Projets novateurs réalisés

Improving access to chronic pain care: A pilot window-of-opportunity study of the Power Over Pain Portal at The Ottawa Hospital

Chronic pain (CP) affects 1 in 5 Canadian youth and adults. It is not uncommon for individuals to wait months or years to receive the care they need. Power Over Pain (PoP) is an online portal which offers evidenced-based resources for people living with pain (PLWP), ranging from low-intensity (e.g., pain education) to high-intensity (e.g., individual counselling), available as needed. Participants of this study will be recruited from The Ottawa Hospital Pain Clinic (TOH). PWLP will be asked to complete questionnaires about their pain, self-efficacy, coping, attitudes, etc. when starting the study, as well as at 3-month and 6-month follow-up. A smaller group of these individuals will be asked to complete an interview to understand user experiences with PoP. Researchers will look at the feasibility (recruitment, integration, facilitators and barriers, patient engagement, usability, and acceptability) of the portal implementation for people living with CP awaiting a first visit at TOH.

Fisheries entanglement mitigation for the conservation of large whales in Atlantic Canada

THIS IS A GENERIC TEXT PUT IN PLACE AS THERE WAS NO PROJECT OVERVIEW

Lignosulfonate profiles in the neutral sulfite semi-chemical (NSSC) pulping process and effect on the anaerobic treatment of wastewater

Lake Utopia Paper is interested in developing and improving the birch NSSC pulping process for the production of corrugating medium. The primary objective of this project is to develop delignification and sulfonation models for process control of NSSC pulping of birch. In addition, the relationship between the NSSC pulping process and the properties of the final product (pulping efficiency, yield and pulp properties) will be established. Through further development of the NSSC pulping process, it will improve the economic performance of the company and allow them to remain competitive in the international market. The result from this research project will not only benefit the Lake Utopia Paper, but also other Canadian Pulp and paper industries.

Developing Travel Mode Choice Models and Simulation Tools Incorporating Autonomous and Micro-mobility Services for a Smaller Canadian Municipality

Newer travel modes such as shared e-bikes and autonomous transit have/are emerged/considered to be low-cost, accessible and sustainable travel options. However, data and models to support evidence-based planning and policies for the effective deployment of these innovative transport options for smaller municipalities like the City of Kelowna is rare. This research fills a critical gap in developing transportation models and simulation tools incorporating the effects of newer and futuristic transport modes. In particular, the project will explore existing active and shared transportation options such as shared e-bike, shared e-scooter and conventional transit services, with a focus on autonomous transit vehicles being deployed along an active transportation corridor. To achieve this, the interns will develop travel mode choice models that will include these newer modes of transport, and microsimulate the usage of these emerging transport modes. The models and recommendations developed in this project will be used by the partner to better understand the evolving needs of their transportation systems, allowing them to develop sustainable transportation plans and policies to harness these changes in the most productive way.

Business interns within cross-functional teams to develop and commercialize AI-powered solutions – Part 3

AltaML is an innovative company capitalizing on a major technological trend: artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, enabled by big data, are driving a fourth industrial revolution. AI will transform all industries, but traditional industries face challenges in implementing AI. AltaML has a unique business model to overcome barriers to adoption of AI solutions by industry, which is to bring the innovating startup together with the large organization, thereby bringing together rich datasets, AI talent with a playbook for industry application and the close collaboration of subject matter experts and AI experts–with a mindset for change. In addition to AI expertise, we bring agility that our large, corporate partners often lack, and which is so essential for innovation. With a strategic focus on AI adoption and product, AltaML works across industries as well as with the public sector using a co-development approach to create applied AI solutions as well as joint AI ventures. This rich, complex multisectoral environment provides the breadth that enables insights in one area to be applied in new areas, leading to ever increasing opportunities for innovation.

The project comprises internships in a variety of technical and business roles, which are: associate machine learning developer, business development associate, communications associate, finance associate, associate business solutions consultant, and project delivery associate. Outcomes will include algorithm creation and deployment, data visualizations, market research reports, sales collateral, competitive landscape analysis, feasibility analysis; key messages and content writing such as case studies and feature articles, financial model development, data analysis, financial reports and variance analysis, customer workflow mapping, business case reports, resource allocation plans, project update reports, and project plans.

The Delphi Group – Sustainability Consulting Sales Intern – Joanna

Delphi is working in a constellation of organizations that includes GLOBE Series, CBSR, and Leading Change. Delphi’s mission is to transform the way leading organizations generate value and take steps to make our world better. Our team is made up of leading experts in corporate sustainability, climate change, the green economy, and innovation and cleantech. The Sustainability Sales Intern will evaluate our sales performance and will implement a better tracking system for both organizing and tracking sales activities. This project will include developing and executing a sustainable sales campaign that follows Delphi’s needs on the market. The intern will work in a team that passionately believes in sustainability and is dedicated to support other organizations to implement sustainable solutions for a greener business.

Strategies de resolution pour le probleme d’engagement des groupes chez Hydro-Quebec

La transition energetique est bien entamee au Quebec et une des consequences importantes de cette transition est l’augmentation de la demande en energie electrique. De meilleurs outils de conduite du reseau comme ceux proposes dans ce projet, permettront de limiter l’impact de l’augmentation de la demande et ainsi faciliter l’integration de celle-ci sans freiner la transition energetique. Hydro-Quebec retirera plusieurs avantages de ce
projet. Tout d’abord, l’entreprise accedera a l’expertise disponibles des professeurs et etudiants de Polytechnique Montreal dans la resolution du probleme d’optimisation lineaire avec nombres entiers de grande taille. En plus, le
succes de ce projet est la capacite de resoudre le probleme d’engagement des groupes avec contraintes de stabilite transitoire en mains de 1 0 minutes, ce qui permettra une exploitation a la fois optimale et securitaire du reseau electrique d’Hydro-Quebec. Une exploitation plus optimale du reseau permettra une meilleure utilisation des ressources hydriques qui devrait resulter avec une augmentation de la charge pouvant etre alimentee par le
reseau. Cette possibilite nous amene a des gains pour la societe.

Wearable Digital Technology for Continuous Monitoring of Vital Signs – part A

SFU will be collaborating with partners of a supercluster on the Continuous Connected Patient Care (CCPC) Platform, which is being developed to provide safe, responsive, and high-quality outpatient care at home. We will be working directly with our partner, Medtronic Canada. SFU’s will focus on the research, development, and testing of medical grade wearable sensor systems for untethered and continuous monitoring of vital patient parameters including SpO2, pulse rate, respiration rate, activity, and blood pressure. Research will focus on generating innovative wearable technologies for continuous monitoring of vital signs that are comfortable for the user and provide reliable and accurate monitoring capabilities.

Novel imaging approaches to understand heart function

The most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AF), affecting 2-3% of the general population. If left untreated, arrhythmias can lead to heart failure, stroke, or sudden death. A better understanding of AF mechanisms is needed to improve our understanding of disease pathogenesis and create new therapeutic tools. We have developed a zebrafish model that carries a mutation in one of the genes commonly affected in AF patients. This model has several characteristics that resemble AF pathophysiology. Therefore, we aim to use this model in two major objectives: (1) identify factors that contribute to disease onset and progression and (2) develop an imaging-based approach to identify new anti-arrhythmic compounds that attenuate disease. In this project, the intern will visit the host lab to learn new imaging approaches that will help define mechanisms leading to disease.

Stage de recherche en écologie forestière et aquatique

La stagiaire devra aider les étudiants à la maitrise et au doctorat dans leurs projets pour leur terrain ainsi
que leurs laboratoires. Elle devra donc assister les étudiants dans leur prise de données sur le terrain sur
les lacs boréaux et en forêt boréale. Elle sera formée sur l’utilisation de nombreux appareils de mesure
pour les variables environnementales et reliées à la faune et la flore. Selon le calendrier des différents
projets, elle devra mesurer la croissance d’arbres, aider à l’installation d’équipements sur le terrain,
caractériser la végétation et les peuplements forestiers, faire des inventaires mycologiques et de
végétation, suivre l’occupation des huttes de castor, caractériser des milieux aquatiques et échantillonner
des communautés d’invertébrés et de poissons à l’aide de filets. Elle prendra des échantillons de
contamination au métaux lourds pour la restauration de milieux aquatiques dégradés et effectuera des
suivis d’espèces exotiques envahissantes. La stagiaire devra également assister certains étudiants dans
leurs manipulations en laboratoire tels que le séchage, le pesage de biomasse forestière et aquatique. Le
stage pourra inclure l’identification d’invertébrés aquatiques à la loupe binoculaire et au microscope, de
la dendrochronologie, et des traitements d’échantillons divers.

Geochemical and isotope tracing of volcanic units in the Paleoproterozoic Hamersley basin in Australia and the Griqualand West basin in South Africa

The goal of this study is to determine the links between two critically important sedimentary basins that record major changes in the Earths atmosphere and surface environment around 2.5 billion years ago. These basins are now on different continents, the Hammersley basin in Australia, and the Griqualand West basin in South Africa, however when they were formed it is thought that they were connected. We have samples from ash horizons from both basins throughout the stratigraphy, and zircon from these ashes has been used to generate high precision U-Pb ages for the sediments. In this project, we intend to measure the trace element and Hf isotope composition of the zircon crystals that have been dated. This methodology has been developed by Princeton professor Dr. Blair Schoene and the Princeton lab is world leading in these types of measurements. We will use this data to understand the source of volcanism that has been recorded in the basins, allowing us to gain insight into their tectonic setting. we will also be able to trace the volcanic source for both basins over time to see whether they evolve consistently or not.

Epoxy-PEI interpenetrating polymer network enhanced with electric field-oriented carbon nanoparticles

This research project aims to investigate for the first time the electric field alignment of carbon nanoparticles in an epoxy-poly(ether imide) polymeric system, to enhance electrical conductivity in targeted directions. By applying and tuning an external electric field, the carbon nanoparticles are expected to rotate, create an interconnected network, and promote anisotropic electrical and thermal conduction. By exploring the polymer blend interfaces for the selective localization of nanoparticles combined with electric field alignment, the study aims to obtain a PEI/epoxy nanocomposite with high electrical conductivity at an ultra-low nanoparticle concentration while allowing for a tunable conduction pathway. The extent of alignment and its effects on the nanocomposite properties will be experimentally assessed using techniques such as rheology, microscopy, and dielectric measurements.