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2018 — Play It Loud: A Creative Music Program For Youth In ReginaRésumé
Play it Loud was a creative music project I developed for youth in residence at Ranch Ehrlo, a multiservice agency providing care for families and youth in Saskatchewan. As an interdisciplinary project drawing on artistic and ethnographic qualitative research methodologies, it seeks to understand how youth in care, facing a diverse set of challenges, grow and heal while creating new music. I believe playing music can promote healing and growth in youth. I used musical improvisation as the pedagogical foundation to create the opportunity for participants to teach themselves through experimentation and enable their creative expression. In response to the … Lire la suite
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2018 — On the Effects of Nonlinearity Between Variables on the Correlation CoefficientRésumé
A simulation study by Monte-Carlo method was used to investigate the e ect of violating the assumption of bivariate normality on the Pearson correlation coe cient. We also examined the impacts of nonlinearity between a pair of variables when they are not independent, even though the population correlation is zero. The results of the study showed that there is a great impact when such violations of normality occur. It also showed the rate of Type I error can either be quite small or large in contrast to the assumed error rate. We made a recommendation that the t statistic be … Lire la suite
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2018 — Kinetic Studies on Catalyst-Aided Absorption and Desorption in a Bench-Scale Post-Combustion CO2 Capture Pilot Plant Using a Novel Solvent BlendRésumé
A total of seven solid base/alkaline catalysts comprising BaCO3, CaCO3, Ca(OH)2, Cs2O/α-Al2O3, Cs2O/γ-Al2O3, K/MgO and Hydrotalcite were screened on a semi-batch scale to select the most suitable for CO2 absorption into a novel aqueous solvent, BEA/AMP. The selected catalyst was incorporated into the absorber section of a benchscale pilot plant and its kinetic performance was evaluated. Intrinsic kinetic data were extracted and kinetic parameters were determined. Both cases of reversible and irreversible reactions of CO2 with the aqueous BEA/AMP solvent were analysed. An activation energy, Ea of 5.67E+04 J/mol and 3.40E+04 J/mol were obtained for the reversible and irreversible cases … Lire la suite
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2018 — Catalytic Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Camelina Sativa Residues for the Production of Biogasoline Range Liquid BiofuelRésumé
Camelina Sativa residue was used as a feedstock to investigate the production of biogasoline from the biomass material by catalyst-assisted hydrothermal liquefaction process. In the new process development, a non-catalytic experimental performance evaluation was conducted as a baseline process to compare and evaluate catalytic performance. Four commercially available catalysts otherwise called precursors were initially tested to set the stage for the performance evaluation of the in-house developed catalysts. The commercial catalysts used were HZSM-5, SiO2-Al2O3, SBA-15 and γ-Al2O3. The performance activities of the commercial catalysts show no sign of improved biomass conversion compared to non-catalytic process, which has a maximum … Lire la suite
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2018 — Fiber-Wireless Sensor Networks for Monitoring Distributed Generation in a Smart Grid EnvironmentRésumé
Smart grid applications like teleprotection, synchrophasors and remote condition monitoring and control of assets require timely and reliable data transmission from the widely distributed assets to the Data Control Centers (DCCs). Many communication architectures and solutions have been proposed to provide support for these smart grid applications, such as fiber networks, microwave links, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), etc. The use of heterogeneous solutions can be an attractive architecture option because they combine the advantages of two or more communication systems to provide the needed delay and reliability requirements. Fiber-Wireless Sensor Networks (Fi-WSNs) are gaining popularity as a communication infrastructure in … Lire la suite
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2018 — Water Management During Spring-Summer in ReginaRésumé
The main purpose of this research was to conduct water management during spring-summer in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Results show that Regina is classified Dfb, there is seasonal variation in climate of this city. The total annual precipitation is 386 mm, which accounts for 77% from April to September. Over the studied time period of 45 years from 1970 to 2015 multiple climatic parameters are noted to have increase in their value e.g., precipitation increased by about 50 mm precipitation, temperature increased by 1.1oC and relative humidity by 6%. Wind speed has decreased by about -1.35 km/hr, whereas solar radiations have … Lire la suite
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2018 — Flexible Appointments: Rules for Appointed and Not Appointed Outpatients with Random Arrival TImesRésumé
Among the most critical and troublesome difficulties when managing systems of appointments for outpatients, are those related to the pattern of arrivals: walk-in patients, early patients, late patients, and patients that do not show up. This work addresses these challenges in a multi-server system, with one station through a proposed approach named Flexible Appointment Rules (FAR). These rules are flexible in the sense that they involve the use of a ‘window of punctuality’ for scheduling appointments; they release the constraint of simultaneous appointments when more than one server (physician) is available, they allow the presence of patients without a previous … Lire la suite
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2018 — Virtue at Hogwarts: Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics Through The Lens of J.K. Rowling's Sorting SystemRésumé
Exploring how Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics is reflected and developed through the Sorting System of J.K. Rowling’s magical school of Hogwarts in her Harry Potter series, this paper considers each house and its characteristic virtues individually. Alongside a comparison of a particular virtue as presented in Rowling’s work to Aristotle’s account, each chapter includes a dissection of the students who represent and problematize these accounts. This format allows an exploration of how the literary text converses with an ancient account of moral virtue. The first chapter considers Gryffindor House and its virtue of courage, the first virtue that Aristotle himself considers … Lire la suite
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2018 — Data Reduction in Smart GridRésumé
The advancement of the electric grid has led to tremendous growth in data generated from the installed sensors. With this huge amount of data, the electric grid faces a big data problem. Therefore, it is necessary to implement a data reduction technique that would not only curtail the exponential data growth, but also be able to make smart decisions with the reduced data.This thesis deals with two data reduction techniques; data compression and dimensionality reduction. Some of the state of the art compression algorithms exploit the characteristics of load pro le data, where consecutive data samples have very small di … Lire la suite
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2018 — Affect, Affective Contagion and Decisions in Agile DevelopmentRésumé
During the past decade, research on how affects—including emotions, moods, and feelings—influence software developers’ performance has increased. In software development, this influence has been considered and investigated mostly in terms of individual developers. Agile development, which requires collaboration and communication, can be more prone to the influence of affects on both individuals’ and teams’ decisions. There is a lack of a tested model in the literature that explicitly reflects the influence of developers’ affects when they make decisions in Agile. Furthermore, there is no explicit evidence of the influence of positive or negative affective contagion on software teams’ cooperation or … Lire la suite
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2018 — Comparison Study of Liquid CO2 and Water as a Fracturing Fluid for Improved Gas Production in Tight ReservoirsRésumé
Nowadays, Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin’s unconventional tight reservoirs are enjoying technology development like horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing substantially improves production however it is crucial to understand how fracture growth and production comparison when different fluid systems like water and CO2 based systems are being used. In this thesis, based on tight reservoir model in WCSB, firstly we have reviewed how conventional water based hydraulic fracturing damages formation and affects recovery of the fracturing fluid back to surface. Then reservoir simulation software GOHFER coupled with rock geomechanics has been employed to perform dynamic hydraulic fracturing for predicting hydraulic … Lire la suite
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2018 — Geographical Considerations for Site Selection of Small Modular Reactors in SaskatchewanRésumé
Saskatchewan is one of Canada’s highest emitters of greenhouse gases, largely due to burning lignite coal to generate electricity. It is also the world’s second largest producer of uranium. Small Modular Reactors (SMR) are the next generation of electrical power, producing less than 300 megawatts (MW) and featuring a basic design that offers enhanced safety benefits on health and the environment than traditional reactors. The purpose of this research is to establish a process of geographical considerations for site selections of SMRs in Saskatchewan. Locating a SMR site is a two stage process: (i) identifying candidate site locations purely based … Lire la suite
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2018 — A Techno-Economic Study of the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Biomass Co-Firing: A Case Study of Saskatchewan Lignite-Fired Power PlantsRésumé
This research investigates the use of biomass co-firing to replace a portion of the coal used in coal power plants. The objective of this application is to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG emissions) originating from coal-fired power plants. The study consists of two main components; a technical model, and an economic analysis. The technical study consists of three sub-models using two different simulators. Aspen Plus is used to develop a model capable of simulating coal combustion. This model is then used to co-fire wood chips with coal at three different co-firing rates; 5%, 10%, and 20% wood chips with coal. … Lire la suite
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2018 — Blinded by the Light: Commissioning of the Hall C SHMS Heavy Gas Cherenkov DetectorRésumé
The University of Regina built a heavy gas Cherenkov (HGC) detector for use at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) as it enters a new era of 12 GeV experiments. This detector will play an important role in The University of Regina built a heavy gas Cherenkov (HGC) detector for use at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) as it enters a new era of 12 GeV experiments. This detector will play an important role in π/K separation between 3 - 11 GeV/c in experimental Hall C and is housed in the Super High Momentum Spectrometer (SHMS). Recently, … Lire la suite
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2018 — Supervised Classification of Imbalanced Bidding Fraud DataRésumé
Online auctions have become one of the most convenient ways to commit fraud since a huge amount of money is being invested everyday by thousands of customers. Hence, online auctions are vulnerable to several types of fraud. Shill Bidding (SB), a predominant auction fraud, is the toughest to identify due to its resemblance to the normal bidding behavior. An innocent bidder can easily be cheated and lose money if shill bidders are not identified. Our goal is to devise a SB classification model, which is able to efficiently differentiate between legitimate bidders and shill bidders. For this thesis, we employ … Lire la suite
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2018 — Structure and Transport Phenomena in Molten Salts and Protic Ionic Liquids: A Molecular Dynamics StudyRésumé
This thesis uses ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to address various transport phenomena observed in melts of pure salts and protic ionic liquids. Molten salts and protic ionic liquids have electrical conductivities that can be tuned via temperature (covalent metal halides) or mixing ratios (protic ionic liquids, mixtures of amines and carboxylic acids). They give maximum conductivity at a specific temperature (for each molten salt) or a specific mol% of acid (for each protic ionic liquid), the reasons for which were not known. I qualitatively reproduced the conductivity maxima and then studied the liquid structures from the simulations for the … Lire la suite
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2018 — Performance Evaluation of Steam-Enriched Air Co-Injection Using Numerical SimulationRésumé
United States, Canada and Venezuela have the largest reserves of heavy oil and bitumen resources throughout the world. Economically challenged market is the major issue associated with the extraction and production of these resources. Steam - Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) is one of the most successful extraction techniques used in the recovery of heavy oil and oil sand reserves. But the high cost of operations has made its application prone to decline with oil prices. In-Situ Combustion (ISC) is a proven method of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) for reservoirs where either waterflooding or other EOR process are not very appealing. … Lire la suite
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2018 — Pregnancy, Motherhood, and Addiction: A Narrative Inquiry into the Lives of Three WomenRésumé
The nexus between pregnancy and addiction is usually studied from the perspective of the fetus, quantitatively examining the risks associated with in utero substance exposure. With the focus on the fetal effects of maternal substance use, there has been little regard, in the literature, for the mother and her experiences. Addiction during pregnancy is complex and drug use represents only part of the problem. Issues of stigma and victimization are common with women describing alarmingly high rates of mental health disorders and traumatic life events. With an awareness of some of the challenges pregnant women with substance use disorders may … Lire la suite
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2018 — A Probabilistic Approach to Card Sort AnalysisRésumé
The work in this dissertation was motivated by the desire to more fully understand the results of a card sorting study of facial photographs. Twenty-five participants were asked to sort 356 facial photographs (178 of Caucasian males and 178 of First Nations’ males) into an unconstrained number of piles according to their judgments of similarity. Researchers have used card sorting to understand different concepts, but not facial similarity. Therefore, the work presented in the dissertation is novel because it takes an existing method and applies it to a new context and adapts analysis tools to this purpose. Pairs of photos … Lire la suite
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2018 — The Métis Nation of Saskatchewan: Building Towards Self-GovernanceRésumé
Indigenous and western qualitative research methods are used to examine whether there is a the relationship between Métis perspectives to increase the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan (MN-S) citizenship registry and the implementation of good governance. Good governance was operationalized by conducting a literature review that identified five universal principles of good governance in the literature. An analysis of the MN-S governance documents was completed using the universal principles of good governance. The study shows that in semi-structured conversations with Métis people about increasing the Métis citizenship registry, broader principles of governance were always implicated. It is incumbent upon the MN-S … Lire la suite
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2018 — “I think we’re all having the wrong conversation”: The Relationship between the Gentrification of Riversdale and the Well-being of Local ResidentsRésumé
Almost anyone who has lived in Saskatoon for the past five years has either witnessed firsthand, or heard about the changes that have been occurring in the downtown core neighbourhood of Riversdale. What once was a neighbourhood that consisted of multiple pawn shops, boarded up windows, and high rates of poverty and crime, now boasts multiple fair-trade coffee shops, trendy record stores, and restaurants where the food is locally grown, or gathered from the neighbourhood farmer’s market. The aim of this study was to answer the research question: how has the gentrification of Riversdale impacted local residents? Local residents consisted … Lire la suite
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2018 — Beyond the Numbers: Gaining Perspective on the Mathematics Problem Towards The Successful Transition of Students into University MathematicsRésumé
The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of how the Mathematics Problem- the issue that students entering precalculus (and other bridging-style) mathematics in university are performing at an extremely poor level- is experienced and perceived by mathematicians. Additionally, this study looks at what effect these perceptions have on precalculus/bridging courses and how this information can be used to influence programming for incoming students in Western Canadian universities. Using hermeneutic phenomenology, this study found that participants view mathematics with a dual lens, which creates unique problems in mathematics lecture halls. Moreover, participants perceive that the dual nature … Lire la suite
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2018 — Responding to Urban Regulation: How Policies of Public Spaces Affect the Lifeworld of the Chronically Homeless in New Zealand and Alberta, CanadaRésumé
Public spaces are central places in a community where people will gather to socialize and discuss politics or other community matters. Formal regulations on public spaces, where bylaws can be seen as a way to control for desired behaviour, have been used extensively in many cities. These regulations have actively excluded certain individuals from urban settlements and they continue to do so to create a clean space that is safe. This thesis uses urban comparison to contrast the four different local authorities of Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand and Calgary and Red Deer, Alberta, Canada using the response of homeless … Lire la suite
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2018 — Pierre Trudeau's Just Society: Bold Aspirations Meet Realities of GoverningRésumé
This thesis considers Pierre Trudeau’s first term as prime minister from 1968 to 1972 to determine his success in delivering on his key promise of a Just Society made during the 1968 electoral campaign. Trudeau had promised that his government would remove all social and economic barriers to allow the full participation of all citizens to enjoy all of the democratic, social, and economic benefits Canada had to offer. It investigates why, in the span of less than four years, the central message embodied in Trudeau’s 1968 electoral platform largely disappeared from his government’s agenda. This thesis contends that the … Lire la suite
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2018 — Quantile Regression Approach For Analyzing Gene Expression DataRésumé
Temporal gene expression data contains ample information to characterize gene function and is now widely used in bio-medical research. A dense temporal gene ex- pression usually shows various patterns in expression levels under dfferent biological conditions. Existing literature models the gene trajectory using the mean function. Also, temporal gene expression curves generally show a strong degree of heterogeneity between multiple conditions. As a result, rate of change of gene expression may be dfferent in non-central locations and a mean model can not capture the non-central location of the gene expression distribution. However, the mean regression model depends on the normality … Lire la suite
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2018 — Mass Transfer and Emission Studies on a Catalyset-Aided CO2 Absorption and Desorption in a Post Combustion CO2 CaptureRésumé
The mass transfer study of a catalyst aided absorption and desorption with the intent of minimizing the energy requirement for the solvent regeneration as well as improving the absorption efficiency of the solvent was carried out. This included the selection and screening for suitable amine solvents for the absorption and desorption process using a bench scale pilot plant. The solvent screening process was evaluated in terms of absorption efficiency, cyclic capacity of amine, height requirement of the column and the overall mass transfer coefficient of both the absorber and desorber. Solvents used were 5M monoethanolamine (MEA), 5M MEA-2M methyl diethanolamine … Lire la suite
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2018 — The European Union at the Crossroads: A Look at the European Union’s Challenges through Romania’s LensesRésumé
“A crisis does not fall from the sky; political crises are not unforeseeable natural catastrophes, which one stands helpless in the face of. They build gradually, accumulating explosive power piece by piece, and then after years of negligence, they are detonated. The heads of state and government behaved nonchalantly as the crisis mounted; they made no attempt to comprehend the dark that gathered over the European pathways.” (Junker, 2005, para. 6-7) For the first time in sixty years the European Union (EU) is at the crossroads. There are both internal and external forces that are tearing the European Union apart. … Lire la suite
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2018 — The Labourer Revealed, a Comprehensive Support Paper for the Exhibition, A Way of KnowingRésumé
A Way of Knowing is an exhibition comprised of nine 3-dimensional mixed media sculptures, made with an emphasis on process and production using traditionally feminine practices and materials, such as sewing and ceramics. The sculptures in the exhibition all reference my experience as a woman and mother in the context of domestic space. These sculptures explore the idea of female presence and empowerment, through the acts of maternal care and labour, to celebrate the practice of feminist mothering. This series began with an obsessive practice as a labourer, but explores my identity as a mother, through the lens of “women’s … Lire la suite
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2018 — Determinants of Leisure-Time Physical Activity Participation Among African Students Attending a Canadian UniversityRésumé
A recent report that examined university students across 23 countries found that 4 out of 10 students were physically inactive (Pengpid et al., 2015). Physical inactivity has been linked to certain types of preventable diseases (Myers et al., 2004). This study is an examination of the perceived factors influencing leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among African students attending the University of Regina (U of R) to understand their experiences with and perceptions of LTPA. The study further explored how LTPA contributes to students’ wellness. This research was guided by an interpretive inquiry approach because it examines in-depth the meanings and understanding … Lire la suite
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2018 — Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Cyclic Solvent Injection (CSI) Performance in Heavy Oil Systems In The Presence of Wormhole NetworksRésumé
Cyclic Solvent Injection (CSI) technique has demonstrated great potential to improve oil production in thin post-CHOPS reservoirs (thickness < 10 m), which are characterized by wormhole networks; where thermal and gravity-dominated methods fail to sufficiently enhance oil production. Several investigations and considerable speculations have been made to understand the oil recovery mechanisms, optimum mixing ratio of hydrocarbon solvents/CO2, as well as the cyclic injection scenarios of the process. In addition, the importance of wormhole coverage in the performance of CSI has been addressed in the literature; however, the studies on the effect of wormhole branching and networks in relation to the … Lire la suite
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2018 — Voices of the File Hills Farm ColonyRésumé
A reserve in southern Saskatchewan, Peepeekisis Cree Nation is home to a unique and particular history. A radical agricultural and social experiment by the Canadian government, the File Hills Farm Colony influenced the development of this reserve and altered the demographics of the community. Implemented by Indian Agent William Morris Graham, the Colony was composed of First Nation graduates of Indian Residential and Industrial schools in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Colony was active between the years of 1897 and 1954, and intended to demonstrate the manner in which Canada’s “Indian Problem” could be solved. However, beneath the surface of this … Lire la suite
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2018 — 'This Is How I Know": A Qualitative Study of Parents' Experience and Perception of IntuitionRésumé
Intuition has been a topic of interest and research in many disciplines such as management, business, nursing, psychology, counselling, and parent education/support. However, little has been researched or written that reflects parents’ experience and perception of intuition as a source of knowledge within the parent-child relationship. Through the process of narrative inquiry, this qualitative research study endeavoured to explore the role of intuition within the parent-child relationship as a viable source of knowledge and connection. Building on the premise that parents know their children best, this study explored the experiences and perceptions of intuition through the eyes of parents. The … Lire la suite
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2018 — A Randomized Non-Inferiority Trial of Technician-Guided and Self-Guided Transdiagnostic Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Cancer Survivors: Making Treatment ScalableRésumé
Many cancer survivors face difficulties adjusting to life after cancer; approximately 14-24% of cancer survivors experience clinical problems with anxiety, depression, and/or worry about the future. Depression and anxiety have significant consequences for survivors in terms of distress, quality of life, and physical health. In turn, depression and anxiety result in increased costs to the health care system. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has demonstrated efficacy treating anxiety and depression in cancer patients and survivors; however, many individuals do not seek mental health treatment for these problems or are not referred to available services. Barriers to receiving treatment include: geographical distance, … Lire la suite
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2018 — Comparing Hobbes's Gratitude and Aristotle's MagnanimityRésumé
Hobbes's natural law of gratitude needs to be brought back into perspective when reading his political works. Often when reading Hobbes, many use his depiction of human nature and natural rights to demonstrate the innate propensity toward unsociability. However, contrary to this presumption, Hobbes presents a collectivist dimension to his argument even within the state of nature. The natural law of gratitude demonstrates the importance of preserving sociability and collectivity. In both On the Citizen and Leviathan, gratitude creates and sustains sociability with utility-based friendships. Gratitude is preserved best in a monarchy, because it secures covenants that rely on gratitude; … Lire la suite
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2018 — Can Patient Characteristics at Intake Predict Patient Response to Therapist-Assisted, Transdiagnostic Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?Résumé
Internet-delivered interventions for anxiety and depression show promise in both their effectiveness at reducing symptoms and their efficiency in routine practice. Still, some patients do not benefit from these programs, and there is limited understanding of factors that predict patient response. The current study investigates predictors of patient response to the Wellbeing Course, a transdiagnostic, therapist-assisted internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy designed to treat depression and anxiety. Case files from 1201 patients who participated in a recent open trial of the Wellbeing Course were analyzed to examine predictors of dropout (i.e., withdrawing from the course before completing all modules) and symptom … Lire la suite
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2018 — Analyse Morphosemantique et Contextuelle Du Mot et du Terme en Langue Generale et en Terminologie.Résumé
As language units consisting of spoken sounds and their written representation which operate as carriers of meaning, words and terms have been major objects of study on the convergence and divergence between general language and specialized language. Generally, terms are considered as special kind of words, but terminological arguments see them as basic terminological units used to designate concepts pertaining to specialized discipline, while words have been presented as units for general usage and for linguistic analysis. Linguists and terminologists argue that the similarity between words and terms is due to the morphological structure which they both have, resulting from … Lire la suite
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2018 — Performance of Carbon Dioxide Absorption into Monoethanolamine Solution in a Spray ChamberRésumé
Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technology is considered an effective method to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from industrial sources and mitigate the global warming problem. Currently, CO2 absorption is the most promising method for CO2 capture. Although many different types of amine can be used for this process, monoethanolamine (MEA) is considered as a common solvent due to its high reaction rate with CO2. The spray chamber is one of the most efficient gas-liquid contactors that can be used effectively for CO2 capture. In this thesis, mass-transfer performance of a spray chamber for CO2 absorption into MEA solution was measured … Lire la suite
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2018 — Collaborative Ecological Consultation: Psychologist, Classroom Teacher and Embedded InterventionsRésumé
The focus of this dissertation is on collaboration between classroom teachers and psychologists at the intervention stage of consultation. A teacher’s request for further implementation supports from the psychologist was the catalyst for an initial pilot case study. Teachers and psychologists worked in partnership to select and then to embed interventions within a curricular unit of study. Theoretically, social constructivism and Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model framed this research as participants deliberated through factors at the classroom and teacher level that impede or support implementation of various interventions. The dissertation data, analyzed from interviews, journals, observations and artifacts, suggested psychologists working in … Lire la suite
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2018 — Habitat Use by Common Nighthawks (Chordeiles minor) in Canada's Boreal ForestRésumé
Diurnal aerial insectivores, a guild of birds related by foraging behaviour, are declining rapidly across North America but the reasons for the decline are unknown. One of these guild members, the Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), may have substantial but undocumented populations in Canada’s boreal forest. Any differences between Common Nighthawk population trends in the boreal forest compared to more southern populations may help determine why aerial insectivore populations in general are declining. Wildland fires, common in the boreal forest, transform closed habitat into the open habitat Common Nighthawks prefer. Therefore, I assessed nighthawk abundance in northwestern Ontario in recently burned … Lire la suite
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2018 — Moral Agency and Moral Distress Among Registered Nurses: Novice to ExpertRésumé
In everyday practice, nurses encounter moral dilemmas that can potentially impact patients’ quality of care. A nurse exercising moral agency makes ethical decisions based on core values and moral principles. Moral agency has roots in existential philosophy; it can significantly impact the organizational role of nurses, the healthcare system, and patients. The relationship between a moral agent and the institution in which they practice has been labeled the most challenging moral problem of our century. Moral distress can be precipitated by a diminished sense of moral agency. Understanding moral agency in a bureaucratic system like healthcare is necessary to comprehend … Lire la suite
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2018 — Summer Science Camp Instructor Reflections on Personal and Professional DevelopmentRésumé
The purpose of this research was to ascertain how the summer job experiences at the EYES (Educating Youth in Engineering and Science) program impacted former instructors’ personal and professional development. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educational research in a camp environment is mostly focused on student learning and achievement; my research instead focused on the impact on and outcomes for the program instructors, who develop and deliver the educational material for children. The EYES program is a not-for-profit organization based at the University of Regina. It has a mission of sparking curiosity and developing a lasting interest in science, … Lire la suite
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2018 — Actionable Three-Way DecisionsRésumé
In this thesis, we analyze both the trisecting and acting aspects of three-way decisions. In an evaluation based model of three-way decisions, there are two steps: trisecting and acting. The trisecting step constructs three regions based on an evaluation func- tion and a pair of thresholds. The acting step adopts proper strategies to deal with objects in these regions. For the trisecting step, this thesis examines statistical interpretations for the con- struction of three regions. The interpretations rely on an understanding that the middle region consists of normal or typical instances in a population, while two side regions consist of, … Lire la suite
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2018 — Exploring the Relationship Between Pain and Emotion Regulation in Older AdultsRésumé
The link between pain and emotion is well documented. Emotional Regulation (ER) is a process for monitoring, evaluating, and altering emotional reactions. In engaging in ER, individuals may rely on reappraisal or suppression. Suppression, in contrast to reappraisal, increases symptoms of anxiety and decreases positive mood. Complicating the emotion-pain dynamic are pain-related responses (e.g., catastrophic thinking about pain) that may vary as a function of age and gender. Some support exists for gender differences with respect to ER and mood but research on ER and older persons with chronic pain is still lacking. The prevalence of pain in older adults … Lire la suite
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2018 — Re-AssemblyRésumé
Re-Assembly is my Interdisciplinary Studies Master of Fine Art thesis exhibition that will be presented at the 5th Parallel Gallery from May 1 to 31, 2018. Strongly rooted in technical investigation, this exhibition is comprised of the creative results of interdisciplinary art research, including sculptures, technical drawings, and digital photographs, as well as objects produced using a purpose-built CNC (Computer Numeric Code) router; designed and created with new skills that I developed in my graduate program. My inspiration and willingness to change methodologies from traditional hands-on processes to digitally facilitated ways of working, forms the intellectual underpinning of the objects … Lire la suite
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2018 — Population Structure of Lake Whitefish (Coregonus Clupeaformis) on Multiple Spatial Scales: Transitioning to a Genomics ApproachRésumé
This thesis was undertaken to inform the recent transition from microsatellite DNA markers to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the field of molecular ecology, and to explore the population structure of important fish species. Microsatellite markers were the gold standard for two decades and were used to investigate the population structure of lake and round whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis and Prosopium cylindraceum) in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant on Lake Huron. The analysis of over 200 individuals of each species revealed no fine scale population subdivision relevant to management. Microsatellites remain a valuable tool, but many molecular ecologists are … Lire la suite
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2018 — On The Classical Parameters of the Crack DistributionRésumé
The three parameter Crack distribution is a useful and effective tool in statistical analysis in conjunction with the desired interest of engineering studies relating to fatigue cracks that occur in materials used for numerous products such as lorry, air craft and other heavy machinery due to excessive load or when the force is exerted beyond the materials ability. This distribution contains as special cases: the Birnbaum-Saunders distribution, the Inverse Gaussian distribution, and the Length Biased Inverse Gaussian distribution, all of which are well known, have their own characteristics and are naturally related to each other. In this thesis, we derive … Lire la suite
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2018 — Analysis of Lakewater Isotopes in the Northern Great Plains: Insights From Long-Term Monitoring and Spatial SurveysRésumé
General circulation models predict that the precipitation deficit of the Northern Great Plains (NGP) will become more pronounced in the future, and that human adaptation to future climate change will require a greater understanding prairie hydrology in order to maintain freshwater ecosystems. One method for disentangling hydrological complexities is to use stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in water to measure the hydrological properties of lakes, including their water balance. In this thesis, I present a long-term (2003-2016), bi-weekly record of water isotopes during summer to assess the differences between instrumental and isotopic measures of hydrology, and determine the variability … Lire la suite
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2018 — Contextual Influences in Decoding Pain Expressions: Effects of Patient Age, Informational Priming, and Observer CharacteristicsRésumé
According to clinical and experimental research, nonverbal expressions of pain are key components in its assessment. Theoretical formulations of pain specify that various contextual influences, or factors unrelated to the pain experience (e.g., patients’ age), significantly moderate observers’ interpretation of nonverbal pain expressions. Such contextual factors have been found to alter observers’ assessment of younger adults’ pain; however, the systematic study of such influences within the context of the older adult has been limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of contextual factors on decoding facial pain expressions in both younger and older adults. A total … Lire la suite
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2018 — Developing a Multi-Objective Closed-Loop Supply Chain For Meat Distribution Network Considering The Environmental ImpactRésumé
In the past few years, environmental issues have had a critical and an essential role in designing a supply chain network and need to be taken into consideration; many companies and organizations have started employing environmentally sustainable processes in their business and supply networks. On the other hand, the trends show that by the year 2050, the global demand of food may increase as twice as it is now, as the population of the world may reach 9 billion by then. For thousands of years meat has been an important part of human diet as it is recognized as an … Lire la suite
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2018 — Modeling and Control of Multi-Rotor UAVS: Design for Safety and PerformanceRésumé
Recently, a class of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) called multi-rotors has gained significant attention. Despite remarkable progress in control and design of multirotors in the past decade, two issues, namely endurance and safety, still remain of main concerns. This thesis mainly aims at investigating about modeling and control of multi-rotor UAVs while focusing on safety, performance and optimal design. A complete model for forces and moments of a propeller in presence of freestream is presented which helps to derive mathematical models for two different types of multi-rotor UAVs: i) quadcopters with angled thrust vector; and ii) spinning multirotors with streamline-shape … Lire la suite