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Global Water Futures Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Field Research Protocol
Get PDFThe core objective of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in field research is to ensure that
all participants are safe and respected. Fieldwork is an integral part of water research that takes on many forms, such as, multiple consecutive days, multiple site visits, regular or sporadic days, domestic and international travel, urban and community based or rural and remote settings. As such, interpretation is required to adapt wise practices from this protocol to your unique field circumstances. Using an EDI lens will catalyze critical conversations and help to facilitate positive experiences for students, faculty, staff, and communities. EDI requires both immediate short-term action and long-term commitment to ensure that field research is open to a diverse range of participants, is accessible, and advances inclusion in water research
Maximizing Patient Satisfaction in Systems with Time-Varying Arrival Rates
Get PDFTime-Varying Little’s Law (TVLL) can be regarded as part of the theory of Infinite Servers (IS)
models, for the abstract system can be considered as a general IS model if waiting time is considered as service time. Moreover, the time-varying arrival rate does not affect the waiting time
distribution, when there are adequate time-varying servers in the system. In this study, we estimate
the average number of entities in the system over a sub-interval and the arrival rate function, and
apply TVLL combined with time-varying staffing to estimate the unknown mean wait times. When
the arrival rate function is approximated by a linear (quadratic) function, the average waiting time
satisfies a quadratic (cubic) equation. The estimation of average waiting time based on TVLL is a
positive real root of the average waiting time equation.
If, the arrival rate function is neither approximately linear nor approximately quadratic, it must
be approximated by a polynomial function of higher degree. In this study, we investigate systems
with arrival rate function of degree 3, and find the estimation of average waiting time which is the
root of a polynomial of degree 4.
Also, we study queues with time-varying arrival rate to obtain optimal visit time leading to
maximum satisfaction of patients in walk-in clinics. If there is adequate time-varying staffing,
then customers receive service upon arrival and waiting times tend to be approximately as equal as
the service times though the arrival rates are time-varying. However, in the systems with limited
servers, some customers must wait in the waiting room and when there is no room in the area,
the new arriving customers are refused. Rejection of customers may lead to their dissatisfaction.
If we decrease the average service time, less customers will be refused, but shorter service time
decreases happiness of admitted customers.
Another issue is the revenue of walk-in clinics. Walk-in clinics work on a fee-for-service
model, so they benefit from the number of patients they serve. As the number of patients increases,
more revenue is gained. Hence, it may be in interest of some walk-in clinics to reduce visit times to increase profit. As mentioned, short visit time sacrifices the quality of service and leads to the
dissatisfaction of patients. Patients want to be heard carefully and be asked directly why they have
come to the clinic. The problem gets worse in rush hours when the number of arrivals increases
but the number of servers could not be increased due to limitation in the number of doctors.
We obtain optimal value for visit time considering satisfaction of customers and revenue of
walk-in clinics simultaneously
Oviposition and larval establishment of Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and its parasitoid, Macroglenes penetrans (Kirby) (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) on wheat with two potential mechanical resistance traits
Get PDFThe orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is a widespread and invasive pest that has been a serious economic threat to wheat production on the prairies in Canada. One form of antibiosis resistance with a single gene, Sm1, is currently available to reduce wheat midge damage, but other forms of resistance are needed in order to preserve this single resistance gene. Mechanical traits such as awns and pubescent glumes were evaluated alone and in combination over the growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. Pheromone traps were deployed to track emergence and population densities of wheat midge at the sites where experimental wheat was planted. Samples were collected from wheat spikes with different trait combinations from multiple fields in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to measure 1) the ability of the wheat midge to oviposit on wheat spikes with mechanical resistance traits, 2) identify if mechanical resistance traits reflect a yield increase, decrease, or trade-off, and 3) compare the number of midge-damaged and undamaged seeds of wheat spikes with mechanical resistance traits to those without. These mechanical traits are also studied to see if they influence one of the natural enemies of the wheat midge, Macroglenes penetrans (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae). There was no significant yield increase, decrease, or trade-off present when adding pubescent glumes or awns to wheat lines. Sitodiplosis mosellana Alternative Resistance in Triticum (SMART) lines with the combination of glabrous glumes, awns, and the Sm1 gene resulted in the lowest number of midge-damaged seeds for each sample. Alone or in combination, pubescent glumes did not deter the wheat midge or its parasitoid, M. penetrans, from reproducing on wheat spikes with these traits. Wheat spikes with awns did not show a significant decrease of wheat midge oviposition statistically. The timing of heading was recorded for each line and trait combination and different heading dates impacted yield and wheat midge oviposition. Macroglenes penetrans. Overall, this research highlights the effects and non-effects of mechanical resistance traits, hairy glumes and awns, on wheat midge
Barriers to and Opportunities for Intergovernmental Conflict Resolution: A Case Study of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion
Get PDFFederalism can exacerbate tensions around the uneven geographical distribution of natural resources. Related conflicts recur in Canada, a federal state with an uneven distribution of petroleum products across its provinces and territories. A salient example of intergovernmental conflict over petroleum products is the dispute over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. This research examines the conflict among the Governments of Canada, British Columbia, and Alberta around Trans Mountain, focusing on the barriers to intergovernmental conflict resolution and mitigation in Canada and the requirements any policy options must fulfill to overcome these barriers. A mainly qualitative approach addresses these issues. Specifically, this research combines global energy governance and John L. Campbell’s typology of ideas to create a new approach. Campbell is more central to this research. This approach is applied to a secondary statistical analysis of public opinion polling, a thematic analysis of key actors’ public documents, and an analysis of interviews I conducted with key actors.
This research finds that together, competitive federalism and the joint decision trap prevent conflict resolution. Accordingly, this research produces a list of barriers to resolving this intergovernmental conflict and requirements for mitigating this conflict. By identifying these requirements, I create and apply an original approach that future studies can use to test the likelihood of success for policy options to mitigate similar intergovernmental conflicts over natural resources. This research’s evaluation of potential mitigation tools suggests that 1) federal and provincial teams dedicated to large projects help bureaucrats complete these projects; 2) policies protecting the environment decrease tensions among actors; and 3) leveraging communication through partisan affiliations decreases tension
PVDF Nanofibers as the Channel Substrate in Microfluidic Fuel Cells
No full textThe abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo
Characterization of novel cannabinoid ligands and receptor-receptor interactions with a focus on the type 2 cannabinoid receptor
Get PDFCannabis and cannabinoids are currently being investigated for their potential utility as therapeutics in various illnesses. Of the two cannabinoid receptors that have been identified thus far, the type 2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2R) is of growing interest due to its potential immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. Similarly, the orphan receptor G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) is known to interact with cannabinoids and has potential for its anti-inflammatory activity. CB2R- and GPR55-mediated therapeutics may provide safer side effect profiles and avoid central nervous system (CNS)-mediated psychoactivity associated with the activation of the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R). The identification of CB2R-specific ligands has been challenging given the high degree of similarity between CB1R and CB2R. Exploiting novel paradigms in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, such as biased agonism, bitopic ligands, and receptor dimerization, may provide a new avenue for the development of clinically effective CB2R-selective ligands. Characterizing a diverse array of ligands, including orthosteric agonists, allosteric modulators, bitopic ligands, and compound metabolites may improve our ability to identify novel drug candidates. In this study, we explored the in vitro pharmacological properties of novel GPR55 and CB2R ligands, cannabinoid-orexin receptor heterodimers and phytocannabinoid metabolites using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells expressing human CB1R, CB2R, GPR55, orexin receptor type 1 (OX1R), or orexin receptor type 2 (OX2R) plasmids. Our study revealed that novel cannabinoids can be characterized using pharmacological data and drug design. Relatively little is known about the specific pharmacological properties and mechanisms of ligands and receptor interactions at CB2R. A better understanding of these pharmacodynamics may be useful in the development of CB2R-selective therapeutics for illnesses associated with inflammation and/or pain.
The Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study: A Provincial Survey to Gather Perspectives and Set Priorities for Caregiver Support
Get PDFIntroduction: Policies and services for older adults are increasingly focused on living in the community, rather than relying on institutions. In fact, a total of 70-80% of community care for older adults is provided by informal or family caregivers. With Canada’s aging population, the number of caregivers is growing. The purpose of the Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study was to map the experiences and perspectives of caregivers in Saskatchewan and to identify their priority support needs.
Method: An online qualitative survey was administered via SurveyMonkey and distributed via Facebook and community newsletters. The survey collected demographics and asked three open-ended questions regarding: (1) the challenges that caregivers experience; (2) the positive aspects of caregiving; (3) the support needs and priorities of Saskatchewan caregivers; as well as a fourth question where caregivers could freely express any other experiences or perspectives. Content analysis was the method used for data analysis.
Findings: N=355 caregivers responded to the survey. From the content analysis of each individual question, it was determined that the greatest challenges Saskatchewan caregivers experience are exhaustion, self-doubt, navigating complex systems, living their own lives, and caregiving at a distance. The main positive aspects identified by participants were related to the rewards of caregiving, having the ability and opportunity to care, ensuring quality care for the care recipient, and the experience of personal growth through being a caregiver. Lastly, support priorities of Saskatchewan caregivers were found to be help when they need it, an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on, assistance in optimizing the care recipient’s health, having healthcare professionals that care, and improved policies, legislations, and regulations.
Conclusion: This study highlights the caregiver experience in Saskatchewan. Findings from the Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study can be used to create and implement support services and adapt policies to improve the experiences of the population of individuals caring for Saskatchewan’s aging population in the community
Towards a coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada: Local to global implications
Get PDFAlberta Innovates; Government of Canada Budget of 2018 measure “Adapting Canada's Weather and Water Services to Climate Change and the National Hydrological Service Transformation Initiative”; Canada First Research Excellence Fund, Global Water Futures Program; Canada Research Chairs Program; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; Yukon EnvironmentPeer ReviewedOperational flood forecasting in Canada is a provincial responsibility that is carried out by several entities across the country. However, the increasing costs and impacts of floods require better and nationally coordinated flood prediction systems. A more coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada can enable implementing advanced prediction capabilities across the different entities with responsibility for flood forecasting. Recently, the Canadian meteorological and hydrological services were tasked to develop a national flow guidance system. Alongside this initiative, the Global Water Futures program has been advancing cold regions process understanding, hydrological modeling, and forecasting. A community of practice was established for industry, academia, and decision-makers to share viewpoints on hydrological challenges. Taken together, these initiatives are paving the way towards a national flood forecasting framework. In this article, forecasting challenges are identified (with a focus on cold regions), and recommendations are made to promote the creation of this framework. These include the need for cooperation, well-defined governance, and better knowledge mobilization. Opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing data availability globally are also highlighted. Advances in each of these areas are positioning Canada as a major contributor to the international operational flood forecasting landscape. This article highlights a route towards the deployment of capacities across large geographical domains
New Perspectives on Integrable Hamiltonian Systems via the Algebraic Geometry of Twisted Hitchin Moduli Spaces: A Case Study on the Calogero-Franc¸oise Integrable System
Get PDFIntegrable systems are dynamical systems that exhibit very special properties. These systems are exactly
solvable, have deep connections with algebraic geometry, and give rise to a maximal set of conserved quantities.
Integrable systems have proven to be essential as they arise naturally in various branches of mathematics
and physics such as differential and algebraic geometry, partial differential equations, statistical mechanics,
quantum field theories, string theory and even more. One of the unique features of integrable systems is that
all known integrable systems seem to be inherently related in some sense. This special feature has inspired
many mathematicians to attempt and find a single origin of all known integrable systems. One of the most
prominent approaches towards this unification process is through realizing different integrable systems as symmetry reductions of the self-dual-Yang-Mills (SDYM) equations. In fact, most known integrable systems (at least in lower dimensions) fit in this paradigm and this thesis is a further step towards this unification.
Four integrable systems are in the central attention of this thesis. Namely, these are Euler’s equations for
the motion of a rigid body, Nahm’s equations, the Hitchin system, and the the Calogero-Fran¸coise integrable
system. Euler’s equations are the most classical example of an integrable system. Moreover, Nahm’s equations
are obtained as a dimensional reduction of the SDYM equations to one dimension. Furthermore, the Hitchin
system is an algebraically completely integrable system that arises as the space of solutions to Hitchin’s
equations. Hitchin’s equations are a coupled system of non-linear partial differential equations that arise as
a dimensional reduction of the SDYM equations to two dimensions. Finally, the Calogero-Fran¸coise (CF)
integrable system is a finite-dimensional Hamiltonian system that arises as a generalization of the Camassa Holm (CH) dynamics.
In this thesis, we show that the dynamics of Euler’s equations and the CF system can be perceived
by realizing both systems as twisted Hitchin systems. More specifically, we obtain an explicit solution to
Euler’s equations by transforming them to Nahm’s equations and then studying the evolution of the Higgs
field of Nahm’s equations. The solution method is different from the classical ones since we used a different
formulation than the one usually presented in the literature. More specifically, we formulated the problem
on the Lie algebra su(2) rather than formulating it on so(3) as usually done. Furthermore, we study the
dynamics of the Calogero-Fran¸coise (CF) integrable system while focusing on the special case of peakon
anti-peakon interactions (d = 2). We show explicitly by embedding the CF system into a (twisted) Hitchin
system that the CF dynamics is completely governed by the evolution of the corresponding Higgs field. In
particular, we show that different singularities in the CF system correspond to very special Higgs fields in
the underlying Hitchin system. Furthermore, we show that a periodization (compactification) of the CF
dynamics corresponds to a compactification of the underlying Hitchin system. This result is then a direct
manifestation of the correspondence between the CF dynamics and the dynamics of the associated Higgs
field in the underlying Hitchin system
UTILIZATION OF PULSES IN LOW-GLYCEMIC EXTRUDED PET FOODS: EFFECTS OF PULSE VARIETY, PROCESSING CONDITION, AND ROSEMARY EXTRACT
Get PDFThis dissertation research aimed to investigate the effects of pulse varieties, extrusion conditions, and addition of rosemary extract (RE) on the physicochemical properties and starch digestibility of extruded dry pet foods. In the first study, wrinkled (WPF) and round pea flours (RPF) of two different particle sizes were prepared and analyzed. Compared with RPF, WPF had lower starch contents (25.4-29.4% versus 46.0-51.2%, dry basis, db), higher amylose contents of starch (69.9-73.6% versus 34.7-39.0%, dry starch basis, dsb), and higher protein (25.4-29.6% versus 21.3-24.7%, db) and dietary fiber (22.4-28.2% versus 14.5-17.9%, db) contents. WPF showed higher conclusion gelatinization temperatures but substantially lower pasting viscosities at heating temperatures of 95-140°C. After cooking, WPF exhibited significantly lower in vitro starch digestibility than RPF. Particle size and growing location also impacted certain physicochemical properties of both WPF and RPF. This study indicated that high-amylose WPF could be a desirable ingredient for the development of low-glycemic pet foods. In the second study, flours of rice (control), round pea, lentil, faba bean, and wrinkled pea were selected to produce extruded dry pet foods under ‘mild’ and ‘extreme’ conditions: i.e., 30% versus 20% in feed moisture, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120°C versus 40, 60, 90, 120 and 140°C in barrel temperatures, and 200 versus 300 rpm in screw speed, respectively. Under both conditions, wrinkled pea pet foods from both varieties (CDC 4140-4 and Amigold) showed lower damaged/gelatinized starch contents (53.5-69.6% versus 76.0-92.9%, dsb) and less molecular breakdown than the other samples. For all formulations, the ‘extreme’ condition gelatinized and degraded starch to a greater extent than the ‘mild’ condition, which was consistent with the calculated specific mechanical energy during extrusion. Wrinkled pea pet foods demonstrated notably lower starch digestibility in both in vitro (81.0-87.6%, dsb, after 180-min hydrolysis) and in vivo (87.7-89.7%) studies than other formulations (94.5-99.9%, dsb and 97.7-98.3%, respectively). This study demonstrated that both pulse varieties and extrusion parameters could effectively impact physicochemical properties and starch digestibility of pet foods. In the third study, pet foods were extruded using rice, round pea, and wrinkled pea flours with RE incorporated at different levels (0%, 0.1%, 1.0%, and 3.0%, db). Addition of RE notably increased total phenolic contents (from 1.40-1.56 mg GAE/g to 1.84-9.66 mg GAE/g) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability (from 0.3-0.9% to 5.4-85.8%) of the pet foods. At 1.0% and 3.0% levels, RE significantly decreased the starch digestibility of pet foods in vitro (from 94.5-98.9% to 87.1-95.9%, dsb, after 180-min hydrolysis). Although 0.1% RE did not exhibit prominent impacts on the overall starch digestibility both in vitro and in vivo, it consistently postponed the peak times of postprandial blood glucose responses to the three different diets in beagles from 60.0-91.9 min to 90.0-150.0 min. This study suggested that RE could effectively enhance the antioxidant properties (as measured by DPPH radical scavenging assay) and slow down the starch digestion rates of the extruded pet foods. This dissertation research has provided valuable information for the industry to develop low-glycemic pet foods with enhanced functional and nutritional characteristics