Development & Benchtop Testing of Minimally Invasive Surgical Device

Xpan Inc. is developing a patent-pending expandable laparoscopic access port device. Xpan needs to develop its proof of concept prototype into a high-fidelity prototype through a series of iterative design, prototyping and benchtop testing. Research must be performed to select appropriate biocompatible material that achieve user requirements. Research must also be performed to evaluate the […]

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A new rapid method for clay, silt and sand-sized mineral particle size measurements of soils and soil products

Information on the proportions of clay, silt and sand-sized mineral particles in soils and in soil products used for construction is critical for understanding their physical and chemical properties and for their proper use and management. However, these soil mineral particles are usually glued together with inorganic cements (calcium carbonate, iron and aluminum oxides/hydroxides) and […]

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National Disability Insurance Scheme Evaluation

Australia’s new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been rolled out across the country. Its primary selling point is the opportunity for users to design and manage their own care plan, which is meant to increase independence amongst users. Since its initial pilot testing, there has not been an evaluation of the NDIS amongst Aboriginal […]

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An evaluation of alternatives to diesel fuel for use in Canada’s class 8 heavy-duty vehicles.

Canada has committed to combatting climate change. To do this, Canada must find ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the country’s most polluting sectors. Transportation accounts for roughly a quarter of the country’s total GHG emissions, and though electric vehicles have been identified as a promising strategy for passenger vehicles, a viable alternative […]

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Developing a novel detection method for endangered and invasive fishes

Underwater visual analysis (UWVA) is a passive and non-invasive method gaining popularity in freshwater systems. UWVA uses underwater cameras and/or snorkel surveys to assess species richness and abundance. UWVA could also be used to detect endangered and invasive fishes, which is important for conservation and management of freshwater ecosystems. To determine the applicability of the […]

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Validation and Injury Risk Module Development for a Video-Based Physical Demands Description Tool

Benefit payments totaled 2.5 billion dollars for Ontario workplaces in 2015. The most common injury resulting in a lost time claim was a strain or sprain – indicating despite massive efforts to reduce musculoskeletal injuries by ergonomists, these issues still have a significant financial burden on the economy. An easy-to-use, readily available, and automated physical […]

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Pricing Swaptions and Bond Options by Using One Volatility Surface

Options belong to a class of investments known as derivatives, because their value is derived from the value of an underlying asset that the option holder has the right to buy or sell. Their pricing models generally require at least the volatility of the underlying asset (eq. swap rate, bond price). We want to focus […]

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Evaluation of corticosteroid-releasing nano- and micro-particles for pain management in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a progressive joint disease that causes pain and stiffness, resulting in a decrease in quality of life for patients. Treatment include intra-articular administration of crystalline corticosteroids or hyaluronate. Intra-articular corticosteroids, due to the large doses required, short residence time in the joint, and crystalline structure, are associated with cartilage damage and a short […]

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Red meat, cholesterol and breast cancer

We all know someone affected by breast cancer. Many of us have also heard that we can reduce our risk of experiencing breast cancer from what we eat. Much of this comes from studies that compare people who got sick with those who didn’t and trying to understand what makes them different. But what is […]

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Catalytic Conversion of Glucose into 5-HMF using Bi-functional Solid Acid Catalyst

In this project, we are going to achieve high yield and selectivity of 5-HMFin moderate operating conditions by synthesis of novel Silica-supported catalysts with various functionalization using different metallic compounds (e.g. Nb, Al, Zr, Cu) and acids (e.g. H2SO4, H3PO4) to form Lewis and Bronsted acid sites that can respectively carry glucose isomerization to fructose […]

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