Innovative Projects Realized

Uncovering the cell type specific behavior of immune response in the chicken

This project will allow McGill University to be part of a larger-scale project focusing on the genetic expression variance in chickens, headed by the team at Aarhus University. Previous work has been done to categorize general gene expression across numerous tissues types, with the focus now shifting to better understand the drivers behind gene expression and how they impact various traits. This project will focus on uncovering genetic variants linked to immune response in poultry. Using collected RNA-sequencing data for various tissues and cells, gene expression will be measured for genes related to various immune reactions, and the variants impacting expression will be compared across cells and tissues. By identifying these variants, the biological processes controlling responses can be better understood, for a deeper view of the immune response. In doing so, poultry health and welfare can be better improved as rare variants are identified and understood, which can be used for things like selective breeding, as well as improvement of vaccines and treatments for various viruses and bacteria of concern. The understanding of the poultry genetics will serve as a driver for more sustainable food production in Canada and worldwide.

Comparative Study to Determine the Efficacy of Different Sanitizers to inactivate Human Pathogens on Shredded Lettuce and within Spent Wash Water

Bagged salads have been linked to foodborne illness outbreaks implicating Salmonella, E coli and Listeria. It was commonly believed that the post-harvest washing applied prior to bagging would remove field-acquired contamination. However, through various lines of research has illustrated that washing can result in cross-contamination of produce rather than decontamination. The majority of research performed to date has focused on the level of pathogen removal by different sanitizers. Yet, the ability to inactivate pathogens in wash water loaded with soils deposited by fresh produce would be more significant. To this end the project will evaluate a prototype sanitizer that in principal can be used in the presence of high organic loading, unlike commonly used bleach. The performance of Food Freshly will be compared to other commonly used sanitizers used in produce processing to get a relative measure of efficacy. The research will enhance the microbiological safety of fresh produce.

US-China Tech Rivalry: Technological Convergence and Implications for the Regulation of Autonomous Weapons Systems

THIS IS A GENERIC TEXT PUT IN PLACE AS THERE WAS NO PROJECT OVERVIEW.

That’s My Jam: Understanding the Value of Quick Game Prototyping

“That’s My Jam: Understanding the Value of Quick Game Prototyping” will study how emerging game developers use game jams as a springboard for their professional practice. Our primary research question is: what challenges do game jammers face when transforming prototype games into commercial products, ad-hoc groups into indie development teams, and compact jam timelines into extended development cycles? Recognising the power of the game jams as a production tool, we will also investigate how established game studios have adopted their core tenets—experimentation, rapid prototyping, and even failure—into their creative processes.

This research will be rooted in interviews and surveys with experienced game jam facilitators, game jam participants who have transitioned to commercial production, and game developers who have integrated jam-like workflows into their studios. The output of this project will be an illustrated white paper that synthesises our research findings and scrutinises the industry implications of game jams—how they serve as sites of training, networking, and prototyping for early-career developers. Additionally, the paper will provide advice and resources for jam participants who wish to transition their projects into commercial contexts.

Polo Mallet Prototyping: Testing and Short-run Production

The collaborative project among NSCAD University/ Dalhousie Engineering and the partner, Penalty Four, seeks to refine development of a polo mallet prototype that can become an alternative to the conventional wood head with cane shaft, used in the game throughout its history. The inherent issue with the wood mallet is a lack of durability and consistency…. Players will carry a collection mallets (5-10) while also sending out others for repair, a costly and time-consuming process. The initial stages of this project involved having a range of shafts made using golf graphite and carbon technologies. In partnership with Greg Sims, Assistant Professor at NSCAD University, several mallet head prototypes (9) have been developed over the past 18 months. An interchangeable method of attachment between the shaft and mallet head has also been developed, showing promising results that are reliable and effective thus far.

The challenge is to refine the prototype model, conduct testing and batch produce several mallets for further in-game testing. The current prototype requires weight reductions near 20%. Selective removal/replacement of material is required, while maintaining or enhancing overall performance. The overall design will be advanced to account for the material(s) used, the method of manufacture and how it will be secured (attached and detached) to the shaft.

The benefit to the partner organization is in accessing engineering expertise, methodologies and use of facilities. The project moves the current prototype into a game ready version that can then be put in the hands pf players for further testing.

Évaluation d’impact des programmes de soutien financier des entrepreneurs immigrants au Québec : Cas des bourses d’honneur d’Entreprendre ICI

Ce projet de recherche vise à comprendre comment les bourses d’honneur, offertes par Entreprendre ICI, aident les entrepreneurs immigrants au Québec. En analysant les expériences des bénéficiaires de ces bourses, nous voulons savoir comment ce soutien financier influence la croissance de leurs entreprises et contribue à la création d’emplois. Le stagiaire mènera des enquêtes et des entretiens pour recueillir des données précises. Les résultats permettront à Entreprendre ICI d’améliorer ses programmes de soutien, rendant ces initiatives encore plus efficaces. En fin de compte, cette recherche aidera l’organisation à mieux accompagner les entrepreneurs immigrants, favorisant ainsi l’innovation, la diversification économique et l’intégration sociale au Québec.

Les effets des ultrasons sur la production d’hydrogène par électrolyse en milieu alcalin

Il s’agit d’étudier les effets des ultrasons sur la production d’hydrogène en milieu liquide alcalin.
Le projet se déroule dans un laboratoire français, à l’UTINAM, Besançon, sous la supervision de Prof. Jean-Yves HIHN, expert dans la réactivité de surface et sonochimie en traitement de surface.

Description : Le stage consistera à apprendre à concevoir des électrodes puis d’en caractériser leur surface. Ensuite, ces électrodes seront caractérisées par des méthodes électrochimiques classiques. Puis les ultrasons seront ajoutés afin d’observer la synergie avec les électrodes.

Examining Rainfall Derived Inflow & Infiltration with Real Data

During rainfall events, it is nearly impossible to prevent water from entering into a sanitary sewer system. When this does occur, the capacity of the systems is decreased while the amount of water sent to treatment plants is increased. Current design practices do not offer any insights into the variability and other statistics characterizing this extraneous flow, which may create a risk for both public health and for the treatment facilities that the water will flow to in terms of the inability to handle excessive hydraulic loadings. The objective of this research is to use currently available data to improve the existing methods and to improve the characterization, as well as to develop new and reliable methods for the estimation, of this flow. The partner organization will benefit from an increased institutional knowledge on the subject, the expected development of proprietary analysis tools, and the strengthening relationships within the industry that it operates.

Using Process and Realist Evaluation to Explore Components of an Arts-based Program Intervention in an Acute Care Hospital Setting

The Artists on the Wards (AOW) program, introduced over 20 years ago, offers free arts sessions (music, visual, and literary) to patients and healthcare staff at the University of Alberta Hospital and Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. The program, run by compassionate artists, aims to improve well-being through attentive and responsive arts engagement. While participants report enhanced well-being, a formal evaluation of the program’s processes and impact is yet to be done.
A planned evaluation will use case studies and an “action learning” approach to develop a logic model, providing a visual overview of the program’s goals, components, and impacts. This will help assess the program’s implementation and identify areas for improvement. The evaluation will also explore the specific contexts and mechanisms through which the program benefits participants. Findings will inform ongoing program improvements and may guide similar arts-based initiatives in other hospitals.

GenAI for Digital Personality Modelling

Humans and animals have emotions linked to an individual’s personality traits, which becomes obvious when looking into the pet and pet-owner interactions. With the advancement of Generative AI, research suggests that it is possible to replicate individuals’ behaviors digitally so that avatars can engage in game-plays and platforms like digital twins and metaverse, for entertainments and even for providing comforts in a healthcare, assisted living or rehabilitation setting. Chatbots, as digital assistants, have been widely used for similar purposes. However, insufficient effort has been deployed in the human-pet interaction scenarios. This proposal aims to address this research gap by exploring the capabilities of current Large Language Models (LLMs) and applying Generative AI techniques for Digital Personality Modelling.

Advancing Nonlinear Utility Pole Analysis Employing Computational Mechanics with Quantum Computing

THIS IS A GENERIC TEXT PUT IN PLACE AS THERE WAS NO PROJECT OVERVIEW.

Culturally Attuned Extended Reality: Enhancing Virtual Workplace Well-being through Cross-Cultural Technology Interventions

This project, led by a faculty member from the University of Waterloo in collaboration with a senior scholar at a top Taiwanese national university, focuses on utilizing Extended Reality (XR) technologies, e.g., virtual, augmented, and mixed reality, to enhance virtual workplace well-being, with a special emphasis on cultural sensitivity. The projects sets out to thoroughly review and evaluate the technological advancements and existing business applications of XR, before developing frameworks for mental health interventions, e.g., exposure therapy, stress management, and psychological resilience training, that are finely tuned to the cultural nuances of diverse, virtual team-based workplaces in multinational organizations in Canada and Taiwan. This collaboration between Canadian and Taiwanese institutions will leverage their combined expertise to foster innovation, provide inclusive and cross-cultural educational and research opportunities for students, and strengthen international ties. The project will pay the way for significant advancements in global research capabilities, delivering novel insights into culturally sensitive XR applications and enhancing cooperative efforts between the participating institutions.