FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Research Team: Victor Cho, Gabriel Aversano
gabriel.aversano@uoit.net
victor.cho@uoit.net
Supervisor: Dr. Miguel Vargas Martin
Title: Studying the Feasibility of Using Brain-Computer Interfaces to Locate Missing People
Low-cost, non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) headsets are becoming increasingly popular
over recent years. Most noteworthy is the adaptation of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) by nonacademic personnel. BCIs are devices that utilize the brainwave information collected by the EEG
headset as input to perform a certain task (e.g. controlling an avatar in a game or using a keyboard).
Traditionally, these devices have been used to analyze brainwaves of patients with mental illnesses
or disabilities, but now there has been a shift to applications for healthy people and everyday living. It
is believed that the acceptance and interest will continue to grow and we believe that BCIs can be
used to benefit society. The application we propose is to determine the locations of missing people
using BCIs. According to the National Center of Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains, over 60
000 people (approx. 1 every 9 minutes) went missing in Canada alone in 2013. Traditional methods
of asking the public for help in locating missing people is through the media and showing a photo of
the victim (e.g. Amber alerts). However, it is possible for a person to subconsciously recognize a
photo, which does not allow them to take action, as they are not consciously aware of having seen
the missing person. Whether a person recognizes someone subconsciously can be determined using
Event Related Potentials (ERPs) which is an increase in brain activity 250 to 500 milliseconds after
being exposed to a stimulus; this is also called a P3 or P300 wave. When this event triggers, an
application can report it to the authorities allowing them to act on the new tip.
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES
Poster 29
Research Team: Julia Bakker
julia.bakker@uoit.net
Supervisor: Dr. Hannah Scott
Title: Durham Drug Treatment and Mental Health Court Research Project
It has been well established that Drug Treatment Courts (DTC) work by using a therapeutic
jurisprudence approach which addresses the root causes of criminal offending. Despite the success
of DTCs, Canada still only operates with six federally funded courts. The Durham Drug Treatment
and Mental Health Court (DDTMHC) in Durham Region, Ontario, is currently operating a court that is
unfunded. The purpose of this project is to conduct a literature review capturing information on the
cost effectiveness of drug courts. Past cost analyses completed on DTCs both in Canada and the
U.S. tend to focus their attention on savings of prison costs and re-entry into the justice system. Our
current research is guided by the additional assumption that drug treatment courts save money by
also reducing health care services utilization from the DDTMHC client population. Numerous studies
reported savings from healthcare service utilization with economic benefits ranging from
approximately two dollars to twenty seven dollars for every one dollar invested. Results prove that
DTCs account for at least a twelve per cent reduction in recidivism and are a cost effective alternative
to traditional court practices.
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE
Poster 16
Research Team: Marcos Aguirre
marcosf.aguirre@gmail.com
Supervisor: Dr. Vijay Sood
Title: A Flexible Laboratory Platform for (Supporting) Multi-Disciplinary Electrical Engineering Courses
As technical systems have become more complex, engineers are required to have a deeper
understanding of many various electrical engineering topics such as: electronics, control systems,
communication, power and signal processing.
To train engineers of the future conversant in these multi-disciplinary and often diverse fields, it is
required to have a flexible laboratory platform that supports multidisciplinary areas.
This research project focuses on the practical hands-on integration of different multidisciplinary fields
using a unique development platform. Furthermore, the project enabled to validate, test and extend
its operating limits in order to improve the quality of the product. In addition, a set of laboratory
manuals to complement this platform is being developed.
For future research endeavours, the platform is now being utilized for incorporating renewable energy
capabilities.
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
Poster 55
Research Team: Andrew Varley
andrew.varley@sympatico.ca
Supervisor: Dr. Janice Strap
Title: Influence of Plant Associated Compounds on Bacterial Cellulose Production
Gluconacetobacter species grow in close association with plants and are of interest for their ability to
synthesize cellulose pellicles. The aim of this work was to identify possible regulatory influences of
plant-derived compounds as well as their potential to serve as alternative carbon sources for cellulose
production by Gluconacetobacter xylinus ATCC 53582 and Gluconacetobacter hansenii ATCC
23769. Cultures were inoculated in Schramm-Hestrin (SH) medium with and without glucose
supplemented with 0.5%, 0.05%, or 0.005% (w/v) xylan, lignin, cellobiose, colloidal chitin, and
polyethylene glycol of molecular weight 4000 and 8000. Pellicle size, wet weight, and dry weight as
well as pH of culture broths were measured after seven days of static growth at 30 degrees celsius.
G. xylinus cultures consistently produced larger pellicles than G. hansenii. Interestingly, G. xylinus
also reduced the pH of the medium to a greater extent than G. hansenii, which are known to
reproduce faster providing some insight into the energy requirements of these bacteria with respect to
the synthesis of the biopolymer cellulose. This greatly impacts our ability to manipulate cellulose
production and composition for industrial applications.
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Poster 36
Research Team: Amanda Latchman
amanda.latchman@uoit.net
Supervisor: Dr. Brenda Gamble
Title: The Importance of Pre-clinical Intervention to Extend the “Chain of Survival” Following Cardiac
Arrest in Durham Region
Resuscitation Science is envisioned as a continuum of care that extends across pre-hospital
interventions, resuscitation, and post resuscitation. This study reports on public health’s contributions
within the pre-clinical setting towards extending the “Chain of Survival” following cardiac arrest. The
survival rate of cardiac arrest rarely exceeds 5%. Document synthesis was conducted from
September 2013 to March 2014 using CIHR guidelines as part of an extensive systemic review.
Subsequently, an annotated bibliography was created and a report was generated in preparation for
the Durham Region Resuscitation Research Collaborative’s (DRRRC) upcoming Planning Day
following the CIHR’s “Guide to Knowledge Synthesis.” During May to August 2014, an infographic
was created using Microsoft PowerPoint to illustrate the importance of pre-clinical intervention to fight
cardiac arrest. Subsequently, a questionnaire was created using MachForm software to further
engage stakeholders of the DRRRC and obtain demographic information to better organize Planning
Day discussion groups. The literature suggests that the proposed efforts of the DRRRC could benefit
all residents of Durham Region and counteract the escalating rate of occurrence.
FACULTY OF ENERGY SYSTEMS AND NUCLEAR SCIENCE
Poster 12
Research Team: Daniel Kupchak
daniel.kupchak@uoit.net
Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer McKellar
Title: Life-Cycle Assessment and Financial Analysis for In-situ Gasification of Bitumen
In-situ gasification (ISG) is a bitumen recovery method which injects oxygen into a production well to
produce hydrogen, methane and CO2 in addition to bitumen. This study conducts a life-cycle
assessment (LCA) and financial analysis to determine the impact the consumption of gas products
on-site has on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the economic feasibility of ISG. The LCA takes
a comparative approach between an ISG and a typical steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)
project. In addition to base cases, the impact of co-generation and upgrading methods are assessed;
the result is a total of eight scenarios analyzed. Finally, a net present value analysis is used to
evaluate the financial performance of each scenario. ISG results in a reduction of natural gas
purchases and eliminates the need for on-site hydrogen production through steam-methane
reformation when compared with SAGD. These positive results are offset by high capital costs,
electricity consumption and GHG emissions. Preliminary findings show that the total cost per barrel
ranges from $0–6 less than the base case if ISG is used; this indicates the ISG process shows
potential as an economic recovery method for bitumen.
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
Poster 56
Research Team: Kevin Mooney
kevin.mooney@uoit.net
Supervisor: Dr. Jia Li
Title: Multiliteracies education: Canadian and Hong Kong university students connected
in a web 2.0 learning environment
Acknowledgements
This study was a collaborative effort between UOIT and Chinese University of Hong
Kong, funded by UOIT SSHRC Internal grant and CUHK IT in Education Project Fund.
Research Objectives
This study included two main objectives:
1) To enhance its participant's skills and abilities in utilizing, re-purposing, and creating
high quality OERs (Open Educational Resources).
2) To create a social networking platform where participants would be able to create,
share and learn about effective teaching practices. Specifically regarding OERs as well
as multiliteracy instruction and assessment to cater to a diversity of learners.
Participants
Participants of this project were students at two universities; one in Canada and the
other in Hong Kong. Participants interacted and engaged in discussions with each other
weekly through WebKF. (Web Knowledge Forum), a web based messaging board.
The participant group was ethnically diverse. The Canadian participants represented 20
different ethnic backgrounds while the Hong Kong students represented 4 different
ethnic backgrounds. All students on the Hong Kong side were bi-lingual with English as
their second language. On the Canadian side 23% of participants also reported English
as their second language with the remaining 77% reporting being native English
speakers.
Included in this study were 31 Canadian undergraduate students who were registered in
the Cultures and Digital Technologies course at an Ontario University. 15 students were
in the Adult Education and Digital Technology program, 10 students were in the
Bachelor of Commerce program with the remaining 6 majoring in subjects including
game design and computer science.
On the Hong Kong side there were 39 student participants. Included were students from
the Faculty of Education; two were from Department of Fine Arts and Department of
Psychology. The majority were year 1 undergraduate students while the remaining 3
were year 4 students who had just finished their teaching practicum.
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Research Methods
We employed mixed methods of research and online surveys for this project. Students
were observed as they interacted with their peers in the class' online community. Our
research involved elements of netnography, an extension of ethnography, which
involves the analysis of the behaviour of members of online communities. Netnographic
research uses natural observational techniques to gain an unbiased point of view
(Kozinets, 2010). The netnography approach is a newly emerged methodology
specifically designed to study behaviours of users within social media networks and
other online communities (Kozinets, 2002). We specifically used netnography to explore
users’ perceptions of their cross-border discussions and interactions. This data was
used to illustrate how knowledge creation and learning can occur through a reflective
discourse among members of innovative online communities.
Data collected through netnography included students online reflections regarding three
selected themes, their responses to peers’ postings, links to their assigned projects
which were also posted on other social networks, blogs and YouTube, and student
discussions on others group projects.
Participants were surveyed regarding their thoughts on using OERs (Open Educational
Resources) and their online discussion and sharing experiences. Surveys completed by
both groups of participants focused on individual experiences with other cultures,
spoken second languages, OERs and using web 2.0 as an effective communication tool
and learning environment. The survey also included information on the participant's
ethnic backgrounds.
The surveys used a six-point Likert scale to collect feedback from both Canadian and
Hong Kong students. Each survey was divide into three parts. Participant's first provided
information on their cultural heritage, experience and linguistic background. The second
section focused the participants’ online interactions with one another. In the final
section, survey participants’ provided feedback on using and creating OERs. The
survey was designed and administered using SurveyMonkey. Students were given 1520 minutes of class time to completely answer all survey questions. The survey also
included several comment sections where participants provided personal insights into
certain elements of the project.
Findings
Overall both sets of students reported enjoying their online interactions with their
international peers. 93% of students on the Canadian side agreed that the experience of
participating in this cross-border communication has broadened their vision of the
diverse use of new technologies in educational settings. While 86% agreed that
participation in this study had helped heighten their understanding of cross cultural
communications as well as developing OER's for a multiliteracy audience.
51
On the Hong Kong side 76% of participants agreed that participating in this project had
helped them to realize the importance of using digital technologies to enhance their
communication and learning in cross-cultural contexts. Furthermore, 79% agreed that
as result of this experience, they would attempt to incorporate transnational learning
communities in their future teaching, learning and professional practices.
The survey data also revealed that the majority of students responded favourably to the
use of Open Educational Resources. On the Canadian side over 90% agreed that
participating in this study had increased their awareness of using and remixing OERs.
80% of participant's stated that they would attempt to incorporate OERs in their future
teaching, learning and professional practice. Finally, 70% agreed that they would like to
provide their final assignments as an OER for the non-profit teaching and learning
purposes.
The Hong Kong students shared similar views on OER's with 73% agreeing that by
participating in this project they had enhanced their awareness of using and remixing
Open Educational Resources to transform teaching and learning experiences. 69% of
students agreed that they would like provide their final assignments as OER for the nonprofit
teaching and learning purposes.
Social networking and web 2.0 technologies will inevitably become a more attractive
medium of instruction for educational institutions, particularly for institutions on restricted
budgets. (Weber, 2012). A survey conducted in 2003 Of the 2,200 U.S. colleges and
universities reported that 57% of academic leaders rated the learning outcomes in
online education as being equal to or better than the outcomes in traditional classroom
settings (Allen & Seaman, 2006).
The participants in this study also demonstrated favourable responses to using these
technologies as part of their university education. This feedback reveals that students
can achieve academic satisfaction through a web 2.0 course offering. That coupled with
the fact that the majority of students involved also supported offering their course
materials as OER's demonstrates an interesting shift towards a generation of teachers
who are thinking of designing educational materials for an minternational market.
By offering course materials for free as OER's and by using web 2.0 technologies we
will be ensuring that education remains accessible to the masses and does not exclude
anyone based on income, geographical location or cultural affiliation. This is an
important shift for the future of education because “universal access to information and
knowledge is key to building peace, sustainable social and economic development, and
intercultural dialogue” (Unesco, 2014).
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Potential Research and Educational Impact
This transnational project provided Canadian and HK students a great opportunity to
understand each other’s culture in depth. It also provided participants with the
opportunity to practically apply skills in adapting and creating high quality OERs from
various contexts. This gave participants a practical opportunity to improve their teaching
and learning skills in a professional setting. It also illustrated how including distance
learning using web 2.0 technology could enhance instruction to meet students’ needs,
regardless of physical location or ethnic background, which highlights the potential to
facilitate collaboration between teachers in transnational learning communities. Through
these innovative practices educators and students can start to take initiatives in
restructuring multiliteracy curricula and practices.
References:
Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2007). Making the grade: Online education in the United
States, 2006. Sloan Consortium. PO Box 1238, Newburyport, MA 01950.
Kozinets, R. V. (2002). The field behind the screen: using netnography for marketing
research in online communities. Journal of marketing research, 39(1), 61-72.
Kozinets, R. V. (2010). Netnography: The marketer’s secret weapon. Netbase
Solutions, Inc.
UNESCO. (n.d.). UNESCO. Retrieved August 1, 2014, from http://www.unesco.org/
Weber, A. (2012). Considerations for social network site (sns) use in
education.International Journal of Digital Information and Wireless Communications
(IJDIWC), 2(4), 37-52.