Innovative Projects Realized

Developing Private Natural Language Processing (NLP) model for Enterprise Data

We want to create an artificial intelligent assistant for businesses. It uses state-of-art Natural Language Processing models to understand what people say and seamlessly converting it into computer executable orders. For example, if someone asks, “How much did we spend on training?” it can turn that it into a meticulously structured SQL query such as “Select sum(cost) from training”.

This AI assistant will also make sure that important company information is safe and can be adjusted to work just right for each business. This allows us to leverage the capabilities of AI-powered natural language processing while also ensuring the protection of sensitive enterprise data. .

Managing Equipment, Supplies and Transport Services for Clients with Cancer

The Cancer Assistance Program (CAP) role since inception has been to provide free practical services to those impacted by cancer. Services provide person-centred care, improving cancer patients’ quality of life, helping to alleviate the emotional, physical and financial implications of a cancer diagnosis. The scope of service is specific, practical, tangible, and focused on removing barriers to accessing healthcare that social determinants of health create. Services include:
– Free drives to cancer appointments;
– Home health safety equipment loans for safe cancer care at home care;
– Personal care items for nutritional and psychosocial support;
– Home delivery of home-safety equipment and nutritional supports;
– Access to education podcasts with cancer experts for cancer-management decisions.

This project continues CAP’s work to develop an integrated client and inventory management system which provides significant improvements in efficiency and the ability of CAP to serve their community.

Développement d’une librairie de structures de contrôle de procédés

L’intégration de dispositifs et systèmes micro-électro-mécaniques nécessitent un contrôle très précis des étapes de microfabrication et des matériaux microélectroniques qui sont utilisés dans ce processus. Chaque étape de procédé doit être validé avec des structures tests aussi appelées PCM (“Process Control Monitoring”). Ces PCMs permettent, entre autres choses, de valider les épaisseurs et propriétés mécaniques et physiques des films minces déposés, ainsi que de valider les dimensions et accomplissement des étapes de microfabrication comme la gravure, la lithographie ou le collage.
Le but de ce projet est de mettre en place une librairie de structures tests de type PCMs au C2MI pour contrôler les étapes de microfabrication et l’intégration complète des dispositifs ainsi que de faire un suivi des équipements et procédés. Cette librairie comprendra la conception des PCMs, une base de dessin de structures avec des guides, ainsi que les protocoles de caractérisation.

Business case software for strawberry production in greenhouses

The proposal of a comprehensive solution to creating a price-competitive berry production solution to alleviate Canada’s food vulnerability is impossible without a complete understanding of the business case model. Argus is in a unique position to leverage its relationship with the growers in the market, as well as its vast experience to provide a view to all inputs and outputs of the existing strawberry business case, robust to locale & time of year. This will help understand the current pain points, barriers to large-scale implementation, and qualities to make the product attractive to commercial food procurement partners and Canadian consumers. This business case model will be structured to facilitate scenario comparisons and can be leveraged to evaluate innovations planned in the project and forecast the likelihood of success.

The effect of perovskite dopants on their opto-electronic properties for understanding solar cell performance

The performance of solar cells in underpinned by many parameters. Of importance is the constitutional composition of the light harvesting material and its periodic structure. Towards developing efficient materials, the effect of molecular structure of the light harvester and the subsequent electron transfer processes must be adequately understood. The project goal is to fill the void of such understanding by evaluating how the optical properties of perovskites are affected by dopants. The intern will prepare perovskites with various dopants and evaluate the opto-electronic properties of the light harvesting material that can be used in solar cells.

Hybridization of exosomes with liposomes for nucleic acid delivery

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) have tremendous therapeutic potential, as recently shown by the development of messenger RNA vaccines against COVID-19. To fulfill their function in a patient, nucleic acids need to be encapsulated inside lipid-based nanoparticles (LPs), such as liposomes, but their synthetic nature leads to clearance by the immune system. This hampers nucleic acid delivery to diseased organs like the brain, heart and kidneys. Natural nanoparticles such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), namely the “exosomes” and “microvesicles” subsets, can circumvent those hindrances but are difficult to load with nucleic acids. This project aims at making hybrids from EVs and LPs that combine both their strengths, i.e., eliciting little immune response and achieving high nucleic acid encapsulation. Optimal parameters to produce nucleic acid-loaded hybrids will be determined by investigating their physicochemical properties. Then, hybrids efficiency in delivering nucleic acids to human cell lines will be assessed and compared to clinical standards. The expected outcome is an outperformance of the hybrid particles, that could be the basis of future therapeutics targeting key diseased organs.

Implantation de stratégies de mitigation des émissions de gaz et de bioaérosols en étable à stabulation libre

La production animale entraine de nombreux défis et des pressions exercées par la société concernant la tendance du marché international et l’exigence de systèmes de production plus respectueux du bien-être animal et de l’environnement. Le secteur laitier assiste à une transition des étables à stabulation entravée (SE) vers de nouvelles étables à stabulation libre (SL). En raison de l’activité accrue des vaches dans les aires d’alimentation et de couchage dans cette nouvelle configuration d’élevage, la qualité de l’air peut être affectée. Ce projet vise premièrement à évaluer des stratégies permettant d’améliorer la qualité de l’air dans la nouvelle configuration d’élevage. Ensuite, une stratégie ou une combinaison de stratégies, la ou les plus pertinente(s) sera implanté dans une ferme commerciale. Ainsi, la réalisation du projet permettra le transfert de connaissances et de technologies sur la gestion de nouvelles étables à stabulation libre qui seront nombreux au Canada et au Québec.

Analyse des effets du laboratoire managérial sur la culture organisationnelle au sein du CHU Sainte Justine

Le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine (CHUSJ), centre hospitalier universitaire à vocation pédiatrique, joue un rôle central dans le système de santé du Québec. En tant qu’hôpital mère-enfant principal au Canada, le deuxième plus grand centre de recherche pédiatrique et le premier centre de recherche clinique en pédiatrie, le CHUSJ a un engagement constant pour se positionner à l’avant-garde des pratiques de gestion dans le domaine de la santé. L’évolution du contexte et les défis persistants tels que la pénurie de personnel et les pressions sur les hôpitaux pour une efficacité accrue, créent continuellement de nouvelles complexités pour les gestionnaires du CHUSJ. Dans le cadre d’un programme de recherche en sciences de gestion, le centre hospitalier nourrit l’ambition de devenir un chef de file en matière de gestion et de leadership au sein du réseau de la santé et des services au Québec.
A cet effet, un des projets phares institué par l’École de Gestion du CHUSJ dans les dernières années est la conception et le déploiement d’un laboratoire d’expérimentation en gestion. Le laboratoire accueille cet automne sa deuxième cohorte de gestionnaires-participants, provenant de différents secteurs du CHUSJ. La présente recherche vise à analyser les effets de ce laboratoire, soit d’étudier comment

Optimal Control of Cell Population Models with Uncertainties

Cell population dynamics can be described by cell population balance models. These models can be utilized for model-based control design but major aspects, which have not been captured in these models so far, are the regulation and mutational adaptation of the cells in long-term cultivations. Due to the stochastic nature of biological diversity and mutational adaptation, the impact on the cell dynamics is uncertain, and a quantization of these effects might not be repeatable. Therefore, it is evident for the control design to consider model-free optimization control schemes like Extremum Seeking and its partly model-free variations to maintain optimal reactor operation during long-term cultivations. The aim of this research project is to design these adaptive and flexible control schemes for the optimal control of cell population models with uncertainties. To achieve this, the convergence properties of the problem formulation are mathematically analyzed and tested in numerical simulations expected to lead to new results in this research area.

Enhancing agricultural production through the use of alkaline stabilized biosolids

Agricultural use of municipal biosolids has many possible benefits for producers, including improved soil physical properties and fertility supplements for crop production. However, recent concerns with pharmaceutical ingredients, consumer product ingredients, and hormones entering into sensitive ecological environments such as surface or ground water has brought into question the continued use of biosolids in agriculture. The goal of this project is identify the presence of key emerging substances of concern , based on high volume use or sales of the products, in an agricultural ecosystem which has been exposed to multiple applications over four years. Furthermore, the project will evaluate the fate and transport potential of these compounds, specifically as it relates to their movement into water or plant tissues.

Personalizing Stroke Rehabilitation using Brain Stimulation

In Canada today, more than 80% of stroke survivors face the enduring challenge of long-term functional disability, significantly
impacting their quality of life. The integration of brain stimulation with post-stroke rehabilitation holds great promise as an intervention. A key factor contributing to this variability is the exclusive targeting of the primary motor cortex, overlooking the intricate neural networks governing motor function. Damage to any one aspect of the motor network can affect motor function. As such, applying brain stimulation over only one area for all individuals fails to account for the variable effect of stroke location on the motor network. This project introduces a novel strategy that utilizes brain imaging and stimulation data to identify individualized optimal stimulation targets. By customizing the application of brain stimulation based on stroke location and motor network activity, the research aims to significantly enhance functional recovery in the affected arm when combined with GRASP therapy. Beyond stroke recovery, this approach holds the potential to personalize brain stimulation for various conditions such as pain, anxiety, or addiction, marking a substantial stride toward tailored and more effective treatments.

Cloud-Based Integrated Power Management and Path Planning System for Renewable Energy Unmanned Surface Vehicles

Marine data is vital for protecting fisheries, understanding climate change’s impact, and supporting ocean industry.
However, collecting data is costly, challenging, and time-consuming. Renewable energy powered unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) offer a promising solution for marine data collection due to their maneuverability, sensor
payload, and ease of use. Yet, uncertain environmental factors lead to intermittent energy harvesting, requiring an efficient power management strategy for renewable energy USVs on long missions. Existing solutions focus on
reducing energy consumption but overlook improving energy generation. Additionally, they rely on costly onboard computational capabilities. To address these issues, we developed a cloud-based integrated path planning and power management system (IPP-PMS). This revolutionary solution optimally allocates, generates, and consumes power under varying environmental conditions. Implementing our IPP-PMS enhances USV capabilities, minimizes costs, and allows for longer missions, leading to more extensive data collection and a deeper understanding of our oceans and marine ecosystems.