Innovative Projects Realized

National Disability Insurance Scheme Evaluation

Australia’s new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been rolled out across the country. Its primary selling point is the opportunity for users to design and manage their own care plan, which is meant to increase independence amongst users. Since its initial pilot testing, there has not been an evaluation of the NDIS amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. I will be using the data from this evaluation to determine an outreach strategy amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and create a tool to improve uptake of the NDIS. The design process is uses co-design principles that meaningfully involves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers, leaders, and community members. The outreach strategy will inform the research team’s policy recommendations to the National Disability Insurance Agency in the Australian Department of Social Services, while the tool will be distributed in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to increase their ability to access the NDIS.

Evaluation of MRI-based estimation of cortical thickness

The most important structure in the human brain is the cerebral cortex. It makes it possible to perceive our visual environment and sounds, to perform motoric actions such as grasping an object, to speak, to understand speech, etc. The cerebral cortex is a 2-5 mm thick sheet, embedded in the skull. Analysis of MRI data makes it possible to estimate the thickness of the cerebral cortex. In certain neurological conditions such as mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis, the thickness of specific cortical areas decreases faster than in healthy aging. Therefore, cortical thickness is an important feature for MRI-based diagnosis of neurological diseases. In our study, we will evaluate algorithms and software packages for estimating cortical thickness. The results of our study will support MRI-based diagnosis of neurological diseases, the study of their pathophysiology, and using cortical-thickness as a biomarker for studying the efficacy of drugs.

A new rapid method for clay, silt and sand-sized mineral particle size measurements of soils and soil products

Information on the proportions of clay, silt and sand-sized mineral particles in soils and in soil products used for construction is critical for understanding their physical and chemical properties and for their proper use and management. However, these soil mineral particles are usually glued together with inorganic cements (calcium carbonate, iron and aluminum oxides/hydroxides) and organic matter which can make measurements of the proportions of the individual mineral size separates using current methods problematic. We propose to develop a novel rapid method to measure soil mineral particle size distribution employing pre-treatments to separate the mineral fraction into constituent clay, silt and sand-size fractions followed by an analysis called integral suspension pressure measurement using an instrument- UMS PARIO to measure their sedimentation characteristics. This instrument is newly developed by UMS AG, München, and we are the first in North America to test it.

Development & Benchtop Testing of Minimally Invasive Surgical Device

Xpan Inc. is developing a patent-pending expandable laparoscopic access port device. Xpan needs to develop its proof of concept prototype into a high-fidelity prototype through a series of iterative design, prototyping and benchtop testing.
Research must be performed to select appropriate biocompatible material that achieve user requirements. Research must also be performed to evaluate the performance and efficacy of several different designs that Xpan is contemplating to develop. Research must also be performed to investigate appropriate manufacturing methodologies for the device, as well as perform address the design for manufacturing requirements. This research will help Xpan create higher industry traction, raise private equity funding from investors and use this funding to hire talented engineers, business development professionals and ultimately establish manufacturing jobs.

Automated Generation and Integration of AUTOSAR Memory Configurations

Automotive Open System Architecture (AUTOSAR) is a system-level standard that is used worldwide by the automotive companies and their suppliers to develop the standardized software development framework for automobiles [1]. The basic software of AUTOSAR should be configured to develop an Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The information to configure the basic software is given in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file. Currently, these XML files are interpreted by the developer and manually entered for each configuration. The process of manually configuring the basic software for each ECU is very time consuming and can be inefficient. APAG Cosyst, being one of the leading companies in ECU design and development is working on designing templates and a tool for the automated integration of AUTOSAR memory configurations. TO BE CONT’D

Validating Plantar Pressure Measurements from a Pressure-Sensing Orthotic Insole

Diabetic Neuropathy is a decrease of the perceptive ability of pressure changes and is a devastating consequence of

type two Diabetes. Neuropathy can result in ulcers, infection, amputation, and death. Providing alternative

feedback about pressure distributions in the foot is an innovative, low cost way to help reduce high level

pressures resulting in ulceration. In this study, we will calibrate a novel pressure sensing orthotic device for

accuracy in measurement compared to a gold standard pedobarograph. Three studies will be conducted to

evaluate the device’s ability to accurately quantify foot pressures. The first will be an exploration of diabetic

offloading patterns compared to a healthy population. The second study will calibrate the device against a gold

standard pedobarograph. Lastly, a study will be conducted to determine if visual feedback reduces the

frequency of high risk pressure profiles in a neuropathic population. This is the first crucial step to provide proof

of concept and is necessary for the continued development……………………………….

Illusions Past and Present: Invoking Technological Spectres and The Future of Digital Magic

My research proposal, “Illusions Past and Present: Invoking Technological Spectres and the Future of Digital Magic” is concerned with the intrinsic presence of magic and illusion within contemporary visual art practices as well as its historical overview. Presently, with the advancement of technology far surpassing our ability to fully comprehend its inner functions, technology can be seen as a contemporary form of magic. As sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke once famously stated “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” (1984, p. 36). In citing technology as a source of modern magic, my research establishes a basis to investigate the possibilities and modes in which old technology informs and shapes the affected results of new and digital technologies, such as evolution of the magic lanterns to digital or even 3D projections of today. TO BE CONT’D

Development of a model for dynamic cyclone performance prediction

Global pollution emissions contribute to climate change and are damaging to health. In many industrial applications that produce particulate matter, devices such as cyclones are used to separate and capture the particles from the exhaust gas. However, these do not capture the very small, but hazardous, particles and so expensive and energy-intensive secondary systems have to be added to the process. The industrial partner is developing a novel dynamic cyclone separator that has rotating vanes which improve the particle separation efficiency and allow capture of the fine particles. This project will develop a computer model of the flow and particle motions in the cyclone that can then be used to design these dynamic cyclones for different industrial applications and operating conditions, thus leading to a more efficient reduction of particulate pollution.

Innovations for and Barriers to Solving Water Scarcity

This research project aims to understand the particular conditions of water scarcity in two different communities in Colombia, and the lessons that can be learned from them. One community is located on a Caribbean island, and one on the outskirts of Bogotá. Colombia has achieved recent fame in urban planning and development. The research project will draw on from existing literature and Colombian practice, and use field visits and interviews to identify existing solutions and barriers to solutions at different levels of organisation (residents, non-governmental organisations, and governments). The aim is to create a guide that can help translate the Colombian water scarcity experience into one that can help other cities and countries around the world.

Léger-Marie Deschamps; Réponse à la crise de l’ennui au XVIIIe siècle, en France

Léger-Marie Deschamps est un philosophe français du XVIIIe siècle ayant correspondu avec les plus grands philosophes de son temps : Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot, etc. Dans l’histoire des études menées sur cet homme, la majorité des commentateurs y ont vu un philosophe extrêmement rationaliste et intellectualiste, un philosophe affirmant que seule la vérité peut mener au changement politique qu’il préconisait. Toutefois, nous sommes forcés de constater que ces commentateurs ont oublié de mentionner l’appel de Deschamps à un sentiment qui se vivait comme une crise existentielle au XVIIIe siècle, il s’agit ici du sentiment d’ennui. Ce sentiment était vécu, à l’époque, presque comme le sentiment de dépression aujourd’hui. TO BE CONT’D

Relation entre les leviers et la force chez des athlètes universitaires

L’objectif de cette recherché est de «mesurer l’influence de différents aspects de la composition corporelle et d’anthropométrie sur la force relative et absolue chez des athlètes universitaires américains.» L’hypothèse de ce projet de recherche est que l’incidence de plusieurs mesures de compositions corporelles et d’anthropométrie sur la performance sera dévoilée.
Les sujets éligibles sont tous les athlètes universitaires membres des Mavericks de la Colorado MESA University faisant partie d’une des équipes inscrites en NCAA division 2 n’ayant aucune limitation les empêchant de compléter de la batterie de test. Des tests de composition corporelle, d’anthropométrie et de force musculaire seront effectués. Une analyse statistique approfondie sera effectuée, celle-ci inclura entre autre des corrélations de Pearson et des analyses discriminante pas-à-pas. TO BE CONT’D

Nanostructured anti-reflective glass for lenses, electronic displays, and photovoltaics

Inspired by patterns in the eye of the moth, nanostructures can be created on the surface of glass, allowing all light to transmit through the glass without any interference. Applied on lenses, low light photography is enhanced. Applied on electronic displays, the technology enables sunlight readable screens. Applied on photovoltaics, more light enters the solar panels, enhancing energy conversion. This research project advances current issues in large-scale production of these nanotextured glass, hastening the speed in which Project Edgehog at TandemLaunch, the partner organization, can bring this technology to commercial use.