Innovative Projects Realized

Mangez frais/Eat Fresh

La Commission des services régionaux Nord-Ouest (CSRNO) va implanter un programme Mangez frais/ Eat Fresh dans la grande région de Grand-Sault jusqu’à la grande région d’Edmundston et les environs.

Ce programme consistera a offrir des sacs de des fruits et légumes frais peu dispendieux.

Ultrasound shear wave elastography for knee collateral ligaments and intervertebral discs

The goal of this project is to help understand how patient descriptions of joint pain and disability relate to the mechanical properties of joint tissues to better design solutions for patients. This project will focus on developing ultrasound methods to quantitatively measure the biomechanical properities and function of human joint soft-tissue. The project will start by applying existing working algorithms that use ultrasound shear wave elastography to measure strain and mechanical properties, with a focus on collateral ligaments in the knee. During the project, the research will broaden to include a novel application of the method for intervertebral discs. This will introduce the use of the technology in the spine in Canada, and further characterize it’s use in the knee, improving the research capabilities of both groups in Canada and the UK. Longer term goals from this work are centered around the health and economic benefits of decreased joint pain.

Identification des déterminants de l’évolution d’une culture en SST au sein d’une organisation

Soucieuse d’améliorer ses résultats en SST, Sobeys Québec envisage d’instaurer une véritable culture de sécurité dans son organisation, afin d’atteindre des résultats à la fois probants et durables. À cet effet, les divisions Entrepôts et Logistique de Sobeys ont organisé, le 19 octobre 2013, une journée de réflexion pour les membres de la direction du groupe et des sites. Lors de cette journée, de nombreuses idées et suggestions ont été émises, et le tout a été pris en note. Par contre, le plan de match global et les pistes de mise en oeuvre ne sont pas clairs pour autant. Selon la littérature scientifique, cet état de fait se retrouve couramment en entreprise.Le présent projet vise donc à faire un diagnostic de la culture SST, à proposer des pistes d’amélioration de la culture, à accompagner leur mise en oeuvre et à en mesurer les effets.

Implementation and Best Practices of Community Outreach Strategies

Barriers to ensuring robust community participation, culturally appropriate outreach and relationship development, and a holistic, sensitive, and suitable path forward appear when the organisation moves forward with its mission. The goal of this project is to build on previous work completed by a prior intern and help further develop strategies for engagement in the North.

Iron Fox Games – BSI

Iron Fox Games (IFG) is presently a 23-person work-for-hire studio built on decades of experience making mobile games with the world’s biggest brands (The Simpsons, Marvel, Disney, Hasbro, and Star Wars). IFG is also quietly building up it’s own IP (code named Project PETS) for eventual release, either independently or with the help of a publisher in the mobile gaming space. The Iron Fox Kit powering this original IP is a tech stack with original invention to serve IFG’s needs during development and operation of the title as well as business opportunities on future mobile development. Project PETS is an original IP created and owned by Iron Fox Games. Today the title is in pre-production with the aim to have a first-playable build ready before the end of 2022. Publishing discussions are expected to start in Q2 2023.

Real-time visual feedback in swimming – FORM Swim Goggles (1)

Form Athletica Inc.’s augmented reality swim goggles (FORM goggles) are on the leading frontier of
augmented reality sport technology. With their see-through display and ability to track and display
numerous swimming performance metrics in real-time, swimmers have the opportunity to train in a
smarter and more efficient way. Exploiting data from the FORM goggles will have benefits to the sport of
swimming, and to the broader AR wearable technology industry. We first established the validity and
reliability of the FORM goggles (for metrics of length count, length time, stroke count, stroke rate, and
stroke type) through comparing the goggle sensor output files to time-stamped video capture of recorded
swim sessions. We are now evaluating the onboard heart rate (HR) monitor and assessing the ability of
swimmers to comply with a 12-week workout program using the guided workout feature within the
goggles against a control group. We will also study the impact of real-time feedback on swimming
performance over the 12 weeks using critical swim speed as a performance measure.

Preclinical toxicity screening array for novel antiviral compounds

The trainees of this project will develop methods and techniques to test the effects of antivirals on white blood cells and set up a platform to test the preclinical toxicity of new potential antiviral compounds. White blood cells can exacerbate viral infections, yet there are few studies on how antivirals may have off target effects on these cells. Such studies can lead to more in-depth studies on white blood cells as to how they may affect infection outcomes. The preclinical toxicity testing platform can facilitate the lead optimization stage of new potential antiviral (and other) drugs, so they can be developed more efficiently into therapeutics.

Manitoba Mathematics Action Research Project

Recently PLS has signed a contract with the Ministry of Education in Manitoba. The
province has been experiencing declining math scores across the province in both
international tests such as PISA and in their provincial standardized tests. Manitoba is
deeply committed to improving students mathematical achievement and as a result has
hired PLS to develop an evidence based professional learning model that will help deepen teachers understanding of math and pedagogy, and to measure the impact of this professional learning on student achievement. Once we are able to demonstrate an increase in student achievement, this professional learning model will be scaled across
the province and potentially to other jurisdictions across Canada.

Computational Scanning of lmidazolium-based Anion Exchange Membrane materials

One promising approach for the advancement of both fuel cells and electrolyzers is the incorporation of anion exchange membranes. These would provide many potential benefits, such as a significantly decrease cost as they do not rely on expensive precious metal catalysts. However, anion exchange membranes still face multiple challenges, one of them being their chemical stability. The properties of these membranes can be greatly influenced by the exact structure of the organic molecules used in their production. The number of possible structures is too large for any exhaustive search to find structures with the desired properties. To handle the incredibly large search space, the combination of quantum chemical simulations and machine learning models is applied to the problem through constructing a materials discovery tool. In the scope of this project, a valuable collaboration with experimentalist will enable the enhancement of this tool. A direct insight into the workflows and challenges of the experientialists working on these materials will be given to the intern. Importantly, the unmediated evaluation of the tool will be made possible through synthesis and characterization of the compounds proposed by the tool.

Using fact sheets integrated into GP software to improve understanding of low back pain: a feasibility study

Scientific evidence indicates that patient education for low back pain can reassures them, improves their health condition and reduces healthcare utilization Easily accessible, science-based fact sheets that can be passed on to patients could be a simple option to address the underutilization of patient education by healthcare professionals. Companies have developed new tools to put these fact sheets in the hands of healthcare professionals via a consultation software. However, the feasibility of using such tools is unknown. As part of this project, we will test the feasibility of using low back pain fact sheets integrated into a medical consultation software by collecting data on the number of users recruited, the feasibility of the data collection process and the proportion of medical consultations for which the healthcare professional will have used a fact sheet. By intervening directly at the point of care, this project has significant potential to improve the health of patients as well as the health system in general by testing a system capable of implementing self-management support and systematically evaluating factual information on a very prevalent health condition in the population.

Katinnganiq Makerspace Network – Digital Marketing Plan Development

Themodel for Makerspaces in Nunavut is focused on building pathways to life promotion and mental wellness for youth firmly grounded in Indigenous values by nurturing creativity, fostering agency and building positive relationships while engaging in the expanded field of technology at the intersection of art, culture, science and education. Given the physical distances & remoteness of the 25 communities across the territory of Nunavut, community development is a pivotal element to the success of the Katinnganiq Makerspace Network’s mission of creating makerspaces in, ideally, all 25 communities. The intern we have identified for this project will contribute to the Community Development project by developing a Digital Marketing Plan that will bolster Katinnganiq Makerspace Network’s efforts of liaising with all 25 communities.

Gestion durable des eaux de pluie et réduction des ilots de chaleur dans les périmètres urbains de la municipalité régionale de comté (MRC) de Coaticook

Le projet de Gestion durable des eaux de pluie et réduction des îlots de chaleur dans les périmètres urbains de la MRC de Coaticook a comme objectif de proposer des aménagements permettant de réduire les risques associés aux pluies intenses et aux îlots de chaleur dans le périmètre urbain de 5 municipalités de la MRC de Coaticook, en Estrie. Les stagiaires auront à développer et tester un outil permettant de localiser les endroits où s’accumule l’eau et où la chaleur peut s’intensifier et proposer des solutions pour diminuer les risques liés aux pluies abondantes et aux îlots de chaleur. Le projet, mené en collaboration avec le COGESAF, l’organisme de bassin versant, qui bonifiera son expertise pour accompagner les acteurs locaux de son territoire à s’adapter aux changements climatiques.