Innovative Projects Realized

Caffeine, genetic variation and athletic performance

Caffeine is among the most widely consumed performance enhancing substance used by athletes at all levels. However, studies that have investigated the effects of caffeine on athletic performance report inconsistent findings and the role of an individual’s genetic make-up in influencing how a person processes caffeine is becoming increasingly important. As a result, there is a need for a properly designed study to determine the effects of caffeine at varying doses on athletic performance that considers whether genetic variation modifies any of caffeine’s effects. There is currently no genetic test for athletes that provides actionable advice based on any aspect of nutrition and athletic performance. This project will result in the creation of such a genetic test for caffeine advice, which will directly benefit the partner organization, Nutrigenomix Inc., a developer of genetic tests for personalized nutrition that aims to become the leading provider of personalized nutrition information.

Modeling and Evaluation of Freeway Travel Time Estimation with Different Traffic Detection Technologies

To support research and practices that aim to analyze and improve traffic systems, accurate traffic state estimation is required, which is usually based on ground truth data obtained from monitoring infrastructures. The most common way to monitor traffic nowadays is by using inductive loop detectors, the costs of which are too high to be used for the entire road network. Alternative traffic detection methods include radar sensors, global positioning system (GPS), and GPS-enabled smartphones. The objective of this project is to evaluate the accuracy of data obtained from these three traffic detection systems, develop mathematical models to describe the differences among them, and provide suggestions for future traffic detection technology development. The City of Edmonton and the CT Protein Biotech Inc. will provide data and technical support to help develop this project.

Prestations de services logistiques dans la filière de commerce en ligne : Consultation auprès d’entreprises actives en eCommerce

Le MEIE étudie la faisabilité de créer un pôle logistique de commerce en ligne. Pour préciser l’aménagement de ce pôle, nous avons besoin de déterminer les besoins des utilisateurs potentiels en prestations logistiques. Ce projet réalisé avec l’entreprise partenaire Frank & Oak a pour but de ce projet supervisé est de consulter les besoins de 10-15 entreprises vendant des produits en ligne aux individus (B2C) et d’analyser les résultats. De plus, une revue des pratiques logistiques appliquées aux opérations de commerce en ligne sera effectuée. Suite à la consultation des entreprises, l’étudiant produira un rapport aux partenaires sur l’état de situation des prestations logistiques réalisées par d’importantes entreprises québécoises (dont Frank & Oak) dans ce domaine, sur les besoins et irritants exprimés et sur les facteurs clés pouvant assurer le succès d’un pôle logistique dans ce domaine. Ce rapport inclut des commentaires et recommandations sur les thèmes et informations convenues. TO BE CONT’D

Stakeholder Issues for Canadian Building GHG & Energy Benchmarking Regulation

The proposed research is intended to identify stakeholder issues that should inform the City of Vancouver’s proposed Fall 2015 public consultations on its proposed building GHG and energy reporting and public disclosure policy and regulation. A literature review and interviews with key stakeholders such as building owners and managers, utility conservation programs and public sector policy makers would provide insight for the City into the issues, interests, potential support and opposition, capacity, and desired support for industry stakeholders; best practices and strategies to encourage their support and participation; and desired actions by allies such as the provincial and federal governments and utilities.

Modus Planning, Design & Engagement would gain similar knowledge; understanding of the objectives and capacities of various City, provincial and federal government policy makers; and insight into how proposed regulations could impact climate change policy and planning in future.

Ecology, Conservation and Welfare of Captive Wildlife

A joint research agreement was adopted between Concordia University and Zoo de Granby in the spring 2014. The firm BBA joined this partnership in November 2014. The aim of the initiative is to foster the training of highly qualified personnel in conservation and welfare of captive wildlife, by allowing Concordia students to get hands-on experience at the zoo. The Zoo de Granby wants to improve the animal’s welfare and needs more scientific data to achieve this; and BBA wants to know whether the type of habitat they recommend to the zoo is suitable for the animals as well as for the security of the visitors and the zoo staff. The program will focus on behavior, reproduction,
activity budget including animal welfare and space use of captive animal at the zoo de Granby or elsewhere. Also the effect of visitor numbers, change of habitats and enrichment of these variables. With the results of these projects, we hope to shed light on the species-specific needs of zoo-housed animals. It will therefore give the opportunity to BBA to develop novel design more appropriate for animals, zoo staff and visitors. TO BE CONT’D

Reducing Patient Wait Times for Cancer Treatment

Cancer is the most common cause of death in Canada. The rate of cancer incidence is growing due to both population growth and to the aging population. Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used cancer treatment therapies, along with surgery and radiotherapy.
Sophisticated treatment methods and improved management of side effects are increasing the demand for chemotherapy, and oncology clinics are experiencing higher workloads that can result in laboratory, pharmacy, and chemotherapy administration delays. Reducing
waiting times for the first treatment and waiting times in the clinic for chemotherapy administration are among the highest priorities for quality improvement in outpatient cancer treatment facilities. We are proposing three projects to address the needs of the Jewish
General Hospital’s Segal Cancer Centre: application of lean principles for the chemotherapy process, system analysis and simulation of the oncology clinic, pharmacy, and other associated services, and development of scheduling tools to enable oncology clinic staff to more easily set appointment times that would minimize waiting time and maximize resource utilization.

les minéralisations magmatiques et structurales de la faille Cadillac (Abitibi)

Un nouveau style de minéralisations porphyrique en or a été découvert le long et au sud de la faille Cadillac en Abitibi à Malartic. On n’en connait pas les extensions possibles. Dans le secteur New Alger, le stagiaire pourra tester la présence ou l’absence de ce style de minéralisations par des levés géologiques et géochimique sur forages et par une étude minéralogique détaillée en laboratoire. Les résultats seront à la fois d’intérêt pour la compagnie et d’une manière régionale pour la connaissance de l’évolution des minéralisations.

Head Start Ottawa: review of program structure and implementation

The objective of this project is to review the program structure, program delivery and client satisfaction for 10 Head Start early childhood education centres operating in Ottawa, ON. Through a mixed-methods approach that combines interviews, surveys, and drawing activities with children we will gain insights on the strengths and challenges experienced by families, children and operators of the Head Start programs. Results from this research will inform best practices for early childhood education services and may be used to improve program delivery, increase efficiency, and client satisfaction.

Aviation engine testing cell training simulator

This project aims to develop an aviation engine testing cell training simulator to facilitate training novice operators. The final product will be an engine test simulator that closely resembles the existing display console used by General Electric (GE), except that simulation models of various engines are used instead of the actual engine. Novice operators will be trained with the simulator and their performances will be quantified. The project also establishes necessary and sufficient conditions for evaluating the effectiveness of the training simulator for aviation engine testing. The development of the ‘Aviation Engine Test Cell Training Simulator’ will benefit GE by providing increased and varied training opportunities for operators at modest cost; risk reduction during actual engine testing; and better operator preparation for a range of different operating requirements from non-standard, critical responses to precautionary and emergency scenarios.

Optimization of haskap Juice manufacturing process

Haskap, an emerging new berry crop in Canada, has tremendous potential for use in functional foods. The crop can be easily propagated and grown in a wide range of soils providing economic benefit, in that it will allow for better use of abundant farm lands present in Atlantic Canada. Research conducted at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus indicates that antioxidant properties and total polyphenols of haskap are greater than that of wild blueberry. The polyphenol extracts of haskap exhibit remarkable anti-inflammatory properties in isolated
human macrophages when compared with prescribed drugs. The proposed research is aligned with the business plan of LaHave Forests Inc. plan to market a premium quality haskap juice for health conscious consumers. Primarily, the project outcomes include identification of optimum juice recovery technologies, pasteurization methods, packaging and storage methods, as well as characterization of nutritional, antioxidant and cardioprotective properties of haskap juice.

Consumption of Luxury Brands at wedding functions of Punjabi Jat Sikh Community in India: A Study of Consumer Aspirations

The objective of this research is to understand the concept of consumer aspirations in terms of its life cycle, formation and manifestation during rites of passage events such as weddings in a particular culture. The focus is mainly on social class mobility based on consumer aspirations and on the process of transfer of these aspirations from one person to another [or from one family to another] in the context of social class. The research also highlights the sources of aspirations for luxury brands and various alternatives. The context in this case is consumption of luxury brands during wedding functions of the Punjabi Jat Sikh community in India. This research will have theoretical
as well as practical implications. The research will help me flesh out in detail the concept of consumer aspirations among the upper class Jats in India [in the context of weddings] and compare and contrast this with aspirations of lower economic classes within the same community. In terms of practical implications, the research will enable brand managers to obtain a culture specific understanding of consumer aspirations which could be leveraged further to position their brands appropriately given their strategy for expansion in the Indian context.

Système de détection automatique de graines de résineux pour l’évaluation de l’efficacité d’un semoir

Dans le but d’améliorer le taux d’ensemencement d’un semoir pneumatique de graines de résineux, un système automatisé de vision par ordinateur permettant la détection automatique des graines de semences de résineux permettant ainsi l’évaluation en temps-réel de l’efficacité d’ensemencement du semoir sera développé. Ce système automatisé sera constitué d’un système de capture d’images par caméra proche infrarouge et d’une interface logicielle permettant la mise en route du logiciel, l’analyse des images pour la détection des graines de semences et l’affichage des résultats découlant de la phase d’analyse de ces images. L’utilisation d’un système de capture d’images proche infrarouge découle du fait que la couleur du médium d’ensemencement est très similaire à celle des graines de semences de résineux, rendant impossible l’utilisation des systèmes de vision dans le visible. De par la nature continue des semoirs de graines de résineux, il est alors requis d’utiliser un système de vision par ordinateur fonctionnant en temps-réel ce qui permet alors l’ajustement rapide des défectuosités d’ensemencement du semoir.