Mevalonate Cascade Inhibition Sensitizes human Glioblastoma Cells to Temozolomide via Modulation of Autophagy

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), also known as glioblastoma and grade IV astrocytoma, is the most common and most aggressive cancer that begins within the brain. There is no clear way to prevent the disease. Typically treatment involves surgery after which chemotherapy and radiation therapy is used. The medication Temozolomide (TMZ) is frequently used as part of […]

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Evaluating the prospective benefits of physical demands description (PDD) data created from job simulations

Every job at Ford Motor Company should have an associated document describing the physical demands (i.e., lifting, climbing, pushing, etc.) required in that job. This information is important to select job candidates with the right blend of capabilities to be able to safely meet these demands. Perhaps more importantly, this information also provides a benchmark […]

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Comparing and Improving Approaches to Topic Modeling

The proposed research project aims at evaluating and improving a technique in Statistical Natural Processing called Topic Modelling in order to apply it to real-life scenarios. Topic modeling is a techniques that allows the quick discovery of what the main topics of a document collection are, and thus automatically answers the question “What do these […]

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Optimizing inter-device interaction in Drone-Aided Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks (DA-MANET) for Humanitarian Mission deployment

Every year, people suffer the consequences natural disasters descend upon them. When these unfortunate events occur, emergency response teams are deployed and need to deal with a multitude of challenges. In this scenario, the communication infrastructure is a key element that can contribute to the success of the mission. Considering the case of a Drone-Aided […]

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Topological Network Analysis for Transportation and Water Management Systems

The main goal of this project is to develop a general set of computational solutions that could be used to prevent and manage emergency situations in transportation and water management networks by developing a monitoring and predictive model. This monitoring and predictive model will be based on topological data analysis (TDA) in a fashion similar […]

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Precast Concrete Carbonation under Ambient Conditions

This project seeks to explore the practical viability of curing concrete via carbonation at ambient pressure conditions, thereby omitting the technique’s current dependency on elevated pressures. A vacuum pre-setting step and regimented CO2 injections highlight the proposed technique. Experiments will initially be carried out at the laboratory scale at the university, and then scaled up […]

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Enteroids and enteroid derived monolayer cultures: Using primary intestinal epithelial cell cultures to define the mechanisms underlying epithelial intrinsic innate defenses

Using growth media available from Stemcell technologies, along with our own tools and techniques, we can isolate and grow intestinal stem cells from mice or human patient donors into enteroid cultures. Enteroids are 3D cell cultures that replicate many of the structures and types of cells found in the intestinal lining. We propose to work […]

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Advanced mapping techniques applied to wetland drone base information

Wetlands are habitats for many fishes, aquatic invertebrates, waterfowl, and other wildlife. Wetlands are also important for people’s daily lives. They can renovate freshwater, store flood, and provide fishery resources. However, wetlands are being destroyed and polluted at alarming rates worldwide. This research tries to understand the current wetlands extent and states in mid-Alberta, Canada. […]

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Alternative management of pulp and paper mill sludge: a cost-effective solution to generate carbon offsets – Year Two

Pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS) is the main organic residual generated from the wastewater treatment of the pulp and paper industry. In Quebec’s province, an annual amount of 400 000 tons of PPMS are landfilled. Pilot scale measurements in 2013-2014 indicated that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from landfilling were the highest compared to agricultural […]

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Chromosome Engineering for Bioproducts from Methanotrophs – Year Two

Currently Metagenom Bio Inc. offers contract research services in environmental microbial species profiling. Applications for this service include the monitoring of biogas operations, greenhouses, and mining processes. Metagenom Bio wishes to offer solutions that use microbes to generate value-added products. Biogas reactors can break down waste products and produce methane, or natural gas. This methane […]

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Design of seismic force resistant cross-laminated-timber walls and interior partition walls – year 2

The structural use of timber in North America is largely limited to low-value commodity products used in low-rise residential light-frame construction. There exists, however, much greater potential for timber to be used as a structural material. One solution involves the notion of “mass-timber” such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. The prospect of building larger timber […]

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Identification of transcription factors involved in cannabinoid biosynthesis and glandular trichome formation – Year two

As an important medicinal plant, Cannabis sativa produces bioactive molecules that provide symptom relief for conditions such as severe cancer pain, nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. The cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway that generates bioactive molecules has been studied for over a decade. However, understanding of transcriptional regulators that control cannabinoid synthesis is fairly limited. The […]

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