Innovative Projects Realized

A Phenomenological analysis of consumer-product relationships

The research project that I wish to pursue is in the nexus of phenomenology, existentialism and consumer ethics. Specifically, I would like to give a phenomenological account for the extensive culture of bracketing factors of production. Why do we tend to bracket the factors of production from our consideration of buying the good? Essentially, bracketing is a deferment of judgment. By bracketing an object, we suspend our judgment of that object and relegate such judgment to another time or even indefinitely. As such, we render ourselves unable to think, let alone act, consciously with respect to the bracketed object. Moreover, if we act despite our conscious bracketing, the authenticity of our action is under threat. Sartre thought this behavior to be immoral and labeled this action as acting in ‘bad faith’. TO BE CONT’D

Development and Implementation of An Omic-Level Distributed Ledger Data Management Architecture

This Phase I proposal is intended to undertake a requirements-gathering and an initial system design for a system that exploits the integrity guarantees of blockchain technology and the high throughput capability of commercial/open source transactional database management systems (DBMS). Although current approaches will be a part of the solution, innovation is required to allow for increased user control over the information stored about them, including the ability to verify its veracity, revoke access as required/desired, delete data when desired, and ensure availability of verifiable access histories to ensure that systems are in regulatory compliance. Blockchain technologies (sometime referred to as distributed ledgers) will provide an important piece of the overall infrastructure necessary to meet the data protection demands mentioned above. Blockchains provide an immutable means of recording information relating to patient preferences about how, by whom, and when their data might be legitimately accessed for a given purpose. Once patient preferences are stored on the blockchain, access rights can be verified against those presets, thereby guaranteeing compliance and transparency. TBC

Addressing Weight Stigma in Prenatal Healthcare: Developing Patient- Informed Recommendations

Pregnant women with a body mass index >=35 kg/m2 are at risk for pregnancy complications that can impact both the mom and growing baby. Previous research suggests that women with a high BMI may experience weight stigma during their prenatal care appointments and this may lead to low compliance with healthcare provider recommendations and reduce the overall quality of care. This research will aim to understand sources of weight stigma and gather recommendations from pregnant women on how we can improve their prenatal care. This research will lead to the development of patient-informed recommendations for reducing weight stigma in prenatal care. Recommendations will be used by the partner organization, The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, to share with and educate healthcare providers on reducing weight stigma. By learning directly from pregnant women, we can increase patient-centred care during pregnancy and improve the overall quality of prenatal healthcare.

Modèle d’occupation individualisé pour le secteur résidentiel

Le marché énergétique est en transition. La demande et la consommation d’énergie dans le secteur résidentiel seront impactées par l’adoption de nouvelles technologies et l’évolution des comportements. Le projet de recherche vise le développement d’un modèle statistique générant des profils temporels individualisés de présence des individus à leur résidence en fonction des attributs des individus. Le modèle retenu sera construit à partir des données de l’Enquête sociale générale de Statistique Canada de 2010 et de 2015. À terme, les résultats du modèle d’occupation développé pourront alimenter des modèles de consommation énergétiques de résidences pour quantifier l’impact de scénarios d’évolution technologiques et comportementales sur la demande et la consommation d’énergie.

TrackSafe

description should also indicate the expected benefit to the partner organization. (Approx 150 words)

Since the advent of rail transportation, the integrity of the rail and track conditions play a significant

role in ensuring that trains are able to move people safely. As track infrastructure is impacted by

ambient temperature and normal wear and tear, inspections of the rail and track must be conducted on

a regular basis. Due to the frequency of required inspections, the job presents hazards as it is often

done while trains are in revenue service. Thus track worker protection is of critical importance in the

rail industry. The aim of the project is to develop a safety system that will exploit emerging

technologies to enhance the safety of track workers as well as provide operational enhancements for

certain business processes for transit operators. Bombardier hopes to use the system as a platform to

enhance safety of their track workers and to provide new services…………………….

Système d’amortissement des impacts lors de la réception de sauts en patinage artistique

Selon Skate canada, près de 180 000 Canadiens pratiquent le patinage artistique de façon structurée, dont 10% représentent l’élite. La réception de sauts en patinage artistique implique de grandes forces d’impact, représentant environ 3 à 9 fois le poids corporel de l’athlète. La répétition de cette mise en charge excessive au niveau articulaire mène éventuellement à des blessures d’usure chez les athlètes. Au cours des dernières années, très peu d’améliorations technologiques ont été apportées aux équipements de patinage artistique et ce, malgré l’évolution des exigences dans la performance chez les patineurs. Dans le cadre du projet, nous développerons un porte-lame de patin artistique en composites visant l’amortissement des impacts encaissés lors de la réception de sauts. L’expertise acquise dans le développement de ce produit innovant permettra à l’entreprise Patins STEP de se démarquer à l’international dans le domaine des patins de patinage artistique.

3d density estimation using normalizing flows and its application to 3d reconstruction in cryo-EM

Generative models enable the researchers to address multiple problems spanning from noise removal to generating novel samples with properties of the domain. Generative models are commonly studied for images and in this project the idea will be expanded to 3D structures or volumes. Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a technique to estimate accurate 3D structures of biological molecules which is used by practitioners in fields like precision medicine. This allows them to design drugs that could cure patients with rare diseases and avoid side effects. A trained generative model on previously estimated molecular density models, would enable rapid improvement in resolution of estimated densities of limited resolution. The outcome of this research project will be provided as a ready-made tool that improves the resolution of estimated densities in its input. Through this collaboration, Borealis AI would push forward 3D generative methods research and its application to density estimation.

Évaluation de la résilience écologique et économique d’agroforesterie du cacao aromatique

Le projet de recherche prend place dans le sud-ouest du Mexique, au Soconusco. Il a pour cadre le Centre Agroécologique Saint François d’Assise (CASFA). Cette coopérative, qui regroupe près de 300 familles d’agriculteurs, a mis en place un modèle de culture d’agroforesterie du cacao, c’est à dire que les cacaotiers sont cultivés sous un couvert forestier. Le cacao est ensuite vendu à des chocolateries fines françaises et belges. La coopérative regroupe des modèles de culture plus ou moins diversifiés (avec plus ou moins d’espèces sur la parcelle agricole). L’objectif est donc d’évaluer la capacité de résilience des différents types de cultures de ce modèle d’agroforesterie, c’est à dire leur capacité d’adaptation à un choc ou à un stress extérieur. Pour cela, des indicateurs de résilience écologique et économique sont développés. TO BE CONT’D

Road mortality in Toronto and region: The utility and need for wildlife passages in a fragmented landscape

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) jurisdiction is one of the most densely populated watersheds in Canada, where the urban area now accounts for close to half of the land cover in the region. The conversion of land from natural to urban area, such as roads, contributes to the loss and fragmentation of habitat, which is a major driver of biodiversity declines. This project investigates the potential of various passage structures that can mitigate these impacts and assesses the need for strategic wildlife crossings. The scope of the project aims to develop a systematic field method to (i) assess the effectiveness of wildlife crossing structures (e.g., fencing, passages) in TRCA’s jurisdiction and (ii) identify specific locations at pilot sites for mitigation measures to reduce road mortality and improve connectivity. Ultimately the goal is to reduce biodiversity declines, where species can support functioning and healthy ecosystems within the urban environment.

Ecological restoration of natural woodland and meadow sites invaded by dog-strangling vine (Vincetoxicum rossicum) in southern Ontario.

Dog-strangling vine is one of the most invasive plants in eastern Canada. Previous attempts to control the spread of the vine have been unsuccessful. Recent research on this invader suggests that when it invades an area, it perturbs soil microbial communities. These perturbations appear to interfere with some native plants’ ability to grow. However, other native plants appear to be resistant to these soil alterations. This work aims to identify additional plant species that are resistant to the soil effects of dog-strangling vine, to determine how long these soil effects last, and to identify soil amendments that can reduce the impact of invasion. This research will help develop much-needed management and restoration strategies and will help protect and revitalize the fragile ecosystems that dog-strangling vine currently threatens across eastern Canada.

AI Techniques to Explore the Relationship Between Structural and Function Brain Connectivities

It is not fully understood how structural brain connectivities give rise to functional brain connectivities. The objective of this project is to apply Deep Learning and Machine Learning techniques to explore the complex relationship between structural and functional brain connectivities and accurately describe this important structure-function relationship. A linear brain dynamic network model will be learnt, studied developed and analyzed. This model’s prediction capabilities to infer function correlation (obtained from EEG, MEG and fMRI) from structural connectivity (obtained from diffusion MRI) will be tested and validated through experimentation.

Functionalized adsorbent for simultaneous removal of heavy metal ions and ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, frequently detected in different environmental compartments, which may contribute to antibiotic resistance occurrence. Another group of the contaminants, widely present in water and soils is heavy metal ions (HMI), like mercury, lead or cadmium. They are known to have toxic or poisonous effect on living organisms, including humans, even at low concentration. Moreover, CIP tends to form stable complexes with metal ions, including HMI. This may alter antibiotic’s antimicrobial and physicochemical properties. The objective of this project is to use the later feature to remove CIP and HMI from water. The aim is to create cost-effective adsorbent, so that CIP and heavy metals are adsorbed onto its surface. The adsorption of metal ions, including HMI would occur in the beginning which is most likely to enhance CIP adsorption. Hence, the decrease of their concentration in aquatic media is expected.