Innovative Projects Realized

Sum rules and coset functions in multiphoton interferometry

We study an interferometer where light is injected via a fixed number of input ports. Inside the interferometer, light coming from different ports interacts, generating non-trivial outputs. Simulation of the output is exponentially hard for a classical computer: validating the output cannot be done under realistic conditions.
We seek to formulate a validation procedure, i.e. a series of tests, to certify that the interferometer functions as expected. Instead of studying the distribution of outputs at individual ports, we analyze sets of them, reducing the amount of data to be considered and the complexity of this data.
In this project, we will understand how to reduce the complexity of the matrix simulating the device when considering sets of outcomes. We will next evaluate how this simplified matrix can decreases the simulation complexity for sets of outcomes. Finally, we will develop tests for implementation in experiments.

Decoding communication profiles of AMF-soil microbiota with cannabis for higher yield and environmental safety

Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are extensively used for commercial growth of cannabis alike other crops. More than 40% of unused fertilizers cause serious environmental problems such as contaminants transform into our food chain, and eventually repeated application of chemical fertilizers increase human and ecosystem (human health, floral and faunal diversity) health risks over the time. But mutualistic association with Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) increases the supply of nutrients and protect plants against pathogens and pest in exchange of carbon. In my project AMF strains and microbial suspension originating from naturally rich environment will be used to decode cannabis-AMF-soil microbiota communication and develop microbial hub networks linking cannabis and soil nutrients in better understanding of role of cannabis associated microbes. We will use high throughput assays for validating the utilization of AMF strain and microbe for better yield in cannabis aiming organic farming to keep the environment safe.

Electrochemical detection of Micro-RNA

MicroRNAs (miRNA) can be used as biomarkers for different types of cancer diagnostics. Therefore, obtaining point-of-care (POC) device for miRNA detection is of high value. Conventional miRNA sensing strategy usually involves reverse transcription PCR or target recycling strategy and hence those techniques are not suitable for POC devices. In the proposed work, electrochemical sensing strategy will be used to detect miRNAs as electrochemical transducer can be easily fabricated for POC device. A gold electrode containing complementary capture probe is used for the miRNA detection. Using toehold mediated strand displacement strategy with MB-tagged DNA strand the miRNA is replaced. The concentration of MB will be directly co-related with target miRNA concentration.

The Net Effect of Technical Non-Tariff Measures in OCDE countries on African Exports of Vegetable products

Durant les trente dernières années, l’utilisation des mesures non tarifaires (MNT) des chapitres A (SPS) et B (OTC) s’est accrue dans les pays développés. Elles représentaient 59% des MNT en 2012 (WTO 2012) et 70% en 2017 (UNCTAD, 2017). Ces mesures techniques traitent diverses préoccupations (qualité et sécurité sanitaire) liées à la production et aux échanges internationaux de produits. Il est établi que ce sont les pays de l’OCDE qui imposent des réglementations plus nombreuses et/ou sévères que celles recommandées au niveau international. Tandis que pour la majorité des pays africains, les réglementations sont moins contraignantes ou même absentes. De ce fait, les réglementations des pays développés peuvent représenter des obstacles aux exportations des pays africains surtout dans les filières à fort potentiel d’exportation comme celles du secteur des produits végétaux. TO BE CONT’D

Trajectoire des pratiques transgressives, dans le contexte de la construction du Nouvel Aéroport International de la Ville de Mexico

Le projet consiste à comprendre la trajectoire des pratiques transgressives des militant.e.s qui vivent dans les municipalités de San Salvador Atenco, Texcoco et Chimalhuacán, dans le contexte de la construction du Nouvel Aéroport de la Ville de México, au Mexique, dans l’État de México. À partir de la collecte des histoires de vie de 5 à 7 participant.e.s, l’objectif principal de la recherche est de construire et valoriser un savoir autour des pratiques politiques de résistances, depuis l’expérience et la voix des personnes directement impliquées. C’est parce que nous considérons que la littérature existante sur les mouvements sociaux est trop mécanique que nous proposons d’adopter une perspective décoloniale ainsi qu’une perspective de genre, remettant ces pratiques dans un contexte historique holistique qui prend en compte l’aspect colonial des territoires affectés par la construction de l’aéroport. TO BE CONT’D

Automated Credit Risk Assessment Systems in Small Business Lending Decisions

Small businesses account for 89.6% of the total private labour force in Canada and, despite the vital role they play in the Canadian economy, fewer than half of small businesses will survive 10 years. One of the most commonly cited causes of small business failure is the inability to raise capital to finance its operations. This occurs, in part, because banks and lending agencies lack the tools necessary to draw valid conclusions from credit risk assessments. This application proposes two projects that will help build risk scoring system that the partner organization, Espresso Capital Inc., can use to make small business lending decisions. The goal is to recommend ways to improve the user experience and accuracy of the system so Espresso can predict if issues will arise in borrowing firms before they become a problem.

Self-sovereign identity data of persons living with dementia at risk of getting lost: how can personal data be protected, owned by individuals, and used to keep dementia clients safe, and inform research and policy?

Three out of five Canadians with dementia wander, raising concern as to how it can be managed. Current information describing best practices to find missing persons living with dementia however, is inconsistent and can cause police difficulty in choosing search and rescue strategies for this population. The purpose of this project is to develop and promote the exchange of best practices to quickly find a lost person with dementia through the development of a guideline. It will involve a literature review and surveys with police across Ontario. The information collected from these two activities will be used to develop the anticipated guideline. The Alzheimer Society of Ontario wants to be a leader, enhancing the reputation of the Finding Your Way program, and reduce the risk of people with dementia going missing. Partnering with researchers, such as the intern, to have credibility and have police partnerships will help make that happen.

Faisabilité et caractéristiques d’un Parcours innovation visant à développer les compétences en management de l’innovation des PME dans un contexte régional

Considérant que l’un des défi clé en matière de gestion de l’innovation consiste à comprendre l’écosystème dans son ensemble ainsi que les facteurs déterminants qui s’y rattachent et de réussir à développer des stratégies permettant d’en tirer profit, cet écosystème et ces facteurs environnementaux représentent donc des éléments importants à prendre en compte dans le développement d’un Parcours d’accompagnement. Il y a donc lieu de bien définir l’écosystème entrepreneurial régional dans le but de mieux comprendre et caractériser les différents constituants de cet écosystème, d’évaluer leurs impacts potentiels sur le mode de gestion de l’innovation des PME et ultimement être en mesure d’adapter un Parcours de formation et d’accompagnement qui sera pertinent pour les PME régionales. C’est ce que vise à répondre ce projet.

Reconnaissance et estimation de la pose de différents types de boulons sur les parois de mines souterraines par apprentissage automatique

Les boulons servant au soutènement des galeries de mines souterraines ne respectent souvent pas le patron de boulonnage défini par les ingénieurs dû à diverses raisons telle la complexité de la pose des boulons sur le terrain dans un intervalle de temps limité. Les galeries ne sont alors pas aussi renforcées qu’elles devraient l’être et les risques d’effondrement sont ainsi accrus. La recherche proposée a pour but le développement d’une méthode permettant l’évaluation efficace et automatique des patrons de boulonnage. Le projet fera appel à l’intelligence artificielle pour résoudre cette problématique. Nemesis bénéficiera de ce projet par l’intégration de la technologie développée durant ce projet dans ses solutions de vision numérique adaptées au domaine minier. Cette recherche ouvrira la porte vers d’autres produits et services offerts par le partenaire où l’intelligence artificielle pourra être incorporée.

Recycled HDPE/wood composite foams

Wood plastic composites (WPC) are a family of composite materials in which wood particles are mixed with a thermoplastic resin (polyethylene) to offer weight reduction, good thermal properties, acoustic insulation, cost reduction, as well as high stiffness and strength. Virgin thermoplastics are generally used in the WPC industry, but plastics are seen today as one of the main global solid waste. To reduce their environmental impact and the consumption of virgin plastics, recycled plastics are suitable to manufacture WPC at a lower cost. Also foaming the composite is another method to expand their applications by reducing weight and increasing thermal/acoustic insulations. The objective of this work is to produce different WPC structures and relate their processing conditions to their final properties by optimization of their composition. In particular, uniform foams will be compared with density graded foams in terms of performance/weight.

Development of a Remotely Controlled Data Acquisition System with Wireless Sensors for Bogie Dynamic Load Monitoring

The proposed research focuses on bogie dynamic load monitoring using intelligent sensor networks.

The existing monitoring systems have several problems including inability to monitor precisely,

difficulty in integration with the existing units, and high cost. The proposed research will examine

these issues in detail focusing on five main areas: wireless sensors, product definition, prototype

development, field testing, and industrialization. Sensors based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical (MEMS)

and Nanotechnology will be examined with regard to cost and performance. The proposed research

will finally lead to the design and development of a condition monitoring system for increasing

operating safety and lifespan of the existing and new bogie subsystems while simultaneously reducing

costs of monitoring.

Development of an Autonomous Pipeline Control System

Autonomous operation of oil and gas pipelines is being introduced to the marketplace by utilizing advanced process control and Artificial Intelligence. This Project will explore the use of advanced optimization algorithms in combination with autonomous operation to further increase efficiency of pipelines by continually driving pumps, compressors and valves to achieve the lowest cost operation.
Expected benefits of these efficiencies will be to increase the effective pipeline capacity without building new pipelines, while reducing the amount of energy required in a pipeline’s operation. In the current environment in which building new pipelines is increasingly difficult, maximizing existing assets is critical to both the pipeline operator and upstream producers.