Innovative Projects Realized

Mining Web Access Logs Using Graphs for Understanding User Behavior

Recreational cannabis was legalized on Oct 17th, 2018. Internationally, some countries have already legalized or are going to legalize the recreational/medical cannabis products. Unfortunately, there are not much data available for stakeholders to make decisions in a data-driven way. However, the government, industry and community are hungry to obtain statistical data to understand the impact of the legalization and forecast the trends.
Lift & Co built a cannabis data platform to collect consumer product reviews, starting with medical cannabis products since 2014. Today, Lift & Co. have 50,000 active users and 80,000 product reviews. We would like to fully utilize the large volume of data crowdsourced from the community in our platform to find insights on the user cannabis consumption behaviors. The results of this project will benefit the licensed-producers, retailers and Canadian government agencies for more reasonable data-driven decision making. The underlying technical problem that will assist in solving the above-mentioned problem is that of Collaborative Filtering.
User behavior is a tough nut to crack. Users are complicated, unexpected, and impatient. As mobile technology improves, users become more skilled and more knowledgeable about their devices and what they want to gain from them. TBC

Prise en compte des savoirs autochtones dans l’aménagement durable des paysages boréaux

L’aménagement du territoire en zone boréale pose des défis environnementaux importants. Le maintien de la conservation d’écosystèmes sains et résilients dans un contexte d’aménagement de la forêt pour des fins commerciales requiert un effort de coordination entre les parties-prenantes de la gestion du territoire. Les compagnies forestières qui planifient l’aménagement du territoire, les communautés autochtones, dont l’approvisionnement, la culture et l’identité sont rattachés de près au territoire, et les chercheurs scientifiques qui colligent des données sur l’état des écosystèmes doivent travailler ensemble pour trouver des solutions satisfaisantes et durables à des enjeux sensibles. Le projet propose une collaboration entre les chercheurs de l’Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, l’entreprise RYAM Gestion forestière et la Première Nation Abitibiwinni. Les objectifs sont 1) de développer un outil d’analyse de risque pour différents scénarios d’aménagement forestier qui prenne en compte les valeurs et savoirs autochtones et 2) de faire un inventaire des savoirs autochtones sur le caribou forestier afin qu’ils soient mis à contribution dans son plan de Gestion. Un tel partenariat est une rare occasion de collaboration entre l’industrie forestière, les communautés autochtones et l’Université…TBC

Sustaining Biodiversity Protection and Restoration Potential as the Foundation of Land Trust Business

This project is designed to create a strong plan for both the environmental and economic sustainability of the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust and the properties they manage through the ecological gifts program. Another benefit to this project for the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust is that donors are much more likely to contribute land and dollars to the Land Trust if they are comfortable with role the Land Trust plays as a steward of the land, including activities related to ecological restoration and of damaged properties. The intern’s work is related to developing a new business model for these land trusts as well as developing a new assessment methodology for restoration potential of the various land in the Haliburton region. This increased restoration potential of lands would lead to attracting more visitors to the Haliburton region increasing the local economy through eco-tourism.

Hand-held educational robots for learning STEM concepts

Inspired by needs for haptic support of large motions on a surface in applications like embodied conceptual learning, commercial design, and 2D virtual/augmented reality, we at SPIN lab at the University of British Columbia made a ballpoint drive system called Magic Pen [1]. This novel approach circumvents conventional constraints by imposing a new one: motion restricted to rolling on an arbitrary two dimensional surface, and grounding forces generated through friction.
During this visit at EPFL, I propose to work with two existing research projects at CHILI lab; CoWriter and Cellulo. The Magic Pen and these NCCR Robotics projects could mutually benefit from each other and make new contributions to Educational Robotics.
The CoWriter [2,3] project at the CHILI Lab of EPFL, uses a learning by teaching paradigm to encourage children to practice their handwriting by teaching a robot. Using a graphical tablet to acquire handwriting data, a RF based algorithm is now able to diagnose dysgraphia and to characterise precisely handwriting difficulties [4]. The last results of the project showed in particular that the pen pressure, tilt and dynamic features of handwriting were very discriminative for dysgraphia. TBC

A Critical Transition in the Common Core: Analyzing Networks for Mathematics Implementation

Since the U.S. Common Core State Standards for Mathematics were introduced in 2010, states have been grappling with the implementation of revised mathematics instruction. Implementation challenges have meant fewer students are adequately prepared for the elementary to middle school transition. Educators’ professional learning networks (PLNs) may be effective in addressing this issue, yet minimal research has examined the social structure of PLNs across transitions. Accordingly, this research will examine how the social structure of educators’ PLNs enables or constrains implementation of Common Core mathematics instruction around the elementary to middle school transition. Drawing from social network theory, I will examine the PLNs within and across four school districts in Southern California that participated in a two-year longitudinal network study. This research will make a substantial contribution to our understanding of how educators’ PLNs can be leveraged to improve the implementation of mathematics instruction around the elementary to middle school transition.

Role of TIPARP and AHR in gene regulation triggered by the environmental contaminant PCB126

The overall goal of our work is to use novel genetically modified rodent models to determine how two gene regulatory proteins known as ‘TIPARP’ and ‘AHR’ interact to influence mammalian responses to an important class of chemical toxicants that are found in certain foods and in the environment. These include the potential pesticide contaminant dioxin (TCDD), the industrial coolant component PCB126, and the cruciferous vegetable-derived compound indole-3-carbinol (I3C). Our studies are also examining the role of the TIPARP-AHR interaction in fatty liver disease, obesity and inflammatory bowel disease, and may identify novel signaling pathways that are activated by environmental contaminants of relevance to human health. This summer Chi Pham will participate in the comparative analysis of tissue specimens obtained from wild-type and TIPARP-deficient mice that have been exposed to PCB126, and her results will provide important information to allow us to compare the responses of these mouse strains with those observed in our previous studies using TCDD exposure.

From Cuba with Love: Domesticity as Transnational Media and Networking Strategy .

The project explores the role of domesticity in general as a symbolic and material realm fostering transnational networking and communication tactics involving Cuba and the North American peoples. This research looks at homemaking in Cuba as an activity at the center of large communication initiatives revolving around material exchanges, human international travels and domestic media such as video recorders, DVD, ham radio and others. The project will reveal alternative, low-environmental impact, sustainable means of communication established between Cubans in and outside the island, that have also served to reanimate forms of social economy and empowerment in Cuba with American and Quebec partners. The tactics analyzed might serve as templates for future investment strategies in the domain of telecommunications in a changing Cuban market in times of transition.

Examining microclimatic effects on vertebrate interactions with foundational plant species.

Desertification and arid region expansion are critical global change issues. Temperature, variability in precipitation, extended drought periods, and radiation are probable factors affecting the function of foundations shrubs. The changes in the above weather parameters are primarily due to anthropogenic climate change that significantly modifies physical and biological systems in all continents. Micro-climatic-driven behavioural plasticity can promote shifts in habitat so behavioural regimes can continue to function despite changes in climate. I propose that changes in weather parameters can alter vertebrate behaviour and hence their interactions with foundation plant species such as shrubs, who’s canopy can act as a shelter protecting vertebrates from direct sunlight and maintain moisture. Particularly, I’m interested in examining to what frequency and extent temperature and solar radiation can influence this interaction through the use temperature and radiation loggers paired with camera trap imagery- a method that allows researcher to obtain wildlife data with relatively little to no human disturbance. Additionally, I’m interested in understanding how shrub-grass interaction and invasion by non-native plant species influences the above dynamics. Sedgwick Reserve is a great grassland location allowing you to not only examine the above parameters, but also explore… TBC.

Opportunities for Alleviating Indigenous Energy Poverty in BC

Indigenous communities, especially those in remote locations, experience much higher rates of energy poverty than the rest of British Columbians. Energy poverty occurs when an individual allocates a disproportionately high percentage of their income towards household energy costs. The negative repercussions of energy poverty are not only economic, but also social, physical and environmental. Activities in the home such as cooking, cleaning, bathing and sleeping are examples of daily tasks that are directly affected by a lack of affordable and accessible energy.
This research project has two components. The first involves an investigation into the extent of on-reserve energy poverty in BC. This will be done through primary research and consultation with Indigenous communities throughout the province. The second component involves hosting an event with Indigenous leaders. TO BE CONT’D

Développement de marqueurs génétiques mycorrhiziens pour améliorer la production et la formulation industrielle

Outre Ie developpement d’outils de quantification, ce projet vise a developper un

inoculant multi-especes capables d’etre plus performant dans certaines conditions de culture

du maIs dans I’Est du Canada. En effet, bien que des inoculants mycorhiziens commerciaux

soient de plus en plus presents sur Ie marche canadien, ils ne sont pas necessairement

adaptes a toutes les conditions rencontrees dans la culture du maIs au Quebec et en

Ontario, particulierement lorsque Ie niveau de Pest eleve dans Ie sol. A niveau de Pest eleve dans Ie sol. A cette fin, une

deuxieme espece du genre Glomus (G-sp) complementaire au Gi-PR presentement

commercialise sera selectionnee. La combinaison de deux especes ayant des proprietes

complementaires quant a leur fonctionnalite permettra d’augmenter la performance des

inoculants sous des conditions de champ particulieres (ex: niveau de P eleve). Une partie

importante du projet visera d’une part a determiner les parametres de production et de

formulation de cette nouvelle espece et a valider ses performances sur Ie……

Do you take this couple as your lawfully wedded residents?

Sham marriages or marriages for immigration purposes have been a common occurrence in many parts of the Global West for some time now. A highly controversial subject, sham marriages has been shunned by the gatekeepers of the western countries. The very core and understanding of what a ‘marriage’ looks differs from culture to culture, in as such, a lot of genuine couple often find themselves in crossfire with the host country’s immigration laws. There is, however, a significant involvement of many Organized Crime Groups who arrange these kind of marriages for papers. Another phenomenon that is spreading to Canada is the sham marriages between two temporary migrants, one potential international student and another, a job seeking individual, especially from Southeast Asia to jump the loops and gain permanent residency status in few years. This research intends to analyze the presence of sham marriages especially as it relates to the international student groups in the European Union countries with a special focus on Germany. This paper will make policy recommendations to help identify Organized Crime Groups that facilitate the many sham marriages that happen in the western world and to identify the sham marriages in the incoming international student crowd.

Polar edge localization in the early-diverging Bryophyte land plants

The process of cell division and polarization is a relatively well-known phenomenon in yeast and animals. The gene expression during development and growth in multicellular organisms is key for the formation of body axis and cell division. If gene expression is altered, the body of the organism of interest can undergo modifications during growth. In plants, the way cell polarity is connected to growth is not well understood, because polarity markers were so far not discovered. The recent identification of the SOSEKI1 (SOK) proteins opens many exciting new avenues for exploring cell polarity and cell division orientation. This project will significantly expand the knowledge on how SOK proteins is responsible for cell polarity during the life cycle of ancestral organisms and the conservation of SOK functions through evolution. Further understanding of SOK genes could help understand even more cell polarization in other multicellular Eukaryotes.