Latest news with #SimonFraserUniversity
CBC
20 hours ago
- Science
- CBC
SFU technology turns waste heat into cool air
Simon Fraser University professor Majid Bahrami talks about how to convert waste heat into cool air.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Early Warning Sign for Children's ADHD Risk Discovered
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A developmental sign in early childhood could help to flag the future likelihood of ADHD—and ensure the right support is given at the right time. Brain wiring at this stage of life could lay the foundation for attention-related skills and hold the key to identifying young children who might go on to develop the neurodevelopmental condition. This is the conclusion of researchers from Canada's Simon Fraser University (SFU), who examined how the brain's structure and function develop and interact during the "critical" early years. "Think of it like a city," said Randy McIntosh, study author and founder of SFU's Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (INN), in a statement. "The roads are the brain's structure, and the traffic is the brain's activity. In young kids at this age, it turns out the roads matter most. "If the roads aren't built well, traffic can't flow smoothly, and that can affect how well kids can focus, switch tasks, and ignore distractions." Smiling little girl with two pony tails looking at camera. Smiling little girl with two pony tails looking at camera. Ridofranz/Getty Images "Genetics, prenatal factors, and early experiences may influence brain wiring," McIntosh explained to Newsweek. "Variations in these factors could cause differences in how brain networks that support attention develop. "In our study of typical development, we identified patterns related to attentional performance, which can serve as a baseline for future research into deviations observed in ADHD and the factors that affect them." Building on previous research, the researchers said studying both structural and functional connectivity changes can help to explain healthy neurodevelopmental patterns and potential predictive factors of behavioral outcomes. The study followed 39 children aged four to seven over the course of one year, using MRI scans to measure these types of connectivity in the brain. Participants performed tasks that assessed sustained attention (staying focused), selective attention (ignoring distractions) and executive attention (switching between tasks). The research team then applied graph theory—a method involving mathematical structures often used to study social networks—to analyze how different brain regions were connected and how those connections changed over time. They discovered that children performed better on attention tasks when their brain networks were organized like social networks with "tight-knit friend groups", where brain regions were more connected to others in their own group and had fewer connections with regions in other groups. "This age range, just before and during the early school years, is a critical time. It's when kids are facing new learning demands," said Leanne Rokos, study author and INN research technician, in a statement. "It's also when early interventions like behavioral therapy, school support plans, social skills training, and parent training can make a difference." "We know that social connection supports social and emotional development which is often affected in today's current society. With more and more young children and families spending time on technology and living in their individual silos this can have detrimental impacts on these areas of development," educational psychologist Emily Crosby, who was not involved in the study, told Newsweek. "The first three years—or 1,001 days—are the most important years for a child as this is also when a child forms an attachment style that will impact on their later attachments, even into their later romantic relationships. A child who has an anxious, insecure or avoidant attachment may be more hypervigilant which can present as attention difficulties. "It is about supporting parents early on to provide an optimal secure attachment so a child feels safe and secure [including helping parents to work on their own childhood experiences]." Little smiling boy holding the leg of his dad. Little smiling boy holding the leg of his dad. Prostock-Studio/Getty Images The researchers explained that "local clustering" and "weighted degree metrics" identified key regions where lower structural connectivity segregation was associated with better selective attention skills in older children. However in different regions—like one linked to spatial orientation—greater structural connectivity weighted degree and clustering appeared to be beneficial. "Evidently, early childhood is an extremely dynamic period where cognitive functioning is intricately and predominantly linked to structural network features. The current findings carry numerous implications for understanding healthy development and identifying potential targets for neurodevelopmental disorders," they wrote in the paper. The focus on brain wiring also lays the groundwork for future applications, according to the researchers, including the use of computer-based models like The Virtual Brain, a simulation platform co-developed at SFU. The tool helps researchers and clinicians model individual brain development and test potential interventions in a virtual environment. Their goal is create personalized models of brain development and try to simulate how a child's brain is wired and how it might change over time. "The hope is that understanding how a child's brain typically develops may allow us to identify risks early, tailor support more effectively, and offer it so that it can have the greatest impact," McIntosh explained. "This might include behavioral support to improve problem-solving skills, self-esteem, or self-control; school plans that accommodate a child's needs; and guidance for parents." Little girl with brain wiring illustrated over her head. Little girl with brain wiring illustrated over her head. Userba011d64_201/Getty Images "I think this study has the potential in showing how early childhood experiences can affect brain wiring which can have implications in supporting children and parents in those early years," said Crosby. "However, the study may have some negative connotations suggesting that ADHD is something we want to stop or reduce which is not the case but more that we want to support those with ADHD in understanding themselves and finding ways to support their associated difficulties. ADHD can offer lots of positives such as hyperfocus and some of the most innovative entrepreneurs have ADHD." In response to this, McIntosh said, "We are interested in how the brain's networks develop in early childhood and how this development might relate to different aspects of cognitive and behavioural health later on. The methods we use could, in principle, be applied to many areas. ADHD is just one example of where understanding brain development might help guide support and resources. "The goal is not to reduce or eliminate traits, but to better understand how varied developmental paths emerge, and how we can create environments that enable every child to succeed." Crosby also explained the genetic predisposition ADHD can have can also be exacerbated by early childhood trauma. "It is not yet clear whether someone with ADHD is more likely to be affected by trauma or whether the trauma can make it more likely for a child or adult to develop ADHD." While MRI technology isn't yet widely accessible for routine screening, the study authors hope their work will help lead to more targeted, efficient and accessible tools for assessing brain health in children. "These tools might include simpler, more affordable options such as computerized tests, wearable devices that track brain activity, or questionnaires designed to identify children who could benefit from further assessment," said McIntosh. "By exploring the link between brain measurements and behavoir or other easily measurable indicators, we can use more accessible tools to evaluate children's brain health." "We want to find the minimum amount of data needed to get a reliable picture of brain development," he added in a statement. "That way, we can bring these tools into more communities—even rural or remote ones—and support kids as early as possible." The researchers said long-term studies with a broader age range would better clarify how brain development influences attention over time. A larger and more diverse sample would also help ensure their findings are widely applicable. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about ADHD? Let us know via health@ Reference Rokos, L., Bray, S. L., Neudorf, J., Samson, A. D., Shen, K., & McIntosh, A. R. (2025). Examining Relationships between Functional and Structural Brain Network Architecture, Age, and Attention Skills in Early Childhood. eNeuro, 12(7).
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
This Surrey development is being billed as 'Canada's first 15-minute city.' Will it meet everyone's needs?
For decades, a small area of Surrey's Whalley neighbourhood has had a sketchy reputation, known as a place for fights, stabbings and frequent calls to police. The Flamingo Hotel housed The Byrd pub, one of the last stripper bars in the Lower Mainland, complete with brass poles, a stage created in the '70s, and pink 'Live Nude Girls' signage. It got international notoriety in 1985 for hosting a 'dwarf-tossing' contest and was also the last place at least two people were seen before they were murdered. Vancouver drug dealer Roy Eldon Alle was found in 1993 in a ditch in Whalley with a bullet in his head and a yellow rope tied around his neck. Police found his jeep parked at the hotel. Four years later, the body of Norma Jane Cowley, 31, was found on the front lawn of a home on 108 Avenue, a few hours after she'd left the lounge. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Today, the area, located in the hub of Whalley, just off the busy King George Boulevard and 108 Avenue, has been completely transformed. The first of three highrise residential towers is set to open for residents in the coming weeks. Called Flamingo One, the sold-out 35-storey building — adorned with a pink flamingo on one side — features 375 units, ranging from studios to two-bedroom suites. Flamingo Two will be 37 storeys and while Flamingo Three will 46 storeys. A six-storey commercial and work space, called Flamingo Block, will complete the vision to turn the area into a mixed-use district for living, working and playing. Completion of the entire project, including the Whalley Station tower of condos and commercial space, is scheduled for 2027. The project's developer, Tien Sher Group, is marketing the area as 'Canada's first 15-minute city,' an urban planning concept that dictates all key amenities should be within a 15-minute walk, cycle or transit ride. Residents won't have to venture far to access a variety of restaurants, grocery stores, a recreation centre, and one of the city's most popular outdoor spaces, Holland Park. The park sits across the street from Central City Shopping Centre, which also houses Simon Fraser University's Surrey campus. The nearest SkyTrain station is about an 11-minute walk away, an elementary school 10 minutes away, and city hall about 15 minutes. 'I didn't want to do just one building at a time, it had to be a community. So we started building a community and planning in that way. … I don't build condos, I build communities,' said Charan Sethi, Tien Sher's president. Fifteen-minute cities is a concept most people are receptive to in Surrey, according to Meghan Winters, a Simon Fraser University researcher in the faculty of health sciences who studied the topic and its feasibility in Surrey. Many newcomers to Surrey and seniors rely on walking or public transit as their primary mode of travel already, she found, so increasing the viability is a welcome change. 'Surrey is different than Vancouver with the downtown core that's been built up for some time. It was interesting to look at 15-minute concepts in these rapidly developing kinds of settings, so Surrey would be one example,' she said. Winters agreed with Sethi that Whalley is a good testing ground for this concept since it is already rich with offerings people enjoy. But access to amenities isn't the only thing people are looking for, said Winters, who conducted the study alongside research manager Aman Chandi and student researcher Aayush Sharma. Investing in adequate street lighting, having benches on sidewalks, water fountains and public washrooms can help create that safe environment to encourage and facilitate walking and biking, Winters said. 'Really facilitating the pedestrian experience isn't something you can overlook. … I would really like to see developers, as they're building up towers in communities, making sure they're doing investments in the public realm. If we're not doing our part to design cities so people don't need to rely on cars, it's also going to bring in motor vehicle traffic at the same time.' There are some limitations to 15-minute city concepts, Winters continued. Many people living in Surrey already live in areas that could be considered to fit this model but don't check all the boxes, she said. One of the gaps her research team found was closeness to their preferred places of worship, which many residents considered their community centres. They may live close to a religious facility or grocery store or medical office, but 'I can't tell you it's your temple that's nearby you, I can't say it's your doctor that's within walking distance,' she said. 'Just because it's there doesn't necessarily mean it meets your needs.' Many study participants shared they did not use all amenities around them. Some people travelled to Newton for its ethnic grocery stores and settlement services, regardless of where they lived in Surrey. The study found families with children, or households identified as having core housing needs — meaning their homes are not affordable to them, need major repairs or do not have enough bedrooms for each person living there — were least likely to be living in a 15-minute neighbourhood. Some drawbacks identified by Surrey residents in the study were overcrowding that can come with densifying areas, a fear of gentrification pushing current residents and small businesses out and neighbourhoods becoming 'hubs for elites or investors,' and rent hikes. Sethi maintains his development is intended 'for everyone.' 'I don't want to cater to only older people or only young people. There's not one segment I wanted to cater to. We wanted to build a community that's like a neighbourhood with children around,' he said. Creating safe communities, he added, is one of his goals. 'When everything is in walking distance, when there's a lot more people outside on the streets, it feels safer.' According to an online listing, Flamingo One's studio apartments start at $299,900 while two-bedrooms in the area go for $639,900 to start. smoman@
Toronto Star
03-08-2025
- Automotive
- Toronto Star
EVs have become a litmus test for whether we're still America's buddy — or ready to be a global Canada
By Joanna Kyriazis and Trevor Melanson Contributors Joanna Kyriazis is the director of public affairs and Trevor Melanson is the director of communications at Clean Energy Canada, a think tank at Simon Fraser University. There are few Canadian markets more integrated with the U.S. than vehicles. And not just the cars we build in Ontario, but the ones we drive across this country. We rely on U.S. safety standards that effectively determine which cars end up on dealership lots, align our tailpipe emission standards and when the U.S. under Biden erected a 100 per cent tariff wall on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), did Canada look to Europe's much lower tariff or the U.K.'s lack of one? No, we put up a 100 per cent tariff wall too. Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
CBC
02-08-2025
- Business
- CBC
Vancouver's set to co-host World Cup next year. Who stands to benefit?
World Cup soccer is just a year away from descending on Vancouver. And while some are thrilled about international football stars coming to their backyard, others are concerned about the potential negative effects of hosting one of the biggest sporting tournaments in the world. "There's a concern that the city is really not seeing this as an opportunity to bring the community in ... but an opportunity to shut the community out in order to invite particular kinds of visitors to the expectations of FIFA," Meg Holden, an urbanist at Simon Fraser University, told The Current guest host Catherine Cullen. Holden's concern stems from a 98-page document detailing the stipulations of Vancouver's deal with FIFA to host part of the 2026 World Cup, which was made public on July 15 thanks to a three-year legal battle from independent journalist Bob Mackin. Vancouver and Toronto will both represent Canada as co-host cities during the tournament, jointly hosted in 2026 by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. But even though just seven games will be played at BC Place in Vancouver, some people have big concerns about its impact on the community, and who will actually see the profits. Branding, traffic, 'beautification' rules applied According to the document, Vancouver will have to enforce what's called a controlled area on a match day, as well as the day before a match day, within two kilometres of BC Place. That means the city will be required to cover up or remove "any advertisement and commercial identification located within the controlled area," though what that will look like is unclear. The document also says that public sales of food, beverages, fan items, souvenirs or similar products in the controlled area "must be in accordance with the restrictions defined, and further instructions provided by FIFA." In an emailed statement to the CBC, the Vancouver Host Committee said the controlled area "is in place specifically for the purpose of preventing unauthorized marketing to ensure protection of the FIFA Intellectual Property (IP), also known as their brand." It said that it will not require businesses in the area to close. City beautification, which involves making the city "as attractive as possible," is also mandatory within that same radius, along with traffic restrictions. Holden says this is especially alarming, as that includes Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, which has struggled with crime and homelessness, and could make life difficult for the most vulnerable. "Air quality inside can be terrible. Air quality outside could be terrible if we have a bad forest fire season. What are the plans to make life tolerable for people?" said Holden. City councillor Mike Klassen told CBC's On The Coast guest host Amy Bell that the city won't displace anyone, including those who live in the Downtown Eastside. Klassen said he wants the city to be "really sensitive and supportive" of people in the downtown core, but also wants to ensure "our city sparkles" as tens of thousands of spectators from around the world are about to visit. WATCH | Vancouver councillor addresses business concerns over FIFA contract: Vancouver councillor addresses business concerns over FIFA contract 11 days ago Cost of doing business FIFA is leaving additional costs for venues, policing, organizing, or security to the city. Organizers estimate it will cost between $532 million and $624 million to host the event in Vancouver. Some of that will be covered by the provincial government. Despite reassurances from the city, Jules Boykoff says residents should be very concerned about what hosting a World Cup event will mean for them. Boykoff is a professor of politics and government at Pacific University in Oregon, and has taken a deep dive into the long-term impacts of mega sporting events. "These sporting events, like the FIFA World Cup of soccer or the Olympic Games, tend to benefit the upper echelons of economic society at the expense oftentimes of working class people in the host city," he said. The province has said it estimates about a million out-of-province travellers will visit Vancouver between 2026 and 2031 because of the event, which will lead to an additional $1 billion in visitor spending. But Boykoff, who has written six books on the impact of the Olympic Games on host cities, finds it's usually the big sponsors who are raking in the extra cash, not local businesses. WATCH | Vancouver's FIFA World Cup contract could affect downtown restaurants: Vancouver's FIFA World Cup contract could affect downtown restaurants 13 days ago "When you look at those rosy forecasts that were made in the bid process for the FIFA World Cup, they've really wilted under the heat of reality," said Boykoff. "I mean, costs are increasing in city after city, and these cities are facing real fiscal pressure." In 2018, Chicago withdrew its bid to host World Cup games, saying it felt FIFA could not provide necessary details around how Chicago residents would be impacted. Then in 2021, Montreal withdrew its bid over a lack of provincial government support. Edmonton had a bid to host games, but wasn't chosen. Meanwhile, Boykoff says the World Cup means big bucks for its host organization. FIFA reported over $7.5 billion US in revenue between 2019 and 2022. PR firm Pitch Marketing Group estimates FIFA's revenue will surpass $10 billion US at the 2026 World Cup. According to Vancouver's 98-page contract, FIFA will keep the revenue from ticket sales and sponsorships. "So they have money and they could spread it around, but they tend to be quite miserly with it and look out for their own interests, not the city in which they're visiting," said Boykoff. City accountability Meg Holden says the City of Vancouver already took a big misstep when it originally promised a field at Memorial South Park as training grounds for the Canadian men's national team, switched to the existing National Soccer Development Centre at UBC following public outcry. The host committee says it's working with major businesses within the area to minimize disruptions, and will be ramping up that outreach to include local businesses, stakeholders and residents over the next year. Holden says the city could benefit from doing something similar to what it did ahead of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. It hosted a plebiscite about the Winter Games, giving people a chance to voice their concerns and hopes for the big-time event.
