Innovative Projects Realized

Contribution of Achilles tendon mechanics to torque steadiness of the intact limb of unilateral lower-limb amputees

Torque steadiness (TS) is the ability to maintain torque around a given target torque level and is representative of functional movement control. In unilateral lower-limb amputees, plantarflexor TS is reduced. The Achilles tendon plays a critical role in the required transfer of torque from muscle to bone to maintain TS. To-date, no study has investigated how Achilles tendon properties are altered in the intact limb of amputees who adopt a hopping or swing-style gait, and how tendon mechanics contribute to plantarflexor TS in this population. Thirty unilateral amputees and fifteen non-amputee controls will perform plantarflexion contractions while the Achilles tendon is recorded on ultrasound. It is hypothesized that tendon stiffness will be higher in amputees with hopping gait, reducing torque fluctuations and increasing TS compared to controls and amputees with swing-style gait. This study will help understand how tendon properties are altered in amputees and contribute to reduced control of movement.

Improvement of fluorescent bead detection and classification algorithms for CD4 cell counting in portable flow cytometers

This research project focuses on the development of software for a device that can diagnose HIV and monitor its severity by taking a small sample of the patient’s blood. The software will count the number of immune cells present in the sample by taking images of the patient’s blood as it flows through the device. It will then report the cell count to the medical professional who will be able to make a diagnosis.
This project will ease the process of HIV diagnostics, and make HIV testing more accessible in general. This could greatly improve outcomes for patients in developing countries, where access to healthcare is sub-par and the need for accessible medical equipment is growing.

Exposure to Multiple Pesticides and Risk of Multiple Myeloma in Canadian Men

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological cancer in Canada, affecting

an estimated 2,300 people in 2011. Farm work is most consistently associated with an increased

risk of MM. Occupational exposure to pesticides has been linked to increased MM risk in

Canadian and European studies. Previous investigations mostly focused on individual pesticide

exposures, however, the effects of the use of multiple pesticides and different combinations of

specific pesticides have not been explored. The objective of this analysis is to examine the impact

of the use of multiple pesticides on MM risk. In addition to evaluating specific pesticide

combinations, an analysis will be carried out to examine the association between the total number

of pesticides used and MM risk. Multiple pesticide exposures more accurately capture how

pesticides are used in agriculture, therefore this analysis will contribute to our understanding of

the role that agricultural exposures and other factors play in the development of MM. Examining

common pesticide combinations and identifying……

Cryptocurrency Index Research

Cryptocurrency markets exhibit highly chaotic behaviour, differing substantially from securities. This research project looks at the cryptocurrency markets for data–aiming to answer if it possible to create mathematical models which track the overall behaviour of the Cryptocurrency Market, while minimizing risks. Through this research we expect to reconcile the theory developed above with the real life cryptocurrency exchanges and coins. We thus intend to go back and forth with the theoretical work developed above, and real-life cryptocurrency data so as to shine some light on interesting further sub-models to create. We finally wish to conclude with a real-time proof of concept for the variety of the indexing questions we are able to solve for by implementing these indices and having them run/update automatically. This project will be significant in its applications in Finance and Economics, serving to decipher many confusing signals ubiquitous in the Cryptocurrency markets via mathematical rigor.

Rotator cuff tears: a covert source of shoulder disability (Prognostic value of patient’s demographic, clinical and genetic factors)

This study aims to develop a scoring system to screen the sub-clinical forms of rotator cuff tears and predict the tear progression. All the medical, genetic, work, and lifestyle backgrounds of individuals with rotator cuff defects (with and without symptoms) will be evaluated and a battery of manual tests and measurements will be performed to understand the predisposing risk factors for both sub-clinical and clinical manifestations. This scoring system can help health professionals to diagnose rotator cuff tears in their early stages, recognize at-risk individuals for symptom progression and implement personalized preventive strategies. As rotator cuff tears are very common in elderly, the population of Schlegel villages has been targeted for recruiting individuals with asymptomatic rotator cuff tears. With collaboration of Holland Shoulder Program in Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, symptomatic patients with proven rotator cuff tear will also be included in this research. TO BE CONT’D

International Farm Workers in Essex County: Belonging and Socially Inclusive Rural Communities

While agricultural migrant workers provide much needed labour in Canadian agriculture, they feel alienated from the host society. Their alienation and exclusion is related in part to the working and living conditions migrants experience in Canada. In addition, we propose to study how such factors as the architectural designs of the towns where migrant workers reside; availability of spaces for social activities; opportunities for intercultural encounters; cultural awareness and sensitivity among the host population, presence of community organizations and settlement agencies; social networks, and the presence of the infrastructure of ethnic businesses, shape their inclusion and exclusion. Based on a a multi-method qualitative and community-based research methodology, the study will focus on belonging among migrant workers in two rural communities in Essex county: Leamington and Kingsville.

Reservoir Analytical Model Pattern Recognition

The proposed production optimizer uses production (rate, water/oil ratio, pressure) data, in either isolation or with geological data, and artificial intelligence to determine limiting factors in wells and fields. More specifically, the proposed production optimizer determines Original Oil in Place (OOIP), average permeability, permeability distribution, and relative permeability for wells and, by extension, reservoirs. This reservoir characterization information then is used to optimize the field.

Knowledge Intensive Processes Representation and Analysis: Process-Aware Work-Graphs and Predictive Approaches

Processes are important concepts in modern society since they control and standardize the interactions between businesses, consumers, governments and other organizations. However, the rise of knowledge-based industries such as financial services, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and software development have produced unstructured and knowledge-dependent processes. These Knowledge Intensive Processes (KIPs) KIPs range from partially structured to unstructured processes and require some control and standardization while guiding but not completely constraining knowledge workers’ actions. This interplay between providing agility and control promotes the emergence of complex work-graphs, which gather cross-cutting processes, tasks, people, information, rules and supporting software systems. Current challenges include representing process abstractions and defining methods for predicting process analysis. TO BE CONT’D

Understanding the mediators of employee wellness in an activity-based workspace

Adoption of an activity-based workspace is rapidly increasing. Employees in activity-based workspaces do not have a set workstation. Instead, employees can choose from a variety of workstations (e.g. desks, lounge space, quiet offices) according to their needs. Despite increasing adoption, we know little about the impact of activity-based workplaces on employee wellness, satisfaction, and productivity. The goal of this project is to understand person-related, work-related, and organization-related factors that determine who thrives in this workspace and who perceives the activity-based workspace as a source of stress. The CIBC CRE group operates under an activity-based workspace (branded ‘CIBC@work’) in which employees can book and work in a number of different workspace. It is expected that the current work will inform wellness interventions to be evaluated within the CIBC CRE workplace.

Étude sur certains déterminants et indicateurs de santé organisationnelle

En dépit de l’intérêt grandissant de la santé organisationnelle au sein des organisations et du milieu académique, des questions restent en suspens pour comprendre comment favoriser la santé psychologique, la santé physique et la performance des travailleurs. Devant ce besoin, la présente recherche vise à apporter un éclairage sur certains des déterminants et des indicateurs de santé organisationnelle. Pour ce faire, un minimum de 300 employés remplira des instruments de mesure validés à trois reprises. Des analyses seront réalisées pour répondre aux objectifs de la recherche et un portrait de la santé organisationnelle sera fourni au partenaire industriel. Les parties prenantes mettront en commun leurs efforts afin de fournir des preuves scientifiques susceptibles de guider les pratiques en ressources humaines et en psychologie du travail et des organisations.

UV Mapping Assistance through Deep Learning

The goal is to create a conversation loop between 3D designers and artificial intelligence programs. This will help the AI provide suggestions to the designer, while the designer provides the AI with feedback. This can help make it easier for designing complicated objects as well as complicated textures that belong to the surface of 3D objects. Through this interaction, the hope that AI can extend the utility of design software.

Teaching robotics programming in conjunction with virtual simulation software: An evaluation of learning behaviors in secondary students

Studies have indicated a positive correlation between teaching robotic programming using a virtual platform with speed of learning and deeper level understanding. We will study how students learn when provided with just physical robots, just virtual robotics software, and both in conjunction with each other. This study will also attempt to assess indicators of learning that are more in line with the direction of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), under the assumption that they will be more relevant to modern students, educators, and the corporations in relevant fields. Students who utilize a more interactive or constructive mode of learning have been shown to achieve a deeper level of understanding compared to passive or even active learning. Therefore, this study will focus more on the learning behaviors of the students as a reflection of true learning, as opposed to testing for the content itself.