576622-2022

2022

Canada is aiming to be a leader in sustainable technologies. The aviation industry has fallen behind many other industries in terms of reducing its environmental footprint. Commercial aviation is responsible for 2-3% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Moreover, the contribution of aviation to climate change has been rapidly escalating as commercial air travel has been growing at an astounding rate. The total passenger traffic has more than tripled over the last 20 years and worldwide air cargo traffic has grown by about 50% in the last 15 years. Commercial aviation represents the fastest-growing source of GHG, soot, and NOX emissions. It is imperative for the health of our planet that engineers and researchers work to mitigate these effects.The proposed research collaboration between Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) in Canada and Middle East Technical University (METU) in Turkey will explore emissions reduction strategies in gas turbine engines. Several detailed experiments to measure engine pollutants performed at TMU will generate experimental data which will be used to validate pollutant models developed at METU. The findings of this research will increase the robustness and technological readiness of pollutant models so they can be implemented into engine development programs.

RGPIN-2018-06670

2022

Computer algebra systems are large software systems that allow scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and any other discipline that uses mathematics, to conduct mathematical calculations easily and efficiently. These systems can do much more than numerical computations. They have been programmed with large amounts of mathematical knowledge, and they can work with symbolic quantities (the high school student's x,y,z) as well as numbers. The system's mathematical knowledge allows them to perform high-level tasks, such as solving equations or simplifying complicated expressions. They can handle lengthy expressions that would take a human mathematician more than a page to write down by hand, and manipulate such large expressions without the errors that a human mathematician would inevitably introduce. Thus they allow scientists and engineers to take advantage of specialist mathematical knowledge that would otherwise not be available to them. Instead of the researcher hunting through the library or internet to learn how to solve some difficult equation, and then having to spend time applying the discovered knowledge to the researcher's particular problem, the algebra system user can refer the problem to the system and benefit from the expert knowledge of generations of developer mathematicians and computer scientists. Scientific investigations can gain greatly in mathematical level and productivity.One such computer system is Canadian. It is named, appropriately, Maple. The results of research supported in this proposal will be openly published, but the results will relevant to improving Maple. This project will increase the power of existing computer algebra systems by adding to their mathematical knowledge base. The mathematical functions known to the systems will be investigated and new properties discovered that will help systems solve users' problems. Of particular importance to the systems and their users are properties connected with complex numbers. Complex numbers are those built using the square root of negative one. Working with functions of complex numbers, and simplifying the mathematical expressions which arise, is a long standing difficulty, which is still not adequately solved. This project aims to strengthen the abilities of the systems in this area.

576630-2022

2022

Canada is internationally recognized as a leader in space robotics. This leadership began with the development of the original Canadarm, first launched in 1981 on board Space Shuttle Columbia. The next major Canadian contribution to space exploration will be Canadarm3, an advanced robotic manipulator for the US-led Lunar Gateway. The Gateway is a lunar outpost that will enable sustained human exploration of the Moon. Canadarm3 will operate aboard Gateway, which will orbit the Moon beginning in the mid-2020s, supporting missions to the lunar surface, serving as a science laboratory, and acting as a proving ground for exploration missions deeper into space. Because of Gateway's location some 400,000 kilometres from Earth, communication will be limited and delayed. Canadarm3 will therefore need to be highly autonomous and to operate without constant supervision from the ground. The Alliance research program will develop new capabilities in the area of vision-based anomaly detection to enable safe movement of the Canadarm3 around the Gateway structure. In collaboration with the primary Canadarm3 contractor, MDA Inc., we will leverage machine learning to create accurate 3D occupancy maps from monocular camera images acquired under variable and difficult lighting conditions in lunar orbit. The occupancy maps will be compared with curated maps of the structure to automatically identify deviations that may be a safety hazard. The same hazard-identification technology has applications for the servicing of satellites operating in Earth orbit.

575447-2022

2022

No summary - Aucun sommaire

547799-2020

2022

Muscle Physiology, Cellular Calcium Homeostasis, Cellular Physiology, Gene Expression Regulation, Intracellular Signalling, Protein-Protein Interactions, Molecular Biology

575875-2022

2022

No summary - Aucun sommaire

547581-2020

2022

Laplacian Growth, Self Organization, Topology Optimization, Fractals, Biomimicry, Pattern Formation, Digital Fabrication, Transport Problems, Generative Design, Deep Learning

RGPIN-2017-04674

2022

Measuring sexual selection in nature is a major focus of evolutionary biology and has been facilitated by the development of multivariate statistical tools. However, the future of these tools lies in bringing them within an experimental framework. My long-term research objective is to understand how the environment affects the evolution of mating systems in the wild. A major difficulty is collecting accurate measures of fitness for large numbers of individuals. One solution is to use systems in which individual fitness is recorded on the organism's body. Such is the case for male mating success in insects of the genus Cyphoderris, where mating females chew on the male's hind wings, damaging them permanently. I will use the Cyphoderris system to pursue 2 short-term research objectives.Short-Term Objective 1: The Effects of Ecological Gradients on Sexual SelectionComparatively little attention has been focussed on the evolutionary effects of ecological changes on wild populations. I have shown that hungry female Cyphoderris are more likely to mate than well-fed females. This raises the possibility that the strength of sexual selection is dependent upon resource availability. Cyphoderris populations are found throughout the forested interior of BC and western regions of Alberta areas that are both ecologically and economically important. I will measure sexual selection in wild populations of Cyphoderris in these regions that have been exposed to varying degrees of environmental disturbance (e.g. forest harvest regime, pine beetle infestation, fire occurrence). Evolutionary adaptations are important to our understanding of the scope and long-term effects of ecological disturbances and the ability of wild populations to tolerate environmental change.Short-Term Objective 2: The Ecology of Hybridization and the Breakdown of Species Isolating MechanismsHybrid zones have long fascinated evolutionary biologists because they are natural laboratories in which the processes governing speciation and the maintenance of species boundaries can be tested. Recently, I have found morphological evidence of hybridization between C. buckelli and C. monstrosa, and have shown that males provide nutritional resources to females during mating. I propose to use the Cyphoderris hybrid zone to study the evolutionary effects of species isolating mechanisms. Understanding evolution in hybrid zones is important as humans alter the ranges of wild populations.Humans continue to modify the environment at an unprecedented rate. Most work has concentrated on understanding and mitigating our effects on biodiversity. However, it is clear that evolution can occur over ecological timescales meaning that conservation must consider evolutionary effects of ecological change. My proposed research will address this important gap in our understanding of the effects of anthropogenic change.

575024-2022

2022

No summary - Aucun sommaire

RGPIN-2021-02691

2022

Viral vectored vaccines are among the most advanced vaccine candidates currently evaluated in COVID-19 phase-3 clinical trials. Following their manufacturing, thermostability is a critical quality attribute to ensure the efficacy and safe delivery of these life-saving products where needed. Building on an extensive scientific knowledge and know-how of cell-culture produced viruses, we propose for this research program to direct our efforts to study and integrate in the process development cycle, liquid and solid formulations of viral vaccines, an area of process development that remained largely empirical. As a result, a novel hybrid model will enable the freeze-dryer optimal operations in real-time. The long-term objective of this research program is to identify the critical parameters and uncover their mechanisms of action towards integration of expert knowledge for digitally assisted design of liquid and solid formulations of effective viral vaccines with improved thermostability and cost-effectiveness. We aim to 1) Design enhanced liquid formulations and uncover mechanisms involved in the formulation of enveloped viruses such as Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) and lentivirus in presence of excipients to preserve their biological activity; 2) Design solid formulations and develop mechanistic model for freeze-drying of enveloped and non-enveloped viruses such as VSV and adenovirus vectored vaccines generating a large pool of quality data for Machin Learning; 3) Develop a Hybrid model for freeze-drying process using a digital twin approach by combining mechanistic and data-driven models. The digital twin is connected to the physical freeze-dryer by sensors and feed-back control to accelerate the design and optimal operation of freeze-drying processes of viral vaccines. In collaboration with experts in the field (co-supervisors from McGill), we propose to combine recent advancements in Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to assist the design of experiments and accelerate the design of robust vaccine formulations and processes. Experimentation, validation of results and digital twin-based optimization of freeze-drying process will be executed in our already functional biosafety level-2+ laboratory and supported by our validated process analytical technologies. This research will advance knowledge on formulation of enveloped and non-enveloped viruses leading to discovery of novel excipients and enhanced processes. By focusing the design approach on improving the thermostability of the VSV-vectored Ebola vaccine, we will facilitate the delivery and stockpiling of this life-saving product as well as other products using the same VSV delivery platform of antigens (HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2). Critically, this research program will contribute to training 16 HQPs to respond to the high demand of qualified personnel expressed by the vaccine biomanufacturing industry in Canada.

SAPIN-2021-00030

2022

Very promising research on radio-therapeutic methods like radio-immunotherapy, targeted alpha-particle therapy and associated imaging techniques is hampered by the limited availability of extremely rare and relatively short-lived isotopes like 209,211At, 225,226Ac, 223,224Ra , 213Bi or 212Pb. A suitable production method, in particular for isotopes that can't be easily obtained via traditional sources like nuclear reactors or low-energy medical cyclotrons, is provided by ISOL (Isotope Separation OnLine) facilities like TRIUMF/ISAC (Isotope Separation and ACceleration). Even though the main purpose of ISAC is to supply rare isotope beams for research in the fields of nuclear physics and material science, recent efforts to provide samples of 209,211At and 225,226Ac for nuclear medicine research have yielded excellent results. The advantage of the ISOL method is that via the implantation of mass-separated ion beams isotopically and chemically pure samples can be produced. Subsequent, time consuming chemical separation and purification steps are either relatively straightforward or unnecessary. The disadvantage of the method is that the quantities that can be extracted from an ISOL target are limited by target size, low extraction efficiencies and beamtime availability. Therefore, nuclear medicine experiments relying on isotopes from an ISOL source are essentially restricted to basic pre-clinical studies. A major difference between a production target for isotopes with subsequent chemical separation and an ISOL target is their operating temperature. The former is actively cooled, enabling iradiations with high beam intensities, retaining the entire isotope production inventory inside the target. In contrast, ISOL targets are operated at very high temperatures up to 2300 °C to facilitate the fast and efficient release of sufficiently volatile chemical species while the target is irradiated. This proposal aims at research into a combination of both methods, in which a production target made from refractory materials is transferred to a high-temperature vacuum furnace from where fractions of volatile species are extracted from the irradiated target material by diffusion and effusion. It requires the investigation, understanding and subsequent optimization of the thermodynamics and chemistry driving the release and thermo-chromatographic separation of volatile species from a target. This includes development, testing and optimization of suitable experimental setups. One of the two main objectives of the proposal is to find a fast and efficient method for the extraction of the relatively volatile but also short-lived theranostic system 209,211At and its precursor 211Rn. The second main objective is the investigation of thermal separation of Ra and Ac isotopes which are released from actinde carbide targets at much higher temperatures. In the long run, any isotope of interest for harvesting could be investigated.

574370-2022

2022

No summary - Aucun sommaire

572959-2022

2022

No summary - Aucun sommaire

RGPIN-2018-05742

2022

Microbes are found throughout nature and are involved in every facet of human lives, from agriculture, to food production and human health. The microbiome, which describes the microenvironment where commensal microbes coexist and interact with host organism, is a complex and dynamic ecosystem that is difficult to recreate in the laboratory. This is mostly due to the fact that microbes grow much faster than mammalian cells, which will quickly overwhelm the culture and negatively affect mammalian cell survival. The proposed research program will address this unmet technological gap in host-microbe research by creating a family of polymer-based culture systems that can control the growth of microbes in confined droplet arrays that are physically separated, but remains chemically connected to surrounding mammalian cells. In this project, we aim to develop aqueous multi-phase system (AMPS) formulations in a model consisting of bacteria colonies in direct contact with human epithelial cells. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that aqueous solutions containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran (DEX) form two separate immiscible phases. These phases support the establishment of bacterial colonies and biofilms over an epithelial cell layer, where bacteria cultures are trapped in droplets' of DEX-rich phase solution to prevent overgrowth into surrounding PEG-rich medium. However, this prototype formulation was not ideal and well understood, thus posing significant negatively effects on mammalian cell viability and its toxicity toward microbes is unknown. Here we aim to design a family of biocompatible AMPS formation. We will screen a wide range of polymers to select those that are biocompatible. The ideal AMPS composition should also minimize diffusion barrier towards a wide spectrum of secreted biomolecules, including signalling peptides, hormones, and metabolites. Partitioning coefficients of biomolecules in candidate AMPS formulations will be evaluated using advanced proteomic analysis. Finally, candidate formulation will be tuned using known signalling pathways to ensure the establishment of indirect, native-like cell-cell communications between bacteria colonies and mammalian cells. This project will build the foundation for our understanding of biocompatible phase separation systems and aid future designs of advance culture platforms.

CRC-2018-00341

2022

analytical chemistry water disinfection byproducts toxicity water safety chromatography separation mass spectrometry

RGPIN-2021-03472

2022

The application of mathematical and computational models to biology is an exciting and novel area of research in Applied Mathematics. This integrative approach facilitates the interpretation of large datasets and captures the inherent complexity of living systems, which has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of biology. The long-term goal of the proposed research program is to advance the development and application of quantitative approaches in biological research by integrating experimental studies with mathematical and computational techniques. This will enable a more fundamental understanding of the complex processes in biological systems, with a special emphasis on the link between tissue cellular heterogeneity, the integrated stress response (ISR), and the immune system. This research will also provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between micro-environment and cell phenotype, and how these interactions modulate cell lineage. To this end, the research has four objectives: O1. Develop a novel, biomarker-free classification system for cell phenotypes (including epithelial and mesenchymal) using imaging flow cytometry combined with a high-performance machine learning architecture. O2. Build a compartmental mathematical model, grounded on experimental studies, to examine the dynamics between cell phenotypes and the effects of environmental factors (oxygen deficiency, metabolism) on phenotype switching, for instance, as observed in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. O3. Determine the molecular networks underlying the survival of different cell phenotypes in several tissue types, which will be accomplished by developing a ML architecture to classify genetic screening data from gene-editing techniques such as shRNA and CRISPR/Cas9. O4. Develop a systems biology approach to investigate the connection between these molecular networks determined in O3, and the ISR, as well as their effects on modulating and the immune response. This research will push the frontiers of current knowledge in the biological sciences further, providing a deeper understanding of the role of the ISR in mediating cell phenotype and immune response. Understanding the mechanisms underlying cell phenotype switching has implications for wound healing, metastasis, and tissue engineering. Given the importance of the biological processes being investigated in normal tissue development and malignant progression, I anticipate that this research will provide a rational basis for future studies. Students will gain invaluable experience in the biological, mathematical, and computational sciences and will forge connections with experimentalists from other research institutes. In keeping with the fast-paced growth of the machine learning and artificial intelligence sectors in Canada, this multidisciplinary training will help facilitate the transition of students to careers in both academic and industrial settings, including biotechnology companies.

575551-2022

2022

No summary - Aucun sommaire

558272-2020

2022

Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan found that canola-fat based pellet supplementation in the diet of beef cows during late pregnancy led to greater growth of their calves from birth to slaughter, translating into 22 kg more carcass. The difference between the control diet and the fat-supplemented diet was the source, not the amount, of dietary energy. In the control diet energy came from hay, barley straw, and barley grain, while in the pellet-supplemented diet energy came largely from barley grain with a slight amount of the energy supplied by the hay and barley straw replaced by the fat-pellet.Expression of a gene that controls growth and muscle development was also affected by prenatal diet. This gene is also under the control of DNA methylation, a modification of DNA that can be altered by general nutrition, and sometimes permanently by prenatal nutrition. The difference in gene expression could indicate that fat supplementation during pregnancy has permanently altered the way genes are expressed in the calves of these cows, and this difference may be contributing to the growth difference in the calves.The proposed research will test the repeatability of these results, and find an optimal level of inclusion of canola-fat in the prenatal diet. Blood will be collected at birth, weaning, and slaughter from steer calves exposed to the prenatal diets to identify differences in epigenetic and metabolite profiles. Tissues fundamentally driving metabolism and growth will be collected at slaughter to determine if prenatal fat supplementation affects DNA methylation and gene expression within the tissues themselves. Blood DNA methylation and metabolite profiles measured at birth and weaning will be examined for use as predictors of postnatal growth, and patterns of DNA methylation and gene expression in metabolically important tissues. Understanding biologic and epigenetic pathways that underlie connections between prenatal nutrition and postnatal growth and development can lead to increased predictability of calf performance and novel strategies to improve postnatal growth.

RGPIN-2019-06452

2022

The most important social stimuli infants encounter as soon as they are born are faces. Such faces not only move but also talk. The ability to process information from moving and talking faces lay the crucial foundation for typical development, whereas early inability to do so leads to cascading negative consequences (e.g., autism). Whereas researchers have extensively studied the development of face processing and that of speech processing in infancy, few have examined the interaction between the two. Building on our recent discoveries, the proposed program of research aims to bridge this significant gap in knowledge. We will examine systematically how infants' learning of face processing affects their learning of speech processing and vice versa, as well as the role of face and language experience in shaping such co-development. To this end, we will take a multi-method approach by using habituation-dishabituation, eye tracking, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy methodologies. We will assess the abilities to discriminate own- vs. other-race faces and native vs. non-native speech sounds in infants with differential exposures to the faces of different races and languages. This research will provide, for the first time, a systematic and multi-level set of data to link behavioural performance to visual scanning to neural activities in infants during face and speech processing. Our findings will bridge a significant gap in knowledge regarding the early co-development of face and speech perception at the behavioural and neural levels. They will elucidate the nature of developmental interaction between the two perceptual domains and the role of differential experiences in shaping early cross-modal development. Our research will also lay the foundation for future research to link early differential face and language experiences to later developments throughout childhood. Further, our research will provide normative data for understanding the atypical co-development of face and speech processing (e.g., autism).

574084-2022

2022

No summary - Aucun sommaire

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