Innovative Projects Realized

Electrobiotechnology ? Microbial electro-fermentation for electricity-driven bioproduction

Impact of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations on maize responses to abiotic stress

The reforestation of damaged spruce stands in a changing climate

3D Game and UX Design / Avatar Creation and Procedural Environments

Gated Parametric Images using 82Rubidium Cardiac PET for More Accurate Measurements of Ejection Fraction

One crucial measure of heart function is how well it can pump blood from its ventricles, referred to as the ejection fraction (EF). One method of estimating the EF in Cardiac PET is to segment the myocardium of a ventricle on static gated images and compute the difference of the inner volume of the segmentation at end diastole and systole, relative to the volume at end diastole. However, because radiotracer signal in Cardiac PET is much higher in the myocardium of the left ventricle (LV) than the right ventricle (RV), current day imaging software typically only segments the LV and computes the LV ejection fraction (LVEF), thereby making RVEF estimates inaccessible. One method of improving LVEF and RVEF estimations is to acquire cardiac-gated dynamic images and perform kinetic modeling to yield parametric images of blood flow and blood volume of the LV and RV cavities. In this manner, LV and RV blood volumes can be directly estimated throughout the cardiac cycle and enable more accurate measures of both LV and RV EF….

Design and fabrication of hierarchical Pickering emulsions

The concept of hierarchy can be applied to a wide range of immaterial and material systems, including living organisms and artificial constructions, to enhance their performance through hierarchical materials design and synthesis. However, this approach is currently limited by the lack of strategies that provide hierarchical control of matter across all size regimes, from nano to macro scale. As a result, the structural complexity of materials that can be created is limited. Advanced methods are needed to design and fabricate hierarchical materials with multi-scale control over their structure and properties. By developing novel strategies for the synthesis of hierarchical materials, we can overcome the current limitations and create materials with superior performance and unique functionalities. Such materials have the potential to revolutionize material design and synthesis and open up new avenues for various applications, ranging from electronics to biomedical engineering. That is, this proposal aims to design and fabricate hierarchical Pickering emulsions by employing nanomaterial synthesis, and microfluidic three-dimensional droplet printing to have control in all size regimes from nano to macro and apply those materials for flexible electronics and electromagnetic (EM) shields…

All Digital, Multi-Standard Highly Efficient Transmitter for Mobile Communication BaseStation Applications

A novel transmitter architecture which presents more power efficiency than that of the transmitters being used currently in mobile communication base stations, is proposed in this research project. The result of this research fills the gap between the theoretical idea behind this transmitter structure and its practical usage in cellular network base stations. This transmitter can operate over a wide frequency range and with different mobile communication signal standards very power efficiently while maintaining the quality of the transmitted signal. The outcome of this project leads to an industrial product which offers a new transmitter topology whose small formfactor minimize the cost and effort of the industrial partner transmitter design process. Moreover the high power efficiency of this transmitter interests the industrial partner’s clients and helps saving significant amount of energy in base stations. Therefore the industrial partner benefits greatly from the results of this project.

Assess energy performance differences of existing multi-residential buildings and develop sustainable retrofitting scenarios

This project analyzes the energy consumption of multi-residential buildings to determine the causes of discrepancies in energy bills of buildings with similar typologies and ages. For this purpose, different indicators such as technical and physical factors (HVAC systems efficiency, building envelope U-Values, and window-to-wall ratio), human-influenced factors (occupant behavior), and social factors (occupant’s energy-saving efforts, income, and educational background) will be assessed. Furthermore, the project will suggest optimized retrofitting actions using building modeling tools and sensitivity analysis.
Besides, as the needs related to GHG emission analysis regarding various urban objects grow significantly, a comprehensive lifecycle carbon assessment to investigate the environmental impacts will be implemented.
Based on the provided results, the partner organization will be able to first determine the leading causes of different energy consumptions in their existing buildings and then realize the best retrofitting measures they can take to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions in their properties.

First Nations Mental Wellness Workforce: A Realist Review

First Nations peoples continue to experience a disproportionately high rate of mental health challenges due to both historical and ongoing effects of inter-generational trauma. Furthermore, First Nations communities also experience significant inequities and limited access to mental services and resources. This proposed research project will be undertaken by two project interns where a realist review will be conducted to explore and generate evidence-based recommendations for a First Nations mental wellness workforce. In addition, the project interns will also be involved in meetings and consultations with relevant stakeholders and the partner organization, First Peoples Wellness Circle. The activities and findings of the project will provide an opportunity for the partner organization to collaborative engage in the development of recommendations, insights, and additional knowledge to support the organization’s mission in continuing to generate awareness and advocate for equitable mental health, wellness, and healthcare services for First Nations peoples.

Process Simulation Models for Mechanised Tunneling Projects

Material characterization for high-temperature alloys in additive manufacturing

IMS applications deployed in virtualization and cloud environments (OpenStack and KVM)

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a key component in the Mobile Next Generation Network, which is used by telecommunications operators throughout the world to provide access to multimedia and broadband services. As these services become more sophisticated, and as the number of clients rises drastically, it is increasingly expensive to install and operate a network that will satisfy the users’ expectations. Cloud computing combined with high-speed networks provides a potential method for reducing the installation and operational costs of IMS. However, their use may introduce performance degradation in certain parameters, such as the delay. We will construct a test environment that will permit us to model a cloud-based IMS system, after determining which components of IMS could benefit from this approach. Successful adaptation of IMS to the cloud-based environment will permit telecommunications operators to improve the availability of their Application Servers, which will enhance the user experience.