Mobile brain fitness applications such as Vivity Lab’s Fit Brains aims to improve cognitive performance through frequent brain exercise games. This concept is based on previous research that frequent video gaming can produce transferrable cognitive improvement in another related cognitive task in the same domain (i.e. reaction speed while driving). Although the efficacy of mobile brain fitness application had been shown in elderly, more efficacy studies are needed for other populations.

The aim of this project is to improve simultaneous EEG-fMRI techniques through the use of constrained principal component analysis (CPCA). The main problem with combining EEG measures and fMRI measures is that recording EEG in the MR scanner always injects noise into the data. CPCA partitions the variability of the data into systematic and error variance.

Research shows that keeping a gratitude journal can enhance well-being. The Smile Epidemic Inc. is a start-up company that has developed a digital, photographic social media update on the traditional (private, written) gratitude journal. The Smile Epidemic invites people to express in a few words what made them happy or grateful that day, and to take a photo of that message. People can them post the photos in an online community (see www.thesmileepidemic.com) and share via other social media (e.g., facebook).

The goal of the current proposal is to evaluate the effectiveness of a rewards program that incorporates social responsibility into the product/service purchase. Whereas other reward programs provide the reward to the program member, this program instead allots a part of the purchase to the member to later donate to a charity of their choice (that must be connected with the program). This rewards program is a novel approach to creating customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Healthcare professionals treating trauma patients can vicariously experience trauma from long term exposure to suffering, resulting in compassion fatigue. The impact of compassion fatigue on the psychological well-being of healthcare workers is detrimental, decreasing patient care and retention of healthcare providers. In an effort to reduce compassion fatigue, Mount Sinai Hospital has implemented a 4-hour workshop for employees to increase professional’s knowledge of compassion fatigue and improve worker’s skills for dealing with stress in the workplace.

Dr. Potter has recently begun exploring the impact that probiotics (beneficial bacteria found in some food sources such as probiotic yogurt and kefir) have on anxiety and depression. Other researchers have shown that probiotic bacteria exert a significant effect on anxiety and depression-like behaviours in animals. A few studies have extended these findings to humans. Lallemand Health Solutions is an innovative company that produces probiotics for human consumption, and has recently developed a technique to microencapsulate or coat the probiotic bacteria to help them survive stomach acids.

The onset of symptoms in Alzheimer’s Disease, Picks disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and cortical basal degeneration are connected to the formation of insoluble deposits of the tau protein in the brain, also known as neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). The Treventis Corporation has developed new chemicals that are designed to prevent the formation of NFT, which may be useful for treating Alzheimer’s disease.

The onset of symptoms in Alzheimer’s Disease, Picks disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and cortical basal degeneration are connected to the formation of insoluble deposits of the tau protein in the brain, also known as neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). The Treventis Corporation has developed new chemicals that are designed to prevent the formation of NFT, which may be useful for treating Alzheimer’s disease.

The project is a program evaluation of the mobile application OISEAU: Agents of Nature, designed by the non-profit organization Morning Star Enterprises. Morning Star has developed individual OISEAU applications for three Calgary Parks locations and the launch is the summer 2013.The application is designed to increase children’s exposure and connection with nature, as well as improve their content knowledge and physical activity.

Raising the Grade is an innovative after-school program launched this year by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada (BGCC) in 25 clubs across Canada. Through the use of online learning tools, mentorship, and the early promise of a scholarship, the program hopes to engage youth at risk of dropping out of high school and help them graduate from high school and enroll in post-secondary education. The proposed internship is part of a long-term developmental evaluation of Raising the Grade being conducted by the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC).