Innovative Projects Realized

BIOGENIC BY-PRODUCTS AS BIO-ADDITIVES AND FUNCTIONAL FILLERS FOR BIOPOLYMERS

Simulation of spatial and temporal energy input during laser welding of metals

Mechanochemical Production of Cellulose Nanocrystals

Effects of Forest Stand Composition on Small Mammal Movement Ecology and Behavior

Release of protein-bound Methionine and Selenomethionine in the Brewing Process

Improving Patient Compass

Healthcare is in the midst of a digital transformation taking advantage of AI technology, although integration has been slow due to concerns about privacy, issues with workflows, and keeping patients engaged. There’s a need for well-designed AI that automates tasks and keeps patients engaged.
Health Compass is an AI tool that helps healthcare by taking care of administrative tasks, helping with writing up of medical notes, supporting doctors in making decisions and guiding patients through their treatments, all using advanced technology. Patient Compass is a module of this tool, developed by our Partner ORX.
Working with ORX, our research goal is to develop improvements in the Patient Compass module, by researching and testing current AI tools and technologies. We will focus on efficiency and reliability, while ensuring safe, compliant and ethical use. We will validate AI accuracy with standard datasets and monitor patient engagement using digital health analytics. We will track success with patient surveys, and studies on clinic efficiency.
Improvements to ORX’s Patient Compass module and the Health Compass platform will empower healthcare providers and enhance patient experiences across North America.

Simulating Optimal Mechanical Designs of Stretchable Mesh Electronics for Advanced Hybrid Skins

Phoshor-containing flame retardants on textiles: Investigation of structure-dependent combustion

Denture internship

Prime Denture Clinic operates in a modern facility in South Edmonton, staffed by a full-time Denturist and a full-time Dental Technologist. The denture industry is rapidly evolving with the integration of digital technology in fabricating dental prostheses. However, finding staff with adequate training in these emerging technologies has been challenging. Additionally, the demands of a busy clinic make it difficult to allocate the necessary time to fully explore and utilize new equipment. To address these challenges, the clinic aims to leverage research and testing through an intern with recent post-secondary experience in modern technologies. This work would facilitate the implementation of new processes and the evaluation of potential equipment investments.

Increasing dairy intake for the reduction of obesity and diabetes in adolescents

Dairy consumption has decreased in the last 30 years. Canada’s Food Guide no longer recommends three servings of dairy and emphasizes plant-based diets and dairy alternatives. Associated with this decrease is an increase in overweight and the risk of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in adolescents. Consistent with this advice, many adolescents have increased their consumption of highly processed plant-based alternatives. The primary objective of this project is to compare the effects of two servings of dairy with compared to plant-based substitutes on blood glucose control and latter food intake. We hypothesize that dairy will reduce blood glucose responses, appetite, and later food intake. The results will support greater emphasis on dairy consumption for this age group and the use of dairy premeal to control food intake. The intern will recruit the adolescents and conduct the studies in our Nutrition Intervention Center on the University campus. The data will be used in support of the requirements for her MSc degree.
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Developing a predictive tool for electrical grid stability

The proposed project focuses on developing a Grid Disruption Prediction Tool that helps grid operators, asset owners, and dispatchers predict and mitigate power outages, brownouts, and blackouts. By analyzing historical and real-time data from Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) such as AESO, ERCOT, UK National Grid, and the Australian System Operator, the tool will identify low-frequency events and measure grid volatility through frequency variance. The model will use regression analysis and statistical techniques to detect patterns leading to supply-side constraints and grid failures. The expected benefit to the partner organization is enhanced decision-making capabilities, improved grid stability and reliability, and actionable insights to prevent disruptions, ultimately leading to technical and market design solutions that enhance system resilience.

Intergenerational Transmission of Child Abuse

This project focuses on understanding how child abuse is passed down through multiple generations by analyzing interviews with mothers about their experiences (collected previously) and then assessing maltreatment in subsequent generations. Using a unique and specialized coding system, the research will provide new insights into how abuse is perpetrated and perpetuated. The findings will help improve strategies to prevent child maltreatment and support at-risk families. The participating home institution will have access to a seminal and comprehensive data repository as provided by the host institution. For both the participating institutions, this project helps to advance the established knowledge on the transmission of abuse, a research topic both home and host supervisors are interested in.