Innovative Projects Realized

WORKMAN ARTS: MEMBERS ONLINE MAPPING PROGRAM

The MEMBER’S ONLINE MAPPING PROJECT will consist of the research

and development of a training program for Workman Arts members, which

will give these members education and empowerment in the utilization of

social networking tools such as: blogs, twitter, event pages on facebook,

linkedin, foursquare, etc. The overseeing intern will also be responsible for

the research and development of a website interface with the existing

Workman Arts site that allows the members to utilize these tools to

network within the community and to a more general community via their

own existing website. The overseeing intern will also research and develop

arts-based curriculum that allows for the members to integrate and develop

their art practices through these newly integrated social networking tools.

By the end of this internship, Workman Arts will have benefited from the

implementation of a new program, web-based tools and a site update, both

empowering their membership regarding social networking as a tool for

artistic…….TBC

Open Air Interface for 5G and Beyond Cellular Networks

This research will focus on the design of 5G networks to provide for future wireless services include the use cases of Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC), and Ultra-reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC), and application area use cases such as Smart City, Smart Home/In-building, Augmented Reality, Self-Driving Cars, etc. 5G Technology has been standardized according to a broad framework in terms of the format of the transmitted wireless signals and the basic protocols including its compatibility with LTE networks. However, a large degree of particularization of major parameters and their optimization for the 5G use cases is left for research. This includes the methods to implement the various signal processing and protocol processing functions in a hardware/software hybrid particularized for a given use case. This project will address various issues in the particularization of the general 5G specifications and their implementation using state of the art generic software radios.

Modeling atmospheric gas dispersion using computational fluid dynamics – Part 2

Although rare, industrial facilities can suffer from minor to catastrophic failures, commonly referred to as loss of primary containment (LOPC), which can result in the release of hazardous gases and/or liquids. In order to protect the safety of the public, companies must provide a means of mitigating the potential damage to people and the environment. Since these measures are determined beforehand, the ability to develop and produce accurate modeling techniques is of the utmost importance.

The modeling of gas dispersion in the atmosphere following industrial releases (industrial stacks, containment breaches, etc.) relies on the ability to simulate accurate atmospheric flow close to the Earth’s surface. These flows are generally divided into three stability classes. Although neutral stability is well understood and applies to a number of real world scenarios, accurate prediction of dispersion under stable and unstable atmospheric flow would expand upon the current number of applicable cases. Therefore, this project seeks to augment existing knowledge by modifying and adapting simulation tools to adequately simulate multiple stability classes.

Développement et évaluation de nouvelles préparations pharmaceutiquesmagistrales et mise à jour d’une base de données de formules maîtresses

Utilisé par un grand nombre de professionnels (pharmaciens, médecins, infirmières, etc.), le logiciel Rx Vigilance est un outil indispensable à la prise de décision dans le domaine de la santé. Ce logiciel contient toutes les informations nécessaires à la pratique pharmaceutique : calculateur pharmacologique, base de données pour les monographies de produit, un moteur d’analyse de profil patient, etc. De plus, afin de répondre aux besoins particuliers des patients, un registre de préparations magistrales est mis à la disposition du personnel travaillant dans les établissements de santé et les pharmacies communautaires. Cette base de données doit être régulièrement mise-à-jour afin de s’assurer de la qualité des informations s’y retrouvant. L’ajout de nouvelles formules magistrales, pour lesquelles des études de stabilité laboratoire auront été effectuées, s’avère nécessaire afin de bonifier l’éventail de préparations pouvant être préparées en pharmacie.

La prévention de la maladie de Lyme chez les travailleurs d’Hydro-Québec, dans le contexte des changements climatiques

La maladie de Lyme ou borréliose est de plus en plus fréquente en Amérique du Nord. Causée par la bactérie Borrelia burgdorferi, au Québec, la maladie de Lyme est transmise lors d’une piqûre de la tique infectée Ixodes scapularis. Dans le souci de préserver les travailleurs forestiers d’Hydro-Québec, il sera réalisé successivement une revue de littérature sur les facteurs climatiques et environnementaux favorables à la survie de la tique, suivie de la documentation des différents paramètres à prendre en compte lors de la gestion de risque en santé pour l’élaboration de mesures de prévention des travailleurs forestiers d’Hydro-Québec.

Élaboration de valeurs seuils de gravité de l’asthme chez l’enfant par la technique d’oscillométrie

Ce projet vise à établir les valeurs de seuil de gravité de l’asthme chez l’enfant et se base sur une première étude clinique déjà en cours visant à établir les valeurs de référence pédiatriques des mesures d’oscillométrie. Ces valeurs de référence constituent la base nécessaire afin de déterminer les valeurs de seuil de résistance pulmonaire pour classifier la sévérité de l’obstruction des bronches comme étant légère, modérée, ou sévère. Le projet implique l’évaluation, chez des enfants se présentant à l’urgence ou hospitalisés pour une crise d’asthme, de la résistance pulmonaire par oscillométrie avec l’appareil Tremoflo ainsi que d’autres mesures cliniques et de fonction pulmonaire standard, avant et après traitement avec bronchodilatateur. Les objectifs sont de définir les meilleurs paramètres pour identifier la sévérité et la réponse au traitement et d’identifier les valeurs seuils de ces paramètres, mesurés sur le Tremoflo, permettant de déterminer avec justesse et précision (1) si l’obstruction des bronches est légère, modérée ou sévère et (2) à quel point l’obstruction s’est améliorée. Ces seuils sont essentiels pour évaluer par la suite l’utilité clinique de l’appareil Tremoflo spécifiquement et de cette technologie (oscillométrie) en général pour la mesure de la fonction pulmonaire chez l’enfant.

Implementation and strengthening of the community enhancement program to assess theneeds of different residents living at Brightside

The purpose of the project is to assess the housing, community engagement, and social inclusion needs and challenges faced by different residents, many of whom are older adults and are residents in Brightside Community Housing Foundation. Also known as Brightside. A mixed method approach (dempgrahic questionnaire, survey and focus group) will be used in this study. The findings from this survey will guide Brightside’s action plan to improve housing security and offer community initiatives that are tailored to the needs of their residents. Findings from this research project will help to a) gain an understanding of the needs and challenges of people, especially older adults living in affordable not-for-profit independent housing, and b) provide an insight into challenges and potential solutions for non-for-profit housing agency dealing with similar issues with their residents.

Essais de restriction-réalimentation cycliques à grande échelle chez Salvelinus alpinus et S. alpinus X S. fontinalis avec l’étude des effets de la supplémentation en nucléotides sur la physiologie et la croissance de S. alpinus

Les travaux de recherche proposés s’appuient sur les résultats de nos dernières expériences en pisciculture commerciale. Nous avons démontré à l’échelle expérimentale que la restriction alimentaire en période hivernale chez l’omble de fontaine et l’omble chevalier permet de réduire les coûts de fonctionnement des entreprises piscicoles (coûts de main d’oeuvre et d’aliments), réduire la pollution environnementale et ce tout en ayant un impact négligeable sur la productivité des poissons. Notre projet consiste en un exercice de mise à l’échelle (phase pilote) de l’introduction de la restriction alimentaire hivernale pour maximiser la productivité d’une opération aquacole en termes de main d’oeuvre, coût de l’alimentation et considérations environnementales en misant sur l’expression d’une phase de croissance accélérée i.e. la croissance compensatoire. Nous procéderons à la réalisation d’essais de restriction alimentaire à grande échelle en collaboration avec l’entreprise Aquaculture Gaspésie Inc. Nous allons également tester, à plus petite échelle, l’incorporation d’un aliment supplémenté de nucléotides sur la reprise de la croissance durant la période de réalimentation. L’amélioration des performances de croissance suite à l’incorporation de nucléotides à la moulée a déjà été démontrée, cependant, les mécanismes sous-jacents à ces effets n’ont pas été explorés.

Business Planning for Social Enterprises-Phase Two

Based on the first internship of Mitacs Accelerate Project, research has been conducted on several aspects of an online traceability program which has been developed and operated by Ecotrust Canada. Aspects covered including business planning, budgeting, researching for revenue sources and of course type of entity in order to transition the program into its own organization. This second internship will focus on the best suited legal entity as well as best strategy of introducing the revenue model to partners as currently is in a demonstration stage with no cost for participants. Some of the parameters include social entrepreneurship, fair trade and corporate responsibility. There is not enough research to suggest the best strategy for spin-off programs from nonprofits like Ecotrust Canada and even less research that entails the social entrepreneurship component. The outcome of this research would benefit Ecotrust Canada and other social enterprises by giving resourceful feedback and……………………TOBECONTINUED

The Involvement in Literary Culture of the Wives of Charles IV of Bohemia

Charles IV of Bohemia (1316-1378), King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, ruled in what is often called a Golden Age of outstanding cultural achievements, centered at his cosmopolitan court in Prague. He famously founded a university, supported humanists, spoke five languages and wrote an autobiography. But of his four wives, Blanche of Valois (1316–1348), Anne of the Palatinate (1329–1353), Anne of Schweidnitz (1339–1362), and Elizabeth of Pomerania (1345/47–1393), less is known (especially in English). I aim to investigate the extent of their involvement in literary culture, their personal intellectual lives and education, the education provided to their daughters, what books they owned, commissioned or had access to, how chroniclers and their husband wrote about them, and their role as literary patronesses. I anticipate learning to what extent they each were involved, and why, as well as its effect on Czech literary culture, politics, and ideals of Czech queenship.

Forestry Cloud App Project

Digital imaging has become a leading feature in cell phones, security camera and satellite images. In addition to a race for picture clarity, the opportunities for data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) are among the key elements attracting attention. The emergence of image enhancement and AI is relatively new, although it has a number of players taking differing perspectives and positioning. This project is for research and development to extend the existing image fusion technology for applications in the forestry industry; specifically to identify species of trees using satellite imagery with an accuracy level of 60% or better. The outcome will eliminate the need by landowners/foresters to use “Photo Interpreters” (process where a person physically views the trees from a plane and estimates percentage of tree species in area) to analyze the percentage of trees by species on their land. This will save time and reduce costs significantly.

Expanding SIKU across the Canadian Arctic: an Inuit-driven platform for climatechange resiliency and self-determination

For the Inuit communities that reside in the Canadian Arctic, climate change and regional development have impacted people’s access to essential resources and their preservation of Inuit knowledge. By partnering with the Arctic Eider Society (AES) and Ocean Wise Ikaarvik program, I will translate my primary research in phytoplankton remote sensing into relevant information for northern communities using SIKU.org, an information sharing and social media platform that provides tools for monitoring, archiving and responding to environmental change. Combining field research, satellite remote sensing and engagement efforts to co-develop SIKU with communities across Nunavut, this partnership will shed light on localized patterns of marine ecosystem change across the Canadian Arctic coastline. Ultimately, these endeavors will build capacity for northern communities to manage environmental knowledge and adapt to climate change.