Innovative Projects Realized

Examining Post-Implementation Pass Rates of Canadian Wildland Fire Fighters on their Physical Employment Standard.

Wildland fire fighting is a physically demanding public safety occupation. Front-line wildland fire fighters (WFF) must have an appropriate level of job-related fitness for safe and efficient work performance. Beginning in 2011, it was required that all WFF must demonstrate that they are capable of meeting the rigorous physical demands encountered during an initial attack response to a wildland fire. This decision led to the development of the Canadian Physical Performance Exchange Standard for WFF (WFX-FIT).

The Health and Fitness Federation of Canada (HFFC) is positioned to play a key role in this initiative by enabling the generation of resource materials for fitness professionals who prepare candidates for passing the WFX-FIT. An increase in the number of Certified Exercise Professionals who are able to provide customized training for WFX-FIT performance would be a definite economic benefit to the HFFC in recruiting and retaining members, to fitness professionals in enhancing their capabilities and to job-seeking WFF applicants.

This proposed project has two major objectives; (i) the synthesis and analysis of WFX-FIT pass/fail and injury rates over the years 2011-2016 and (ii) to evaluate age, sex, body mass index and provincial differences in pass/fail plus injury rates.

Zero-Emission Public Transit Fleet Systems – Year two

Electrification of transit vehicles is a part of Ontario’s long-term strategy to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, transit agencies and utility/local distribution companies face significant technological and operational hurdles in integrating “off the shelf” electric bus technologies. The postdoctoral fellow collaborating with Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium will work with transit agencies and utilities to overcome the technical challenges associated with a lack of international standardization for overhead charging systems. Also, given the absence of neutral demonstration and trial data regarding vehicle and charging station performance in real world conditions, this project will provide a cost comparative model for the lifecycle degradation of both electric and diesel buses. TO BE CONT’D

Zero-Emission Public Transit Fleet Systems

Electrification of transit vehicles is a part of Ontario’s long-term strategy to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, transit agencies and utility/local distribution companies face significant technological and operational hurdles in integrating “off the shelf” electric bus technologies. The postdoctoral fellow collaborating with Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium will work with transit agencies and utilities to overcome the technical challenges associated with a lack of international standardization for overhead charging systems. Also, given the absence of neutral demonstration and trial data regarding vehicle and charging station performance in real world conditions, this project will provide a cost comparative model for the lifecycle degradation of both electric and diesel buses. TO BE CONT’D

Regulating Abnormal Connectivity in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder via Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback – Year two

Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are characterized by decreased prefrontal cortex (PFC) regulation on hyperactive emotion generation regions, such as the amygdala. Real-time (rt)-fMRI neurofeedback allows for localized brain regions to be self-regulated through neuroimaging signal feedback. Recently within our lab, learning to decrease amygdala activation via neurofeedback was shown to normalize the neural circuitry maintaining PTSD, which was negatively correlated to symptoms. However, an intervention has not yet been developed to strengthen connectivity between emotion regulation regions (PFC) and emotion generation regions (amygdala), where an urgent need for novel treatment interventions exists particularly among military members and first responders. The objective of the current proposal is to determine if an increase in the strength of connectivity between the PFC and amygdala can be achieved via rt-fMRI neurofeedback. TO BE CONT’D

Process optimization for extraction of compounds from natural sources – Year Two

Various methods have been developed to extract compounds from fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Subcritical and supercritical extractions are the most promising techniques with high output qualities and high cost efficiencies. Running the systems at different pressures and temperatures, the essential bi-product can be extracted from the natural compounds matrix. In addition to their effectiveness, the subcritical and supercritical extraction systems are environmentally friendly processes. The proposed project focuses on optimizing the essential bi-products extraction from natural compounds matrices. This can be achieved through the use of the appropriate pressures, temperatures, and solvent flow rates. During these processes, the solvent will propagate through the natural compound matrix and extract essential bi-products with maximum yields and least energy consumption. The extracts will be used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Development of an Agent-Based Market Simulator

Financial markets today are monitored and controlled by artificial intelligent algorithms. Developing these artificial intelligent algorithms requires a large amount of testing against complex patterns and phenomena observed in stock market. The main objective of the proposed project is the development of a market simulator. This is highly challenging and yet promising direction that will allow the partner to test some of its algorithms locally before running them in the live market. The market simulator is proposed to have an exchange engine and computerized agents that will be interacting just like participants in the real market. Rationale of the agents can be derived by observing real market entities and algorithmically extracting valid elements of their behavior. By adjusting certain parameters of the agents, one can create very specific conditions or scenarios to optimize the performance of the algorithms.

Regulating Abnormal Connectivity in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder via Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback

Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are characterized by decreased prefrontal cortex (PFC) regulation on hyperactive emotion generation regions, such as the amygdala. Real-time (rt)-fMRI neurofeedback allows for localized brain regions to be self-regulated through neuroimaging signal feedback. Recently within our lab, learning to decrease amygdala activation via neurofeedback was shown to normalize the neural circuitry maintaining PTSD, which was negatively correlated to symptoms. However, an intervention has not yet been developed to strengthen connectivity between emotion regulation regions (PFC) and emotion generation regions (amygdala), where an urgent need for novel treatment interventions exists particularly among military members and first responders. The objective of the current proposal is to determine if an increase in the strength of connectivity between the PFC and amygdala can be achieved via rt-fMRI neurofeedback. TO BE CONT’T

Process optimization for extraction of compounds from natural sources

The proposed research project aims to optimize the conditions for Carbon dioxide eXpanded Liquid Extraction (CXLE) which uses liquefied Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and ethanol as co-solvents for extraction of compounds from natural sources. Design alterations will be implemented to a Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) unit at the partner organization (BioFoodTech) to perform CXLE and further increase the extraction amount as well as extraction rate. The effects of extraction conditions including temperature, pressure and molar fraction of co-solvents on the extraction process will be investigated for different compounds with varying polarities. The extraction efficiency will be then compared to the efficiency of other extraction methods including SFE and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The development of the proposed extraction system will enable BioFoodTech to provide better service to a wider range of companies and clients which will result in the faster economic growth of the natural product sector in PEI and Canada.

Feasibility of a pressure retarded osmosis process for Quebec electricity generation – Year two

Osmotic power or salinity gradient energy is one type of the renewable energies which is produced by fresh and salt water. This new environmental friendly energy based on the advantages such as carbon dioxide free and generating power continuously in all weather conditions seems to be a good option in which to invest. Therefore, investigation and research on osmotic energy and the technologies that generate it will be highly beneficial to Quebec. This project looks to develop expertise related to osmotic power. A pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) power test unit will be designed and installed in Quebec. This will be the first osmotic power system in North America. TO BE CONT’D

Feasibility of a pressure retarded osmosis process for Quebec electricity generation

Osmotic power or salinity gradient energy is one type of the renewable energies which is produced by fresh and salt water. This new environmental friendly energy based on the advantages such as carbon dioxide free and generating power continuously in all weather conditions seems to be a good option in which to invest. Therefore, investigation and research on osmotic energy and the technologies that generate it will be highly beneficial to Quebec. This project looks to develop expertise related to osmotic power. A pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) power test unit will be designed and installed in Quebec. This will be the first osmotic power system in North America. TO BE CONT’D

STUDY OF INDIAN AND UKRAINIAN LEGAL FRAMEWORKS REGULATING BIOFERTILIZERS AND BIOCONTROL AGENTS IN REFERENCE TO CANADIAN MICROBIAL PRODUCTS

Unsustainable application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has steadily declined food productivity the world over. Hence, agricultural practices need to evolve to sustainably meet the growing global demand for food without irreversibly damaging the world’s natural resources. Biofertilizers and biopesticides hold the potential to maintain agricultural productivity, while safeguarding agroecosystems and microclimates. While development/consumption of biofertilizers and biopesticides is at a record high in Canada, US, EU, Australia, Brazil and others, India and Ukraine have shown slow growth. The major challenges revolve around inadequate legislation, inadequate capacity and weak implementation of policies related to biofertilizers and biopesticides. In these countries, biofertilizers and biopesticides are still largely regulated by a legal frameworks originally designed for chemical fertilizers/pesticides. This has created market entry barriers by imposing burdensome costs on the biofertilizer/biopesticide industry. TO BE CONT’D

STUDY OF INDIAN AND UKRAINIAN LEGAL FRAMEWORKS REGULATING BIOFERTILIZERS AND BIOCONTROL AGENTS IN REFERENCE TO CANADIAN MICROBIAL PRODUCTS – Year two

This research aims at primarily analysing the legal frameworks regulating biofertilizers and biopesticides (also known as ‘biologicals’) in India and Ukraine. After studying and analysing the legal frameworks, and barriers in registration procedures for R&D, trial, transfer, trade, transport and storage of new molecules and microbial strains of agro-biologicals, a draft of alternative regulations will be suggested for biofertilizers and biocontrol agents being imported or manufactured in India and Ukraine. Simultaneously, under this research project, assessment of the effectiveness of biofertilizer/ biopesticide quality monitoring systems adopted by manufacturers, regulatory agencies and user farmers under given regulations and standards is to be done in both India and Ukraine.