Projets novateurs réalisés

Optimization of algorithms for real-time digital slide viewing

Panoptiq, is ViewsIQ’s flagship product for slide scanning and navigation in the microscopy

and pathology market. This product would significantly benefit from enhanced resolution and

accuracy of the images produced and improved system response time. The goal of the project is to (1) explore appropriate image processing algorithms and design

new ones for Panoptiq and (2) to achieve significant speedup benefiting from massively

parallel hardware architectures (such as GPUs). The algorithms and techniques used should be

fast enough to help users, such as pathologists, navigate and scan slides in real-time without

sacrificing the quality of the resulting images.

The role of integrins in stretch-induced activation of TGF-?1 and pulmonary fibrosis

Fibroproliferative disorders are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A large group of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) can cause progressive scarring of lung tissues, affecting the ability to breathe. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is one of the major forms of ILD and is characterized by a progressive decline in lung function. Although the pathogenesis of IPF is not completely understood, work from our group and others suggest that transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-?1) is involved in the fibrogenic process. In this project, we will assess the contribution of the Integrins to the stretch-induced activation of TGF-?1 and the fibrotic process and we will examine the anti-fibrotic effect of specific Integrins Antibodies that are developed by GSK plc. In a TGF-?1-mediated animal model of lung fibrosis. This work will increase our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in pulmonary fibrosis and potentially lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for IPF.

Structural colors on polymers by femtosecond laser irradiation

Most colors in nature are due to the presence of pigments or dyes. Artificial colors on different materials are produced by incorporating dyes in them. However, the brightest colors in nature, e.g. the colors of butterfly wings and peacock feathers, are generated because of the micro/nano-features on their surface. Unlike the added dyes or pigments in a material, the colors produced by surface features, also called structural colors, do not fade with sunshine and this colors are non-toxic. Laser irradiation can create structural colors on metals by an easy one-step process. However, structural colors have yet not been achieved on polymers by this technique. Furthermore, other techniques of fabricating structural colors on polymers use added nano-particles. This project will fabricate polymers with structural colors by laser machining. Moreover, added functionalities such as anti-wetting and anti-staining properties will be imparted into this colored polymers. These colored polymers can be used in pool liners and cool roofin

Validation of Quality of Life Instruments for acne involving face and torso; and for hidradenitis suppurativa

The goal of this project is to provide evidence of validity for two newly developed measures of quality of life; one for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and one for acne. Both HS and acne negatively impact quality of life; however, to date, there are no disease-specific, patient-centered quality of life measures. The results of this project will provide healthcare professionals with tools to assess the impact of these conditions and their treatments (HS and acne) on patients’ quality of life.

Computer Vision and Deep Learning for Moderating Visual Content

Two Hat Security is a company that develops next generation moderation tools for social networking apps. Since visual content (e.g. images, videos) is one of the most important types of data shared by social networking apps, an important problem for the company is to identify images/videos that are offensive or inappropriate. For example, certain images/videos might contain violence, nudity, or certain objects (knife, gun, bikini, etc.) that are considered offensive. It is obviously unrealistic to have human annotators to manually sift through all images/videos online and flag those offensive contents. The goal of the proposed research program is to develop a series of computer vision and machine learning (especially deep learning) technologies that the partner company can utilize to build the state-of-the-art moderation tools for social network apps.

Scaling Geocontextualization

Urban design and development is an iterative process that involves community engagement and multiple feedback cycles. Advances in internet technologies and web mapping technologies has made it possible to display design plans on websites and to collect feedback on specific locations or aspects of the provided design. Using web mapping applications to feedback from the community is formally known as facilitated volunteer geographic information (FVGI). FVGI has potential to improve decision making in urban governance but it comes with challenges such as data overload, poor data quality and data ambiguity. This research proposes an automated process to identify key locations within FVGI data using a process called Geocontextualization. Urban decision makers will be able to identify areas of concern as a result. This internship will benefit the intern as there is an opportunity to work with real data sets and projects and to build a web solution at scale. This internship will benefit the partner because it will allow the firm to leverage the latest GIS workflows to new competitive service in urban development.

Calibrage automatique et analyse de performances de systèmes LiDAR

Ce projet porte sur l’amélioration des performances de systèmes de mesure LiDAR portés par des mobiles (navires, véhicules terrestres), qui sont de plus en plus utilisés dans les domaines de la surveillance de l’érosion côtière, de l’inspection d’infrastructures marines et des levés de caractéristiques du trait de côte.
Notre projet cible les utilisateurs de systèmes à composants hybrides et vise à développer des outils logiciels permettant, d’une part, d’améliorer les performances à travers des algorithmes de calibration originaux et, d’autre part, de fournir des outils numériques d’évaluation des performances de ces systèmes, de manière à déterminer objectivement leurs limites d’utilisation en fonction des contraintes de précision imposées par certaines applications.

Exploratory study: modification of sludge based sorbents for nutrient removal from stormwater runoff

Nutrients (P, N) in stormwater runoff are a major cause for eutrophication and algae blooms. Kerr Wood Leidal (KWL) is a leader in proving progressive solutions for stormwater management in BC, is seeking to improve the rain garden system to effectively capture the nutrients in the runoff. The proposed project will investigate various chemical activation to produce effective biomass-/sludge-based sorbent. This sorbent developed from sludge will be modified through metal doping and pyrolysis (i.e., chemical activation) to introduced functional groups to the sorbents to effectively capture the nutrients. Activation conditions will be optimized including pyrolysis temperature and during, heating rate, and chemical content. Batch and column adsorption tests will be used to evaluate the efficacy of the produced sorbents. The results will assist the company in improving rain garden design and provide a new solution for KWL to control the nutrients in stormwater runoff.

Kinetics of dispersion of fine phosphate particles associated with organic matter

This research project seeks to improve the process which is used to recover fine phosphorous particles from mine tailings. Phosphorus based fertilizers are important for plant growth and essential to large-scale, high-efficiency farming methods. However, the processing method used to obtain phosphate from phosphate-bearing ore is not very efficient. Upward of 13 % of the available phosphate is lost to the waste stream during processing, which represents a major inefficiency and creates a large environmental problem. This research will consider the reaction conditions, such as mixing time and temperature that contribute to the improved recovery of phosphate during the reprocessing of mine tailings. As a result of this project, the industrial partner, a firm specialized in environmental consulting, will have an improved understanding of the behaviour of fine phosphate particles during reprocessing. This knowledge will contribute to the development environmental remediation strategies for phosphorous-bearing mine tailings.

Fisheries stock assessment and management models for British Columbia’s multispecies integrated groundfish fishery

Large-scale commercial fisheries are an important part of Canada’s resource economy; however, resource managers are increasingly challenged to improve conservation and biodiversity outcomes by eliminating over-fishing, reducing bycatch and wastage, and protecting sensitive habitats from the impacts of fishing gear. Integrated management of multispecies fisheries attempts to improve on these outcomes by mandating and enforcing strict accountability for all retained and discarded catch of every species encountered. However, integrated management creates unrealistic scientific information requirements because it requires detailed biomass estimates for all quota species. Furthermore, strict quota accountability for multispecies quotas creates economic pinch-points where low quota availability severely constrains harvester access to more productive species. In this proposal, we address these challenges by investigating (1) the effectiveness of new stock assessment and management models designed to overcome data limitations for spatially structured flatfish and rockfish species, and (2) the ability of machine learning algorithms to predict the presence and catch rates of pinch-point species, which would allow harvesters to redirect effort and reduce profitability constraints. Stock assessment research in this proposal is urgently needed to help fisheries meet government policies for sustainable fishing, as well as consumer-oriented fishery sustainability certification.

Development and application of a pollution biomonitoring tool for coastal British Columbia: A caged mussel health index

Healthy and productive coastal regions are highly important to Canada, both socio-economically and for the ecosystem services they provide. In 2015, the Vancouver Aquarium launched a new coast-wide initiative in British Columbia (PollutionTracker) to assess coastal health by generating high quality contaminant data for mussels and nearshore sediments. In the proposed study, Dr. Gabriela Aguirre-Martinez will design and deploy a caged mussel study to complement PollutionTracker and provide strong insight into the accumulation of different pollutants and the effects of these on mussel health Results of this initiative will add depth to PollutionTracker, and will inform the implementation of best practices by stakeholders operating in coastal BC. A net reduction in the release of harmful pollutants into coastal environments will contribute to seafood safety for commercial, recreational and aboriginal fishers, and contribute directly to the Vancouver Aquarium’s operations as the pre-eminent non-partisan ocean conservation organization in Canada.

The role of humpback whale predation on commercial fish population dynamics in British Columbia

Humpback whales show remarkable recovery after the impacts of commercial whaling, and their consumption of essential food resources could affect local herring and salmon populations. Little is known about the feeding ecology of humpback whales in BC waters, despite their increasing importance to fisheries and tourism. Both humpback whales and fish are vulnerable to prey depletion, and the public have a vested interest in the future of humpbacks and fisheries in BC. In this thesis, I will examine the distribution of prey consumption by humpback whales to assess how their continued recovery may influence the productivity of herring and salmon. Effective management of marine populations requires knowledge of their biological needs and public support of federal recovery strategies. Benefits to the Pacific Whale Watch Association and Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea include strong industry collaboration and leading scientific knowledge for translating clear answers to the public.