Projets novateurs réalisés

Analyse d’une nouvelle configuration d’éolienne à axe vertical adaptée pour opération à basse vitesse de vent

Le projet de recherche consiste en l’analyse de performance d’une nouvelle architecture d’éolienne à axe verticale de petite puissance. L’objectif de ce nouveau concept proposé par le partenaire est d’être en mesure de produire de l’électricité avec des vitesses de vent réduites afin de réduire les coûts de production d’électricité en milieux éloignées. Dans un premier temps le concept proposé sera analysé et positionné en comparaison aux autres systèmes sur le marché. Dans un deuxième temps, des recommandations seront effectuées pour le développement futur de la technologie. Ce projet sera réalisé sur une période de 4 mois avec 1 stagiaire.
Ce projet est critique pour l’entreprise partenaire puisqu’il permettra de positionner la technologie, et permettra d’orienter la recherche et développement future.

A candidate gene association study on brown rot resistance in peach (Prunus persica L.).

Brown rot caused by Monilinia fructicola fungus is one of the biggest challenges for peach industry in Canada and particularly in Ontario. During favourable weather conditions for fungal infection, this fungus can wipe out 100% of the crop. The cultivation of resistant varieties has always been considered the most reliable management procedure for this disease; however there is only limited number of cultivars with a satisfactory degree of field resistance. The process of generating resistant cultivars by traditional breeding methods can take many years especially with tree fruits. Bioinformatics and molecular breeding can fast-track these timelines and accelerate the generation of new cultivars to the market. The goal of this research is to explore the associations between SNPs, a type of DNA markers, and the responses of peach varieties to the fungal infection. Markers with significant associations to the resistance response will be used in breeding programs for the early…

Design and Modelling of Graphene-Based Composites as Reversible Oxygen Electrode Electrocatalysts for Regenerative Alkaline Fuel Cell

Regenerative fuel cells are important in a number of applications such as remote back-up power where fuel logistics are difficult. A key component of a regenerative fuel cell is the oxygen electrode which is required to perform in both a fuel cell mode and in an electrolysis mode. The proposed research project will look at a low cost non-precious metal approach for the oxygen electrode of a regenerative fuel cell. It is anticipated that a number of the limitations of the regenerative fuel cell will be addressed with the proposed new material approaches.

3D printing of electrochemically driven point-of-care test (POCT) device for heavy metal ions detection

This project aims to develop a fast-response, portable and mobile-readable point of care test (POCT) device. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is proposed to fabricate the configuration that features components and elements functioning to accommodate and integrate all principle stages of analysis, including sample pre-treatment, fluidic manipulation and signal detection. This device is used to track the electrochemical response to heavy metal ions, which will be extended in the future for urinalysis testing and benefit human health from fast-diagnosis.
Inkjet printing for electronic circuit will be developed, which can be potentially extended to be compliance with other applications, such as wearable electronics. Additionally, highly transparent 3D printable material system, consisting of UV-curable resin and biocompatible photo-initiator will be developed, which are also promising to be new commercial products for the company. This technology shows a high potential in a number of industrial sectors.

Bipolar Membranes for Electrochemical Technologies

Electrochemical water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen gas is a technology of growing importance in the clean energy storage and conversion sector. While this technology has been operating successfully for decades using liquid electroytes, emerging technology uses membranes to provide physical separation of the cathode and anode compartments and thereby separation of the product gases, while allowing ions to flow between electrolytes in order for the electrochemical reactions to occur. The membranes used in electrolyzers are typically acidic, proton exchange membranes (PEM), e.g., Nafion. Alkaline membranes have recently emerged as potential replacements because alkaline conditions allow inexpensive electrocatalysts to be employed in the cathode. TO BE CONT”D

Process quality control in electropolishing

Passive Action (PA) has established know-how and technology to finish metal parts for a wide range of applications (e.g. storage racks for the pharmaceutical industry). They use an electropolishing to achieve this finish of metal parts. This technology has shown its economic advantages over other conventional techniques for surface smoothening and deburring (remove sharp edges).
Currently, PA is transforming their finishing technologies towards more automated processes. This will lead to increased process repeatability and control of their technologies to better serve their clients. The proposed project aims to contribute to the automation of their electropolishing process by adding sensors to measure key parameters for process control to maintain a high quality. The intern will work on sensor integration and data evaluation for process optimization. PA will assist the intern with the outlined work both by providing daily supervision and other resources (e.g. equipment) to accomplish the project objectives.

Evaluating Dementia Inclusivity in Retirement Communities

Retirement Communities (RCs) are an attractive bridge between aging-in-place/staying at home and going to full care/LTC by allowing older adults to remain independent while still receiving minimal assistance, as well as access to activities and socialization opportunities. With the mean age of residents being 85 years old, these communities offer unique insight into the future of Canada’s aging population. This research will offer preliminary findings on the state of dementia inclusivity within RCs as well as offering viable solutions to reducing stigma and becoming a dementia inclusive community. Two research questions guiding this study are: 1) What is the current state of dementia inclusivity in RCs? and; 2) From the residents and staffs’ perspectives- what are the barriers and facilitators to dementia inclusivity? Data generation methods will include the use of the following: (i) online survey methods; (ii) semi-structured interviews; (iii) focus groups and; (iv) observations. TO BE CONT’D

Evaluation of interventions for improving maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes: Systematic literature reviews and network meta-analyses

Poor nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, and infectious diseases during pregnancy and early childhood can lead to poor growth and development that can be everlasting negative effects on the child. A large number of clinical trials have been conducted, but as many interventions have not been compared against each other, it is unclear what interventions are effective and should be provided over different life stages of the child. Instead of pairwise meta-analysis, which has been done in the existing literature reviews, this project aims to utilize network meta-analysis (NMA), an analytical approach that utilizes all of the available evidence, direct or indirect comparisons. This intern and MTEK Sciences are partnering up to perform comprehensive reviews on interventions aimed to improve maternal and child health outcomes. The reviews will be analyzed with NMAs by statisticians at MTEK to inform Canadian and international policies on maternal and child health.

Concept design and feasibility evaluation for the QEYSSat microsatellite mission

This project focuses on the concept design and ACS/Geolocation simulation of an Earth-observation microsatellite in Low Earth Orbit. MSCI has a long history of building microsatellites, but not for an Earth observation mission. In this research, we will evaluate the current MSCI multi-mission bus design capability, given its current hardware, for use in the QEYSSat microsatellite mission proposal. QEYSSat is a proposed mission to create a quantum link between ground and space using polarized photons and to transmit encryption keys to ground based users using this link. The proposed project will determine ways to improve the satellite bus mechanical design as well as its attitude control and Geolocation capabilities in order to meet the QEYSSat mission requirements. This will include analysis of the current multi-mission bus structure, solar panels, orbit and attitude determination sensors and actuators, hardware timing latency, and the bus Geolocation/ACS accuracy using conventional algorithms. TO BE CONT’D

Mise au point d’une méthode de mesure objective de l’effet d’occlusion basée sur la voix

Environ 360 000 travailleurs québécois sont quotidiennement exposés à des niveaux de bruit susceptibles d’engendrer des problèmes d’audition. Les protections auditives individuelles sont utilisées afin de réduire les risques de surdité, mais des inconforts associés à leur port poussent les utilisateurs à les retirer, même brièvement, et diminue ainsi grandement leur efficacité. Ce projet s’intéresse principalement à un inconfort de type acoustique : l’effet d’occlusion. Ce phénomène consiste en une amplification des basses fréquences perçues par l’utilisateur lorsque le canal auditif est occlus par des bouchons ou serre-têtes. Afin de sensibiliser les travailleurs et de mieux comprendre ce phénomène acoustique, le but de ce projet de recherche est de développer une méthode de mesure microphonique simple, efficace et robuste de l’effet d’occlusion basée sur l’effort vocal pouvant être réalisée sur le terrain.

On differential Glacial Isostatic Adjustment across the Grand Banks and the impact on hydrocarbon migration

Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA), also known as Postglacial Rebound, describes how the Earth responds to different loading/unloading processes, through deformation and vertical motion. One important loading/unloading process includes the Wisconsinan Glaciation Episode and the last glacial maximum, approximately 21ka BP. The unloading processes since led to vertical motion centered around James Bay/Hudson Bay, Canada, with uplift rates up to 12 mm per year. The spatial distribution of vertical motion differs which leads to differential vertical motion of the Earth surface. Together with the deglaciation cycles, this can lead to surface erosion, re-activation of faults, and tilting of geological units including oil and gas reservoirs. Oil traps potentially deform and release hydrocarbons out of the trap, making it challenging to find using conventional exploration tools. This project aims at identifying the potential of the GIA processes to tilt hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Grand Banks offshore Newfoundland.

Automated System for Tote Verification using Machine Vision

The project objective is to develop a machine vision-based system for reliably determining

that the correct type and number of oil filter brackets are loaded in a tote. After

accomplishing the main objective, a training manual will be written , and Orlick personnel will

be trained how to operate and maintain the system. The system will benefit Orlick by

improving quality control and decreasing the probability of shipping errors. At the same time ,

the internship will strengthen Orlick’s relationship with academia via knowledge and

technology tran sfer. This will allow Orlick to capitalize on new methods and technologies.