14589 research outputs found
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Carbene reactivity with uncommon p-block molecules
No full text1 online resource (xxxiv, 445 pages) : illustrations (some colour), charts (some colour), graphs (some colour)Includes abstract and appendix.Includes bibliographical references (pages 16-20, 54-58, 79-83, 110-116, 140-145, 167-170).The p-block (main group) elements are those in groups 13-17 and this thesis involves reactivity of uncommon small molecules derived from p-block elements with carbenes, a highly reactive carbon-based functional group featuring low-oxidation state carbon. The recent historical isolation of carbenes and the discovery of their endlessly tunable chemical diversity has allowed for the subsequent isolation of many never-before-seen states of most elements. The behaviour of vastly different carbenes when reacted with common small molecules more has been widely explored. In this dissertation, an introduction to general chemistry and more specifically carbenes is included in chapter 1. Research into the use of a triazene derived from reacting a carbene and azide for the preparation of copper, silver, and gold metal complexes (and gold nanoparticles) is featured in chapter 2. Formation of a tellurourea by reacting a carbene with tellurium metal was then explored; subsequently reacting it with (PCF3)4 and S8 to form distinct nano-/micro-particles of tellurium with morphology control apparent through various solid substrates under a variety of controlled conditions in chapter 3. Reactivity of a carbene and carbon suboxide for the first time is featured in chapter 4. A wide scope of carbenes were then reacted with tetrasulfur tetranitride and thoroughly explored in chapter 5. Formation of germanium and tin dichloride carbene adducts is then studied with respect to preparing low-oxidation state allotropic group 14 metals in chapter 6, along with isolation of their trichloride salts. Finally, chapter 7 highlights how each of these works could be built upon, expanded, or further studied in order to probe the wide range of potential uses and applications each topic touches on. Supporting information for each is provided in the appendix at the end
Who cares : a phenomenological study of the spiritual needs of male caregivers of female partners experiencing dementia
Get PDF1 online resource (30 pages)Includes abstract and appendix.Includes bibliographical references (pages 29-30).The church has been an important part of the spiritual lives of many people over their lifetime. As people age, infirmity often limits participation in worship and other church related activities1. This phenomenological study examines the spiritual needs of male caregivers of spouses/partners experiencing dementia (PED). One of the defining features of aging is multiple and cumulative losses: identity, memories, reasoning, meaning, relationships, and physical functioning.2 Male caregivers experience the burden of caring in unique ways. It is a lonely, exhausting, unrelenting and thankless time. They are ill-equipped to cope and have few supports.
Data reveals, that while caregivers experience all the feelings mentioned above, they also have a deep faith that sustains them, even while feeling abandoned by the church. They exhibit a deep caring and love for their partners as they try to do the best they can in their experience of grief and loss. They were unable to suggest ways the church could address this issue, except to not forget them too.
This study sheds light on a group of people with deep spiritual needs, who become lost to the church as their infirmity progresses. As congregations age, and more people experience dementia, the church is encouraged to develop new ways of being a worshiping community, and of meeting the unique needs of PED. It is also an accessibility and a pastoral care issue.</p
An evaluation of magmatic processes responsible for tungsten enrichment in the Canadian Tungsten Belt : evidence in melt inclusions of granitoids associated with the Cantung W-Cu deposit
Get PDF1 online resource (136 pages) : illustrations (some colour), colour maps, charts (some colour), graphs (some colour)Includes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 76-82).The world class Cantung W skarn deposit in the Canadian Cordillera is spatially, and genetically, related to the 101.6 - 98.2 Ma Mine Stock monzogranite and aplite dykes of the Tungsten Plutonic Suite. Previous studies suggest that fractional crystallization of the magmas that produced these granitoids enriched melts in W, providing W-rich mineralizing magmatic fluids that formed the deposit. Several questions exist regarding the formation of this deposit, including: (i) What was the W concentration of the granitoid magma associated with the deposit? (ii) Were these granitoids directly responsible for the formation of the deposit? (iii) How did W behave during the crystallization history of the granitoids? (iv) How does the geochemistry of the Cantung causative magmas deposit compared to of barren intrusions, porphyry (Mo-Nb-W) and greisen (Sn-W) deposits? To answer these questions, this study quantifies the major to trace element concentrations of silicate melt inclusions (SMI) hosted in magmatic apatite from the Mine Stock and aplite dykes, and models the geochemical evolution of the granitoids during crystallization in order to asses their viability as sources for the W in the deposit. The geochemistry of the SMI shows that the granitoid magmas had relatively low W concentrations, were not as evolved as other barren and W-mineralized intrusions and assimilated carbonate-rich wall rocks. The volume for the surface exposures are too small to have generated the mineralization documented at Cantung. Instead, the data suggest that a large magma chamber with only modest W enrichment relative to the average upper crust must be located below the deposit, and that other factors (e.g., long duration of mineralization processes, and/or very efficient metal extraction from the
magma and deposition, and/or fluid flow) are mainly responsible for the high grade and yonnage of the Cantung deposit
2025-06-25 Senate Minutes and Agendas
No full textMinutes and Agenda for the June 25, 2025, meeting of Saint Mary’s University Senate
Impacts of edge proximity on bryophyte growth and soil quality in Nova Scotia farmlands
Get PDF1 online resource (31 pages) : colour illustrations, maps, graphsIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 25-31).Agricultural practices reduce biodiversity and degrade soil quality on farms. Millions of dollars
are spent yearly on the upkeep of the carbon content, bulk density and texture of agricultural
soils. These qualities are all associated with the presence of biological soil crusts in natural
dryland habitats. Biological soil crusts on Nova Scotia farmland are comprised mostly of
bryophytes, which represent a unique and diverse set of species. Non-crop life in agricultural
fields is often dependent on the field margin. Analysing the patterns of agricultural bryophytes
can give us insight into their effects on soil health and biodiversity. Our aim was to examine the relationship between bryophyte abundance and distance from the field margin on Nova Scotia farmland, and to determine whether a pattern in abundance is the result of challenges to bryophyte propagule spread or because of environmental conditions preventing germination. We gathered bryophyte abundance data from eight Nova Scotia farm fields at increasing distances from the field edge. In each plot, we tested the soil quality and germinated propagules from the top 2 cm of soil in laboratory conditions to test for the presence of bryophyte propagules. Bryophyte abundance and the abundance of bryophyte propagules decreased with distance from the field edge, although the relationship was much stronger in the abundance of bryophytes compared to propagules. Bryophyte abundance was not related to any of the soil conditions examined. Therefore, we concluded that the decrease in bryophyte abundance from the field edge to the center was largely because of environmental conditions maintained by the field margin
Deep learning approaches for linear feature segmentation in remote sensing and astronomical imagery
Get PDF1 online resource (101 pages) : illustrations (some colour), charts (some colour), graphs (some colour)Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 76-101).Linear features, defined by their elongated geometry, are critical in domains such as transportation (roads, railways), environmental monitoring (rivers, pipelines), and astronomy
(satellite streaks). Accurate segmentation of these features supports automated analysis
and decision-making. This research focuses first on road infrastructure, introducing an
innovative framework for health assessment using high-resolution satellite imagery, Gray
Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) texture features, and a cyclic reinforcement learning
agent. The model dynamically predicts Pavement Condition Index (PCI) and International
Roughness Index (IRI), achieving low error and strong generalization on Alberta’s Open
Road dataset, offering a cost effective alternative to manual or sensor based methods. Beyond transportation, we address segmentation of elongated satellite streaks in astronomy
using an enhanced U-Net trained on the SatStreaks Dataset, achieving superior accuracy
and precision compared to baseline models. Together, these contributions demonstrate
the versatility of deep learning and reinforcement learning in detecting, segmenting, and
assessing linear features across diverse imaging domains
Norms under fire : a constructivist analysis of civilian protection and the 2022 EWIPA declaration
Get PDF1 online resource (56 pages)Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 51-56).This thesis investigates the normative and legal implications of the 2022 Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA), a non-binding international
agreement aimed at strengthening civilian protection during urban warfare. Drawing on Conor
Foley’s distinction between rights-based and International humanitarian law (IHL) -based
protection frameworks, this study argues that while the Declaration acknowledges manitarian
concerns, it ultimately reinforces existing international humanitarian law norms by emphasizing restraint rather than prohibition. Using a constructivist theoretical framework, the thesis explores how the Declaration reflects the early stages of norm evolution and assesses its potential for influencing state behaviour through discourse and advocacy, despite lacking legal enforceability. A comparative analysis of past humanitarian initiatives, including the Ottawa Convention to Ban Landmines and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, reveals key obstacles to norm internalization, particularly resistance from major military powers. The research concludes that while EWIPA marks a step forward in norm-building for civilian protection, its effectiveness will depend on whether advocacy efforts can translate voluntary commitments into binding international legal standards
Tactics and targets : the role of women’s bodies in the Mexican feminist movement
Get PDF1 online resource (3 unnumbered, 123 pages) : colour illustrations, graphsIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 107-123).This thesis explores the historical, political, and cultural entanglements between the Mexican
state and women’s bodies with the latter serving as both targets of violence and tactics of
resistance. In so doing, this study serves to contextualize and better understand Mexico’s
contemporary, urban, grassroots, feminist movement. Using decolonial feminist theory and
interpretivism, as well as through a recognition of the role of formative events, i.e., colonialism and the Mexican revolution, it analyzes how women have challenged patriarchal, colonial, and extractivist systems by reclaiming their bodies as cuerpos-territorio through the transgressive use of art, poetry, and song. The four chapters of the thesis examine the symbolic and political roles of key historical figures and their artistic representations and contributions across time, like Sor Juana, the Virgin of Guadalupe, Adelitas, and Frida Kahlo, thereby situating modern day feminist mobilizations in Ciudad Juárez and Mexico City, along with recent feminist chants and performances like “Un violador en tu camino” and “Canción sin miedo,” all showing how the body becomes a site of defiance. In the end this thesis provides both a critical analysis and a tribute to Mexican feminist resistance
Cations derived from proton sponge : modification of halide ion coordination chemistry through intermolecular interactions
Get PDF1 online resource (x, 46 pages) : illustrations (some colour), graphsIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 43-46).A family of 1,3-bis(dimethylamino)napthalene salts have been prepared, starting from 1,3-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (Proton Sponge®). When protonated, these molecules have weak hydrogen bonding interactions with anions due to the bridging of a proton between the two dimethylamino groups. Theis bridging removes the best hydrogen bonding sire and reduces interactions between the cation and the anion. This increases the basicity of the anion allowing for a more accurate representation of a naked anion. This study investigates halides as anions and their subsequent basicity and reactivity toward other small molecules.</p
Shared Safety Leadership: Pathways to Safer Workplaces
No full text1 online resource (78 pages) : chartsIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-70).Workplace safety remains a critical concern, particularly in high-hazard industries where
traditional, top-down safety leadership can overlook the role of frontline employees. This study examined shared SAFER leadership, a peer-driven approach emphasizing speaking about safety, acting safely, focusing on safety standards, engaging others, and recognizing safe behaviours. Using survey data from 374 participants across manufacturing, construction, and related sectors, path analyses assessed organizational, supervisory, and team-level antecedents, along with safety outcomes. Results indicated that supervisor support, empowering leadership, co-worker support, and team interdependence significantly predicted shared SAFER leadership, whereas organizational support did not. In turn, shared SAFER leadership strongly predicted safety compliance, participation, and co-worker communication. Additional exploratory analyses revealed indirect effects of supervisory and peer support on safety outcomes. Team size did not moderate these relationships. Findings highlight the value of peer-to-peer safety leadership among frontline employees, advancing both theory and practice in workplace safety research