Innovative Projects Realized

Efficacy of Compliance and Ethics Training using a Virtual Reality Interface

V-Train wishes to research and test how to best use virtual reality to improve outcomes in ethics and compliance training in the financial services industry. Current training methods such as eLearning and traditional classroom-based instruction have proven ineffective in information retention and improving behavioural outcomes. Key aspects of the project include:
– Creating VR training delivery playbook in physical form
– Building incentives and different scenarios in playbook using behavioural science applications to better engage the trainee in the VR format
– Developing initial VR module interface using the playbook
– Analysing the impact of training delivered using the VR interface vs regular desktop training
– Providing recommendations for generalised incorporation into different VR training module playbooks

Does Health Literacy have a different meaning depending on the Culture?

Can health be understood differently in different cultures?

Many studies (Murray & al., 2018; Glouberman & Millar, 2003) have already investigated the level and distribution of health in Canada. There are also studies assessing health literacy and its possible improvement among Aboriginal people (Smylie, Williams & Cooper, 2006). However, there are few (if any) studies that address the definition of health competencies across cultures. The aim of this project will be to explore in detail what it means for members of different cultures to have “health competencies”, and how they value their importance to achieve and maintain health in different fields of health care. To that effect, Canadian citizens and representatives of different cultural backgrounds will be interviewed (N= approx 30) using a semi-structured interview approach focusing on the meaning of health and health competencies as experienced by the participants, to understand if and how culture impacts the perception of health literacy. The results of the study will allow to evaluate to what extent the concept of health literacy is robust across cultures and if measuring and comparing the level of health literacy across cultures is meaningful.

Multi-sensor technology to safely navigate exercise in extreme temperatures

Extreme temperatures increase the risk when exercising. The early recognition of symptoms and physiological changes (i.e. heart rate alterations) can help to prevent temperature-related illnesses. Wearable devices available in the market are key to monitor health parameters but not to indicate risk exposure. Thus, we aim to identify the best combination of health parameters to determine the intensity/duration threshold that, if exceeded, would place people at risk due to extreme external temperature (heat/cold); and to validate a textile-based multi-sensor wearable technology (MWT) vest that will monitor the optimal combination of physiological parameters and alert individuals when they reach the threshold that would place them at increased risk. It will help individuals to safely navigate exercise in days of extreme or borderline extreme temperatu

An active video game for rehabilitation therapy of children with musculoskeletal disorders

Children with musculoskeletal disorders, such as Cerebral Palsy (CP), must follow regular, intensive rehabilitation to improve their movement patterns and walking ability. Often, these protocols are perceived negatively by children, who would rather play and have fun. The use of active video game based training programs could help reduce participant attrition while improving engagement and outcomes. In collaboration with Eidos-Montréal, a research team from the Centre de recherche CHU Ste-Justine, will develop and assess, using a variety of wearable sensors, a stimulating video game which integrates the latest and most effective rehabilitation protocols for children with CP. This project has the potential to improve mobility in children with CP and to democratize access to rehabilitation via a home-based, easy to use, and enjoyable active video game.

Small Hydropower Solutions for Northern Remote Communities

In Ontario, the bulk of electricity is generated in the south close to the major population centres and transmission lines do not extend far into the North. This results in many off-grid communities north of the Great Lakes that rely on diesel generators to produce electricity. This region of Northern Ontario is host to many rivers that all flow north through the boreal forest into James Bay or Hudson Bay. For this project, a case study is being conducted of one of those rivers, the Albany River, to explore whether regions of the river are capable of supplying hydropower to meet all of a nearby off-grid community’s energy needs.
The theoretical contributions of this research project involve rethinking how small-scale hydropower is used in the landscape of Canadian energy: changing the limiting mindset of an intermittent grid-connected power source to the more sustainable reality as an off-grid continuous source of electricity.

Development of a 3D Laser Scanning System for Generating Prototypes of Buildings and Large Scale Structures

Virtual Prototypes provide a fast and efficient way to visualize objects or products during their design phase. In architecture, engineering and various construction projects 3D models are used throughout process, from design, through construction, and into the facility management phase. An accurate 3D scan could represent a built region in a virtual world. The 3D model development has been an upcoming area, however rarely studied for improvements of this technology. The objective of the current study is to develop a methodology to conduct scans on buildings and generate 3D models that could be used to create prototype models using the 3D print technology. It is intended through the current project to develop a methodology to construct a 3D prototype model of a large scale object through laser scanning technology. The entire process involves several different stages including, scanning, point cloud generation, point cloud registration, point cloud data analysis, mesh and surface generation and rapid prototyping of the 3D model. It is also intended to demonstrate the use of existing technology to scan a complex 3D object and develop an actual prototype of this object.

Dietary counselling plus fish oil supplementation in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized wait-list controlled pilot trial

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has a large impact on the wellbeing of Canadians. Some people find the available treatments helpful, but some do not. There is a need for new treatment approaches. This project will provide 6 nutritional counselling sessions along with fish oil supplementation to 40 adult women with moderate to severe GAD. The study will be 12 weeks long. We will ask the participants if the program was acceptable. We will also measure changes in anxiety symptoms and eating habits. The findings of this study will provide the industry partner with information about the role of nutrition in the treatment of anxiety disorders. This information will also be used to design additional studies in this area.

Understanding the fate of tin in cyanide-free bronze electrodeposition baths

The Loony is a symbol, recognized by all Canadians. While it looks golden, the Royal Canadian Mint is producing its yellow color with an alloy coating on the coin surface. Yellow bronze is a hard and esthetically pleasing material that can be used as a coating for such coins. Internationally, yellow bronze coatings are predominantly produced from cyanide-based electroplating baths. This comes with significant risks to workers and the environment, regulatory restrictions and costs for waste treatment. The Royal Canadian Mint is currently developing a yellow bronze plating bath that is free of cyanide, to be used for yellow metal coatings on Canadian and international circulation coins. This project serves to understanding better how tin binds to other chemicals in these solutions and how to make tin more available for electrodeposition. In doing so, it contributes to the development of cheaper and environmentally friendly coin production technology.

Stagiaire Marketing

Le stagiaire marketing sera responsable de développer tous les outils marketing de l’entreprise afin de supporter l’équipe dans le développement d’un nouveau marché américain. De plus, il sera également responsable de supporter l’avancement des projets marketing sur le marché canadien afin de soutenir la croissance d’Écolopharm.

Integrating Reservoir System Information for Cyclic Solvent Injection Process to Support Post-CHOPS Field Development

Heavy oil (high viscosity oil) is trapped underground. Cold heavy oil production with sand (CHOPS) is an enabling technology to extract heavy oil through wormholes forming around wellbore. There are thousands of CHOPS wells in Saskatchewan and Alberta with low primary oil recovery. Cyclic solvent injection (CSI) enhanced oil recovery process stands out as one of the most promising post-CHOPS methods. As the post CHOPS technology with cyclic solvent injection has been advanced into field operation stage, it is essential to focus on understanding and implementing the information embedded in field data of well performance using CSI. This project could identify the highly productive and less productive CSI wells and provide an optimal operation strategy to improve the field post-CHOPS CSI process.

Development and validation of SafeSleep, a smart, accessible, and convenient textile-based technology for remote monitoring of sleep apnea in high-risk population at home

Sleep apnea, which affects 10% of adults, is a disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly stop during sleep, leading to reduced blood oxygen and fragmented sleep. It increases the risk of HF by four times, of hypertension or stroke by three times, and doubles the risk of car accidents. Health care utilization is doubled in sleep apnea patients, and untreated sleep apnea doubles HF mortality and triples COPD mortality. Despite the grave implications of this disorder, 85-90% of individuals with sleep apnea are not aware that they have it and are undiagnosed. One reason for the high rate of underdiagnosed sleep apnea is the reference sleep test requires overnight in-laboratory screening with attachments of >20 sensors on the body. Therefore, it is inconvenient, costly, with long waiting list. Current portable home sleep monitoring devices are either expensive, or inconvenient. The goal of this research is to develop a textile-based sleep screening wearable, called SafeSleep, in the form of a shirt.

Améliorer l’accès aux médicaments en maladies orphelines dans un contexte canadien: s’inspirer des meilleures pratiques à l’internationale

Chaque maladie orpheline n’affecte qu’un nombre restreint de personnes, soit environ 1 sur 100 000 selon l’Agence canadienne des médicaments et des technologies de la santé. On estime toutefois qu’entre 1 et 3 millions de citoyens canadiens en sont atteints. Ces derniers font face à divers enjeux d’accessibilité aux traitements pour leur maladie (délais, peu d’options médicamenteuses, négociations au cas par cas, etc). Le contexte canadien est présentement favorable à une prise de décision concertée au sujet d’une stratégie nationale pour les maladies orphelines. Ce projet vise à identifier les meilleures pratiques d’évaluation des technologies en santé et de remboursement, employées ailleurs dans le monde, dont le Canada peut s’inspirer afin d’amélioration l’accès aux traitements. L’organisme partenaire pourra bénéficier d’une meilleure compréhension de pratiques innovantes, et de leur impact potentiel au niveau de l’accès. Ils pourront également poser un regard plus éclairé sur les décisions de remboursement et l’accès prises par ces autres juridictions.