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Differential Controls of Greenhouse Gas (CO2, CH4, and N2O) Concentrations in Natural and Constructed Agricultural Waterbodies on the Northern Great Plains
No full textInland waters are hotspots of greenhouse gas (GHG) cycling, with small water bodies particularly active in the production and consumption of carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). However, wetland ponds are being replaced rapidly by small constructed reservoirs in agricultural regions, yet it is unclear whether these two water body types exhibit similar physical, chemical, and environmental controls of GHG content and fluxes. Here, we compared the content and regulatory mechanisms of all three major GHGs in 20 pairs of natural wetland ponds and constructed reservoirs in Canada's largest agricultural region. Carbon dioxide content was associated primarily with metabolic indicators in both water body types; however, primary production was paramount in reservoirs, and heterotrophic metabolism a stronger correlate in wetland ponds. Methane concentrations were correlated positively with eutrophication of the reservoirs alone, while competitive inhibition by sulfur-reducing bacteria may have limited CH 4 in both waterbody types. Contrary to expectations, N 2O was undersaturated in both water body types, with wetlands being a significantly stronger and more widespread N 2O sink. Varying regulatory processes are attributed to differences in age, depth, morphology, and water-column circulation between water body types. These results suggest that natural and constructed water bodies should be modeled separately in regional GHG budgets.Acknowledgments
Financial support for data collection
and analyses were provided in part by
Government of Saskatchewan (Award
200160015), Natural Sciences and
Engineering Research Council of Canada
Discovery grants (to K.F., G.L.S.,
H.M.B., and P.R.L.), the Canada Founda-
tion for Innovation, University of Regina.Facultyye
Measurement and modelling of carbon dioxide and ethane solubility in triflate-based ionic liquids: Imidazolium, pyridinium, and pyrrolidinium
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, 141 p.Carbon dioxide emission is the major greenhouse gas causing global warming. Capturing and
reducing the emitted CO2 and other greenhouse gases is one of the most pressing issues in the
world today.
This study aimed at screening promising ionic liquids for their capacity to absorb CO2 without
ethane co-absorption for natural gas sweetening operations. Therefore, the solubility of CO2 and
C2H6 in three ionic liquids with the same anion but different cations was measured. 1-Butyl-3-
methylimidazolium triflate [BMIM][TfO], 1-Butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium triflate [BMP][TfO],
1-Butyl-4-methylpyridium triflate [MBPY][TfO] were selected based on the results obtained
from a molecular computational study. The solubility was measured at 303.15, 323.15, and
343.15 K, and a pressure of up to 1.5MPa, and the experiment was conducted using a gravimetric
microbalance (IGA-003).
Three distinct mixing rules van der Waals one (vdW1), van der Waals two (vdW2), and the Wong-
Sandler mixing rules along with the non-random two liquid models (WS-NRTL) were used to
correlate the experimental results for CO2 and C2H6 acquired. The results show that for both CO2
and C2H6, the best modelling option would be to use the Wong-Sandler mixing rule as it had the
lowest AAD.
[MBPY][TfO] had the lowest Henry’s law constant i.e., the highest solubility across all three
temperatures for CO2, this can be a result of having the longest alkyl chain. [BMP][TfO] had the
highest Henry’s law constant (lowest solubility) at the three different temperatures for CO2.
[BMP][TfO] had the highest solubility of C2H6 at 303.15 K, while [MBPY][TfO] had the highest
solubility at 323.15 and 343.15 K.
The ranking of the selectivity of CO2 and C2H6 in the three ionic liquids from the experimental
data went from the highest to the lowest as follows: [MBPY][TfO] > [BMP][TfO] >
[BMIM][TfO].
This study concluded that [MBPY][TfO] is the best ionic liquid among the three studied. The
enthalpy and entropy of absorption were also reported, and CO2 was recorded to have a higher
solubility and stronger interactions with the ionic liquid than C2H6. The results confirm the fact
that the anion of an ionic liquid has a greater influence on solubility than its cation.
Finally, Selexol/Genesorb 1753 was a better solvent than [MBPY][TfO] in absorbing CO2 and
C2H6 co-absorption, providing therefore a better selectivity.Studentye
Teacher and education students’ knowledge of children’s understanding of arithmetic concepts
No full textA Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. 45 p.Arithmetic concepts such as Equivalence (understanding the equals sign means that both sides of an equation are balanced), Inversion (understanding some pairs of operations are inversely related), and Associativity (understanding some problems can be solved in any order) are understood to give a deeper understanding of math (Wong, 2017). As well, the use of strategies that show an understanding of these concepts has been suggested to improve children’s accuracy on math problems (Chesney et al., 2013; Dubé & Robinson, 2010). Within this study, Teachers and Undergraduate Education students completed an online survey asking them to solve math problems that could be solved using a conceptually-based strategy. As well, participants were asked questions regarding their math anxiety and comfort teaching math. Finally, participants were asked to estimate at what grade 50% of children would apply a conceptually-based strategy to solve problems. Participants were only accurate estimating when 50% of children understood additive inversion. Participants overestimated children’s understanding of the concepts of associativity, equivalence, and multiplicative inversion. As well, it was found that higher math teaching anxiety was correlated with more conceptually-based strategy use, and higher maximum grade comfortable teaching math was correlated with less accuracy and conceptually-based strategy use. Overall, these findings indicated that more needs to be done to address education professionals estimates of children’s understanding
Possibilities and Challenges of Learning English through Virtual Speaking Clubs
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has made online language learning and interaction more prevalent. In this
paper, we investigate English language learners' experiences in a virtual speaking club hosted by one
of the co-authors. The main objective is to explore English learners' experience in speaking clubs. The
study uses online focus groups to explore learner experiences, focusing on feelings accompanying the
language learning process. Findings suggest that virtual speaking clubs are cost-saving and time-
efficient options for learners. Furthermore, the clubs provide opportunities for greater learner
participation and interaction than traditional spaces, as they are a way to share social resources,
benefits, and power
Drag-and-drop query refinement and query history visualization for mobile exploratory search
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 Computer Science, University of Regina. xii, 145 p.Search plays a crucial role in digital public libraries due to the vast amount of
information available to users. These users often require support because their search
tasks are inherently complex. Complex search tasks, characterized as ill-defined,
open-ended, or multi-faceted, occur when the information need cannot be satisfied by
simply finding a single optimal resource; searchers are required to revise, refine, and
reformulate their queries multiple times. One challenge that users face is how to refine
their queries. This challenge is compounded when using a mobile device, where typing
is time-consuming and error-prone. Conducting searches in a mobile context adds yet
another challenge: the possibility of being interrupted and losing track of the ongoing
task. To address these challenges, a novel digital public library search interface,
optimized for mobile device use, was designed with two key features: drag-and-drop
query refinement and query history visualization. To assess the value of this interface
compared to a baseline interface, a controlled laboratory study was conducted with
32 participants. The data analysis results highlight the value of the novel interface in
terms of usability measures for search activities (including query refinement), search
performance, usability measures during the resumption of search tasks, and task
resumption performance. Additionally, the results indicate a significant boost in
certainty about the search topic after using the novel interface, unlike the baseline,
where no change in certainty was observed. Overall, this user study provides evidence
that drag-and-drop interactions can effectively support mobile users in refining their
queries. Additionally, it demonstrates the beneficial use of visualization in displaying
query history when users need to resume their search tasks.Studentye
Design and analysis of gesture-controlled musical instrument interfaces in extended reality
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 Computer Science, University of Regina. xiv, 103 p.Despite the benefits of playing an instrument, many students drop out due to
factors such as frustration or boredom from repetition. Virtual Reality (VR) and
Extended Reality (XR) have the potential to help learners gain or maintain interest
through simulating both realistic or physically impossible instruments, while experienced
musicians may find new forms of inspiration or creative expression in virtual
environments.
Although VR can theoretically simulate any interface that can be modelled, in
practice, virtual systems are limited by the user’s physical and cognitive ability to
interact with the environment, and the system’s ability to replicate the feeling of an
instrument while accurately recognizing user input. The task of creating “realistic”
simulations varies in difficulty depending on the instrument being reproduced – standard
VR controllers could approximate the feeling of playing a vibraphone through
accurate tracking and haptic feedback, but would struggle to replicate playing a flute
due to the number and positioning of buttons on the controller. Gesture controls
through wearable or vision-based techniques may offer increased flexibility, but may
be inaccurate, unfamiliar, or unavailable to an average consumer.
To assess the potential for commercially available VR as a musical tool, I used
standard VR implementation processes to design a set of virtual instruments: vibraphone,
piano, trombone, simplified recorder, and four virtual trumpet interfaces:
camera-tracking with voice activation, camera-tracking with tracked register selection
(two ways), and a controller plus a force-feedback haptic glove. To evaluate these implementations,
I created a virtual music classroom that produces audio synchronized
with either static images of music or dynamically generated notes and finger pattern
guides loaded from a selected MIDI file. I analytically compared these implementations
against an acoustic trumpet and two MIDI wind controllers, considering features
of ease of use, familiarity, playability, noise, and versatility.
Using a physical trumpet in VR produced a reliable and familiar experience, and
some extended reality benefits are considered and discussed. Controller-based methods
were easy to implement and easy to use, but lacked versatility. Camera-based
methods are easy to use once learned, but required some familiarisation, lacked tactile
feedback, and were susceptible to errors related to hand tracking accuracy. The
haptic glove provided improved tracking accuracy over camera tracking, and was able
to provide haptic feedback for interactions such as pressing valves, which improved
the experience, but was not capable of reproducing finger splay, and would be difficult
for an average musician to build and maintain. Each method was also considered as
a proof-of-concept for other instruments, real or imaginary.Studentye
Multiple independent lineups: A procedure for corroborating eyewitness identification evidence in children
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 Experimental and Applied Psychology, University of Regina. vii, 71p.Child eyewitnesses exhibit problematic choosing on police lineups at a higher rate
than adults (Fitzgerald & Price, 2015), which is an issue as mistaken eyewitness
testimony is a leading cause of wrongful convictions (National Registry of Exonerations,
2019). This study examined a novel eyewitness technique to use with children, the
multiple independent lineup (MIL) technique, to assess facial identification accuracy. A
total of 486 children (60% male, 39% female, and 1% other; Mage = 8.59) witnessed a
live event and, the following day, engaged in a lineup identification task (i.e., single
simultaneous face lineup or the multiple independent lineup technique). Largely, the
results found support for the multiple independent lineup technique to help infer the
accuracy of child eyewitnesses. Interestingly, children of all ages performed similarly on
the multiple independent lineup technique. The results also revealed that facial
identification responses are similar between the two lineup conditions (i.e., single
simultaneous lineup and multiple independent lineup technique). Implications and future
directions are discussed.Studentye
Meteorological risk assessment of Canadian transcontinental freight railway: Case study of Saskatchewan and Ontario
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. ix, 102 p.Railway transportation is the heart of the supply chain in Canada. The reason is that railway
transportation is known as one of the most reliable and safest modes of transportation. However,
due to its complexity, a wide range of risks are associated with this means of transportation.
Considering Canada's climate, studying meteorological risks associated with the railway network
can be useful for decision-makers in railway transportation, especially when preparing for cold
seasons and implementing railway network development. In this study, a comprehensive spatial
analysis using ArcMap has been applied to identify hotspots and vulnerable geographical areas in
terms of meteorological factors in two provinces with slightly different climates: Saskatchewan
and Ontario. Floods, rain, snow, minimum temperature, and wind have been selected as factors to
generate meteorological risk maps for the mentioned provinces. The selected railway network for
analysis is the Canadian National Railway (CN), one of the two major railways in Canada and the
only Transcontinental Freight Railway in North America. However, the results can be applied to
any other railway network in Canada. After developing risk maps for each factor, 5 different types
of integrated risk maps are generated in this thesis. The first type assumes that the weight
(importance) of all factors in causing accidents or service disruptions is the same. Two versions
utilize different weights for different factors. One version applies score-based weighting of factors,
while the other employs expert opinion-based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Additionally,
two season-based risk maps for warm and cold seasons are also generated. The risk maps
demonstrate hotspots and hazardous areas that require more attention and planning to maintain the
continuity of the supply chain. The results can be used to enhance safety, reduce service
disruptions, and ensure the smooth operation of the railway network.Studentye
Well-being paradox and chronic pain
No full textA Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. vii, 64 p.Older adulthood (i.e., 60 years of age and older) is associated with a worsening in happiness-contributing factors, such as one’s physical health. For example, older adults experience elevated rates of chronic pain (i.e., pain that persists for more than three months). Despite the decrease in happiness-contributing factors, older adults experience higher levels of subjective well-being (i.e., eudaimonia) compared to their younger counterparts. This phenomenon is known as the well-being paradox. While the paradox has been well established, little is known about the role of chronic pain in relation to the experience of the paradox. This study is, therefore, aimed at investigating the influence of chronic pain and its associated characteristics on the well-being paradox. Findings were derived from 132 participants from Canada ranging from 60 to 90 years of age living with chronic pain. Results were obtained from a set of self-report questionnaires analyzed using a series of multiple linear regressions. Analyses revealed that current age, magnification, and psychological inflexibility significantly predicted overall eudaimonic well-being. Further, three subcomponents of eudaimonic well-being were analyzed (i.e., self-acceptance, autonomy, environmental mastery). Current age, developmental age, physical functioning, helplessness, and psychological inflexibility significantly predicted participants’ self-acceptance. Current age, magnification, and psychological inflexibility significantly predicted autonomy levels. Finally, current age, developmental age, physical functioning, helplessness, and avoidance of pain significantly predicted participants’ environmental mastery. Aside from adding novel contributions to literature concerning the well-being paradox, findings from this study could influence training for mental health professionals and result in improved chronic pain treatments for aging populations.Studentn