Reliability evaluation of strain-based design for pipelines using probabilistic demand/capacity models

Ground movement can impose excessive deformation violating pertinent pipeline limit states. Currently, the integrity assessment of pipelines subjected to soil movement is generally performed by analyzing the stresses and/or strains in pipelines using various engineering techniques, including finite element analysis (FEA). However, given the wide variability of the pipe and soil engineering properties, using deterministic […]

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Development of the Metaplex Immuno-Oncology Platform – Formulation Component

Current cancer immunotherapies, although highly successful, are complex to implement, costly, and only effective in small patient populations with specific cancer types. We propose to overcome these problems by developing small molecules to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), a cancer cell death process that engages the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells and […]

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Deciphering the catalyst-ionomer interface in fuel cells: Molecular dynamics simulations of local transport properties

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells are a key technology in the race against climate challenge, and while commercial applications are increasingly common, challenges remain in cost, performance, and durability. Most of the issues that prevent full commercialization affect the catalyst layer, the region where the power-generating electrochemical reactions take place, like the oxygen reduction reaction. This […]

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Investor Behaviours, Canada’s investment suitability regulations, and Robo-advising

In Canada and around the world, investors hire financial advisors and dealers to manage, monitor, and guide their investment choices purchased from a financial dealer. Dealers and advisors are obligated by regulations–introduced in 2009 by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC)–to ensure that their investment products and recommendations are “suitable”. As part of the regulations, advisors […]

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A new tool for managing introduced Phragmites australis in Ontario: assessing invasion impacts and implementing biological control

Introduced Phragmites australis (common reed) is one of the most invasive plants in North America. Existing management is costly, can negatively affect other species, and is often only effective for small infestations. Classical biological control (i.e., introducing herbivores from the weed’s native range) is a promising tool for P. australis management that can contribute to […]

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Management and conservation of polar bears in Davis Strait: An integrated population modeling approach to estimating population size, growth rate and Total Allowable Harvest of a priority species in Nunavut, Canada – Year two

Estimates of population size and structure of the Davis Strait polar bear population are uncertain due, in large part, to the prohibitive costs of conducting regular aerial surveys. In recent years, Inuit have indicated that increased bear abundance has resulted in public safety concerns. In addition, Inuit believe that polar bears have negatively impacted other […]

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Understanding Disengagement from Early Psychosis Intervention Services – Year two

While the effectiveness of early psychosis interventions (EPI) for young people with first-episode psychosis has been well-established, research suggests that almost one-third of patients disengage from services. Although lack of family involvement and substance use have arisen as consistent factors associated with EPI disengagement, many other factors remain unexplored. Furthermore, few studies have explored patient […]

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Storying Access: Reconciling the Effects of Betterment Discourses in Southern Ontario’s Early 20th Century Domestic Science Education – Year two

Building on my recent archival research, my Mitacs project explores the ways early 20th century discourses of betterment and progress, such as eugenics, in southern Ontario were unevenly entwined within rural domestic science educational institutions and connected to cultural histories and legacies of colonialism that diminished and disappeared young women who did not fit the […]

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Assessing cumulative effects of development and climate change to inform land use planning in Yukon

The Yukon’s Northern Boreal Mountains region is under increasing pressure from human disturbance and climate change. Exploration of previously untapped natural resources is expanding in northern Canada, and northern ecosystems are thought to be more sensitive to climate stressors[1]. However, the cumulative effects of these co-occurring disturbances on wildlife populations, community structure, and habitat quality […]

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Connecting atom-scale bentonite clay models to macroscale mechanical and transport models for spent nuclear fuel storage

Bentonite is a naturally occurring clay containing montmorillonite, a smectic clay mineral that has a high cation exchange capacity and swells upon contact with water. The swelling capacity of bentonite limits movement of water which makes it an attractive candidate to be used as an engineered barrier system to protect used nuclear fuel containers that […]

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Portrait des organisations économiques privées offrant des services de soins au Québec et impacts socioéconomiques de leurs transformations

Le projet porte sur trois types d’organisations économiques offrant des services de soins privés au Québec et dont la main-d’œuvre est largement féminisée: 1) les agences privées d’aide à domicile; 2) les chaînes de résidences privées pour aînés; 3) les groupes de médecine de famille. Il vise d’abord à dresser leur portrait économique : structure […]

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