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Evaluating the evidence for lunar calendars in Upper Palaeolithic parietal art
Get PDFIn this paper, we examine the lunar calendar interpretation to evaluate whether it is a viable explanation for the production of Upper Palaeolithic parietal art. We consider in detail the history of this approach, focusing on recently published variations on this interpretation. We then discuss the scientific method and whether these recent studies are designed to address the research questions necessary to test a lunar calendar hypothesis. More broadly, we explore challenges related to inferring meaning in art of the deep past, the use of secondary sources and selecting appropriate ethnographic analogies. Finally, we assess claims that the lunar calendar interpretation documents the world's oldest (proto)writing system. We conclude that the lunar calendar interpretation as currently construed suffers from multiple theoretical and methodological weaknesses preventing it from being a viable explanation for the production of Upper Palaeolithic art. We further find that claims following from this interpretation to have discovered the oldest known (proto)writing system are unsubstantiated.FacultyReviewe
Nuclear and renewables in multipurpose integrated energy systems: A critical review
No full textIntegrated energy systems for multi-purpose applications are garnering increased interest in the international nuclear energy community, energy system designers and planners and decision makers in the context of deep decarbonization and net zero targets. They are expected to reduce costs and increase flexibility in operation of nuclear reactors when coupled with intermittent renewable energy sources, while also producing various commodities such as hydrogen or potable water. Adaptive solutions must be considered for each geographical area and based on the involved components of the energy system, available infrastructure, and policy in place. This paper provides an in-depth look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of such systems, while addressing different aspects related to the creation of the business case for such systems including decentralization and digitalization of future energy systems. The regulatory aspects are the ones that impose challenges on the emerging hybrid energy systems and this paper highlights some of the considerations that are needed for the couplings involved, in terms of licensing procedures and safety analysis. The potential contribution of such integrated energy systems towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) are also discussed. Concerning the stakeholders, special attention should be paid to building social acceptance and trust as this lays the foundation for successful implementation of such projects. By focusing on areas such as research and development, integration of technologies, policy support, market development, grid integration, energy storage, efficiency improvement, system modelling and simulations, significant advances in integrated/hybrid energy systems deployment can be achieved.FacultyReviewe
‘uw-wu tst lhu ‘ul melq’ ut (Lest We Forget): Revitalizing Memories of Early Quw’utsun Interactions with the Royal Navy
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the diplomacy by Quw'utsun leadership during the Royal Navy expeditions of 1853 and 1856 at a time when James Douglas’ was making first efforts to bring the Queen's Law to the Cowichan Valley. These expeditions stood out as largely peaceful diplomatic events compared to other interactions along the Northwest Coast, and the legal, social, political and cultural factors at play are examined in detail.
Consulting primary sources, oral history, and interviewing knowledgeable and experienced Qwu’utsun members, a nuanced reconstruction of these events with attention to the influence of Quw'utsun leaders (Tth’asiyetun and Loxe’) in dialogue with James Douglas is produced. The presence and leadership of these Quw’utsun men have largely been missed in previous analyses of these expeditions, in addition to the social and cultural changes that were occurring at that time.
These interactions are nested within the events of the greater area and beyond, connecting the Crimean War and American expansion into the local histories of Fort Victoria and the Quw'utsun peoples.Graduat
Laguerre-type Bernoulli and Euler numbers and related fractional polynomials
Get PDFWe extended the classical Bernoulli and Euler numbers and polynomials to introduce the Laguerre-type Bernoulli and Euler numbers and related fractional polynomials. The case of fractional Bernoulli and Euler polynomials and numbers has already been considered in a previous paper of which this article is a further generalization. Furthermore, we exploited the Laguerre-type fractional exponentials to define a generalized form of the classical Laplace transform. We show some examples of these generalized mathematical entities, which were derived using the computer algebra system Mathematica© (latest v. 14.0).FacultyReviewe
Applying Hidden Markov Models to Batch Marked Bee Data
Get PDFBatch marking is a specific style of capture-recapture study, where researchers tag all animals captured at the same time with same mark. While less informative, this is an efficient and cost effective alternative to standard capture-recapture methods where unique individual tags are used. This project applied hidden Markov models (HMMs) developed to analyze this style of data onto an Orchid bee dataset, in order to estimate total population size and survival rates. The weekly survival rate was estimated to be 0.63, and the population was estimated to grow from 267 to 710 individuals over an 18 week period. This aligned well with the expectations of the biologists who collected the data. Computational issues arose around choices for tuning parameters and convergence to good solutions, however these were addressed in a methodical way, providing a solid framework for the future use of HMMs on batch marked datasets.Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA)UndergraduateReviewe
Teaching to Diversity: British Columbia Classroom Teacher Experiences with Inter-agency Collaboration and Inclusive Education
No full textMany students with diverse needs rely on various services to succeed within their school environment. These services encompass resources, specialized equipment, personnel assistance, and essential training to staff to effectively serve these students. In this exploratory qualitative study, I aimed to better understand the experiences of kindergarten to grade 12 (K-12) classroom teachers in British Columbia (BC) who had previously engaged in inter-agency collaboration (IAC) in order to describe their achievements, challenges, and potential avenues for enhancing collaboration with external agencies. I also explored the ways in which classroom teachers in BC utilized IAC for the benefit of their exceptional learners in inclusive classrooms. Through my data analysis and reviews of literature, I sought to identify how these experiences could better inform the preparation and support of current classroom teachers who work with diverse K-12 learners. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (1979), I utilized purposive sampling to identify five participants for semi-structured interviews. I employed thematic analysis and identified seven themes. Each participant provided rich descriptions outlining successes, challenges, and opportunities for growth when working with external agencies. Learning from teacher experiences with IAC and inclusive education could inform more targeted and relevant professional development programs for educators, improve communication practices between agencies and schools, and foster a cooperative and productive collaborative environment. The valuable insights from teacher experiences have the potential to contribute to continuous improvement in IAC practices, inform advocacy efforts, guide policy development, and cultivate collaboration skills among educators—all of which may ultimately enhance the successful implementation of inclusive education for students.Graduat
UVic Convocation November 13, 2024 – 10:00 am
No full textStudents from the faculties of Graduate Studies, Human and Social Development, Law and the Division of Continuing Studies. Dr. Satsan (Herbert George) received an honorary degree.UndergraduateUnreviewe
Ethnoecological perspectives on environmental stewardship: Tenets and basis of reciprocity in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx (Nlaka'pamux) Territories
Get PDFWe are all in debt to the knowledge holders, elders, mothers, family members and friends, who have worked hard to maintain and share their Gitxsan- and nłeʔkepmx-specific teachings on reciprocity. For their time, energy, struggle and campaigns, they are miracles, and we are grateful to stand beside them.1. Local and Indigenous Peoples steward and protect a significant proportion of biologically diverse ecosystems globally. This fact is increasingly acknowledged by researchers and international organizations, offering both opportunities and challenges at the intersection of Indigenous and western knowledge production in the context of environmental management research and policy.
2. Drawing on half a century of ethnoecological research and personal experiences in Gitxsan and nłeʔkepmx Territories in the Pacific Northwest of North America, this research considers the role of reciprocity as an inherent philosophy and tenet for successful environmental stewardship.
3. Reciprocity is a legal responsibility and moral perspective that foregrounds many Indigenous worldviews. Such cultural drivers and obligations towards lands and biota appear to be unknown, marginalized or instrumentalized in mainstream and western science and policy.
4. We conclude that fundamental elements of reciprocity may not be adequately blended or braided into western environmental management frameworks. As such, alternatives to blending include acknowledging sole proprietary and self-determining rights for Indigenous Peoples to govern and steward lands outside of western infrastructures and value systems.
5. This study raises critical questions about the feasibility of reconciling reciprocity with western environmental management practices and regulations. It explores the implications for Indigenous rights and sovereignty, and climate change mitigation. By addressing these complex issues, we contribute to ongoing discourse on the integration of Indigenous and western knowledge in environmental stewardship research, and the ethical, historical and cultural challenges that come with it.FacultyReviewe
Impact of Mooring Systems on Wave Energy Converter Control and Useful Power Capture
No full textWith the effects of climate change becoming more extreme each year there is a dire need to reduce carbon emissions – especially in the energy sector. An energy source currently not in use by any sector is the energy stored in ocean waves. Wave energy can be captured by wave energy converters (WECs) which transform said energy into electricity using a power take-off device. However, these devices are currently too expensive to build and operate for the power they produce.
The common approach to designing a WEC is to optimize its design with modelling and testing and then deploy it in the ocean with a mooring system. Notably, the mooring system is typically neglected at the modelling and testing stages. But the significance of the mooring dynamics to the system response is not fully understood. This work demonstrates that neglecting the mooring system can lead to up to a 50% power loss by modelling the power production of a controlled self-reacting point absorber (SRPA) with and without knowledge of the mooring system.
To address these outstanding questions, four mooring designs were characterized using a unique approach and incorporated into a mechanical circuit model of the SRPA. The characterization approach was used to fit high-fidelity mooring simulation data to linear transfer function models with a high degree of accuracy. Such models significantly reduce simulation time of the SRPA by reducing the mooring dynamics to just the force at its connection to the SRPA.
This new model was then used to determine impacts on dynamics and power production. The circuit model was also used to demonstrate the effect of the mooring on three control types. The effects amounted to up to a 40% reduction of the control variable, suggesting that current controllers may be overdesigned and more expensive as a result.
Finally, the annual energy production of three control types were compared by modelling and simulating a moored SRPA in a realistic sea. The simulation results indicated that the performance gains previously seen for a new control type are not eroded by the mooring system or by the realistic sea, with the new control type resulting in four times more annual energy production than the others.Graduat
Model Parameter Identification for Feed Drive Dynamics using Kernel-Based Methods
No full textThis thesis presents an application of kernel-based methods for identification of the feed drive's dynamics model parameters and prediction of the disturbances affecting feed drives during operation from the cutting forces. To this purpose, the Partially Linear - Least Squares Support Vector Machine (PL-LSSVM) and Kernel Recursive Least Squares - Tracker (KRLS-T) algorithms were utilised for batch identification and online prediction of disturbances. Experimental case studies were performed with two ball screw feed drives under simulated and real cutting conditions to verify the identification and in-operation prediction of cutting forces.Graduate2025-05-1