Innovative Projects Realized

New therapeutics against T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

A protein named c-Myc is causally implicated in over 50% of all human cancers. Preliminary work supports two proteins (POZ domain protein and c-Myc cofactor Miz-1) as a new drug target to disable c-Myc function. We have identified small molecules which act on this target and will now serve develop a series of optimized and effective molecules as cancer therapeutics.
To optimize these molecules, a combination of computational design and medicinal chemistry (synthesis and biological evaluation) will be carried out. Molecules that demonstrate high potency will be tested for chemical properties such as solubility in water (ie plasma) and for biological effects such as the effect of cell lines. The best compounds will then be scaled up, formulated, tested for required properties (e.g., toxicity, metabolism) and then in vivo. The results of the biological assays will guide the design and synthesis of molecules with improved potency, efficacy and pharmaceutical profile.

IoT Big-data-based network performance analytics

The main objective of the project is to upgrade the existing system at Cheetah Networks to make use of Canadian cellular CAT M1 monitored network data to develop innovative QoE analytics that can be used to provide actionable insights. The system will explore applying new techniques to capture in real-time QoE visibility into experiences locally, regionally and nationally. The primary methodologies that we will be employing are based on machine learning and deep learning techniques for data classification, clustering and analysis.

Statistical machine learning methods applied to ATB data for debt collection optimization, small business lending decision modelling, and open banking initiatives

The intern will research new modelling technology to determine if the new models can make a significant improvement in servicing customers for loan approvals, debt collections, and open banking. The intern will work closely with the partner to understand the banking process and opportunity. The partner organization will receive several benefits from working with the innovative and knowledgeable intern including cross-training of techniques through collaboration, enhanced model accuracy, and enabling the partner to test new techniques. The partner regularly hires former interns to open roles based on their experience on several projects and their proven performance in completing projects efficiently and innovatively.

Stories Incarnate: Using Body-tracking/Body-Sensing Technology to Create Interactive Narrative Experiences for Audiences

Ryerson’s Synaesthetic Media Lab is working with Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group’s creative design studio, 4U2C, to develop several ways for audiences to meaningfully interact with live performance. This project is looking at how tracking sensors, computer vision, and digital displays can be used to track audience movements and/or emotions for audiences to be able to participate in the storytelling of a live show. Through this research, 4U2C — and Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group and its numerous ventures — will be equipped with new, immersive design concepts and technologies that will bring audiences more closely into the co-creation role, as they partake in determining how a live story will unfold.

A Toolset to facilitate transparent exchange and querying of digitizeddocumen

Digitizing paper records facilitates efficient storage and lookup of information. It is

o,lten necessary to support advanced keyword-based querying features that allow

extraction of specific information and filtering of digitized documents. However, this

often requires manual intervention since records might have vastly different formats

even though they essentially contain the same information. This makes digitization

time consuming and increases costs for organizations that want to digitize their

records. This project will develop tools to scan a group of paper records serving a

similar function, e.g., representing invoices, and automatically indexing them through a

common set of metadata. This metadata would allow access and querying of digitized

records in a manner that is transparent to the formatting differences of the underlying

paper records. Automating this task can result in significant cost savings for those

undertaking digitization efforts.

Developing ‘all-natural’ approaches to food-grade Malic acid production

Malic acid is a naturally-occurring chemical found in fruits such as blueberries, apples, cherries and grapes. Malic acid gives food a sour or tart taste. Because of this, it is an important food additive used to balance sweetness or salt. Examples of industrial malic acid use in snack foods are sour gummy candies and flavoured potato chips. Bartek Ingredients Inc. is a Canadian company and the largest manufacturer of malic acid in the world. Malic acid is made commercially from petroleum products, a non-renewable resource. Bartek Ingredients Inc. would like to develop methods to use natural, renewable resources and generate malic acid for the food industry. Our project’s goal is to test and develop strategies that might be scaled up for Bartek’s commercial use. First, we examine methods to extract malic acid from food (a renewable resource); particularly, by-products of farming that would otherwise not be used. Second, we develop methods to make malic acid in yeast cultures that are similar to wine making, but where the end product is malic acid. Third, we test methods to purify food-grade malic acid that use less water and energy and contribute to greater industrial sustainability and lower costs.

Parameter optimization for washing operations in livestock buildings to improve sanitary status and reduce water consumption

Quebec swine production plays an important role in the Canadian economic. Cleaning and sanitation conditions are crucial for ensuring animal health and welfare. The washing, drying and disinfecting guide of the Fédération des producteurs de porcs du Québec provides general instructions for cleaning and sanitizing the facilities. However, a swine installation is a construction system made up by different types materials, and the cleaning of this system as a whole does not behave in the same way. Therefore, this project seeks to study different washing parameters such as water temperature, water pressure, distance between hose and surface, and water velocity for the different types of materials that are conventionally been found in a swine installation. As a result, a more specific washing procedure for each type of material will be elaborated and in the end of the project, it will allow transferring the knowledge and technologies to the swine producers.

Étude du développement d’une plateforme de test et de validation des infrastructures routières intelligentes et communicantes

Le véhicule à conduite automatisée est l’un des systèmes les plus complexes existants à ce jour. Son développement entraîne la considération de nombreux paramètres touchant à bon nombre de secteurs et nécessite ainsi le développement et le renouvellement de différentes technologies du réseau routier telles que les infrastructures routières. L’impact de l’intégration de ces systèmes possède une telle ampleur que les organismes concernés songent de plus en plus à ajouter la simulation numérique dans leurs étapes de validation des systèmes. Ce projet présente l’architecture d’un système de validation par simulation d’un réseau d’infrastructures routières intelligentes. Ce système aura pour but d’intégrer un grand choix de capteurs accompagnés de leurs principaux algorithmes de traitement de données récupérables. L’un des objectifs principaux sera la capacité du système à simuler l’ensemble des entités en garantissant un écoulement temporel en temps réel.

A Multi-Case Study to Advancing Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Performance Management Strategies

The role of accountants, especially in today’s fast changing data-driven world, is continually evolving. Responding to the technological advancements as well as to the increasing amounts and complexity of data available, accountants need to develop skills that go beyond their traditional training. Businesses and their accounting departments need to be able to not only collect information through billing, reporting, and operations, but also need to be able to evaluate and analyze the information received from internal and external sources. The results of this analysis impact the company’s performance as well as business strategy formulation, risk assessment, growth, and mitigation practices. The amount of data available also raises ethical and professional concerns including the ownership of the data and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) applied to it.
The following research project seeks to evaluate the role of data analytics in accounting practices and performance assessment, and the use of AI in company performance improvements, strategic planning, and risk mitigation. This project will help better understand how accountants can offer additional value-add services to a company and/or its clients/customers.

Artificial Intelligence to Prevent Service failure in Supply Chain

Despite advanced supply chain planning and execution systems, manufacturers and distributors tend to observe service levels below their targets. This can be explained by unexpected deviations from the plan or systems that are not properly configured. Quite often it is too expensive to have planners continually track all situations in supply chain systems at a granular level to ensure that no deviations or configuration problems occur. We propose to develop a machine learning/artificial intelligence (AI) system that predicts service level failures a few weeks in advance and alerts the planners. It will help save organizations millions of dollars by preventing service failures and provide an optimal recourse action.

Machine Learning in Business Valuation Using Merger and Acquisition Data

Business valuation deals with the estimation of a company’s value, using information from markets and the company’s financial statements. Such valuation is important when assessing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) of companies or the sale of an owner’s share in a business. Three different approaches are commonly used for business valuation: the income approach (estimating future income), the asset-based approach (valuating the current assets), and the market approach (comparing with similar businesses). The proposed project aims to extend the market approach by developing and applying modern computer science and statistical techniques to business valuation. As part of this project, the intern will develop a statistical method for business valuation, using available M&A transaction data. The partner organization will benefit from a more efficient process of business valuation as well as more precise valuation outcomes.

Black Communities and Urban Green Spaces: a case study of Detroit and Montreal (1960 – 1990)

Ce projet de recherche traite du rôle de la race dans la structuration des espaces verts et des loisirs à Montréal et Détroit des années 1960 aux années 1990. Deux approches seront centrales à cette étude: l’approche des politiques municipales (dynamiques d’implantations des espaces verts, règlements, investissements des espaces verts, équipements, discours municipal de démocratisation des loisirs et de la nature), et l’approche de l’appropriation des espaces par les communautés à l’étude. Ce projet compare le quartier multiculturel de Côte-des-Neiges à Montréal où les Afro-canadiens anglophones étaient présents depuis les années 1960 et le quartier de Lower East Side à Détroit où les Afro-américains, incluant également une population caribéenne, se sont implantés. La migration des communautés noires vers ces deux quartiers s’accélère dans les années 1960, une fois que les deux villes ont respectivement entrepris des politiques de renouvellement urbain dans leurs différents quartiers d’origine, à savoir Black Bottom et Paradise Valley pour Détroit et La Petite Bourgogne à Montréal.
Ce projet est ancré dans deux contextes où les processus d’exclusion raciale se forgent différemment. Manifestés de façon directe et prononcée dans les politiques de la ville à Détroit, les processus d’exclusion raciale sont toutefois subtils et indirects à Montréal.