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Processes and Manifestations of Digital Resilience: Video and Textual Insights From Sexual and Gender Minority Youth
No full textMinority stressors harm sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY). This may be mitigated by promotive and protective factors and processes that manifest resilient coping. SGMY increasingly interact with information communication technologies (ICTs) to meet psychological needs, yet research often problematizes youths’ ICT use, inhibiting understanding about ICTs’ potential resilience-enhancing utilities. This study analyzes text and video responses of 609 SGMY aged 14 to 29 residing in Canada or the United States to an open-ended survey question about the benefits of using ICTs. Constructivist grounded theory integrating multimodal coding was used to analyze the data, producing a framework of digital resilience—digital processes and actions that generate positive growth—with four themes: Regulating Emotions and Curating Microsystems; Learning and Integrating; Advocating and Leading; and Cultivating Relationships and Communities of Care. Implications for clinical practice, survey innovation, and application of findings in fostering affirming digital microsystems for SGMY are discussed.This study was funded by a Social
Sciences and Humanities Research Council Grant (Grant # 895-2018-1000).Facultyye
Efficacy of an Internet-delivered self-compassion intervention in preventing depressive relapse and recurrence: A randomized controlled trial in a clinical sample
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology, University of Regina. xiii, 199 p.Depression is a prevalent and burdensome mental health condition. Unfortunately,
depression is chronic and recurrent, with a lifetime average of four to five episodes.
Although evidence supports the efficacy of self-compassion interventions for a range of
psychological disorders (Ferrari et al., 2019), research on scalable forms of compassion-based
interventions for recurrent depression remains scarce. The primary purpose of this
two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to examine the efficacy of a 6-week
internet-delivered, self-directed self-compassion intervention in preventing depressive
relapse and recurrence over a 12-month period in a clinical sample of adults with a
history of depression. The efficacy of the intervention was tested against a self-reflection
active control condition. In addition to examining differential relapse/recurrence rates, the
RCT compared changes in the primary outcome of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), and
secondary outcomes of self-compassion (SCS), mindfulness (FFMQ-15), decentering
(EQ-D), and fear of self-compassion (FCSS) across conditions and time. A total of 158
participants meeting eligibility criteria (87% identifying female; M number of prior
depressive episodes = 2.88 [SD = 1.82]) were randomized into the self-compassion (SC;
n = 80) intervention condition or self-reflection (SR; n = 78) active control condition. All
participants completed primary and secondary outcome measures at baseline, weekly
throughout the 6-week intervention period, at post-treatment, and at each of four followups
(at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month post-randomization). Participants also completed a phone
interview at each follow-up to determine relapse/recurrence status. Depressive episodes
were assessed by a structured interview. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted
to compare rates of depressive relapse/recurrence between the two conditions across the
trial period. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted to examine the effects of predictors on time until relapse/recurrence. Multilevel modeling and mixed
model analysis of variance were conducted to examine differential changes in primary
and secondary outcomes between the two conditions. Contrary to primary hypotheses,
survival analysis revealed no significant differences in relapse/recurrence rates between
SC participants (relapse rate = 33%) and SR participants (relapse rate = 43%) across the 12-months trial period, χ2(1) = .35, p = .56. Number of past depressive episodes and
baseline fear of self-compassion predicted time until relapse/recurrence in an exploratory
survival analysis; greater number of past episodes and higher levels of fear of self-compassion were associated with a higher likelihood of relapse. Further, SC participants did not report significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms, nor significantly
greater increases in mindfulness and decentering compared to SR participants. However,
SC participants reported significantly greater increases in self-compassion and
significantly greater decreases in fear of self-compassion compared to SR participants
across the trial period. Results revealed a main effect of time on all outcome measures;
participants in both conditions reported significantly lower distress across time. The current findings support self-directed self-compassion training as a feasible approach to
cultivating protective and reducing risk factors associated with recurrent depression. Self-compassion training through an internet-delivered self-directed program may be appropriate for use as an adjunct to more established evidence-based treatments specifically targeting relapse in depression.
Keywords: recurrent depression, relapse/recurrence, self-compassion,
mindfulness, decentering, fear of self-compassion, compassion-based intervention, RCTStudentye
Can U.S. strategic petroleum reserves calm a tight market exacerbated by the Russia–Ukraine conflict?
No full textRecent changes in global petroleum markets have driven the debate regarding the use of strategic petroleum reserves (SPRs) as a price management tool during periods marked by extreme price volatility. We examine the price management role of the U.S. SPR under typical market conditions and in extreme emergencies. Furthermore, we discuss the White House's hypotheses that (a) boosted Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) production and releases from the U.S. SPR result in a negative pressure on U.S. gasoline inflation, and (b) crude oil releases from the U.S. SPR helps balance the global oil market. The threshold cointegration results indicate that U.S. SPR releases impact neither OPEC production nor imported input prices. We apply a hybrid open-economy Phillips curve to model gasoline inflation, accounting for backward- and forward-looking price settings, domestic and global slackness, and energy security. We distinguish between normal-, super-, and hyper-backwardation and -contango oil markets using threshold cointegration and regression techniques. Our results demonstrate that SPR releases and OPEC output increases generally decrease inflation, with a crucial exception being the hyper-backwardation market, as seen in 2021–2022. This period was characterized by severely constrained global supply buffers, including OPEC's spare capacity, exacerbated by the Russia–Ukraine conflict. For this period, we conclude that (1) the impact of OPEC production changes on gasoline inflation would be negligible, (2) excess domestic demand relative to domestic supply raises concerns about domestic energy security, and (3) the unprecedentedly large SPR drawdowns are likely to have caused the market to panic and contributed to gasoline price increases, contrary to arguments suggesting that the 2022 releases eased domestic gasoline prices. We conclude that the SPR is an ineffective price control mechanism during crises and may not have the strategic value previously thought in an extremely tight oil market.The authors are grateful for receiving an open-access grant from the President's Publication Fund at the University of Regina
The influence of embryo incubation temperature on later life aerobic performance of Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)
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. viii , 92 p.Temperature represents one of the most influential abiotic factors affecting all living organisms. Ectotherms, including fish, can be affected by temperature at the cellular, individual, population, and community levels. In modern times, climate change and thermal pollution pose major threats as they threaten to elevate water temperatures, therefore limiting optimal thermal habitats and exposing species to suboptimal environmental conditions. While adult fish of many species have the capacity to avoid these thermally impacted areas, early life stages (i.e., embryonic, larval, and juvenile) are typically limited in mobility and lack the ability to avoid these areas. These early life stages are especially vulnerable, as this is a time of rapid growth and development. While numerous studies have evaluated the effects of temperature during development on hatching success, developmental rates, and phenotypic plasticity, few have assessed its effects on later life whole-animal performance. I used intermittent swim respirometry to evaluate the effects of embryo incubation temperature on two measurements of whole-animal aerobic performance: aerobic scope and critical swimming speed. I chose to use two species of fish that use distinct reproductive characteristics, the fall spawning Lake Whitefish and the spring spawning Yellow Perch. I hypothesized that whole-animal aerobic performance of both species would be reduced when embryos were incubated at temperatures 3 °C above optimal. I also hypothesized that Lake Whitefish would be impacted more drastically than Yellow Perch due to their narrower thermal tolerance. Finally, I predicted that whole-animal aerobic performance would be maximized at temperatures near the thermal preference of the species, respectively. To test my hypotheses, I first incubated Lake Whitefish and Yellow Perch embryos at 2 and 5 °C, and 15 and 18 °C, respectively. I then reared Lake Whitefish at common-garden temperatures of 12 °C for 14 to 16 months and Yellow Perch at 18 °C for and 9 to 12 months. Following the rearing periods, Lake Whitefish and Yellow Perch were split into experimental temperature groups and acclimated to 15 and 19 °C, and 20, 24, and 28 °C respectively, for 2-4 weeks before swim respirometry trials began.
I found that embryo incubation temperature influences the whole-animal aerobic performance of Lake Whitefish but does not affect Yellow Perch. Lake Whitefish incubated as embryos at 5 °C demonstrated a reduction in critical swimming when acclimated to 15 °C as juveniles. An interaction between the embryo incubation temperature and the response to juvenile acclimation temperature was also detected in Lake Whitefish, where the routine metabolic rate of fish incubated as embryos at 5 °C did not increase when acclimated as juveniles to 19 °C compared to 15 °C. No influence of embryo incubation temperature was observed in the whole-animal aerobic performance of Yellow Perch. My results imply that Lake Whitefish and potentially other species that demonstrate similar developmental characteristics are likely to be impacted by increases in global water temperatures. Decreases in whole-animal aerobic performance could have negative impacts on survival and recruitment. Yellow Perch and other species that share developmental characteristics will be impacted to a lesser extent. Although the mechanisms responsible for the effects of embryo incubation temperature on later life whole-animal aerobic performance are not well understood, this study gives a baseline for further research to build upon. By understanding the potential for embryo incubation temperature to influence later life whole-animal aerobic performance, future studies can be conducted to isolate the mechanisms associated.Studentye
Algal control and prevention technologies for Lake Diefenbaker irrigation canals
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 Environmental Systems Engineering, University of Regina. xii, 133 p.The Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project makes up an extensive 500 km of canals that officially began in July 2020. These canals contain pumps for increased and enhanced irrigation throughout southern and central Saskatchewan. However, the efficiency of the canals is hindered by the growth of filamentous algae. The filamentous algae are a nuisance and block pumps, making it difficult for water to be distributed to all the desired locations within the province. Currently, a synthetic chemical, Magnacide H, is utilized to control the growth of the algae at the cost of approximately $1 million per year, which is high cost. This study, as such, seeks to review, evaluate, compare, and develop algal prevention and control technologies as well as propose a suitable canal design option that would minimize algae growth. Five field trips to Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals were conducted in June, July, August, September, and October to ascertain the factors contributing to the canal's algal blooms. Tests were also conducted to determine the canal's suitability for irrigation to check whether the key parameters were within the optimal range. According to the test results, all the parameters were within the recommended Saskatchewan irrigation guideline. This study considers three algal prevention and treatment options: 1) Non-toxic dyes and colorants, 2) microbubbles and nanobubbles, and 3) Ultrasound technology. The use of microbubbles and nanobubbles technology was selected as the most suitable option. Although highly efficient, the other options failed because of their high costs and low location suitability. Furthermore, the study recommends that the modified canal design be deeper, narrower, sloped, or trapezoidal. Such a design is recommended because it can limit the amount of sunlight entering the water. In addition, deepening the canal's edges with an inclination ratio of 2:1 can help control the growth of algae by minimizing the number of shallow areas that receive sunlight penetration. As research and testing for algal control and prevention methods are still relatively new, further research is required to understand the effectiveness of algal control and prevention technologies fully.Studentye
‘Return on[boarding] investment’: Exploring volunteer onboarding experiences on newcomer behaviours and implications for volunteer board performance
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 Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina. viii, 142 p.Exploration of the onboarding experiences (OE) of newcomer volunteers in a volunteer leadership context is lacking in current volunteer management and governance research. Through a lens of socialization and self-efficacy principles, this study aims to address whether OE can be an interceding influence for newcomer behaviours and motivations. The level at which an individual is onboarded (Bauer, 2010) and the exchange between existing employees and newcomers, affects attitudinal aspects of the individual toward the role that they uphold (Sluss & Thompson, 2012). Increasing the knowledge base about the implications of onboarding practices within a volunteer context allows for more discernment surrounding appropriate considerations to effectively optimize the acquisition of knowledge and information for newcomers within a volunteer board, as well as how to enhance the interactional exchange between new individuals and existing members. Seven semi-structured interviews (approximately 45 – 60 minutes in length) were conducted with newcomer volunteers of non-profit sport or recreational organizations. New board members were considered to be within one year of their tenure, and were recruited to participate through various petitioned means. The study adopted an inductive approach complemented with thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) as a way to parse-out and construe the data collected from each of the participants. Findings within this study highlighted a number of themes and sub-themes that may impact a newcomer’s OE. These themes (i.e., process, information and organizational knowledge acquisition, original intent to participate, and person-organization fit) are aspects for sport and recreation organizations to consider when onboarding new individuals to a group. Overall, this project sought to provide cogency toward the knowledge and experiences that foster individual group members’ motivations and actions at a volunteer leadership level. It begins to address the onboarding experiences in a volunteer context and questions if we can adapt similar principles and understanding to volunteers compared to a workplace setting.Studentye
Resonator sensors integrated in bandpass filters for the detection and attenuation of interfering signals
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 Electronic Systems Engineering, University of Regina. ix, 72 p.In microwave systems, RF front end devices are subjected to interference signal, this interference signal can damage the receiver end or disrupt wanted signals. This thesis proposes a method of sensing the interference signal by weak coupling a resonator to the filter. The proposed method employs a combline bandpass filter at 2 GHz center frequency at 5% bandwidth, which was designed on Advanced Design System (ADS) software and space mapping was performed to optimize the parameters. By weakly coupling the resonator to the filter, the interference signal of certain threshold power can be sensed. The resonator sensor designed are of two bandwidths, the narrower bandwidth resonator and the wider bandwidth resonator which are discussed in this thesis. During the design process of the wide bandwidth sensor the simulation results shows that a tunable attenuator can be realized.
The filters is designed, fabricated and tested. The 3-pole filter with no sensor is fabricated and tested first while evaluating different ways to realize the vias from the top to bottom layers of the microstrip structure. It is determined that all methods show promise, though the best results are found using the soldered wire method. The narrow and wideband sensors are also fabricated and tested showing reasonable results when compared to the electromagnetic simulations. The wideband sensor design is tested with a circulator to demonstrate the proposed tunable attenuator design.Studentye
Comparison of COVID-19 vaccination rollout approaches across Canada: Case studies of four diverse provinces
No full textAcross Canada, there were notable differences in the rollout of provincial/territorial COVID-19 vaccination programs, reflecting diverse sociodemographic profiles, geopolitical landscapes, health system designs, and pandemic experiences. We collected information regarding underlying principles and goals, governance and authority, transparency and diversity of communications, activities to strengthen infrastructure and workforce capacity, and entitlement and access in four diverse provinces (British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia). Through cross-case analysis, we observed significant differences in provincial rollouts of the primary two-dose vaccination series in adults between December 2020 and December 2021. Nova Scotia was the only province to state explicit coverage goals and adhere to plans tying coverage to the relaxation of public health measures. Both Nova Scotia and British Columbia implemented fully centralized vaccination booking systems. In contrast, Saskatchewan's initial highly centralized approach enabled the rapid delivery of first doses; however, rollout of second doses was slower and more decentralized, occurring primarily through community pharmacies. In alignment with its decentralized health system, Ontario pursued a regionalized approach, primarily led by its existing public health unit network. Our research suggests explicit goals, centralized booking, and flexible delivery strategies improved uptake; however, ongoing learning will be crucial for informing the success of future vaccination efforts.CoVaRR-Net is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FRN # 175622)
Putting the pieces together: Client experiences of intuition in counselling
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 Social Work, University of Regina. vi, 111 p.Intuition is when we know something but are unable to determine how we know it. It is
an automatic and unconscious process that influences our decision-making. In counselling, this
can be a helpful tool, as long as biases are mitigated. There are studies that address intuition used
in clinical practice and psychology. However, there is a lack of research in social work practice,
especially focusing on exploring intuition from the clients’ perspective.
Guided by an overarching research question “what are the clients’ experiences when
intuition is used in a session by a professional counsellor?”, this study addressed the
phenomenon of intuition by using the fusion of social constructivist paradigm and
phenomenology, and was informed by decolonial perspectives on research in social work
practice. The findings in this study show that clients enter counselling with personal beliefs,
fears, and skepticism about intuition that are shaped by their epistemologies and worldviews.
Intuition is more closely aligned with Indigenous worldviews than Eurocentric worldviews.
Indigenous perspectives are holistic and view the world as interconnected parts of a whole. The
findings in this study show that intuition is holistic. It is a felt sense (body), can be taught and
developed (mind), and helped participants feel connected to themselves, others, and the world at
large (spirit). Participants also found intuition in counselling to be validating and healing.
The study suggests that intuition 1) could be normalized within the dominant discourses
on decision making in social work practice and, 2) post-secondary education and practice in
social work can benefit from training about using one’s intuition in social work practice.Studentye
Discretization of nature-inspired techniques for combinatorial problems
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science, University of Regina. xiii, 154 p.Scientists across various domains like scheduling, computational biology, and machine
learning face constraint-solving and optimization problems. Classical systematic and mathematical
methods often fall short of providing suitable solutions for such complex problems,
leading to the introduction of metaheuristic algorithms. These algorithms exhibit
diverse characteristics and can effectively address specific optimization problems. The
primary motivation is to develop robust metaheuristics that can efficiently handle scaling
problems. However, one challenge with metaheuristics is their immature convergence. In
the context of Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs), a framework applicable to numerous
real-world problems, metaheuristics play a significant role.
To address these objectives and challenges, this thesis investigates the applicability of
metaheuristics, including the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), Genetic Algorithm
(GA), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and Water
Cycle Algorithm (WCA). More precisely, we propose a discrete version of nature-inspired
techniques for solving the Electricity Technician Dispatch Problems (ETDP), the Nurse
Scheduling Problem (NSP), and the Task Scheduling Problem in Mobile Cloud Computing.
We also propose a discrete version of WOA for Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis. Experimentation
showcases the efficiency of the proposed techniques in finding a good trade-off
between running time and the quality of the solution returned.Studentye