Innovative Projects Realized

Exploring home range and habitat use during the breeding season of the Bicknell’s thrush (Catharus bicknelli) in New Brunswick Clear-cuts

The Bicknell’s thrush (Cathurs bicknelli) is a rare songbird with the most restrictive breeding range in North America. The Bicknell’s thrush spends its summer months breeding in high elevation, stunted growth forests – a habitat that the species specializes in. In New Brunswick, there has been a documented population decline of 11.5% per year since 2001. After having identified specific geographic areas where Bicknell’s thrush present, this project proposes using radio-tracking to describe individual’s breeding home ranges and extrapolate population size and densities. Contributing to the research knowledge of the Bicknell’s thrush, a federal species at risk, supports Bird Studies Canada’s mandate in using sound research to advise conservation authorities and managers.

User-Side Analyses of the Effect of Laser Data Uncertainties onMapping Applications

Manufacturers’ specifications for laser data acquisition have been used since

the inception of the technology over a decade ago [Habib et. al., 2008; Ussyshkin et. al, 2006].

However, unbiased geostatistical analysis would be valuable in determining – in a pre-analysis stage –

whether or not user-demanded specifications for project-specific mapping applications can be met or

exceeded by the manufacturer’s standards. The partnering organization’s knowledge of false

accuracies, if any, can assess the uncertainty of marrying airborne laser data budgets with the total

uncertainty propagation model [Hare, 2001] – used for hydrographic data error budgeting – in CARIS

HIPS as of now. Ultimately, CARIS seeks to integrate these two error sources and provide a total

uncertainty budget model suitable for both terrain and hydrographic objects.

Finally, assessing the accuracy of LiDAR measurements within a controlled test field will determine

whether or not the actual uncertainties lie within predicted tolerances.

Electrical characterization of graphene-based composites

Blending carbonaceous materials with thermoplastic materials can lead to a significant improvement of the resulting electrical, mechanical, thermal, and gas barrier properties compared with the unfilled polymer. Graphene, the name given to a material consisting of two-dimension layers of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, has extraordinary properties which make possible to produce a new class of polymer nanocomposites with significantly improved properties. The objective of this project is to characterize the properties of nanocomposites obtained at by incorporating NanoXplore’s various grades of graphene into different thermoplastic matrixes and to find the suitable graphene concentration range for each thermoplastic for numbers of industrial applications.

Puissance Dys : projet-pilote préventif pré-scolaire utilisant des interventions éducatives intermodalitaires

Le présent projet de recherche au service de l’organisme Dysphasie-Estrie vise à encadrer la mise-en-place d’un tout nouveau projet-pilote pré-scolaire s’adressant aux familles de l’Estrie. L’Académie Puissance Dys est un service spécialisé en langage et apprentissage afin que les enfants développent le nécessaire pour réduire leurs écarts de développement et puissent assurer une transition réussie vers le milieu scolaire. Notre recherche est supervisée par des chercheurs de l’Université de Sherbrooke et est en relation avec notre thèse de doctorat en éducation. La première année du projet permettra d’évaluer les effets sur le développement des fonctions neuropsychologiques et langagières chez les enfants, tout comme établir les meilleures pratiques enseignantes pour développer les compétences nécessaires au pré-scolaire. Les parents seront impliqués tout au long de la recherche, entre autres, en donnant leur point de vue sur l’évolution de leur enfant et des pratiques enseignantes.

An Integrated model of Geomechanics and a Multiporosity Reservoir Simulator to Investigate Improved Recovery Techniques in Shale Reservoirs

Shale reservoirs have become a very important source of hydrocarbons, especially in North America. Shales are rocks with very low permeability and therefore, produce the hydrocarbons stored in them is difficult. In order to do it, oil companies have to inject high pressurized fluids to break the rock. But, by using this unique strategy, most hydrocarbons are being left in the subsurface. This work aims to use mathematical and numerical models to investigate different methods that can lead to recover a bigger portion of the hydrocarbons stored in shale reservoirs. The study will be focused on fields operated by Nexen Energy, but the methodology can be applied to other fields in Canada.

On a characterization of thin-film silicon

The conventional form of hydrogenated amorphous silicon, prepared through plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, has proven itself to be a useful material for a wide range of device applications. It has been shown that the hydrogen atoms that reside within hydrogenated amorphous silicon are responsible for its favorable electronic properties, these hydrogen atoms passivating the dangling bonds that are present within this material. Unfortunately, these hydrogen atoms are also believed to be responsible for a reversible instability, known as the Staebler-Wronski effect, which occurs within this material upon exposure to light. Given that the concentration of hydrogen atoms within device-quality hydrogenated amorphous silicon is about 50 times greater than the concentration of dangling bonds, one can conclude that there is a great excess of hydrogen atoms within hydrogenated amorphous silicon. TO BE CONT’D

Reconstruction de la microstructure de l’acier inoxydable martensitique S41500

Ce projet de recherche est axé sur le développement d’outils numériques permettant de simuler l’endommagement de la microstructure des aciers utilisés chez Hydro-Québec. Cette démarche permettra de mettre évidence les différents mécanismes qui favorisent l’apparition des fissures dans une structure soumise à différents types de chargement. Cependant, pour être en mesure de prédire de tels phénomènes, il est nécessaire de posséder un modèle numérique le plus représentatif possible de la microstructure réelle de l’alliage. Ce modèle numérique sera utilisé pour mener des simulations par ordinateur. Dans ces simulations, les chargements mécaniques rencontrés lors de la mise en service des pièces/structures seront reproduits pour être en mesure d’étudier le comportement mécanique du matériau lors d’une sollicitation mécanique réelle.

Les familles d’emploi au service de la gestion de relève : Approche empirique basée sur 40 années de recherche appliquée

L’utilisation de tests psychométriques pour la gestion de la relève en entreprise est de plus en plus valorisée. SuccessFinder détient le test psychométrique du même nom qui comprend 85 traits comportements et 35 intérêts de carrière. Le test permet de capter le profil unique de chaque personne en milieu de travail. Au fil des années, SuccessFinder a accumulé d’innombrables données sur les caractéristiques reliées au succès pour différents postes. Ce projet de recherche vise à offrir une nouvelle solution pour la gestion de la relève en rassemblant ces données en catégories plus larges de familles d’emploi. Ce processus permettra aux entreprises d’avoir un portrait global des talents potentiels par catégorie, facilitant ainsi la suite du processus de gestion de relève. Le projet de recherche servira plus précisément à valider scientifiquement cette nouvelle solution.

Physical Activity Opportunities in Saint John, New Brunswick: A Neighbourhood Assessment by Income

Physical activity can help people prevent and manage diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Currently, many Canadians are not sufficiently active, citing lack of time, money, knowledge, and access to physical activity programs as barriers. This compilation of physical activity programs in Saint John, New Brunswick, will gather details of the types of physical activity programs available and will map them by average income in local neighbourhoods to determine if access is equal for all. Programs will be compiled into a physical activity “where-to” guide for physicians to facilitate exercise prescriptions that can be tailored to individual needs. A second report will examine program availability relative to neighbourhood income. The results will be useful to physicians, citizens, city planners and recreation professionals, and The Heart and Stroke Foundation as it promotes physical activity and health promotion, and will provide a template for other communities to conduct similar scans.

Understanding the structure and outcomes of two écoquartiers in Paris: does good governance bring good results?

The student will conduct research as part of the FCRF project Ecourban Neighbourhood Outcomes in France and Canada: Toward greater validity in comparative international urban research. Based in Paris at Université Paris I (La Sorbonne), the student will interact with and collect data from government representatives at the City of Paris and the relevant federal ministries in order to build an understanding of what constitutes good governance in the écoquartiers program. She will also conduct case study research into two Paris écoquartiers, including design studies, collection of data on planning process and public participation of tenants and residents, and interviews with residents and visitors, in order to contribute to the FCRF team’s efforts to understand what constitutes success “on the ground” in écoquartier as well as Canadian model sustainable neighbourhood initiatives. She will additionally assist with research data management and planning a research workshop in Paris.

Measuring the forces involved in cancer cells migration in vitro

What makes cancer so lethal is the ability of tumor cells to migrate from one organ to another through the blood circulation. Typically, cancer cells first detach from primary tumors, and then enter the blood vessels to be carried over long distances. At the target site, the tumor cells attack the blood vessel walls cover by endothelial cells to create a gap through which they can escape into the surrounding tissues and organs. My research deals with the last phase of this process, the so-called trans-endothelial migration (TEM). The novelty of my approach is to explore the connection and coupling between biochemical signaling and mechanical forces that determine cell deformation and movement. For this purpose, I will combine experimental measurements with computer simulations to elucidate the factors that enable the success of TEM, and to seek strategies to disrupt it.

Exploring a Sca!able Rule Based Architecture in Semantic Matching

The on-line dating industry currently has over 1400 different sites, including known sites such

as eHarmony, Match.com and LavaLife, however, research indicates a general

dissatisfaction in the quality of relationship matches generated by these sites. The research

proposal will investigate the use of rule based semantic technologies in providing accurate

and higher quality matching service. The commercial partner, Atwood Technology Inc., is

expecting to leverage this technology to gain a competitive edge over the existing

competition.