Innovative Projects Realized

Développement d’un protocole de qRT-PCR pour l’analyse de l’expression des gènes de biosynthèse des cannabinoïdes majeurs du chanvre en réponse aux facteurs de stress environnementaux.

Aujourd’hui, le marché mondial du chanvre est en plein essor. En Belgique, la valorisation de cette plante multi-usage se fait majoritairement sur la graine, la fibre, et la chénovette. Cette plante est caractérisée par un métabolisme secondaire produisant des molécules à hautes valeurs ajoutées (comme le cannabidiol ou CBD et le delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol THC). L’intérêt pour ces molécules thérapeutiques, notamment le CBD, grandit et génère beaucoup d’attentes sur le plan de la recherche. Cependant, très peu de recherche ont été menées sur les mécanismes moléculaires qui régulent la biosynthèse et l’accumulation de ces cannabinoïdes majeurs. L’objectif de ce projet consiste à développer une méthode d’analyse de l’expression des gènes de biosynthèse du CBD et du THC. Cette méthode pourra servir à mieux suivre la teneur en CBD dans le chanvre et contribuer à une valorisation innovante et éco-responsable pour cette filière.

Evaluation of the Effects of Autonomous Vehicles on Highway Geometric Design

Autonomous vehicles (AV) need to see ahead since the driver no longer drives the vehicles. The driver’s eye in AV is replaced by the Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar). However, the distance ahead of the autonomous vehicle that must be available, called sigh distance SD, is less for AV because the perception-reaction time of the AV is much less than that of the driver. The main objectives of this project are threefold: (1) to develop revised values of different types of sight distances that are required by autonomous vehicles, (2) to determine the configuration of Lidar sensors (height, effective range, field of view) for the safe operation of AV on mixed traffic (autonomous and human-driven vehicles) on existing highways, and (3) to present revised values for geometric design on highways with only autonomous vehicles. The results of the proposed project should improve safety of AV on existing and new highways.

The influence of early-life gut microbiome disruption on HPA stress axisdysregulation and allergic asthma – Year two

Asthma affects 1 in 8 Canadian children and is the leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations with costs to Canadian health care
systems estimated to exceed 4.2Billion/year by 2030. While the causes are still debated, infant prematurity is a strong predictor for
asthma. The altered gut bacterial community (microbiome) in preemies is suspected to contribute to asthma susceptibility by
miscommunicating with regions of the brain that control stress and inflammation in the body, including microglia immune cells.
Malfunctioning microglia may thus contribute to stress and inflammation that leads to asthma.

Our project will examine the contributing role of microglia in controlling stress activity, immune development and functioning and
asthma susceptibility of newborn mice, by altering their microbiome using early-life chronic stress, antibiotics and preemie fecal transplant exposures. Microglia will also be genetically target-eliminated to verify their critical function in stress-mediated asthma
activation. Finally, we will also examine the therapeutic potential for probiotics developed by Lallemand Health Solutions to repair
microglia and prevent asthma by normalizing the microbiome and the communication pathways to the brain.

Our results will provide Lallemand with important therapeutic information about their probiotics to ameliorate stress pathways and
asthma, which will help them improve and develop targeted probiotic formulations.

The influence of early-life gut microbiome disruption on HPA stress axis dysregulation and allergic asthma

Asthma affects 1 in 8 Canadian children and is the leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations with costs to Canadian health care systems estimated to exceed 4.2Billion/year by 2030. While the causes are still debated, infant prematurity is a strong predictor for asthma. The altered gut bacterial community (microbiome) in preemies is suspected to contribute to asthma susceptibility by miscommunicating with regions of the brain that control stress and inflammation in the body, including microglia immune cells. Malfunctioning microglia may thus contribute to stress and inflammation that leads to asthma.

Our project will examine the contributing role of microglia in controlling stress activity, immune development and functioning and asthma susceptibility of newborn mice, by altering their microbiome using early-life chronic stress, antibiotics and preemie fecal transplant exposures. Microglia will also be genetically target-eliminated to verify their critical function in stress-mediated asthma activation. Finally, we will also examine the therapeutic potential for probiotics developed by Lallemand Health Solutions to repair microglia and prevent asthma by normalizing the microbiome and the communication pathways to the brain.

Our results will provide Lallemand with important therapeutic information about their probiotics to ameliorate stress pathways and asthma, which will help them improve and develop targeted probiotic formulations.

Evaluation of the potential influence of biogeoclimatic condition on the environmental impact of carrion decomposition.

The natural process of terrestrial decomposition leads to the release of chemical and biological by-products into the surrounding soil. It is largely unknown how regional variations in climate, fauna and flora influence the environmental impacts experienced from the leaching of these products. The following project aims to evaluate if biogeoclimatic conditions play a significant role in the chemical and microbial changes observed in soils surrounding pig carcass decomposition. This will be accomplished by comparing the relationship dynamics of microbial activity and organic matter chemistry in soils from temperate and tropical decomposition research sites respectively located in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec and Honolulu, Hawaii. This comparative study can lead to the development of universally applicable measures for evaluating the environmental impact of body decomposition. Findings can further facilitate the improvement of soil forensic techniques used for time-since-death estimation and clandestine grave detection.

Physical Model Experimental SAGD/HT-VAPEX Project, and Simulations

In thermal-solvent assisted gravity drainage recovery processes, bitumen viscosity reduction takes places under combined effect of heating and dilution. Imperial has been optimizing the existing solvent recovery processes and developing new technologies to improve the efficiencies and environmental performance of the heavy oil production operations. Recent focus of the company has been in the area of performance optimization of the Azeotropic Heated Vapor Extraction, a new thermal solvent recovery technology developed by Imperial. The performance behavior of pure components on bitumen recovery has been well understood through extensive in-house laboratory studies. However, for the case of commercially feasible processes, multi-component diluent solvents are considered. The laboratory studies have shown prominent underperformance for the commercial diluent solvent when operated at low pressures. The significantly lower oil production rates at lower operation pressures are expected to be due to existence of the light component solvents (e.g. propane and butane) in the diluent stream. This study therefore, focuses on in-depth investigation and understanding of the effect of light hydrocarbon solvents in diluent on performance of Heated VAPEX processes. This will be accomplished through an integrated research program that includes fundamental laboratory work, advanced numerical simulation studies and laboratory scaled physical modeling experiments.

Identification des empreintes digitales de cadavres en décomposition: Optimisation du processus d’analyse avec l’interprétation bayésienne

Les empreintes digitales sont utilisées comme moyen d’identification de victimes ou de corps non identifiés. Or, il n’est pas rare dans un contexte d’enquête policière qu’une victime soit retrouvée dans un état de décomposition cadavérique. Les changements post-mortem peuvent entraver la capacité à obtenir des impressions nettes et utilisables pour une identification. Dès lors, des méthodes de restauration sont appliquées pour rehausser la définition des crêtes papillaires. Les empreintes digitales obtenues après restauration doivent être analysées avec une méthode détaillée, structurée et réfléchie. L’interprétation bayésienne est une méthode d’inférence grandement utilisée en science forensique qui peut contribuer à formuler des hypothèses à partir d’observation d’événements connus. Son apport pour l’analyse des empreintes digitales, qui est peu développé au Québec (Canada), sera exploré, travaillé et peaufiné dans ce projet de recherche afin de le transmettre aux futures générations de forensiciens au Québec.

Autotaxin inhibition as a novel treatment to improve outcomes from chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer patients

We will investigate a new approach to improving the treatment of cancer patients. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy lose effectiveness and produce side-effects that are deleterious. For example, the development of scar tissue restricts the use of radiotherapy for several types of cancer. We will study a new type of drug, which will be supplied by our partner, that should decrease the formation of scar tissue after radiotherapy and also improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The information gain should accelerate the introduction of this new approach and improve the outcomes of cancer patients.

Advancing Bio-materials Production Services – Year two

Bio-materials can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate a rapid transition to a bio-based
leconomy. Thus, developing novel and innovative technologies and products related to bio-materials sectors is crucial. This has
!resulted in extensive research into the development of biomaterials. Most research efforts have focused on materials selection,
‘fabrication, and optimization of bio-materials’ performance through experimentation, trial-and-error, and microstructural analysis. This proposed research project has been designed to advance bio-materials solutions for two of the most available natural materials,
cellulose and lignin. The project will focus on the following two main sub-research areas: (A) Production and characterization of
regenerated cellulose based structures using 3D printing; (B) Investigating 3D printing of lignin-based multifunctional materials that
are capable of shape memory effect. Findings will enable lnnoTech Alberta to develop and test the performance of these promising,
but currently undervalued, bio-materials without incurring high costs and will be able to deploy suitable biomaterial solutions efficiently
into the stream of commerce and highly significant to the Canadian service enterprise, agricultural, 3D printing, oil and gas, forestry,
constructions and plastics industries.

Residential Renewable Energy and Sustainable Design in Maritime Provinces of Canada

Lighten Up Electric (Lightenup), an electrical contracting company based out of Moncton, New Brunswick, have targeted market potential for small-scale residential renewable energy systems in the Maritime region of Canada. The Maritime Provinces have large and undeveloped potential around solar and wind energy capture, but also large potential for development of sustainable design in construction. To explore potential in both regards, Lightenup would like to send a researcher to conduct field work with pioneering architecture firm Earthship Biotecture in Taos, New Mexico, explore their engineered cutting-edge residential renewable energy systems, as well as their sustainable construction design techniques. Following the fieldwork conducted with Earthship Biotecture, the research intern will return to New Brunswick to analyze how cutting-edge renewable energy systems and design methods might apply to a current New Brunswick residential market

Advancing Bio-materials Production Services

Bio-materials can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate a rapid transition to a bio-based
leconomy. Thus, developing novel and innovative technologies and products related to bio-materials sectors is crucial. This has
!resulted in extensive research into the development of biomaterials. Most research efforts have focused on materials selection,
‘fabrication, and optimization of bio-materials’ performance through experimentation, trial-and-error, and microstructural analysis. This proposed research project has been designed to advance bio-materials solutions for two of the most available natural materials,
cellulose and lignin. The project will focus on the following two main sub-research areas: (A) Production and characterization of
regenerated cellulose based structures using 3D printing; (B) Investigating 3D printing of lignin-based multifunctional materials that
are capable of shape memory effect. Findings will enable lnnoTech Alberta to develop and test the performance of these promising,
but currently undervalued, bio-materials without incurring high costs and will be able to deploy suitable biomaterial solutions efficiently
into the stream of commerce and highly significant to the Canadian service enterprise, agricultural, 3D printing, oil and gas, forestry,
constructions and plastics industries.

Automated Scanning Probe Fabrication for Atomic Scale Devices – Year two

With our increasing dependence on technology, the total energy consumption from electronic devices for computation is projected to surpass all other contributions. By creating atomic-scale devices at the fundamental limits in size and energy cost, we can reduce their overall energy consumption while increasing computational power. While proof of concept devices are already routinely created, a fully automated fabrication procedure is necessary to successfully merge this technology with current electronic manufacturing processes. By employing machine learning techniques, the successful implementation of a fully autonomous fabrication system will enable the high volume fabrication and development of these next generation atomic devices.

These machine learning techniques will rely on state-of-the-art unsupervised and reinforcement learning techniques which will be used for developing a fully self-sufficient,automated fabrication process of these atomic scale devices, as well as to optimize and enhance their design and operation.