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Carla Bautista Rodriguez has just completed her doctorate at the Faculty of Science and Engineering after a research adventure full of twists and turns . The Research Samples series recounts the experiences of members of the research student community. Carla Bautista Rodriguez was curious by nature, and knew she wanted to pursue a career in science.

A molecule already used for different purposes in humans could improve post-vaccination immune memory The RNA vaccine against COVID-19 has many qualities, but it has one shortcoming that has escaped no one's notice: the protection it confers is short-lived, hence the need for frequent booster doses.

Professor Juan Carlos Villarreal believes it's time to pay more attention to so-called inferior plants Two recently published studies by a research team that includes Université Laval's Juan Carlos Villarreal demonstrate that modest, little-known plants can provide valuable fundamental knowledge about the evolution of life on Earth, and inspire innovations that can increase agricultural production.

A study conducted in the field of ophthalmology confirms a trend observed in all scientific journals The retraction of articles by editors of scientific journals - the signal that a previously published article has significant enough flaws to be deemed invalid - has risen sharply over the past decade, peaking in 2023 with over 10,000 articles retracted.

To help clinical staff choose the right drug against a fungal infection, researchers have classified the protective effects of around 4,000 mutations of a pathogenic fungus. Only four classes of antifungal drugs currently exist, and pathogen resistance to these drugs complicates treatment. A research team has identified resistance mutations in the fungus Candida albicans , the most common cause of fungal infections, for six widely used clinical drugs belonging to the azole class.

Replacing some of the refined sugar we consume with maple syrup would have positive effects on certain risk factors associated with cardiometabolic health. We would do well to replace some of the refined sugar we consume daily with maple syrup, suggests a study just published in the scientific journal The Journal of Nutrition .

Laval University team sheds light on the effects of financial assistance on the acquisition of zero-emission vehicles Incentive policies for the purchase of green, electric or hybrid vehicles are associated with an increase in their adoption, according to a study by the Faculty of Business Administration.

This condition in children predicts anxiety about the transition from primary to secondary school, loss of motivation and difficulty adapting in the first year of secondary school, according to research from the Faculty of Education. A longitudinal study by Université Laval shows that evaluation anxiety during primary school exams is linked to a lack of academic motivation and worries about the transition to secondary school.

The effects of the fruit's polyphenols are promising for people with fatty liver disease, according to a study A Laval University research team has demonstrated the beneficial effects of camu-camu on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which affects over seven million people in Canada. This exotic fruit helps reduce liver fat levels.

A probiotic made from maple syrup with flavor defects could theoretically enrich the gut microbiota of farm animals, improve their resistance to disease and reduce the need for antibiotics Approximately 2% of the 200 million pounds of maple syrup produced each year in Quebec suffers from a flavor defect that makes it more suitable for use as an ingredient in processed products than for consumption in its natural state.

Intervention leads to partial or total remission of insomnia in over 90% of people A team from Laval University has developed a behavioral intervention that improves sleep and mental health in people whose work involves night shifts. The effectiveness of this intervention has just been demonstrated by this team, led by Professor Annie Vallières, in a study published in the Journal of Sleep Research .

A study analyzes the motivations for pursuing a doctorate to determine the factors conducive to a high rate of doctoral success . Around 50% of doctoral candidates drop out before graduation. David Litalien and Frédéric Guay, professors in the Faculty of Education at Université Laval, have identified four motivational profiles linked to perseverance in postgraduate studies.

Doctoral student Justine Giroux is working on a virtual lighting quality assessment system that takes human perception into account . The Research Samples series recounts the experiences of members of the student research community. They share a glimpse into their graduate projects. Justine Giroux, a doctoral student in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, is interested in the human perception of virtual lighting, which is used in a number of artistic fields.

Despite earlier springs in North America, migratory birds are nesting 2 to 4 weeks later than 25 years ago at the Université Laval teaching and research forest . Thanks to earlier springs, bird spring migrations have been occurring earlier and earlier in North America over the past few decades. Do these disruptions to the normal course of migration mean that birds are nesting earlier? Not necessarily, at least not for the 36 migratory species studied at Forêt Montmorency by a research team from Université Laval and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

In mice, partial substitution reduces refined sugar digestion, intestinal glucose absorption and lipid accumulation in the liver Replacing some of the refined sugar we consume every day with maple syrup could alleviate some of the negative effects of a diet rich in fats and sugars. At least, that's what a study published by a Laval University team in the American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism suggests.

Despite a very high mortality rate during this period, only one in five patients would receive counseling before leaving the hospital . Before being discharged from hospital, people who have had a heart attack meet with a healthcare professional who offers advice to help them make a good recovery and avoid a recurrence.

Study shows that new, small retail businesses in non-metropolitan cities can hold their own against a giant by selling complementary products and offering personalized service Walmart stores need no introduction. This American banner has established itself as the world champion in the retail category.

The stress factors associated with working at home affect women and men differently, and these effects vary greatly from Quebec to France . A wide-ranging study of telecommuting since the pandemic, as part of an extensive project initiated and piloted by Gaëlle Cachat-Rosset , professor in the Faculty of Administrative Sciences at Université Laval, shows that women and men in Quebec and France are affected differently by the stress factors associated with telecommuting.

Combined exposure of the skin to cigarette smoke and UV rays could accelerate premature aging . Research has already shown the consequences of cigarette smoke and sunlight separately. A team from Laval University and the Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval has now investigated the harmful interaction between cigarette smoke and UV rays, as humans are rarely exposed to a single environmental factor.

Karolane Bourdon, a doctoral student at Université Laval's Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, shows that the application of straw or wood shavings could regenerate soils and restore their yield . Half of the field vegetable sector's sales come from production in organic soils, but if these are not protected from degradation, they could disappear within 50 years.