Projets novateurs réalisés

Precision Feeding System Commercialization Software Assistance Project

Xanantec is currently working on a multi-year project to commercialize a novel precision feeding system for poultry. This project involved mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and software development. This project will provide assistance to the partner organization in completing this commercialization activity. Xanantec Technologies Inc. is an engineering consulting firm based out of Edmonton Alberta and has been in business for over 22 years. As a consulting firm the company has felt the ebbs and flows of 5 economic downturns in all of the years in business and as such is looking to diversify into becoming a products based business vs a fee for service type of business. The development of this novel feeding station has been complicated by COVID and in particular the parts shortages and long lead times of integrated circuit providers. It is hoped that the extra resource on the software side will help provide some additional momentum to getting everything completed and the product released in 2023.

Preparation of Phosphonium Cumulene Cations

In the last two decades there has been growing interest in understanding the structure and reactivity of chemicals containing phosphorus. Phosphorus compounds are known for their applications in organic synthesis, materials science, and catalysis. Developments in these applied areas has been enabled through fundamental studies which describe synthetic methods for preparing new phosphorus molecules. Fundamental studies that focus on the Lewis acid characteristics of phosphorus compounds are necessary to make advancements in catalysis. Lewis acidity is a property of molecules that describes their ability to attract electrons, which is critical to the activation of commercial substrates in stoichiometric and catalytic transformations. The proposed research discloses a synthetic method to isolate a novel type of compound known as a phosphonium cumulene cation. We will prepare these molecules by combining protocols developed by the Caputo and Dielmann labs. The structure and reactivity of the proposed molecules will advance the known Lewis acid chemistry of phosphorus and may have implications in inert molecule activations for stoichiometric and catalytic reactions.

Natural products in bronchial asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the airways in the lungs. The inner lining (epithelium) of the airways forms a protective barrier against harmful irritants. This lining is frequently injured but repairs itself quickly. In asthma, however, this barrier is dysfunctional and cannot repair itself when injured. This allows irritants into the airway tissue and initiates an inflammatory response. As the lining cannot repair itself properly, chronic inflammation develops. Natural products have been proposed as useful in treating asthma, however, they are not always safe. We will grow epithelial cells from the airway in two cell culture models of asthma to:
• understand how plicatic acid, the natural compound that causes western red-cedar asthma (WRCA), damages the inner lining of the airways;
• investigate how honey may promote repair of damaged epithelium.

PROOF will benefit from this research by being involved in the identification of new signatures for allergic asthma, WRCA, damaged epithelial cells and markers of epithelial healing.

Digital Audit and Marketing Strategy Development

We want to improve how we digitally reach our target markets, so that we can grow awareness and increase revenue. To achieve that, this project has several core elements (to be refined with a successful applicant):

Audit: To examine our web, ecommerce and social media channels to understand who we are reaching and how they are behaving, relative to who we currently believe to be our target audience.
Strategy: Based on the audit, help us craft a strategy to refine and optimize our digital channels so that we improve how we communicate, and with what groups, to grow awareness and sales.
Tactics: Driving from the strategy, craft a tactical plan which will create an actionable road map of activities.

Développement de méthodes non locales en théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité

Les méthodes de calcul de structure électronique, en chimie computationnelle, permettent de prédire et d’interpréter les propriétés des molécules. Depuis quelques décennies, la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité (DFT) s’impose par rapport à d’autres méthodes de calcul de structures électroniques, comme celles qui sont basées sur la fonction d’onde (WFT), de par son exactitude raisonnable et son faible coût computationnel. Cette efficacité tient au fait que la DFT est une méthode variationnelle utilisant la densité électronique, rho(r) (la densité de probabilité de trouver un électron à la position r), comme quantité fondamentale, une fonction de 3 variables (r=(x,y,z)), plutôt que la fonction d’onde, une fonction de 3N variables (N étant le nombre d’électrons impliqués dans le système). Néanmoins, une partie de l’énergie, nommée échange-correlation, doit être approximée dans le cadre de cette théorie. Les approximations actuelles en DFT ne permettent pas de traiter adéquatement les interactions à longue portée, qui jouent un rôle important pour les phénomènes qui intéressent les chimistes de nos jours, comme les complexes de Van der Waals et les complexes de transfert de charge.

Imaging of Organic Contaminants with Spectral Induced Polarization

In this research project, the student will first be integrated into Dr. Slater’s research group and begin learning the desired knowledge and skills related to his PhD research. The project will be mainly focused on the training of performing laboratory experiments using widely used imaging techniques on polluted soils. The experiments will focus on the operation of different instrumentation using different approaches on implementing laboratory experiments. Moreover, different processing techniques will be employed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the experimental results. A key goal of this research program is the collaboration with a world-leading expert in his field and the learning of new knowledge and skills that will directly enhance student’s PhD research and improve his research communication and networking skills. Lastly, this program is an exciting opportunity for the student to travel and study in another country and experience a different culture and lifestyle.

Conversion du glycérol en acroléine et acrylonitrile

La production de biodiésel (et donc de glycérol) à partir des lipides devra être effectuée dans des usines de capacité relativement limitée, donc délocalisées. Une délocalisation similaire des usines de conversion du glycérol pourrait alors s’avérer avantageuse ce qui générerait la création d’activité économique nouvelle dans les régions qui comme le Québec ne bénéficient pas de ressources pétrolières. Les deux composés visés par ce projet (acroléine et acrylonitrile) sont des produits chimiques servant de matières premières. Tous deux sont produits à très grande échelle à partir de propylène d’origine fossile. Il y a donc un potentiel très significatif pour des nouveaux procédés de produire ces deux composés à partir d’une source verte, le glycérol.

Intact : Détection de réclamations perte totale à partir d’images

Intact vise à offrir un service de réclamations accéléré à ses clients. Au moment d’ouvrir une réclamation, Intact demande d’ores et déjà à ses clients de fournir des images du véhicule qui permettent d’identifier préalablement la condition générale du véhicule.
Le stagiaire aura ainsi à extraire l’information de manière automatique à partir des images qui seront attachées au dossier. Intact souhaite ensuite explorer différents filons grâce à l’apprentissage automatique supervisé pour raccourcir les étapes jugées critiques dans le processus de réclamation.
La satisfaction des clients est grandement influencée par le temps requis pour régler une réclamation. Ce projet vise principalement raccourcir ces délais et à améliorer la productivité des employés assignés aux réclamations.

TVI Ocean Impact Initiative

Working together with the Tourism Vancouver Island (TVI), the intern will develop and implement a communications campaign targeting consumers and tourism businesses focused on ocean stewardship and responsible travel. The intern will elevate the role and responsibility of destination management organizations in serving as stewards of the destination in order to reduce the impact of the visitor economy on Vancouver Island’s ocean and intertidal ecosystems through direct action, research, and communications.

The project aims to increase awareness of the tourism industry’s impact on the ocean on Vancouver Island, maintaining its place as a world-renowned destination. This project will seek to mitigate impacts on ocean and intertidal ecosystems through shoreline cleanups while encouraging tourism businesses and visitors to reduce their impact on the ocean through corporate and consumer communication activities.

As an Island destination, protecting and reducing the tourism industry’s impact on the ocean is essential to Vancouver Island maintaining its place as a world-renowned destination. The benefits for TVI of this project:
– raise Vancouver island sustainability tourism profile,
– make Vancouver Island an attractive destination that implements sustainable practices,
– implement actions that support the Biosphere Tourism Certification that TVI applied for in 2021.

Documentary Digital Storytelling & Decolonization: Discussion Series on Co-Creating Media with a purpose in Indigenous Communities

This study aims to examine Indigenous methodological and participatory approaches to co-creating media with Indigenous storytellers and communities. Additionally, this study aims to generate information about ways to decolonize the media production process through better understanding co-creation and engagement practices. Through a dynamic partnership with two doctoral candidates whose dissertations explore Indigenous participatory methods of co-creating a script and accompanying impact campaign for a DocuStory on Hep C, staff and youth at the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) gain practical insights into producing digital stories in a culturally appropriate and meaningful way. By creating a behind the scenes mini-documentary to be used for discussions, a Tacos and Talking series will allow student researchers to engage and discuss their process and key-learnings with staff and youth. Additionally, by analyzing scholarly literature and learning from the experiences of Indigenous participants involved in the DocuStory, this study will expand the knowledge base relating to co-creating cultural relevant media with a strategic purpose. USAY’s participation in this study provides an engaging opportunity for their programs to engage in discussions about co-creating media with communities while raising awareness and destigmatizing Hep C to improve health equity to work toward reconciliation on health.

GRRIT UAlberta Business Strategy Internship

The GRRIT (Glenrose Rehabilitation Research, Innovation and Technology) hub within Alberta Health Services is collaborating with the University of Alberta to support the development of innovative products to benefit people living with physical or cognitive disabilities. We also have working relationships with industry, entrepreneurs, clinical staff, patients, and families who have expertise in engineering, design, business development and marketing. The overarching goal is to improve outcomes of patients by using engineering skills to bring promising devices and ideas into use within the health system. This proposal will provide unique work experiences to undergraduate engineering students beyond the technical engineering mentorships through academic advisors to entrepreneurship, role of intellectual property and its protection, interactions with healthcare and healthcare professionals, and taking a product from the idea stage to intended use through the organization advisors.

DSORC Application – Strategic Planning Associate & Operations Associate

In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the transformation of the global workforce, The Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County (DSORC) has adapted by transforming our organization to align with the current times. Throughout the pandemic, a multitude of our services have gone virtual and all of our employees have been working from home. To emerge from this in a triumphant fashion, DSORC is in the process of building a new office and community space that will further our status as a leader in Dementia awareness. With this, DSORC is tasked with transforming our delivery model, moving our entire organization into a new space and creating individual workplans for each employee.