Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Lithium Dubbed Cspbbr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals, Siena Idoine

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Detecting Graphene Nanosheets On Leaves​ Of Ceratophyllum Demersum ​, Teresa A. Buragina

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Since its discovery, applications of graphene, a material that is a single layer of carbon atoms, have been useful in many different fields. In this project, we aim to image graphene flakes, formed from graphene-RNA nanocomposites, on the surface of aquatic plant leaves. Graphene-RNA 6 solutions were vacuum filtrated onto leaves of Ceratophyllum Demersum, which were then imaged at different heights using confocal microscopy, producing 3D images of graphene flakes.

Structural Tuning Of Two-Dimensional Perovskites At High Pressure, Lauren A. Diloreto

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Two-Dimensional Perovskites are semiconductors and are of interest to researchers as the class of materials show great promise for innovating improvements to solar cells. The purpose of this experiment is to determine if a metastable change will occur in the materials: DPDAPbI4 and CMA2PbI4 upon compression to approximately 9 GPa. The experiment was conducted using diamond anvil cells (DAC) to apply static pressure to the materials. The pressure of the sample was then measured using ruby fluorescence. Then, FTIR or Raman spectroscopy acquisitions were obtained at various pressures. Subsequently, the data suggests that a metastable change did not occur. Additionally, …

Developing A Bytownite Calibration Curve As A Lunar Analogue, Trevor W. Matterson

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Planetary analogue materials are useful to help interpret and predict planetary processes on other planetary bodies that we cannot observe directly. Lunar analogue materials include terrestrial rocks and minerals with compositions and textures like those on the moon. This project investigates the lunar analogue mineral bytownite to quantify shock effects on the moon using strain related mosaicity determined through micro x-ray diffraction (µXRD). Calibrating strain information as a function of shock pressure for these minerals will enable us to extract peak shock pressures (in GPa) from naturally shocked materials, such as lunar meteorites and Apollo samples, using µXRD

A Photoswitchable Hydrogen Bond Array, Kristen L. Perry, Fereshteh Davoud, James A. Wisner

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

The Right To Repair: (Re)Building A Better Future, Jumana Labib

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

The goal of this research project was to take a multi-faceted, interdisciplinary approach to research and examine the Right to Repair movement’s progress, current repair practices, impediments, and imperatives, and the various large-scale implications (environmental, economic, social, etc.) stemming from diminished consumer freedom as a result of increased corporate greed and lack of governmental regulations with regards to repair and the environment. This poster exhibits the highlights of my general research project on the Right to Repair movement over the course of this four month internship, and aims to disseminate information about the movement to the wider public in an …

Evaluating Machine Learning Model Stability For Software Bug Prediction, Joud El-Shawa

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Large software systems are implemented using many different programming languages and scripts, and consequently the dependencies between their components are very complex. It is therefore difficult to extract and understand these dependencies by solely analyzing the source code, so that failure risks can be detected accurately. On the other hand, it is a common practice for software engineers to keep track of process related metrics such as the number of times a component was maintained, with which other components it has been co-committed, whether the maintenance activity was a bug-fixing activity, and how many lines of source code have been …

Eigenvalue Problems On Atypical Domains - The Finite Element Method, Toufiic Ayoub

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Why do we care about eigenvalues and eigenvectors? What's the big deal? For many people enrolled in entry level linear algebra courses, these concepts seem like far fetched abstractions that become pointless exercises in computation. But in reality, these fundamental ideas are vital to how we live our lives every single day. But how?

Comparing Semi-Automated Segmentation Of Traditional-Resolution And High-Resolution Hyperpolarized 129xe Mri On Covid-19 Survivors, Tingting Wu

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Hyperpolarized gas MRI using inert gases like Xe is a valuable tool in visualizing lung ventilation in patients, and can be used as a longitudinal monitoring tool for patients with lung diseases. However, use of this method requires segmentation and quantification of parameters such as ventilation defect percentage (VDP), which is often very subjective depending on the observer. This study aimed to determine the accuracy and consistency of VDP calculation using the same MRI scans from COVID-19 patients, but with high resolution and low (traditional) resolution versions. Using a MATLAB script developed previously, it was found that in general, using …

Tracing Hydrogen In The Cucumis Sativus Plant Using Stable Isotopes, John Diemert

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Stability Of Dispersive-Dissipative Wave Equations, Mahima Siali

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Numerical Simulation Of Adaptive Metabolic Response To Anti-Angiogenic Treatment In Renal Cell Carcinoma, Saranya Varakunan

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Renal cell carcinoma, a malignant kidney cancer, is often treated using anti-angiogenic drugs to prevent the growth of blood vessels within the tumour. Although tumours initially respond to this treatment, they eventually develop resistance. This resistance is hypothesized to be caused by a switch to a symbiotic metabolism that allows cells to survive even with a low blood supply.

This project seeks to computationally model the transport of oxygen, lactate, and glucose within a tumour in order to examine how cancer metabolism adapts to changes in blood vessels.

Numerical Modelling Of A Novel 3d T-Junction Microfluidic Droplet Generator, Andrew G.H. Roberts

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

You Are What You Eat: Micro-Ct Analysis Of Early Triassic Coprolites, Olivia N. Benest

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Poster summarizing coprolite research, micro-CT analysis results, and future studies.

Synthesis Of Photoluminescent Metal-Chalcogen Clusters For Potential Oled Applications, Aaron Mitchell

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Speed And Accuracy For Partial Differential Equation Solvers, Aidan Grasby

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This Research project consisted of testing multiple software used to solve partial differential equations to determine the fastest solver while not compromising other aspects such as accuracy. The larger project involved using electrodes and electric fields to treat brain tumours. An optimization program is required to determine electrode placement and this program must solve partial differential equations to determine the electric field for each electrode configuration. This optimization step is extremely slow so it is critical a faster partial differential equation solver is found. Therefore, I tested various software to determine the fastest solver that could then be linked with …

Optimizing Hospital Capacity To Deal With Hallway Medicine, Megan Wismer

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

A model adapted from Hillier and Liebermann, 2017 that optimizes hospital capacity to deal with hallway medicine.

Synthesis Of Nucleotide Prodrugs As Potential Antiviral Agents, Mohammed Attaelmanan

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Studies Of Subvarieties Of Classical Complex Algebraic Geometry, Wenzhe Wang

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

My project in this USRI program is to study subvariety of classical complex algebraic geometry. I observed the orbit of elements in the unit sphere in space ℂ² ⊗ ℂ², the structure of unit sphere of ℂ² ⊗ ℂ². After this, I tried to generalize the result to ℂ^n ⊗ ℂ^n.

Modeling Weather Vulnerability Dynamically: Applications Of Multiple Linear Regression To Weather Index Microinsurance, Sophie Wu

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This paper offers a broad overview of the philanthropic goals of microinsurance — namely, to provide vulnerable populations with more self-sufficient and sustainable methods of coping with risk — and through this lens, analyses the applications of multiple linear regression in developing dynamic models for microinsurance. We explain the foundations of MLR (multiple linear regression), and then give two examples for how a simple multiple linear regression model can be adapted with a novel outcome variable (famine) and dependent variables (climate change related costs). Overall, a better understanding of MLR can lend to a better understanding of how microinsurance can …

Stable Hydrogen Isotopes Of Aquatic-Emergent Versus Terrestrial Insects In Southern Ontario, Celina Y. Tang

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Aquatic-emergent insects are vectors of both contaminants and nutrients, linking the aquatic system to the terrestrial system. Aquatic-emergent insects are high in omega-3 fatty acids that benefit terrestrial aerial insectivores, such as bats and birds. With aerial insectivores on a decline, a contributing factor could be a decrease in the quality of insects. We collected insects from lakeshore and inland locations in Southern Ontario. Insects sampled included bees, wasps, ants, beetles, caddisflies, craneflies, dragonflies, marchflies, mayflies, midges, other flies, and true bugs. Insects’ wings and powdered bodies were then analyzed for stable hydrogen isotopes (d²H) in order …

Agriculture, Food Security And Climate Change Panel, Andrew Walsh

Africa-Western Collaborations Day 2020

8 graduate student/recent graduate presentations on varying topics of agriculture, food security and climate change. Moderated by Dr. Andrew Walsh. Reporting of panel done by current GHS students of the 2021 class. Abstracts can be found under "Africa-Western Collaborations Day 2020 Abstracts". Presenters as follows:

Daniel Amoak, "Coping Strategies of Agrarian Households"

Eunice Annan-Aggrey, "The Conundrum of Vanishing 'Gold' in the African Savannah"

Evans Batung, "Credit Access and Perceived Climate Change Resilience of Smallholder Farmers in semi-arid Northern Ghana"

Chengyu (Jennifer) Guo et al., "Production of Flavoured Fiti Probiotic Yoghurt for the London Community"

Daniel Kpienbaareh et al., "Estimating Yield …

Water Quality And Water Security Panel, Lameck Osinde

Africa-Western Collaborations Day 2020

8 graduate student/recent graduate presentations on the topic of water security and water quality. Moderated by Dr. Lameck Osinde. Reporting of panel done by current GHS students of the 2021 class. Abstracts can be found under "Africa-Western Collaborations Day 2020 Abstracts". Presenters as follows:

Thelma Zulfawu Abu et al., "When you Preach Water and you Drink Wine: Exploring the Implementation, Use and Management of WaSH in Healthcare Facilities in Kisumu County"

Katherine Butler, Eva Chang, "Western Heads East Remote Internship: Canada-Rwanda Partnership"

Josephine De Leon, Ryan Grilli, Yasmina Garber, Riddhi Nandola, Mofiyin Lawal, "Ecoland"

Maurice Dogoli et al., "Tackling Access …

Application Of The Optimal Estimation Method (Oem) To Retrieve Relative Humidity From Raman Lidar Backscatter Measurements., Shayamila N. Mahagammulla Gamage, Robert Sica, Alexander Haefele

Western Research Forum

Accurate measurements of relative humidity (RH) vertical profiles in the atmosphere is important for understanding the earth's weather and the climate system. RH represent the current state of the water vapor in the atmosphere with respect to the ambient air related to saturation. Even minor changes of the RH in the lower atmosphere has a large impact of the global circulation and cloud formation. Due to its high variability RH measurements in the lower atmosphere is significantly challenging. Raman lidar is one of the potential tools that can provide vertical profiles of RH. Typically, temperature and water vapor mixing ratios …

Integrated Raman Lidar And Microwave Radiometer Retrieval Of Atmospheric Water Vapor, Jeffrey Vankerkhove, Robert Sica, Alexander Haefele

Western Research Forum

Water vapor plays a critically important role in many atmospheric processes. However, it is poorly characterized throughout much of the atmosphere, particularly in the UTLS (Upper Troposphere Lower Stratosphere) region, due to lack of accurate measurements. Raman lidar boasts the capacity for excellent spatial and temporal resolution, but requires an external calibration. Microwave radiometers can be calibrated in absolute terms, but have poor height resolution. In this study, we introduce an integrated water vapor retrieval using an optimal estimation method, where the measurements from the Raman Lidar for Meteorological Observation (RALMO) and a RPG-HATPRO radiometer, both located at the MeteoSwiss …

Interpreting Patient Reported Outcomes In Orthopaedic Surgery: A Systematic Review, Shgufta Docter, Zina Fathalla, Michael Lukacs, Michaela Khan, Morgan Jennings, Shu-Hsuan Liu, Dong Zi, Dianne Bryant

Western Research Forum

Background: Reporting methods of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) vary in orthopaedic surgery literature. While most studies report statistical significance, the interpretation of results would be improved if authors reported confidence intervals (CIs), the minimally clinically important difference (MCID), and number needed to treat (NNT).

Objective: To assess the quality and interpretability of reporting the results of PROMs. To evaluate reporting, we will assess the proportion of studies that reported (1) 95% CIs, (2) MCID, and (3) NNT. To evaluate interpretation, we will assess the proportion of studies that discussed results using the MCID or the effect sizes and how …

Photoswitchable Self-Complementary Hydrogen Bond Arrays, Suendues Noori, James A. Wisner

Western Research Forum

Background: Photochromism is the reversible transformation of a chemical material to another form by the absorption of electromagnetic radiation (light), where the two metastable forms have distinct absorption spectra and other properties. Photochromism in materials allows for the switching of their function solely based on irradiation with light. Polymers are used frequently as the building blocks for materials as they are versatile, multifunctional, can carry charge and be processed by solution-based deposition methods. Supramolecular polymers share the same definition as polymers with the exception that they are held together by reversible and directional non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonds. Synthesizing …

Where On Ice? Algorithmically Deconstructing Nhl Shot Locations As A Method For Player Classification, Devan Becker, Douglas G. Woolford, Charmaine B. Dean

Western Research Forum

Where do hockey players shoot from? How does this vary from player to player? We present the results of a study that uses data-driven statistical methods to investigate these questions. The locations of shots by National Hockey League (NHL) players from 2011 to 2017 are analyzed using a combination of an image recognition algorithm and spatial statistical methodology. An unsupervised classifier is applied to output from a spatial point process model in order to determine which shot locations best characterize a given player. We define the number of regions a priori, but the image recognition algorithm chooses the shape …

Detrital Zircon Geochronology Of Paleoproterozoic Sedimentary Rocks From The Upper Huronian Supergroup, Canada, Carolyn M. Hill, Don W. Davis, Patricia L. Corcoran

Western Research Forum

The Huronian Supergroup is a well-known succession of primarily sedimentary rocks exposed north of Lake Huron. Deposition of the succession is constrained between 2450 and 2220 Ma (million years), which corresponds with Earth’s rise of atmospheric oxygen, however the depositional timing of the uppermost formations cannot be refined further due to a lack of interbedded volcanic rocks. A geochronological study of detrital zircon grains from sandstone and claystone beds from the two youngest Huronian formations, the Gordon Lake and Bar River formations, was completed in order to confine the maximum age of deposition.

Zircon is a mineral that commonly forms …

Using Molecular Dynamics To Study Qs21 Interactions And Penetration Of Lipid-Cholesterol Bilayers, Sarai Guerrero, Mikko Karttunen

Western Research Forum

Saponins have been used as adjuvant agents for decades in vaccines and therapies, but none are as well studied or heavily used as QS-21. This achievement is notwithstanding the fact that QS-21 usage is limited by its stability, toxicity, and scarcity. These shortcomings have only pushed researchers to develop and experiment with artificial recreations of the saponin to harness its unique benefits. A considerable number of research hours have been poured into this topic, but like QS-21 there is a shortcoming here as well. The number of articles that look at QS-21 interactions with the bilayer or the conditions under …