Innovative Projects Realized

Interaction between consumer and resource control of stream biofilm

Development of a standardized assay for after cooking darkening by which to support cultivarselection for breeding program and timing from storage for optimum processing

The intern will work with McGill University researchers Dr. Danielle Donnelly and Dr. Stan Kubow to identify

potato cultivars with better processing quality and less inclination to form dark-colored compounds after

they have been cut (enzymatic browning) or cooked (after-cooking darkening or ACD). ACD is related to

content of certain minerals, the polyphenolic chlorogenic acid, and mediated by presence of organic acids

and possibly other antioxidants. Phytonutrients will be examined for 3 cultivars with varying ACD symptoms.

A better understanding of ACD is important to the potato processing industry.

High Power Wireless Charging System for Electric Vehicles

Effects of biodiversity loss on phytoplankton – Zooplankton dynamics

A Novel Approach to Total Shoulder Arthroplasty using Intraoperative Manufacturing for Patient Specific Guides

Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (TSA) is a surgical procedure to restore overall comfort and function of the affected shoulder. Traditional methods of TSA are highly invasive, and result in 68% of patients developing future complications post operation. Therefore, F. Rodriguez & J. Giles developed two paradigm shifting surgical methods to reduce the invasiveness of the surgery and allow clinicians to have a more calculated approach when performing the operation. My work at Imperial College will consist of combining the most beneficial aspects of each of the two systems into one standalone system. The goal is to further develop and refine the approach to improve functional patient outcomes and reduce complications post-surgery. It is expected that each of the two systems will be evaluated to form an initial plan to design the newly refined standalone system. This system will be developed with the assistance of F. Rodriguez & J. Giles then rigorously tested to validate the standalone systems ability to improve upon other methods for TSA guidance.

Spiroconjugated Donor–?–Acceptor Dyes for Optoelectronic Devices

Use of X-rays as an alternative for fungal and bacterial pathogen control in seeds and stored food

The shortage and quality of food to feed the existing and growing population is an issue of global concern. There is also serious problem with the fungal and bacterial pathogens which result in losses of billions of dollars of annual loss of agricultural products. This project is an attempt to mitigate this with the use of X-ray treatment of seeds and organic products in stead of gamma rays or electron beams of a few MeV energies. This project, when completed, has the prospects to develop field-deployable treatment facilities for use around the globe, including developing countries in the tropical zones to mitigate the food shortage of the hungry world.

Computational study of the effect of gene deletion (synthetic lethal) on cellular growth in pathogenic organisms

Infectious diseases kill millions of people each year. For example, according to World Health Organization’s estimate, 10 million people contracted tuberculosis in 2017 resulting in 1.6 million deaths, which is approximately one death every twenty seconds . Increasingly, the pathogenic organisms, responsible for these diseases, are evolving to be resistant to drugs already in use to tackle them. Due to cost and time involved in developing new drugs, researchers around the world are developing mathematical models to understand the cellular processes of these organisms and use them to rapidly develop new drugs. This research project will use Genome-scale mathematical models for cellular metabolism in a pathogen to identify proteins and genes essential for the survival of a pathogen responsible for a disease. Results from this research are essential to addressing the twin problems of evolution of drug resistance in pathogens and drug side effects, while developing drugs.

Bridging natural and machine intelligence for calculating insurance premiums

The project will undertake a review of the existing and ongoing research in the field of InsurTech. Here, “InsurTech” refers to the marriage of insurance and technology with a goal to transform the insurance industry by using modern technologies to generate efficiencies. It is proposed to develop new technology based solutions for more realistic insurance premium calculations using data analytics based on individual customer behavior patterns. Applications such as activity trackers, in-car mobility devices are already being used by insurance companies to monitor and manage insurance coverage and payment. However, opportunities exist to bring a transformational change and explore options of developing cost effective links with other emerging technologies to minimize the possibilities of frauds, enhancing customer experience and, simplifying internal insurance processes including but not limited to premium determination. With limited existing research done hitherto, this research project aims to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to examine real-life and real-time observations of data to develop premium calculation principles that are better aligned with real life.

Paper based construction materials: Test rig for the production of highly oriented paper

Bench-Scale Methods to Investigate Release of Legionella in Biocorrosive Environments

The purpose of the proposed research project is to develop a bench-scale method to investigate the release of opportunistic pathogens such as Legionella pneumophila, in drinking water distribution systems. Legionella pneumophila can cause serious health effects in humans and causes one of the largest water related diseases. To complete this research, two bench-scale experiments have been designed to simulate a drinking water distribution system. Small flow-through reactors containing copper, lead and cast iron coupons will be used to investigate the affects that different chemical disinfectants and corrosion inhibitors have on the growth and release of Legionella. The expected outcomes of this project are to provide water utilities with recommendations of disinfectants and corrosion inhibitors to use based on their piping materials, and to create opportunity for more research in this field to prevent the release of Legionella into drinking water systems.

ÉLABORATION D’UNE MESURE DE LA COMMUNICATIONRESPONSABLE

Ce projet consiste à entreprendre la recherche nécessaire à l’élaboration d’un instrument de

mesure de la communication responsable, soit l’Indice de communication responsable au

Québec, pour l’entreprise CBleue et pour le Conseil québécois de la communication pour le

développement durable en partenariat avec l’Observatoire de la consommation responsable de

l’Université de Sherbrooke. Cet indice permettra d’évaluer jusqu’à quel point les principaux

acteurs de la communication au Québec sont engagés dans une démarche responsable

avec leurs différentes parties prenantes tout au long du processus de communication. L’idée

générale est de faire de l’Indice de communication responsable au Québec un outil de

sensibilisation à la cause responsable étant donné pour l’instant la faible implication de ce

milieu dans le phénomène grandissant de la consommation responsable et les fortes

critiques et méfiances auxquelles il fait face. Il viendra répondre aux besoins de valeur

ajoutée dans les formations de CBleue et appuyer les travaux du Conseil québécois de la communication pour le développement durable, auquel………………………………………………………………