Innovative Projects Realized

Low Cost Aptamer-Based Technology for Mycotoxin Detection in Grains

Mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A and fumonisin B1, are toxins produced by moulds that can adversely affect human health as well as grain industry profitability. Mycotoxins are one of the most important barriers to competitive agriculture in the Great Lakes Region. Corn and wheat production are at the greatest risk of contamination, which is of major concern in Ontario, the largest producer of soft wheat and corn in Canada. Reliable, inexpensive mycotoxin detection tools for use on farms, in country elevators and at processors need to be developed. We seek to develop low-cost, easy-to-use mycotoxin testing tools using a combination of a new technology called “aptamers” and established techniques of thin layer chromatography and lateral flow, or “dipstick”, assays. The proposed internships will allow for the development of optimized mycotoxin aptamers (DNA “antibodies”) that can be integrated with thin layer chromatography and “dipstick” platforms. The marriage of inexpensive and…

Academic Supports in Secondary Schools

The inquiry will involve observations of two Chinese classrooms of different grades (11, 12), research of articles examining stress levels and academic success, and observations of after-school programs in order to gauge the available academic support for students in high-stress positions. I will refer to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results between Canada and China, especially in regards to testing as a reference point for my reflection. I will be focusing on testing such as the Higher Education entrance exam (the Gaokao exam) in China, and Canadian testing equivalents, such as the Education Quality and Accountability Office Assessments (EQAO), the Literacy Exam, the Canadian Achievement Tests (CAT), etc., in order to compare schools in Ontario with those in Chongqing China.

The Role of The Arts In Chinese Middle School

Having a strong background in the arts, I will research the use of the arts in Chinese Middle schools. I will be observing grade seven and grade eight classes. I am interested in seeing the differences in how the art impacts the Chinese Education System. One of the topics I will be observing is the art curriculum. I want to see the difference in the Ontario Art Curriculum to the Chinese Middle School. Another topic I will be comparing is the different teaching techniques. I will be observing the attitudes of teachers and students towards the art program. Another topic that I will be looking into is the different teaching styles that teachers in China have when teaching the art. I will be comparing the Canadian teaching model to the Chinese teaching skills. TO BE CONT’D

Study on dependencies of uncertainties and their effects on Offshore Wind Farm Maintenance

Offshore Wind Energy is one among the viable renewable energy sources which could help meet our future energy needs. The main concern about the offshore wind energy is the high cost of energy. The cost of Offshore wind energy is very expensive when compared to onshore cost. The success of offshore wind energy highly depends on how we reduce its cost of energy. Maintenance Optimization plays a pivotal role in reducing the cost of energy produced by Offshore Wind Farms (OWF). It is commonly assumed that 25% – 30% of the cost of energy produced by OWT is due to Operation and Maintenance (O&M) activities (twice as expensive as onshore installations). The harsh environment and limited accessibility make the maintenance of OWF’s more complex and expensive. The main reason behind the reliability and accessibility issues are the uncertainties encountered by OWF’s. TO BE CONT’D

Classroom Differences: What Works Best

This research proposal is looking at the differences between the teaching style, classroom climate, and classroom setup; I will be looking at the differences in these between Canada and China. The focus is to take note on what is working best to get the most in student engagement and learning. There are two different models of learning, in Canadian classroom the focus has been on the “Mastery Model” where school is learner- centered. In China the “Factory Model”, with standardized education, is the only way they teach. Through this research I hope to able to see the positives of both models, see what is working best for the students and their learning. With all the information, I want create a model that can bring out the best from both environments. TO BE CONT’D

Calibration de têtes d’abattage-façonnage Ponsse H7 : efforts et bénéfices

Les abatteuses-façonneuses modernes sont munies d’un ordinateur embarqué pour gérer la tête d’abattage-façonnage. Aujourd’hui, ces ordinateurs ne sont pas utilisés à leur plein potentiel. Pour l’être, les instruments de mesure de la tête doivent être calibrés. Ce projet vise à réaliser une étude de type « coûts-bénéfices » pour déterminer dans quels contextes la calibration peut se traduire en gains financiers pour l’entrepreneur et pour la scierie. Ce projet permettra à l’organisme partenaire d’approfondir ses connaissances sur les méthodes et les protocoles de calibration et d’élargir son offre de services auprès de ses clients entrepreneurs forestiers.

Functional specific IgG4 and basophil activation during standardized house dust mite specific immunotherapy

Specific immunotherapy (SIT) refers to a treatment that controls allergic symptoms by improving the patient’s tolerance by administering gradually increasing doses of allergen extract. The mechanism of SIT is very complicated. Preliminary research showed that immunoglobulins are elevated in patients after SIT, and the increase in immunoglobulin sIgG4 is positively correlated with improvement of clinical symptoms. This project will investigate the mechanisms of specific immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma. 40 patients with allergic rhinitis or asthma will be randomized into a SIT group (where house dust mite is used as the allergen for SIT) or a conventional treatment group (where patients are treated according to the rules of allergic rhinitis and asthma stated in established guidelines). TO BE CONT’D

The effect of social media on job search assistance

While the fact that social media, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Snapchat, are changing our lives is undeniable, management scholars are only beginning to understand their effects on social interaction and societal inequality. One area of great importance is the effect of social media on how people look for jobs. While some see social media as empowering job seekers, others suggest that it might make job seeking harder, particularly for some disadvantaged groups. This project will seek to understand the effect of social media on job search in China. The study will involve interviews with college students and young professionals, or those who are most exposed to the use of social media. Upon completion of the project the student will prepare a written report. The findings in this report will help to inform a follow-up survey study.

Stabilizing the Frank-Kasper Phases via Designed Polydispersity of Conformationally Asymmetric Diblock Copolymers

The most fascinating property of diblock copolymers (DBCP) is their ability to self-assemble into a wide range of ordered structures. In the simplest case, DBCPs can assemble into two distinct spherical phases, the familiar body-centered and face-centered cubic phases. The situation changes upon introducing conformational asymmetry, in which the statistical length of the two monomer types can differ. Experimental and theoretical studies have found the emergence of complex spherical structures, the Frank-Kasper (FK) phases, in conformationally asymmetric DBCPs. Recent experimental work confirms that conformational asymmetry is a key factor to realizing the FK phases. However, the observed differences between experimental and theoretical results suggest that alongside conformational asymmetry, other mechanisms may play a role in the formation of these intricate structures. One candidate is polydispersity, a measure of how uniform the polymer chain lengths are.TO BE CONT’D

Imperative sentences in Mandarin conversation

My MA thesis consists in the use of imperative sentences in Mandarin Chinese conversation. I plan to collect 9 hours of video data and analyze the actions speakers perform when they imperatives in naturally occurring Mandarin conversation. Based on grammar books, the imperative sentences perform a command, however an observation of everyday Mandarin conversation has shown that it is not always the case. When speakers use the imperatives in the speech, they construct this type of sentences both verbally and nonverbally. In order to explain the actions imperative sentences perform, grammar, sound patterns and bodily-visual movements have to be included in the research. The consideration of all the components speakers use in producing the imperative sentences will uncover the real actions which are performed by the participants in the conversation.

Searching for the light hybrid baryons

Atomic theory, well-established for almost a century, tells us that matter is made up of atoms, which are in turn made up of smaller constituents: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is an established physical model which describes protons and neutrons as being made up of smaller constituents called quarks bound together by the strong force through an exchange of particles called gluons. QCD permits us to formulate possible bound-states that have not been conclusively observed. Among these bound-states are structures called hybrid baryons, particles containing three quarks, and an intrinsic gluon. Utilizing QCD sum rules, the ground-state masses of these hybrid states may be calculated, and compared against experimental data to provide evidence for hybrid particles. With the current construction and operation of several experiments specifically designed to look for hybrid particles, experimental data will soon be abundant. TO BE CONT’D

An assessment tool for evaluation of operational and safety performance ofintermodal transit terminals

The proposed project seeks to develop a transit terminal assessment tool that can be used to provide safer and

more efficient service to passengers. The objective is to provide the industrial partner with a specifically

designed and calibrated analysis tool that can be used estimate the impact of passenger movements around the

terminal platforms on the frequency of subway/bus arrivals/departures at terminals. The partner organization is a

consultant with long-time expertise in public transportation analysis area. By participation in this project the

company will have access to the improved methodologies in assessing transportation transit terminals, which

can be used in various potential projects. Interested transportation agencies can benefits by exploring

alternative solutions to existing transit terminals that will provide more cost-effective operations of the transit

system. In addition, the intern will learn about the interaction between the private industry and the governmental

transportation agencies in developing common projects targeting improvements of the public transportation

system.