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The emerging neuroimmune hypothesis of bipolar disorder: An updated overview of neuroimmune and microglial findings
No full textBipolar disorder (BD) is a severe and multifactorial disease, with onset usually in young adulthood, which follows a progressive course throughout life. Replicated epidemiological studies have suggested inflammatory mechanisms and neuroimmune risk factors as primary contributors to the onset and development of BD. While not all patients display overt markers of inflammation, significant evidence suggests that aberrant immune signaling contributes to all stages of the disease and seems to be mood phase dependent, likely explaining the heterogeneity of findings observed in this population. As the brain's immune cells, microglia orchestrate the brain's immune response and play a critical role in maintaining the brain's health across the lifespan. Microglia are also highly sensitive to environmental changes and respond to physiological and pathological events by adapting their functions, structure, and molecular expression. Recently, it has been highlighted that instead of a single population of cells, microglia comprise a heterogeneous community with specialized states adjusted according to the local molecular cues and intercellular interactions. Early evidence has highlighted the contribution of microglia to BD neuropathology, notably for severe outcomes, such as suicidality. However, the roles and diversity of microglial states in this disease are still largely undermined. This review brings an updated overview of current literature on the contribution of neuroimmune risk factors for the onset and progression of BD, the most prominent neuroimmune abnormalities (including biomarker, neuroimaging, ex vivo studies) and the most recent findings of microglial involvement in BD neuropathology. Combining these different shreds of evidence, we aim to propose a unifying hypothesis for BD pathophysiology centered on neuroimmune abnormalities and microglia. Also, we highlight the urgent need to apply novel multi-system biology approaches to characterize the diversity of microglial states and functions involved in this enigmatic disorder, which can open bright perspectives for novel biomarkers and therapeutic discoveries.This work was supported by a start-up grant from the Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria. Marie-Ève Tremblay is a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Neurobiology of Aging and Cognition (CRC-2019-00407). Adriano Chavez-Filho is supported by an Aspiration 2030 Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of Victoria (2023–2025) and a Fellowship from the Women Health Research Insitute (2023–2024).FacultyReviewe
Building Energy Simulation vs Actual Energy Consumption and Impacts of Climate Change
No full textEnergy modeling is necessary to determine the energy consumption of buildings and identify ways to reduce it. HOT2000 is an energy simulation modeling software developed and maintained by Natural Resources Canada that plays a pivotal role in Canada's home energy rating, labeling, and code compliance systems. This research examines the energy performance gap between modeling and actual energy consumption in two detached houses, located in Vancouver, BC were modeled with HOT2000 software. The architectural drawings were obtained from a design farm. It was observed that the actual energy consumption of the homes exceeded the predicted values by 40 to 45%. The discrepancies were attributed to the limitations of the energy modeling program, inconsistencies between the energy model and the actual buildings, and additional energy loads in the homes. Additionally, the study considers building performance under future climate scenarios, predicting an increase in energy consumption. Furthermore, this study conducted a parametric analysis of wall construction and energy sources to enhance energy efficiency. With just the change of energy source for space heating from Gas Boiler to Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) the energy consumption dropped and saved 15 to 35% and CO2 decreased from 45 to 75% per year. Improving the wall R-value from R-14 to R-28 the space heating energy saved around 12 to 15%. Based on the energy modeling results, the South-facing house in Vancouver, BC, is more energy-efficient (~5%) than the north-facing house. Climate change is expected to intensify temperature extremes and fluctuations, which will likely increase the need for combined cooling and heating energy.Graduat
Physical Data Visualization and Teamwork Accountability
No full textThis research explores the strengths and limitations of using data physicalization systems for fostering teamwork accountability. We developed a prototype system that includes two main parts: 1) A physical system that utilizes marbles to represent a single task or duty that each team member is assigned, and 2) A website for controlling the system. Using the website each team member can deposit a marble in a specific container, symbolizing the amount of progress that has been made by that specific person in a specific amount of time. Using our system we reflect on how people might be supported to collaborate better in group settings such as in course projects, or software teams.Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA)UndergraduateReviewe
Corrosive comparisons and the memory politics of "saming": Threat and opportunity in the age of apology
No full textThis article contributes to the interdisciplinary fields of memory and historical justice studies by analyzing one, particularly troublesome kind of competitive comparison that sometimes happens in memory politics in the so-called age of apology. The article calls this kind of competitive comparison, “saming”. Saming involves the attempt, via far-fetched or otherwise wrongheaded comparison, to exploit the recognition of some well-known case of historical injustice. Further, saming involves pursuing this comparison in ways that both trivialize the original injustice and undermine the framework from which the recognition of that injustice derives. The article develops its arguments and analysis by studying Budapest’s House of Terror museum and two Canadian redress campaigns, which sought historical recognition for the wartime internments of persons of Italian and Ukrainian ancestry, respectively. Saming is a recurrent problem, ubiquitous and probably inevitable in memory politics because the recognition of historical injustice brings with it unavoidable and indeed often valuable incentives to comparison. Thus, the overall aim of this article is to analyze the threat of saming in order to better defend the cause of comparison in introspective collective remembrance.This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, grant number 895-2022-1000.FacultyReviewe
Shoulder Arthroplasty: Experimental Validation of Computer Generated Patient Specific Guides
No full textIn a previous study done by J. Mackey, Patient Specific Guides (PSGs) were analyzed for their stability using a MATLAB tool called OrthoGrasp, and stability metrics were generated using Grasp Theory. Initial comparison tests were done with 3D printed glenoid models derived from CT scans, and PSGs altered from an original guide designed by an orthopaedic surgeon. This study sought to further compare an additional six glenoid models and their PSGs, created by M. Parmer, to their stability metrics generated by OrthoGrasp.
The results showed that the average correlation between the two data sets was 0.57, lower than the 0.66 in the original study. Removing the two glenoid and PSG sets with extremely low correlation brought the average correlation to 0.70. On average, OrthoGrasp predicted the most stable PSG of the set 50% of the time. OrthoGrasp also predicted a 31.1% difference between the A-type and B-type guide models, where experimental data showed a 47% average difference between the two types of PSGs. These results show that OrthoGrasp could be a useful tool to help surgeons confirm the stability of a PSG, but likely can not be used as the sole tool for generating PSGs.Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA)UndergraduateReviewe
Symmetry-enabled resource-efficient systolic array design for Montgomery multiplication in resource-constrained MIoT endpoints
No full textIn today’s TEST interconnected world, the security of 5G Medical IoT networks is of paramount concern. The increasing number of connected devices and the transmission of vast amounts of data necessitate robust measures to protect information integrity and confidentiality. However, securing Medical IoT edge nodes poses unique challenges due to their limited resources, making the implementation of cryptographic protocols a complex task. Within these protocols, modular multiplication assumes a crucial role. Therefore, careful consideration must be given to its implementation. This study focuses on developing a resource-efficient hardware implementation of the Montgomery modular multiplication algorithm over GF(2l), which is a critical operation in cryptographic algorithms. The proposed solution introduces a bit-serial systolic array layout with a modular structure and local connectivity between processing elements. This design, inspired by the principles of symmetry, allows for efficient utilization of resources and optimization of area and delay management. This makes it well-suited for deployment in compact Medical IoT edge nodes with limited resources. The suggested bit-serial processor structure was evaluated through ASIC implementation, which demonstrated substantial improvements over competing designs. The results showcase an average area reduction of 24.5% and significant savings in the area–time product of 26.2%.This research was funded by Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University project number (PSAU/2024/01/29201).FacultyReviewe
A machine learning framework for malware triage
Get PDFEvery day, thousands of new malicious software emerge globally, posing threats to consumer devices, stealing private data, or inducing financial losses. The increasing number and sophistication of malware threats underscores the need for effective and efficient malware detection and triage schemes. Malware triage is a process used by cybersecurity professionals to quickly assess, prioritize, and respond to malware incidents. Effective malware triage requires a combination of automated tools, skilled personnel, and well-defined procedures to quickly and accurately respond to malware incidents, minimizing damage and recovery time.Graduat
Researching fishing gear pollution types, sources, and supply chains in BC coast fisheries to support policy reform proposals
Get PDFGhost gear, also known as abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), poses a significant environmental threat both in Canada and globally. This problem encompasses fisher-specific gear, including both the methods—such as nets, lines, traps, and pots and the equipment utilized, such as ropes, buoys, and foam floats, which are often abandoned or lost in marine environments. These abandoned items continue to capture and harm marine life long after being discarded. The initial phase of this project focuses on identifying and categorizing various types of debris collected from clean-up efforts along the BC Coast, using data primarily from 2021 and 2022. This phase involves cleaning the dataset for accuracy, analyzing it to identify the most common debris types and their locations, and providing a foundational understanding of debris distribution. Subsequent phases aim to identify the origins of these debris types by examining fisheries operating along the BC Coast and their gear usage through Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (IFMPs). This analysis establishes a link between the debris found and the responsible fisheries, aiding in the development of targeted mitigation strategies for gear used in British Columbia. The final phase centers on identifying the supply chain of fishing gear, including producers, distributors, and retailers. By mapping out these relationships, the project aims to understand how fishing gear reaches the market and propose measures to mitigate the impact of ghost gear, thereby supporting sustainable marine resource management. The findings will inform policy proposals to foster producer responsibility and promote environmental stewardship.West Coast Environmental Law & Surfrider CanadaGraduat
Flux Expulsion in Coaxial Superconducting Radiofrequency Cavities
Get PDFThis thesis explores the effects of different cool-down speeds and applied magnetic fields on TRIUMF’s
coaxial cavities using COMSOL® simulations and experimental results. Magnetic sensitivity describes how
sensitive the surface resistance of a material is to an external magnetic field, and is an important characteristic
of SRF accelerator design. Reducing magnetic sensitivity can improve cavity performance. Previous
studies have shown that nitrogen doped elliptical cavities are very sensitive to external fields compared to
conventionally treated cavities, resulting in stringent requirements for the residual field and cavity cool-down
speed. Few such studies have been done on non-elliptical cavities such as half wave resonators (HWRs) and
quarter wave resonators (QWRs). Factors affecting magnetic sensitivity include cavity treatment, rf field distribution
inside the cavity, external magnetic field direction, cool-down speed, and thermal gradient during
transition to the superconducting state. Reducing the magnetic sensitivity can improve cavity performance
since in practice it is impossible to eliminate all residual magnetic fields from external sources such as Earth’s
natural magnetic field during a cool-down.
It was found that magnetic sensitivity is not an ideal parameter for characterizing TRIUMF’s HWR and
QWR since these cavities exhibit non-uniform flux trapping. Therefore, the parameter normalized Rmag
is introduced. Normalized Rmag, or RmagN is the additional surface resistance introduced by applying a
dc magnetic field to the cavity, divided by the applied magnetic field. The HWR’s normalized Rmag is
compared for different resonant frequencies after 400 and 120℃ bakes, with the 120℃ bake resulting in
lower normalized Rmag. The normalized Rmag was found to generally increase with frequency for both the
HWR and QWR.
The study also seeks to maximize flux expulsion, which occurs when a cavity is cooled down through
its superconducting temperature. Flux expulsion is affected by cool-down speed, temperature gradient, and
cavity orientation relative to an applied magnetic field. The effects of cool-down speed and temperature
gradient on flux expulsion were found to be insignificant for the QWR with a vertically applied magnetic
field. However, a horizontal magnetic field can be nearly completely expelled by a fast, high temperature
gradient cool-down.Graduat
Ancient abundance, distribution, and size of Olympia Oysters (Ostrea lurida) in the Salish Sea: a perspective from the Lekwungen village of Kosapsom (DcRu-4), southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Get PDFOlympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) are the only oyster species native to the Northwest Coast of North America and are currently a focus of restoration and management following a collapse over the past 150 years. This thesis examines 42 archaeological assemblages containing Olympia oysters in the Salish Sea to better understand Indigenous uses, changes in abundance and distribution between ancient and modern and develops a method to estimate ancient size-at-harvest from partial valves. I observe that Olympia oysters are not a particularly abundant species in archaeological sites when measured by weight and MNI (<15% relative frequency) except in a few sites with high abundance in specific nearshore habitats and locations. Additionally, I examine the size and abundance of Olympia oysters from the Kosapsom Village site (DcRu-4), a site with exceptionally high Olympia oyster frequency (~68 % MNI) located on Southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia in the traditional territories of Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. I compare oyster size ranges from Kosapsom to modern restoration sites and observe that sizes are larger than modern oysters in the same waterway but are similar to a 20+ year restoration site in Fidalgo Bay, Washington. Both abundance and size at Kosapsom increased over 1800 years. I interpret these increased sizes (~14% increase) as reflective of harvesting restrictions and population enhancement strategies, which are consistent with maintaining long-term harvest stability. This research contributes to the growing recognition that archaeological records of traditional Indigenous shellfish use and management hold great potential to expand historical baselines and inform modern coastal restoration and conservation strategies.Graduat