Innovative Projects Realized

Optimisation du contrôle de chambres de combustion à biomasse automatisée et surveillance en temps réel

Ce projet de recherche et développement vise à améliorer le processus de contrôle automatisé et ajouter une surveillance en temps réel des machines à combustion à biomasse afin d’en optimiser l’efficacité et d’améliorer le processus de maintenance préventive. Le projet abordera plusieurs volets, dont l’analyse du cycle opératoire de la machine, la mise en place de stratégie à base d’intelligence pour l’optimisation de son fonctionnement et la définition et mise en place de processus de maintenance préventive.
Les solutions à mettre en place s’articuleront autour d’instrumentation et de technologie IOT pour la supervision et le contrôle à distance via web, tout en portant une considération particulière aux aspects liés à la sécurité des accès et des données.

Preparation of Thermoplastic Vulcanizates from Devulcanized Rubber crumb Term 1

In a broad sense, this research project intends to expand the use of the recycled ru bber (also

referred as reclaimed rubber or devulcanized rubber) prepared from waste tires. A new

technology has been developed in our lab that leads to preparation of high quality reclaimed

rubber (also called devulcanized rubber) in a very simple and economic way. To reduce the

threat caused by the increasing number of scrap tires it is essential that the consumption of

these reclaimed rubbers be inflated.

Due to relatively inferior properties as compared to the virgin rubber, the devulcanized rubber

cannot be used extensively by itself. Hence, the research intends to explore the use of

materials made by blending the devuclanized rubber with cheaply available plastics such as

Polyproylene. Resultant materials are referred as Thermoplastics vulcanizates. Blending

would also minimize the deteriorating effect caused by the replacement of virgin rubber by

the devulcanized rubber….TOBECONT’d

Technology for Assessing Neurocognitive Functioning; Validation of Mobile Cognitive Assessment Technology using fMRI

There is growing concern that COVID-19 has neuroinflammatory effects which can have acute or sustained impacts on cognition. Tablet-based games can be used to monitor cognition in medical settings but have not been validated as measures of brain function. The current project will administer a suite of tablet-based measures of cognition as images of the functioning brain are acquired using an MRI scanner. The results will help to identify brain networks that play a critical role in higher-order cognition and that are activated in association with performance of game-based assessments of cognition.

An analysis of the impact of FRTB SA Market Risk Capital rules on various Capital Market trade types

As part of reforms to the regulations governing Canadian banks, new rules governing the capital to be set aside for market risk have been proposed, termed the Fundamental Review of the Trading Book (FRTB). With the new rules, some Canadian banks will move to calculating capital requirements using a regulatory Standardized Approach. The goal of the research is to analyze the drivers of the FRTB capital charges and contrast these against the drivers of current regulatory capital, and both against theoretical ideals for economic capital requirements. Specifically, the research will focus on identifying trades and strategies that are adversely affected by the new FRTB capital rules, methods and strategies that would mitigate adverse effects, and how the resulting intended and unintended incentives produced by the FRTB charges may potentially impact market products, positions, and pricing.

Modelisation de I’absenteisme chez les pilotes d’une compagnie aerienne

Pour mener à bien sa mission une compagnie aérienne se doit de planifier rigoureusement les horaires de ses employés aussi bien que les horaires de ses vols. Parmi les horaires d’employés les plus critiques, il y a évidemment les horaires de vol des pilotes. Afin de garantir les départs de chaque vol, il faut simultanément dimensionner le nombre de pilotes en réserve qui pourraient palier à tout problème de manque de pilote (causes d’absences multiples) et les affecter dans les bases les plus critiques.
À partir de l’historique des vols effectués dans une compagnie aérienne, le projet vise à prédire la probabilité d’absence des pilotes, afin de (1) planifier au plus proche le nombre de pilotes en réserve à chaque jour et (2) comprendre les causes récurrentes d’absentéisme afin de construire de meilleurs plannings.

Evaluation of Biomaterial Sorbents for Leachate Removal

The build-up and transport of contaminants in aquifer systems occurs through a variety of processes.
The leaching of contaminants from industrial waste and debris in landfill sites during rainfall events
represents a source of water borne contaminants which threaten ground and surface aquifers. This
internship research involves the design ofnanofiltration media and involves studies of their
equilibrium and time dependent uptake properties toward leachate contaminants fi·oro a landfill site in
Mexico. The results of this research will facilitate developplent of a novel type of nanofiltration
material and a unique reclamation process for treating industrial wastewater and leachate runoff from
landfill sites. This technology will contribute significant to waste management and environmental
protection; particularly, in developing countries with limited infrastructure.

Les effets des Voting Advice Applications (VAAs) sur les citoyens prévotants

Ma recherche vise à évaluer l’utilisation d’un outil de Système d’aide au vote, tel que le Test électoral, en Belgique francophone, ou la Boussole électorale, sa version canadienne, sur le sentiment d’efficacité politique des jeunes citoyens prévotants. Ces outils permettent à l’utilisateur de confronter son opinion sur une série d’enjeux politiques avec celles des partis et de se construire une idée du paysage politique et de se situer dans celui-ci. Ainsi, les SAVs ont le potentiel d’être utilisés dans un cadre d’éducation à la citoyenneté afin de sensibiliser les jeunes aux problèmes sociétaux, d’éveiller leur curiosité quant aux partis politique et de les abiliter à comprendre et à participer au jeu politique. Pour ce faire, je mène une expérience en classe avec des élèves de 5 et 6ème secondaire en Wallonie. Ce séjour de recherche à l’UdeM me permettra de poursuivre l’analyse approfondie de mes données, entourée de l’expertise qui y est reconnue en terme théroriques et méthodologiques mais également de recueillir les expériences des acteurs actifs dans l’éducation citoyenne et démocratique et dans le développement des outils de vulgarisation politique.

Modelling beneficial management practices in agriculture to analyze effects on greenhouse gas emissions and environmental sustainability

Agriculture emit greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. In this project, we will look for best management practices to decrease these emissions. To accomplish this, we will review the literature to learn what have been done before, and what best management practices work well for decreasing greenhouse gases emissions. We will also use an existing software (Holos model) to represent management practices and to evaluate their impacts on decreasing greenhouse gases emissions from simulated agricultural systems typical of Alberta regions. This project will inform sustainability of agriculture and it will set the foundations for a decision tool within the Environmental Farm Plan, effectively reaching farmers.

Solving polynomial systems symbolically on the GPU

Graphics processing units (GPUs) are becoming very attractive for scientific applications targeting
high performance Many application software have gained massive speedup factors by integrating GPU
support, in particular in numerical computing.
Symbolic computation is also entering the area of many-core computing but the use of GPUs in
the major computer algebra systems (MAPLE, Mathematica) is very limited.
The proposed project will permit the development of an innovative GPU-based software for solving
polynomial systems symbolically and its integration into the computer algebra system MAPLE. As a
result, MAPLE will be enhanced with state-of-the-art algorithms and unmatched capabilities for solving
polynomial systems.

Plant oil based resins for hemp biocomposite materials

Plant oils are attractive renewable feedstocks for the synthesis of biobased resins. However, the current bioresin technologies are unable to address certain challenges including (1) achieving a sufficiently high biocontent in the final product, (2) the synthesis of bioresins via green chemistry, and (3) a commercially feasible bioresin cost. In this research, the MITACS intern will, under laboratory conditions, make two novel, high biocontent resins that have been proposed for this work. The properties of these bioresins will be evaluated through the preparation of test biocomposite materials, in close collaboration with the company. This project will help the company to understand the potential of two bioresin types in their future planned manufacturing of composite materials.

Multimodal imaging of EPCs in animal models using dendrimer based nanoparticle

The proposed research project is to create a nanoparticle capable of labeling stem cells to
ultimately track their localization and biodistribution in small animal models. This probe will be
unique in that it will possess multimodal imaging properties to allow visualization with
Positron Emision Tomography (PET), Single-Photon Emission Computer Tomography
(SPECT) and other clinical imaging modalities. Dendrimers are nanoparticles with a narrow
molecular weight distribution. They have tunable size and shape characteristics and consist
of a highly fundionalized surface. Through the attachment of fluorescent and radioactive
agents onto the dendrimer we hope to create a nanoparticle probe that allows maximum
imaging sensitivity without Inducing an adverse cellular phenotype. Through tllis
investigation, the partner organization will be able to investigate further clinical uses for their
radioisotopes and pharmaceuticals ..

Addressing Security Requirements and Concerns for a Cloud-Based Critical Messaging Platform

The project will conduct applied research on how to assure security and privacy in a “cloudbased”
mobile messaging system in the health care domain. Cloud-based software delivery uses
a secure part of the Internet to deliver services. It has many advantages over the traditional model
of installing and maintaining software products on local computer workstations. For example, the
cost of ownership, maintenance and upgrades are lower from a client perspective. Moreover,
important aspects of security and informational privacy can be taken care of at the server side at
the network appliance level. Finally, cloud-based software is much more scalable and thus more
economical than traditional software installations. The most important barrier to the adoption of
cloud-based technologies in health care lies in informational security and privacy concerns.
Regulators and industry groups have created regulations, standards and codes to mitigate security
and privacy risks.