Innovative Projects Realized

Exploring the Experiences of Individuals Impacted by Eating Disorder Symptoms with a Virtual Support Program: A Canadian Qualitative Study

With the number of eating disorders rising during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Body Brave launched the Recovery Support Program as an online platform for individuals (ages 17 and up) experiencing eating disorder symptoms to access support. In this program, clients are offered check-ins, recovery sessions, and resources using a stepped-care model. In addition to various numerical report about the success of the project, a deeper exploration of how clients are liking it and if their needs are being met is still needed. For this, our project aims to interview a range of individual who have accessed the Recovery Support Program since its launch about their perceptions and experiences of the platform. With this knowledge, Body Brave can improve the program so that it can better meet the needs of its client base and relieve some of the strain being experienced by the Canadian healthcare system.

Mathematical analysis of a dynamical model describing the hedonic dimension of happiness

Happiness has always captured the attention of societies around the world. However, it was just at the beginning of the twenty first century, with the emergence of Positive Psychology, that a more scientific approach to the subject was undertaken. Due to the dynamic and fluctuating nature of happiness, mathematical modelling is recognized as an important tool to understand the psychological processes involved in the experience of well-being.
This project aims at analyzing, both numerically and analytically, the dynamical behaviour of a mathematical model describing the hedonic (pleasure) dimension of the experience of happiness based on an approach-avoidance motivation and behaviour towards pleasant or unpleasant stimuli and the effect of a hedonic adaptation mechanism. The analysis will be carried out by simplifying the model into cases so that traditional discrete dynamical systems tools can be used to identify possible causes for steady or cyclic behaviours in an individual’s levels of happiness.

Sub-analysis of the North American COVD-19 and STEMI (NACMI) Registry

Research has confirmed the lethal effects of the COVID-19 virus on the cardiac function, and thus the proposed research will investigate the use of heart imaging data during a hospital intervention can help us understand what happens to those with both COVID-19 and a heart attack. This research is being conducted using a multi-centre approach across North America in 16 different sites, and will provide the most rigorously assessed database currently available on COVID-19 and heart attacks. This study will all allow healthcare providers to better address the medical needs of patients with COVID-19 and heart attacks, and will allow the partner organization (PVRI) to be recognized world-wide for the research capacity in Canada.

Predicting stellar flares using hidden Markov models

Certain classes of stars in the universe emit flares – dramatic bursts of energy that appear across the electromagnetic spectrum. Flare activity for these stars is highly variable across time, and predicting this behaviour is an interesting problem both from an astronomical and from a statistical viewpoint. Within the field of astrostatistics, “changepoint detection” models seek to identify the previous times at which a flare star switches from a low-energy to a high-energy state by examining streams of photon emissions from the star. In this project, we aim to upgrade the astrostatistical toolbox by applying “hidden Markov models” to the same kinds of data, which will not only let us simulate the mechanisms that drive flare emissions, but also allow us to predict future flares.

Investigation of eDNA air sampling as a tool for bat conservation and management: implications for mine reclamation and closure planning

A new method to determine whether wildlife are present in certain habitats has been developed that involves collecting environmental samples (water, soil, air) and testing them in a laboratory for the presence of cells and tissue that have been shed by wildlife into their environment. These cells and tissue can include hair, saliva, skin cells, faeces, urine, and once shed are referred to as environmental DNA or eDNA. This project will test whether the presence of bats in underground mine habitats can be detected by sampling the air from inside the mine and testing it in the laboratory for the presence of bat eDNA. The results of this research will demonstrate the strengths and limitations of eDNA air sampling for bats and will guide improvements if necessary. Effective, safe, and cost­ efficient methods to identify and monitor underground mine sites used by bats are critical to balancing the needs of wildlife with mine closure and reclamation.

Decision Making Using Multi-Criterion DecisionAnalysis

This project is to enable groups of people to better brainstorm decisions in which people can have divergent opinions. Building on ValueCharts that lets people input their utility, we will build a tool that lets decision makers explore the space of the expressed opinion to see where there are differences and whether they matter to the decision being made.

Population dynamics of urban black-tailed deer in response to experimentally manipulated fawning rates, across landscapes with high and low immigration potential

Urban black-tailed deer in Esquimalt BC have increased in number, leading to their perception as pests and posing risks to residents through traffic accidents. Lethal removal programs (i.e., culling) are unethical and based on little scientific evidence. We seek to use more humane methods of population control by reducing deer birth rate using birth-control vaccines. However, any management actions taken should require testing to ensure effectiveness (a step rarely taken with culling programs). To estimate the effectiveness of these vaccines on reducing deer density, we will use remotely operated cameras to estimate deer density before and after vaccine treatment. The benefits to the Township of Esquimalt will be the implementation of a humane urban wildlife control program, which will be more cost effective in the long term and result in reduced human-wildlife conflict.

Mangez frais/Eat Fresh

La Commission des services régionaux Nord-Ouest (CSRNO) va implanter un programme Mangez frais/ Eat Fresh dans la grande région de Grand-Sault jusqu’à la grande région d’Edmundston et les environs.

Ce programme consistera a offrir des sacs de des fruits et légumes frais peu dispendieux.

Ultrasound shear wave elastography for knee collateral ligaments and intervertebral discs

The goal of this project is to help understand how patient descriptions of joint pain and disability relate to the mechanical properties of joint tissues to better design solutions for patients. This project will focus on developing ultrasound methods to quantitatively measure the biomechanical properities and function of human joint soft-tissue. The project will start by applying existing working algorithms that use ultrasound shear wave elastography to measure strain and mechanical properties, with a focus on collateral ligaments in the knee. During the project, the research will broaden to include a novel application of the method for intervertebral discs. This will introduce the use of the technology in the spine in Canada, and further characterize it’s use in the knee, improving the research capabilities of both groups in Canada and the UK. Longer term goals from this work are centered around the health and economic benefits of decreased joint pain.

Identification des déterminants de l’évolution d’une culture en SST au sein d’une organisation

Soucieuse d’améliorer ses résultats en SST, Sobeys Québec envisage d’instaurer une véritable culture de sécurité dans son organisation, afin d’atteindre des résultats à la fois probants et durables. À cet effet, les divisions Entrepôts et Logistique de Sobeys ont organisé, le 19 octobre 2013, une journée de réflexion pour les membres de la direction du groupe et des sites. Lors de cette journée, de nombreuses idées et suggestions ont été émises, et le tout a été pris en note. Par contre, le plan de match global et les pistes de mise en oeuvre ne sont pas clairs pour autant. Selon la littérature scientifique, cet état de fait se retrouve couramment en entreprise.Le présent projet vise donc à faire un diagnostic de la culture SST, à proposer des pistes d’amélioration de la culture, à accompagner leur mise en oeuvre et à en mesurer les effets.

Implementation and Best Practices of Community Outreach Strategies

Barriers to ensuring robust community participation, culturally appropriate outreach and relationship development, and a holistic, sensitive, and suitable path forward appear when the organisation moves forward with its mission. The goal of this project is to build on previous work completed by a prior intern and help further develop strategies for engagement in the North.

Iron Fox Games – BSI

Iron Fox Games (IFG) is presently a 23-person work-for-hire studio built on decades of experience making mobile games with the world’s biggest brands (The Simpsons, Marvel, Disney, Hasbro, and Star Wars). IFG is also quietly building up it’s own IP (code named Project PETS) for eventual release, either independently or with the help of a publisher in the mobile gaming space. The Iron Fox Kit powering this original IP is a tech stack with original invention to serve IFG’s needs during development and operation of the title as well as business opportunities on future mobile development. Project PETS is an original IP created and owned by Iron Fox Games. Today the title is in pre-production with the aim to have a first-playable build ready before the end of 2022. Publishing discussions are expected to start in Q2 2023.