The synapse forms the core unit of information transfer in the brain, and most brain disorders, both developmental and degenerative, are caused by synaptic dysfunction. Understanding synaptic organization is therefore central to both basic research and health research in neuroscience. Our still-evolving understanding of the synapse includes relatively recent recognition that many synapses use multiple […]

Recently PLS has signed a contract with the Ministry of Education in Manitoba. The province has been experiencing declining math scores across the province in both international tests such as PISA and in their provincial standardized tests. Manitoba is deeply committed to improving students mathematical achievement and as a result has hired PLS to develop […]

Hospital readmission from in-patient psychiatry is increasingly problematic for patients and care administrators, as they often are associated with poor clinical outcomes and higher care costs. An understanding of factors that predispose in-patient psychiatry patients to hospital readmission would be critical in improving patient care and reducing healthcare-related costs. My research proposes to use machine […]

A universal sample introduction system will be developed in this project for direct analysis of solid and liquid samples with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). There are many applications in which on-site analysis of samples in their original form is of great interest. Examples include the inspection of soil for possible contamination in the […]

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 […]

Tailings dams are used to store water and waste that come as by-products from the mining process. They can be huge in size, as big as lakes, and reach 300 meters high. Tailings storage facilities can pose a threat to local wildlife and ecosystem, especially in the case of failure. In Canada, the Mount Polley […]

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) impact millions of children, unfold early in life, and encompass a wide range of symptoms across different domains of functioning. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are among the most common NDDs, and they co-occur in approximately 50% of children. However, despite high comorbidity rates, most research studies focus on […]

Like most Canadian municipalities, the City of Ottawa is struggling to reign in urban sprawl and encourage sustainable residential development. According to my doctoral research, few residential developers in Ottawa are heeding the call to build green. Profits and markets are larger for single detached houses in the suburbs, and housing consumers choose green construction […]

This study will survey health care and social service providers, as well as parents, in a Northern Ontario community to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted availability of and access to services for postnatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs).

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as metal 3D printing, can revolutionize the way we make things by ‘printing’ parts one layer at a time using a laser and metal powder. However, AM is an inherently expensive process. One of the major costs of the process is the metal powders, with some powders costing hundreds of […]

With the increasing popularity of Internet, online advertising becomes a new marketing opportunity by instant globally advertisements (ads). At the basis, the process of online advertising can be considered as a buyer/seller relationship, where the two of the key participants are publishers (i.e. seller) and advertisers (i.e. buyer). Publishers make money through hosting websites with […]

Numerous industries and government agencies carry out analyses every day using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) instruments that typically waste 95% of the sample. A greener approach would not generate any sample waste. During this project, an infrared heated spray chamber will be developed and coupled to nebulizers from the industrial partner so as to allow […]