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An Internet of Things (IoT) based wide-area Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) platform with mobility support.
Get PDFWide-area remote monitoring applications use cellular networks or satellite links to transfer sensor data to the central storage. Remote monitoring applications uses Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) to accommodate more Sensor Nodes (SNs) and for better management. Internet of Things (IoT) network connects the WSN with the data storage and other application specific services using the existing internet infrastructure. Both cellular networks, such as the Narrow-Band IoT (NB-IoT), and satellite links will not be suitable for point-to-point connections of the SNs due to their lack of coverage, high cost, and energy requirement. Low Power Wireless Area Network (LPWAN) is used to interconnect all the SNs and accumulate the data to a single point, called Gateway, before sending it to the IoT network. WSN implements clustering of the SNs to increase the network coverage and utilizes multiple wireless links between the repeater nodes (called hops) to reach the gateway at a longer distance. Clustered WSN can cover up to a few km using the LPWAN technologies such as Zigbee using multiple hops. Each Zigbee link can be from 200 m to 500 m long. Other LPWAN technologies, such as LoRa, can facilitate an extended range from 1km to 15km. However, the LoRa will not be suitable for the clustered WSN due to its long Time on Air (TOA) which will introduce data transmission delay and become severe with the increase of hop count. Besides, a sensor node will need to increase the antenna height to achieve the long-range benefit of Lora using a single link (hop) instead of using multiple hops to cover the same range. With the increased WSN coverage area, remote monitoring applications such as smart farming may require mobile sensor nodes. This research focuses on the challenges to overcome LoRaโs limitations (long TOA and antenna height) and accommodation of mobility in a high-density and wide-area WSN for future remote monitoring applications. Hence, this research proposes lightweight communication protocols and networking algorithms using LoRa to achieve mobility, energy efficiency and wider coverage of up to a few hundred km for the WSN.
This thesis is divided into four parts. It presents two data transmission protocols for LoRa to achieve a higher data rate and wider network coverage, one networking algorithm for wide-area WSN and a channel synchronization algorithm to improve the data rate of LoRa links. Part one presents a lightweight data transmission protocol for LoRa using a mobile data accumulator (called data sink) to increase the monitoring coverage area and data transmission energy efficiency. The proposed Lightweight Dynamic Auto Reconfigurable Protocol (LDAP) utilizes direct or single hop to transmit data from the SNs using one of them as the repeater node. Wide-area remote monitoring applications such as Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) can acquire data from geographically distributed water resources using LDAP, and a mobile Data Sink (DS) mounted on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The proposed LDAP can acquire data from a minimum of 147 SNs covering 128 km in one direction reducing the DS requirement down to 5% comparing other WSNs using Zigbee for the same coverage area with static DS.
Applications like smart farming and environmental monitoring may require mobile sensor nodes (SN) and data sinks (DS). The WSNs for these applications will require real-time network management algorithms and routing protocols for the dynamic WSN with mobility that is not feasible using static WSN technologies. This part proposes a lightweight clustering algorithm for the dynamic WSN (with mobility) utilizing the proposed LDAP to form clusters in real-time during the data accumulation by the mobile DS. The proposed Lightweight Dynamic Clustering Algorithm (LDCA) can form real-time clusters consisting of mobile or stationary SNs using mobile DS or static GW. WSN using LoRa and LDCA increases network capacity and coverage area reducing the required number of DS. It also reduces clustering energy to 33% and shows clustering efficiency of up to 98% for single-hop clustering covering 100 SNs.
LoRa is not suitable for a clustered WSN with multiple hops due to its long TOA, depending on the LoRa link configurations (bandwidth and spreading factor). This research proposes a channel synchronization algorithm to improve the data rate of the LoRa link by combining multiple LoRa radio channels in a single logical channel. This increased data rate will enhance the capacity of the clusters in the WSN supporting faster clustering with mobile sensor nodes and data sink. Along with the LDCA, the proposed Lightweight Synchronization Algorithm for Quasi-orthogonal LoRa channels (LSAQ) facilitating multi-hop data transfer increases WSN capacity and coverage area. This research investigates quasi-orthogonality features of LoRa in terms of radio channel frequency, spreading factor (SF) and bandwidth. It derived mathematical models to obtain the optimal LoRa parameters for parallel data transmission using multiple SFs and developed a synchronization algorithm for LSAQ. The proposed LSAQ achieves up to a 46% improvement in network capacity and 58% in data rate compared with the WSN using the traditional LoRa Medium Access Control (MAC) layer protocols.
Besides the high-density clustered WSN, remote monitoring applications like plant phenotyping may require transferring image or high-volume data using LoRa links. Wireless data transmission protocols used for high-volume data transmission using the link with a low data rate (like LoRa) requiring multiple packets create a significant amount of packet overload. Besides, the reliability of these data transmission protocols is highly dependent on acknowledgement (ACK) messages creating extra load on overall data transmission and hence reducing the application-specific effective data rate (goodput). This research proposes an application layer protocol to improve the goodput while transferring an image or sequential data over the LoRa links in the WSN. It uses dynamic acknowledgement (DACK) protocol for the LoRa physical layer to reduce the ACK message overhead. DACK uses end-of-transmission ACK messaging and transmits multiple packets as a block. It retransmits missing packets after receiving the ACK message at the end of multiple blocks. The goodput depends on the block size and the number of lossy packets that need to be retransmitted. It shows that the DACK LoRa can reduce the total ACK time 10 to 30 times comparing stop-wait protocol and ten times comparing multi-packet ACK protocol.
The focused wide-area WSN and mobility requires different matrices to be evaluated. The performance evaluation matrices used for the static WSN do not consider the mobility and the related parameters, such as clustering efficiency in the network and hence cannot evaluate the performance of the proposed wide-area WSN platform supporting mobility. Therefore, new, and modified performance matrices are proposed to measure dynamic performance. It can measure the real-time clustering performance using the mobile data sink and sensor nodes, the cluster size, the coverage area of the WSN and more. All required hardware and software design, dimensioning, and performance evaluation models are also presented
The Effect of a Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Program on Quality of Life in Individuals With Eating Disorders
Get PDFQuality of life (QoL) is significantly impaired in individuals with eating disorders (EDs). To date, there has been very limited Canadian research on the effectiveness of residential ED treatment programs on outcomes related to ED recovery, including QoL. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of treatment at a Saskatchewan-based residential ED centre on QoL in individuals with EDs and disordered eating behaviours. A retrospective chart review examining changes in QoL, measured using the Eating Disorders Quality of Life Scale (EDQLS), in adults (โฅ18 years of age) with an ED or disordered eating behaviours attending a 28-day residential ED treatment program for the first time between January 2018 to August 2022 was completed. A total of 48 charts were analyzed (42 female, 4 male, 2 non-binary). Paired t-tests were used to compare pre- and post-treatment EDQLS total and total domain scores. The magnitude of change in EDQLS total pre- and post-treatment between individuals with and without a formal ED diagnosis was analyzed using a one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc analysis. Between pre- and post-treatment, there was a significant increase in the EDQLS total score (103 21 versus 132 20, respectively, p<0.001)) and in each of the 12 EDQLS domain scores. A clinically meaningful change in QoL, defined as a 10% or greater increase in EDQLS total score between pre- and post-treatment, was present in 79.2% (n=38/48) of individuals. These results demonstrate that individuals with EDs or disordered eating behaviours perceive their QoL to be improved after attending a 28-day residential ED treatment program. This is significant as we found that a short duration of treatment can substantially improve QoL, an important, but often overlooked, domain of recovery. Failure to evaluate QoL could potentially understate progress made toward recovery and the effectiveness of a treatment program. As the first study in Canada to examine the effect of a residential ED treatment program on QoL, we have started to build a foundation for future research and program evaluation in this understudied, but highly important, field of practice and research
Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes in Two Saskatchewan First Nations Communities
Get PDFTitle: Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes in Two Saskatchewan First Nations Communities
Background: There has been a sharp increase in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Saskatchewan. Recent research shows that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and diabetes are interlinked. Information regarding risk factors associated with T2DM among the First Nations communities is scarce.
Purpose: The objective was to estimate the current prevalence of T2DM and determine the associations between OSA, established risk factors, and T2DM in two Saskatchewan First Nations communities.
Methods: This cross-sectional study is based on the First Nations Sleep Health Project baseline survey data, including 588 participants aged โฅ 18 years in two Saskatchewan First Nations communities. The primary outcome of interest for analysis was T2DM. Independent variables included questions on established risk factors for diabetes, the STOP-BANG questionnaire as a measure of OSA as the primary predictor of T2DM, and other sleep-related variables. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 28.
Results: The majority of the participants were female (55.8%), the mean (ยฑSD) age was 40.03 (ยฑ15.3) years, and 18.9% reported having T2DM. Multivariable logistic regression results indicated that those having an intermediate risk of OSA (OR=2.26 (1.22-4.18)) and a high risk of OSA (OR=3.70 (1.67-8.18)) compared to low risk were associated significantly with a higher prevalence of T2DM. In addition, the age group 35-50 years (OR=3.56 (1.67-7.59)) and >50 years (OR=3.40 (1.51-7.66)) compared to <35 years, and regular prescription medication use (OR=3.83 (2.02-6.7.29)) for any health condition compared to non-use, increased the risk of T2DM.
Conclusion: In two First Nations communities in Saskatchewan, Canada, a significant association was observed between OSA and T2DM. This result suggests the need for intervention by screening for OSA routinely to combat the diabetes burden in these communities. The study recommends further studies to establish the causal relationship between OSA and T2DM
The roles of ccf-1 and pal-1 genes in aging and stress resistance of Caenorhabditis elegans
Get PDFThe CCR4-NOT complex is a critical regulator of gene expression involved in multiple cellular processes, including transcriptional regulation, RNA metabolism, and stress responses. In this thesis, I investigated the role of ccf-1, a component of the CCR4-NOT complex, in stress responses and its necessity for normal lifespan and its implications in various pro-longevity signaling pathways in C. elegans. Through my experiments using environmental stressors such as cadmium and acrylamide, I measured several stress-responsive gene expression levels and observed that ccf-1 is required for stress-induced transcriptional changes in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Additionally, I found that the ccf-1 gene plays an important role in the lifespan of several long-lived mutants, highlighting its significance in the aging process. I also showed that other components of the CCR4-NOT complex are also involved in promoting proper transcriptional response to environmental stressors. Furthermore, my research led to the discovery of the PAL-1 protein as a novel transcriptional factor involved in stress response with pleiotropic effects, demonstrating additive impacts when interacting with the ccf-1 gene. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing stress responses and aging in C. elegans and may have broader implications in unraveling similar processes in higher organisms, including humans
Security and Authenticity of AI-generated code
Get PDFThe intersection of security and plagiarism in the context of AI-generated code is a critical theme through-
out this study. While our research primarily focuses on evaluating the security aspects of AI-generated code,
it is imperative to recognize the interconnectedness of security and plagiarism concerns. On the one hand,
we do an extensive analysis of the security flaws that might be present in AI-generated code, with a focus
on code produced by ChatGPT and Bard. This analysis emphasizes the dangers that might occur if such
code is incorporated into software programs, especially if it has security weaknesses. This directly affects
developers, advising them to use caution when thinking about integrating AI-generated code to protect the
security of their applications. On the other hand, our research also covers code plagiarism. In the context
of AI-generated code, plagiarism, which is defined as the reuse of code without proper attribution or in
violation of license and copyright restrictions, becomes a significant concern. As open-source software and
AI language models proliferate, the risk of plagiarism in AI-generated code increases. Our research combines
code attribution techniques to identify the authors of AI-generated insecure code and identify where the code
originated. Our research emphasizes the multidimensional nature of AI-generated code and its wide-ranging
repercussions by addressing both security and plagiarism issues at the same time. This complete approach
adds to a more profound understanding of the problems and ethical implications associated with the use of
AI in code generation, embracing both security and authorship-related concerns
BEYOND TRADITIONAL BOUNDARIES: REGIONAL AND GLOBAL DIMENSIONS OF NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Get PDFThis thesis introduces a framework that aims to support decision-making for enhanced water and food security, while adopting the understanding that water and food sectors are becoming increasingly unrestricted to specific borders or boundaries due to the globalization of resources and the interdependencies among the water, food, and other sectors. This framework is used, with some modifications, in three different applications that are presented in three respective peer-reviewed articles.
The first article introduces a novel framework, called the national water, food, and trade (NWFT) modelling framework, that consists of two components: a national model that simulates the supply and demand of water and food on a national level, and a data-driven international virtual water (food) trade model that captures national virtual water exports and imports associated with trade in agricultural and animal products. Egypt is used as a case study for the application of the NWFT framework, with the national water and food gaps evaluated for a baseline period (1986โ2013) and projected up to 2050 based on four national development scenarios. Results indicate the alarming situation of Egyptโs projected food gap by the year 2050, by which time food imports are projected to have to increase on average by 200% compared to 2021 values. The NWFT framework was able to successfully simulate the effect of water use and various socioeconomic variables, including population growth rate, on Egypt's historical food and water gaps. The framework could be easily adopted for other countries and regions.
In the second article, the NWFT framework is modified to be an optimization-simulation framework and is presented as a multi-objective approach that aids policymakers in water-food security assessment and management while taking into account the major non-agricultural water uses associated with national development scenarios, the globalization of resources through the food trade, and the performance of the proposed solutions under possible national and global changes. The framework is formulated to minimize the agricultural water demand, food imports, and economic cost of imports as well as maximize the national gross margin of agriculture. Egypt is considered as the case study, with a set of alternative cropping patterns generated and evaluated for the baseline period (1986-2013) as well as under future conditions up to the year 2050. The results show the framework is useful for proposing cropping patterns that could have worked better for Egypt during the baseline period, but also cropping patterns that outperform the historical cropping pattern in each objective function for a wide range of future conditions.
In the third article, the water-food assessment framework is expanded in its sectoral representation to include hydropower generation as the most relevant component of the energy sector. The framework is configured for a regional case study of the Eastern Nile Basin (ENB) countries of Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, and set to simulate the ENBโs water resources, food production, and hydropower generation as a water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. The framework is calibrated and validated for the period from 1983 to 2016, then utilized to project a wide range of future development plans up to the year 2050. Four measures are used to evaluate the performance of the WEF nexus under each of these plans. A thematic pathway of development in the region that shows high potential for mutual benefits is identified and analyzed under several combinations of future social and climatic changes. Results show the ENB countries can reach significantly better food security conditions before 2050 and can generate an additional 42000 GWh/year of hydropower without significantly diminishing the downstream (Egypt) water scarcity problem. WEF performance measures of the ENB countries are significantly sensitive to climate change; however, under low population growth rates the climate change impacts on WEF security are less severe
Modelling the regional sensitivity of snowmelt, soil moisture, and streamflow generation to climate over the Canadian Prairies using a basin classification approach
Get PDFCanada First Research Excellence Fund to Global Water Futures, Canada Research Chairs,
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaPeer ReviewedThis study evaluated the effects of climate perturbations on snowmelt, soil moisture, and streamflow generation in small Canadian Prairies basins using a modelling approach based on classification of basin biophysical characteristics. Seven basin classes that encompass the entirety of the Prairies Ecozone in Canada were determined by cluster analysis of these characteristics. Individual semi-distributed virtual basin (VB) models representing these classes were parameterized in the Cold Regions Hydrological Model (CRHM) platform, which includes modules for snowmelt and sublimation, soil freezing and thawing, actual evapotranspiration (ET), soil moisture dynamics, groundwater recharge, and depressional storage dynamics including fill and spill runoff generation and variable connected areas. Precipitation (P) and temperature (T) perturbation scenarios covering the range of climate model predictions for the 21st century were used to evaluate climate sensitivity of hydrological processes in individual land cover and basin types across the Prairies Ecozone. Results indicated that snow accumulation in wetlands had a greater sensitivity to P and T than that in croplands and grasslands in all basin types. Wetland soil moisture was also more sensitive to T than the cropland and grassland soil moisture. Jointly influenced by land cover distribution and local climate, basin-average snow accumulation was more sensitive to T in the drier and grassland-characterized basins than in the wetter basins dominated by cropland, whilst basin-average soil moisture was most sensitive to T and P perturbations in basins typified by pothole depressions and broad river valleys. Annual streamflow had the greatest sensitivities to T and P in the dry and poorly connected Interior Grasslands (See Fig. 1) basins but the smallest in the wet and well-connected Southern Manitoba basins. The ability of P to compensate for warming-induced reductions in snow accumulation and streamflow was much higher in the wetter and cropland-dominated basins than in the drier and grassland-characterized basins, whilst decreases in cropland soil moisture induced by the maximum expected warming of 6โโC could be fully offset by a P increase of 11โ% in all basins. These results can be used to (1) identify locations which had the largest hydrological sensitivities to changing climate and (2) diagnose underlying processes responsible for hydrological responses to expected climate change. Variations of hydrological sensitivity in land cover and basin types suggest that different water management and adaptation methods are needed to address enhanced water stress due to expected climate change in different regions of the Prairies Ecozon
The Whats and Whys of School Lunches: A mixed-methods study of the nutritional value of lunches eaten by elementary students during schooldays and their caregiversโ attitudes and practices towards school lunches.
Get PDFBackground: School-age children spend a significant portion of their day at their educational facilities, consuming meals such as lunch. Evidence suggests that most children in Canada have poor-quality diets, especially during the school day. The lack of universal national or provincial school food programs and policies in Canada limits the utility of dietary recommendations. Families most often provide lunch during the school day, with a minority of students accessing small-scale school lunch programs.
Purpose: To study the nutritional value of school lunches of elementary students, to explore their caregiversโ attitudes and practices towards these lunches, and to relate these attitudes and practices with what children eat for lunch at school.
Methods: This is a mixed-method research design study. It starts with a descriptive quantitative component using plate waste methodology to assess nutritional contribution and NRF 9.3 Index of school lunches, followed by a naturalistic phase, involving interviews which explore caregiversโ attitudes and practices regarding school lunches. Lastly, it comprises the integration of the results from both the quantitative and qualitative phases.
Results: Lunchesโ mean, and median energy contribution was 442.6 kcal (SD 209.6) and 413.5 kcal (IQR 287.6), 13.6% of which were proteins. There were statistically significant differences in calorie content observed across grades. The lunchesโ nutritional contribution fell below Canadian references for the most critical nutrients for childhood, such as calcium and vitamin D. The mean NRF9.3 Index score for school lunches was 346.8, with statistically significant variations between grades.
In terms of the context surrounding these lunches, parents reported that preparing them was a stressful chore. Various factors affected them, such as nutrition, cost, portability, and time constraints. Additionally, parents aimed to include options that their children would like to eat, ensuring they were going to be fed during school hours.
Conclusion: Most school lunches are characterized by a low contribution of critical nutrients for childhood, which can be attributed to various circumstances within the families' and students' contexts. The implementation of public policies could play a crucial role in addressing this issue, such as a universal school lunch program to guarantee all students have access to nutritious meals during the school day
DESIGNING BLOCKCHAIN BASED NON-FUNGIBLE TOKEN CERTIFICATE SHARING FRAMEWORK
Get PDFThe sharing of academic achievement certificates and credentials requires enhanced security measures to ensure faultless and fraud-free practices, while also prioritizing data trust and user privacy. It is crucial to provide convenience and secure control over access rights based on user roles. Traditionally, educational institutions issue hard copy certificates to students who have fulfilled the prerequisites. However, when it comes to sharing validated certificates, especially for students pursuing higher studies, different issuers follow varied approaches.
The traditional method of mailing certificates involves time-consuming and costly back-and-forth involvement with universities. Similarly, email-based approaches raise concerns regarding trust and authenticity. In all of these approach there exist intermediaries that are need for verification and validation. Existing sharing platforms restrict student's control over their data and limit the validation process. Moreover, once a certificate is shared through these methods, students often lose control over its further usage and distribution, which is not an ideal approach.
Until recently, there was no standardized approach to accurately monitor and verify the sharing of certificates, including the sender, recipient, and conditions. However, with the emergence of distributed ledger technologies, specifically designed for NFTs, a decentralized peer-to-peer network has now become the most efficient solution to address these challenges. This technology enables secure and verifiable sharing of certificates, ensuring transparency, trust, and greater control for students over their credentials. By utilizing NFTs, students can retain ownership and control over their certificates even after sharing them, thereby eliminating the concerns of loss of control and unauthorized distribution.
To achieve this, a distributed application layer was added on top of the centralized system to create a more feasible and practical approach. This study focuses on utilizing a permission-less blockchain, specifically the public network of the Ethereum blockchain, to develop a secure data sharing framework. The research proposes an architecture and delves into the necessary components and factors to consider during the design and implementation of the system. The aim is to provide students with complete ownership and permanent access to their digital certificates, which are verified by the university and accepted by employers. This framework supports immutability, authenticity, enhanced security, trusted records and is a promising means to share academic certificates involving students, universities and employers.
The framework is evaluated via a user study. The extended Technology Acceptance Model(TAM) and a Trust-Privacy Security Model are used to evaluate the usability of the NFT-framework. The evaluation allows uncovering the role of different factors affecting user intention to adopt certificate-sharing platforms. The result of the evaluation point to guidelines and methods for embedding privacy, user transparency and drivers of using the application
Design, Modeling, and Analysis of a New Dehulling Process for Canola
Get PDFCanola (rapeseed) is one of the most valuable and prolific crops of Canada due to its high content of protein and oil. In 2022, Canada produced 18.2 million metric tonnes of canola seed, and the Canola Council of Canada has targeted 26.0 million metric tonnes for 2025.
Canola has been typically used for oil extraction due to its high oil content; however, canola can be processed to produce high-protein meals suitable for livestock feed and food applications. High-quality canola meal production requires removal of fibre-rich seed hull that typically contributes little nutrient value. Dehulling of canola seed, before oil extraction, increases the protein content and decreases fibre content in the meal, up to 50.0% and down to 10.0%, respectively. Often seed dehulling is preceded by seed preconditioning to loosen the fibrous seed coat (hull) from the embryo. The preconditioning methods that exchange heat and moisture in the seed create internal stresses on endosperm tissues that weaken bonds between the hull and the embryo. Due to the complexity in dehulling canola seed, several methods have been explored by the canola processing industry and the academia. Unfortunately, a thorough review of the pertinent literature yielded no mention of an efficient technology for dehulling canola that could be scaled to industrial mass production. Therefore, the objective of this work was to develop a process to remove the canola seed hull with minimal damage to the embryo.
This dissertation provides a review of current canola dehulling technology using the FCBPSS (function-context-behavior-principle-state-structure) framework to create an ontology on dehulling methods, which could aid in the design of a more suitable and specific canola dehulling method. To determine the design requirements for the dehulling process, mechanical tests were conducted to characterize canolaโs behaviour under uncoupled stresses such as compression and shear, which correspond to stresses generated by common dehulling equipment used in the industry, such as mills. Additionally, hardness tests were performed with a nano-indenter machine to determine seed hull properties. The overall results from these experiments provided the information used to construct a computational model that represents the deformation of canola seed under compression stresses.
Preconditioning of canola seed involving thermal treatments were also investigated to determine and measure their ability to disconnect the hull from the embryo without the application of external forces. Assessment of seeds after tempering was conducted using micro-computer tomography imaging. The results showed that the embryos of seed tempered with a fluidized bed drying method shrank producing a gap in between the hull and the embryo.
Finally, with the valuable information obtained from the experiments conducted to compare the effects of different mechanical loading modes and preconditioning methods on canola seed, a new dehulling process was proposed. Such a process was developed by following the Axiomatic Design Theory (ADT), which is presented step-by-step. Dehulling tests conducted with the new proposed method showed promising results, such as producing whole embryos with minimal damage and achieving a dehulling effectivity higher than other proposed methods found in the literature reviewed. Moreover, the dehulling process could be easily adapted and considered for industrial applications since it uses technology and methods already used in the canola processing industry