Innovative Projects Realized

Electromagnetic treatment to reduce arsenic mobility and toxicity in Oryza sativa (rice) with implications to improve yield in rice-paddy fields

Arsenic (As) contamination in rice paddies is a fundamental problem that can reduce crop yield, affect human health, and compromise food security. Moreover, rice paddies emit 30% of the methane produced by the agricultural sector. Aerating water during the growing season can mitigate As toxicity and uptake by rice, and reduce methane emissions; however, current methods are energy-intensive, and require costly equipment. E M Fluids has developed a budget-friendly, solar-powered, electro-magnetic (EM) treatment device that enhances oxygenation of water. This can increase redox and pH in saturated soil which, in turn, affect As speciation and mobility. We will use microcosms to study the effect of EM treatment. We will measure the flux of As from contaminated soil to water, and speciation of As (arsenite and arsenate) in pore water and overlying water under reference conditions and under EM treatment. The rhizosphere of rice plants may also affect speciation and mobility of As, and we will include planted and unplanted microcosms in the study (2 x 2 factorial design). This technology could provide a low-cost and clean-energy solution to the problem of As toxicity to rice, and could reduce risk of dietary exposure to As through rice.

Invasion potential of Xyleborine Ambrosia beetles in Eastern Canada and Europe (Coleoptera: Curculionida)

Ambrosia beetles are an excellent example for invasive species that show unusual success in establishing in new regions outside their native range. They pose threat to forest ecosystems and plant nurseries in many continental regions, where they were introduced. They have a mutualistic relationship with a group of fungi called ‘ambrosia’ which they carry with them and farm inside the galleries they bore in the wood. These ambrosia fungi serve as the only food source for the beetles and larvae hence, being the most important component for beetle’s survival. In this project, we investigate invasion potential of two most widely distributed ambrosia beetles: Xylosandrus crassiusculus and Xylosandrus germanus. Both are exotic in North America and Europe. In North America and in many European countries, they are considered as invasive pests. However, in Canada they’ve not become a pest yet though they have started expanding their distribution. Thus, in this project we are questioning what limits the invasion potential of these two beetles’ species in Eastern Canada in the aspects of their relationship with host tree and associated fungi, their temperature tolerance under changing climate, and their genetic variations.

Expressing Vibrancy Using Video-Based Systematic Social Observation Methods

Expressing Vibrancy is a yearlong project outlining an approach for measuring the cultural vibrancy of neighbourhoods. The proposed research seeks to develop methods for understanding and measuring the cultural vibrancy of neighbourhoods, using Hamilton, Ontario as a case study. Using innovative technologies (geo-referenced video), this project will analyze the relationship between measures of cultural vibrancy and human capital outcomes (education, health, etc) –key indicators of economic growth and prosperity. This
research represents a significant leap forward in the study of neighbourhood effects on child and youth development. The findings from this proposed research will play a role in gathering evidence for local and regional planning and infrastructure development, and support the City’s vision of “making Hamilton the best place to raise a child. The alignment of these local resources brings together the municipality, strong research focused non-profit partners, and the resources of the post-secondary community to focus on culturally driven research.

Novel Underwater Survey of Super-Kamiokande

Super-Kamiokande is a Japan-based, Nobel Prize winning underground neutrino detector aimed at measuring differences in the behaviours of tiny fundamental particles called neutrinos and their antiparticle counterparts, antineutrinos. These measurements would provide part of the answer as to why our universe is dominated by matter and why so much antimatter is missing.
The detector is a 50-kiloton water tank surrounded by 11000 single photon sensors. My project will focus on the research and development of a cross-disciplinary approach between particle physics and remote sensing called photogrammetry. Using underwater images and videos of the Super-Kamiokande detector, I will determine the geometry of the detector and its features to unprecedented levels of precision. This will reduce uncertainties arising from structural distortions, allowing us to better understand complicated neutrino interactions that occur within. In Japan, I will work with experts to build my photogrammetry analysis framework, altering the way the Super-Kamiokande detector is calibrated, analyzed and understood. It will additionally inform the system design for future detectors in Japan.

Bottlebrush elastomers for high-performance stretchable semiconductors

Wearable and implantable electronics have the potential to transform personalized health monitoring, particularly as human-machine interfaces and biosensors to improve human health and well-being. When we think about the current electronics in our lives, such as our phones or laptops, we notice that they are mostly hard and not flexible. This is in strong contrast to our natural bodies, which are soft, dynamic, and curvy. The differences between current hard electronics and our soft bodies makes it uncomfortable to wear these electronics. Moreover, when electronics are placed inside the body for long periods of time, an inflammatory response is elicited, resulting in device failure from tissue buildup covering the sample. To solve this problem, researchers are looking at making electronic materials softer and understand tissue compatibility. This project seeks to develop electronically conductive semiconducting polymers to build transistors, a fundamental unit for all modern electronics.

Experimental and numerical investigation into the seismic performance of vertical connections used in precast concrete shear walls

Precast concrete shear walls are an economical structural system for low, medium, and high-rise buildings. Precast concrete structural systems have various advantages, such as improved quality of construction, efficient use of materials, reduced construction time, and cost-efficiency. The concrete wall panels are typically one story in height and are connected horizontally and vertically to adjacent panels at each story. This research focuses on investigating the behaviour of typical vertical connections, currently designed, fabricated, and installed by Advance Precast Ltd. (AP), under earthquake loading conditions. A range of connections will be evaluated experimentally with different shear and tension loads. The experimental result will be used to calibrate a numerical model. This model will be used to evaluate a broader range of configurations. The outcome is a design procedure for these typical vertical connections. Then, improved vertical connections will e developed based on deficiencies found in existing connections. The improved connections will undergo a rigorous experimental and numerical program like before. The outcome will be more efficient and robust vertical connections, which may be used to assemble precast concrete shear walls in higher seismic regions in Canada.

Precise Calibration of Super-Kamiokande Photosensors

How can matter, including us, actually exist? According to the Big Bang theory, at the start of the Universe an even amount of matter and anti-matter was created, which should have all annihilated leaving nothing but photons.

Subatomic ghostly particles called neutrinos may be a critical piece of this puzzle. A phenomenon called neutrino oscillation was observed by the Super-Kamiokande experiment in 1998 and garnered the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics. We can now explore whether these oscillations behave differently between neutrinos and antineutrinos, shedding light on this mystery. Super-K consists of over 11,000 single-photon sensors providing detailed images of light from particles produced by neutrino interactions.

An incomplete understanding of the uncertainties in the detector response limit the precision of the final measurement, which can mean the difference between a discovery or not. This project aims to implement extremely precise and detailed measurements of a single photosensor into the Super-K physics analysis to hopefully improve the understanding of the uncertainties in the detector response.

Creating Space for STEAM: Assessing and Supporting Teacher Efficacy in STEM Education

To prepare today’s youth to be successful in the future, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning has become a priority within Canadian education systems. To better meet the learning needs and requirements of 21st century educators, teacher education must continue to be resigned and updated to reflect the changing K-12 education system. This study aims to strengthen the partnership between a Canadian University and Let’s Talk Science, a STEM education organization, so that STEM learning may be better integrated into teacher education. Evidence-based long-term professional development will be infused into the program as a result of this relationship, and its influence on educators’ knowledge, teaching self-efficacy, and classroom implementation of STEM will be assessed. The ultimate goal of this research project is to develop an integrated and self-sustaining STEM education model through partnerships, as well as to evaluate a unique professional learning model.

Characterization study of the pressure drop throughout lifetime of the Ruby-Fill generators

The objective of this study will be to characterize the generator column line resistance, at different flow rates, throughout the generator lifecycle.

Developing and Testing a Miniaturized In Situ XRD for Mineralogical Characterization of Planetary Surfaces

Mineralogy is the key to interpreting planetary geology and climate history. The aim of this project is to develop initial designs and prototype components of a portable and miniaturized In situ X-ray diffractometer (ISXRD) that will be mounted on a rover for planetary exploration applications. This miniaturized instrument will enable direct mineral characterization of intact surfaces with minimal sample preparation, which is not yet available on any planet, including Earth. This instrument will make a key Canadian contribution to future exploration. A Canadian instrument developed jointly by academic and Canadian industry partners will be produced, eventually to potentially be part of future Mars rover missions. An additional benefit to PROTO Manufacturing, will be to develop a commercial version of the ISXRD for terrestrial characterization applications which will enhance their business in Canada.

Sociodemographic and environmental predictors of mental health outcomes, substance use, and self-care behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Brunswick

Understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadians’ mental health is crucial to inform government planning for the delivery of services and support during and after the pandemic. This research project will assess the mental health impacts of COVID-19 in New Brunswick by analyzing self-reported data from Statistics Canada’s Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health (SCMH) Cycles 1 and 2 and comparing these to pre-pandemic data from CCHS. This work will help gain an understanding of how mental health experiences differed across sociodemographic groups and according to environmental factors in NB before and during the pandemic.

La mise en place du BIM chez un entrepreneur. Interférences, Coordination et Simulation 4D.

Le projet porte sur l’intégration de technologies issues du Building Information Modeling chez un entrepreneur général, EBC INC. À travers un projet de mise en contexte, le centre ambulatoire B1 du nouveau CHUM, il sera étudié les possibilités d’intégration des technologies de coordinations, de gestion des interférences et de construction simulée. L’objectif principal du projet est la mise en place d’un concept opérationnel sur l’implantation
de ces outils chez un entrepreneur. L’objectif secondaire de cette étude sera d’améliorer le processus de gestion de projet d’EBC INC sur le projet d’application en minimisant au maximum les interférences sur chantier et en améliorant la coordination entre les différents professionnels. La mauvaise coordination des dessins serait la cause de près de 47% des coûts reliés aux changements durant la construction. Grâce à l’utilisation de maquettes numériques en 3 dimensions, il est maintenant possible d’éliminer ces erreurs de façon virtuelle plutôt que sur le chantier. Le partenaire entend ainsi réduire ses coûts tout en améliorant la qualité du produit livré.