Innovative Projects Realized

Advanced Composite Membranes for Water Vapour Separations

Membrane based energy recovery ventilation (ERV) is now a key component of most energy efficient modern buildings. The ERV market is estimated to grow to $3.8B by 2022. ERVs improve the indoor air quality of buildings through ventilation and reduce the energy cost of ventilation by using building exhaust air to pre-condition fresh building supply air. In cooling conditions heat and humidity are removed from the incoming air and in heating condition heat and moisture are added to the incoming air. The membrane in the device allows the transport heat and moisture without transport of other gases and contaminants from the exhaust air to the supply air. Current polymeric membrane ERV technology is durable and has moderate performance, but new materials are required to further increase the membrane vapour transport performance and function to make more efficient devices. TO BE CONT’D

Development of a calibration method for Mecademic’s Meca500 robot arm

Mecademic manufactures the smallest and most precise six-axis robot arm. The repeatability of this robot is better than 0.005 mm, but like any industrial robot, the robot’s accuracy is far worse. Although all robot parts are machined and assembled precisely, the only practical way of improving the robot’s accuracy is to calibrate each individual robot. While various methods for the calibration of six-axis robot arms have already been developed in the past, the proposed research project differs in several aspects. First, the applicant will use a CMM to measure the position and orientation of the robot’s end-effector. One novelty of the project will be the possible use of a datum cube as an artifact to be attached to the end-effector and probed with the CMM. This will significantly reduce the time needed for calibrating a robot. Finally, since the applicant will have full access to all physical characteristics of the robot, an attempt will be made to develop a simpler mathematical model, so that the model can be used in real time.

Towards Diversity in VR: Impact and Evaluation

The proposed project provides an intervention on the exclusionary practices, expectations, and development of contemporary VR. The project seeks to produce a Diversity Toolkit document for developers and designers working with VR. Analyzing relevant study data based on ongoing initiatives, the student will draft areas of interest, detailing the contexts conditions that are necessary for equity, diversity, and inclusion within the VR industry and the Game Industry more generally.

Acute effects of single arm muscle fatigue on bilateral cortical inhibition and functional connectivity

Diseases and injuries can affect essential activities of daily living like holding objects or walking. Investigating ways to optimize motor learning and performance is important for patient (i.e., stroke patients) and healthy populations (i.e., athletes). Exercising muscles to fatigue on one side of the body may improve motor tasks executed by the opposite limb. This study looks at short-term effects of exercising one arm to fatigue on nervous system activity and handgrip strength of both arms. Forty-five participants from the University of Oxford, UK will be assigned by chance to one of three conditions: single arm fatiguing exercise, sham (non-fatiguing exercise), or rest. Brain scans and handgrip strength measures before and after will be taken for all groups. By determining the effectiveness of using exercise-induced fatigue to improve motor learning in the fatigued and non-fatigued limb, this study may have substantial clinical implications for recovery from single-limb injury or impairment.

L’itinérance des femmes Kanaka Maoli: regard empirique sur les conditions de (sur)vie

Dans l’intention de parfaire notre compréhension des conditions de (sur)vie liées à l’itinérance féminine à Honolulu, ce mémoire empirique cherche à observer quels sont les vécus subjectifs de ces femmes à l’aide de l’approche biographique. Ce projet de maîtrise s’attarde spécifiquement à l’itinérance des femmes autochtones hawaiiennes afin de comprendre, de manière spécifique au genre et aux conditions autochtones, quelles sont les conditions subjectives de vie de celles-ci. Ce désir de compréhension du vécu subjectif s’insère dans une observation plus large des mécanismes sociaux ayant des répercussions sur les femmes rencontrées, notamment en ce qui a trait à l’exclusion, à la marginalisation, à la violence, etc. L’intention méthodologique est de réaliser des entrevues semi-dirigées auprès d’un petit nombre de femmes acceptant de participer à mon étude afin d’en dégager diverses similitudes dans les vécus subjectifs.

Advancement and evaluation of novel a quantitative ultrasound method for tissue characterization in dental diagnostics.

Gingival thickness (biotype) and quality of soft tissues have a significant impact on the outcome of dental restorative and regenerative therapy for many patients. Assessment of periodontal biotype is critical when selecting appropriate protocols in the field of dental surgery. Chosen methodology will have significant ramifications on the restoration of the soft and hard oral tissues, healing time, success rate and overall oral health. Currently used gingival biotype determination methods are limited to visual and invasive assessment; user-dependent, inaccurate and result in misinterpretation. Other invasive methods such as mechanical trans-gingival penetration (bone-sounding), transparency or radiography techniques are presently available, but all have proven to be inadequate in dental practice. A device has been developed that consists of a miniaturized probe with a specifically designed ultrasonic transducer that can address the needs in this field. This project will evaluate and optimize the performance of this device to meet clinical usability requirements.

Variations of Redox conditions across the Cambrian-Ordovician GSSP (Green Point Formation) in western Newfoundland (Canada): implications from the Trace element, Mo-, U-, C-, S- and N-isotope signatures

The specific investigation of the redox conditions of the Green Point Formation sediments will allow modelling the paleoceanographic conditions on a global basis particularly because the investigated formation is the Cambrian?Ordovician GSSP, which adds to the value of the contributions of the study to understanding the global distribution of source rocks around that time interval.

Study of texturizing bacterial strains in yogurt

The most promising strategy to reduce texturizing ingredients is the incorporation of bacterial cultures that have intrinsic capacity to modulate the texture of fermented milk due to the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS). Yoplait has sequenced the genomes of several bacteria strains that could be introduced as starters or adjunct cultures in yogurt. The main objective for Yoplait is the selection of promising EPS-producing strains that show stable texturizing properties in yogurts. The production of yogurts without additives will improved its acceptability by the consumers and therefore boost yogurt sales.

Enhancement of power system security using synchrophasor data

This research project investigates how to improve the security of operation of a power system using

measurements taken at several locations of the power system. In the past, there was no technology

available to synchronize these measured data, and thus the applications were limited. Now, the

technology has advanced and the measured data can be synchronized using Global Positioning

Satelittes (GPS). We investigate two different approaches for enhancing system stability and thus

security. In one approach, the synchrophasor data is used along with traditional Supervisory Control

and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. The combined data set will then be used to determine the

transient stability margin of the operating state of the power system. This will allow the system operator

to operate the power system with the desired stability margin. The other approach is to use the

synchrophasor data in a feedback system to enhance the transient stability and oscillatory stability of

the power system. This improves the stability margin…

Confinement Properties in Magnetized Plasmas

In order to model and determine properties of plasmas such as magnetosphere or fusion devices a consistent mathematical model is required. The goal of this project, among other open problems, is to prove long time uniqueness and existence of the Relativistic Vlasov Maxwell system. In the process, determine estimates on the electromagnetic field intensities, the kinetic distribution functions and their derivatives in hot and cold magnetized plasma regimes. A better understanding of plasma behaviors can prove advantageous in many applications such as space travel, or clean fusion devices. Computational challenges arise due to the non-linearity of the system. An original mathematic approach to such problems is being developed and implemented. So far it as been successful for cold plasmas, but one goal would be to extend these results to hot, relativistic plasmas. In the process help us to understand some of the turbulent structures which form. Richard Feynman is quoted with saying that the understanding of turbulence is the greatest problem in classical mechanics. Thus any advancements will be of highly invaluable to the field.

North Coast Innovation Lab

The North Coast Innovation Lab (NCIL) is a place-based initiative for people who are invested in the future of Prince Rupert to work together on tangible projects and initiatives that build a resilient economy as a tool for community well-being. Forthcoming student Project Coordinators provide capacity to the efforts of the NCIL through action-research, project prototyping/piloting, social innovation methodology application & understanding, and community learning activities and presentations reflecting the efforts and outcomes of the NCIL. They enhance internal and community understanding of complex community challenges; build relationships and partnerships within Prince Rupert; enhance collaboration and cooperation in developing innovative projects; and support ongoing community development initiatives.
Ultimately, the NCIL hopes to spark a systemic shift in the approach to community-led economic development, and student Project Coordinators (interns) will play an integral role in the planning, research, prototyping and feasibility of NCIL-related initiatives.

Generation and characterization of novel small molecule protein degraders in oncology

Many patients who initially respond well to highly efficacious chemotherapy eventually develop resistance and relapse despite continued treatment. These cancers acquire drug resistance to current therapies through various mechanisms such as the acquisition of mutations for example. Furthermore, some promising targets that play a crucial role in the progression of cancer have been deemed undruggable using current methods. The proposed project aims at synthesizing novel drugs based on a new design to target three proteins for degradation, located in different cellular compartments with their function well characterized in contributing to cancer. The knowledge gained from the project will allow the nomination of lead compounds that will be further developed by Paraza Pharma Inc. in the future as successful drug candidates.