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2018 — "Cimmerian Steppes: Chasing Shadows"Résumé
My creative thesis is an immersive historical fantasy novella. As a novella, my work primarily focuses on character development. Novellas are uncommon to the genre, yet Patrick Rothfuss and Mercedes Lackey have standalone and supplemental novellas. My novella challenges pre-existing genre conventions by introducing the ideas such as the hero’s journey, only dash them. My manuscript is set in an alternate world, and features characters exploring liminal spaces where they struggle with the ever-present tension between monstrosity and humanity. My work is influenced by J. R. R. Tolkien, Guy Gavriel Kay, and George R. R. Martin. Kay’s harkening to ages … Lire la suite
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2020 — The PLANI Plant Animation FrameworkRésumé
This thesis presents the unique PLANI plant animation framework for animation using dynamic plant models along with three novel demonstrations of the use of the framework. A dynamic plant model is a computer-based representation of a plant that can be used to simulate or animate natural behaviors, such as moving to wind, responding to light, and responding to nutrient availability. The dynamic plant models used in the thesis are based on interdisciplinary research in plant biology, animation in computer graphics, and ontology. The PLANI framework guides the specification of both design time and runtime processes for plant animations. PLANI also … Lire la suite
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2018 — Semi-Analytical Modeling of Fluid Flow in and Formation Evaluation of Unconventional Reservoir Using Boundary Integration StrategiesRésumé
Tight oil/gas has been increasingly playing a more and more important role in petroleum industry around the globe for the past two decades and accounting for more share of total production of oil/gas each year. Fractured vertical or horizontal wells contribute most of the tight oil/gas production. Understanding and analyzing fluid flow in the process of fracturing, therefore, become crucial in tight formation production. However, the resulting complexity of fracture propagation from fracture injection test in tight formation, which currently is one the most heated topics for unconventional reservoirs, and heterogeneity problems of tight oil/gas reservoir with non-uniform distribution of … Lire la suite
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2014 — Robust Mini-Fracturing/DFIT Modeling and Analysis Using Semi-Analytical StrategyRésumé
This thesis concentrates on mini-fracture propagation and closure, providing an innovative way to analyze this process. Source and sink function is implemented as a theoretical foundation to build the modeling strategy. A robust model is successfully developed to investigate fracture propagation by taking initial formation breakdown pressure, expansion of wellbore fluid after fracture initiation into consideration, which have always been ignored in literature by former researchers. Using injecting rate as the reference rate, dimensionless fracturing fluid leak-off rate normally described as flux term can be effectively coupled when source and sink function method is implemented. The dimensionless fracture volume growing … Lire la suite
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2021 — Profiling Bacterial Community Dynamics For Wildlife Ecology and Geological Mineral ExplorationRésumé
Bacterial communities are dynamic biological systems with complex metabolic interactions that influence ecological functions across a broad range of microbiome environments. Bacterial community 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing is an approach to microbiome exploration that profiles community composition, structure, and dynamics across environmental conditions. In this thesis, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing is used to investigate the bacterial communities of two distinct microbial environments. In the first study I explore how hyperthermia in a mammalian host may affect bacterial communities to understand the impacts of thermal stress in warming climates. Small endotherms such as birds and bats have evolved diverse … Lire la suite
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2023 — Determination of evaporative flux from water and soil surfacesRésumé
The Canadian Prairies has the highest water demand-to-availability ratio in Canada. The region is characterized by a scarcity of water resources because evaporation generally exceed precipitation. Evaporation is a complex phenomenon based on interactions between meteorological and physiological factors. The purpose of this research was to accurately determine evaporative flux from water and soil surfaces. The main research contributions of this research are summarized as follows: (i) a Bench-scale Atmospheric Simulator (BAS/BAS2) was developed to control artificially generated parameters for short time periods; (ii) a Controlled Photogrammetry System (CPS) using Structure-from-Motion (SfM) technology was developed for accurate and non-destructive measurement … Lire la suite
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2021 — Examining the Acceptability and Effectiveness of Transdiagnostic, Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Symptoms of Postpartum Anxiety and Depression: A Randomized Controlled TrialRésumé
Following childbirth, women experience significant biological, physical, social, and emotional changes, wherein 20% of new mothers experience clinically impairing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. These conditions are associated with negative effects on both mother and child, underscoring the importance of ensuring treatment options are widely available. While efficacious treatments like cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) exist, new mothers often report barriers to accessing in-person services including time concerns, stigma, and childcare difficulties. Importantly, many of these barriers can be mitigated using Internet-delivered CBT (ICBT), which has been found to be effective in the treatment of various mental health concerns, including depression … Lire la suite
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2024 — Paramedic students and their mental readiness for fieldworkRésumé
The present research elicits the mental health preparedness of paramedic students, in relationship to preparedness by their academic institution for fieldwork. Paramedic student’s mental health preparedness has not been extensively explored; improved understanding could result in better mental health services for paramedics-in-training. Paramedics are at a heightened risk for psychological distress. The research, led by a social worker, elicited paramedic student experiences prior to experiencing psychological distress. The research was conducted in Canada’s Prairie provinces, although no Manitoba participants opted to take part in this research. For the research, 43 participants completed the 12-question survey on study eligibility and mental … Lire la suite
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2017 — Design of an Over-Coupled Coaxial Resonator for Determing the Electrical Properties of MaterialsRésumé
knowledge so that different materials can be adapted for varying purposes. For example, materials used in engineering design and processes. With unique properties of every material, there is need to determine the properties and characterise materials based on their properties, where their electrical properties is dependent on the dielectric properties of the materials. In this thesis, a method used in determining the electrical properties of materials using the group delay information is investigated. A gap-coupled coaxial resonator that operates in an over-coupled state is designed and used in obtaining the dielectric properties of sample materials. Electromagnetic and circuit simulation tools … Lire la suite
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2023 — Perceptions and experiences of leisure-time physical activity among older adults following a heart attackRésumé
Leisure has been found to improve later-life well-being and to help people in coping with life changes (Dupuis & Alzheimer, 2008; Michèle et al., 2019). Leisure activities, including leisuretime physical activity, may significantly affect healthy aging and improve health-related quality of life among older persons. However, there is a lack of literature revealing the determining factors of participation in leisure-time physical activity among older adults following a heart attack. The aim of this research was to explore the perceptions and experiences of leisure-time physical activity among older people who have had a heart attack. To obtain participants’ perspectives, a parallel … Lire la suite
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2024 — The impact of 3D printing on traditional construction supply chains: Challenges, benefits, and a proposed frameworkRésumé
The construction supply chain is surrounded by various challenges which hinder its effectiveness. The increasing need for housing due to the fast-growing population in North America is a matter of concern for decision makers. 3D printing or additive manufacturing is an emerging technology that is being considered as a potential solution to housing issues. The purpose of this study is to highlight the existing challenges encountered by traditional construction supply chains and the potential advantages that 3D printing, or specifically 3D concrete printing, can offer in overcoming these challenges with the help of mitigation strategies. In order to achieve this … Lire la suite
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2014 — Evaluation of Low Saline “Smart Water” Enhanced Oil Recovery in Light Oil ReservoirsRésumé
With the depletion of natural driving forces responsible for pushing the oil from reservoirs and declining oil recovery after the secondary recovery stage, emphasis is now on EOR techniques. Low saline water (LSW) flooding is a type of EOR that has gained immense attention among researchers due to its ease of use, lower cost, and environmentally friendly nature. Previously, researchers have focused on the quantity and compatibility of water to be injected, but recently, it has been recognized that more OOIP can be displaced by decreasing the brine salinity. Though low salinity effects have been seen in various lab-scale core … Lire la suite
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2017 — Police Decision-Making: The Impact of Choice on Use-of-Force DecisionsRésumé
Research on choice and decision-making has indicated that excessive choice can negatively influence decision-making performance. Choice overload research has mostly focused on consumer purchases, thereby limiting the generalizability to applied professional settings. This research examined 112 Canadian police cadets on decision-making in a use-of-force situation. Cadets interacted with a high threat virtual judgment scenario wherein they had to choose the most appropriate intervention option available to immobilize the subject and stop the threat. Cadets participated in one of two limited choice groups or one extensive choice group and were evaluated on performance, response time (RT), self-reported confidence, and physiological arousal. … Lire la suite
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2013 — Quantum-Mechanical and Thermodynamic Study of Amines and Ionic Liquids for CO2 CaptureRésumé
There is worldwide interest to develop improved CO2-capture solvents to help reduce cost of capture and environmental footprint. This thesis aims to contribute to this goal by studying computationally and experimentally a few aspects related to solvent development, considering both aqueous amines and ionic liquids. For pKa prediction of aliphatic amines, the performance of quantum-chemistry (QM) continuum-plus-correction methods was evaluated by comparison with the 1981 pencil-and-paper group-additivity method of Perrin, Dempsey, and Serjeant (PDS). The best continuum-plus-correction method has been achieved, and while it offers improvement over the original 1981 PDS method, it is inferior to a trivial update of … Lire la suite
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2015 — Active Nonlinear Vibration Control of Engineering Structures of Multiple DimensionsRésumé
An active nonlinear mechanical vibration control strategy is developed in the research of the author’s PhD program for the nonlinear vibration control of engineering structures of multiple dimensions. The proposed control strategy has been applied in several wildly applied typical engineering structures, including Euler-Bernoulli beams and axially moving structures. Nonlinear vibrations wildly exist in engineering structures, such as bridge, aircrafts, micro-electro-mechanical devices, and elevator cables. Comparing to linear vibrations, nonlinear vibrations may lead structure failures in short time, and chaotic vibrations among the nonlinear vibrations features unpredictability. Considering the damage and unpredictability of nonlinear vibrations, nonlinear vibrations is ought to … Lire la suite
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2012 — Development of Characterization and Optimization Methodologies for Waste ManagementRésumé
Applications of mathematical models to waste management are usually complicated by the complexities involved in either waste treatment processes or waste management systems. In this dissertation research, a set of characterization and optimization methodologies have been developed and applied to waste management. In detail, they include: (a) a stepwise-cluster microbial biomass inference (SMI) model through introducing stepwise cluster analysis (SCA) into composting process modeling for tackling the nonlinear relationships between state variables and microbial activities; (b) a genetic algorithm (GA) aided stepwise cluster analysis (GASCA) method for describing the nonlinear relationships between the selected state variables and the C/N ratio … Lire la suite
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2014 — Modeling Flocculation in Sedimentation Tank with Depth-Averaged MethodRésumé
Sedimentation tanks are engineering constructions commonly used at water and wastewater treatment facilities, especially the rectangular sedimentation tanks. The construction, design, and maintenance of settling tanks greatly influences the accuracy of predictions of removal efficiency, thickness of sediment depositions, and particle size distributions in effluent. A one-dimensional mathematical model has been created to simulate the rectangular sedimentation tank and evaluate flocculation influence by using depth-averaged method. The model could be used for unsteady flow and nonuniform particles, and predict important information such as removal efficiency, sludge thickness, particle and sludge size distribution. By using the depth-averaged method with finite difference … Lire la suite
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2016 — New Multivariate Zero-Inflated Binomial Distribution with ApplicationRésumé
A new multivariate zero-in ated binomial distribution has the purpose of ana- lyzing the multivariate proportional data with excessive zeros. The distributional properties of the purposed model are discussed. The Newton Raphson, Fisher score and expectation maximization algorithm are developed for estimating parameters of interest. The score test and the likelihood ratio test are derived for assessing both zero-in ation and equality of multiple binomial probability parameters in propor- tional data. A simulation study is performed to compare the assessing power of both the score test and the likelihood ratio test. The application of the purposed model to white y … Lire la suite
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2017 — Noticing How To Improve as a Critical Mathematics EducatorRésumé
This self-study attempts to better understand and improve my practice as a critical mathematics educator. The research study emerged from tensions between my current practices as a mathematics teacher and my beliefs about teaching and learning mathematics. I conduct this research through a self-study by integrating the discipline of noticing (Mason, 2011) through the Integrated Noticing Framework (Nolan, 2017), exploring two research questions: (1) As a high school mathematics teacher, what do I notice as I use inquiry to enact a curriculum infused with ideas from critical mathematics educational research? (2) How can I more effectively teach using inquiry methods … Lire la suite
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2023 — Partial wave analysis of Neutral b1 Meson at GlueXRésumé
A long-standing goal of hadron physics has been to understand how the quark and gluon degrees of freedom that are present in the fundamental QCD Lagrangian manifest themselves in the spectrum of hadrons. The GlueX experiment at JLab contributes to the global spectroscopy program through studies of the mesons produced using a beam of 8-9 GeV linearly polarized photons. This experiment focuses on the exploration of the light-quark domain, potentially accessing hybrid mesons with exotic JPC quantum numbers in photoproduction reactions. Recent Lattice QCD calculations predict that the lightest exotic π1(1600) decays primarily to a b1 system and can be … Lire la suite
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2019 — Exploring cultural boundries of sport fandom through critical discourse analysisRésumé
This research aimed to critique the notion that sport solely brings people together by exploring discourses related to the creation of cultural boundaries by sport fans through critical discourse studies (CDS) (van Dijk, 2016; Martin, 2002). The three research questions for this dissertation are: How do sport fan-produced texts on social media create, reinforce, or challenge discourses? How do these discourses contribute to the production of cultural boundaries of sport fandom on Twitter? How does drawing cultural boundaries through discourses represent the simultaneously inclusive and exclusive nature of sport fandom on Twitter? A critical discourse analysis (CDA) methodology was employed, … Lire la suite
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2014 — Marginalization, Empowerment and Multiple Performances: An Examination of Highly Identified, Displaced Female Sport FansRésumé
Although research shows women attend and consume sport events and products (Fink, Trail, & Anderson, 2002; James & Ridinger, 2002; Robinson & Trail, 2005), they continue to be marginalized as inauthentic sport fans because they are seen as exhibiting non-traditional characteristics and behaviours (Pope, 2011; Pope & Williams, 2011). They are assumed to lack knowledge about the sport and teams, and to attend sport events only to socialize (Crawford & Gosling, 2004; Dietz-Uhler, Harrick, End, & Jacquemotte, 2000; Gosling, 2007). Yet, being a sport fan is important for some women and plays a role in the construction of their identity … Lire la suite
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2017 — Seasonal Impacts and Regulation of Nitrogen Pollution in the Northern Great Plains Insights from Microcosm, Mesocosm, and Mensurative Scale StudiesRésumé
The value of controlling nitrogen (N) and its impact on water quality are frequently contested, partly due to inconsistencies in the effects of N pollution depending on the form, amount, and seasonal conditions in which it is released to freshwater ecosystems. This thesis aims to shed light on some of those differential effects, and advance our understanding of the seasonal variation in the impacts and drivers of N pollution to prairie lentic and lotic environments. In my first chapter, I evaluate the seasonal and differential effects (i.e., suppression vs stimulation) of NH4 + on phytoplankton abundance, using 16 years of … Lire la suite
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2022 — Movement Patterns of Migratory Bats during Autumn MigrationRésumé
Migration routes of long-distance migratory tree-roosting bats (Lasiurus cinereus, L. borealis and Lasionycteris noctivagans) in North America are poorly understood. Large numbers of bat fatalities recorded at wind energy facilities are contributing to likely population declines of these species. Most documented migratory bat fatalities at wind energy installations occur during autumn migration. There is some urgency to better understand migration patterns of these bats, because like many other jurisdictions, the Province of Saskatchewan plans to dramatically increase wind power generation capacity. I installed passive acoustic detectors in southern Saskatchewan during the migration period to measure migratory bat activity. I placed … Lire la suite