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The Answer to Poverty: A Universal Basic Income in Canada
Full text linkThis paper provides an examination of the persistent issue of poverty within Canada, recognizing the various causes and the previous attempts to solve it, before concluding that the key failure of all prior poverty reduction strategies is a focus on poverty alleviation, rather than poverty eradication. This paper suggests that an alternative method would be to implement a Universal Basic Income, presenting an examination of prior research in the field, comparing it to similar models and addressing the various criticisms that have been raised against it. Finally, this paper utilizes statistics provided by the Canadian government to determine what the impact of a UBI would be on all Canadians who report income. A simplistic model is set out with a level of 36,000. Using a model like this, Canada would ensure that no person would have an income of less than $18,000, while nearly half of all Canadians would see their incomes rise. Those who make more than the break-even point would see a manageable increase in taxes though when compared to current tax rates in Canada’s four most populated provinces, the decrease in income these individuals would see is relatively insignificant
Avian grape predation at vineyards in South Western Ontario: evaluating fruit preferences and non-invasive deterrent methods
No full textSustainable IndustryAvian grape predation at vineyards in South Western Ontario: evaluating fruit preferences and non-invasive deterrent methods Most fruit colours evolved to attract seed disperses, which causes problems in agricultural areas where damage by birds annually costs growers thousands of dollars per hectare. I will be reviewing what is currently known in this field and I will introduce my proposed Masters research on this topic. The methods of avian control techniques through the years has changed based on the results of past methods and development of newer available technology. Past work quantifying the damage of crops in vineyards and orchards goes back to the 1960's and lends understanding to some of the factors that influence the degree of avian predation of crops. My Master's research will quantify avian damage in local vineyards in South Western Ontario and determine whether the intensity of avian grape predation corresponds to fruit colour and/or sugar content. My thesis will also test the efficiency of both current and novel avian deterrent methods in vineyards over the course of the 2019 ripening season. My work has both evolutionary and agricultural implications: it will aid in understanding what drives avian fruit colour preferences and how particular fruits co-evolved to become more attractive to these species, and will help develop the most efficient/ non-invasive management techniques to deter avian crop predation
"Life Expectancy Analysis and Optimization of Electric Vehicle Traction Motors"
No full textSustainable IndustryThe development of electric vehicles (EVs) is a technological advancement that builds upon the momentous milestones achieved in the personal transportation industry throughout the last century. The vehicles of this era have been driven through the power of internal combustion engines (ICE). In the most recent decades the drawbacks of running fossil fuel based vehicles has become quite apparent. The effect of emissions on both the environment and public health has become a major cause of concern for policy makers and the general population. Additionally, fossil fuel commodities have been utilized as a political and economic weapon, giving producers extreme amounts of power and hurting consumers who have been at the mercy of large market fluctuations [1]. These challenges have provided the perfect conditions for the rise of electrical vehicles as an alternative method of transportation. Although electric vehicles have many benefits including being quieter, requiring less maintenance, and providing better handling than traditional vehicles, several engineering challenges remain before mass adoption will occur. A significant area of concern where further optimizations can be made is in the life expectancy of the electric motors that propel electric vehicles. At the University of Windsor's Centre for Hybrid Automotive Research and Green Energy (CHARGE) laboratory methods of improving electric traction motors are already under investigation. Industrial collaborations including a venture with Ford Motor Company have provided significant opportunities for testing electric motors and their life expectancy. The approach undertaken involves data acquisition from electric motor tests. Several key factors identified as having significant impact on motor life expectancy will be studied. Preliminary results show that factors such as extreme temperatures, high humidity, voltage disturbances, insulation weakness, and large vibrations all have very negative effects on motor life expectancy. By displaying work done to minimize the effects of these factors, conference attendees will learn how electric motor testing done by local researchers in collaboration with industry partners is improving upon electric motor life expectancy, overall electric vehicle performance, and thus in turn society, which receives the environmental and health benefits that come with electric vehicle adoption
Law and Oppression: A Moral Call to Abstain from the Use of Moral Language
Full text linkAbstract: In this presentation, I first establish that morality is invoked to justify the existence of discriminatory or otherwise oppressive laws that harm marginalized groups. Examples that demonstrate this point will be pulled from past and present laws that target homosexual and transgender populations, ranging from anti-sodomy laws to trans bathroom bills. Next, I argue that moral language is imbued with normative and motivational force because of its association with legitimate moral judgments. Since normative judgments provide reason to act, the invocation of such judgments is seen to carry that same reason and motivational force. In the absence of legitimate uses of moral terms, or at least the refusal by a significant portion of the population to use moral rhetoric, use of such terms no longer carries the same force. Therefore, I conclude that there is a compelling moral reason to stop using moral language when discussing laws. Finally, I respond to the objection that this prevents moral discussion and criticism or support of laws on moral grounds. I explain why genuine, content-laden positions still have the same strength and normative force. Such positions can still be discussed in terms of their underlying principles, rather than simply stating that a given law is moral, immoral, good, or bad. However, positions relying upon empty moral rhetoric do not have the same ability and are revealed as lacking true moral justification. Keywords: morality, law, oppression, discrimination, language, ethics, normative, discourse, semantic
The Procedural & Symbolic Barriers to Justice in Nigerian Wrongful Conviction Cases
No full textWhen criminal defendants go through the criminal justice system in Nigeria, they expect that the system would provide them with a fair criminal process that protects their rights and ensures that they will have justice in their cases. The basis for this expectation is the fundamental rights for criminal defendants in the Nigerian Constitution and other laws. However, notwithstanding these promised rights, the Nigerian criminal justice system has often failed to fulfill this expectation, resulting in wrongful convictions of innocent persons. There are no studies on the barriers to justice that wrongfully convicted persons face in Nigeria and insufficient research about wrongful convictions in the country. The issue of wrongful conviction requires further study in Nigeria because it shows the reality of human rights violations in the criminal justice system and the negative impact on the affected individuals. This research explores the barriers to justice in Nigerian wrongful conviction cases and how the obstacles can be addressed to prevent wrongful convictions in the criminal justice system. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews of a sample of wrongfully convicted individuals in southwest Nigeria. The data will be analyzed using thematic analysis to identify themes and patterns in the experiences of injustice that the wrongfully convicted persons encounter in the Nigerian criminal justice system. (Note: This is part of my larger thesis project in progress)
Session 4: IPV Experience, Self-silencing, and Compliance with Unwanted Sex among Undergraduate Women
No full textTanja Samardzic, University of Windsor, and Charlene Senn, University of Windsor IPV Experience, Self-silencing, and Compliance with Unwanted Sex among Undergraduate Wome
Transformational School Leadership in Nigerian Secondary Schools: Teachers’ Wellbeing and Job Satisfaction
Full text linkTransformational school leadership plays a key role in improving teacher wellbeing and job satisfaction, especially in Nigerian schools. This study looks at how school principals can use transformational leadership to support teachers, reduce teacher burnout, and keep teachers more motivated in their jobs. The study also explores strategies to promote teacher health and wellbeing for better retention and a more positive work environment. This study draws on three theoretical lenses. These include Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model (Demerouti et al., 2001), and Social Exchange Theory (Blau, 1964) Study participants included 206 Nigerian public secondary school teachers in Oyo state. They completed surveys examining teacher’s perception on the influence of transformational leadership on teachers’ wellbeing, relationship between transformational school leadership and job satisfaction, as well as the key components of transformational school leadership that could enhance teacher wellbeing and job satisfaction in Nigerian schools. Data was analyzed using quantitative approaches. Findings showed that transformational school leadership is being viewed as a positive influence on teachers wellbeing but for job satisfaction it has mixed views. Recommendations for policymakers (government), school leaders, and teacher training programs are presented. This includes regular training for school leaders to equip them with strategies for effectively supporting teachers under transformational leadership principles. The recommendations are aimed at improving teacher wellbeing, growth, and satisfaction
Aerodynamics Enhancement in Automotive Industry by Implementing Plasma Actuator as an Active Flow Control Method
No full text['UNSDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal7)', 'UNSDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal9)']Viable, Healthy and Safe CommunitiesThe next generation of electronics is heading towards the integration of devices onto the human person through wearable electronics on both skin and clothing. Classical electronics are traditionally built with silicon, since its highly crystalline and periodic morphology results in outstanding electronic properties. However, silicon is a brittle material and therefore its lack of mechanical compliance make it a poor candidate moving forward with wearable technology and bioelectronics. To address this challenge, the use of organic pi-conjugated semi-conducting polymers has shown a lot of promise for the development of next generation electronics and these materials are solution processable, mechanically compliant and synthetically tunable. Recently, our group has been investigating the effect of intra-molecular interactions on the mechanical properties of semi-conducting polymers. Through the addition of dynamic hydrogen bonding to the polymer, we have been able to significantly impact the stretchability and flexibility of the material to more closely match the elastic modulus of human skin; a requirement for moving forward with the design and construction of wearable bioelectronics. Our design exploits the dynamic nature of hydrogen bonding to facilitate strain dissipation throughout the material. Interestingly, the introduction of hydrogen bonds can also improve the conductivity of the material by improving the crystallinity of the polymer chains, while maintaining good mechanical properties. This presentation will cover our strategy for incorporating dynamic intra-molecular interactions into polymer backbones to increase the mechanical properties of semi-conducting materials. Design and characterization of the new materials will be discussed, as well as future applications in electronics.In recent years, energy efficiency policies obliged automotive companies to pay meticulous attention to modern technologies in aerodynamics as the most important part of automobile fuel consumption. Accordingly, most aerodynamics studies are carried out based on Ahmed body models which are the standard and simplified shapes of road vehicles. In this research, by using plasma actuator as a contemporary active flow control mechanism flow control over an Ahmed body with the rear slant angle of 25° were studied. Experiments were conducted in a low-speed wind tunnel at two different velocities of U=10m/s and U=20m/s. In this study, hot-wire anemometer and 52 pressure sensors were employed for measuring downstream vortex shedding frequency and pressure distribution, respectively. Furthermore, total drag force in varied conditions was extracted with load cell and flow pattern around the body revealed by smoke flow visualization. The results showed that at the velocity of U=10m/s plasma actuator had a distinctive impression on both pressure distribution and total drag force. In fact, by applying steady and unsteady electrical excitations there were 21% and 10% drag reduction, respectively. While at the velocity of U=20m/s the actuator had no significant effect on pressure distribution and total drag reduction (about 5%) in comparison with the velocity of 10m/s. As a remarkable result, plasma actuator has demonstrated its effectiveness on dispersing the longitudinal vortices and suppressing the separated flow on the rear slant. Accordingly, it led fuel consumption to decrease to maximum of 21% specifically at lower velocities.Keywords: Automotive; Aerodynamics, Plasma, Wind tunnel, Fuel consumption
Narcissism, psychopathy, and sexual coercive behaviours among university students
No full textA range of personality traits have been associated with the perpetration of sexual aggression in community samples. In particular, maladaptive narcissistic personality traits have been shown to correlate with use of sexual coercive tactics, as have traits associated with primary psychopathy. In separate research, indices of higher sex drive and interest in sexual deviance (e.g., paraphilic interests) have been associated with sexually abusive and aggressive behaviours. The purpose of the present study is to replicate these findings, and also to determine the unique contributions that distinct sets of personality traits and indices of sexual interests and behaviors make in accounting for self-reported endorsement of sexually coercive tactics. Participants recruited from a university student population completed a battery of questionnaires online, measuring narcissistic traits, psychopathic traits, indices of sex drive and interest in paraphilias, use of sexually coercive tactics, and social desirability responding. It was hypothesized that higher scores on primary psychopathy and maladaptive narcissism would be significantly and positively correlated with higher scores on a measure of sexually coercive tactics. It was also hypothesized that higher scores on primary psychopathy and maladaptive narcissism, in separate hierarchical multiple regression models, would remain significant predictors when indices of sex drive and sexual deviance were added to the models. Further, it was expected that these latter measures would have incremental validity. Findings add to theoretical understanding of these predictors of sexually coercive behaviours among university students by examining them in integrated models. These results also have potential implications for prevention and intervention work
Implementing Patient Navigator Support to Address Barriers in Retinal Care: A Mixed Methods Study
No full textThis study sought to identify patient and system level barriers in the local retina patient community and evaluate the feasibility of a patient navigator system. A mixed-method style combining qualitative and quantitative approaches was conducted. The administration of a preliminary questionnaire to gauge patient interest and a longer questionnaire was utilized for the quantitative approach. The conduction of a semi structured interview, designed to further explore major barriers, was implemented for the qualitative approach. The information from both survey and interview will be utilized in the development, implementation, and improvement of a patient navigator system (such as: diabetic counseling, mental health assistance, general assistive services). Five themes emerged: lack of primary care support, transportation difficulties, managing comorbidities, low health literacy, and emotional distress. Of the 150 patients surveyed, 75 showed interest in the patient navigator program. The study suggests patient navigators could address co-morbidities, preventing disease progression. Patients are receptive, and community resources are willing to cooperate. This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing a patient navigator system and the likelihood to improve vision related quality of life of these patients. The follow up of the study will implement the use of patient navigators and measure their effectiveness and response