Innovative Projects Realized

Analyse technico-économique des coproduits de la transformation des biomasses marines pour les secteurs bioalimentaire et agroalimentaire.

L’objectif général de la recherche est d’élaborer un modèle d’analyse technico-économique portant sur la valorisation des coproduits issus de la transformation du crabe et du homard en produits à valeur ajoutée. La recherche est mandatée par Merinov et touche quatre transformateurs de crabe et de homard de la Gaspésie et leurs clients potentiels, issus du milieu de l’alimentation humaine et animale. Des entrevues semi-dirigées avec les quatre transformateurs ciblés dans cette recherche seront réalisées de manière à préciser les paramètres de marché du modèle. Actuellement, les transformateurs déboursent des sommes considérables afin de disposer de la matière résiduelle. Ce projet vient donc solutionner cette problématique, en plus de permettre aux transformateurs d’effectuer des gains environnementaux et économiques importants.

Utilization of biooils and plastic pyrolysis liquid residues as raw materials in metallurgical processes

The metallurgical industry is currently facing challenges to reduce the green gas emission of fossil fuels. Biochar, driven from woody biomass, are the renewable promising material as a green reducing agent. However, the low bulk density, mechanical strength and the high reactivity of biochar are the main barriers limiting their efficient utilization and transportation at a reasonable cost. Densification is an efficient way to overcome the inferior properties of biochar. This research investigates the factors influencing the densification process of biocarbon briquettes to bring their quality close to the specifications of the metallurgical processes. Furthermore, upgrading the of the plastic pyrolysis residue to a valuable binder for aluminum industry will reduce the economical and the environmental costs of disposing this by-product.

Enhanced Neural Network Design and Optimization

Deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are transforming industry by way of automation, connectivity and availability of information technologies. However, AI remains incredibly challenging and costly to implement, often requiring massive data centers and cloud computing to operate. This research seeks to develop optimization methods to create faster, smaller and more energy-efficient AI algorithms that can operate on edge devices, such as battery-powered cars, sensors and phones. The work will have a major impact on the accessibility and environmental footprint of AI as a new and fast-growing technology.

Evaluating Interprofessional Palliative Care Education initiatives for health care professionals in Canada

Palliative care is an approach that aims to reduce suffering and improve the quality of life for people who are living with life-limiting illness. Almost all of the nearly 300,000 people who die in Canada each year could benefit from palliative care. There is a solid economic and social case for investing in palliative care across Canada. However, the implementation of palliative care is inconsistent, fragmented, and healthcare professionals often lack skills and confidence in providing this care.9 One of the priorities of the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada (2018) is to enhance palliative care education and training for health care providers. Pallium Canada’s innovative training programs contribute to this priority. Pallium Canada values ongoing quality improvement, research and development, stewardship of resources and accountability, and sees evaluation-derived data and insights as critical to inform its work. The evaluation studies proposed will enable Pallium Canada to ensure the organization is addressing Canada’s needs for palliative care efficiently and effectively, optimizing the substantial public investments already made in Canada’s healthcare systems. Improvements in the provision of palliative care across the healthcare systems could lead to sustained cost savings of tens of millions of TOBECONT’.

Identifying Logistical, Emotional and Digital Needs During the Estate Settlement Process

When a person passes away, family members have to navigate a host of administrative tasks to settle their estate. Closing out accounts, cancelling subscriptions, filing paperwork, and figuring out how to handle an ever-increasing online presence, bereaved individuals can become overwhelmed by this work. This research project aims to understand how people currently navigate the administrative tasks around death, the supports and obstacles in carrying out these tasks, and the opportunities for making this job easier for everyone. To meet these goals, our research will involve interviews and surveys with people who have gone through this process first-hand and service-providers who have helped people through this process (for instance, funeral directors and executor assistants). To leverage their unique expertise and experiences, the project will also bring these groups together with researchers to co-design a service that would address their emotional, technological, and informational needs as they carry out the administrative work that is a part of death.

Valorization of Ground Hemp Hurd Residuals

Hemp processing produces two products, the baste fibres, which make up the outer layers, has been used for hundreds of years for it’s sturdy long fibres in textiles, rope manufacturing and much more, however the inner components, or Hurd, have yet to find much widespread use beyond paper manufacturing and as animal bedding. This project seeks to investigate uses for hemp hurd fibres provided by Tekle Technical Services Inc(TTS). Primarily, research will investigate production of crystalline nano-cellulose(CNC) as an end product for these fines. The end-goal is creation of a novel industrial process that may include production of CNC, but will primarily build a strong business case for creation of a pilot-scale plant by TTS that will utilize residuals from their hemp processing to produce high-margin, innovative cellulose products.

Designing a Full Duplex Transceiver to Improve the Detection of Low Cost Resonators Used in Electronic Article Surveillance

Electronic Article Surveillance systems, which are used to help retailers detect shoplifted items, suffer from two major problems. First, the systems often fail to detect EAS tags/labels that are present within the ‘detection zone’ of the gate. Secondly, false detection indications when EAS tags/label are not present within the ‘detection zone’ of the gate. As a result of the unreliability, many of these systems are powered off by the retailer and only provide a visual deterrent to shoplifters. From some samples that INEO has conducted at a number of shopping centers, we estimate that as many as half of these systems are not powered on. The goal of this project is to improve EAS
detection technology to encourage more widespread use of these systems which will benefit retailers and consumers by reducing costs due to shoplifting.

Scalable Chatbot Framework for Multi Layered Chatbots and Memory.

The general objective of this research project is to develop a new natural and empathic chatbot by integrating the transformer and intent-based systems. The goal is to implement a system for expressive 3D interactive characters that can move between the structure of an intent-based system with specific Question and Answer pairs and the more open-ended smart system of the Transformer. Most currently existing chatbot systems are limited in their abilities to engage in open-ended and natural dialogues with human users. As such, this research project will investigate the possibility of expanding the knowledge base of existing chatbots to answer questions outside of the original knowledge base.

Blackbox optimization applied to Design of Experiments

The pharmaceutical industry relies on a process known as batch manufacturing to supply their goods to the public. Each batch takes time to ends, involves many parameters and is very expensive. Quality tests are performed at the end of each batch. The calibration of parameters is a crucial task and Design of Experiment (DoE) is the traditionally approach used. DoE is a predefined sequence of tests on parameters. Each test consists to run a batch with a given set of values of parameters and to measure the performance (quality tests) of that batch. DoE compiles obtained results and gives its best values of parameters. This project aims to explore an adaptive approach of DoE that consists to dynamically exploit the information from previous tests to determine the new set of values of parameters for the next test, in order to converge to a better set of values of parameters than a classical DoE approach, possibly with a less number of tests.

Predictive modeling in multiple sclerosis: using real-world data to inform practice, policy, and research

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressive disease of the brain and spinal cord, affects millions globally, including 93,500 Canadians. With one of the highest existing global MS rates, the number of Canadians living with MS is expected to increase to 133,600 by 2031 and the economic burden to reach $2 billion by the same date.

Treatments for MS are available to help manage and reduce the number episodes of increased disability, and control symptoms. But, while there have been many studies on independent risk factors for patient health outcomes, no study to date has attempted to combine patient, disease, and treatment-related factors to better predict treatment outcomes.

This study will link provincial health care records data with clinical data, to develop predictive models on MS-related outcomes, and make it available on a website to guide better treatment decisions. Better patient care will ultimately facilitate the cost-effective use of health care resources.

Mapping Building Conditions – perhaps a bit more – for what purpose

Despite advancement in asbestos education and knowledge, there remains a shortcoming in area of management of asbestos exposure, which results in human health impact. This shortcoming was documented in a study carried out in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Alexander et al 2012). Alexander and colleagues examined the population exposed to asbestos and looked into evidence of lung changes consistent with asbestos exposure. Their investigation demonstrated a strong relation between asbestos exposure due to poor detection and management practices, and measurable human lung modifications. Unfortunately, despite the invested efforts to reduce asbestos exposure, Ontario still allows the import and utilization of asbestos products (2013, April). The goal of this research project is to target issues concerning accurate classification of ACM conditions, thereby improving the well-being of workers health, and hence preventing future harm from asbestos. This project is in partnership with ECOH Management Inc.

Development of High-Performance Additively Manufactured Wicks for Two-Phase Heat Transfer Applications

The objective of this project is to leverage the design freedom offered by additive manufacturing (AM) to create and high-performance capillary structures optimized for two-phase heat transfer applications (e.g., heat pipes). Moreover, compared with conventional heat pipe systems, these wick structures can be directly fabricated as part of one-piece AM metal parts and housings, allowing a two-phase thermal management system to be directly integrated into virtually any component. This will serve to lower the weight and improve the thermal performance of heat sinks in applications such as electronics cooling, lighting, and thermal comfort.
As the auto industry pivots to EVs and autonomy, Ontario industries need to develop transformative automotive technologies to ensure their relevance in this quickly changing industry. These project outcomes will allow Magna to design and develop lightweight, high-performance, two-phase AM thermal management solutions for a myriad of applications and enable Magna to offer unique solutions to a wide and diverse range of potential customers, resulting in new product lines and revenue streams. By developing this technology, Magna will be positioned to pioneer next-generation electronics cooling and electric vehicle (EV) thermal management technology.