We will determine use levels and patterns of selected pharmaceuticals in the Manitoba population and selected subpopulations, and to investigate the magnitude of such use during episodic events (e.g., resorts occupied only part of the year, with likely different drug use patterns). Our hypothesis is that an appropriate analysis of surrogate materials, namely wastewaters, provides a realistic measure of the amount and types of many drugs used by the public, and the extent to which these drugs may contaminate surface waters receiving wastewater discharges through tracer analysis.

The current focus of this research group is developing a scanning probe microscope based approach that will enable us to perform dielectric loss spectroscopy (i.e. loss tangent measurements) on thin film samples with submicron spatial resolution. Our goal is to develop this technique, based on a dynamic form of electrostatic force microscopy, into a useful addition to the suite of probing approaches available.

The proposed research is to design, develop and validate an artificial ear-canal that simulates the electrical noise conditions that exist when taking EVestG measurements by associated bio-signal amplifiers. Such a simulator will allow the rapid, rational and accurate refinement of such amplifiers and tympanic electrode; it will also allow improvements to be made to the developed signal extraction software algorithms.

This research project investigates how to improve the security of operation of a power system using measurements taken at several locations of the power system. In the past, there was no technology available to synchronize these measured data, and thus the applications were limited. Now, the technology has advanced and the measured data can be synchronized using Global Positioning Satelittes (GPS). We investigate two different approaches for enhancing system stability and thus security.

In Canada, 25,500 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011, and 4,100 will die of the disease. New approaches are required to predict clinical outcome and personalized management of patients. Drs. Mai and Cayre will combine their two newly developed technologies and work towards obtaining a new solid biomarker that enables the assessment  of a patient’s clinical outcome from the start. With the use of special filters, circulating tumour cells (CTC) will be isolated from prostate cancer patients’ blood.

Hybrid vehicles have been in use for well over a decade now and have gained momentum in popularity ever since. When these vehicles reach their end of life, their battery packs often have a considerable amount of residual life. Although their state-of-health may not be suitable for vehicular application any longer, they can be re-used in a different setting where they can store and provide energy for remote and off-grid loads such as small communities in the North.

Dizziness is among the top three reasons that patients seek medical attention, and one of the most common disabling conditions that humans face. One of the diseases that may cause dizziness is Meniere’s disease, which its correct and timely diagnosis and separation from other causes of dizziness with current techniques are quite challenging.

This project addresses two major needs of the agriculture sector in Manitoba. The shift from nitrogen based- to phosphorus-based manure management regulations has resulted in implementing liquid hog manure separation techniques as a phosphorus (P) balance strategy but it is uncertain as to how best to utilize the solid material with its very high P content. A second major need is to reduce Verticillium wilt and common scab of potato to improve potato yields.