Innovative Projects Realized

Development and numerical simulation of a novel pneumatic conveying system to transport hemostatic powder for managing non-compressible torso hemorrhage

Severe bleeding is a life-threatening medical emergency that can potentially result in death. Although there are currently available treatments to stop severe bleeding from injuries, these treatments have their limitations and may be ineffective for specific types of bleeding, such as non-compressible intra-abdominal bleeding. The goal of this proposed project is to conduct research on the fundamental mechanisms involved in delivering a novel anti-bleeding powder to control severe bleeding. To achieve this goal, a combination of computer simulation and experimental techniques will be utilized to study the physical factors affecting the effectiveness of the novel powder delivery. A computational model will be developed using engineering software to simulate the transport of the powder. In addition, experiments will be conducted to support the simulations, which will involve the characterization of the powder’s material properties and the visualization of its transport through a long, transparent tube. The results obtained from both the computational and experimental studies will be integrated into computer-aided engineering for designing an optimized delivery system. A final prototype will be constructed, which will be used for testing and clinical study in the future.

Health status evaluations in remote camp workers and impacts of the pandemic

There is an urgent need to better understand large-scale disruptions, including the pandemic, and related workplace health policy changes impact the health and wellness of fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers, who already experience high levels of stress and anxiety due to their unique work arrangement. During the pandemic, companies made drastic changes to ensure employee safety when living on a work site that may have had unintended consequences. This research is conducted in partnership with the Mood Disorders Society of Canada to better understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated workplace and public health policies on worker productivity, mental and physical health in FIFO work sites. The research project is mixed-methods, comprising two phases: 1) an evaluation of employee experiences and needs related to FIFO during the pandemic; and 2) a pilot study on feasibility characteristics of smartwatches as tools for remote medical monitoring in FIFO work camps.

By better understanding such these effects, we can better position businesses and society overall to sustain large-scale public health emergencies with employee-centered policies and innovations for improved healthcare delivery. Interventions that improve worker health are expected to increase productivity and economic output….

Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Parks and Recreation in Saskatchewan

Parks and recreation in Canada are an integral part of people’s lives as they serve multiple functions and provide several benefits to the municipalities in which they are situated. Hence the threat of climate change on parks and recreation could have a multiplier effect on the lives of people. As a province-wide network, the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) seeks to create equitable access to recreation experiences for all people. As such, it is imperative that SPRA understands the risks climate change poses to its parks and recreational areas and explores ways to build or increase resilience. The proposed study would examine how climate change is impacting Saskatchewan’s municipal parks and recreation departments using a mixed methodology approach. The results will contribute to SPRA’s long-term strategy and support departments to develop a framework to make parks more inclusive and climate-resilient.

Development of a Truly Intelligent Robotic Vacuum Cleaner for Household Applications

Robotic vacuum cleaners (RVCs) have been leading the industry as domestic helpers for several years now, with continuous improvements in functionality and performance. Nowadays, consumers are showing more and more interest in purchasing RVCs. The market size has grown up to 350 billion dollars per year. However to date, most RVCs on the market are intended only for household minor cleaning, and none of them can truly mimic human being in performing a regular deep cleaning. Therefore, partnering with the BW Services (BWS) Inc, the objective of this project is to develop a truly intelligent RVC (TIRVC) that is capable of providing users regular home cleaning services in an efficient and powerful manner, enabling the RVCs achieve a much broader market penetration. As one of Canada’s premier providers for facility renovations and repairs, the BWS is spending a great amount of money each year in hiring full-time and part-time workers for cleaning the relevant rooms on a daily basis. The development of the proposed TIRVC would potentially eliminate the needs of these workers and thereby allow for significant cost saving.

Prescriptive Machine Learning in Pediatric Cardiology

Recent technological advances in data collection, transmission, visualization, and machine learning make it possible to develop healthcare systems with the aim of monitoring the health status of patients. Pediatric Cardiologists rely on referrals from family physicians for abnormal heart conditions. Family physicians are not trained well enough to recognize abnormal murmurs and err on the side of caution, which results in a large number of unnecessary referrals causing a strain on the healthcare system. This proposal proposes the development of software designed to receive the ECG signals, process them in real-time on a computing device such as a laptop in a family physician’s office, and create meaningful data summarization/visualization graphics, followed by prescriptive analysis and recommendations using machine learning (ML). The proposed system is designed to help physicians and medical assistants who have problems distinguishing ECGs and work in deprived regions. Kardio Diagnostix is founded by two Pediatric Cardiologists. They will be advising the interns on the collection, cleaning, and processing of ECG signals as well as model evaluation and software testing.

Inspiring housing stability through tailored programs and support

The project aims to empower individuals aged 18 and above in Nova Scotia, Canada, to transition from renting to homeownership. By providing financial literacy education and resources, along with tailored support programs, Osprey Inspiration seeks to break down barriers to homeownership and enhance housing stability in the community. This project will pilot an innovative approach to buyers for mortgage qualification & access to affordable housing as well as to builders for marketing their products. This project will expand our reach to a wider audience regardless of background or financial circumstances and foster partnerships to empower individuals to make informed financial decisions that positively impact their lives and creates vibrant, resilient communities where homeownership is a cornerstone of prosperity and well-being.

Importance clinique de pathogènes entériques dans la diarrhée péri-sevrage des porcelets et impact sur la contamination des carcasses par des pathogènes alimentaires

Parmi les différentes étapes de production, le sevrage des porcelets est un moment crucial ayant un impact important sur la productivité et la rentabilité des entreprises. Cette période représente en effet un risque élevée pour la transmission de maladies infectieuses à cause du stress qu’elle engendre et à cause de l’immaturité du système immunitaire au cours des premières semaines de vie. Les cas de diarrhées peuvent rapidement prendre des proportions épidémiques et avoir des conséquences dramatiques à l’échelle du troupeau. L’impact à long terme des infections entériques sur la flore intestinale des porcelets n’est pas bien connu. Ces infections en bas âge peuvent modifier la dynamique du microbiote et favoriser la colonisation des porcs par des agents zoonotiques et, conséquemment, augmenter le risque de contamination des carcasses et leur transmission éventuelle aux humains. Le bien-être et la santé des porcelets sont de la plus haute importance d’un point de vue économique pour les entreprises et potentiellement pour la santé publique. Il est donc primordial de mieux caractériser et comprendre le rôle des virus dans les diarrhées du porcelet et leur impact potentiel en santé publique. Ces connaissances pourront aiderau contrôle des éclosions par la mise en place de méthodes prophylactiques

Sequent AI – FITP Vertical Strategy

Sequent AI is a consolidation of successful IT solution companies across Canada, and the U.S., with proven expertise in cybersecurity, cloud, consumption-based IT, and managed services. Sequent AI is dedicated to using technology to deliver better business outcomes to vertically focused industries through its breadth of expertise and longstanding relationships with respected industry partners. This project will help progress Sequents AI FITP’s vertical strategy. The intern will be expected to complete strategic and financial analysis. Additionally, the intern will participate in day-to-day operations at Sequent AI.

Machine Learning and Interactive Visualization to Detect Dose Associated Adverse Drug Events in Drugs Prescribed to Older Adults

In this research project, we aim to address the uncertainties in the efficacy, safety, and dosing of prescription drugs, particularly for older adults who are more likely to take multiple medications. Pre-market drug trials often exclude the older population, leading to potential risks. Our proposed method involves utilizing machine learning and interactive visualization techniques to analyze healthcare databases in Ontario. By simultaneously examining hundreds of drugs in older adults and comparing high-dose versus low-dose effects, we aim to identify potential adverse reactions. By replicating our findings in other regions and translating them into guidelines, we will enhance prescription drug safety and improve patient outcomes.

Les crises européennes : Un moment clé dans la formation de l’identité européenne

Les récents changements institutionnels de l’Union européenne, tels que le Traité de Lisbonne, ont renforcé son rôle et son impact, tandis que les crises, comme le Brexit et la crise migratoire, ont touché divers domaines politiques et la vie quotidienne des Européens.

Ce projet explore comment les crises ont pu avoir un impact sur les mécanismes d’identification qui pourrait avoir eu un impact sur les identités individuelles et collectives envers l’UE. Ce projet vise à comprendre l’impact des crises sur la formation de l’identité européenne en examinant quatre mécanismes clés : l’exposition aux institutions européennes, la solidarité entre Européens, la perception de problèmes comme de nature « européens » et la création d’une culture mémorielle européenne.

Ce projet de recherche utilisera la méthode des focus groups pour étudier l’identification à l’UE et ils seront réalisés à Louvain-La-Neuve, en mettant l’accent sur les expériences vécues pendant les crises récentes.

Simulation d’insertion de cathéters veineux périphériques par écho-guidage

L’insertion de cathéters veineux périphériques permet l’injection de médication à un patient. Cette procédure est
réalisée chez environ 70% des patients admis dans un hôpital canadien. L’insertion du cathéter peut être difficile,
particulièrement chez les patients pour lesquels les vaisseaux sanguins ne sont pas visibles à la surface de la
peau. De plus, cette procédure comporte des risques non négligeables de complications en cas d’erreur ou de
tentatives multiples d’insertion. Le recours à l’imagerie par échographie pour guider l’insertion permet de réduire
les risques. Cependant, cette technique est difficile à maîtriser. L’entreprise Sononurse a conçu un dispositif qui
permet de faciliter cette procédure, ce qui a le potentiel d’élargir l’adoption de la technique et ainsi de réduire le
taux de complication associé. Le projet proposé vise à évaluer l’utilité du dispositif de Sononurse en le comparant
à la méthode classique dans un simulateur en réalité virtuelle.

Analyzing the Inequity of Home Equity Investments

In the emerging sector of fintech, a novel concept known as a home equity investment is gaining traction, offering homeowners a way to access their property’s value without selling it. This financial instrument involves an investor providing a cash infusion to homeowners in exchange for a 20% ownership stake in their home. Homeowners then have a decade to settle the investment, either by selling their property or repaying the investor based on its appraised value. While four North American companies offer this service, academic research on them is lacking, leaving the economics, incentives, and consequences unexplored. Our research aims to address this gap by constructing a comprehensive econometric model of the housing market, considering both homeowners and investors. We focus on modeling homeowners’ “impatience” (i.e., discount factor), aiming to determine the impatience levels that typically lead individuals to opt for this financial tool. We hypothesize that high impatience, often linked to urgent financial needs such as medical expenses or education costs, drives homeowners towards these investments. Despite appearing helpful, these investments may potentially exploit vulnerable situations. This project seeks to shed light on this situation.