Innovative Projects Realized

Iron battery: a safety, economic and environmentally friendly aqueous secondary battery

The past few decades have witnessed the unprecedented development of aqueous rechargeable batteries and there are many scientific groups focusing their interest on this energy technology research field. Ideal active electrode materials and plain economic considerations are the critical factors in the design of batteries. Among them, Fe//MnO2 aqueous battery is one of the best candidates because of lower cost, high safety and eco-friendliness. In addition, improved conductivity and better cycle performance can be obtained by carbon coating. This proposal mainly discusses the carbon coated Fe and MnO2 nanostructured materials for iron battery applications. Afterwards, this proposed iron battery will be used to light minor surgical lights on-site at our partner organization. Apparently, once the project is successful, our partner can reduce production costs, seize market share and maximize the company’s benefits.

Evaluate and improve crop yield estimation models by assimilating UAV and satellite remote sensing data – Year two

It has been widely recognized that satellite remote sensing data have a great potential in retrieval of crop biophysical variable such as Leaf Area Index (LAI), vegetation canopy cover and fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR), that are indicative of crop growth condition and yield formation. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) data are popular in precision agriculture applications, due to their advantage of flexibility, low cost and high spatial resolution.
This project proposes to (1) Calibrate and evaluate several crop yield models for corn and winter wheat in Southwestern Ontario through assimilating different remotely sensed datasets acquired by satellites and UAV. TO BE CONT’D

Evaluate and improve crop yield estimation models by assimilating UAV and satellite remote sensing data

It has been widely recognized that satellite remote sensing data have a great potential in retrieval of crop biophysical variable such as Leaf Area Index (LAI), vegetation canopy cover and fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR), that are indicative of crop growth condition and yield formation. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) data are popular in precision agriculture applications, due to their advantage of flexibility, low cost and high spatial resolution.
This project proposes to (1) Calibrate and evaluate several crop yield models for corn and winter wheat in Southwestern Ontario through assimilating different remotely sensed datasets acquired by satellites and UAV. TO BE CONT’D

High Performance of Sulfide-based Electrolytes in All Solid-State Batteries for Safe Applications of Electric Vehicles – Year two

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become a key player in the growing need for electric vehicles (EVs). State-of-the-art LIBs, using liquid electrolytes, still have significant challenges in their safety, lifespan, and energy density. Accordingly, solid-state lithium-ion batteries (SSLBs) have recently been attracting increasing research and industrial attention due to their ability to overcome intrinsic disadvantages of flammable liquid electrolytes used in current LIBs. The objective of this proposed research is to develop safe and high-performance SSLBs with sulfide-based electrolytes. The project includes two main directions: (1) synthesis of highly conductive and stable sulfide-based electrolytes; and (2) design of high-performance SSLBs with a stable interface between sulfide electrolytes and Li-ion cathode materials. GLABAT SOLID-STATE BATTERY INC. as an industrial partner will support and be involved in this project. The innovative research will help both GLABAT and Canada increase their global competitiveness and create new economic ventures.

Analyzing Gaps in Diversity Practices at The Scarborough Hospital using theDiversity Institute’s Diversity Audit Tool

This project is a systemic review and assessment of diversity strategies currently in place at The

Scarborough Hospital using the Diversity Institute’s Diversity Audit Tool (DAT). The DAT was

developed based on research into leading practices and offers a lens through which diversity

strategies can be analyzed; this will be the first time that it is applied to an organization within the

healthcare sector. The DAT will be used to measure the policies and practices aimed at increasing

diversity (in both its client base and the organization itself) currently in place at The Scarborough

Hospital by comparing them to the leading practices identified by the DAT. Special attention will be

paid in the subsequent analysis to the strengths and weaknesses of the tool to identify key areas

within this healthcare sector as well as to identify areas of improvement. Furthermore, the interpretive

framework for analysis will be informed by a targeted literature review, enabling the student to

recommend alternatives and…

High Performance of Sulfide-based Electrolytes in All Solid-State Batteries for Safe Applications of Electric Vehicles

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become a key player in the growing need for electric vehicles (EVs). State-of-the-art LIBs, using liquid electrolytes, still have significant challenges in their safety, lifespan, and energy density. Accordingly, solid-state lithium-ion batteries (SSLBs) have recently been attracting increasing research and industrial attention due to their ability to overcome intrinsic disadvantages of flammable liquid electrolytes used in current LIBs. The objective of this proposed research is to develop safe and high-performance SSLBs with sulfide-based electrolytes. The project includes two main directions: (1) synthesis of highly conductive and stable sulfide-based electrolytes; and (2) design of high-performance SSLBs with a stable interface between sulfide electrolytes and Li-ion cathode materials. GLABAT SOLID-STATE BATTERY INC. as an industrial partner will support and be involved in this project. The innovative research will help both GLABAT and Canada increase their global competitiveness and create new economic ventures.

Treating the Untreatable: Targeting Paediatric Brain Tumours with Multi-omics and Drug Discovery – Year two

Brain tumours, including ependymoma, are some of the most difficult cancers to treat. Although the past few years have seen many exciting advances in characterizing these brain tumours, there are few effective therapies available for patients, many of whom are children and young adults (and for whom long-term side effects can be extremely damaging). Until very recently, research in this area has been hampered by a complete lack of cell lines and animal models. Fortunately, the Taylor Lab at SickKids have successfully developed novel tumour culture methods to get these difficult cells to grow—producing the required model systems.
We now aim to use these new model systems to fully investigate the development of ependymoma disease and screen for compounds in the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) library that can be used to treat patients with this disease.TO BE CONT’D

Treating the Untreatable: Targeting Paediatric Brain Tumours with Multi-omics and Drug Discovery

Brain tumours, including ependymoma, are some of the most difficult cancers to treat. Although the past few years have seen many exciting advances in characterizing these brain tumours, there are few effective therapies available for patients, many of whom are children and young adults (and for whom long-term side effects can be extremely damaging). Until very recently, research in this area has been hampered by a complete lack of cell lines and animal models. Fortunately, the Taylor Lab at SickKids have successfully developed novel tumour culture methods to get these difficult cells to grow—producing the required model systems.
We now aim to use these new model systems to fully investigate the development of ependymoma disease and screen for compounds in the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) library that can be used to treat patients with this disease.TO BE CONT’D

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Based Multi Agent System in Banking Environment – Year two

The wide adoption and development of wireless sensing technologies for the monitoring and autonomous identification of financial activities have affected financial institutions in the past decade. However, wider utilization of RFID technologies in the banking sector has introduced challenges regarding the security and privacy of sensitive financial data. The proposed innovations and technological developments will revolutionize the banking sector by increasing efficiency, decreasing cost and provide secure and privacy sensitive financial transactions. In this work, we will deliberately build up a RFID based comprehensive framework and its application to expertly and automatically matching profile of customer and banker according to a number of selected weighted attributes. We will develop a RFID framework which collects, communicates and manages the financial data and customer’s account details securely. TO BE CONT’D

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Based Multi Agent System in Banking Environment

The wide adoption and development of wireless sensing technologies for the monitoring and autonomous identification of financial activities have affected financial institutions in the past decade. However, wider utilization of RFID technologies in the banking sector has introduced challenges regarding the security and privacy of sensitive financial data. The proposed innovations and technological developments will revolutionize the banking sector by increasing efficiency, decreasing cost and provide secure and privacy sensitive financial transactions. In this work, we will deliberately build up a RFID based comprehensive framework and its application to expertly and automatically matching profile of customer and banker according to a number of selected weighted attributes. We will develop a RFID framework which collects, communicates and manages the financial data and customer’s account details securely. TO BE CONT’D

Molecular Characteristics of Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives – Year two

Cellulose is a commercially important biopolymer. Due to its abundance, biocompatibility and renewability it has shown important commercial applications in food, pharmaceuticals, biomedical. Depending on the origin and the processing methods used, the resulting fiber dimensions, structure, crystallinity and molecular weight (MW) can vary over a broad range. MW is one of the most important parameters in polymer characterization as many of its properties depend on it. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) has been the technique of choice for determining these properties. However, this method has limitations and requires optimization. Its accuracy is dependent on complete dissolution of the sample. Cellulose is insoluble in most solvents due to its structure and strong hydrogen bonding network. Either derivatization or special solvent systems have been used for solubilization. Derivatization changes the chemical nature and there is no consensus on a definitive solvent system for cellulose. TO BE CONT’D

Molecular Characteristics of Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives

Cellulose is a commercially important biopolymer. Due to its abundance, biocompatibility and renewability it has shown important commercial applications in food, pharmaceuticals, biomedical. Depending on the origin and the processing methods used, the resulting fiber dimensions, structure, crystallinity and molecular weight (MW) can vary over a broad range. MW is one of the most important parameters in polymer characterization as many of its properties depend on it. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) has been the technique of choice for determining these properties. However, this method has limitations and requires optimization. Its accuracy is dependent on complete dissolution of the sample. Cellulose is insoluble in most solvents due to its structure and strong hydrogen bonding network. Either derivatization or special solvent systems have been used for solubilization. Derivatization changes the chemical nature and there is no consensus on a definitive solvent system for cellulose. TO BE CONT’D