Innovative Projects Realized

Impact of co-morbid depression on PTSD severity in Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Employees

Workplace trauma has significant adverse effects on the individual and the employers. The majority of people exposed to a traumatic event will recover and not suffer from further difficulties, but 8 – 12% will go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. In this study, two groups of Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) employees will be compared: those with PTSD diagnosis and a group with PTSD and depression diagnosis. The primary outcome of the study is the severity of PTSD symptoms.

Moreover, the structured clinical interviews will explore potential variables and confounders that might be relevant to this study. Overall, this study will help to demonstrate the relationship between PTSD and depression in TTC population.

The TTC will benefit through the disclosure of association between PTSD and depression aimed specifically at their employees. This valuable information will eventually assist in formulating future guidelines for treatment strategy; thereby significantly reducing personal burden and economic cost to employers. Similarly, Sun life assurance will benefit by knowledge translation for long term disability management.

Incorporating the Simulated Earthworm Gut into Site Specific Remedial Objectives

The Simulated Earthworm Gut (SEG) is a new technology that can be used to strengthen the tests used to assess the hazards posed by environmental pollution. However, before the SEG can be used in risk assessment we must demonstrate that it reflects existing techniques. The objective of this project is to compare the results of the SEG with those generated using the currently accepted techniques (e.g., soil invertebrate toxicity tests). After demonstrating that the SEG is an effective tool for risk assessment, we hope to create mechanisms by which the SEG results can be incorporated into the risk assessment process. Incorporating the SEG into brownfield restoration will substantially reduce the cost and time required to remediate brownfields. Consequentially, if approved by regulatory agencies, the SEG will aid Stantec in expediting the assessment of the extent and risk associated with a contaminated sites for the development of remediation plans.

Mobile Image Recognition Improvements Part 2

The intern is to improve the image recognition software of Semacode Corporation that is intended to automatically detect barcodes in images taken using the camera of a mobile phone, such as the iPhone or Blackberry. The improvements will include: : (1) improve the speed of the “λ-Enhancement” contrast algorithm, (2) solve rotational and skew invariance in 1D barcodes, (3) implement colour thresholding for more accurate scans, (4) complete the iteration of curved 2D barcodes, (5) improve the accuracy of 2D barcodes with a large number of modules, (6) finish optimizing the image recognition algorithm on the iPhone platform, (7) add new support for three other 2D barcode types. The intern will use mathematical techniques to accomplish this goal, applying his knowledge and experience gained in his studies. The partner organization will benefit because it will be able to offer new services oriented towards 1D barcodes, and improve its performance in competition with other companies outside of the country. In addition the company will gain valuable benefits from working with academic partners.

White-box computing security patterns and software security modeling

In black-box security, the software is assumed to run in a trusted environment. In the context of white-box attacks, the environment is assumed to be distrusted and the users of the software, which are installed in a device, have unlimited time and resources to break into the software and has access to binary code being run on the memory of the device. The main objectives of the research project are to extract the white-box security patterns developed in Cloakware organization and initiate developing possible models of white-box security based on these patterns, and relate them with each other. The extracted patterns would provide a knowledge base within the Cloakware organization for various teams such as marketing, design, and implementation. Moreover, the visually modeled patterns can be used as a means of communication with the customers. The models potentially facilitate training and introduction to the Cloakware’s solutions and services as well.

Experimental and Numerical Simulation of Sidewall Curl in Stamped Automotive Parts made from Advanced High Strength Steel

The objective of this research project is to carry out experimental and numerical simulations of the deep drawing process with a view to (1) better predicting the amount of springback in automotive parts made from advanced high strength steel, and (2) to modify the forming process so as to better control and reduce the springback. To this end, U-shaped channel sections will be formed in a research die, and numerical simulations of these experiments will be performed with state-of-the-art material models. A range of process changes will then be virtually implemented to identify process parameters that minimize the amount of springback.  This will enable the partner organization to reduce the time required to design draw dies as well as improve the quality of the parts they manufacture.

An overview of the Statistical Methods used in Passive Pharmacovigilance

After pharmaceutical products are released into the market, a number of statistical methods are used to monitor the adverse effects of these drugs. If a large enough number of incidences are reported to regulatory bodies, appropriate measures are taken. This research project is dealing with the statistical methods used to decide on how many reports is required before a possible adverse event is observed. There are a number of these methods currently being used and the end result of this project will be the creation of a comprehensive review of the methods as well as a software package that implements the algorithms. This will prove to be beneficial to Risk Sciences International (RSI) as this software allows the delivery of value-added professional services (formal analysis of drug safety) to government and commercial clients.

Mobile Payment and Electronic Wayfinding for Downtown Vancouver

The purpose of this project is to determine the extent to which a cooperative interest exists between the owners and operators of transportation and parking services in Downtown Vancouver to coordinate mobile payment and electronic wayfinding technologies. The researcher will interview service providers with a mind towards identifying advantages and disadvantages from the service provider’s point of view. The research project will also look at worldwide best practices with respect to mobile payment and electronic wayfinding technologies and, where possible, interview key informants in other cities. The Vancouver experience will mainly be contextualized through a literature review that looks at recent innovations and case studies. Access to Downtown Vancouver can be made more seamless, convenient and user friendly through optimizing how mobile payment and electronic wayfinding technologies are used, thus assisting the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association in achieving a vibrant, healthy, diverse and business friendly downtown core.

Term Extraction for Micro-domain Ontology in Personalized Search

To improve the search quality of a search engine so that it can better understand and return the information to meet user’s needs, a “micro-domain ontology” based personalized search strategy will be studied in this project. This ontology aims to model the user’s context into such a hierarchical structure so that with whose help the user’s intent can be disambiguated and the domain of interest can be identified. Based on the fact that terms are the basic building blocks for this ontology, we are particularly interested in term extraction in this context, especially by applying NLP techniques and a machine learning method that will leverage the minimal or zero prior knowledge. A micro-domain ontology is one of the core components in the target product for the partner organization. Our work will provide a POC (proof of concept) for the target product from this perspective.

Clayoquot Sound Scientific Panel Review

In response to protests against logging of old growth forests in Clayoquot Sound, Vancouver Island, the government of British Columbia appointed a Scientific Panel to develop guidelines for sustainable forest management and logging. On July 6, 1995 the Government of British Columbia accepted the report of the Clayoquot Sound Scientific Panel (CSSP) and committed to working with companies, workers, and First Nations to ensure that the CSSP's recommendations were implemented in their entirety. The proposed research project is a review of the Panel's recommendations. The researcher will produce a report that will inform the review process and update local resource managers and stakeholders on ecosystem-based management in other parts of BC as well as other contemporary issues to be considered. The partner will benefit from the researcher's knowledge and inputs on the latest resource management practices being implemented elsewhere in BC. The researcher will write a background review report as well as help in the preparation and organization of a conference to review the recommendations of the CSSP.

Scoop marketing strategy plan

Scoop is an innovative web and mobile application for business professionals, who have to spend significant amount of their working time outside the office. This application allows the teams to communicate faster, easier and more efficiently by providing the opportunity to explain the very small details of the project applying natural interpersonal communication habits characterized by voice, physical gestures and visual description of the given subject matter. SCOOP is a unique product, but the market is very competitive. Focused on the significantly small target group, different tools of marketing and promotion will be used and the effect will be evaluated in order to identify the most efficient combination of methods to reach the defined target audience. As a result of the internship Trusterra will be able to get long-term learning and conclusions about the target audience, their needs, preferences and requirements, as well as the reactions and responsiveness (buying behavior) depending on the marketing tools that were applied. It should help to kick of the first sales of the product and create a database of the customers.

Development of a novel vibrator for emergency clearance of acute coronary thrombosis in treatment of heart attack

The proposed project is aimed at accelerating the pre-competitive development of a Diastolic Timed Vibrator (DTV) to be used as a medical emergency system to assist clearance of acute coronary thrombosis such as exhibited in a “heart attack” (an acute blockage of a coronary artery, usually by a blood clot). The DTV will impose mechanical vibrations to the chest of the patient in order to disrupt the clot and improve coronary blood flow. ABS inc. has agreed to provide SFU non-binding third party funding via the MITACS Accelerate program towards the development of a DTV model, which would incorporate multiple proprietary features in assistance of ABS Inc’s business objectives.

Commercialization of Optemo Shopping Platform

This project will primarily involve the commercialization and business development strategies of Optemo’s shopping platform. While Optemo experienced positive results from its trial run with Best Buy Canada, it needs to acquire the ideal customers in order to generate momentum and awareness of the product and its benefits. It will be important to identify the appropriate target customers and strategies for their acquisition. In addition, marketing research will be performed in order to understand and implement proper marketing objectives. Optemo will benefit by working closely alongside the MBA intern throughout the four months. Optemo will have a clearer picture of how to move forward with their proven business concept.