Innovative Projects Realized

Investigating the mechanistic links between cannabinoid and pain-related gene variants and functional measures of musculoskeletal pain

Pain is a combination of mental, physical and social factors. This makes it difficult to understand and even more difficult to treat. Chronic pain is unique to the individual, and to treat it effectively requires a better understanding of how pain is generated in each person. The goal of this study is to describe the relationships between inherited genes and the factors that affect pain, recovery, and people’s response to medication. The first phase of this study has 2 aims. The first aim is to describe the relationship between genes, pain, and recovery time. The second aim is to see if there are any differences between the drugs that people were prescribed and the ones that are recommended based on their genes. The second phase of this study is to look at the effects of cannabis medications on pain in the context of the underlying genes. This study will not only help to refine the use of gene-based strategies for drug prescription, but it will increase our understanding of how to prescribe cannabis medications.

Évaluation de la performance de librairies Python de prédiction permettant l’analyse de séries chronologiques de transactions et soldes bancaires afin d’alerter précocement les clients/membres Desjardins d’une possible insuffisance de fonds et éviter de charger des NSF fees

La prédiction est un domaine récent qui connaît de grandes avancées grâce à la démocratisation des connaissances via le web et l’augmentation de la puissance de calcul des ordinateurs modernes. Dans le cadre de ce projet effectué au Mouvement des Caisses Desjardins, ces techniques seront évaluées, documentées et testées vis-à-vis différents cas d’utilisation financiers (gestion de portefeuilles, de risques, etc.) Une implantation finale permettant d’alerter précocement les clients d’un possible manque de fonds sera effectuée au sein du Mouvement afin de tirer parti des plus récentes avancées du domaine.

Next Generation Canadian Satellite-based Positioning Technology – Year two

Present navigation applications rely mostly on the integration of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). However, GNSS signals are prone to interruption due to various disturbances, including signal interference and jamming. On the other hand, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations from several providers are becoming rapidly accessible. LEO-based communication systems offer much stronger signals with higher satellite availability than GNSS. Thus, it could provide an opportunity for integration with INS for reliable positioning during GNSS signal outages. Telesat Canada, my prospective partner in this project, plans to have its LEO satellite constellation operational in 2022. This project explores integrating signals from the LEO satellite constellation with the on-board inertial sensors to provide a robust navigation system in denied GNSS environments. All facilities, equipment, and simulation tools required for this research are available at both Telesat and my university’s research lab. In addition to enriching my practical experience, this project work will help Telesat to investigate the feasibility of using their LEO satellite constellation for positioning services, which is a large market sector that Telesat could enter if LEO-based positioning can be demonstrated to offer superior performance.

Next Generation Canadian Satellite-based Positioning Technology

Present navigation applications rely mostly on the integration of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). However, GNSS signals are prone to interruption due to various disturbances, including signal interference and jamming. On the other hand, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations from several providers are becoming rapidly accessible. LEO-based communication systems offer much stronger signals with higher satellite availability than GNSS. Thus, it could provide an opportunity for integration with INS for reliable positioning during GNSS signal outages. Telesat Canada, my prospective partner in this project, plans to have its LEO satellite constellation operational in 2022. This project explores integrating signals from the LEO satellite constellation with the on-board inertial sensors to provide a robust navigation system in denied GNSS environments. All facilities, equipment, and simulation tools required for this research are available at both Telesat and my university’s research lab. In addition to enriching my practical experience, this project work will help Telesat to investigate the feasibility of using their LEO satellite constellation for positioning services, which is a large market sector that Telesat could enter if LEO-based positioning can be demonstrated to offer superior performance.

State-of-the-art Battery Cycle Life Extension

The ever-growing demand for energy storage, especially with high density and low-cost, has both academia and industry research communities working hard to develop and optimize energy storage technologies. Among the top energy storage technologies are Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) which have an exceptionally high specific capacity (3860 mA h g?1) in comparison to that of the conventional graphite-based LiC6 batteries (372 mA h g?1). In spite of these advantages, uncontrollable dendritic Li growth and limited coulombic efficiency during the charging process hinders the practical applications of LMBs. In response to this challenge, a myriad of engineering strategies have been developed to ensure the largest usable capacity, longest cycle-life and dendrite-free systems. Pulse charging has a great potential for inhibiting dendrite growth, thereby increases the likelihood for the development of practical LMBs.
Gbatteries wishes to gain insight on state-of-the-art battery operational dynamics and degradation mechanisms. Therefore, during the proposed project, the Post-doc will research the optimum charging profiles that mitigate dendrite growth and extend the battery’s cycle life. Additionally, they will develop and customize an electrolytic cell that will allow operando dendrite growth observations during cycling to have real-time feedback without having to disassemble the cell.

Conception et optimisation du reseau logistique d’ELECTROBAC

Electrobac Inc. est nee afin d’apporter une solution innovante et durable aux consommateurs souhaitant se departir
ecologiquement de leurs objets electroniques desuets. L’entreprise a developpe des bacs de recyclage uniques en leur
genre afin que la collecte des dechets electroniques puisse se faire dans des etablissements frequentees par les
consommateurs, tel que les centres d’achat, les universites et plus encore.
L’entreprise genere ses revenus avec les frais de service charges aux etablissements hebergeant Ie bac et avec les
ristournes issues de la revente des dechets electroniques a des recycleurs specialises.
Electrobac doit se doter d’un reseau logistique permettant de supporter ses operations dans I’optique d’un marche en forte
croissance. La conception d’un tel reseau doit reposer sur des analyses quantitatives (prevision, modelisation et
optimisation) et des analyses qualitatives (analyse de scenarios et recommandations) dont sera charge Ie stagiaire durant ce
projet de recherche

Assessing regional controls on glacial bioavailable dissolved organic matter in the Canadian Arctic and the Canadian Rockies

We are investigating the source of dissolved organic matter (or DOM) – a class of nutrients known to fertilise aquatic ecosystems – in two glacial rivers in Canada (one in the Rockies and one in the Arctic). DOM is a very diverse group of different molecules, and some of these molecules are better food for bacteria (heterotrophs) than others. In our experiments, we will measure:
1) The molecular composition of DOM in water samples;
2) The age of carbon dioxide that is respired when bacteria consume DOM;
3) How much of this DOM is consumable by bacteria (a property known as ‘bioavailability’);
4) How the bacterial community changes when consuming different DOM samples (16s rRNA).
By comparing different water samples, we should be able to work out which groups of molecules (that tend to appear together) are most important to downstream ecosystems and where they come from.

Deep retrofit strategies for long-term care facilities and multi-unit residential buildings

Deep retrofits are a holistic approach to increasing a building’s capacity to be resilient to and adapt to climate events, such as: heat waves, flooding, air pollution, and earthquakes. Deep retrofits also help to lower a building’s energy use and operational and embodied carbon emissions. Operational carbon emissions are the greenhouse gas emissions associated with daily operation of the building, while embodied carbon emissions are associated with the materials and processes used in construction of the building. One of the most significant co-benefits of deep retrofits is the impact on occupant health, but there is a need for more research on these impacts, specifically in long-term care (LTC) facilities and multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs). This research project will aim to identify strategies for decreasing embodied carbon of LTC facilities while reducing operational carbon and enhancing resilience to climate change related events; highlighting the benefits of these strategies on occupant health.

Caracterisation experimentale et simulation numerique du comportementmecanique de matelas de reception utilises lors de performances acrobatiques

Le Cirque du Soleil dispose d’une expertise pratique importante pour la conception de matelas de
reception. Toutefois, due a I’absence de donnees approfondies, cette expertise repose sur peu
d’evidence scientifique, rendant difficile la conception de surfaces de reception optimale pour de
nouvelles performances acrobatiques. Le stage propose vise a caracteriser experimentalement et
simuler numeriquement Ie comportement mecanique des matelas de reception du Cirque. Les
donnees colligees permettront d’evaluer les matelas actuels et d’appuyer la conception de nouveaux
matelas sur une base quantitative, tout en supportant les activites de recherche prevue a la suite du
stage et axee sur I’interaction biomecanique entre I’artiste et Ie matelas. Les principaux resultats
seront exposes aux concepteurs d’equipements et de performances acrobatiques du Cirque dans Ie
cadre d’un seminaire de formation. Le projet de recherche permettra aussi au Cirque d’etablir ou de
maintenir des collaborations de recherche et/ou commerciales et de profiter d’une ressource
technique specialisee en biomecanique des chocs.

Exploring how climate change, gender, and tailored mental health services impact help-seeking and mental health outcomes among Canadian farmers – Year two

My doctoral research investigates mental health challenges of Canadian farmers, to more effectively address them. My research includes a nationwide epidemiological survey examining the prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and burnout. Additionally, I conducted 75 one-on-one qualitative interviews with farmers and others in the agricultural industry to provide an in-depth understanding of farmer mental health. Additionally, we developed an agriculture-based mental health literacy training, ‘In the Know’, which was piloted, formally evaluated, and determined effective.

To increase access to services and improve mental health outcomes for farmers, I will expand my current high research trajectory to increase our knowledge around factors (like gender and climate) impacting farmer mental health, and access to needed supports. Our team will work towards the sustainability of farmers and agriculture via research and outreach, while providing expertise to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. The objectives are to:

-Explore climate change impacts on farmer mental health;
-Explore farmer mental health through a gendered lens;
-Compare the effectiveness of the ‘In the Know’ program to Mental Health First Aid, a
general population program;
-Develop a knowledge-transfer intervention to improve service provider’s
knowledge of Canadian agriculture and the farmer-specific needs for mental health care.

Exploring how climate change, gender, and tailored mental health services impact help-seeking and mental health outcomes among Canadian farmers

My doctoral research investigates mental health challenges of Canadian farmers, to more effectively address them. My research includes a nationwide epidemiological survey examining the prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and burnout. Additionally, I conducted 75 one-on-one qualitative interviews with farmers and others in the agricultural industry to provide an in-depth understanding of farmer mental health. Additionally, we developed an agriculture-based mental health literacy training, ‘In the Know’, which was piloted, formally evaluated, and determined effective.

To increase access to services and improve mental health outcomes for farmers, I will expand my current high research trajectory to increase our knowledge around factors (like gender and climate) impacting farmer mental health, and access to needed supports. Our team will work towards the sustainability of farmers and agriculture via research and outreach, while providing expertise to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. The objectives are to:

-Explore climate change impacts on farmer mental health;
-Explore farmer mental health through a gendered lens;
-Compare the effectiveness of the ‘In the Know’ program to Mental Health First Aid, a
general population program;
-Develop a knowledge-transfer intervention to improve service provider’s
knowledge of Canadian agriculture and the farmer-specific needs for mental health care.

Farms of the Future – Evaluating the impacts of regenerative farming practices on soil biodiversity – Year two

Complex communities of bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates are known to be involved in the preservation and enhancement of soil fertility, nutrient cycling, crop productivity, and carbon sequestration, but the details have been lacking. This knowledge gap can now be addressed through new methods, such as DNA metabarcoding, which make it possible to monitor the diversity and dynamics of entire soil communities. McCain Foods Ltd., a global producer of potato products, launched its ‘Farms of the Future’ project in early 2020 to demonstrate the scalability and economic viability of regenerative farming practices that protect both soil health and biodiversity, factors key to the sustainability of potato production. A 400-acre farm in New Brunswick was acquired to test conventional farming practices against regenerative methods such as green manure, rotational livestock grazing, and strip cropping. By using metabarcoding to quantify the impacts of different agricultural practices on soil organisms, my research will identify practices that foster biological communities that enhance soil productivity. While my results will be important to McCain Foods, they will have broader impacts on the long-term vitality of Canada’s agricultural sector by advancing understanding of factors influencing soil biodiversity and the practices that regenerate and protect it.