Innovative Projects Realized

Design of a novel magnetoencephalograph-compatible tracking system for monitoring speech-related orofacial events

Individuals with speech problems face difficulties such as anxiety, poor socialization and poor literacy. Key to effective intervention and therapy is a better understanding of the brain activity associated with speech. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a new brain-imaging technology that, for the first time, allows researchers to monitor the fast-changing brain activity involved with speech. The challenge in using MEG for speech analysis is that existing speech-tracking systems introduce too much magnetic interference. The objective of this study is to design an MEG-compatible system that tracks events such as facial muscle activity, productions of sound, and movements of the face, lips, tongue and jaw during speech. The tracking system, being an integral part of a larger study on brain activity during speech, will contribute to improving speech therapy at SickKids and other hospitals in Ontario.

Identification of a molecular profile predictive of metformin sensitivity in human breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) accounts for 15% of all cancer cases in Ontario, affecting 8,700 women in 2009.  Thus, there is a great need for the development of new anti-cancer agents and the identification of patients who are best suited for tailored treatment.  The drug metformin has emerged as a potential therapy for BC.  Metformin is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, but clinical studies have demonstrated that it can inhibit BC.  However, it is unclear how metformin inhibits BC and which patients would be most suitable for metformin therapy.  Therefore, the goal of the project is to determine how metformin reduces BC and to design ways to identify patients who would most benefit from metformin treatment.  The results of this study will be critical for the identification of women in Ontario and across Canada, who would most benefit from metformin treatment.  The results of this study will be critical for the identification of women in Ontario, and across Canada, who would be most responsive to metformin based BC therapies.

The travel behaviour of recent immigrants in the Greater Toronto Area

The proposed research will explore how diverse recent immigrant populations in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) use the transportation system to meet their daily-life needs.  The objectives are to explore how these groups make use of surrounding urban environments, provide a description of the processes used to secure transportation and the barriers faced, and examine the differences in experience across various urban and suburban jurisdictions.  Certain findings will have implications for low-income households in gernal, and for other groups with limited driving ability.  The proposed project has farreaching implications for the livability of the GTA, but also for the environmental sustainability of a region that has for many years been overly dependent on the use of private automobiles for travel.  The resources and training supplied by MITACS will ensure that this project fulfills its goals and that further headway is made in terms of improving transportation networks in the GTA.

Development of high-performance electrochemical enzyme biosensors based on carbon nanotube complexes with conjugated polyelectrolytes

A simple and facile route for the construction of highly sensitive electrochemical enzyme biosensors has been proposed using carbon nanotube (CNT) complexes with a conducting poly(thiophene) polymer. Glucose oxidase was used as a model enzyme for the construction of the advanced biosensors. Glucose biosensors, exhibiting sensitivity higher than any biosensor based on CNTs and other polymers reported, were prepared by depositing CNT-polymer loaded polymer layers that contained entrapped glucose oxidase onto gold electrodes. It has been shown that the CNT-polymer complexes offer an enzyme-friendly versatile platform for the immobilization of enzymes with increased electron-transfer rate, high electrical conductivity, and excellent film quality. The obtained results pave the way for the development of other advanced CNT-based biosensors. Further investigations will involve elimination of interferences and incorporation of other enzymes for highly sensitive detection of H₂O₂, ethanol, and NADH (a cofactor in many naturally occurring enzymatic reactions) etc.

Eltrombopag as a bridge to invasive procedures in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common blood disorder characterized by low platelet counts and an increased risk of bleeding. Many patients with ITP can be maintained with conventional therapies, but when an invasive procedure or surgery is planned, a short course of treatment is needed to rapidly increase platelet counts preoperatively so that dangerous bleeds can be prevented (termed ‘bridging’ therapy). Eltrombopag is a new, first-in-class oral thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist developed by GlaxoSmithKline that has been shown to be effective as maintenance therapy for ITP in up to 80% of patients. Eltrombopag may also be effective for bridging therapy. We therefore designed a randomized prospective cohort study to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of eltrombopag as bridging therapy for ITP patients prior to surgery. This project has the potential to improve patient care and will benefit GlaxoSmithKline by generating valuable data and answering clinically relevant research questions that have not been previously addressed.

Basin Analysis and Uranium Exploration in the Paleoproterozoic Roraima Basin, Guyana

The proposed research focuses on innovative exploration methods for high-grade uranium deposits in Guyana, where there are positive indications for uranium mineralization, but relatively little is known about the grade or extent of the mineralization. Specifically, the proposed research will integrate several geological disciplines that allow the evaluation of critical factors required to produce high-grade uranium mineralization. Collaborative research will allow our industry partner to explore these prospective areas with finer resolution, and at a reduced cost relative to traditional exploration methods, ideally resulting in reduced time and expenditures to make a uranium discovery. Additionally, industry collaboration will provide the opportunity for the proposed fellow to gain practical exploration knowledge from experienced uranium industry geologists.

Development of web-coating process for fabricating nanostructured ultracapacitor/solar coatings on existing manufacturing lines

In this project, the research fellow will design and develop scale-up coating processes for the manufacturing of cost-effective nano-engineered functional coatings on industrial web-coating systems. Thin film coatings are often applied to manufactured components to enhance their functional characteristics, for example improving scratch resistance of architectural and automotive metals. Recent advances in nanotechnology have shown that nanostructured thin films can provide dramatically enhanced high-value functionality not possible with traditional materials or unstructured coatings. The project will initially focus on energy applications, including ultracapacitors and solar photovoltaics, like solar foil. The fellow will later target advanced coating applications including catalytic surfaces, electrodes, optical surfaces, and heat exchangers.

A novel recessed differential electrode for recording electromyographic activity from the pelvic floor muscles

A novel electrode was developed to measure pelvic  floor muscle activity in women. The novel design addresses several limitations of current technology, which uses large electrodes mounted on vaginal probes. These probes use inappropriate electrode configurations, have large electrodes susceptible to noise from nearby muscles (i.e. crosstalk), and noise from motion of the electrode relative to the vaginal wall (i.e. motion artifact). The proposed recording device is a substantial improvement, designed to reduce both crosstalk and motion artifact. Over the course of the proposed work we will determine whether this novel electrode design is superior to the current technology in terms of recording motion artifact. We will also further develop the electrode to incorporate a muscle stimulation capacity. Finally we will test this electrode to determine its utility for use in neurophysiological investigations. The applicant will also be involved in marketing this technology to potential industrial partners.

Development of Framework for Integrating Smartphones for Transportation Information Applications

Recently, a new kind of cell phones known as “smartphones” is introduced and sold to the public in great numbers. A smartphone generally refers to a cell phone that is capable of communicating through the internet (via wireless internet or data network), determining its current positions (with Global Positioning System, GPS), and taking photos (with high resolution cameras) in addition to the classic voice communications. Most smartphones are also equipped with touch screens that provide a user-friendly intuitive interface. The phone manufacturers provide their own software development kits (SDK) that allows customizing their phones so that transportation researchers can access new types of data and provide useful information back to the user. This research proposes the development of methods and prototypes of different mobile smartphone applications that involve new types of data that are beneficial to commuters in various modes of transportation.

Demonstration and Performance Evaluation of an Optimized Lab-scale Biogas-fuelled Heat and Electric Power Generation System Based on the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

The build of an efficient, low cost, and environmentally friendly heat and power generation system for the use in single family detached dwellings, wastewater treatment plants, or landfills, is the objective of this project. This system is based on the solid oxide fuel cell and is designed to operate with biogas. We have successfully proved the advantages of this system over the traditional and other fuel cell-based systems developed in the United States and Europe, through computer simulation. During this project, we will demonstrate these advantages practically through the build of the system in lab-scale. If the advantage of this system is proved practically, we will scale it up for a real operation in a residential building or in a waste water treatment plant/landfill in the next step.

Passive Dampers in Elevated Tanks for Mitigating the Effects of Wind and Seismic Loads in New and Existing Structures

The objective of the proposed R & D project is to recommend a methodology for using tuned liquid damper as a passive damper placed in elevated tanks. A portion of contained liquid can be utilized to act as a tuned liquid damper with some modifications. This methodology can be used to control displacements due to wind and earthquake effects. A numerical program using the finite element method is proposed, which will be conducted to simulate a structure with a TLD attached and subjected to transient loading. The results of this study will be applied to elevated tanks. The main parameter is to control displacements under wind and seismic effects which are of major concern. The proposed technique is expected to be very efficient and cost-effective, which could result in substantial reductions in displacements as compared to other techniques which are currently being used.

The work to be done on this project will include finite element and finite volume analysis and will consider structure-tank-liquid interaction effects. In addition, a new design configuration regarding the installation of tuned liquid dampers in elevated tanks, as well as baffles to increase the energy dissipation of the system will be considered. Most of the research done in this field is concentrated on idealization of TLDs and using simplified methods. By using a robust computer program in this research, both the structure and the liquid tank will be modeled in three-dimensional space, which will enable us to investigate the effects of all components of loading in the system.

Development of Tall-Structure Lightning Return-Stroke Current Modelling for Lightning Protection of Wind Turbines

The lightning return-stroke is the vital component of a lightning flash since it causes most of the lightning-related damages/disturbances to electric power lines and installations. This research emphasizes the development of a lightning return-stroke model in order to analytically correlate the lightning current, usually measured at a tall structure, to its associated lightning electromagnetic pulse (LEMP). Such model will not only contribute to solving a major problem in lightning research, where lightning current characteristics are estimated based on the easily measured LEMP, but will also enable the development of more sophisticated measures for lightning protection of tall structures, such as wind turbines. Numerous observations have shown that the majority of lightning flashes striking wind turbines are upward initiated, which is similar to the CN Tower lightning. Therefore, the extensive CN Tower lightning data, recorded since 1991, is very relevant to lightning protection of wind turbines, which is of major interest in Ontario, the Canadian leader in wind power.