Projets novateurs réalisés

Conciliation travail/étude-famille et francisation chez les pères immigrants d’expression anglaise au Québec

Au Québec, de nombreux pères immigrants d’expression anglaise doivent jongler entre leur travail, leur famille et l’apprentissage du français. Ce défi est encore plus grand lorsqu’ils doivent assurer la stabilité financière de leur famille tout en essayant de s’intégrer dans une société majoritairement francophone. Cette recherche vise à mieux comprendre les difficultés rencontrées par ces pères, notamment les obstacles liés à la francisation, la conciliation travail-famille et l’impact du stress sur leur bien-être. Plusieurs pères occupent des emplois en dessous de leurs qualifications parce qu’ils ne maîtrisent pas bien le français. De plus, les cours de francisation sont souvent difficiles d’accès en raison d’horaires peu flexibles ou d’une offre inadaptée. En étudiant ces enjeux, le projet cherche à mettre en lumière les répercussions de ces défis sur leur santé mentale, leur intégration sociale et leur rôle parental. Les résultats permettront de proposer des solutions concrètes pour améliorer les programmes de francisation et mieux soutenir ces pères dans leur intégration socio-économique. Cette recherche est essentielle pour favoriser une société plus inclusive où tous les parents immigrants ont une chance égale de s’épanouir et d’offrir un avenir prometteur à leurs enfants.

Fabrication of Antifouling Liquid-Infused Catheters

Catheter-associated infections (CAIs) pose a significant healthcare challenge in Canada and worldwide. CAIs contribute to increased patient morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and a significant burden on the healthcare system. With an aging population and growing antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need for innovative infection prevention strategies.

This project explores using repellent liquid-infused catheters to reduce bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, a significant complication with CAIs. Inspired by nature’s self-cleaning surfaces, these catheters utilize a tethered lubricant layer to create a dynamic, repellent interface, aiming to prevent bacterial colonization and subsequent biofilm formation. This project will explore scalable manufacturing processes to produce micro/nano-topographies on the surface of medical catheters to enhance the stability of the liquid-infused layer. Unlike conventional antibacterial coatings, this protective strategy does not rely on antibacterial agents, reducing the risk of developing resistant superbugs.

Through laboratory testing, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed catheters in reducing bacterial attachment and transmission. Furthermore, scaleup manufacturing and commercialization of these catheters will be explored in collaboration with FendX Technologies Inc. This research aligns with Canada’s commitment to healthcare innovation and infection control, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden CAIs pose on the healthcare system.

Host rock setting and timing of high grade goldmineralization in the Neoarchean Central Hearne Domain,Whale Cove, Nunavut, Canada

This project will carry out original research of a prospective lode gold system located on the western shore of Hudson’s Bay. The location is near the hamlet of Whale Cove. The gold mineralization is intrusive-related, very similar to that of the well known deposits of the Porcupine and Kirkland Lake camps of the southern Abitibi. The research specifically addresses the timing of gold mineralization within the context of related host rock alteration. Currently, there is considerable debate over a Neoarchean or Paleoproterozoic age of mineralization. Resolving this controversy will have direct effects on Northquest’s detailed drilling program. Also, the results of this study will have application to further regional gold exploration in the central Hearne. Establishing this domain as a new economic gold province would have a major effect on the local economy

The relationship between low back pain, pain related fear, and the quality of movement in low back pain patients

This study proposes to evaluate the quality of movement in patients with low back pain using a novel device. We are going to measure and compare the movement of people with back pain to that of healthy people. In addition, we plan on correlating the psychological factors associated with low back pain to tissue pathology. Many previous studies have used self-report measures of movement, and now we will determine whether our method of measuring movement correlates with these self-reports. If this new device developed by backtrack is able to measure back specific movement that other movement devices cannot pick up, it would become a vital tool in designing effective treatment protocols. If clinicians have a clearer idea of what is happening, where, and the perception the individual has of his pain, then treatments would become more effective

Industrial Applications of Frequency Comb Lidar

The goal of the proposed research project is to explore applications of frequency combs, for which laboratory applications have already been demonstrated, in an industrial setting. The research will be mainly focused on chemical sensing of stack emissions for monitoring purposes. As a secondary objective, the use of frequency combs in vibrometric measurements for structural health monitoring applications will also be explored. For the most promising applications, the project will be concluded with work on a development roadmap for a commercial platform. The proposed work will be beneficial for the partner organizations, as it will provide INO an opportunity to develop an expertise in frequency combs, a new and promising technology with a multitude of potential applications in remote sensing and frequency metrology. TCC will also benefit from the work in the form of new options and improved performance of their emission and structural health monitoring techniques.

Integrating Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for Secure Communication in Distributed Systems

This project aims to explore the potential of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for enhancing secure communication in distributed systems. A QKD environment will be simulated and quantum-generated keys will be integrated into a secure communication protocol. The project will involve building a simulated QKD layer and applying it to encrypt and authenticate messages in a distributed application.

Risk Prediction Modelling of Adverse COPD and CVD Outcomes in Patients with COPD

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often experience adverse health outcomes including COPD exacerbations and cardiovascular events. These events impose a significant economic burden on the healthcare system and lead to impairment of patients’ wellbeing. This project aims to develop a clinical prediction model (CPM) to predict the risk of COPD exacerbations and cardiovascular events in the COPD population using a large, multi-country observational cohort dataset. This project is part of the NOVELTY (a NOVEL observational longiTudinal study) investigation involving patients with obstructive lung disease which aims to understand patient characteristics, treatment patterns and disease burden over time and to identify phenotypes and endotypes. This project provides opportunities for early treatment which can reduce the severity and impact of acute COPD or CVD events.

Efficient large scale quantum error characterization

Quantum computing holds great promise in solving some problems that are intractable to its classical counterpart; however, current quantum devices are prone to errors, especially as they scale up. Our project focuses on developing efficient tools to detect and analyze these errors; we will construct an error map that characterizes where the different errors occur in the system and how the errors propagate. These insights will help error mitigation, thus improving the reliability of quantum computers. Through this collaboration, the Center for Quantum Software and Information at the University of Technology Sydney and the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo will make progress on quantum characterization and develop and improve methods to boost quantum computing’s practical applications, benefiting both institutions and the broader quantum community. In addition, the intern and her supervisor are well connected in the research community in Australia, so this cooperation would also strengthen the relationship between the research communities at IQC and Australia.

Enhanced Grid Stability and Power Management in Nova Scotia through AI-Driven Autonomous Voltage Control

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Validation of Water-Based, pH Neutral, Organic Redox Flow Batteries for Large Scale Energy Storage

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Better wind turbine forecasting; wind speed and wind turbine power output at single turbine spatial scale

Wind turbine generator power output and consumer electricity demand vary independently from one another. This presents a difficult situation for electricity grid managers as they attempt to exactly match demand using wind turbines and conventional generators (e.g. hydro, fossil fuels). Accurate forecasting of wind turbine generator power enhances management of the electricity grid, allowing for more wind turbine generating capacity while maintaining grid stability. This research will perform a sensitivity analysis on, calibrate and validate the newest high resolution wind power forecasting model for Atlantic Canada. Resolution of space and time have increased from 12 km and 60 minutes, representing an entire wind farm with one forecast point, to 0.1 km and 5 minutes, representing a single wind turbine in a specific topographic and surface roughness environment. Sensitivity analysis will compare the incremental gains in forecast accuracy due to increasing resolution. Calibration will be completed by forecasting a variety of wind turbine types and farms and comparing with actual performance data. Validation will insure accurate forecasting for a variety of conditions, topographies, and wind farm layout.

Modélisation et validation d’un échangeur de chaleur pour le stockage thermique de l’énergie solaire

L’énergie solaire est devenue très compétitive, mais l’inadéquation entre l’offre et la demande limite son utilisation dans certaines applications en raison du coût élevé du stockage. Pour résoudre ce problème, l’entreprise Énergie Solaire Innovatrice ISP travaille sur le stockage de l’énergie solaire sous forme de chaleur, afin de l’utiliser plus tard, soit directement sous forme de chauffage, soit indirectement pour produire de l’électricité. Pour générer de l’électricité, la chaleur est convertie en vapeur qui alimente une turbine à vapeur, permettant ainsi de produire de l’électricité.

Le sable représente un excellent candidat pour le stockage de chaleur en raison de ses propriétés thermiques et environnementales. Cependant, bien qu’il ait une bonne capacité de stockage thermique, le transfert de chaleur dans le sable reste relativement lent. Il est donc nécessaire d’utiliser un échangeur de chaleur pour faciliter la propagation de la chaleur dans le sable. Pour choisir le design optimal, un outil de simulation est utilisé pour prédire le comportement du système en étudiant le transport et le stockage de chaleur dans le sable. Cela permet d’optimiser la conception et de tester virtuellement la performance avant de passer à la fabrication.