Innovative Projects Realized

Open Sky – Community Health Coordination

Open Sky Co-operative is a charitable non-profit led by a mission to foster inclusive communities where people can thrive, and contribute, all while experiencing a sense of hope, value and belonging. They deliver skills programs, vocational assistance and community connections for adults who require support to improve their quality of life with a focus on adults who face barriers due to social disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, and/or mental health challenges.

In the rural community of Tantramar, we recognize that many individuals outside the criteria of our core programming for young adults and remain isolated in the community for various reasons, primarily social and mental health disabilities. We intend to create a pilot project to explore opportunities to expand our services in response to this unmet need for support in our community.

We hope to use this project to pilot a position in the community for individual support to observe the client and the client’s environment to gather the facts about each of these. This will help us understand how context and person interact to the detriment of the person or contribute to the client’s well-being.

Développement de partenariats entre l’entreprise Forages Rouillier et les communautés anicinapek de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Forages Rouillier, une entreprise de services du secteur minier qui se spécialise dans le forage au diamant, a déjà conclu des partenariats avec les communautés autochtones là où le cadre légal l’exige (Eeyou Istchee et Nunavik). L’entreprise souhaite maintenant créer de tels partenariats avec les communautés anicinapek de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Toutefois, il y a peu de précédents dans ce territoire et les moyens pour y arriver sont peu connus. Le stage proposé a pour objectifs (1) d’identifier les ressources disponibles, les organisations existantes et les moyens utilisés en Abitibi-Témiscamingue pour la création de partenariats d’affaires entre entreprises allochtones et communautés autochtones; et (2) de développer une proposition de projet de recherche qui permettrait de répondre aux questions de Forages Rouillier quant aux meilleures pratiques de développement de partenariats d’affaires avec des communautés anicinapek. Ce projet aura de nombreuses retombées pour l’entreprise, dont l’obtention de contrats, la conformité aux exigences de la certification UL ECOLOGO® à laquelle elle adhère, l’accès à un bassin de main-d’œuvre autochtone, ainsi que des effets positifs sur son image et sa réputation. Elle deviendrait par ailleurs un exemple pour d’autres fournisseurs de services au Québec et au Canada souhaitant emboîter le pas.

Capacités d’IA en vision pour l’inspection autonome et la compréhension de scène

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

Self-Supervised Learning to learn meaningful representations of hyperspectral retinal images

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

Adapting Not-for-Profit Arts Publishing to the Post-Digital Paradigm

PUBLIC (est. 1988) is a not-for-profit print periodical exploring the intersection of art, design, technology, and culture. This research project advances that history by looking at the future of print culture as today’s artists are increasingly making and exhibiting work in online spaces. How can PUBLIC promote engaging and accessible conversations around artists working exclusively in digital, online formats without distorting these works—forcing them to fit within a traditional print format? This project will identify innovative publication strategies that can adequately address these changes in contemporary art. Deliverables include several design prototypes exploring new, relevant technologies, an international symposium on new publishing methods, and an experimental issue of PUBLIC centring on art made for online viewing, utilizing a hybrid, analog-digital format. PUBLIC will directly benefit by expanding its mandate to better suit shifting trends in the art world; by further developing and activating its newly redesigned web portal; and by positioning itself as a leader in the future of not-for-profit publishing models.

Apprentissage profond informé par la physique des ultrasons

Dans le domaine du contrôle non destructif, l’intelligence artificielle peut être utilisée pour inspecter de grandes
quantités de données ultrasonores (ce sont des échographies de matériaux métalliques, composites ou autres),
pour y détecter des défauts de fabrication ou d’usure (par exemple des trous, de la corrosion, etc.). L’application
de techniques éprouvées d’IA donne des résultats acceptables, mais les modèles d’IA utilisés sont génériques
dans le sens où ils n’ont pas été conçus spécifiquement pour traiter des images ultrasonores (il s’agit
principalement de modèles développés pour traiter des images dans le spectre visible). Ces modèles n’exploitent
donc pas les équations physiques qui ont présidé à la formation des images traitées par l’IA. Le projet de
recherche consistera à injecter de la physique des ultrasons dans l’intelligence artificielle pour le contrôle non
destructif dans le but d’améliorer les performances.

Transceivers based on quantum dash optical frequency comb sources for optical access networking

The project focuses on the design, modeling/simulation, and testing of photonic devices, and the co-design of electronicphotonic
integrated circuits, to realize transceivers that can be commercialized for use in both wireline, e.g., passive optical
networks (PONs), and wireless, e.g., 5G backhaul, access networks with an emphasis on meeting the reach requirements
for remote and underserved communities. Two interns will work with the partnering organizations—National Research
Council Canada and FONEX Data Systems, Inc.—to optimize the performance of semiconductor optical sources and develop
photonic devices and integrated circuits, as well as associated electronics, and involves empirical, experimentally-driven
research and extensive engineering design. NRC will thus be able to expand their technology portfolio and transfer
semiconductor optical sources to new industrial partners, such as FONEX, for new applications areas. FONEX will be able
to develop technologies for their service provider clients to deploy high-speed broadband services.

Intact : Évaluation de l’incertitude en tarification

La mesure de l’incertitude dans les prédictions est considérée clé pour prendre des décisions informées à partir
des données. Ceci améliore également la transparence et la confiance dans les prédictions d’un modèle. Ceci
peut également influencer le design expérimental et la balance entre l’exploitation d’une solution et le besoin
d’exploration et de collecte de données supplémentaires. Dans cette optique, définir un niveau de confiance sur
les prédictions des métriques utilisées pour l’établissement des prix en assurance de dommages est un filon
intéressant à exploiter. L’objectif principal de ce projet de recherche est d’explorer les fondations pour la mesure
de l’incertitude dans différents modèles d’apprentissage machine utilisés pour la tarification en assurance de
dommages.

Plateforme d’analyse des données pour le suivie des performances de stratégies d’investissements

Le projet proposé vise à produire un outil d’analyse et d’aide à l’investissement basé sur des données de performances de marchés, d’indicateurs financiers ainsi que des données relatives aux caractéristiques des compagnies publiques. Le stagiaire devra traiter les données pour en extraire des informations pertinentes visant à expliquer le comportement de stratégies d’investissement mis en place par les utilisateurs. À la fin de ce projet, l’objectif est de mettre en adéquation les stratégies d’investissements et leurs comportements sur le marché. Cette analyse offre une valeur ajoutée aux utilisateurs qui souhaitent obtenir une compréhension approfondie des données, qui peut ne pas être prise en compte lors de la formulation d’une stratégie analytique.

Development of a low-cost antireflective nano-structure manufacturing approach for large-scale glass applications to increase solar panel efficiency

The eye of moths and other natural bio-surfaces feature nanotextures that eliminate virtually all reflection of light. Scientists and product engineers are just beginning to tap into this fundamentally higher performing anti-reflection approach compared to thin films coatings currently used in all commercial products. These anti-reflective protective glass increases energy production for solar panels and enable sunlight-readability for electronic screens. In this project, we continue to build upon our imprinting approach to further developing a highly scalable, cost-effective nanotexturing manufacturing process, optimized using numerical modeling for process prediction. This work is performed in partnership with a Montreal-based global leader in nanotextured anti-reflective technologies. In this all-Canadian academic-industrial partnership, project deliverables fuel the growing international impact of Canadian companies, contribute new knowledge on high-precision advanced manufacturing technologies, contribute to the green technology movement and ultimately create new Canadian jobs for highly qualified personnel.

Determing the value of delivering light >500nm to dental resins

A new curing light, PinkWave (Apex, Racine, WI) was introduced last year (https://vistaapex.com/pinkwave). This light is unique because it has four distinct wavelength bands that deliver red (625 – 750 nm), infrared (800 – 900 nm), blue, and violet light. The manufacturer also claims that this ‘quad-wave’ light can reduce polymerization shrinkage stress.[13] Initial reports indicate that the value of using this ‘quad-wave’ light to photo-cure current RBCs remains uncertain because the absorbance spectra of four most common photoinitiators used in dental resins; camphorquinone (CQ), 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide (BAPO), Ivocerin, and Lucirin TPO will not benefit from receiving light above 500 nm. In view of the fact that dentists are using this light to photo-cure dental fillings in Canada, more research is required to determine the effectiveness of this particular curing light that dentists both in Canada and the rest of the world are using on patients.
This research will:
(1) Measure the spectral radiant power from the PinkWave using a fiber optic spectrometer;
(2) Evaluate the benefit of including light above 500 nm from a curing light using the hardness (VH) and degree of conversion (DC) of flowable and regular-viscosity four different dental resins 24 h after exposure PinkWave

Carboxyalkylated and sulfoalkylated nano lignin as an emulsifier for coating application

The overall objective of this study is to generate lignin-derived sustainable emulsion systems for coating applications. The main focus of this study is on the generation of functional lignin derivatives and then the conversion of these lignin derivatives to lignin nanoparticles. Afterward, the use of lignin nanoparticles in oil-water emulsions will be studied for coating applications.
Specifically, she will study the generation of lignin nanoparticles from carboxyalkylated and sulfoalkylated lignin and comprehensively characterize them. Then, she will study how these nanoparticles can be used as oil-water emulsifiers with different characteristics.
This project will examine the use of carboxyalkated and sulfoalkylated lignin in an application that has not been studied in Canada, and therefore will widen the activities of lignin valorization at Lakehead University (and Canada). Although Lakehead University has an advanced laboratory for lignin characterization, it is not equipped for assessing coating applications. Therefore, this internship will not only provide an opportunity for the intern to learn new methods and visit KTH but also a chance for Lakehead university to explore the use of lignin in a new application (i.e., coating formulations).