Ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy has a major role to play in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). V/Q scintigraphy rather helps infer the presence of PE based on compromised perfusion of the occluded segmental and sub-segmental pulmonary arteries. Therefore, expert knowledge of the bronchopulmonary segmental anatomy on the various 2D planar projections of the lung and also in 3D for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) acquisitions is essential.

In this project we will investigate and develop novel techniques that employ Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) for the optimal execution of queries in a relational DBMS. The research will be conducted with close collaboration with the team of IBM that develops Db2, the well-known relational DBMS of IBM. The goal is to integrate the produced ‘learned’ optimizer in Db2.

This research project aims to study the factors which can influence engagement in physical activity in older adults and how it is linked to health. Using data from multiple countries and collected over periods of up to 12 years the research project will look at the influence of socioeconomic and environmental factors on this relationship. The research project will also investigate the individual neuro-psychological factors that influence individuals’ engagement in physical activity with the aim of developing clinical interventions that can increase people’s level of physical activity.

Housing First (HF) is an approach that assists people with serious mental illness who are chronically homeless to become housed. Research has shown HF assists people in leaving homelessness and achieving stable housing. However, HF participants do not experience increased participation in the community or improved social networks. In response to these results, the present project involves creating a “social prescribing” intervention within HF programs.

A ring resonator is a waveguide that circles around to make a closed usually circle-shaped loop. The electromagnetic wave may travel within this loop and instructively interfere with itself if the travel length is a multiplicative of the wavelength of the wave. In such a situation, energy builds up in the ring and very strong resonances are achievable. There is usually one or two bus waveguides that let the light couple into and out of the ring resonator. The resonance of the ring demonstrate themselves as sharp dips in the spectrum of the bus waveguide(s) output.

Older adults living with frailty recover less quickly following minor illnesses and are more likely to be hospitalized or die. Therefore, it is of importance to identify strategies to prevent or treat frailty. In Canada, there is currently no available multi-component interventions addressing frailty in long-term care settings. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention on frailty in Canadian older adults with high risk of frailty in a long-term care home, and explore the feasibility for the planning of future studies with larger group of participants.

Modern data collection and storage results in complex and high-dimensional databases: they include a large number of variables, with a lot of interactions. At this same time, access and release of information that is, or is derived from, personal information involves complex challenges in terms of the potential for inappropriate disclosure (e.g., identification).
In this project we propose to develop a statistical methodology that can inform the evaluation of privacy assurances while preserving the statistical utility of complex, high-dimensional health data.

Distributed computing is a model in which components of a software system are shared among multiple computers to improve efficiency and performance. The growing interest in cloud computing scenarios that incorporate both distributed computing capabilities and heterogeneous hardware presents a significant opportunity for network operators. The aim of this Research is to develop a purpose-built discrete-event simulator for distributed quantum computing and identify further challenges and open problems arising from the design of a Distributed Quantum Computing ecosystem.

Autophagy plays a role in recycling toxic elements from cells and promotes cell survival during periods of cell stress such as starvation. The term autophagy is derived from an ancient Greek phrase meaning “to eat oneself”. In autophagy, a membrane forms around material in the cell targeted for breakdown, and the newly enclosed molecules are delivered to organelles called lysosomes, the waste disposal system of the cell which digest unwanted materials. Excitingly, research has shown that autophagy can also engulf and digest cholesterol accumulated in the artery wall.

Atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque inside arteries) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for Canadians. It can either be very stable (and never cause problems) or unstable and eventually rupture, causing a stroke or heart attack. Predicting which plaques, and therefore which patients, are at risk for rupture remains a major challenge.