Innovative Projects Realized

Validation and Injury Risk Module Development for a Video-Based Physical Demands Description Tool

Benefit payments totaled 2.5 billion dollars for Ontario workplaces in 2015. The most common injury resulting in a lost time claim was a strain or sprain – indicating despite massive efforts to reduce musculoskeletal injuries by ergonomists, these issues still have a significant financial burden on the economy. An easy-to-use, readily available, and automated physical demands description (PDD) tool can allow worker health and safety professionals to evaluate worker injury risk with minimal training and expertise, and take steps to prevent or mitigate workplace injury risk. This research will expand our examination of the utility of a new video-based physical demands description tool and its concurrent validity compared to traditional pen-and-paper methods. Further, this research will integrate and evaluate a risk assessment module into the video-based tool in using common ergonomics posture analysis tools as a framework.

Data-Driven Intelligent Agents for Personalized Training on Design & Computational Thinking Skills

Computational thinking, i.e., the ability to formalize and solve problems with the assistance of computers, has become crucial in a growing range of jobs. Recent research in education has provided encouraging evidence that the development of computational thinking is the most effective when it is taught in the early childhood, and that game-based learning (GBL) technologies are extremely valuable in this context. However, children often need help when learning with GBL software. The goal of this project is to explore how to provide such help automatically and in a personalized way, which is important as personalization is a key aspect to facilitate human learning, as is it has been demonstrated by the effectiveness of one-to-one human tutoring. TTO BE CONT’D

Enjeux intertextuels au sein des modifications logicielles de jeux vidéo

L’objectif de mon séjour de recherche à l’Université de Liège est de profiter des installations du Liège Game Lab, un laboratoire se spécialisant sur des questions similaires à celles qui sont abordées dans mon projet de recherche doctoral. En effet, les recherches entreprises par les membres du Liège Game Lab se spécialisent sur les enjeux touchant à la prolongation du jeu et des relations complexes entre les joueurs et leurs jeux.
Au sein de ma thèse, je m’intéresse à l’étude formelle des modifications de jeux vidéo préexistants par des joueurs, ce qui se rapproche de deux des projets de recherche dirigés à Liège: la création amateur de jeux vidéo et les pratiques de détournement (dont les modifications que j’étudie font partie). TO BE CONT’D

Therapeutic Intervention of Cannabinoids in a Pre-Clinical Rat Model of PTSD

National Legalization of Cannabis has occurred in Canada. Very little is known about the different compounds in the Cannabis Plant. The two main compounds are THC and CBD. Both of them have shown some benefits for different conditions. We would like to determine the best dose and ratio of compounds within the Cannabis plant for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and Anxiety to build evidence for a large-scale clinical trial. More data will help support safe and effective use of Cannabis, which may provide an alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals. We would also like to determine how best to integrate medical Cannabis into current treatment options.

Identification de marqueurs de stress biologiques chez Chionoecetes opilio, pour vérifier la qualité du crabe des neiges de la pêche au débarquement

Le crabe des neiges est la deuxième pêche plus importante en terme de valeur, après celle au homard, dans les provinces maritimes. Ce projet de recherche consiste à la caractérisation de molécules capables de nous indiquer de manière fiable, qu’un crabe des neiges est en situation de stress. Ces molécules ou marqueurs seront utiles dans un contexte de développement de nouvelles technologies de pêches pour bien déterminer l’effet de ces nouvelles technologies sur les crabes. Un meilleur suivi de l’état des crabes nous permettrait également d’identifier les étapes stressantes pour le crabe dans le processus de pêche et d’en raffiner les pratiques afin d’augmenter la qualité du produit. Ce projet permettra à l’Institut Valores de produire des données scientifiques fiable, de la capture du crabe à son arrivé à l’usine de transformation, en partenariat avec l’Université de Moncton.

Helmet testing and impact modeling: an approach to better understand the problematic of concussion in short track speed skating

The sport of short track speed skating is an extremely fast paced sport, in which multiple skaters, reaching speeds upwards of 50 km/h, jockey for position on a narrow track. Although skaters wear protective equipment and helmets, concussions continue to plague the health of athletes. Currently, there are no statistics on the ratesand prevalence of concussion in short track speed skaters. Additionally, there is no research that has investigated how current short track speed skating helmets protect the brain.
The first part of this project will investigate the injury data of Quebec short track speed skaters over the past 6 years to establish the rates and prevalence of head injuries and concussions. The second part of this project will test current helmet models against different impact scenarios. The third part of the project will analyze in-lab impact test data using a computer model of the human brain. This computer model will allow us to understand the stresses and strains the skull and brain undergo during impact. These projects are important steps in understanding the prevalence of head injury in short track speed skaters, as well as a deeper

Lifelike simulation tool for surgical training purposes

The specific aim of this project is to design and manufacture affordable, high fidelity, and high quality synthetic surgical training models of diseased valves and arteries to simulate the possible surgical options such as prolapse mitral valve reconstruction surgeries, aortic valve repair for aortic insufficiencies (novel idea) and coronary and radial arteries [side to side and end to side] anastomosis surgeries. These synthetic models can be used frequently by training surgeons in order to achieve a higher level of skill, confidence and expertise to help improve patient care worldwide.

Parallel Computing with Graphics Processing Units to Reduce Computational Overhead Associated with Math Simulations and Predictive Model Building

The objective of this project is to reduce the run time of computationally demanding

simulation and modeling tasks at the partner organization. The project involves

porting several computer algorithms to massively parallel hardware graphics devices

that can be programmed using a widely available development platform.

Improvements in performance on these computing tasks have direct implications for

product development, deliveries and income to the partner.

Optimization of Building Energy Consumption Considering Occupants Behavior and Preferences

Applying energy conservation methods plays an important role in making existing buildings more energy efficient. However, energy conservation methods are usually in contradiction with the occupants’ satisfaction. In other words, more conservative energy strategies result in less occupants’ satisfaction. Also, when it comes to shared spaces occupied by people with different preferences, finding a trade-off between the minimum energy consumption and a maximum number of satisfied occupants is a challenging issue. As a result, this study aims to develop more realistic building energy model using an integration of simulation with optimization techniques. To this end, proper sensing techniques will be applied to distinguish between occupants in shared spaces. Local control of HVAC and lighting systems based on the occupancy usage patterns are then applicable. TO BE CONT’D

Bacterial Microbiome of Cacao Fruit

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) cultivation in Latin American countries contribute 16% to the global production, employing around 2 millions of people, generating profits of around $100 million/yr to chocolate manufacturers. Cacao production is challenged by several fungal diseases that lead to decreased crop yield causing farmers to abandon the cacao business and cultivate other crops that generate a higher profit. One of the most serious disease that attacks the cacao fruits is frosty pod rot (FPR) caused by the fungal pathogen Moniliophthora roreri. One of the challenges is the induction of the disease under laboratory controlled conditions. Environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity are not well established and need to be studied to understand the infection and the spread of the fungus. TO BE CONT’D

Topographic and laminar connectivity brain mapping between visual areas

The goal of the project is to explore the information processing mechanisms of brain in conjunction with state-of-the-art imaging and anatomy techniques. Understanding how the information is processed and coded in the brain is intended to serve research of disease diagnosis and treatment. The brain can be divided into different regions according to their functions. Before constructing the encoding model, we need to track the information transmission in a specific function area, which rely on higher spatial resolution data. Vision is one of the most studied projects in in cognitive neuroscience. In this research, we will use many previous visual research results and the latest experimental data to explore the information processing mechanism between the visual areas. TO BE CONT’D

Developing a novel detection method for endangered and invasive fishes

Underwater visual analysis (UWVA) is a passive and non-invasive method gaining popularity in freshwater systems. UWVA uses underwater cameras and/or snorkel surveys to assess species richness and abundance. UWVA could also be used to detect endangered and invasive fishes, which is important for conservation and management of freshwater ecosystems. To determine the applicability of the UWVA for detection across multiple freshwater systems, data collected in various locations that differ in habitat complexity and biodiversity is required. I plan to use long-term UWVA monitoring data from South Africa from three different rivers to estimate the probability that endangered and invasive fishes will be detected. I will estimate the detection probability using occupancy modeling. I will then compare these results to data I have already collected using the same methods in Canada. TO BE CONT’D