Toronto Metropolitan University Open Journals
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Exploring Urban Road Energy Harvesting: Feasibility, Challenges, and Benefits
No full textAs the world continues to face challenges of energy shortages and environmental degradation, the need for innovative and sustainable solutions to meet our energy needs is growing. One potential way to harvest energy is through urban roads, which are constantly exposed to solar radiation and vehicular traffic. This academic text aims to explore the feasibility, challenges, and benefits of harvesting thermal energy from urban roads using technologies such as thermoelectric generators (TEGs) or phase change materials (PCMs)
Influence of seasonal temperature on the strength of continuous monolithic road overpasses
No full textThis paper considers the effect of seasonal temperature on the strength of a monolithic road overpass, and investigates the change in its stress-strain state under seasonal and daily temperature variations, taking into account earthquakes. The problem is discretized using finite element and finite difference methods, taking into account the prestressing of the span structure. The prestressing of the span is achieved by tensioning the reinforcement ropes from the K-7 beam. The temperature difference in sharply continental regions affects the initial tension of the reinforcement ropes.
On the example of calculation of a three-span continuous monolithic road overpass the influence of temperature difference on its strength under earthquake is shown. The degree of prestressed condition of the span structure is taken into account. The considered continuous monolithic road overpass is located in the area of 8 points seismic intensity in Jizzak city of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Numerical solution to assess the influence of temperature difference and the problem of seismic resistance of the overpass is the change of its stress-strain state in time. Calculation of non-sectional monolithic road overpass is made on records of real accelerograms of Gazli (Uzbekistan) earthquake with intensity more than 9 MSK-64. The results of calculations of the normal stress variation in the lower part of the elements of the span structure of the continuous monolithic overpass during the Gazli earthquake are presented for four cases of the initial tensioning of reinforcement taking into account the effect of seasonal temperature.
The results of the overpass calculation show that despite the sharp changes in seasonal and daily temperatures the overpass maintains its operational characteristics within the established norm
Importance of Vertical Drainage Wells in Irrigated Fields
No full textThe use of vertical drainage in irrigation systems began at the beginning of the 20th century. The advantages of using vertical drainage wells are that they provide crop stability, an additional source of irrigation, and the ability to quickly lower and manage groundwater levels. Along with closed and open ditches, vertical drainages are widely used in Syrdarya region. The demand for vertical drainage is high in Mirzaabad district in terms of the number of wells and the attached land area among the districts of the province. Analysis of data on groundwater and salinity levels in the district requires further improvement of reclamation work
Improving the Method for Rationing Energy Costs for Train Traction
No full textA justification is given for improving a new method for calculating differentiated rates of consumption of fuel and energy resources by diesel and electric locomotives for traction of trains using computers and computer technologies, based on the breakdown of the specified consumption by the relevant components of the transportation process in the conditions of organizing railway transportation of goods, depending on the factors arising along the route of rolling stock. Analytical dependencies were obtained for calculating differentiated rates of energy consumption for the transportation work of locomotives, which reflect the influence of all the main factors of the material and technical base and the organization of work options for trips on railway sections of varying complexity, taking into account changes in environmental temperature conditions. It has been proven that the TashIIT rationing method has significant advantages compared to other rationing methods, since in terms of the accuracy of the deviation of the diesel fuel consumption rate from the actual diesel fuel consumption, it is approximately 6.92 times more accurate on average, and in terms of time spent on processing route driver\u27s sheets diesel locomotive, which in average is 26 times faster and 8.3 hours versus 216.5 hours for every one thousand route sheets processed
Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on Toronto\u27s Spanish-speaking Latin American population: Qualitative study
No full textBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified pre-existing health, social, and economic disparities in Canada, particularly affecting racialized, immigrant, refugee, and newcomer communities. While existing research indicates that Latin Americans have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, questions remain about why this group faces greater risk and worse health and other outcomes compared with the rest of the population. Despite knowledge of inequities in Toronto and elsewhere, research remains limited on the perspectives and experiences of specific communities throughout the pandemic. Methods: This qualitative research focuses on the experiences of Spanish-speaking Latin Americans in Toronto who contracted COVID-19, had family members and friends who were sick from the virus, and/or provided services to Latin Americans in the city during the pandemic. Results: The study highlights challenges related to informal caregiving, language barriers in accessing healthcare, digital inequities, and difficulties faced by individuals with precarious immigration status. Conclusion: Understanding the experiences of Spanish-speaking Latin Americans in Toronto can help identify necessary support and services to address these inequities in a post-pandemic scenario
Clinical and biological aspects of COVID-19 and diabetes in Mali from 2020 to 2023: A cross sectional analysis
No full textDiabetes and hypertension were the most common comorbidities among COVID-19 deaths, at 20.45% and 17.42% respectively in Mali. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical and biological aspects of COVID-19 and diabetes in Mali from 2020 to 2023. The present study constitutes a comparative cross-sectional analytical study that included 50 patients. Data were collected at home, in the form of individual interviews with patients. Findings indicate before the pandemic, 34% of patients were obese and 54% had uncontrolled diabetes. Arterial hypertension was the only macro-angiopathic complication found in patients, with an increase in frequency during the pandemic whereas respiratory distress was observed in 25% of patients during COVID-19 infection. This means that COVID-19 is as much a risk factor associated with diabetes as diabetes is a factor affecting patients\u27 health
A discussion of the destabilizing effects of moral injury among nurses
No full textA concealed storm of ethical quandaries and systemic deficiencies is brewing in healthcare paralleling the uncertainties wrought by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite their commitment to providing safe, compassionate care, nurses grapple with a multitude of factors that impede their agency including excessive workloads, unsafe nurse-patient ratios, and deficiencies in leadership. The emboldened structure and agency paradox further complicates matters as nurses, recognizing systemic constraints, simultaneously feel a strong sense of professional responsibility. This article delves into the ethical principles guiding nurses\u27 work, exploring the strain on moral integrity within incompatible systemic constraints. Scenarios such as conflicting organizational policies hindering patient safety measures, exemplify the moral distress faced by nurses worldwide. The article emphasizes the consequences of unchecked moral distress and its potential to deteriorate into a prolonged state of moral injury impacting nurses’ physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being. The significance of addressing moral distress and subsequently, moral injury is underscored noting their adverse effects on nurses\u27 well-being and retention; pivotal elements in sustaining healthcare systems. The key to address this lies in listening to the frontline staff nurses who possess invaluable insights into the daily struggles and can serve as potent agents of change. The cost of neglecting these issues is deemed too high urging a paradigm shift in recognizing, understanding, and rectifying the ethical challenges and systemic shortcomings plaguing the nursing profession
Health and well-being of refugee women in sex work: A systematic literature review
No full textIntroduction: Refugees face many barriers when arriving in a new country, and these barriers are especially felt by women, who often travel alone or with children. These barriers create a situation where some women turn to sex work, either voluntarily or involuntarily. Both refugees and sex workers face adversities related to their mental health and well-being, however little research has examined the intersections between both identities outside of STI incidence and violence. Objective: This systematic literature review aimed to explore mental health and overall well-being of women refugees who engage in sex work. Themes were extracted to better understand experiences to inform clinical and community practice. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using PsycInfo, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, and Medline, as well as grey literature for articles published between 2013 and 2023. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was used to evaluate the quality of the primary research articles. 11 articles were included in the final synthesis. Results: The five themes included Fear, Mental/Psychological Health, Social Well-being, Economic/Financial Well-being, and Spiritual Struggles. These themes were interconnected to shape the experiences of these women within their circumstances. Engaging in sex work as a refugee, particularly in instances of sex trafficking, created significant challenges in all aspects of well-being, and the circumstances related to being a refugee often increased vulnerabilities to become involved in sex work for survival. Conclusion: These results suggest the need for policies, community programs, and clinical practice protocols to address the unique needs of women refugees to mitigate factors drawing them to sex work, and better support those who are currently involved in it
Towards the elimination of cervical cancer in Brazil: A call to the South America region
No full textBrazil, as the largest South American country, accounts for a large proportion of cervical cancer cases and deaths. Even though Brazil leads the implementation of novel strategies for cervical cancer screening and serves as model for other South American countries, several challenges remain. This editorial discusses the challenges associated with eliminating cervical cancer in Brazil
Metaphor, Database, History: Towards a Documentary Research Method for Filmmaker-Scholars
No full textThe relatively recent growth of doctoral-level theory-praxis film and digital media programs poses the question of how film practice “counts” in the academic sense. The common perception of filmmakers as auteurs, cineastes, and rebels seemingly contradicts standards of rigor upheld by the university. Documentary film, methodologically close to sociology, pedagogically orientated, and with an already established academic sub-discipline (documentary studies) is on firmer ground. This essay first discusses a call for using documentary with qualitative inquiry. It then assesses a documentary research approach that probes the tensions between aesthetics and activism. Finally, it reflects on the theoretical and practical concerns of the author’s documentary dissertation research. It concludes that, particularly when research deals with communities and their political entanglements, a working through must occur not as theory-praxis but via separate actual and historical investigations—that is, between a historically self-aware film and digital media practice and reading documentary film history against the grain