Innovative Projects Realized

Connecting prey and specialized predator population dynamics: a hundred-and fifty year record of salmon and killer whale interactions

Pacific northwestern southern resident killer whale population only encompasses 74 individuals and is considered endangered. Chinook salmon, the main food source of resident killer whales, is today disappearing from the North American western coast. Yet, it remains unclear to which extent food deprivation is affecting recovery of resident killer populations. The main aim of this project is to assess the historical levels of salmon populations to estimate the carrying capacity of the area for resident killer whale populations, along with the potential impact of inter-predation competition on salmon populations. This research is of critical importance, as it deals with two species holding high ecological, economical, and cultural values. This project combines research and the development of new ecosystem-based models. It dovetails closely with the values of the Ocean Wise Conservation Association, itself recognized for its engagement in marine research and conservation.

Practical recommendations for effective engagement of Canadian Standards Association with Non-governmental Organizations in the standard development process

The proposed research project will explore how CSA can optimally engage NGOs in consensus-based standard development projects. It will culminate in a paper that will itemize ways to increase the effectiveness of NGO involvement by identifying the obstacles to effective participation in CSA standard development, providing practical recommendations on how these obstacles can be reduced or removed, and identifying stakeholders for specific projects. The research will employ a three-tiered approach: first a literature review will be undertaken, drawing on scholarly and other sources (e.g. government documents, standards organization documents such as the CSA Guide for Public Involvement, and court decisions), Second, the interviews will be undertaken with standard officials, NGOs, academics, government officials, and others). Third, the research will involve a case study approach – by looking at several specific CSA standards projects where NGO participation can play an important role and identifying relevant NGO stakeholders and recommendations for greater…TBC

Underwater localization and target identification

In this project, we would model the underwater acoustic behavior. Using the model, we will calculate the distance to the source of the sound with high accuracy despite the underwater environmental conditions. The second part of our project is to classify the source producing the sound. Our algorithm will be able to detect and distinguish between different types of ships and marine animals. Using the localization and classification algorithms designed in this research we can track the intended underwater sound source using remotely operated underwater vehicles. Moreover, we can optimize the sonar sensors placed on underwater vehicles to have a more clear mapping of the seabed and or monitor environmental factors such as water pollution. By providing underwater vehicles with a better and more accurate navigation ability we can investigate the behavior of marine wildlife such as whales remotely.

A Dexterous Needlescopic Instrument using Soft Robotics for Minimally Invasive Surgery

Robotic-assisted surgical systems have enabled minimally invasive procedures to reduce recovery time and traumas compared to conventional open surgery. Even though there exist some examples of systems capable of accessing remote places within the body, e.g., the current commercial systems are limited by their large size, high cost, and inability to navigate in tortuous paths. They cannot offer enough dexterity while having smaller dimension which is suitable for the tight anatomical space. It is difficult to have a manipulator that is thin enough to enter through the narrow passageway of the body and steerable for navigation through the body cavity while having sufficient rigidity during tissue manipulation. In this research, we plan to develop scalable and dexterous instrument to enhance a higher degree of freedom of minimally invasive surgery, such as micro-laparoscopy and neurosurgery. Tube patterning, variable stiffness mechanism, and soft robotics will be applied to enhance the functionality of the instrument.

The Innovative Community: A Qualitative Study of Community Attractiveness to Young Entrepreneurs

Beyond job creation, entrepreneurship may hold an array of further benefits to a given community which provides support for it. This project works to define some of these additional benefits, as well as to determine some features of a community which may contribute to entrepreneur attraction and youth retention rates. The research will be conducted at universities, business incubators, and other entrepreneurial hubs around Scotland, and will aim to find common, successful aspects among these establishments and their surrounding communities, which can then be condensed into a list of “best practices.” These features, which might include different degrees and themes of funding, education, and infrastructure, can then be studied and applied to other communities, to boost the success of their entrepreneurs and rates of local economic development.

Discovery of Novel E3 Ligands for PROTAC Development

Protein degradation induced by PROTACs (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras) constitutes a novel modality of drug discovery, with advantages over the traditional approach. This approach is still at infancy and there is a lot to learn in this field. The trainees will work under academic supervisors at University of Toronto, who are experts in chemical tool development in collaboration with Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Toronto to expand the number of chemical tools and technologies, which will enhance the scope and understanding of PROTAC drug development. The Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) is a not-for-profit, public-private-partnership that aims to catalyze drug discovery through open access research. The SGC is expanding its efforts into this novel paradigm of drug discovery. The tools and techniques produced by trainees will greatly contribute to the chemical tool identification for PROTAC project at SGC, Toronto.

Exploring Membrane Distillation technology for water treatment in rural areas using modified membranes

Water is an essential commodity for survival of life on earth. The scarcity of potable water is increasing universally and that too is severe in rural and remote areas as they lack suitable treatment facilities/technology. Treatment of polluted water and desalination are the most promising options to meet the fresh water demand. Out of various treatment methods, Membrane Distillation is a viable technology that can produce fresh water from saline/impure water easily and economically. The proposed project focus on exploring membrane distillation technology to enhance the production rate at lower cost, hence making it suitable for remote areas. This study include fabrication of modified high performance membranes, their characterization and integration into lab scale treatment unit. Study will also incorporate optimization of working conditions of process and effect of fouling. The project is an experimental approach towards developing viable and easily deployable water treatment system, useful for rural arid regions.

Microwave-based Processing for Purification of Silicon

Silicon solar cells have increasingly been recognised as key components in future renewable energy

solutions. However, their sustained viability will depend on cell performance and cost, with the current

emphasis on thinner cells made from lower grade silicon. However, although such cells would be

cheaper, their performance would be compromised by the presence of even low concentrations “killer”

impurities such as iron which unacceptably reduce the cell efficiency. Current approaches to removing

iron to an acceptable level, or refining the feedstock, incur high energy input costs and yield toxic byproducts.

Our Canadian partner, Prised Solar Inc., is in the business of supplying silicon feedstock for

the solar industry and recognizing the expertise of the Ruda group in photovoltaics research and

technology for over two decades, approached us to develop a new low cost and environmentally

benign iron purification process for metallurgical grade silicon (MG-Si). Recently, microwave

processing was applied as a means to rapidly heat and redistribute dopants in silicon……

Governing global shelter and natural hazards: A study of urban housing in Dhaka and Amsterdam

By 2050, it is estimated that two-thirds of the global population will reside in cities. As cities grow and are required to house growing urban populations, however, they are simultaneously grappling with climate change and rising rates of natural disasters. My dissertation examines Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Dhaka, Bangladesh, two cities that despite their differences, are urbanizing rapidly, require more housing, and face negative effects from climate change, notably flooding. I am interested to understand in light of these challenges how housing for low-income populations is being governed in these contexts. Low-income groups are important to study as they experience both fiscal hardship and are more likely to live in less desirable or protected urban areas. The research aims to further our understanding of the economic and environmental burdens faced by the urban poor in hazard-prone cities. TO BE CONT’D

A Novel Method for Immunoprotection of Tissue Transplants

Musculoskeletal extremity injuries, including traumatic amputations, represent the majority of injuries sustained by victims of traffic accidents, work-related traumas and military recruits injuries. Over the last decade, vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA), the transplantation of specialized tissue from a deceased donor, has become a good alternative for the reconstruction of devastating hand and facial injuries, like those in those wounded patients.
Transplantation tolerance, allows for elimination of immunosuppressive drugs, has been the “holy grail” for transplantation medicine since its beginnings. Especially for VCA, since acute rejection of the “foreign” VCA occurs in up to 90 % of patients, despite the use of potent immunosuppression drugs. Increased doses of immunosuppression, with life-threatening complications, or successful immunomodulatory regimens are required to prevent loss of the VCA. IDO is an enzyme that has shown to be able to lower the threshold for attaining immunologic tolerance. In combination with IDO, we will (further) explore the use of creating a so called “mixed chimerism state” for the induction of VCA tolerance. Mixed chimerism involves donation of immune cells from the donor to create a hybrid immune system in the recipient.

Fostering Equitable Urban Development through Community Control of Land

Gentrification and the commodification of housing have shaped New York City for decades to the detriment of low income communities. In response, these communities have organized to create long-term, viable strategies for maintaining housing affordability, green space, and urban gardens through community control of land. My research will explore how communities can leverage local needs and interests by gaining control of land to foster more equitable and resilient urban development. In order to do so, I will:
1. Identify key policies, institutional frameworks and organizational structures that allow communities to gain control of land
2. Develop a contextualized analysis of one formal and one informal form of community control over land in New York City
3. Contribute to capacity development of two community-based organizations (the New York City Community Land Initiative and the Smiling Hogshead Ranch) that are working towards building a more equitable city through community control of land.

Development and evaluation of a liquid desiccant membrane dehumidifier for Canadian greenhouses.

This project is going to develop and evaluate the performance of a noble dehumidifier. The design of that dehumidifier (SPLD unit) is already done by Nortek’s research group and submitted for the patent. The assembly of parts and lab testing of that SPLD unit will done during this project time. After lab testing, if all expected features are ensured, the unit will be installed in Greenhouse C. The initial control strategy will be made according to the previous environmental data. The data will be taken during running time of the unit and the control strategy will be modified. Finally, after analysing those data, the performance evaluation and comparisons are done in terms of energy, economy and environment as described in methodology. This performance evaluation of new technology will introduce a new era in greenhouse sector by providing an authentic information to all greenhouse growers as they can use this more beneficial technology to make more profit from their greenhouses.