envisions the development of a web-based citizen science project to collect spatial data about farm practices that impact (positively or negatively) grassland bird conservation and recovery through farmer reported data.

Challenges for drug-using mothers with children in the care of family members

The purpose of the study is to identify and respond to experiences of and potential challenges faced by drug-using mothers when their children are placed in the care of family members (otherwise known as “kinship care”) as an alternative to a formal foster care placement. As an outcome, we will develop an information package for drug-using mothers whose children may be, or already are, placed with relatives. This information kit will include birth mothers’ rights pertaining to access and custody; legal and therapeutic support services; and options available in respect to kinship care arrangements. This research proposal stems directly from the concerns of VANDU members. VANDU Empowerment Consulting Inc. will benefit as participation of VANDU members in this qualitative research projects will facilitate the ability of VANDU members to articulate their situations, thus increasing their ability to participate in the Presentations and Public Speaking division of VANDU Empowerment Consulting Inc.

Caractérisation fonctionnelle de gènes candidats contrôlant le guidage du tube pollinique chez le genre Solanum

Chez les plantes à fleurs, la reproduction sexuée fait intervenir une cellule mobile, le tube pollinique, sorte de « spermatozoïde végétal », qui doit se déplacer jusqu’à un ovule pour le féconder. Pour l’assister dans cette tâche, l’ovule sécrète de petites molécules attractives que le tube pollinique perçoit grâce à des récepteurs. Bien que ce phénomène présente un intérêt majeur pour les biologistes et les agronomes, il est encore mal compris. Notre projet consiste à identifier les molécules attractives ovulaires et leurs récepteurs polliniques chez les plantes du genre Solanum (qui regroupe notamment la pomme de terre et la tomate). Nous avons isolé une liste de gènes candidats qui ont de fortes chances de coder pour des attractants ou des récepteurs. Ce stage va consister à tester ces candidats en utilisant une technique de croissance contrôlée des tubes polliniques combinée à une méthode d’inhibition transcriptionnelle spécialement développée pour le pollen.

Methane Tri-Reforming: Process Modeling,Thermodynamic Analysis and ProcessOptimization

This has been a proposal for myself, Stephen Collins, to participate in the FASESP – BG Brazil Research Centre for Gas Innovation project. If awarded via the Mitacs Globalink program, I will be presented the opportunity to work alongside the research staff of The University of Sao Paulo, as well as members of other academic institutions and industry. The project itself has been in various stages of planning for the past several years: and was approved after being peer-reviewed by an international committee. While the Research Centre will host professionals in the fields of economics and various types of engineering, my proposed position will be alongside those of the Physical-Chemistry program: more specifically the Conversion to Chemicals team. Essentially this team is responsible for the following task: to determine the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods of producing value-added products from natural gas, such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas. This research will examine existing chemical processes, and determine the optimal equipment, reaction properties, and catalysts to help establish natural gas as a viable and competitive source of chemical feedstock in Brazil and beyond. TO BE CONT’D

Stories of Japanese Independent Game Developers: Between Motif and Narreme?

Although it is commonly accepted that the videogame was invented in North America, it gained many of the elements we associate with contemporary games, such as narrative and graphical fidelity, via Japan. The purpose of this research is to develop a sense of the ways that Japanese independent videogame developers conceive of and utilize narrative in their games in order to understand the possible implications for Aboriginal artists, developers and researchers in North America who seek to use videogames to convey both traditional stories as well as participate critically in popular videogame culture. Conducted primarily through field research in the form of interviews with developers in Kyoto, Japan and surrounding areas, and supplemented by focused research into the theory and practice of crafting game narrative this project aims to draw out relevant and transferable practices and theoretical tools for understanding and creating Aboriginal narratives in games.

Promouvoir le développement durable des forêts : coopération entre communautés autochtones et entreprises forestières

Au Canada, la durabilité de la foresterie est une condition obligatoire pour les entreprises qui désirent opérer sur les territoires publics. Les entreprises reconnaissent de plus en plus que la participation autochtone au développement économique peut favoriser une intégration harmonieuse de deux cultures souvent différentes l’une de l’autre, la culture d’entreprise ne séant pas nécessairement aux attentes de tous les Autochtones. La question économique est cruciale pour plusieurs communautés autochtones, dont la population est jeune et en croissance. Plusieurs de ces communautés ont choisi la forêt comme milieu de travail. Toutefois, il faut reconnaitre que nous en savons très peu sur les intérêts des jeunes autochtones envers les emplois en forêt, les obstacles relatifs à leur intégration au marché du travail dans le secteur forestier et les stratégies à mettre en place pour que ces jeunes saisissent les opportunités d’emplois dans le secteur forestier.