Innovative Projects Realized

In vivo and ex vivo-in situ study of the human brain using MRI and histology: comparison with standard ex vivo-ex situ brain banks’ methods

The study the nervous system using brains that people donate to science after they die is called ex-vivo study. The microscopic study of ex-vivo brains allows to understand the structure of a given region. However, we cannot study the brain of healthy living people (in-vivo) using microscopy. One method to study the brain in-vivo is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using powerful machines that provide very high image resolution. The downside of using MRI alone is the lack of certainty of which cells are responsible for a given contrast (color) on the MRI. To solve this, we study first the brain ex-vivo using MRI, and then microscopy. Our study will assess four different ways to conserve the brain, to avoid the inevitable decay over time, so we can best study the brain using MRI and microscopy.

Gestion optimisée des ventes et des stocks chez Groupe JSV Inc

Le Groupe JSV Inc. est un distributeur d’outillage, de boulonnerie, de quincaillerie et de produits de sécurité. L’objectif de ce projet est de supporter les managers du Groupe JSV Inc. et de développer des outils d’aide à la décision qui permettraient de valoriser les données disponibles afin d’identifier des opportunités intelligentes de ventes croisées. Le projet est composé de quatre sous-projets interreliés visant à i) développer et tester des modèles de prévisions des ventes, ainsi qu’un système prototype de recommandation de produits complémentaires; et ii) développer des processus et des outils prototypes permettant au Groupe JSV Inc. d’optimiser les processus de gestion et de satisfaction de la demande.

Re-design of a Greenhouse System

The project to be undertaken is to establish a flexible tool to help Paul Boers Ltd. remain

competitive in the market, especially with the introduction of greenhouses that are made in

China. The tool will help Paul Boers Ltd. reduce the cost of their greenhouse stru ctures

based on engineering principles. This will help the company remain competitive in the

market, mainly the larger than one acre greenhouse market, through providing competitive

prices and innovative designs. The project will also support the current community by

securing manufacturing jobs in Canada rather than being outsourced for cheaper labour cost

Building ecologically robust lakes for offsetting fisheries productivity – part 2

Canada is among the world’s largest producers of energy derived from resource extraction. Canada’s Oil Sands Region produces 70% of Canada’s crude oil, and ranks third, after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, in terms of proven global crude oil reserves. In order for Canadian industry to continue to meet this high demand for energy they must adhere to the social and environmental pressures to reclaim and restore the extraction sites to their original condition, and to offset potential environmental destruction. Offsetting is a key component of Canada’s Fisheries Protection Policy under the Fisheries Act. When habitat that is deemed is destroyed, and mitigation is not possible; offsetting measures are required to ensure No Net Loss in fisheries productivity. The Fisheries Act (s 6.1) enshrined offsetting measures into law, with the goal of “sustained yield of one or all … fish species that comprise a fishery in a specified fishing area (Randall et al. 2013)”; including “sustained productivity, as experienced by participants in the fishery at and just before the time of interest (Randall et al. 2013)”.

“Gowganda-hosted deformation veins as source of indicator minerals for underlying mineralization at the Young-Davidson Mine”.

The goal of this project is to develop a new technique to identify zones of potential gold mineralization hosted in Archean syenites that lie beneath overburden rocks of the Gowganda formation at the Young Davidson Mine, Matachewan, Ontario. Extensive field mapping of veins, fractures and deformation structures will be conducted to better understand the deformation and fluid interaction history of these rocks and how this may have redistributed gold from the underlying Archean basement. This will be accomplished by geochemical analysis of veins and their minerals including rutile, which where associated with gold mineralization, has specific chemical components.

Etude et réalisation d’un système photonique pour la détection de polluants de l’eau

Ce travail de thèse, mené en cotutelle entre le laboratoire IMS (Univ. Bordeaux) et l’UMI CNRS LN2-3IT (Univ. Sherbrooke), concerne le développement d’un capteur optique de polluants afin de détecter des traces de métaux lourds ou pesticides dans l’eau. Le capteur photonique intégrée réalisé en oxynitrure de silicium (SiON) sur substrat de Silicium, se base sur une transduction par résonateur optique en anneau (OMR) et présente une sensibilité optimisée dans le domaine du visible où les signatures spectrales des polluants sont répertoriées. L’utilisation du SiON constitue une alternative aux travaux sur polymères, qui sont actuellement conduits à l’IMS dans l’infrarouge mais qui impose de travailler avec des guides de taille submicronique dont la fabrication ne peut se faire qu’avec des équipements de salle blanche. L’IMS entretient une collaboration active avec le LN2-3IT de Sherbrooke depuis 2013 ; ce dernier détient une expertise reconnue notamment dans la fabrication de guides optiques SiO2 sur Silicium en s’appuyant sur 1600m2 de laboratoire en nanofabrication. La thèse de Théo Rouanet (démarrage nov 2019) se consacre à la simulation et la caractérisation du capteur à l’IMS Bordeaux et envisage la phase de fabrication au LN2-3IT à Sherbrooke.

Hydrogel Ionotronic Solar Cell

Solar power currently makes up a tiny fraction of all global energy needs. The current silicon based solar cell technologies which on average operate at around 15-17% efficiency have low likelihood of being a total fossil fuel replacement. They have very slow energy payback, their mass production cost savings are hitting a wall, and they are being manufactured with large amounts of Green House Gases.
The collaboration between Callisto Integration Ltd., and Integrated Quantum Optoelectronics Laboratory at the University of Waterloo led by Majedi has been already established in the framework of initiating research program on transformative solar cell technology over the last two years prior to this application. The goal of this research to come up with a step change in the efficiency and cost equation in solar cell technology that it is so compelling that it rapidly transforms the world-wide energy industry. By exploring new device physics and engineering designs, the research program aims at integrating the bioinspired light absorbers based on structural color such as black butterfly wings with bioinspired ionotronic systems specifically to electric eel based on flexible, regenerative and low-cost hydrogel materials.

Prédiction précoces des comportements suicidaires en population générale: Méthodes novatrices de grandes dimensions

Selon les théories développementales du risque suicidaire, les évènements précoces (début de la vie) peuvent avoir un impact considérable sur le risque suicidaire à long terme. Ce projet contribuera à la compréhension de l’impact des facteurs précoces sur les comportements suicidaires à l’adolescence en utilisant des techniques novatrices de machine learning sur les données de l’Étude Longitudinale du Développement des Enfants du Québec (suivi naissance-20 ans). Cela nous permettra de (1) prendre en compte un nombre élevé de variables, (2) tester leurs interactions, et (3) tester les interactions entre les facteurs génétiques et environnementaux. Ces analyses permettront d’estimer la prédiction des comportements suicidaires, dépasseront donc les limites des études épidémiologiques classiques -qui estiment des associations entre un nombre limité de facteurs de risque et comportements suicidaires. Identifier les prédicteurs précoces permettra une amélioration des stratégies précoces de prévention débutant dans une période de développement essentielle de la vie de l’enfant.

Système d’aide à la décision interactif pour la réfection de navires

La planification de la réfection d’un navire est une tâche difficile qui requiert un effort considérable en termes de ressources qu’il faut gérer. Elle comprend plusieurs centaines d’activités d’inspection, de désassemblage, de réparation, de remplacement, de reconversion, de modernisation et de réassemblage. De plus, il faut prendre en compte les contraintes d’espace qui limitent le nombre de ressources employées dans chaque zone de travail.
À notre connaissance, les logiciels commerciaux connus de planification de projet sont très génériques et ne répondent pas aux besoins spécifiques de la réfection des navires. Le planificateur doit tester lui-même différents scénarios manuellement afin de construire/reconstruire un plan de projet acceptable. Pour remédier à ce besoin, nous proposons dans cette demande le développement d’un système d’aide à la décision interactif profitant des dernières percées en machine learning et programmation mathématique primale (exacte et heuristique).

Monitor and Improve Transit Service Reliability Using Automatic Data Collection System

Unreliability is regarded as a widespread problem associated with transit services, while

automatic data collection (ADC) systems pose as an opportunity to monitor and improve this

problem. The proposed research is expected to develop an ADC-based reliability

measurement framework usable for operations planning, strategic planning and

benchmarking at different levels; and apply the ADC-based measurement framework to

transit service reliability monitoring, improvement and information provision in the context of

Translink in metro Vancouver. The results of this research will provide Canadian transit

agencies such as Translink with a multi-level, multi-perspective, multi-modal reliability

measurement framework. The ability to quantify reliability continuously and ubiquitously will

enable agencies to examine reliability variations within the system and pinpoint the most

unreliable services and their contributing factors; design a reliability-oriented service planning

process, and provide customer information on service reliability. Finally these measures will

be aggregated into the Key Performance Indicators so that service reliability can be more

directly fed into transit agencies’ decision-making process.

Schubert’s manuscripts and its interpretations

To share music with others can prove to be a challenge. Throughout time, humans have managed in different ways. First, it was transmitted orally. The downside of it is that the receiver must be physically present in order to capture the information. With the apparition of musical notation around 1400 BC, the previous requirement is no longer mandatory. Nevertheless, how precise can written down instructions be? Many eras later, in the time where Franz Schubert lived (1797-1828), one can find in Europe a general consensus on the musical notation system. However, there are limits in what one can write down. That’s why I would like to conduct a research on Schubert’s manuscript of the Piano Sonata in G major, D894. There are still quarrels to be had with the way one should interpret it. Schubert was a very prolific composer and did not always have the best handwriting. Therefore, it is often difficult and sometimes impossible to determine with exactitude his wish. I am hoping that with the analysis of the score I will gain a deeper understanding of Schubert’s thought process, thus granting me more tools for a more authentic performance of his work.

Selective Dissolution of Alloys 400 and 800 in CANDU Steam Generator Environments: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Studies

This project will study the corrosion of two nickel alloys commonly used in nuclear reactors: Monel 400 and Alloy 800. In the steam generator section of nuclear reactors, the chemistry is complex and may lead to the formation of ammoniacal species such as soluble ammonia (NH3). Ammonia may accelerate the corrosion of these alloys. The project will first study the thermodynamics (the possible chemical reactions) that are occurring within the steam generator, then it will use this information to study the corrosion rate of the nickel alloys. Finally, alterations to the chemistry or the alloy will be recommended based on this project with the end objective of reducing costs and improving reactor performance.