Innovative Projects Realized

Fibronectin Type III domain-containing (FNDC) : facteurs clés dans les fonctions ovariennes chez la vache ?

La vache laitière est infertile pendant les premières 10 semaines après la mise-bas, ce qui est dû en partie à une sécrétion altérée des hormones libérées par le tissu adipeux et musculaire. Une famille de telles hormones s’appelle les ‘Fibronectin domain containing’, et pendant mon projet j’ai découvert que deux de ces hormones inhibent la fonction de l’ovaire en utilisant les modèles de culture cellulaire. Afin de vérifier la fonction de ces hormones chez l’animal in vivo, on travaillera avec l’équipe au Brésil qui font des expériences in vivo en synchronisant la croissance folliculaire et en injectant des molécules directement dans le follicule ovarien. Nous allons profiter de ces expériences afin de tester directement l’effet des FNDC sur le développement folliculaire in vivo.
Nous prévoyons que des FNDCs diminueront la croissance folliculaire chez l’animal vivant, ce qui confirmera que ces hormones peuvent être des cibles pharmaceutique contre l’infertilité chez la vache laitière.

Development of AI-based decision system for facility safety using computer vision and non-destructive technology

This project is a collaboration between Korea’s Soongsil University NDT Lab and Canada’s Waterloo University Computer Vision for Smart Structure Lab (CViSS), aiming to promote new research at each institute and build smart construction and infrastructure monitoring. NDT Lab focuses on developing non-destructive engineering technologies for concrete internal crack width, reinforcing bar diameter and internal void detection, and residual strength prediction. They plan to use computer vision and machine/deep learning for advanced wave mechanics analysis and smart construction. CViSS Lab focuses on computer vision for structural evaluation and virtual reality applications. They plan to analyze infrastructure data through contact/non-contact sensors using computing and AI technologies, advancing smart infrastructure through convergence with virtual reality. The collaboration is expected to promote follow-up research by each institute to upgrade smart construction and infrastructure monitoring.

Development of purification for high-quality boron nitride nanotube liquid crystals

Boron nitride nanotube (BNNT), a structural analog of carbon nanotube, has emerged as a key-enabling material in various fields of extreme/major science thanks to its transformative properties such as high oxidation resistance, high specific mechanical strength, piezoelectricity, and high neutron shielding capability. To harness its unique properties, it is essential to fabricate macroscopic BNNT articles from their powder form. Prof. Kim’s team in Canada is the world’s leading expert in the mass production of BNNTs; however, the team does not possess a technology to realize high-concentration BNNT dispersion, which is critical to the fabrication of macroscopic BNNT articles such as BNNT buckypapers, thin films, and yarns. The intern’s group (KIST) in Korea led by Dr. Jang is a world-class leading group in the high-concentration BNNT dispersion technology. Therefore, there is a strong synergy in this global collaboration, which could expedite the progress in the development of BNNT applications based on ultra-high performance / ultra-high functional BNNT macroscopic assemblies.

Adiposité et santé cardio-métabolique et neurocognitive

Les désordres cardiométaboliques (ex. dyslipidémie, stéatose hépatique, résistance à l’insuline, diabète, etc.) et neurocognitifs (ex. troubles cognitifs, déficit de l’attention, atteinte des fonctions exécutives, démences, etc.) associés à l’obésité se manifestent différemment selon les régions du monde et selon les groupes ethniques. Certains groupes ethniques incluant les communautés autochtones et sud-asiatiques sont particulièrement affectés par certaines conditions cardio-métaboliques (ex : diabète, stéatose hépatique), et ce, plus précocement.

L’objectif de ce projet est de décrire la santé cardio-métabolique et neuro-cognitive d’individus ayant un diagnostic d’obésité et de comparer différents facteurs de santé en fonction de l’origine ethnique.

Puisqu’il s’agit d’un projet pilote et de faisabilité, nous souhaitons tester la faisabilité d’effectuer des projets de recherche en santé cardio-métabolique et neurocognitive et l’utilisation de questionnaires standardisés en nutrition, en activité physique et en performance neurocognitive, au sein de communautés rurales et urbaines, à l’international.

Accelerated shelf-life testing of snack foods

This MITACS supported collaborative project with Lassonde Inc., was to develop a tool for shelf-life prediction of packaged snack foods by obtaining data under accelerated testing conditions. The gathering of data involves holding the pre-packaged snack bars (provided by the company) at different elevated temperatures for selected times. The product quality during storage is periodically evaluated in order to pick-up appropriate indicator(s) which can potentially be modeled based on some established kinetic theory to be able to predict shelf-life at lower (room) temperature conditions. Quality parameters planned to be studied include: appearance (colorimeter), hardness & chewiness (texture meter), water activity, TSS, pH, acidity, volatile profile, and others like peroxide value as found appropriate. Sensory testing will also be done with support from the company staff. Selected kinetic models will be tested with the data for suitability. Since storage stability of dehydrated products depend deeply on moisture sorption isotherms (MSI), the MSI of the snack foods will also be evaluated. It is hoped that the study will yield meaningful parameters for shelf-life predictions.

Amplifying Indigenous Voices: A Comparative Analysis of Indigenous Publishing Initiatives in Canada and Australia

The research hopes to improve the ways that institutions and organizations in Canada can support Indigenous literature, through a comparison of initiatives in Canada and Australia designed for Indigenous creatives in the publishing industry. The project involves two phases. First, initiatives on websites of publishing institutions/organizations in Canada and Australia will be recorded to create an inventory. Second, interviews with key informants from the institutions/organizations will be conducted to provide a richer picture of the data. The Indigenous Editors Association (IEA) is the industry partner for this project, and the executive director of the IEA, Nadine Ryan, will be the industry supervisor. In supporting the intern’s project, the IEA will benefit through the work completed on their Digital Strategies Project whose research overlaps with the intern’s first project phase.

Program development and best practices research

The 2023 intern will support, enhance and build on the work that is being done at NPDWC. The intern will document work and create how to manuals for the community oven coordinator, drop in , and Street Festival. Future interns work will include:
• Developing materials that can be used to support and enhance the work that is being done.
• Documenting the programs and creating operations manuals
• Examining the changes and work to date to assess their effectiveness – program evaluations
• Engaging in a series of best practices research, comparing NPDWC programs and activities to comparable programs in other jurisdictions
• making recommnendations on best practices to inform the continued program development and implementation at NPDWC.
• Engaging in inter-organizational networking and information sharing
• Making recommendations on further program changes
• Supporting the ongoing work of the NPDWC

Youth Recreational Coordinator

The Daniel McIntyre/St. Matthews Community Association (DMSMCA) is a community-driven not-for-profit
Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation that serves the Daniel McIntyre and St. Matthews (DM/SM) neighbourhoods in Winnipeg’s West End.
Their mission is to empower the communities of DM/SM to achieve
social, cultural, economic, and environmental well-being. The DMSMCA vision is for their community to be stable, healthy and safe. A neighbourhood that is diverse, welcoming, vibrant, clean and self-reliant.
Through this project, DMSMCA hopes to promote reconciliation by providing opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to come together and participate in community-based programming.
Through this project, the youth recreational coordinator will bring members of our diverse community together, allowing
them to share experiences and cultural knowledge, leading to an increased understanding of other cultures and viewpoints, an important foundation for building relationships and strengthening social support networks.

Project Intern at Adwow

Adwow Marketing Inc. (a AI-powered marketing start-up) is seeking expertise of an intern who has background in Digital Marketing and Analytics. The collaboration with MITACS will provide Adwow with access to valuable resources and expertise that can help Adwow strengthen its unique selling proposition and develop an effective go-to-market strategy.

BSI Internship – Shashwat Shah – Full-Stack Development

The proposed project is to leverage open-source technologies and a the Rust multi-paradigm programming language to create a Spreadsheet API that builds easy-to-use financial models. The financial modeling innovations achieved throughout this stage of the project will be incorporated into the user interface of a client-facing web application. These improvements will allow the user to generate more complex financial models that match maturity and growing complexity of a company’s financials.

Development of calculation tools for self-supporting steel structures

Crane structures are used to lift heavy equipment, goods or machinery. While different crane types exist, an overhead crane is primarily used in industrial facilities. The overhead crane structure comprises the following essential components: crane bridge, rails, crane runway girders, crane supporting columns, bracing system and crane foundations. Different types of loads need to be considered when designing crane-supporting structures. These include vertical reactions from the crane bridge/girder and the vertical impact load due to the crane’s movement. In addition, lateral and longitudinal forces are imposed on the crane-supporting structures and must be considered in the design.
The objectives of this Mitacs project are: (1) To develop a calculation tool for designing exterior free-standing support structures for an overhead crane, and (2) To develop a calculation tool for designing interior free-standing structures to support overhead crane. Thus, using the calculation tool developed for designing industrial supporting structures, the company will be will be able to grow its business .

Social Finance and the Circular Food Economy – HEC Montréal

This project will support Propel Impact in engaging and building relationships with organizations working in the Social Economy and Social Finance sectors in Quebec.