Innovative Projects Realized

Time Series Clustering and Classification

Financial indicators of an individual firm may be in the form of time series, vectors, or even richer data, such as text or images. The purpose of this work is to explore and develop methods for dealing with such data, and in particular perform the clustering/classification of such data into similar groups. In the project the intern will develop the tools that will allow to determine whether a client should be issued a loan or not.

Modeling Dune Roughness in a Large Sand-bedded River – Year two

Dunes are common bed features in large sand-bedded rivers and are significant sources of in-channel roughness. Reliably estimating roughness is crucial for the prediction of flood flows, but roughness is crudely represented in hydraulic models widely used by environmental consultants and engineers. Roughness is treated as a calibration knob in these models, adjusted to force predicted water levels to match observations. This makes water level predictions during floods difficult, especially for flows beyond the range of previous observations. The proposed project will examine the physical basis for dune-related roughness in rivers. Previous bed surveys from the sand-bedded Fraser River will be compiled and dune characteristics (height, length, lee angle) will be extracted. Roughness from model calibrations will be compared to observed dune dimensions. Recently proposed relations for predicting dune dimensions, developed separately, will be refined using the field observations and validated with some new field observations. Modules for existing hydrodynamic and morphodynamic models will be developed that incorporate the new predictive relations for roughness. The project will reduce reliance on time-consuming roughness calibration exercises. TO BE CONT’D

Modeling Dune Roughness in a Large Sand-bedded River

Dunes are common bed features in large sand-bedded rivers and are significant sources of in-channel roughness. Reliably estimating roughness is crucial for the prediction of flood flows, but roughness is crudely represented in hydraulic models widely used by environmental consultants and engineers. Roughness is treated as a calibration knob in these models, adjusted to force predicted water levels to match observations. This makes water level predictions during floods difficult, especially for flows beyond the range of previous observations. The proposed project will examine the physical basis for dune-related roughness in rivers. Previous bed surveys from the sand-bedded Fraser River will be compiled and dune characteristics (height, length, lee angle) will be extracted. Roughness from model calibrations will be compared to observed dune dimensions. Recently proposed relations for predicting dune dimensions, developed separately, will be refined using the field observations and validated with some new field observations. Modules for existing hydrodynamic and morphodynamic models will be developed that incorporate the new predictive relations for roughness. The project will reduce reliance on time-consuming roughness calibration exercises. TO BE CONT’D

Fonctionnement de l’erablierc a la limite de son aire de distribution

Le stage propose dans Ie cadre dc cette demande s’inscrit dans un projet plus vaste mene

par Dominique Gravel, Christian Messier, Yves Bergeron et moi:meme, subventionnc par

Ie FQRNT pour la periode allant de Janvier 2011 a Janvier 2015. L’objectifprincipal de

ce projet est d’avoir une meilleure comprehension des phenomenes sous-jacents is la

migration des especes vegetales a travers des zones deja occupees, de caracteriser les

parametres essentiels de cette dynamique et d’identifier de quelle fa~on les changements

de conditions climatiques peuvent influencer ces migrations.

Les travaux effectues dans Ie cadre de ce stage serviront a developper des modeles

statistiques qui permettront d’approfondir les modeles utilises jusqu’a present dans un but

de prospection du devenir des forets existantes. Une fois I’ensemble du modele PPA

etalonne et teste pour nos parcelles eXpCrimentales, nous serons en mesure d’evaluer les

differents scenarios possibles quant au devenir des zones en bordures d’ erablieres et du

potentiel economique de celles-ci……

Développement de biocides à base d’extractibles végétaux pour le contrôle des maladies et de la germination lors de l’entreposage des pommes de terre.

Un des marchés d’intérêt pour les molécules biocides des extraits d’écorces est l’agriculture, et plus spécifiquement la production de pommes de terre. Suivant la récolte des pommes de terre, leur entreposage peut devenir problématique. Deux grands défis se présentent; 1) les maladies c’est-à-dire le développement de microorganismes causant la pourriture des tubercules et 2) la germination hâtive des pommes de terre occasionne de nombreuses pertes. L’industrie de la pomme de terre au Canada évalue les pertes en entreposage à 10% de la récolte, ce qui représente environ 75 millions $. Au Québec, on évalue les pertes à 66 030 tonnes/an. Les fongicides et antigerminatifs chimiques actuellement utilisés pour contrer ces problématiques peuvent être dommageable pour l’environnement et même pour la santé. Peu d’alternative naturelle à coût abordable sont actuellement disponibles sur le marché. En accord avec leur perspective de développement durable et de préservation de l’environnement, l’UQTR, Innofibre et les Producteurs de Pommes de terre du Québec désire s’investir dans le développement de produits biosourcés pour répondre aux besoins des agriculteurs…

Development of Chitosan-based Nanosparticles forLoading Non-water Soluble Medicine

Over 90% new drugs cannot be used in market or perform inefficiently because of their poor water-solubility. Delivery of non-water soluble medicine by using biodegradable carriers can solve the problem. This research work aims to develop N-trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC)-based nanoparticles used as a drug carrier for delivering non-water soluble medicine to enhance the therapeutic efficiency. Two interns will be involved in this project. Collaborating with Ovensa Inc., we will produce TMC-based nanoparticles with suitable particle size and surface properties. The loading efficiency, and release kinetics of the medicine loaded in TMC-based nanoparticles will be thoroughly investigated. The successful result of this project will eventually establish a platform for enhancing the activities of the non-water soluble medicine.

Addressing obstetric violence in Brazil: Multi-stakeholder perspectives, empowerment, and care in the context of Brazil’s National Humanization of Labour and Childbirth Policy (Porto Velho)

This research will explore the vision of professionals, women, partners, and decision –makers about the implementation of the Brazil national policy of humanization of childbirth. This research will review the specific roles of health promoters, nurses, physicians, social workers, psychologists and midwives in different health care organizations to educate women about their rights during the pregnancy, child delivery and post-partum. The research will promote a debate about the needed changes to improve the quality of care for those women and the collective level of awareness about the obstetric violence against women at their most vulnerable condition.

Addressing obstetric violence in Brazil: Multi-stakeholder perspectives, empowerment, and care in the context of Brazil’s National Humanization of Labour and Childbirth Policy (Brasília 1)

This research will explore the vision of professionals, women, partners, and decision –makers about the implementation of the Brazil national policy of humanization of childbirth. This research will review the specific roles of health promoters, nurses, physicians, social workers, psychologists and midwives in different health care organizations to educate women about their rights during the pregnancy, child delivery and post-partum. The research will promote a debate about the needed changes to improve the quality of care for those women and the collective level of awareness about the obstetric violence against women at their most vulnerable condition.

Toward Ore-Specific Sensor-Based Sorting Systems in Mining

A two-year, multi-disciplinary research project requiring MSc, PhD and PDF researchers across Computer Science, Earth and Ocean Science, and Mining Engineering is proposed, working with an industrial sponsor MineSense, focused on the development of new sensors for advanced sensor sorting and so-called ‘non-grade’ applications in previously unaddressed high capacity, low grade mining situations. Specific objectives include, through advanced ore characterization, sensor development, algorithm development (including use of AI) and advanced system design and evaluation to:
• Improve the ability of sensors to respond to different mineralogical compositions of an ore/orebody
• Incorporate knowledge of these characteristics into algorithms for either rock or bulk sorting or grade or non-grade parameters to develop more intelligent sensing, and ultimately sorting, systems
• Integrate developed sensor systems into ore-specific sensing and sorting applications in the industry, including ore recovery, waste rejection and non-grade parameter control.

Données, décision et commerce électronique: le cas du commerce de détail

Le présent projet a pour objectif de mieux comprendre le comportement du consommateur en ligne dans le secteur de la mode et du prêt-à-porter et de déterminer son intérêt pour le lancement d’un site marchand et/ou d’une application mobile par Pentagone.
Il permettra également de déterminer quelles sont les données les plus pertinentes que l’entreprise est susceptible d’utiliser pour déterminer si sa stratégie en ligne est efficace.
Finalement, il offrira des pistes de réflexion à l’entreprise sur les outils à privilégier pour communiquer en ligne avec ses consommateurs et les emmener sur leur site internet dont le design pourra être optimisé.

Addressing obstetric violence in Brazil: Multi-stakeholder perspectives, empowerment, and care in the context of Brazil’s National Humanization of Labour and Childbirth Policy (Niteroi)

This research will explore the vision of professionals, women, partners, and decision –makers about the implementation of the Brazil national policy of humanization of childbirth. This research will review the specific roles of health promoters, nurses, physicians, social workers, psychologists and midwives in different health care organizations to educate women about their rights during the pregnancy, child delivery and post-partum. The research will promote a debate about the needed changes to improve the quality of care for those women and the collective level of awareness about the obstetric violence against women at their most vulnerable condition.

Soutenir les restaurateurs et le développement de la gastronomie québécoise par la recherche : GastronomiQc Lab

La restauration est une industrie importante du domaine alimentaire tant du point de vue économique (un repas sur trois est pris au restaurant) que culturel (promotion des saveurs locales et des nouvelles tendances). Or, l’industrie de la restauration, et plus particulièrement celle de la restauration indépendante, est très compétitive et fait face à de nombreux défis. L’objectif de ce projet est de soutenir par la recherche les restaurateurs québécois et le développement de la gastronomie. Pour ce faire, trois thèmes seront abordés : le portrait actuel de la restauration indépendante au Québec, les pertes alimentaires en restauration et leur valorisation, et les produits comestibles sauvages en territoires nordiques. Ensemble, ces trois projets apporteront des pistes de solutions innovantes en support à l’essor de cette industrie.