Innovative Projects Realized

Développement d’un nouveau procédé d’amélioration de la stabilité dimensionnelledu bardage en bois massif pour usage extérieur

Le bois est un matériau issu de source renouvelable. Son utilisation présente de nombreux avantages et bénéfices pour les consommateurs, pour l’économie locale et pour l’environnement. Importante source de stockage de carbone biogénique, il est une ressource dont le Canada dispose. Le bardage extérieur en bois massif, est encore très peu utilisé dans le non résidentiel à cause des critères de performance requis sont plus élevés que ceux acceptables dans le résidentiel (stabilité dimensionnelle, durabilité, fréquence d’entretien). Les procédés de modification actuellement disponibles sont soit trop coûteux, soit moins performant dans le temps ou moins adaptés aux produits du bardage.
Le développement d’une modification à coeur du bois de bardage, permettra une amélioration de sa stabilité dimensionnelle au de la de 75% et de sa durabilité. TO BE CONT’D

Expression of muscarinic receptors in neurogenic detrusor overactive (NDO) bladders of spinal cord transected (SCT) rats after preventive treatment with anticholinergic me

Following the study of spinal cord transected (SCT) rat models being treated by fesoterodine fumarate (antimuscarinic drug) to prevent neurogenic detrusor overactivity, bladders of all 30 animals were conserved. It was observed that an early fesoterodine fumarate administration at the time of transection modulates bladder overactivity. However, the exact mechanism of action is not known and should be investigated further focusing on detrusor muscarinic receptor modifications in order to support clinical trials with humans. Investigation will include a morphological characterization of all bladders; analyzing the presence of any hypertrophy or fibrosis of normal and SCT rats. Moreover, the expression of receptors will be analyzed based on their distribution and prevalence and will be compared between two different groups of rat models to help understand and detect the mechanism of detrusor activity. TO BE CONT’D

Graphene-copper coatings for enhancing dropwise condensation

During this project, with the cooperation of Concordia University which has extensive knowledge in surface coatings and NanoXplore which produces Graphene, the intern will try to apply the graphene coatings on copper substrate in order to improve heat exchange in various applications. Graphene is a type of carbon material with outstanding properties. This novel material has many potential applications that can be beneficial to various industries who seek to improve the surface properties using scalable coatings. This project will support the market expansion and adaptability of NanoXplore’s graphene products to multi-functional composite coatings specially, conductive light materials for instant commercialization.

Échafauder l’enquête historique à travers la fabrication physico-numérique

La fabrication numérique d’une ville historique
Ce projet de fabrication numérique d’une ville historique est une déclinaison du projet de fabrication de ville intelligente #SmartCityMaker (Romero & Lille, 2017 ; Romero, Lille, Girard, Cohen, & Spence, 2017). Il vise aider les élèves à étudier
rigoureusement le passé dans une séquence d’apprentissage technocréative. Dans ce projet, les élèves sont appelés à créer de façon collaborative une société historique afin de répondre à une question historique en utilisant Minecraft, un jeu vidéo de construction de type « bac à sable », et l’impression 3D. Dans ce projet, la construction de la ville est considérée comme une situation-problème et une forme d’expression afin de répondre à la question historique. TO BE CONT’D

Development and characterization of nano-emulsification and liposomal platforms (NEP and LIP) for hemp oil nanoencapsulation and transmucosal delivery

A novel technology for delivery of biologically active compounds found in hemp oil is being developed. This novel technology significantly reduces the health risks associated with traditional administration of Cannabis products (e.g., smoking and THC-related intoxication) The proposed project, in collaboration with a federally-licensed facility for cannabinoid analysis, Abattis Bioceuticals, engages into the development of two different platforms for encapsulation of hemp oil using nanoemulsion and nanolipid carrier technologies. Two interns will be trained on different technologies related to the encapsulation of hemp oil and evaluation of in-vitro bioavailability. By the end of this project, an optimized delivery platform will be available for further in-vivo testing and clinical trials for oral delivery of CBD and other cannabinoids and terpenes. Abattis Bioceuticals expects to employ the developed technology for exploring new avenues for the safe and efficient manufacture of commercial and medical applications.

Georeferencing oblique imagery for vegetation analysis

To responsibly manage forest resources in southwestern Alberta, it is important to understand the disturbance regimes they have experienced in the past, are experiencing now, and are likely to experience in the future. The Mountain Legacy Project has several thousand repeat photographs which show areas of the mountains and foothills of the Rockies a century ago and today. This project will develop methods to georectify those photographs (i.e. flatten the pictures onto a map) in order to analyze them in a spatially relevant way. Then it will be possible for the Foothills Research Institute to study the vegetation patterns in their area of interest using the photos. The interns will benefit by developing technical skills and networking beyond academia. The partner organization will benefit by having better tools to analyze a relatively untapped data set, which will help with evidence-based decision making regarding the management of the forests of southwestern Alberta.

La concertation en faveur de la petite enfance : expériences municipales inspirantes et pistes d’action

Au sein des collectivités, la concertation entre acteurs locaux (municipalité, milieu scolaire, de la santé, associatif, etc.) constitue souvent une condition pour la réalisation d’actions effectives en faveur de groupes sociaux comme les enfants. Cette concertation peut se décliner de plusieurs manières (collaboration, partenariat, etc.) et faire face à différents obstacles et opportunités. Menée en partenariat avec le Carrefour action municipale et famille (CAMF), cette recherche vise à relever et à analyser des pratiques québécoises inspirantes en matière de concertation entre différents acteurs locaux en faveur des enfants âgés de 0 à 4 ans et de leurs familles. Sur la base de l’analyse de ces pratiques inspirantes, un guide pratique à l’intention des milieux locaux québécoi

Vers le remplacement des antibiotiques facteurs de croissance chez le poulet : approche par méta-analyse

Les antibiotiques facteurs de croissance ajoutés dans les aliments pour animaux seront interdits ou leur utilisation sera considérablement restreinte dans le futur. Ainsi, plutôt que de seulement contrôler les maladies entériques, des efforts doivent être faits pour améliorer la santé de l’écosystème intestinal. Il existe de nombreuses alternatives telles les immunostimulants, les bactériophages, les peptides antimicrobiens, les pro- et les pré- biotiques, les huiles essentielles, les extraits de plantes et les enzymes qui moduleraient l’écosystème intestinal. Le mode d’action de ces produits n’est pas bien connu et leurs impacts sur la croissance et la prévention des maladies digestives restent essentiellement variables malgré le grand nombre de publications sur les alternatives aux antibiotiques chez les poulets de chair. La méta-analyse a été choisie comme outil pour résumer et quantifier les connaissances acquises notamment les effets des antibiotiques et des alternatives. Les stratégies les plus pertinentes seront ainsi identifiées et éventuellement testées.

Study and Development of Energy-efficient Collaborative AI Technologies in Greenhouse Nursery Robotic Systems

The proposed project aims to address several challenges that the nursery robots made by AIS Inc. is grappling with. The project tasks are divided into two subprojects: 1) optimizing the electrical and control systems for the AIS robots, and 2) designing a multi-agent system to allow collaboration among the robots. The first subproject consists of estimating the state of charge of the robot’s battery, and designing and building appropriate self-tuning PID controller for the motor drives installed in robots. It will also modify and optimize the electrical boards which are currently used for supplying the electrical components towards an improved customer replacement unit for user’s convenience. The second subproject aims to design and implement a multi-agent artificial intelligence system in which robots can distribute their tasks among each other. It will decrease the task accomplishment time and energy consumption. TO BE CONT’D

Nonlinear mechanical (multiaxial) fatigue of polymers

Failure of a material under a repetitive load is called (mechanical) fatigue. Our goal is to substantially improve the understanding of the fatigue process by following continuously the material’s properties/response to a specific type of load during a test. We have developed some understanding for tests in torsion, allowing us to detect macroscopic cracks instantaneously from the materials response, with no need of external devices like a video recording or to predict the lifetime of a sample during the tests from its properties. The goal of our project is to show that our theories still work under more complex but more realistic conditions. For example in biaxial fatigue; i.e. when the sample is deformed in two ways at the same time, mainly by a combination of torsion and elongation. TO BE CONT’D

Impacts of once-through cooling on the aquatic environment

Many thermal power plants, including Bruce Power, rely on once-through cooling using water from the Great Lakes. The warmer water that is released back into the lake has the potential to impact temperature sensitive aquatic species that occupy the near shore water close to the discharges. The proposed research will investigate the genetic population structure of three fish species surrounding Bruce Power (lake whitefish, round whitefish, yellow perch), and study the impacts of varying water temperature on embryonic development and post-hatch fitness. This research will benefit the partner organization by furthering their understanding of the aquatic ecosystem surrounding Bruce Power and ensuring that current operations are not having a significant impact on fish survival and development.

Sediment Removal Frequency Optimization for Wet-Detention Stormwater Management Ponds

Sediment build-up in stormwater management ponds decreases their overall capacity to hold

water and reduces their efficiency, in terms of controlling pollution. For this reason, and in

order to comply with government regulations, municipalities must remove the sediment

periodically. Determining when maintenance is required is difficult because it depends on a

number of factors, and the actual cost of sediment removal from a wet pond is difficult to

predict. The results obtained from this internship will directly benefit the Town of Richmond

Hill in determining the schedule of maintenance activities for their wet ponds, potentially

providing cost-savings to the municipality. The Sernas Group will benefit from the developed

sediment loading model, which they will be able to utilize in future similar projects in Ontario.