Innovative Projects Realized

Observational study exploring the link between cannabis, music, and absorption in a cannabis smoking lounge

The proposed research project is an observational study that aims to explore the relationship between cannabis
use and music enjoyment in a real-world setting, specifically within a cannabis smoking lounge. By studying how
cannabis affects individuals’ absorption in music, we hope to shed light on the mechanisms underlying this
phenomenon. Partnering with Lit Research, we will gather data from participants on their music perception and
subjective experiences while under the influence of cannabis. The findings will not only contribute to our
understanding of cannabis use but also have practical implications, potentially informing public health initiatives
and policies related to cannabis use. Additionally, this research could enhance cultural experiences by
uncovering how cannabis influences music enjoyment, potentially shaping policies for events like concerts and
festivals where cannabis and music intersect.

Understanding the attitudes of volunteer staff who work with individuals with sight loss

The proposed research project will review data from CNIB’s survey of attitudes and beliefs of staff who volunteer in the Vision Mates program. The data will be analyzed for thematic qualities as well as for any correlations between attitudes and individual factors. It is important to understand how volunteers see the people with whom they work so that we can begin to identify ways to foster positive attitudes that will lead to improved experiences for both volunteers and consumers. We know that people’s attitudes will impact the way they behave towards others and CNIB is committed to improving the quality of life for all Canadians with sight loss by improving the way they are treated by their fellows.

Build Cross Platform Mobile application supporting various screen resolutions

Diversity among the mobile platforms requires an application developer to develop separate applications for each platform. Reason for this is the unique technological support and features that each platform comes embedded with. To use the features associated with any particular platform, we need to use the underlying SDK supported by that platform. Major market share (more than 98%) is dominated by three mobile platforms Android, Apple iOS, and Windows phone. For any business application it becomes necessary to have support on all major platforms. A simple approach for having support on all platforms is to develop separate applications for them using underlying SDKs. However it requires a lot of efforts to be put in by the company in form of labor and money. Cross platform mobile application development has emerged a best alternative to this problem that makes development and maintenance of any application easier. It enables the use of a single technological platform to develop application for all major mobile platforms rather than using platform specific SDKs. This approach focuses on the commonality among the features of the targeted platforms rather than diversity.

Evaluating a novel eDNA protocol for starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa) in Ontario lakes

Starry stonewort is a non-native macroalgae that has invaded lakes across eastern North America. In Ontario, there is high potential for starry stonewort to expand its invasion of lakes, but documenting its distribution has been difficult due to a lack of broad-scale monitoring and misidentification by practitioners and the public. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging genetic tool for detecting organisms in aquatic ecosystems, and may be a promising method for early detection of starry stonewort in lakes where it is expected, but not yet reported. This proposed research project aims to, for the first time, develop and test an eDNA monitoring protocol for starry stonewort in aquatic ecosystems. We will test lakes with known starry stonewort populations (Simcoe and Scugog) as well as perform a survey of 12 lakes in south-central Ontario to validate eDNA as an effective surveillance tool. It is anticipated that the establishment of an eDNA protocol for starry stonewort will help lake managers be proactive in management initiatives, especially when starry stonewort eDNA is detected in lakes where starry stonewort distribution is constrained, abundance is low, and management strategies to stop the invasion are most effective.

Interaction between soil residual herbicide and mechanical site preparation treatments on native tree seed germination in post-harvest sites

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

AI-generated Pseudoplanars for Ventilation/Perfusion Scans

The objective of this project is to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions aimed at denoising ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) planar images for the detection of pulmonary embolism (PE). The denoising algorithm has the potential to solve two major limitations of V/Q scans: long acquisition times and currently insufficient techniques for generating pseudo-planar images from SPECT acquisitions. Our solution aims to reduce acquisition times up to a factor of 10 for planar acquisitions or to produce realistic and diagnostically equivalent pseudo-planar images from SPECT acquisitions. The academic partner, The Ottawa Hospital, is a world-renowned center in PE management with a state-of-the-art nuclear medicine department. The industry partner, Jubilant Radiopharma, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative diagnostic imaging radiopharmaceutical solutions, including those for V/Q scans. The AI solutions developed in this project will increase the intrinsic value of V/Q scans and hopefully stimulate their use over alternative unnecessary imaging studies with higher risks.

Research on anisotropic friction of ferroelectric polymer via atomic force microscopy

This project aims to explore the mechanical behaviors of ferroelectric polymers, focusing on P(VDF-TrFE), through atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. By investigating the frictional properties of P(VDF-TrFE) and similar materials using AFM-based methods such as transverse shear microscopy (TSM) and friction force microscopy (FFM), the project seeks to uncover the relationship between electrical polarization and frictional anisotropy. The findings from this research are expected to provide valuable insights into the correlation between the electrical and mechanical properties of ferroelectric polymers, which can have significant implications for various applications, including energy harvesting, sensors, and biomedical devices. Through this project, there expect to be an advancement in imaging and characterization for AFM techniques that could contribute to such research fields.

Connecter l’Atlantique : une histoire environnementale de l’Amérique française (1603-1763)

L’histoire de l’Amérique française est, assurément, en plein renouvellement : sous le double coup des avancées de l’histoire globale et de l’histoire impériale, la Nouvelle-France est désormais réinsérée dans un jeu à plusieurs échelles où interagissent les espaces caribéen, nord-américain et européen. Pour autant, si l’histoire sociale et l’histoire urbaine ont déjà bénéficié de l’élargissement de ces horizons, les historiennes et historiens de l’environnement se sont encore peu emparés de l’espace néo-français, privilégiant les XIXe et XXe siècles. À ce titre, alors que l’histoire environnementale de la Nouvelle-France apparaît comme un champ de recherche prometteur, l’intégration de l’espace politique nord-américain dans un espace atlantique qui connecte les territoires plus qu’il ne les sépare paraît stimulante, notamment parce que la circulation atlantique elle-même est un enjeu de la formation et de l’administration des empires coloniaux.
Ce projet de recherche entend ainsi apporter une contribution à l’étude de l’environnement nord-américain et à la compréhension des modalités de la circulation des savoirs sur l’environnement de part et d’autre de l’Atlantique. Il s’intéressera à la construction et aux expériences partagées des connaissances sur l’environnement dans la colonie comme dans la métropole.

Advance directives at the end of life in people with cancer in palliative care

The proposed project aims to explore the significance of advance directives for people with cancer in palliative care in Medellín, Antioquia. This study is crucial for healthcare professionals and institutions involved in end-of-life care. The findings will provide valuable insights for direct caregivers, training programs in healthcare, administrative decisions in palliative care settings, and the development of institutional care strategies. This project will contribute to improving care quality and enhancing the integration of palliative care across different healthcare actors, institutions, care levels, and environments in both Colombia and Canada.

Machine Learning and Software developer interns working within cross-functional teams to develop and commercialize AI-powered solutions in the Public Services sector (1)

AltaML builds artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled solutions to business problems. We work with organisations, bringing together their data and domain expertise with our AI expertise, to develop AI solutions that are deployed in their operations. We also commercialize AI-enabled products business via industry-specific ventures, yielding scalability from our investment in the first solution.

Competition for tech talent is fierce, and our talent strategy includes a talent accelerator program, designed to rapidly equip highly qualified individuals with hands-on work experience in applied AI while providing partners with continuous and cost-effective development of AI solutions. AltaML’s AI Lab for Government, also known as GovLab, is a talent accelerator for public service professionals, post-secondary students and recent graduates. GovLab.ai’s mission is to set a global example of how to transform the public sector through applied AI, and is designed to encourage the growth of technical and business AI skill sets that are in high demand across Alberta and around the world. The project comprises internships in a variety of technical and business roles within our organization and within our GovLab program. Within the organization, roles include associate machine learning developer, business development associate, communications associate and finance associate.

Stop-level probabilistic demand forecasting for public transit services

This project aims to develop advanced statistical methods to forecast how many passengers will be waiting at bus stops at any given time, considering various factors such as weather and special events. This project will do two main things. First, we will forecast the overall number of passengers over a given period, such as an hour. This level of aggregate demand forecasting can help transit agencies to design bus routes and schedules. Second, we will forecast the passenger flow for each bus at every stop. This granular demand forecasting allows for real-time adjustments to manage crowding and improve the overall passenger experience. For our partner organization, this project offers the dual benefits of enhancing the passenger experience—making public transit a more attractive option for commuters—and contributing to environmental goals by optimizing operations.

Improving Safety of The Intended Functionality (SOTIF) analysis for Autonomous Vehicles

The proposed research project, undertaken by interns at Robosafety, an emerging startup, aims to enhance safety engineering in autonomous systems such as self-driving cars and AI-driven robots. By simplifying and improving the safety assurance process, this initiative seeks to significantly reduce the time and effort required for validating safety compliance. The end goal is to facilitate the deployment of safe, reliable autonomous systems that adhere to global safety norms, thus promoting broader acceptance. This project is expected to benefit the partner organization by leveraging Robosafety’s rich industrial experience to address key challenges in safety assurance, offering innovative solutions and developing a comprehensive safety engineering application to support the automotive and manufacturing industries in maintaining safety throughout the product lifecycle.