Projets novateurs réalisés

Lightweight Composite Consoles for Aerospace Applications

Lightweight Composite Consoles for Aerospace Applications: Carbon fiber composites used in aerospace applications are subjected to harsh environments while in service. In particular, structural components are often exposed to oils, fuels and hydraulic fluids. Over time, these contaminants may affect the material properties of the composites and thus, the mechanical behavior of the components. This project will investigate the effect of various contaminants and combined stress environments on composite materials used in aerospace applications. The goal is to gain an improved understanding of the effects of various loading types on in-service, retrofitted and/or degraded composite materials. This project will compliment ongoing investigations at General Dynamics Canada for the retrofit of a lightweight composite console used in the Government of Canada’s Cyclone Maritime Helicopter.

Harnessing Poultry Manure for Energy: A Strategy for Net Zero Emissions and Cost Reduction

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Design and screen novel cell-penetrating peptides intracellular delivery of proteins

This project focuses on improving the delivery of a therapeutic protein called ribonuclease (RNP) into cells, which could help treat certain genetic diseases. The challenge with current delivery methods is that the proteins often have trouble getting inside the cell and reaching the nucleus, where they are most needed. To address this, Sinedore Bioscience, in partnership with UBC, is working to develop better versions of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) that act as “carriers” to help proteins enter cells more efficiently. By using computer models to design new CPPs and testing them in the lab, the team aims to create peptides that significantly improve protein delivery. This will help Sinedore advance its drug delivery technologies, potentially leading to new treatments for genetic diseases.

The Land of the Setting Sun: An Examination of Contrasting Japanese Expressions of Nostalgia in Kazuo Ishiguro, Hayao Miyazaki, and Yukio Mishima

This project aims to contrast three differing expressions of nostalgia regarding the loss of traditional forms of life in Japan present in three Japanese cultural figures: the novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, the filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, and the novelist Yukio Mishima. A significant amount of academic literature has already been published on the theme of nostalgia in these figures; however, the approach frequently taken in this literature largely takes the term “nostalgia” as elementary, neglecting the important work that has been done in the field of nostalgia studies over the last 25 years to advance a more subtle understanding of the concept, particularly its status as a distinctly modern emotion. By utilizing the insights provided by nostalgia studies to conduct a more subtle analysis of the nostalgia present in Ishiguro, Miyazaki, and Mishima, the project aims to both help clarify the true nature of Japanese expressions of nostalgia for a lost Japan and to identify what these three particular expressions of nostalgia are able to contribute to our understanding of nostalgia more broadly, beyond the Japanese context. Apart from the knowledge production itself, the project also affords an excellent opportunity for Japanese and Canadian researchers to network with one another.

Detecting Trends in Conversations using NaturalLanguage Processing and Visualization

At WorkSafeBC, an overwhelming amount of data is being produced, particularly in conversation logs between people who have an active claim with WorkSafeBC and various practitioners with whom they have regular contact (usually over the phone). These records are transcribed into text and the information is far beyond what any analyst could possibly read and understand without the help of analysis and visualization tools. This project aims to transform the underlying natural language data into a format that is amenable to visualization by expert analysts at WorkSafeBC, and also to provide effective visualization tools for this purpose.

Implantation d’une bibliothèque numérique d’apprentissage pour soutenir la trajectoire d’apprentissage des patients hospitalisés dans la trajectoire de récupération améliorée après la chirurgie : Étude pilote d’acceptabilité, de faisabilité et d’effets préliminaires

L’enseignement auprès des patients est un aspect crucial à la trajectoire de récupération améliorée après la
chirurgie (RAAC). L’environnement numérique d’apprentissage (ENA), incluant un espace de suivi des
apprentissages en ligne, représente un outil utile pour assurer un transfert d’informations plus spécifique et
pédagogique. Ce projet vise à explorer l’acceptabilité, la faisabilité et les effets préliminaires de l’utilisation de
l’ENA pour soutenir l’enseignement auprès de la clientèle de RAAC selon les patients, le personnel soignant et
les gestionnaires. Des questionnaires quantitatifs et des entrevues qualitatives seront complétés par les
participants. Ainsi, il est souhaité de contribuer au développement de connaissances au sujet de l’utilisation de
l’ENA et des retombées possibles, notamment au niveau de la qualité des soins et de la sécurité des patients.

Synthesis of a photoswitchable DNA quadruplex (G4) with tetra-fluorinated azobenzene

G-quadruplex (G4) are a type of DNA or RNA that can fold into different types of structures, where four guanine bases are held together by Hoosteen hydrogen bonds. The type of structure that forms plays a key role in genomic events that can affect telomerase activity. Unregulated, telomerase can cause tumour formation, and in some cases, cancer. By targeting G4s, it is possible to prevent tumour formation. While there have been the development of G4-binding ligands to chemically modulate G4 formation, to the best of our knowledge, no one has attempted to modulate G4 structure directly from within the structure itself. We aim to incorporate a tetra-fluorinated azobenzene chemical modification into a G4 structure. Azobenzenes have photoswitchable properties that disrupt molecule structure have been used in other types of RNA drugs (ex. short interfering RNAs) to control drug activity, turning it on or off after exposure to certain wavelengths, based on the chemical substituents on the azobenzene structure. In the case of a tetra-fluorinated azobenzene, its structure can be controlled through the use of blue and green light.

Soutenir la mise en place de milieux d’activités sociales plus inclusif pour les personnes cérébrolésées : une recherche-intervention

Les lésions cérébrales affectent plus de 4% de la population canadienne. Une des conséquences majeures de ce
type de lésions n’est pas nécessairement physique : elle est sociale. En effet, la participation sociale des
personnes cérébrolésées diminue drastiquement après un accident, ce qui génère de l’isolement et d’autres
problématiques importantes liées entre autres à la santé mentale.
Selon la documentation scientifique, un des obstacles majeurs à la participation sociale des personnes
cérébrolésées est le manque d’inclusivité des milieux d’activités. Par exemple, les personnes cérébrolésées se
butent souvent à la stigmatisation, à l’exclusion et aux préjugés dans ces milieux. Pourtant, malgré l’importance
de la participation sociale pour le rétablissement et l’inclusion sociale de cette population, peu d’intervention
actuelle mise sur la mise en place de milieux d’activités plus inclusifs.
L’objectif de ce projet est donc de – en collaboration avec le Centre de recherche pour l’inclusion sociale des
personnes en situation de handicap (CRISPESH), l’Association des accidentés cérébrovasculaires et traumatisés
crâniens de l’Estrie, ainsi que Lésion Cérébrale Canada – développer, expérimenter et analyser une approche
d’intervention visant à soutenir les milieux d’activités sociales à devenir plus inclusif pour les personnes
cérébrolésées.

Remote Wireless Charging and Energy Harvesting

The main objective of this project is to offer efficient and commercially viable solutions for wireless power transfer to portable devices such as Recon’s wearable units. The first phase of the research is dedicated to determine pros and cons of various such techniques and the maximum power and distance for wireless power delivery to such systems. The transferred power can be used as a top-up power to extend the battery life of the products. If the results of the first stage indicates that we can reliably deliver more than top-up power, the extra power will be used to charge the battery as well. Using reliable power sources for wireless power transmission, we plan to reduce the size of the battery on the portable devices and provide better user experience for Recon’s customers.

Momentum Resolved Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are a family of materials that are host to many quantum phenomena which could potentially be used to build the next generation of high-speed, energy-efficient electronic devices. These materials are comprised of atomically thin sheets stacked on top of each other, with the interactions between sheets playing a critical role in determining the physical properties that are exhibited. By controlling how sheets are stacked and introducing new atoms between sheets, it is possible to fine tune the properties of TMDs for specific use cases. The focus of this research project is to investigate the effects of stacking on the electronic properties of tantalum diselenide (a common TMD). This will be accomplished by using momentum-resolved electron-energy-loss spectroscopy in a transmission electron microscope. In this technique a beam of high energy electrons is used to excite different electronic processes inside a specimen, with the electrons losing some of their energy in the process. Passing these electrons through different filters then makes it possible to map out the energy-momentum relationship of the processes in question. Ultimately, this project will provide new data to the field of TMD research.

Preparation of High Entropy Cermet Powders for Thermal Spray

With an ever-expanding list of critical materials and minerals, it is crucial to find sustainable material solutions to well-established industrial requirements. High-entropy materials, i.e. materials that mix 5 or more constituents in near equi-atomic proportions, could mitigate these issues by offering highly resistant and stable materials. As a result, addressing the issues of critical materials could come from the replacement of certain materials by high-entropy counterparts made of non- (or less-) critical materials.

This project aims to specifically address the issue of ceramic-metals, also called “cermets”, that are often used as high-temperature seals or for tooling applications, with materials such as tungsten-carbide (WC). These materials are sought for their high hardness, high temperature resistance and high corrosion resistance. These applications are typically achieved by developing coatings via thermal spray, a high-temperature process in which melted or heated powder materials are sprayed onto a surface.

By relying on routine preparation methods such as gas atomization or high-energy ball milling, this research project aims to prepare high-entropy cermet powders, that could be used to develop coatings via thermal spray. The project will explore the processing and spraying of the powder as well as the thorough characterization of the powders and obtained coatings.

Application of engineering grade vector flow ultrasound in human physiological study

This project will stimulate discovery into blood flow dynamics and strengthen ties between Canada and Japan. By learning advanced techniques from Japan’s cutting-edge Verasonics ultrasound system, the intern will study large veins and the heart during physiological stressors including body tilting, breathing maneuvers and exercise. The potential discoveries may help uncover diagnostic imaging capabilities to better characterize normal and pathological cardiovascular function. This knowledge transfer can expand Canadian research, allowing Waterloo’s innovation capacity to advance work in application of next-generation ultrasound in cardiovascular physiology.
Importantly, the project fosters collaboration across physiology and engineering, leveraging expertise from Dr. Saijo’s Japanese team and Waterloo’s Dr. Au. Together, they aim to develop imaging techniques that will not only enhance Canadian capacity in physiological and ultrasound research but also contribute new methodologies for application of biomedical engineering globally.
The University of Waterloo is already recognized for promoting interdisciplinary projects and will serve as a hub to further grow ideas learned from Japan, creating opportunities for Canadian researchers. Through the Mitacs Globalink program, this project stands to drive Canada’s role in biomedical engineering innovation forward, bridging diverse fields for impactful, pioneering discoveries.