Projets novateurs réalisés

Relationship between Executive Functions and Categorization

A multiple-systems theory of category learning proposes that an explicit, verbally-mediated system learns rule-defined (RD) categories categorization rules, and a procedural, nonverbal system learns new non-rule-defined (NRD) categories for which there is no easily verbalizable rule. Executive Function (EF) is a broad term that brings together cognitive processes like selective attention, inhibition, and reasoning, plays a key role in the explicit category rule learning or learning RD categories. The multiple-systems theory further hypothesizes that EF does not predict performance in learning NRD categories. The proposed study intends to examine the relationship between EF and category learning through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis. The SEM procedure will be significantly optimized if Bayesian estimation was incorporated. Bayesian analysis not only facilitate with the creation of more optimized categorization models, it is also highly transferable knowledge that can be applied in any data-driven research that involve inferential statistics. The purpose of this visit is to learn Bayesian statistics through modeling this projects’ data, and investigate the EF and category relationship through interpreting model results.

Aging Behaviour of LEDs Driven by PWM including power supply and electrostatic discharge (ESD)

Tumor-blood vessels communication impacting on cancer progression and metastasis

Tumor-associated blood vessels are a major component of the tumor microenvironment because of their important role in supplying the tumor cells (TC) with nutrients and being the border for metastatic spread. Endothelial cells (EC) of blood vessels communicate with TC through direct interactions via Notch signaling. Our group could show that activated Notch1 receptors are frequently present in EC of human tumors. Therefore, the proposed project will address the role of endothelial Notch1 signaling the interaction of EC and TC. Analyzing differently secreted factors by EC due to the activation of Notch1 receptor will give answers how tumor-associated blood vessels shape the tumor microenvironment. The aim of the project is to address the effects of EC mediators on tumor progression and metastatic potential. Immune cells are one of the main component of the tumor microenvironment and their amount correlates with a poor outcome for patients. Identifying the role of endothelial cell in recruiting immune cells into the tumor could be beneficial for tumor therapy and might improve the therapeutic outcome of patients.

Drying in Fluidized Beds

Étude de la composition et du comportement des boues résiduaires des étangs aérés lors deleur entreposage en vue d’élargir leurs avenues de valorisation

Les étangs aérés sont un traitement des eaux municipales fiable et facile à opérer pour

l’épuration des eaux usées. Au Québec, plusieurs municipalités sont équipées avec ce type

de traitement. Ce traitement génère une boue résiduaire qui consiste en la fraction des

matières non digérées et décantées dans le fond des bassins. Les étangs aérés au Québec

sont en fonction de plusieurs années alors que les boues n’ont jamais été soutirées. Dans

plusieurs cas, les boues ont atteint un niveau où elles doivent être retirées. Les municipalités

sont maintenant au prise avec des boues d’étangs à disposer et, de préférence, à valoriser

(si les coûts sont moins importants que l’enfouissement). Cependant, ce type de boues est

peu connu et n’a pas fait l’objet d’études sur leur stockage et leur valorisation subséquente

pour minimiser les risques de contamination de l’environnement. Les boues issues de ce

type de traitement contiennent différentes concentrations en contaminants chimiques

dépendamment de la nature des rejets provenant du…………………………………………….

Developing microfluidic systems to culture patient-derived tumour organoids for personalized medicine

Personalized cancer therapy has immense potential to improve clinical outcomes of cancer patients because it tailors therapeutic treatment to each patient. To realize the promise of personalized medicine, there is an urgent need to develop new tumour models in the lab that can be easily tested, and also accurately represent responses of the original tumour. Patient-derived brain tumour organoids represent one such model that could potentially address this through the use of primary tissue obtained from the original tumour site. Developing these organoid models, however, has remained challenging because of the lack of laboratory tools that can maintain these organoids in an in vitro environment that closely resembles the tumour microenvironment found in vivo. The objective of this project is to conduct preliminary testing of three conceptual designs of microfluidic systems for culturing patient-derived tumour organoids, and to demonstrate feasibility of applying microfluidics technology as a novel approach to creating a suitable in vitro tumour microenvironment for studying tumour organoids.

Global Initiative to Reduce Obesity and Sedentary lifestyles

The purpose of this project is to ultimately decrease the likelihood of permanent sedentary lifestyles for at risk individuals. This includes overweight and obese men and women who are at risk of chronic diseases, and are in danger of excluding themselves permanently from active lifestyles. By developing and testing individualized behavior changing methodologies, this project aims to improve citizen engagement in active lifestyles. Although the solution to the growing epidemic of obesity is simple (exercise and healthy diet), there are many underlying factor that prevent those at risk to take the preliminary steps to adopt healthy habits. This study aims to provide knowledge for the reasons for sedentary lifestyle, and provides methods for at-risk individuals to make changes in an achievable, effective, and motivational way. The multidisciplinary nature of this research initiative allows for a holistic approach with expertise from different areas to ensure an integrated and comprehensive analysis and conclusions.

Debromination and recycling of styrenic polymers

Polystyrene is a non-biodegradable polymer whose versatility has expanded its applicability to consumer products such as packaging and electronic components. For this reason, end-of-life polystyrene has become an environmental burden and recycling is an alternative to close the cycle of this material, preventing it to reach landfills or to be openly dumped. However, high impact polystyrene (HIPS) is found in electric and electronic components containing brominated flame retardants. Those compounds must be removed from HIPS as hazardous compounds can be released when treating it, which limits its recyclability.
This research project aims to extract the bromine compounds from HIPS using an alkali solvent-extraction at temperatures rounding 190 ºC. The procedure will prevent the degradation of the polystyrene and reduce the production of by-products like oils and waxes, thus, maintaining its after-treatment recyclability in regular process lines. TO BE CONT’D

Etude de l’impact sur le potentiel éducatif et sensoriel d’une technologie immersive : modélisation 3D de la ville historique de Paris

Le projet a pour objectif de tester une projection immersive dans la voûte de la Société des Arts Technologiques (SAT) de Montréal. Il s’agit d’un dôme immersif de 18 mètres de diamètre. Une modélisation 3D de la ville de Paris au 19e siècle sera exposée et il sera possible de s’y déplacer à l’aide d’une manette de réalité virtuelle. L’organisation partenaire souhaite tester l’efficacité de cette technologie pour les utilisateurs et pour les concepteurs.
Le premier objectif de cette recherche est de tester l’interface de conception immersive et d’améliorer l’expérience vécue. Le second objectif vise à déterminer si la technologie immersive transmet mieux les notions historiques à son utilisateur qu’un support traditionnel (2D). Les résultats du premier volet sur l’outil de conception vont donner des informations très pertinentes pour la SAT quant aux pistes d’amélioration possibles pour simplifier au maximum cette interface.
Pour le second objectif, des résultats positifs ouvriraient d’énormes opportunités dans le domaine de l’éducation. Par exemple, en utilisant ce type de projection en tant qu’outil éducatif, pour transmettre des connaissances à des étudiants en histoire avec un aspect hédonique et interactif.

Modelling and Verifying Dynamic Properties of Biological Neural Networks in Coq

Formal verification involves with proving properties about a system to make sure that the system is not free of bugs. There are two main methods for verification which are called model checking and theorem proving. Most current approaches to systems biology rely on model checking. Model checking is more automatic but not as general and often must rely on special values and cases. Theorem provers can verify models for arbitrary size, input, and time. In our approach, we use Coq proof assistant to create and verify a model of neural networks. Verifying biological system is a new field of research. A biological system can be from a single cell to whole body of a live creature. Most research in this field focuses on a particular organ. Our research is based on providing a general verified model for human neural networks using Coq proof assistant. TO BE CONT’D

Photosynthetic acclimation of tobacco (Nicotiana sp.) under drought and nitrogen stress

Photosynthesis and respiration are major processes that influence the carbon cycle and will be impacted by future changes in precipitation. Short-term exposure to drought can decrease photosynthetic rates and growth, but plants can acclimate and adjust to water deficits over the long-term by changing their leaf physiology. The rate of acclimation may depend on nitrogen availability, which is necessary to synthesize enzymes. Photosynthetic acclimation can also be influenced by stress memory, where drought preconditioning enhances tolerance to future drought events. However, there are limited studies that examine the photosynthetic rates of plants under long-term drought stress, and carbon uptake models often do not account for drought acclimation, potentially underestimating CO2 uptake by plants. We expect that photosynthetic capacity will initially decline during drought, but photosynthetic rates will recover with prolonged exposure. We also predict that higher N and prior exposure to drought will enhance the ability of plants to acclimate.

Burkholderia Ability to Cross Stinkbug Constricted Region

The goal of the research is to determine which genes in microbes of the genus Burkholderia allow them to cross a barrier in stinkbug guts which blocks any other microbes. Mutant clones of the microorganism will be prepared to deactivate genes suspected of playing a role in allowing passage of Burkholderia in the gut. These mutants will then be fluorescenty labeled and inoculated in a host bean bug. The fluorescence has for goal to easily record the spreading of the microbes in their host. Mutants which will be unable to cross the barier will indicate that said gene plays a pivotal role in allowing passage of Burkholderia to regions of the gut posetrior to the barrier. The relationship between Burkholderia and stinkbugs enhances both of their survival.
Understanding this relationship is therefore crucial tool to deal with stinkbug, who are an important agricultural pest.