Innovative Projects Realized

Advancing iPSC Cell Culture Robotics: Machine Learning for Cell Culture Diagnostics and User Experience Improvement

This proposal focuses on enhancing the automation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) culture by integrating Machine Learning (ML) models which will lead to more consistent and higher quality cultures. Recently, STEMCELL Technologies has introduced an automated system customized to assist scientists at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute in culturing high-quality iPSCs. The current method of diagnosing the quality of iPSC culture is based on expert judgment, which presents limitations in terms of scalability and consistency. To address this, we aim to use the automated system to perform various experiments and generate diverse image datasets. Next, robust end-to-end machine learning models will be developed to efficiently evaluate iPSC culture quality with higher accuracy enabling more reliable decision-making. Moreover, we aim to improve the user-robot interactions of the system.The successful implementation of this project has the potential to accelerate iPSC biomanufacturing and facilitate the discovery of new treatments for various diseases.

Data Architecture & Integration

The goal of this data project is to architect and integrate XYONs key data sources from disparate systems into one central repository or EDW (Enterprise Data Warehouse).
Using enterprise-level data extraction transformation layer (ETL) integration, the aim is to connect our e-commerce platform to ERP, CRM, and our API gateway, which connects to a multitude of systems and platforms. The data repository will allow for the extraction of key data from across various systems to make key business decisions and help with customer analytics, supporting XYON’s mission of providing best-in-class Rx prescription and (over-the-counter) OTC products and services to our customers.

Is Fallfish (Semotilus corporalis) competing with Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) for food resources and habitat in the Jacques-Cartier River?

Due to climate change and associated increases in water temperatures, species distribution ranges are shifting. Fallfish (Semotilus corporalis), Eastern North America’s largest minnow species, are expanding northwards and are now found in new watersheds such as the Jacques-Cartier River located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, Québec, Canada. The impacts of this species on the native fish community are currently not well understood, but Fallfish might compete with native Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) for habitat and food resources. Subsequently, we will study the species interactions between Fallfish and Brook Trout in the Jacques-Cartier River. The research activities will include assessments of fish habitat, food consumption, and field metabolic rate, as well as fish surveys. In partnership with the Sépaq, we will also develop a creel survey and work on the valorization of Fallfish. The collected data will contribute to an adaptive fisheries management plan for the Jacques-Cartier River.

Extended population assessment of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) in the Restigouche River estuary, New Brunswick

There are Atlantic sturgeon in the Restigouche River estuary. This species is millions of years old and it is still found in our waters today. Fishers have reported their sightings every year in the last decade. Unfortunately, this species is now considered to be a species at risk of extinction in the future. Because their numbers are so low, we do not see them that often in the area and therefore do not know a lot about them. Our project aims to answer community members’ questions about these fish in the area, such as “Why are they here?” and “What can we do to help them?”.

AI-powered Solutions for Complex Systems

AI tools based on deep learning has recently been suggested for many complex problems where a large amount of data is available. We will be working similar AI tools but problems from very different domains, namely, airport delay management after disruption and predicting prices of fresh produce under challenging climate conditions. Establishing a recovery flight schedule and prioritize flights during busy periods and disruptions at hub airports, minimizing delays and improving passenger connections is one problem and is to be studied by Anna. Developing a AI model for accurate fruit and crop price prediction, empowering farmers with informed decision-making and enabling consumers to make better choices when purchasing fruits and crops is the other problem and is to be studied by Diana.

L’inscriptibilité de l’adam à la lumière du olam. Impact hébraïque sur la conscience de l’homme contemporain.

Le projet s’inscrit dans la stratégie d’entreprises MITACS. Les études doctorales sur le religieux contemporain donne lieu à une expertise de haut niveau. Cette expertise, en termes de connaissances et de compétences, sera mise en oeuvre au Atlin Christian Centre (ACC), localité située dans le nord-ouest de la Colombie Britannique. Le ACC accueille une station de radio locale (100,7 FM), dûment enregistrée au CRTC. L’expertise doctorale sur le religieux contemporain sera diffusée sur les ondes de cette radio, avec la possibilité de diffusion à Whitehorse, au Yukon, et aux différentes communautés avoisinantes. La programmation radiophonique sera variée et couvrira plusieurs des sujets étudiés (le transhumanisme, la théodicée de Leibniz, la Bible et la théologie du langage, certaines traditions juives dont la kabbale, etc. Les avantages pour le Atlin Christian Centre est la mise en route de sa radio locale et sa contribution éventuelle à la communauté d’Atlin.

Otoscopy and Ophthalmology Training Technology Development

Teaching medical students and allied healthcare professionals accurate and patient friendly diagnosis of ear, eye and nasal conditions are challenging tasks due to the lack of realistic models and interaction with patients. The OONTTDP is a collaboration between the Hospital for Sick Children and Otosim to improve the teaching results through development of realistic simulators with various conditions embedded within an easy to use system. This development work includes: hardware design to incorporate 2-way communication for teaching feedback, modeling work to create ear, eye and nose models, and a novel virtual scope for diagnosing nasal conditions. This work offer hands-on technical training for new graduates while generating new products for Otosim.

Amélioration de l’estimation de la limite de vitesse pour un système de gestion active de la vitesse pour une flotte de véhicules

E-SMART commercialise un produit qui offre aux flottes de camion une façon innovatrice d’assurer la conformité aux panneaux de limite de vitesse de leur véhicule. Les principaux clients sont des flottes de camions aux États-Unis et aux Canada.

Pour contrôler la vitesse du véhicule, E-SMART s’interface directement entre la pédale d’accélération et l’ECM d’un véhicule. Une combinaison d’une cartographie embarquée et d’une caméra est utilisée pour déterminer la vitesse maximale permise.

Le but du projet est d’améliorer l’estimation de la limite de vitesse retournée au véhicule. Durant la dernière année, E-SMART a continué d’installer beaucoup de nouveau produit qui couvre des nouveaux cas d’utilisation que nous n’avions pas encore rencontré. Comme par example, nous avons observé que nous avions plus de difficultés à retourner la bonne limite de vitesse dans les zones rurales parce que la cartographie est mise à jour moins fréquemment. Également, parmis les nouveaux cas d’utilisation, nous avons également fait face à des véhicules qui circulent principalement en dehors du réseau routier officiel et qui nécessite de revoir l’approche de la gestion de la limite de vitesse d’un véhicule.

Une erreur sur la décision de la limite de vitesse est le facteur principal qui va influencer négativement l’adoption du produit. Étant donné la complexité , le projet actuel propose donc d’attaquer la problématique en focusant sur 2 pistes de solutions différentes.

Time Series forecasting for 6-month market demand prediction

Fiddlehead Technology is taking the art and science of predictive forecasting to a new level, working with machine learning to find elegant solutions to some of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry’s most complex problems. Fiddlehead is employing big data analysis and forecasting to revolutionize the food and beverage supply chain, solving the hard problems of reducing inventory cost and improving customer service levels, while building resiliency in the supply chain. The result is more accurate demand forecasts and unparalleled competitor foresight, allowing companies to see their blind spots and be more competitive. Fiddlehead’s goal through the BSI project is to develop a forecasting model estimating the next 6 month demands of the market. The intern will analyze, interpret and model data to solve business problems on a global scale.

Les collections du Séminaire de Québec, berceau de la culture canadienne

Ce projet d’inventaire et de documentation des bibliothèques anciennes des Ursulines de Québec et du Séminaire de Québec vise à faire connaître un pan méconnu du patrimoine culturel canadien. Il favorisera une meilleure compréhension des enjeux liés à la formation et à l’éducation des jeunes filles et des jeunes garçons à l’époque de la Nouvelle-France et du Québec ancien, et permettra une étude plus large du rôle des maisons d’enseignement dans la constitution de la culture canadienne. Ce travail autour de la bibliothèque ancienne des Ursulines amènera le Pôle culturel à développer un plan d’urgence et d’intervention mieux adapté en cas de sinistre, il garantira un meilleur accès aux collections pour les chercheurs et donnera lieu à des initiatives de mise en valeur concertée avec le milieu de la recherche. Le travail autour de la bibliothèque du Séminaire de Québec favorisera un raffinement des inventaires et une meilleure connaissance des phases de développements de la bibliothèque, ainsi qu’une priorisation des ouvrages à numériser entièrement.

Urbanization research in Ukraine and Canada

Urbanization processes are taking place in the world, so they need the latest research. Spatial orderliness and organization of urbanization forms changes over time, which determines the peculiarities of regional living conditions, its level and quality. A detailed analysis of urban studies in Ukraine and the world testifies to the completeness, significant scientific and practical results of geographers. We are trying to improve the methodology of assessing the level of urbanization and use new methods of researching this process in our research work. To achieve this goal, we will evaluate sociological and statistical databases in Canada and Ukraine and learn more about the tools used to analyze data on urbanization in these countries. The research can be the basis for optimizing the territorial management of regions, the basis for forecasting regional development.

Hydrothermal treatments of carbohydrates from pea and faba bean

Protein Powered Farms will develop value-added carbohydrate fractions suitable for use in the mining and food industries. We are targeting mining and food sectors and will be using ingredients from the starchy fraction and the seed coats from our current fractionation process as feedstock for this project. We project being able to develop and test 6 prototypes in the 52 weeks of this project.