Innovative Projects Realized

La conception constitutionnelle de la représentation à l’épreuve de l’anthropologie jurdique

La thèse entend revenir sur une notion classique du Droit public, la représentation en proposant une grille d’analyse novatrice.
La conception constitutionnelle de la représentation est associée à sa principale modalité de désignation : l’élection. Dans ce cadre, des auteurs parlent de crise de la représentation. Le projet est parti de cette question : est-ce que la représentation se fonde nécessairement sur l’élection ? Si la réponse attendue est positive, d’autres cultures juridiques ont une compréhension de la représentation différente. L’objectif est alors d’enrichir cette conception constitutionnelle de la représentation, grâce à un outil, l’Anthropologie qui est l’étude des différents peuples, et des différentes cultures juridiques.
La thèse entend alors confronter notre conception à d’autres, issues de cultures juridiques différentes.
Par exemple, au Mali, avant, les citoyens étaient représentés par classes d’âge. Aussi, l’actuelle constitution Ghanéenne reconnait le droit de véto des reines-mères dans les élections régionales.
L’Anthropologie du droit peut nous aider à mieux comprendre la représentation politique, avec l’objectif de valider ou d’invalider l’hypothèse de recherche qui est de démontrer que la représentation peut être envisagée au-delà de l’élection, au-delà de son mode de désignation.

Évaluation précoce de la bioproductivité d’un système agroforestier sur les rejets miniers aurifères en région nordique canadienne

L’industrie minie?re est une importante source d’emplois et ge?ne?re de conside?rables retombe?es e?conomiques, contribuant de manie?re significative a? l’e?conomie du Que?bec a? l’e?chelle mondiale. Son de?veloppement peut modifier radicalement les e?cosyste?mes et les paysages. La durabilite? du secteur minier que?be?cois doit entre autres viser la restauration des biens et services e?cosyste?miques apre?s l’exploitation minie?re. En effet la tendance socie?tale d’une bonne gestion environnementale se refle?te dans les modifications re?cemment adopte?es dans les lois et re?glements re?gissant l’environnement dans le domaine minier, tant au niveau provincial qu’au niveau fe?de?ral. Notre projet vise à évaluer les effets de phytoremédiation d’un système agroforestier avec des amendements organiques et des microorganismes symbiotiques des plantes comme stratégie de restauration écologique des sites miniers aurifères non acidogènes. Le projet vise à évaluer la bioproductivité des plants sur le terrain selon différentes méthodes d’implantation (avec ou sans amendements organiques et biologiques) et aussi à caractériser la qualité microbiologique du sol de ces différentes méthodes. Les dispositifs expérimentaux ont été mis en place sur deux sites soit sur les rejets miniers fins à Val d’Or et à Desmaraisville.

Social Game Analytics: Using Metrics to Improve Player Engagement II

In this internship we aim to develop an analytics system that targets quick conversion of

game data to knowledge that allows game designers to quickly grasp the sources of

engagement and disengagement of users while interacting with video games. This

proposed system can benefit Blackbird Interactive Inc. by providing a method to tune

their designs based on a deeper understanding of their players.

GeneVa – Computing Metaoblic Valves on a Genetic Level

Bioprocesses are indispensable for the sustainable production of high value chemical compounds from renewable feedstock. In many processes, genetically engineered strains with a modified metabolism are used. Boosting the performance of such a production host can be essential to make a bioprocess profitable. Computational strain design provides methods to identify interventions in the microbial metabolism to increase its product yield or productivity.

The metabolic valve enumerator (MoVE), a tool that was developed in a former collaboration, computes strain designs for two-stage bioprocesses with increased yield and productivity, compared to classical processes. The project aims to enhance the existing algorithm to improve the quality and the applicability of the computed strain designs. This is done by taking genetic constraints into account. The student already implemented a technique for the integration of genetic constraints in another context. In the course of the project, the student will transfer this technique to the MoVE algorithm. The local researchers will help the student to get a deeper insight in the existing method “MoVE” and the underlying algorithm to plan and perform the integration.

Machine/Deep Learning applied in P&C insurance representations

The purpose of this project is to allow the company to have access to useful insurance representations, encoding the diversity of contexts found in larger markets. This is expected to boost the performance of predictions for tasks learned in small data and highly variable target setting.

Improving Operational Resource Efficiencies through the Application of Model-Based Reinforcement Learning (MBRL)

Reinforcement learning (RL) is the problem of designing an agent that interacts with its environment and adaptively improves its long-term performance. Many complex real-world industrial decision-making problems can be formulated as an RL problem. RL is at the core of artificial intelligence and has the potential of having a huge impact on our economy and society, perhaps more so than any other area of machine learning. Model-based Reinforcement Learning (MBRL) is a promising approach to design sample-efficient agents for problems where the number of interactions with the real-world cannot be very large. The goal of this project is to study the feasibility of the MBRL algorithms to solve industrial problems with the help of the project industrial partner. Specifically, the project aims to help industrial participant’s with to meet targets for carbon footprint reduction by applying MBRL approach to the operational processes of concern. A primary industrial application that the project will work on is optimization of the logistics network by routing trucks efficiently to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Developing a mobile screening tool that could predict impairment by leveraging the power of machine learning models

There is a growing need for law enforcement agencies and safety sensitive workplace environments to be able to evaluate impairment. Impairment due to mental cognitive deficits, drugs or alcohol use, prescription medications, or fatigue could all limit a person’s ability to perform a hazardous task safely.
Current testing tools utilize saliva, breath, blood or urine to measure levels of substances that may impair a person’s judgement. These types of tests are invasive, and in many cases not reliable. Ingested cannabis for example does not have the same effect as smoked cannabis, and current testing techniques are not adapted for both.
To date, 126,000 real-world assessments have been performed by DriveABLE on legacy proprietary testing hardware. Machine learning is being applied to the results of the assessments to gain a deeper understanding of cognition in the context of complex human behavior. A screening tool will be developed and tested, leveraging mobile platforms such as tablets and phones, making it accessible where it is needed most. A core component to meeting this objective will be leveraging the skills of mobile game developers to help with the development of 4 proprietary cognitive tasks based on existing real-world assessments.

Biogeocemenation of a Coal Mine Tailings Pond

A decommissioned mine facility in Canada is looking for a new and innovative way to handle mine waste and reclaim the mine site. The potential solution to this problem is the use of microorganisms which are capable of producing calcite, or cement, as part of their natural biological process. These microorganisms will be combined with the mine tailings in test cells in the lab to produce a cement, which will then be tested for milestones like strength and moisture content. BGC Engineering Inc. is involved in this project and will provide access to their geotechnical testing facilities and assist in establishing meaningful protocols for sample collection and testing for the pilot scale experiments which can then be used in larger scales in mines across Canada.

Printing of Collagen microgels

Developing technology capable of onsite medical diagnostics is crucial for health-care delivery in clinical and emergency settings. To perform on-site diagnostics, health-care practitioners need compact, inexpensive, and user-friendly equipment. Alentic Microscience has developed a system that uses small volumes of blood for cell counting and serum tests, occurring at the site of blood extraction. This system makes single molecular layers of reagents on the sensor surface, which when exposed to light allow the system to provide valuable diagnostics about the sample. The proposed project will increase the system’s range, by moving from the single monolayers to 3D gels. By using 3D gels, the increased volume will allow the addition of multiple molecular tags to the sample that can identify and quantify multiple components simultaneously. This work will increase the dynamic range of the current technology, allowing it to be useful for biological diagnostics in even more situations.

A scalable FMI-compatible cosimulation platform for distribution grid cybersecurity studies using data analytics

The objective of this project is to develop and customize a cosimulation platform capable of integrating multi-formalism simulators for SG cybersecurity analysis. This enables one to provide a cosimulation platform which is characterized by scalability (no limitation in terms of nodes/buses of communication/power systems), compatibility with the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard and capability of synchronized integration of any two abstract simulators (NS-3, OMNeT++ for communication network and EMTP, MATLAB/Simulink for power system). Such cosimulation platform would be employed to visualize the impact of cyberattacks on the distribution grid, to generate the relevant data that can be processed using advanced analytical tools to design efficient defense. Those defense techniques consist of intrusion detection and attack mitigation. Moreover, the cosimulation platform would be used to validate the efficiency of the obtained mitigation solutions. This project will provide Hydro-Québec with an advanced cybersecurity testbed for the assessment of countermeasures and security solutions of its electrical power network.

Modeling and Validation of the Oil Control Ring Performance for a Orbiting Face-Sealing

The Wankel rotary engine has long been seen as a good engine for aeronautical application, but sealing problems is still a challenge that limits its utilisation. Minimizing oil consumption in rotary engine is essential to limit hydrocarbon emissions and minimize overall mass of the engine. Internal oil leaks from the crankcase to the combustion chamber represent about half the oil consumptions in rotary engines and thus represent the low hanging fruit to minimize oil consumptions. This project aims at improving oil sealing of the rotary engine to enable its use in aircraft applications. The project consists of developing a model to predict how oil is transported in the engine, reproduce model condition in a test bench, and finally be able to develop better sealing solution with the help of the developed model and test rig.

Scaffolding immersive, non-fiction storytelling collaboration: experiments in live journalism

How do you build trust with an audience expecting a factual, reported story while adding elements of performance to it? This research project explores the potential of the live stage for non-fiction narrative. By experimenting with different models of audience-focused experiences, it aims to answer questions like: How can live journalism rebuild trust between the practitioners of journalism and the public (audience)?; How does one maintain the authenticity of the experience beyond the intimate performance spaces; how does one scale; and How can space be used more democratically in the staging of the show?”