Innovative Projects Realized

holistic and interdisciplinary knowledge integration framework onwater management and research in China

Due to massive population, rapid urbanization, and threats of climate change, China is facing serious water problems now and in the future. It is timely and relevant to establish an overall and inclusive framework for evaluating water management and research that will guide more efficient and easily integrated work between researchers and water managers. Ideally, this framework will more easily provide a big-picture view of China’s water management system than the current multitude of discipline-specific
work. Thus, managers and researchers will be able to connect the big and small features of the system. This framework should: (i) be easy to follow; (ii) provide specific roles for the key players on water management and research; and (iii) provide a feedback mechanism for continuous improvement of the framework. After detailed investigation of two water management systems (the Water Resource Assessment and Water Abstraction Permit systems), this research proposes to develop a new water management and research framework for China based on system theories and natural resource public management.

Developing partnerships to investigate and address the processes and outcomes of criminalization and incarceration in Canada

People in prisons and on parole in Canada face extreme barriers to health, wellbeing and social belonging. However, there is limited research on the specific processes and outcomes of criminalization and incarceration, and gaps in understanding can lead to policies and laws that do more harm than good. Given this, this project will support partnership development to create a strong national network of academics, students, NGO and government stakeholders focused on learning about and addressing these processes and outcomes, including by centering and uplifting the voices of experts who’ve been incarcerated in the past. This project is based out of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS), a national non-profit that believes in a world where prisons do not create so much harm. This partnership development will support the eventual founding of a CAEFS national research centre to support their mandate.

Quantum Information metrics for Gaussian states

Quantum information metrics including fidelity, quantum divergences, and the trace norm provide the mathematical foundation for studying and understanding quantum states and processes. As such, quantum information metrics play a crucial role in quantum computing, simulation of quantum systems, and quantum machine learning (including quantum clustering, generative models, and machine learning of, and by, quantum states). Unfortunately, these metrics are limited: they are highly sensitive to experimental noise and phase differences. In the context of quantum machine learning, conventional metrics often suffer from vanishing gradients, barren plateaus, and poor local minima in the loss landscape.

This project focus on to develop the mathematical, physics and computational aspects for a novel class of Quantum Information metrics based on Optimal Transport focus on Gaussian states.

Quantum Gaussian states are fundamental in the field of quantum optics and quantum information theory. In the context of continuous-variable quantum systems, such as electromagnetic fields, quantum Gaussian states play a crucial role in various quantum communication and computation tasks. They possess unique properties, such as being stable under linear operations and easily manipulated by linear optical elements.

Estuarine reliance of juvenile salmonids in the Skeena River

Research on salmon in the Skeena River estuary in 2007 and 2013 quantified the abundance of different species of salmon in different locations of the estuary over time. These results indicate that the region where industrial development is proposed contained the highest abundances of Chinook and sockeye in both years surveyed, and coho in 2007. Furthermore, genetic analyses identified that the sockeye and Chinook salmon that were captured in the estuary originated from dozens of locallyadapted populations throughout the Skeena and Nass watersheds, highlighting the vast connections of these estuaries habitats to fish and their commercial, recreational, and First Nations fisheries. While our previous research illuminates the relative abundance of different populations and species in the estuary, the next step, proposed in this project, is to quantify their reliance on these estuary habitats.

NeuroCSF: development of a novel fMRI method to measure contrast sensitivity function in the amblyopic visual cortex

This research project centers on exploring the Contrast Sensitivity Function (CSF), a fundamental concept in visual perception that determines the perception of spatial frequencies at varying contrast levels. Existing CSF measurement methods relying on behavior are constrained by time and patient-related factors, necessitating an alternative approach. To address this challenge, we introduce the “neuroCSF,” which utilizes functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to directly estimate the CSF from brain activity, bypassing the need for behavioral data. In our initial assessment, the neuroCSF demonstrated robust and interpretable estimates of cortical CSF parameters, marking a groundbreaking achievement in comprehensive CSF characterization. Moving forward, our research aims to expand the neuroCSF methodology to clinical populations, with a particular focus on amblyopia, a neurodevelopmental visual disorder. With this current project, we aim to identify neurometrics that correlate with the reduced behavioral CSF measures in amblyopes. Collaboration with Dr. Miguel Castelo-Branco and Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research will provide access to advanced imaging resources and essential clinical expertise that are central to our efforts. The application of fMRI to create a comprehensive visuocortical map of the CSF holds great promise for improving amblyopia diagnosis and deepening our understanding of the disorder’s underlying mechanisms

Evaluating Algorithmic Prediction of Emotion in Music

Algorithms play an increasingly important role in our interactions with digital services. Companies like Spotify and Pandora use algorithms to identify mood-relevant music from massive databases of over 100 million tracks and deliver them to users through personalized playlists. To achieve this, they rely on software tools to analyze relevant musical properties—like timing (slow–fast), intensity (soft–loud) and pitch (low–high). However, validation studies of common music analysis tools reveal inaccuracies in their performance—raising question to their value for emotion-based music recommendation. To improve the quality of mood-based personalization, this project will evaluate the reliability of music analysis tools with statistical modeling—clarifying their accuracy at predicting participants’ perceived emotions from listening experiments. The project outcomes will provide an important step toward improving algorithms’ predictions of emotion in music, along with users’ experiences with online music services.

Urushiol Synthesis Based on Iron-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings

In this project the compound urushiol will be synthesized using catalysts containing the earth abundant metal iron through the use of chemical processes known as cross-coupling reactions. Urushiol is the natural compound responsible for Asian lacquer used for coatings and adhesives on wood or metal products, however obtaining it naturally currently is an expensive and time consuming process requiring specialized labour for proper extraction. While we currently have modern equivalents, their ability to withstand the test of time and overall resistant quality is lacking compared to the original urushiol-based lacquers. Therefore, synthesizing urushiol in a cheap, energy and time efficient manner would benefit both industry and society as it will allow further use of this more advantageous lacquer compound and further studying of the compound so that it may be eventually derived naturally once again but in a cheap and efficient manner. We expect urushiol can be synthesized by using iron-catalyzed cross-coupling based on both Dr. Nakamura’s and Dr. Kozak’s related previous works using this process and iron catalysts to form similar compounds.

High-Speed Blockchain Project, Phase 2 (2)

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Theoretical study on controlling condensed matter properties by using strong light-matter coupling in cavity

Recent experimental advances have enabled the creation of setups where matter and quantized electromagnetic fields (photons) interact more strongly than the typical energy scale of the matter. Specifically, these strongly coupled light-matter systems have been achieved within the realm of cavity quantum electrodynamic (QED) materials, placing a material of interest inside a cavity of photon modes. The strong interaction between light and matter can significantly modify the material’s properties and even induce a transition to exotic phases, such as superconductors or quantum spin-liquids. These phases exhibit considerable potential for technological applications like quantum computation. However, most theoretical tools, with some exceptions, for studying strong light-matter interactions lack sufficient justification. In this project, we propose further development and application of a rigorous theoretical framework capable of addressing strongly coupled cavity QED materials. Success in this endeavor is anticipated to yield novel insights into exotic phases realized in cavity QED materials.

Cattle Health Management Data and App Strategy Development

The project involves detailed planning and mapping of the Cattle Health Management (CHM) organization’s data systems and designing and planning an application, data portal, and database infrastructure. We will start by analyzing the current data processes to create a structured map that guides the integration of advanced database technologies. This includes the creation of APIs and data marts to facilitate data transfer to analytic tools like PowerBI, ensuring a smooth data analysis process. The project also aims to design a data portal allowing users to access and download data easily in spreadsheet format.

In parallel, we will research and write the specifications for an application to gather information and generate reporting, analysis, and other modules, focusing on necessary features and user interface design.

This project is about laying a solid foundation with clear documentation of the planned systems and infrastructure, which will support efficient development and implementation in later stages. The goal is to establish a functional and user-friendly application with a well-integrated data system that aligns with CHM’s operational requirements.

Exploring Legacies of Injustices and Inequities from Toronto’s Transportation Infrastructure Development

While many Canadian planning practitioners are familiar with the harmful legacies of transportation infrastructure development in the United States, particularly as it relates to the displacement and forced removal of racialized and
low-income communities, there is comparatively little documentation or awareness of this history in Canada. This research project will contribute to filling this knowledge gap by examining the development of transportation
infrastructure throughout Toronto’s history, with the goal of understanding the impact of this legacy on present day urban divides. The project will focus on the development of Toronto major arteries, transit interventions, bridges,
and highways, and will provide recommendations for the City of Toronto transportation planning and community engagement initiatives.

Développement d’une nouvelle génération de composites bois-polymère

Le composite bois-polymère (CBP) est un matériau de construction fait de polymère chargé de particules ou fibres de bois. La popularité de ce matériau est grandissante, mais ses propriétés mécaniques le limite aux applications non-structurales. Le projet propose d’évaluer cinq approches qui permettraient d’élargir le spectre d’utilisation des CBP et d’augmenter significativement leurs propriétés mécaniques: 1) Évaluer le potentiel de différentes matrices pour la production de CBP et en optimiser les paramètres de fabrication; 2) Incorporer les fibres synthétiques haute performance dans la conception des CPB; 3) Ajouter une matrice thermodurcissables dans la formulation des CBP; 4) Ajouter des nanoparticules pour renforcer les CBP; et 5) Modifier la chimie de surface des fibres de bois. Ce projet permettrait à la fois de valoriser les résidus de production des partenaires et de diversifier leurs paniers de produits.