Current analytical methods for the extraction of lipid-soluble compounds (fatty acids, cholesterol, antibiotics, pesticides, vitamins) are costly and time-consuming. Recently, we have assessed a novel patent-pending “kit” method for extracting fatty acids and cholesterol from food and tissues with great success. We propose to continue testing this method for extraction of lipid-soluble vitamins, pesticides and antibiotics for the continued sale of kits to potential research laboratories.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a branch of fluid mechanics that is focused on using numerical methods to solve and analyze practical engineering problems involving fluid flow. The purpose of the proposed research project is to develop novel simulation methods directed at applications in sensitivity analysis and design optimization. Sensitivity and optimization studies are becoming more common as engineers are challenged to determine optimal operating configurations for their designs.

The proposed research develops a transdermal alcohol detection system. The system is comprised of an array of polymer based MEMS sensors and a sensor measurement circuit. The system analyzes gases emitted from the skin – the gases are chemical mixtures that may (or may not) contain ethanol. No known polymers respond only to ethanol; however, each polymer in the array creates a unique response to the presence of ethanol. When examined together – like a series of simultaneous equations – sensor responses accurately indicate the presence of ethanol.

While Alzheimer's disease (AD) is irreversible, strategies to slow functional decline associated with the disease have demonstrated effectiveness. A critical aspect of the recommended model of care is accurate and regular assessment of patient behaviour in everyday life, such as physical function and sleep quality. However, current clinical assessments rely heavily on patient or caregier observations to recall everyday behaviour, which may be unreliable and subject to bias.

While Alzheimer's disease (AD) is irreversible, strategies to slow functional decline associated with the disease have demonstrated effectiveness. A critical aspect of the recommended model of care is accurate and regular assessment of patient behaviour in everyday life, such as physical function and sleep quality. However, current clinical assessments rely heavily on patient or caregier observations to recall everyday behaviour, which may be unreliable and subject to bias.

Mineral aggregate production is essential to Canada’s economy and infrastructure but environmental concerns threaten to impede this until ecological impacts are shown to be mitigated by off-site replication of affected ecosystems including heritage hardwood forests. A large-scale comparative study was recently initiated to determine whether conventional forestry can produce plantations that are ecologically equivalent to natural forests.

This research project intends to further expand the use of the recycled rubber (also referred as devulcanized rubber) prepared from waste tires to reduce the threat caused by the increasing number of scrap tires. Due to relatively inferior properties, the devulcanized rubber cannot be used by itself. Hence, the research focuses on blending the devuclanized rubber with cheaply available plastics. A patented technology has been developed in our lab that leads to preparation of high quality devulcanized rubber.

The goal of this project is to develop a software system to collect, store, organize and query Twitter messages, and to develop algorithms that can process the Twitter data to extract value-added information, in particular, the geolocation of Tweets. First, we will design and implement a processing and analytics system for Twitter data using the Apache Spark environment. Second, we will research and extend advanced algorithms to infer the geolocation of Tweets from their contents.

The objective of the proposed research is to design and implement an innovative IBI scheme capable of minimizing basis risk. Forage insurance will be used as an example to empirically examine the effective implementation of the IBI, through establishing an adequate relationship between the weather index and forage yield. Therefore, a second objective of the proposed research is to help increase producer demand for forage insurance.

The aims of the partner organization are to: bolster audience engagement, i.e., to enhance the experience of those already attending the Stratford Festival; bolster audience attendance, i.e., to draw new crowds to the Stratford Festival; and establish the Festival as a leading digital media creator in the field of professional theatre.