Projets novateurs réalisés

Validation of novel neurofeedback training engine for improving brain health in aging and neurodevelopmental disorders

Memory impairment is the most common cognitive complaint among older adults. On the other side of the developmental spectrum, young adults that have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have difficulty adapting flexibly to changing social circumstances. These memory and social deficits disrupt every day living. At present, promising interventions based on research using expensive and specialized equipment are reserved for clinical settings. For example, there is extensive evidence that neurofeedback, an established technique for self-regulating brain waves, can have long-lasting effects on brain function. Technological advancement has now made it possible to administer neurofeedback using portable technology that can be purchased at a reasonable cost (approximately $300) and used in the home. xSensa Labs, the partner organization, has developed a digital solution that translates research protocols for neurofeedback into portable technology for improving mental health. TO BE CONT’D

Analysis of protein interaction complexes by advanced mass spectrometry workflows – Year Two

By studying protein complexes, scientists gain insight into how cells are regulated and how aberrations in protein-protein interactions cause disease. Mass spectrometry is a technology that allows proteins to be identified and quantified in a systematic and unbiased manner. New technologies from mass spectrometer vendor SCIEX aim to improve the throughput, accuracy and reproducibility of the analysis of protein complexes. Successful completion of this project will provide SCIEX with validated data on the utility of these technologies to applications of considerable interest to scientists in the proteomics field. This feedback will be incorporated with other data from internal or external sources to help SCIEX make an informed decision on how best to market these technology improvements and to also guide potential new redesigns of mass spectrometry hardware.

Optimization of Long Term Quantitative Market Predictions

Financial markets today are monitored and controlled by machine learning algorithms. The primary objective of this project is to further develop the algorithm for financial market analysis and prediction that the partner possesses at the moment. The algorithm currently demonstrates high accuracy, subject to certain constraints, among which: a small time interval between a prediction and the actual event and not highly efficient computation of indicators. In addition, the current algorithm is missing any form of analysis of the dynamics of distances to training clusters. These drawbacks are proposed to be eliminated. Additional set of market events will trigger computation of prediction to increase the time span between a prediction and the predicted event. Some of the computation will be done in parallel, potentially using a GPU, since the current model can be easily parallelized. To estimate the relationship between the distances to the training clusters and its dynamics, …

Optimization of the immune response against transferrin receptor based vaccines

The bacterial transferrin receptor is considered to be a potentially efficacious candidate vaccine antigen against pathogens important in human disease and in animal husbandry. Previous data suggests that transferrin receptor-based antigens can elicit protection from both invasive disease and potentially from asymptomatic colonization. One major consideration when developing vaccines is the choice of adjuvant, a component able to influence the intensity, quality and breadth of the immune response. In order to evaluate potential adjuvants, panels of adjuvants representing diverse immunological effects will be chosen and evaluated in established mouse models reflecting respiratory and genital mucosal infection and invasive disease. Additionally, we will work to establish mouse models of agriculturally important animal pathogens using novel transgenic mouse lines that expresses either porcine or bovine transferrin, enabling the more economical and higher throughput evaluation of potential antigens through the use of a smaller animal model. TO BE CONT’D

Analysis of protein interaction complexes by advanced mass spectrometry workflows

The analysis of protein-protein interactions is critical for understanding cell growth control, and how aberrant connections contribute
to cancer and other diseases. Mass spectrometry is a critical tool in this field, but sample complexity, instrument dynamic range and
resolution limit some applications. This project will evaluate the use of the SelexION ion mobility device and High Resolution TOF
with Zeno pulsing for enhanced separation and detection of cross-linked peptides from protein complexes and to detect posttranslational
modifications of proteins, specifically phosphorylation. Ion mobility should separate phosphorylated peptides from one
another in a manner orthogonal to HPLC separation and increase sensitivity resulting in more comprehensive site analysis. Finally, a
critical component to understanding protein-protein interactions is the cellular response to drugs and/or mutations. For this,
quantitation is required, and we propose to investigate the use of a series of novel mass-defect reagents to allow for multiplexed DIA
quantitation of protein-protein interaction samples. By accessing High Resolution TOF with Zeno pulsing, the mass defect labels will
allow multiple samples to be analyzed at once, with quantitation resolved by mass measurement. This project will showcase new
instrumentation capabilities and provide feedback for instrument design and marketing material.

Examining Post-Implementation Pass Rates of Canadian Wildland Fire Fighters on their Physical Employment Standard.

Wildland fire fighting is a physically demanding public safety occupation. Front-line wildland fire fighters (WFF) must have an appropriate level of job-related fitness for safe and efficient work performance. Beginning in 2011, it was required that all WFF must demonstrate that they are capable of meeting the rigorous physical demands encountered during an initial attack response to a wildland fire. This decision led to the development of the Canadian Physical Performance Exchange Standard for WFF (WFX-FIT).

The Health and Fitness Federation of Canada (HFFC) is positioned to play a key role in this initiative by enabling the generation of resource materials for fitness professionals who prepare candidates for passing the WFX-FIT. An increase in the number of Certified Exercise Professionals who are able to provide customized training for WFX-FIT performance would be a definite economic benefit to the HFFC in recruiting and retaining members, to fitness professionals in enhancing their capabilities and to job-seeking WFF applicants.

This proposed project has two major objectives; (i) the synthesis and analysis of WFX-FIT pass/fail and injury rates over the years 2011-2016 and (ii) to evaluate age, sex, body mass index and provincial differences in pass/fail plus injury rates.

Zero-Emission Public Transit Fleet Systems – Year two

Electrification of transit vehicles is a part of Ontario’s long-term strategy to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, transit agencies and utility/local distribution companies face significant technological and operational hurdles in integrating “off the shelf” electric bus technologies. The postdoctoral fellow collaborating with Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium will work with transit agencies and utilities to overcome the technical challenges associated with a lack of international standardization for overhead charging systems. Also, given the absence of neutral demonstration and trial data regarding vehicle and charging station performance in real world conditions, this project will provide a cost comparative model for the lifecycle degradation of both electric and diesel buses. TO BE CONT’D

Zero-Emission Public Transit Fleet Systems

Electrification of transit vehicles is a part of Ontario’s long-term strategy to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, transit agencies and utility/local distribution companies face significant technological and operational hurdles in integrating “off the shelf” electric bus technologies. The postdoctoral fellow collaborating with Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium will work with transit agencies and utilities to overcome the technical challenges associated with a lack of international standardization for overhead charging systems. Also, given the absence of neutral demonstration and trial data regarding vehicle and charging station performance in real world conditions, this project will provide a cost comparative model for the lifecycle degradation of both electric and diesel buses. TO BE CONT’D

Regulating Abnormal Connectivity in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder via Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback – Year two

Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are characterized by decreased prefrontal cortex (PFC) regulation on hyperactive emotion generation regions, such as the amygdala. Real-time (rt)-fMRI neurofeedback allows for localized brain regions to be self-regulated through neuroimaging signal feedback. Recently within our lab, learning to decrease amygdala activation via neurofeedback was shown to normalize the neural circuitry maintaining PTSD, which was negatively correlated to symptoms. However, an intervention has not yet been developed to strengthen connectivity between emotion regulation regions (PFC) and emotion generation regions (amygdala), where an urgent need for novel treatment interventions exists particularly among military members and first responders. The objective of the current proposal is to determine if an increase in the strength of connectivity between the PFC and amygdala can be achieved via rt-fMRI neurofeedback. TO BE CONT’D

Process optimization for extraction of compounds from natural sources – Year Two

Various methods have been developed to extract compounds from fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Subcritical and supercritical extractions are the most promising techniques with high output qualities and high cost efficiencies. Running the systems at different pressures and temperatures, the essential bi-product can be extracted from the natural compounds matrix. In addition to their effectiveness, the subcritical and supercritical extraction systems are environmentally friendly processes. The proposed project focuses on optimizing the essential bi-products extraction from natural compounds matrices. This can be achieved through the use of the appropriate pressures, temperatures, and solvent flow rates. During these processes, the solvent will propagate through the natural compound matrix and extract essential bi-products with maximum yields and least energy consumption. The extracts will be used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Development of an Agent-Based Market Simulator

Financial markets today are monitored and controlled by artificial intelligent algorithms. Developing these artificial intelligent algorithms requires a large amount of testing against complex patterns and phenomena observed in stock market. The main objective of the proposed project is the development of a market simulator. This is highly challenging and yet promising direction that will allow the partner to test some of its algorithms locally before running them in the live market. The market simulator is proposed to have an exchange engine and computerized agents that will be interacting just like participants in the real market. Rationale of the agents can be derived by observing real market entities and algorithmically extracting valid elements of their behavior. By adjusting certain parameters of the agents, one can create very specific conditions or scenarios to optimize the performance of the algorithms.

Regulating Abnormal Connectivity in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder via Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback

Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are characterized by decreased prefrontal cortex (PFC) regulation on hyperactive emotion generation regions, such as the amygdala. Real-time (rt)-fMRI neurofeedback allows for localized brain regions to be self-regulated through neuroimaging signal feedback. Recently within our lab, learning to decrease amygdala activation via neurofeedback was shown to normalize the neural circuitry maintaining PTSD, which was negatively correlated to symptoms. However, an intervention has not yet been developed to strengthen connectivity between emotion regulation regions (PFC) and emotion generation regions (amygdala), where an urgent need for novel treatment interventions exists particularly among military members and first responders. The objective of the current proposal is to determine if an increase in the strength of connectivity between the PFC and amygdala can be achieved via rt-fMRI neurofeedback. TO BE CONT’T