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A cross-jurisdictional comparison on residential waste collection rates during earlier waves of COVID-19
No full textThis is the accepted version of the original article available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2023.104685. © 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Accepted article is CC BY-NC-ND.There is currently a lack of studies on residential waste collection during COVID-19 in North America. SARIMA models were developed to predict residential waste collection rates (RWCR) across four North American jurisdictions before and during the pandemic. Unlike waste disposal rates, RWCR is relatively less sensitive to the changes in COVID-19 regulatory policies and administrative measures, making RWCR more appropriate for cross-jurisdictional comparisons. It is hypothesized that the use of RWCR in forecasting models will help us to better understand the residential waste generation behaviors in North America. Both SARIMA models performed satisfactorily in predicting Regina’s RWCR. The SARIMA DCV model’s performance is noticeably better during COVID-19, with a 15.7% lower RMSE than that of the benchmark model (SARIMA BCV). The skewness of overprediction ratios was noticeably different between jurisdictions, and modeling errors were generally lower in less populated cities. Conflicting behavioral changes might have altered the residential waste generation characteristics and recycling behaviors differently across the jurisdictions. Overall, SARIMA DCV performed better in the Canadian jurisdiction than in U.S. jurisdictions, likely due to the model’s bias on a less variable input dataset. The use of RWCR in forecasting models helps us to better understand the residential waste generation behaviors in North America and better prepare us for a future global pandemic.The research reported in this paper was supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2019-06154) to the corresponding author, using computing equipment funded by FEROF at the University of Regina
Exploration of the Lived Experiences and Needs of Individuals with Adult-Diagnosed Cystic Fibrosis
No full textBackground: Most cases of cystic fibrosis (CF) are diagnosed in infancy, however rates of adult-diagnosed CF are increasing with 5-10% of CF cases being diagnosed in adulthood [1]. Our limited understanding of this subset of the CF population is based on dated literature [2-3] and an up-to date understanding of the experiences and needs of those diagnosed in adulthood is required in order to develop age-appropriate supports to navigate the disease [4]. The purpose of present study was to examine the lived experiences and needs of those diagnosed with CF in adulthood from multiple vantage points (i.e., those with CF and CF health care providers).
Methods: A qualitative research design was used. Participants (n = 16) included adults with CF (n = 8, Mage = 41.71, SD = 14.47), and interdisciplinary CF health care providers (n = 8, Mage = 46.29, SD = 7.93) recruited from CF clinics and chapters in Western Canada. Participants completed a brief demographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. Individual interviews ranged from 30-60 minutes in length. Interview questions included general introductory questions about informational and service needs, as well as specific questions about the benefits and drawbacks of an Internet-based resource. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim.
Results: A thematic content analysis was completed, and five major themes were uncovered: (1) CF information needs (i.e., limited information available, limited understanding of CF); (2) challenges of having CF (i.e., diagnosis challenges, treatment challenges, social challenges); (3) emotions related to CF and coping (i.e., feeling overwhelmed, angry, worried, guilty); (4) health service needs (i.e., access, physical health, mental health); (5) online resource considerations (i.e., benefits, drawbacks, key components).
Conclusions: The results highlight that those diagnosed with CF in adulthood require tailored information in crucial areas (i.e., disease knowledge, challenges, emotions, coping strategies, resources). The results also indicate that individuals with adult-diagnosed CF are in favor of information provision via an Internet-delivered resource. Information gathered from the study will be employed to inform the development of a tailored resource to address information and support needs.
Acknowledgements: Supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the SK Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (SCPOR)
"Ours is a history of adapting": An analysis of adaptive capacity to climate change in rural and small-town Saskatchewan
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 Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Regina. x, 174 p.Climate scientists project that the Canadian Prairies will undergo increasing effects of
climate change in the future, and indeed have already observed significant impacts.
Scientists have projected rising temperatures, changing growing seasons, an increase in
variability, and more extreme and frequent disasters such as fires, floods, and droughts
throughout the next several decades. While not all communities in the Canadian Prairies
are equally exposed to the impacts of climate change, social scientists have noted that
vulnerability of communities to climate change is not determined by exposure alone.
Vulnerability is conceptualized as a function of a community’s exposure to a climate
hazard, in combination with the social elements that shape the severity of the hazard.
The impacts of these disasters are compounded by socioeconomic circumstances.
In the rural and small-town Prairies, farming and resource extraction and development
(e.g., oil, gas, and mining) are key economies. Given this dependence on natural
resources, disruption of the natural environment can create economic precarities. Rising
temperatures, increasing unpredictability in the growing season, and more frequent
weather disasters require adjustments in farming practices, and these challenges are
compounded by pre-existing socioeconomic circumstances that Canadian Prairie farmers
have been facing for decades, such as expanding global markets resulting in financial
precarities and reducing the number of food producers. These socioeconomic shifts,
compounded with climate change impacts, have created conditions of vulnerability for
many communities in the Prairies. Given these realities, communities must adapt to
address the impacts of climate change and global economic patterns. With the projected
rise in climate variability, unpredictability, and weather disasters, attention to adaptive
capacity will be required if Prairie communities are to continue to support peoples’
livelihoods and well-being.
This research investigates the social dimensions that shape adaptive capacity in
rural and small-town Saskatchewan, specifically examining the impacts of socioeconomic
conditions, the operation of resources such as social and human capital, and the
ways these resources can work together to foster adaptive capacity to climate change.
This study draws from interviews and participant observation in a central region of
Saskatchewan to investigate the realities of adaptive capacity in areas with various levels
of exposure to climate hazards. Forty-four interviews were conducted with participants in
the town of Hafford, the surrounding Rural Municipality (RM) of Redberry (No. 435),
the town of Radisson, village of Borden, and surrounding RM of Great Bend (No. 405).
This thesis follows a manuscript-based format, with the three central chapters (Chapters
2, 3, and 4) each constituting a standalone article manuscript. Chapter 2 discusses the role
of neoliberalization in shaping the realities of consolidated farming in rural and smalltown
communities, and the influence of these economic and political patterns on
population, social infrastructure, and ultimately adaptive capacity. Chapter 3 investigates
the role of bonding and bridging social capital in shaping adaptive capacity, finding that
bonding social capital might inhibit bridging social capital and consequently the ability to
adapt. Finally, Chapter 4 analyzes how local governments can use social capital to
mobilize the human capital often present in Prairie communities towards effective flood
management, drawing from experiences of a flood that took place in 2013. These three
chapters constitute the basis of this thesis, and all contribute to significant findings on
how adaptive capacity operates in rural and small-town communities in Saskatchewan.Studentye
“A balancing act”: Experiences of pregnant and/or parenting students
No full textA Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. iv, 38 p.Students who are also parents shoulder multiple roles and responsibilities. This population of students employs various balancing strategies to manage the conflicting roles of both parent and student. Research suggests the balancing act can result in significant distress, poor academic outcomes, and guilt from not achieving their ideal self in either role. This study sought to understand pregnant and/or parenting (P&P) students perceived needs, their experiences and influencing factors in accessing accommodations, and the extent to which campus culture feels supportive of their P&P status. Seven P&P students attending the University of Regina were recruited to participate in focus groups to explore their perceptions and experiences. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcripts from the interviews and focus groups with P&P students. Three main themes emerged. The Balancing Act represents the challenges P&P students face (lack of time and stigmatization) and the coping mechanisms used (scheduling, compartmentalization, and integrating roles) to manage their multiple roles. Avenues of Support describes the most common supports P&P students utilize as well as their perspectives on what is missing and how the University of Regina could be improved to be more inclusive. Finally, The Pending Area reflects P&P students’ confusion about the Centre for Student Accessibility and how the inclusion of family status is interpreted in various ways. These findings may inform policy change to better accommodate P&P students at the University of Regina and contribute to knowledge of how post-secondary education can be made more inclusive.Studentn
Daily survey participation and positive changes in mental health symptom scores among Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cadets
No full textIntroduction: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers self-report high levels of mental health disorder symptoms, such as alcohol use disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Participation in regular mental health monitoring has been associated with improved mental health disorder symptom reporting and may provide an accessible tool to support RCMP mental health. The current study assessed relationships between self-reported mental health disorder symptoms and the completion of daily surveys (i.e., daily mental health disorder symptom monitoring) by RCMP cadets during the Cadet Training Program (CTP).
Methods: Participants were RCMP cadets (n = 394; 76.1% men) in the Standard Training Program who completed the 26-week CTP and daily self-monitoring surveys, as well as full mental health assessments at pre-training (i.e., starting the CTP) and pre-deployment (i.e., ~2 weeks prior to deployment to the field). Symptoms of alcohol use disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder were assessed. Changes in mental health disorder symptom reporting from pre-training to pre-deployment were calculated. Spearman’s rank correlations were estimated for number of daily surveys completed and change in mental health disorder symptom scores between pre-training and pre-deployment.
Results: There were statistically significant inverse relationships between number of daily surveys completed and number of mental health disorder symptoms reported; specifically, cadets who completed more daily surveys during CTP reported fewer symptoms of alcohol use disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Conclusion: An inverse correlation between number of daily surveys completed and mental health disorder symptom scores indicated that participation in daily mental health monitoring was associated with improvements in self-reported mental health disorder symptoms between pre-training and pre-deployment. Regular self-monitoring of mental health disorder symptoms may help to mitigate mental health challenges among RCMP cadets and officers.The RCMP Study was funded by support from the RCMP, the Government of Canada, and the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. LL was supported by a Tier I Canada Research Chair in Methods for Electronic Health Data Quality. TA was supported by a Tier I Canada Research Chair in Childhood Adversity and Resilience. The development, analyses, and distribution of the current article was made possible by a generous and much-appreciated grant from the Medavie Foundation
Crafting Leisure Activities During COVID-19 Physical Distancing
No full textIn the late winter and early spring of 2020 Canada experienced the COVID-19 pandemic where he Federal Government of Canada along with the provinces encouraged residents to socially distance and non-essential businesses to close. Canadian participants completed an online survey about their crafting and how crafting was impacted during COVID-19 restrictions. The participants explained how the restrictions provided opportunities and constraints during the first wave of the pandemic. Crating provided escape from stressors and worries often providing pleasure and social connections and even learning opportunities. As a leisure activity crafting contributed to their perceived well-being during the time of the research
Training agents to play cooperative games: A reinforcement learning approach
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. x, 88 p.Due to recent advances in research on reinforcement learning, self-learning agents are
capable of accomplishing numerous kinds of tasks in complex environments without
any prior knowledge. Recently, deep reinforcement learning algorithms have shown
promising results in game-playing tasks that were previously impractical, including
playing video games directly from raw screen pixels. In this project, we created a
game engine for a card game called “The Mind”, and used reinforcement learning
techniques in order to train agents to master this game. The Mind is a multi-player
cooperative card game with the challenge of synchronizing the agents’ actions. We
used Q-learning and deep Q-learning to estimate a Q-function which describes an
agent’s best action to take at any state of the game.
In this research, we implemented three types of agents based on two different
reinforcement learning algorithms. The results showed that our trained agents performed
better than random agent models. The highest testing win rate using the
Q-learning algorithm was 86%. We also designed a reinforcement learning strategy,
called observer learning, in which an agent updates its knowledge not only based on
the feedback to its own actions, but also based on the feedback other agents receive for
their actions. We reached the best testing win rates of nearly 99% for two Q-learning
agents using our observer learning strategy in four levels of The Mind.Studentye
A flight for survival and safety: A feminist phenomenological study of women's experiences of intimate partner violence and homelessness
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. x, 121 p.his study explores the experiences of four Saskatchewan women as they describe their experiences attempting to maintain housing after their abusive relationship had ended. Using phenomenological methodology provides rich descriptions of what it is like for survivors to navigate housing support services in Saskatchewan. The women’s experiences were gathered through in-person semi-structured interviews, allowing for both structure and flexibility. The study's findings highlight how additional barriers such as stigma, economic abuse, and financial struggles can create significant barriers for some women. These findings add to the growing scholarship in Saskatchewan exploring the link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and women's housing issues.Studentye
Depositional environment and hydrothermal-diagenetic history of pre-salt carbonate in an Early Cretaceous rifted basin, offshore Brazil
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 Geology, University of Regina. x, 103 p.This study aimed to reveal the depositional and hydrothermal-diagenetic history for the sampled carbonates of the Macabu Formation, in Campos Basin, offshore Brazil. It also investigated the possible alteration conditions affecting these rocks, including: temperature, water pH, pCO2, and fluid origins.
The carbonates of the Macabu Formation and their equivalent formations are commonly reported with lithologies composed of stevensite, spherulitic calcite, shrub-like calcite, dolomite matrix, and different forms of silica formed from hydrothermal alteration. However, no spherulite and shrub-like calcite have been observed in the samples investigated herein from well S2. The lithologies of the Upper and Lower units are primarily composed of: (a) depositional minerals: dolomite matrix, and minor detrital materials (quartz, mica, and feldspar); (b) diagenetic minerals: chert, chalcedony, euhedral mega-quartz, and blocky calcite; and (c) minor diagenetic minerals: siderite, illite + kaolinite, dolomite II, solid hydrocarbon materials, pyrite, fluorapatite, and phosphate. Dolomite is the matrix phase to the rock, and the crystal sizes and habits differ between the Upper and the Lower unit cores. The Upper unit core consists of fine grained, laminated dolomite, that is subhedral, whereas the Lower unit core comprises euhedral dolomite, lacking significant sedimentary structures but with distinct crystal zonation; three distinct zones are recognized. Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) analysis was designed to measure the δ18O and δ13C of the three zones, providing insight into the lake water chemistry and temperature changes from the surface to bottom during the deposition of dolomite and the early burial. Diagenetic calcite only occurs in the Upper unit. A limited number of samples were chosen to analyze the blocky calcite and the fine laminated dolomite within for their δ18O and δ13C signatures. The isotopic data for the Upper unit dolomite were compared with those of the Lower unit dolomite to investigate the reasons for an observed change in the alkalinity of lake water.
Both the Upper and the Lower unit cores had been hydrothermally altered, principally by silicification. Silicification in the Lower unit was more intensive than for the Upper unit. There are recognized three phases of silicification in core samples of both the Upper and Lower units, and these phases favor the formation of chert, chalcedony, and euhedral mega-quartz, respectively. Chert acted as a replacement mineral, after the original dolomite. Chalcedony occurs as replacement and cementing mineral, and is associated with dissolution of earlier-formed chert and its re-precipitation. The chalcedony developed within one cavernous void has been observed with a maximum number of seven bands, which may represent repeated pulses of hydrothermal recharge, that were responsible for chalcedony precipitate. Euhedral mega-quartz from the Upper unit core were observed in a close association with diagenetic blocky calcite. The SIMS analysis was designed to examine the three phases of silicification, and a set of δ18O and δ30Si data for each phase were obtained. These data have provided evidence of the precipitating fluid temperatures, and of the geochemical character of fluids thought responsible to help understand their possible origins.Studentye
Understanding dependance on institutions and wellbeing: A mixed-methods study of institutional betrayal
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, 93 p.Individuals rely on institutions (e.g., health care systems, legal systems, universities) for
a wide range of important needs. Too often, institutions betray those who rely on them
by failing to protect or respond appropriately to individuals who have experienced
traumatic events, further compounding the harm of traumatic stress. This is known as
institutional betrayal (Smith & Freyd, 2014). While studies on interpersonal betrayal
have found that victims who have higher levels of dependence on their abusers
experience greater negative impacts to their wellbeing, this association has not yet been
directly examined in relationships in which the perpetrator of harm is an institution. To
address this gap in research, the present study used a mixed-methods approach to explore
institutional dependence as a construct and assess how it may impact wellbeing when
institutional betrayal occurs. Institutional dependence was examined in the context of
either a negative health care experience or a student sexual assault. Survey participants
(N = 480) completed an online survey with measures of mental and social wellbeing,
adverse experiences, institutional betrayal, and a novel measure of institutional
dependence developed for this study. Interview participants (N = 21) completed a
semistructured interview to expand on details of their experiences with institutions
following an adverse event. Quantitatively, exploratory factor analysis of the novel
measure of institutional dependence supported the creation of two factors, which were
labeled the General Dependence (α = .84) and Relationship Anxiety (α = .72) subscales.
Regression analyses found that higher scores on the General Dependence subscale
significantly predicted more severe depression (β = .14, p = .020, r = .13) and anxiety (β
= .14, p = .025, r = .14) symptoms. Greater scores on the Relationship Anxiety subscale
significantly predicted lower social satisfaction (β = −.15, p = .014, r = −.19).
Qualitatively, thematic analysis was used to generate five themes reflecting the necessity
of institutional relationships, concerns about compromising institutional relationships,
harmful impacts to wellbeing, posttraumatic growth, and considerations for diverse
identities. Integration of quantitative and qualitive findings demonstrated that the
General Dependence and Relationship Anxiety subscales corresponded with the
qualitative themes of necessary institutional relationships and concerns about
compromising institutional relationships, respectively. Additionally, the subscales
predicting adverse wellbeing outcomes aligned with the theme of harmful impacts to
wellbeing. Overall, quantitative, qualitative, and integrated findings each provided
unique insights into the concept of institutional dependence and its role in the experience
of institutional betrayal.Studentye