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BOX-IT: How to cover many basic Intro-class objectives with one assignment
No full textThe poster Box it: How to cover many basic Intro-class objectives with one assignment is about teaching an intro to ceramics class in a short period. The ceramic field is very wide, and the amount of theoretical knowledge, hands on skills, technical skills and artistic skills that need to be covered in one semester is intense. The poster shows a way on how to layer and connect objectives from all areas. This includes hands on skills in the fabrication methods on making, theoretical knowledge of clay, surface development and implementation, glaze theory, hands on glaze handling, firing, use of equipment, and lastly an artistic approach to ceramic. I had shown how the box assignment offers an opportunity to connect the many important areas step by step, slowly incorporating hands on skills and theoretical frameworks.
The annual conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic arts is the biggest conference in North America related to Ceramic. The poster presentation is a way to extend /exchange knowledge from across the field beside the panel discussions, demonstrations, presentations within the conference. Twenty posters were accepted for this year’s conference. They were exhibited beside the emerging artists exhibition, at the entrance of the resource hall for the duration of the conference (March 20 -March 23, 2024). On March 21st, 3pm- 5pm, the poster’s had their official presentation time slot in the program, where all 20 posters were presented by their makers. The two-hour interaction with visitors was very fruitful
Prevalence and predictors of alcohol use disorder among Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans with military sexual trauma
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, University of Regina. ix, 174 p.Military sexual trauma (MST) is a pervasive issue that is associated with adverse psychological and physical health sequelae (e.g., chronic health conditions, mental health disorders, suicidal ideation). Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is positively associated with MST and may exacerbate physical and mental health conditions. An elevated lifetime prevalence of MST was recently reported among Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Members and Veterans. Still, research examining the relationship between MST and AUD within a Canadian context is lacking. Risk factors for AUD among CAF Members and Veterans with MST have also yet to be identified. The current thesis used the 2018 CAF Members and Veterans Mental Health Survey (n = 2,941) to assess the prevalence and predictors of AUD since 2002 among participants with lifetime MST, non-military sexual trauma (NMST), and no sexual trauma. Findings from cross tabulations revealed greater prevalence estimates of AUD among participants with any sexual trauma (MST = 21.6%, NMST = 29.2%) compared to those without sexual trauma (14.68%). Disproportionately greater prevalence estimates of AUD were found among males relative to females across all sexual trauma groups. Results of logistic regression analyses indicated that individuals with MST and NMST had significantly greater odds of AUD than those without sexual trauma. Younger age, male sex, and greater moral injury significantly predicted increased odds of AUD among all three groups. Few unique predictors of AUD were observed across the sexual trauma groups. Deployment history predicted AUD among those with MST and no sexual trauma. Lower rank predicted AUD among those with NMST and no sexual trauma. Military environment, lifetime other mental health disorders, and childhood maltreatment history were associated with
significantly increased odds of AUD only among participants without sexual trauma. The current thesis determined that AUD represents a substantial issue among CAF Members and Veterans, particularly among those with military and civilian sexual trauma. This investigation contributes to the advancement of the current understanding of AUD among CAF Members and Veterans by identifying prevalence estimates of AUD and elucidating factors that enhance vulnerability to AUD among those with and without sexual trauma. These findings highlight the importance of supporting initiatives designed to prevent civilian and military sexual trauma. Additionally, the current findings suggest that screening for AUD among individuals with MST and NMST may be especially important.
Keywords: military sexual trauma, alcohol use disorder, Canadian Armed Forces, VeteransStudentye
Pulsed electric field pretreatment of lignocellulose biomass for maximum fermentable sugar yield
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Science in Process Systems Engineering, University of Regina. xv, 188 p.The utilization of lignocellulosic biorefinery processes holds great promise for the production of biofuels and biochemicals. Lignocellulosic biomass, which includes materials such as plant straw, chaff, various grasses, sawdust, soft and hard woods, tree leaves, and paper waste, represents an abundant resource. However, these materials possess tough cell walls and bonding structures that restrict enzyme accessibility during hydrolysis, leading to a reduced yield of fermentable sugars. Numerous pretreatment methods have been explored to address the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass. However, many of these methods are either costly or environmentally harmful due to their substantial energy or chemical consumption and waste generation.
Pulsed electric field pretreatment (PEF) has emerged as a promising method thought to enhance biomass permeability. In this particular study, a PEF pretreatment system was designed, simulated, constructed, and tested specifically for treating flax straw. This system has the capacity to deliver up to 120,000 pulses, with a field strength of up to 8 kV/cm and a pulse width of up to 100 μs. Simulation outcomes highlighted that a design employing two MOSFETs connected in parallel was the most optimal alternative, effectively delivering all applied energy to the biomass while keeping the current within the switch's maximum rating. Nonetheless, perfect synchronization of the metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) was necessary to prevent short circuit. Alternatively, a design featuring a single MOSFET addressed the synchronization issue but encountered MOSFET overheating at high pulse counts and field strengths. Attaching a heat sink to the MOSFET and using a fan helped cooling down of the MOSFET.
The PEF pretreatment was performed using a single MOSFET PEF system within a field strength range of 1.54-8 kV/cm, delivering pulses between 500 and 120,000 with pulse widths from 75 to 100 μs. Subsequent analysis of the pretreated flax straw aimed to assess change in its structure and investigate the yield of fermentable sugars compared to untreated flax straw. At 20,000 pulses, 1.54 kV/cm, and 100 μs, glucose yield saw an 18.8% increase over that of untreated flax straw. The impact of pulse count was negligible beyond 20,000 pulses. Increasing the field strength to 8 kV/cm and employing 120,000 pulses at 100 μs resulted in enhanced yields: 25% for glucose, 67% for cellobiose, and 12% for xylose, relative to untreated flax straw.
Analysis via ATR-FTIR indicated no change in the composition of the flax straw pre and post-pretreatment, while crystallinity index measurements revealed unchanged cellulose crystallinity due to PEF pretreatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images displayed a more porous surface in the pretreated flax straw. BET analysis demonstrated a 91% increase in the surface area of the flax straw pretreated at 8 kV/cm and 120,000 pulses compared to raw flax straw.
Field strength proved effective at two key levels—1.54 and 8 kV/cm—indicating their critical significance among the studied parameters. The critical field strength was observed to depend on the pulse count, as 1.54 kV/cm was effective only at 20,000 pulses, whereas 8 kV/cm was effective at 60,000 pulses or higher. This suggests that PEF pretreatment can be optimized for improved performance. This research lays the foundation for further exploration into the feasibility of integrating PEF pretreatment into an ethanol production facility.Studentye
Perspectives and Experiences of Public Safety Personnel Engaged in a Peer-Led Workplace Reintegration Program Post Critical Incident or Operational Stress Injury: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis
No full textIntroduction: Public safety personnel (PSP) experience operational stress injuries (OSIs), which can put them at increased risk of experiencing mental health and functional challenges. Such challenges can result in PSP needing to take time away from the workplace. An unsuccessful workplace reintegration process may contribute to further personal challenges for PSP and their families as well as staffing shortages that adversely affect PSP organizations. The Canadian Workplace Reintegration Program (RP) has seen a global scale and spread in recent years. However, there remains a lack of evidence-based literature on this topic and the RP specifically. The current qualitative study was designed to explore the perspectives of PSP who had engaged in a Workplace RP due to experiencing a potentially psychologically injurious event or OSI. Methods: A qualitative thematic analysis analyzed interview data from 26 PSP who completed the RP. The researchers identified five themes: (1) the impact of stigma on service engagement; (2) the importance of short-term critical incident (STCI) program; (3) strengths of RP; (4) barriers and areas of improvement for the RP; and (5) support outside the RP. Discussion: Preliminary results were favorable, but further research is needed to address the effectiveness, efficacy, and utility of the RP. Conclusion: By addressing workplace reintegration through innovation and research, future initiatives and RP iterations can provide the best possible service and support to PSP and their communities.This study was supported by the Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders (SPHIFR) Grant program through the Ministry of Labour and Immigration, Government of Alberta, Canada (21SPHIFHR24-2)
Screening of polyamine solvents for co2 capture: Solubility measurement and modeling
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Science in Process Systems Engineering, University of Regina. XI, 101 p.This research aims to identify new promising amines suitable for industrial-scale CO2 capture from natural and flue gas streams. Ideal amines should exhibit high CO2 solubility and low regeneration energy requirements. The amines selected for this study feature multiple amino groups, including combinations of secondary and tertiary amino groups within their molecular structures.
The solubilities of two amines in CO2 were examined in this work: 1-[Bis[3-(dimethyl-amino) propyl]amino]2-propanol (BDMAPAP) and N, N, N', N', N''-Pentamethyl diethylene-triamine (PMDETA). The pressure decay method was used to measure and determine the solubilities. To fully assess the performance of these amines under varied circumstances, experiments were carried out at two temperatures (313.15K and 333.15K) with 10 wt.% and 30 wt.% concentrations and within a range of CO2 partial pressures.
Both amines' CO2 uptake findings were compared to those of other amine solutions under comparable circumstances, such as piperazine (PZ), 1-ethylpiperazine (1-EPZ), 1-(2-Hydroxy-ethyl)piperazine (HEP), and 1,4-Bis(3-aminopropyl)piperazine. The results showed that compared to these other amines, there was a greater uptake of CO2. N, N, N', N'-tetramethyl-trimethylenediamine (TMTMDA), N, N-dimethyl-1,3-propane-diamine (DMPDA), N, N-dimethyl-dipropylene triamine (DMDPTA), 3,3'-Diamino-N-methyl-dipropylamine (DAMDPA), and 3,3'-Iminobis(N, N-dimethylpropylamine) (IBDMPA) were also compared to see how these amines were absorbed at 313.15 K. Except IBDMPA; the results revealed noticeably greater CO2 uptakes for the amines under comparable circumstances. Notably, the CO2 uptakes were substantially higher than benchmark amines commonly used in the industry, such as piperazine (PZ) and monoethanolamine (MEA). The superior performance of these amines indicates a high potential for more efficient CO2 capture processes.
The model employed is the electrolyte Non-Random Two-Liquids (eNRTL) in conjunction with the Redlich-Kwong equation of state for the gas phase. PMDETA's average absolute deviation (AAD%) between the experimental data and the estimated values was 0.1%, 0.01%, and 0.008% for mole fractions, temperatures, and pressures, respectively. Similarly, for (BDMAPAP), the %AAD between the eNRTL model's estimated values and experimental data amounted to 0.15%, 0.03%, and 0.30% for mole fractions, pressures, and temperatures, respectively.
The GLE model facilitated the calculation of the molar heat of absorption using the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation. The examined amines exhibited lower molar heat than other amines, such as PZ, MEA, and DMAPA, offering critical insights into their thermal efficiency and energy requirements during regeneration. The molar absorption heat at infinite dilution of CO2 was approximately -43 kJ·mol⁻¹ for both amine solutions, which is significantly lower than that of other amines, including PZ and MEA.
In conclusion, the high CO2 solubility and favorable thermodynamic properties of BDMAPAP and PMDETA highlight their promise as efficient CO2 capture agents. These findings suggest that the selected amines could significantly enhance industrial CO2 capture processes, offering a potential pathway to more sustainable and cost-effective solutions for mitigating CO2 emissions.Studentye
Design, development, and control of an off-road hybrid electric vehicle power system
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Science in Industrial Systems Engineering, University of Regina. xx, 131 p.With global warming and climate change threatening the planet, the auto industry is
transitioning from conventional internal combustion engines to electrical power trains.
Globally, electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles are becoming popular with 10
million cars sold in 2022. Electrification is not limited to the personal cars and public
transport, but includes applications in transportation, mining, and military. The power
system and battery pack are the main components of electric and hybrid electric vehicles.
Battery pack capacity and performance affect the overall mileage. This thesis models and
sizes the battery pack based on the mechanical and electrical specifications of the vehicle.
The control algorithm is the heart of an unmanned, remote controlled, electric vehicle. This
work presents a combined control strategy for an unmanned hybrid electric vehicle using
a Joystick. The control algorithm consists of a dynamic controller designed using the
mechanical modeling of the vehicle combined with an electrical control strategy known
as Field Oriented Control. The proposed technique generates the torque and speed signals
using dynamic model of the vehicle and trajectories applied to the model. These signals are
then utilized by the inverter controller in the vehicle's power system. The proposed
algorithm generates excellent results based on trajectory following and can guarantee the
safe operation of the battery pack without over discharging the battery higher than its
nominal discharge rate to provide longer lifespan during harsh operations. The simulation
results show that the vehicle can operate in different road conditions without violating the
discharge limit of the battery pack, while following the input trajectories. The highest
discharge currents are associated with the toughest road conditions and shorter terminal
time during which the vehicle should reach the desired speed applied through the
trajectories. The proposed control algorithm can be applied to other vehicular application
by taking their specific mechanical behaviors and characteristics into account.
Keywords: electric vehicle, hybrid electric vehicle, power system, battery pack, field
oriented control, dynamic modelingStudentye
Intersexual roost site selection by the little brown Myotis in Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Biology, University of Regina. vi, 56 p.Roost structures provide habitats for bats to engage in critical life processes. Identifying,
characterizing, and conserving these structures is crucial for individual fitness and survival to
mitigate population loss, especially for species such as the little brown Myotis facing threats such
as pathogen spread from White-Nose Syndrome. During summer, little brown Myotis rely on
roosts to maintain populations through successful reproduction and winter preparation, including
rapid development of young and fat accumulation for the winter for all individuals. Summer
daytime roosts are particularly critical for these processes to occur effectively. My research
aimed to characterize the natural roost selection of nonreproductive female and male little brown
Myotis during the summer in Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan (SK). I determined if roost choice
differed from random available roosts and explored intersexual variation in roost use between
nonreproductive females and males. Using radio-telemetry, I tracked nonreproductive female and
male bats to their daytime roosts in Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan, over the summers of 2022 and
2023. Identifying occupied roost structures for males and females, and comparing them against
data for random available roosts may provide valuable insight to roost characteristics such as tree
structure and temperature, which are essential for forest-dwelling bats. I found individuals of
both sexes roosting in anthropogenic structures, though nonreproductive females were observed
roosting in a known maternity colony consisting of several anthropogenic structures more than
males. In terms of natural roosts, my results suggest that little brown Myotis are roosting mostly
in white spruce in Cypress Hills, SK though the characteristics of these trees may differ between
male and nonreproductive females. Assessing the roost selection of little brown Myotis and how
intersexual variation affects such selection can guide future conservation efforts by protecting
and promoting these sites for future populations.Studentye
Field notes for returning home: Creative-critical conversations on the home place in Kroetsch’s completed field notes
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in English, University of Regina. v, 98 p.This thesis utilizes a creative-critical approach to explore the concept of returning home
as a place-based practice through the reading of three early poems from Robert Kroetsch’s
Completed Field Notes. Each chapter begins with a personal, embodied experience related to the
home place where I grew up and a Kroetsch poem grounds each chapter and acts as a field guide
through which to view the experience of home. The selected Kroetsch poems, “Stone Hammer
Poem”, “The Ledger”, and “Seed Catalogue”, each demonstrate a tension common in Kroetsch’s
work: finality and simultaneity, product and process, and history and archaeology. The result of
applying the tension of the Kroetsch works to my experiences with returning home is a thesis
that works though, but does not eliminate, the hyphenated reality of creative-critical modalities
for settler-descendants writing from a prairie home place. In the end, there is a returning to a
home place that is as changed as me: Like putting on an old jacket that doesn’t quite fit but still
warms me with the comfort of recognition.Studentye