Innovative Projects Realized

Towards Parameter Robust Hierarchical Clustering

Density-based clustering is a statistical learning technique that aims at finding high density regions in the data separated by low density regions, finding applications in virtually all fields of knowledge. Hierarchical density-based clustering goes one step beyond and finds a hierarchy of density-based clusters at different density levels according to a user-defined density smoothing parameter. In this project, we intend to investigate how a set of density-based clustering hierarchies with regard to different values of the density smoothing parameter can be used to build a single and easy-to-analyze hierarchical organization of a dataset. Our main motivation comes from the observation that, in some cases, using one single parameter value is not enough to find all the cluster structures in the data. TO BE CONT’D

Modeling Mentorship

I will be working with Associate Professor Dr. Sasha Dall from Exeter University, who is a well-known Mathematical Ecologist. He and his lab are using game theory modeling to describe evolutionary outcomes.
Although I often interact with mathematicians and economist at the U of C, I have been missing direct interactions with specialists in my field of study (behavioural ecology modeling), A couple of months in Exeter with Dr. Dall, would be very beneficial for my professional development and my training as a modeler. I have been working on my own evolutionary game theory model and it would help to have inputs on topics such as approaches to optimality and game theory modeling and when a model is completed. TO BE CONT’D

The EU in contemporary global environmental governance: a complementary outside-in and inside-out approach

The research conducted in Montreal focuses on studying the role of the European Union (EU) in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) through an innovative outside-in mapping. Three dimensions of the EU’s role are examined: its environmental ambition, leadership and diplomatic activity. The project is innovative because of a twofold reason. First, counterbalancing the literature’s dominant focus on climate change, it focuses on the EU’s role in less politicized, yet important, international environmental treaty regimes. Second, the project evaluates the EU’s role based on non-EU centric evaluations by observers of the EU’s role, i.e. the outside-in approach. Original empirical data is collected through interviews with officials working at the secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity who witnessed the EU’s role. TO BE CONT’D

Analyse et mise en place d’un processus de gestion et d’optimisation de campagnes publicitaires sur les médias sociaux dans le cadre de petites moyennes entreprises

Le projet consiste à optimiser les pratiques de gestion de la publicité sur les médias sociaux (SMM) pour plusieurs clients de l’agence de Marketing Numérique Click & Mortar. Le SMM inclut plusieurs pratiques d’optimisation de la présence sur les réseaux sociaux tels que Facebook ou Instagram. Les algorithmes sophistiqués utilisés pour filtrer le contenu publié sur les réseaux sociaux oblige de plus en plus les entreprises à se tourner vers les placements publicitaires. Ceux-ci permettent aux entreprises de bénéficier d’une plus grande portée et d’un ciblage plus précis. La valeur ajoutée d’une plus grande portée est la notoriété de la publicité qui va ensuite influencer les utilisateurs à interagir avec la marque et augmenter les bénéfices d’un client. TO BE CONT’D

Development and application of physiological markers of Grizzly Bear health

Grizzly bears reside on changing landscapes across Alberta, Canada. The goal of this study is to determine how disturbances in the landscape affect the health of grizzly bears. This will be monitored by analyzing the (1) expression of proteins in skin that are associated with energetics, reproduction, and stress and (2) concentrations of hormones in hair that are associated with reproductive status and long-term stress. In collaboration with the Foothills Research Institute (FRI), skin and hair samples will be collected from free-ranging grizzly bears in Alberta, Canada. Laboratory techniques have been developed at the University of Saskatchewan (UofS) to isolate protein from skin biopsies and measure hormone concentrations in hair. FRI’s expert knowledge of landscape changes and bear behavior will be combined with the physiological assessments by UofS to create a tool to detect compromised health in individuals and identify drivers of stress in threatened species managed by FRI.

Quality and degradation assessments of polymer-lined thrust bearings by indentation and tribological testing

Current needs for renewable and emission-free technologies imposes hydroelectric power plants to generate power in a predictable and reliable fashion. Replacing metallic to polymeric coatings in thrust bearings allows hydroelectric turbines to operate at a wider range of operation parameters. However, the sensibility of polymeric materials to the manufacturing method imposes important uncertainties on the performance and longevity these materials can have in service conditions. In this project lab-bench tests will be used to critically evaluate the results of portable non-destructive tools that can be used to assess the quality of polymeric coatings used in thrust bearings. High-pressure and high-temperature immersion tests will force the material into an accelerated aging process. The effects of aging on the polymer performance will be tested into an environment simulating the turbine operation conditions. The research outcomes will enable Hydro-Québec to determine whether a polymer lining is suitable for continuous operation or not.

Harmoniser les exigences contractuelles BIM en fonction des besoins du client: Faciliter la production et le transfert de l’information utile à la gestion des actifs du bâtiment

Ce projet tentera de formuler un processus qui permettra de guider l’inclusion des livrables BIM dans les documents contractuels qui régissent les exigences du projet. Une attention particulière sera portée aux exigences BIM en lien avec la gestion des actifs (FM). L’hypothèse proposée suggère que l’inclusion contractuelle d’exigences numériques forcera les donneurs d’ouvrages à se questionner davantage sur leurs besoins à long terme et agira comme catalyseur pour l’intégration du BIM à l’industrie de la construction.

UV Mapping Assistance through Deep Learning

The goal is to create a conversation loop between 3D designers and artificial intelligence programs. This will help the AI provide suggestions to the designer, while the designer provides the AI with feedback. This can help make it easier for designing complicated objects as well as complicated textures that belong to the surface of 3D objects. Through this interaction, the hope that AI can extend the utility of design software.

Development of gene therapy for pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients with rare and lethal mutations

Based on current research in the field of genetic disorders, gene therapy – through the use of gene editing tools such as CRISPR – is a promising method to rescue defective genes. Stem cells from patient can provide a compelling in vitro model for gene therapy. In this work we are investigating the effects of a mutation causes inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in both intestinal and pancreatic cell lines.
Interestingly, it has been shown that some mutations, which are highly damaging to the intestinal epithelia, have no apparent detrimental effect on pancreatic cell line. This suggests compensatory mechanism avoiding apoptosis and death in pancreatic cells.
Like the intestine, stem cells in the pancreas also give rise to diverse epithelial cell types. Thus it would be highly advantageous to develop a gene therapy protocol using pancreatic progenitor cell as a proof-of-principle for intestinal epithelia.
However, introduction of corrected sequence of the genome with no base insertion/deletion at the end of DNA double stranded break, resulted from CRISPR-Cas9 nickase activity, is challenging. We are hoping to have site-specific genomic integration of therapeutic transgenes to the defective stem cells in intestinal epithelial.

Nanotraceurs Raman à nanotubes de carbone fonctionnalisés pour l’imagerie Ramanhyperspectrale

Il y a un besoin dans l’industrie pour développer des traceurs moléculaires actifs en Raman qui

permettraient des mélanges d’un très grands nombre d’agents de contraste. Un partenariat entre

l’Univsersité de Montréal et l’entreprise Photon etc. cherche à capitaliser sur une opportunité

singulière basées sur des nanotraceurs Raman très polyvalents et sélectifs pour la diffusion Raman.

Ces traceurs optiques sont constitués de nanotubes de carbone à simple paroi fonctionnalisés

chimiquement sur la paroi extrene et encapsulés avec des molécules aromatiques actives en Raman.

Ce projet propose de développer un librairie de 10 nanotraceurs Raman et de faire une validation

technologique de l’invention avec un imageur Raman hyperspectral commercialisé par Photon etc.

Cette librairie de traceurs sera adaptée à la technologie hyperspectrale de Photon etc. pour des

applications en imagerie médicale, biologique et en spectroscopie Raman.

Facial expression identification over a time series of images

Facial expression is a universal language to convey emotions and significantly affects social interactions. While psychologists have investigated facial expressions for decades, they have recently found their way into human-computer interactions and the gaming industry. A lot of research has been published on automatic detection of human emotions given either a single image or a series of images. In this project, we propose a new method for facial expression interpretation over a time series of images. We will first identify key facial expressions utilizing convolutional neural networks (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) methods. Then, we will interpolate between these key facial expressions utilizing artificial intelligence while tracking head, eye, mouth, and eyelid. Finally, we will classify the emotions conveyed by the facial expressions over the entire time series of images. We expect to improve the state-of-the-art performance with this approach. Furthermore, we think that this approach would be more easily conveyed to the animation and gaming industries.

Floatability and washability characterization of difficult to process coal seams at Teck Greenhills coal mine

Teck Coal produces metallurgical quality coal from the coalfields in southeastern British Columbia and it is the second largest exporter of metallurgical coal in the world. It operates four coal mines in SE BC. One of the Teck Coal operations has been experiencing difficulty in processing fine coal for several years. Overall, this situation has led to less than expected plant performance, resulting in some losses in production. The research undertaken in this project will develop a deeper understanding of the root causes of these processing problems and will work towards finding viable solutions at this processing plant.
The research performed by the student will advance Teck’s understanding of the problems and find solutions to the processing of fine coal from a planning, mining and processing perspective. TO BE CONt’D