Innovative Projects Realized

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.

Measurement of student competencies in a teamwork

The Concordia Design Lab is a pioneer research center in the field of design science. Development of the Environment Based Design (EBD) methodology is one of its most significant achievements and many publications demonstrated the efficiency of EBD in solving complex problems.
One main objective for universities and teaching institutions is to develop students’ individual and team competencies in such a way that make them capable of working effectively in industries upon successful graduation. Competency is analogous to the mental capacity concept in EBD literature which is a set of related knowledge, skills and attitude vital for performing a task and has a correlation with the performance on the task. Assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of universities in terms of competency development is are not possible without being able to measure those competencies. TO BE CONT’D

Technology in the Classroom

The purpose of this study is to compare how China and Canada utilizes technology in the classroom. My interests lie in the effectiveness technology has in the foreign classroom and if Canada is preparing teachers enough to utilize technology to its fullest. I will be observing high school students and high school teachers in how they are interacting with devices such as cell phones, tablets, and smart-boards/overheads. This relationship will help me gain insight into possible advantages and disadvantages with technology use in the curriculum.

Shake-table testing of earthquake resilient tall building

The proposed project is to shake-table test a large-scale innovative structural building system which utilizes an outrigger in combination with a conventional reinforced concrete (RC) core-wall system. The outrigger reduces the bending moment demands on the RC core walls, allowing smaller cores, thereby resulting in significant savings in structural materials and increased useable space within the buildings. To further improve the seismic performance of the structure, innovative fuses are added to the outriggers to dissipate the earthquake energy. The specimen will be tested with different shaking intensities to ensure that all performance objectives of the system are met. The student will work with researchers from Tongji University in China to coordinate the specimen construction and testing. The results from these tests will validate the innovative structural system and ultimately lead to the design of higher performing buildings in Canada and worldwide.

Utilization of Creative Elements within an ESL Classroom

I would like to study the effects of creative elements in classrooms, I am specifically focusing on three streams of creativity; drama, visual art, and music. Through observations, I want to study if different ESL classroom educators use these creative elements in their lessons. If so, which strain do they use and does it aid or hinder the students’ learning process; if not, why has the educator refrained from doing so? I would like to study if the use of creativity raises the level of student engagement and comprehension skills. My aim for this project is to acknowledge the use of creativity internationally and its level of importance across the world. By observing what grasps the students engagement, future educators will be able to alter their lessons to ensure the success of every student in the classroom.

How does Chinese Middle School Curriculum portray Chinese Socialism?

My project is contextualized in Drs. Shijing Xu and Michael Connelly’s (2013-2020) SSHRC Partnership Grant Project, Canada-China Reciprocal Learning in Teacher Education and School Education. I will be exploring how political science curriculum in Chinese middle school portrays Chinese socialism. I will be auditing grade 7 and 8 political science classes in Chongqing, China, and auditing classes with teacher candidates at Southwest University who major in political science.
In general, Canadian perspectives and Chinese perspectives clash in their opinion of socialism in China. General perspectives of communism in China within Canada include stereotypical thinking. However, Canadian society, including academic institutions, should use the principle of charity when analyzing socialism in China. Using the principle of charity will allow for collaboration between Canada and China’s education sectors to flourish, even when ideas or general perspectives between China and Canada contrast. TO BE CONT’D

Wind turbine bearing fault diagnosis via doubly-fed induction generator electrical signals

Bearing failures are the leading failure factor in gearboxes and induction generators of any wind turbines. It is highly desired to detect the bearing faults at an early stage and repair or replace the faulted bearing to prevent catastrophic damages of the wind turbine generation system. In this project, we are going to develop advanced diagnostic methods and techniques for the implementation of induction generator electrical signals for bearing diagnosis. The diagnosis of bearing faults via generator electrical signals is a very promising method, because it does not require the installation of any additional sensors, and signals can be easily measured remotely. The accomplishment of the objectives outlined in this proposal will directly impact advancement in knowledge, research, and technology in bearing health condition monitoring in application to wind turbines. The realization of proposed approach will increase the reliability of wind turbines, reduce maintenance costs, and unplanned downtime.