Innovative Projects Realized

Development of a tool for analysis of low-frequency oscillation modes in power systems signals

Power systems are subjected to randomly occurring normal and abnormal events that can trigger oscillatory response creating unsafe sustained fluctuations in power, voltages, currents and the frequency. Increasing integration of power electronics interfaced renewable generation contribute to new types of oscillations due to control interactions, sometimes supper imposed on classical electromechanical oscillations. Such oscillations can damage equipment and ultimately results in blackouts due to cascaded tripping if not controlled using appropriate remedial actions. Thus, the response of the power system against oscillatory instability must be monitored routinely through offline simulations (to take preventive measures) and through real-time measurements (to take remedial control actions). Manitoba Hydro International (MHI) is the developer of PSCAD power system simulation program and the accompanied Enerplot post-simulation data processing tool. MHI intends to incorporate an oscillation analysis tool into its PSCAD and/or Enerplot software. The underline purpose of this project is to support this development.

This project aims to analyze the effectiveness of existing oscillation mode analysis algorithms and propose methodologies to improve their performance. These methodologies will be enhanced to perform analysis considering both single-variable and multi-variable input data.

dCBT for Insomnia app

Tranq Sleep Care is focused on providing high-quality sleep care and creating new innovative solutions to diagnosing
and treating sleep disorders. Tranq is currently developing an online web app that aims to help people suffering from
insomnia. The challenge in delivering the treatment through an app is that it must be made such that patients get a
level of care comparable to traditional treatment. Tranq has recruited video editors, IT technicians, and data analysts
to try to make the app easy to use and entertaining. This is part of ongoing research on how to make behavioral
treatment more accessible to the public.
With the web-based version being in the final stages, the intern will be working on making the app android/iOS accessible.
Tranq does not only want its app to be informational and helpful to insomniacs but also engaging and easy to use.

Process Improvement and Marketing Project

The goal for this project is to obtain partial funding for our intern student who we will have until the end of December 2022. Their duties will consist mainly of process improvement, as well as marketing, advertising and business acquisition. This approach will be to not only increase our current market of cliental, but also allow us to add new streams of revenue by advertising additional services that will be offered as well as help us advertise to larger business’ and corporations.

Improving Access to Detached Additional Dwelling Unit Data

The “Improving Access to Detached Additional Dwelling Unit Data” project will help ensure the successful scaling of the ADUSearch.ca tool, an online interactive mapping tool that allows users to determine the physical feasibility of building a detached ADU in compliance with the local zoning bylaws on both a lot-by-lot basis and at an aggregated geographic level. By understanding and analyzing existing and potential ADU development, property owners and policy makers alike are able to improve decision-making on both a lot-by-lot and aggregate level in order to make individual development decisions, in addition to understanding the broader policy implications to create, incentivize, or restrict ADU development.

Developing a Voice Interface for Music Searching

The search for music for a video is time-intensive. Video creators and bloggers listen to hundreds of tracks in music libraries, yet barely find the perfect one because of the difficulty of communicating their vision to the computer. Thus, the question we address in this research project is on the role of the modality, in which information is presented (e.g. voice, text, music, video), on the interpretation of this information. In particular, the project focused on the exploration of the music searching for video and comparison of two communication contexts: computer-mediated communication between human users and human-agent communication. The research project will involve preparing and conducting user studies, data analysis, and writing the research paper. The preparation of the user study might involve the design and implementation of a conversational agent prototype for capturing the context and idea of the user using modern artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques.

Un cinéma à l’ère du numérique : technique, pratique et esthétique dans l’oeuvre d’Abdellatif Kechiche

Le présent projet de recherche vise à établir le rôle essentiel que jouent les techniques cinématographiques numériques récentes dans la méthode de travail du cinéaste Abdellatif Kechiche, et leur impact sur l’esthétique de ses films. Par sa pratique unique, le cinéma d’Abdellatif Kechiche constitue une étude de cas exemplaire pour continuer à comprendre les mutations du cinéma à l’ère de sa transformation numérique et participer à construire un mode d’appréhension des technologies numériques.

Radiochemistry for the Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Novel Bone-Targeting Peptide Hormone Derivatives Year Two

This proposed research project is about development of new bone-targeting drug called PTHPEG- BP, this new compound will overcome shortages of current clinical peptide hormone PTH, and show better treatment efficacy and lower price then the latter; several new technologies will be used on research of this PTH, such as micro Positron Emission Tomography (PET/CT), and several of its characteristics will be identified such as structure, bioactivity, and metabolism inside body. After preparation of this compound, its production will be scaled up for commercialization by our partner organization Osteometabolix Pharmaceuticals Inc., which in collaboration with big Pharma, will undertake clinical trials of PTH-PEG-BP in human patients; our ultimate goal is to develop PTH-PEG-BP towards investigational new drug (IND) status.

Assessing the effect of CO2-induced degradation on wellbore integrity in CO2 storage reservoirs in Lloydminster

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential in achieving the Paris Agreement’s objectives, reducing emissions and meeting Canada’s Net-Zero target by 2050. To this end, shallow depleted heavy oil reservoirs in Saskatchewan and Alberta provide a good opportunity for large scale CO2 sequestration projects. This research focuses on assessing the potential of CO2 storage in the Lloydminster post-CHOPS reservoirs by examining the factors that affect long term wellbore integrity for safe CO2 storage in Waseca and Deadwood formations. This objective will be achieved through a combination of lab experiments, well log data and numerical simulations.

Outil d’aide à la décision pour la conception d’un réseau logistique régional mutualisé, efficient et éco-responsable des denrées alimentaires dans les Laurentides

Le chantier transport durable des denrées – volet sécurité alimentaire a été ciblé comme une priorité régionale et le Carrefour bioalimentaire Laurentides a coordonné l’élaboration d’un plan de transport durable ainsi que sa mise en oeuvre. À la suite de nombreuses consultations regroupant les partenaires, le plan de transport durable a permis de se doter d’un portrait et d’élaborer des solutions collectives pour une optimisation durable du transport, de la logistique et de la manutention des denrées alimentaires de qualité pour les clientèles en situation de vulnérabilité dans les Laurentides. Une des recommandations du plan de transport consistait à : ‘’Créer une entreprise d’économie sociale en transport bioalimentaire régional ou octroi de ce rôle à un organisme existant.’’ Le CBL souhaite maintenant se doter d’un portrait de la logistique et du transport des entreprises bioalimentaires de la région des Laurentides afin d’élaborer des modèles de mutualisation permettant de diminuer les ressources en lien avec les services de transport et logistique autant pour les entreprises bioalimentaires que les organismes oeuvrant en sécurité alimentaire.

Advanced Precision Medicine in Radiation Oncology: Identifying Predictive Markers of Treatment Response

Half of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy, and of this group 15% will develop a tissue injury, or side effect, from the treatment. At present, however, there are no reliable methods for predicting a patient’s response to radiation therapy. We have studied mice with different genetic make ups and determined that there are certain genes which affect the mouse response to radiation. We propose to test whether the human versions of these same genes influence a person’s response to radiation by reviewing the radiation reactions of BC Cancer patients who previously consented to participate. We will not know any patient identities, but we will study their specific genes and determine whether knowing these tells us about their radiation reaction.

Structural engineering of non-covalently fused-ring electron acceptors for high performance organic solar cells.

Considering the continually growing energy demands and concerns about climate change due to anthropogenic CO2 generated from fossil fuels, there has been a global endeavor to transition towards low-carbon renewable energy sources, particularly photovoltaic technologies. Organic solar cells (OSCs) are ideal candidates for low-cost PV technologies thanks to the possibility of large-scale device fabrication by solution printing or coating techniques. Though OSCs cells have achieved remarkable progress in the last few decades, stability, efficiency, and cost issues hinder their commercialization. We will address this issue by developing materials called “non-fused ring electron acceptors” which have shown great promise as OSC materials and are potentially more cost effective than current materials. Thus, this research will benefit the community and the partner organization by advancing organic photovoltaic technologies toward commercialization.

Apprentissage en continu de modèles prédictifs à partir de données d’électrocardiogrammes

Les électrocardiogrammes (ECG) jouent un rôle majeur dans le diagnostic d’anomalies du rythme cardiaque. Cependant, la quantité de données produites pour suivre des patients sur de longues durées devient intraitable. Heureusement, l’apprentissage automatique (ML) a été appliqué avec succès sur des tâches comme la détection de battements et la classification de type de battements. Suivant l’approche ML conventionnelle, des modèles sont entraînés sur des données pré-collectées et ne sont plus mis à jour après leur déploiement. Ce projet vise à développer des stratégies permettant de poursuivre l’apprentissage des modèles avec des données récoltées en déploiement. Des indicateurs permettant d’évaluer l’équité seront également développés pour caractériser la performance des modèles sur les différentes sous-populations composant les données de manière à assurer une évolution des modèles bénéfique à tous. Les systèmes résultants seront livrés au partenaire en vue d’être intégrés à leur architecture ML.