Innovative Projects Realized

Nano and Macroscale Tribological Investigation of MoS2 and MoST

Since the beginning of space exploration is has become apparent that lubrication between surfaces in space would face many challenges that aren’t relevant on earth. Friction and wear testing on earth has been developed in turn to emulate the conditions that would be faced by solid lubricants in outer space. This requires specific contact geometries and forces, as well as control of environmental conditions including chemistry, pressure, humidity, and temperature. While studies performed in Toronto will allow for nanoscale tribology tests, access to the highly atmosphere-controlled mechanism-scale Tribowave tribometer in Lyon would allow for the currently uninvestigated comparison between the nanoscale evolution of a lubricant and the macroscale effects of an application driven contact. Furthermore, video and chemical analysis of the sample during the tribological contact during testing is a capability unique to the Tribowave tribometer in Lyon. TO BE CONT’D

DNA as the addressable element in mesoporous silica particles

Oligonucleotides will be structurally integrated within complementary architectures in order to synthesize hybrid nanomaterials featuring biomolecular-driven behavior. We plan to synthesize nanoparticles featuring nucleic acid conjugates embedded in the structural network, so that their dynamics could be programmed for cancer therapy. We intend to make use of the biodegradable organosilica technology developed in De Cola’s laboratory at the University of Strasbourg (UNISTRA), not otherwise available at McGill University. The principal aim would be to exploit physical, chemical and biological properties of nanosystems that will be utilized as drug delivery carriers and functional therapeutics for advanced personalized nanomedicine applications. The outcomes of this experience will provide fundamental knowledge towards developing novel functional nanomaterials that can help to go beyond the state-of-the-art of drug delivery systems currently used for biomedical treatments.

Isolation of Lignin from Lignocellulosic Biomass Using Ionic Liquids and Deep Eutectic Solvents and Pyrolysis of the Extracted Lignin

Lignin, a carbon neutral and an underutilized feedstock, can be used to produce a variety of products, such as oils, syngas, benzene, toluene, xylene as well as high molecular weight products such as wood adhesives (binders), carbon fibers and polyurethane foams using thermal, chemical, biological and electro-biochemical processes. Globally, approximately 64 million tonnes of lignin is produced from pulping processes; however, this material is not isolated but instead utilized onsite for heat and power production. Kraft lignin price can range from $260 to 500 per tonne with prices reaching up to $6500 per tonne depending on the product purity. Isolating lignin from agricultural wastes using economical and environmental friendly processes and employing these processes to produce value-added chemicals are important challenges facing the development of lignin based biorefineries.
Recently, solvent extraction has been examined to recover lignin from a variety of renewable biomasses. TO BE CONT’D

Rôles des bactériophages dans l’évolution et la virulence de Clostridium difficile

La résistance aux antibiotiques continue de s’accroître à travers le monde et devient inquiétante. Clostridium difficile est une bactérie multi-résistante responsable de nombreuses maladies intestinales pouvant être fatales. En raison des graves symptômes causés par les infections à C. difficile, la qualité de vie des personnes atteintes se trouve grandement réduite. Ces infections sont complexes à traiter entre autres en raison de la résistance aux antibiotiques et les coûts pour le système de santé sont alors très élevés. Cependant, différentes souches de C. difficile démontrent une virulence variable, ce qui veut dire que certaines d’entre elles peuvent causer des symptômes très graves alors que d’autres sont inoffensives. Les raisons qui font que certaines souches sont plus dangereuses restent encore mal comprises. TO BE CONT’D

Inferring matter density from halo spatial distribution

The current picture of structure formation in cosmology suggests that initially over-dense regions of dark matter collapse to form halos. These halos also host most of the luminous matter like galaxies. However, we cannot trace the dark matter directly since it does not interact with light. Therefore, the relationship between the underlying cosmic density and the presence of halos remain unclear. Understanding this relationship is of immense importance in inferring the cosmic density field. We propose using a forward modeling method based on Bayesian Inference to reconstruct the mass density field of the local universe. This process involves producing an ensemble of initial conditions and evolving them according to the known physical laws to the present day. These evolved densities can then be compared to the observed reality statistically. TO BE CONT’D

Optimisation du potentiel gros-grain sOPEP et extension en régime tout-atomes

Les protéines sont des nanomachines dont les fonctions, venant de leur structure tridimensionnelle, sont fondamentales à la survie de la cellule. Avec l’amélioration croissante des super-ordinateurs et des algorithmes, les méthodes informatiques deviennent incontournables à l’étude des protéines. Les interactions physiques à l’origine de la structure des protéines sont modélisées à l’aide d’un potentiel. Les potentiels gros-grain OPEP furent appliqués avec succès à l’étude des protéines amyloïdes et à la prédiction de structure tertiaire grâce au programme PEPFOLD. Des améliorations restent toutefois possibles. Dans le cadre de ce projet, je continuerai l’optimisation du potentiel sOPEP, à la base de PEPFOLD, afin d’en améliorer les capacités de prédiction et à étendre son utilisation aux peptides de 51 à 70 acides aminés. Les grandes banques de protéines, sur lesquelles l’optimisation se fera, sont déjà en place. TO BE CONT’D

Impact de différents collecteurs sur la flottation de la pyrite : application aux deux zones minéralisées de la mine Goldex

La mine Goldex est une mine souterraine en cours d’exploitation par l’entreprise Agnico Eagle. En 2015, un nouveau projet d’extraction a été développé, la zone Deep 1, dont la production a débuté en juillet 2017. Actuellement, des forages d’exploration sont en cours dans une nouvelle zone, la zone Sud. Le minerai provenant de ces zones est broyé et l’or libre est récupéré par gravité et fondu sous forme de lingots. L’or résiduel est associé à un sulfure de fer, la pyrite, et est récupéré par flottation non sélective des sulfures. La zone Deep 1 présente actuellement des récupérations en or de l’ordre de 95% grâce à la flottation de la pyrite. Le minerai provenant de la zone Sud montre une minéralogie différente par rapport à la zone Deep 1 et des récupérations en or moindres pour une technique de récupération similaire. L’objectif principal de ce stage est d’étudier les impacts de différents paramètres de la flottation sur la récupération de l’or associé à la pyrite dans la zone Sud.

Efficient nanostructured Ni-based catalysts for electrochemical valorization of glycerol

The great interest of shifting towards biodiesel from vegetable oils or was fats is leading to a tremendous increase of glycerol production as an inevitable by-product. This waste sparked the need for glycerol valorization to justify biodiesel as alternative for diesel from petroleum. Our research efforts are to partially electro-oxidize glycerol into value-added chemicals in order to make biodiesel production more environmentally benign with added financial benefits. The primary objective of this project is the identification of an active and stable electrocatalyst that can affect the selective electrooxidation of glycerol to the value-added products without 3 carbon cleavage. To overcome a trial-and-error approach, we propose to take advantage of modern synthesis and characterization techniques for metal alloy nanoparticles and advances in rapid identifications and quantifications of products based on infrared spectroscopy and Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy model. TO BE CONT’D

Validation d’une méthode d’histologie virtuelle pour l’étude de l’unité neurovasculaire dans des modèles animaux de la maladie d’Alzheimer

The project aims to validate the effectiveness of “phase contrast” synchrotron (x-ray) imaging techniques in detecting very small-scale features (particularly amyloid plaques) commonly associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. This will be done though comparison of synchrotron-generated images of Alzheimer-afflicted brain tissue, against their optical microscopy image counterparts. The experimental process will involve five stages:
1 – The acquisition of high-resolution synchrotron x-ray imagery of brain of mice that are genetically modified to exhibit Alzheimer traits. (to be done by other researchers)
2 – The preparation of chemically-treated thins slices of brain tissue from the same mice, for the purposes of microscopic analysis.
3 – The acquisition of 2-D fluorescence images of the brain thins slices by means of an optical microscope.
4 – Identification of relevant features on 2-D fluorescence microscopy images, using image analysis software. TO BE CONT’D

“Show Me the Love:” Understanding Barriers to Sexual Intimacy Among Persons with HIV/AIDS

The diagnosis of HIV & AIDS complicates sexual activity. Physiological and psycho-social

factors such as body image, fear of rejection, and stigma can lead to shame and isolation.

The purpose of the present study is to gain a greater understanding of the range of barriers to

sexual intimacy that persons living with HIV and AIDS (PHA’s) encounter, as well as the

strategies this population may usilize when successfully forming new sexual relationships. A

community-based research approach using qualitative analysis will be used. Specifically,

twenty persons living with HIV & AIDS will be recruited from Guelph and the surrounding

area. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted and data will be analyzed using thematic

analysis. The findings from this study will help the AIDS Committee of Guelph & Wellington

County to better serve, and inform, its clientele and will advance the academic literature by

improving understanding of how PHA experience intimacy.

Synchronization with music in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease in different social and emotional contexts

It is known that music can enhance emotional and verbal communication in individuals who have difficultly doing so. Additionally, it has also been established that music is strongly linked to and can stimulate motor areas in the brain, and may potentially be an interesting aid to motor learning. The overarching goal of the project is to seek to discover the influence of music in individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The knowledge gained here is imperative to administer music intervention which targets emotional wellbeing, communication skills, and implicit motor skills that can increase the autonomy of patients. Specifically, the proposed research will investigate the effect of auditory context (music or metronome sequence), social context (real or virtual presence of an examiner) and emotional cues on: motor synchronization to music; and non-verbal communication in AD patients. TO BE CONT’D

CO2 Capture by Molecular Simulation in Novel Solvents

This project uses computer-based molecular simulations to determine physical and chemical properties of a class of molecules known as alkanolamines dissolved in water designed to absorb carbon dioxide from industrial exit streams. These properties are important in helping select individual alkanolamines to be used as solvents in post-combustion carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). CCS is a process that removes carbon dioxide from the emissions of factories, refineries, coal and cement plants via reactive absorption in specialized solvents. The solvent is then reheated with steam to strip the carbon dioxide from the solvent. The solvent can be reused for further sequestration, and pure carbon dioxide is recovered, which can then be safely stored or used for other applications. The ultimate goal is to identify solvents which are both effective at removing carbon dioxide from emissions while remaining an economically viable option for large-scale application.