Toronto Metropolitan University Open Journals
Not a member yet
1204 research outputs found
Sort by
Offshore Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vessels Using Wind Power and Liquid CO₂ Energy Storage
No full textGreen Shipping Corridors (GSCs) are a pivotal strategy for reducing pollutant emissions from maritime transport, which contributes approximately 2.9% of global CO2 emissions. This study proposes a renewable-powered offshore fast-charging station for electric vessels, designed to operate independently of onshore port infrastructure. The station is powered by 20 offshore wind turbines (120 m rotor diameter), operating 12 hours daily at an average wind velocity of 8 m/s. Surplus wind energy is stored using a liquid CO2 energy storage system, where CO2 is compressed, liquefied at ambient temperature, and stored in high-pressure tanks. When wind availability is low, the stored CO2 is vaporized, superheated with recovered compressor heat, and expanded through turboexpanders to regenerate electricity. The system includes a 10 MW fast charger capable of fully recharging a 4 MWh vessel battery in one hour. Thermodynamic analysis shows wind-to-electric efficiency of 36.15%, liquid CO2 storage roundtrip efficiency of 70.14%, and charging unit efficiency of 95%, resulting in an overall system efficiency of 24.09%. The synergistic integration of offshore wind and liquid CO2 storage presented in this study enables zero-carbon transition in maritime operations and support the development of GSCs through offshore electrification infrastructure
Enhancing Heat Transfer in a Solar Collector using Carbon Nanotubes
No full textThe research activities have been centered on the development of a high efficiency solar dryer for algae and seaweed. The efficiency of the solar collectors used for the preparation of hot air can be tuned based on the composition of absorbers and the heat transfer optimization.
Several methods of obtaining the coatings for the absorbers of solar radiation were tested by integrating Carbon Nanotubes (CNT), and the convection heat transfer between the absorbers and the air in the collectors has been optimized.
The paper synthesizes the research activities, the investigation methods and the experimental results obtained by the implementation of the project activities.
The composition of the coatings for the absorbers and the general architecture of the solar collectors are subject to a patent request in Romania and further details will be provided if the paper shall be proposed for publication
Investigation of the Impact of Modelling Assumptions on Temperature Predictions of Parts under Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing from a Macro-Scale Perspective
No full textThis research investigates how the commonly adopted assumptions in thermal modeling of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing and Wire Welding, in a macro scale analysis, affect the temperature prediction obtained from these models. The results indicate, from the set of assumptions analyzed, which ones are appropriate to predict with higher accuracy the temperatures of a real welding experiment. Also, this investigation identifies which of those assumptions have a more significant impact on results by comparing the errors that each assumption produces
Machine Learning-Driven Insights and Predictions for CO2 Adsorption in Metal-Organic Frameworks
No full textIt is becoming urgent to design MOFs with a high capacity of CO2 adsorption due to climate change. Machine learning opens up new possibilities for building MOFs with high CO2 adsorption capacity and understanding the CO2 adsorption mechanism. In this study, we collected 608 data points from several reports, characterized with several key variables such as BET surface area (SBET), total pore volume (VT), pressure (P), temperature (T), Langmuir surface area (SL). Eight engineered features were also used: electronegativity (E), atomic mass (AM), density (D), first ionization (FI), specific heat (SH), atomic radius (AR) and melting point (MP) to predict CO2 uptake. A panoply of machine learning models was built to predict the CO2 adsorption capacity of MOFs. The results indicated that Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) had the best prediction performance (R2 training = 0.983, R2 testing = 0.945, RMSE training = 1.017, RMSE testing = 1.646). Feature importance study demonstrated that beside pressure and temperature, CO2 adsorption parameters (75%), textures (20%), and MOF electronegativity or some chemical features (5%) are all important in the CO2 adsorption process and that higher value of those parameters tend to negatively affect the adsorption intake
An Advanced Comprehensive Model for Plasmon-Enhanced Schottky Solar Cells Incorporating Thermal Effects
No full textThis study introduces a comprehensive model for plasmonic Schottky solar cells (PSSCs) that integrates optical, thermal, and electrical effects. Using a Multiphysics approach, it examines the impact of different nanoparticle (NP) sizes and arrangements on the optical properties, power conversion efficiency, and energy output of these solar cells. The analysis focuses on NP radii ranging from 10 nm to 150 nm in 3x3, 5x5, and 7x7 configurations. A new energy yield model is developed for PSSCs with gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) on silicon absorbers, combining optical, electrical, and thermal effects to predict global energy yield distribution. The total spectral heat absorption was analysed within the 300 nm to 1200 nm range, distinguishing between heat generation in the nanoparticles and thermalization effects in the silicon absorber. Results indicate that a 5x5 NP array with a 70 nm radius significantly enhances electrical performance, increasing the shortcircuit current density (Jsc) to 11.54 mA/cm²—47% higher than traditional 2 μm thick bare silicon Schottky cells. However, this improvement comes with a substantial rise in heat generation, with NP-induced thermal gains reaching 182.5% compared to uncoated silicon cells. To maintain efficiency and prevent overheating, effective thermal management strategies are crucial. The model’s predictions highlight potential energy yield improvements of up to 80 kWh/m² annually, particularly in sunny regions. The model\u27s predictions were further validated through energy yield maps, which demonstrated significant improvements, particularly in sunny regions, with potential annual energy gains of up to 80 kWh/m²
Assessing autonomy and informed consent in clinical practice in the Dormaa Ahenkro Presbyterian Hospital: A cross-sectional study
No full textPatient perception in medical practice is crucial, as it reveals how patients interpret and understand their healthcare experiences, including interactions with healthcare providers, treatments, and the overall healthcare system. The primary objective of the study was to investigate two key ethical principles in the medical field: patient autonomy and informed consent, at Dormaa Ahenkro Presbyterian Hospital. The study employed a mixed-methods approach and utilised a cross-sectional design. Through simple random sampling, 53 patients from various units in the hospital were selected. Through a well-structured questionnaire, the data were analysed with GNU PSPP version 1.4.1. The findings revealed that patients held negative perceptions regarding informed consent (30.2%) and autonomy (18.9%). The study also revealed that doctors, in their quest to respect the patients\u27 rights, are limited by inadequate decision-supporting tools to aid patients and the lack of continuing education in this area of patient autonomy and informed consent. The study recommends that both healthcare professionals and patients receive periodic training in bioethical principles to strengthen understanding and ensure compliance
Grandparents’ and great-grandparents’ knowledge, attitude and experiences supporting breastfeeding: A non-experimental study
No full textBackground: Breastfeeding has many health benefits for babies and mothers, but many families face challenges in meeting breastfeeding recommendations. Grandparents often influence new parents’ infant feeding experiences, yet little is known about their knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and needs regarding supporting breastfeeding in Canada. Purpose: This non-experimental exploratory descriptive study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of grandparents and great-grandparents in supporting breastfeeding to inform intergenerational breastfeeding promotion programs. Methods: An online survey was completed by 111 grandparents and great-grandparents living in Canada. Results: Approximately, 96% of participants had one or more children that were breastfed and 53% had a child breastfeed for over 24 months. The mean knowledge score was 78, (S.D 5.5) and the mean attitude score was 69.7 (S.D 8.71). These scores were significantly positively correlated and higher among participants who had received breastfeeding education (p=0.01). Conclusion: Grandparents and great-grandparents want information tailored to their role in supporting breastfeeding. Providing them with accessible, trustworthy, and respectful education tailored to their experiences would assist with the provision of inclusive intergenerational family-centered care
The Resonant Mine: From Labor Strike to Artistic Action
No full textThe structure of this paper centers around the fieldwork and shooting process of my documentary, 11 Underground, which is based on a mining strike in my hometown Almadén (Ciudad Real, southern Spain), in the summer of 1984. On 30 July 1984, 11 mercury miners locked-in in the local mercury mines to protest against their precarious economic and social conditions. 650 meters deep inside the oldest and most prolific mercury mines in the world\u27s history, the miners endured the dark and contaminated galleries for 11 days and nights until their claims were addressed. As an emigrated local filmmaker, I returned to post-industrial Almadén to make a documentary film about the mining strike. After considering different methodologies, the eventual premise takes the form of a what if reenacted scenario: what if 11 young locals will lock-in underground now for 11 whole days to pay homage to the old miners and recreate the experience of 1984, 35 years later? Apart from engaging our collective mining past, performing the form and duration of a previous workers\u27 strike, 11 Underground aims to propose the underground as a living and symbolic space to foster a series of conversations, encounters, and social and political propositions to reimagine Almadén, which rose from a mine shaft more than 2000 years ago, as \u27something else besides\u27 a mining town.
Two main methodologies mix in 11 Underground. On the one hand, it can be presented as a loose reenactment that reproduces the form and duration of a past strike: 11 people confined inside a mine for 11 whole days. On the other hand, its speculative character (i.e., the what if scenario) opens these 11 days to the unexpected, to new actions and directions that might emerge from the implementation of that what if into the town’s present reality. The intrinsic relation of reenactment with the past, together with the future-oriented nature of what if scenarios as ways of engaging creatively with alternatives and possibilities, are, in fact, representative and metaphorical of the current situation of Almadén, which tries to construct a future from the remains of the mining past, while deeply struggling with the negative consequences of the lack of structural plans after the end of mining. The notion of echoes and resonances is essential for this artistic research. Besides the proper echoes and resonances characteristic of the underground tunnels in which most of the project is set, the what if premise of the project has the concept of resonance at its core
Empathy and Resonance in Interactive Digital Climate Fiction: The Role of Theory of Mind
No full textReaders of fiction often relate their own experiences to a story’s character or events. Resonance in Fiction is fostered through the power of the narrative to evoke emotions and a sense of reflection in the audience. The extent to which a fictional tale resonates with a reader depends on a number of complex interrelated factors, including, in the case of a story, the structural and stylistic elements of the narrative, and in the case of a reader the subjective experience and the psychological predispositions of a reader, within a larger cultural frame, that encompasses the story and the reader. The core of resonance lies in the emotional impact of fiction. Fictional narratives do not merely convey passive information. They involve the readers at an emotional level leading to the experience of a wide range of feelings. Reading a fiction, therefore, is not a process of simple passive reception; rather the reader actively involves in the process by actively engaging, interpreting and connecting with the narrative. Empathy, the ability to understand and share another\u27s feelings, is essential for building emotional connections in fiction. The readers, therefore, engage in mental simulation, resonating themselves with the character and feeling their emotions and motivations. Theory of Mind in literature refers to the ability of readers to attribute and understand mental states like thoughts, beliefs, intentions, emotions, and desires to characters within a narrative. Readers often involve and connect with characters in stories by interpreting textual cues about the character\u27s thoughts and emotions and the ability to employ Theory of Mind. This process often increases the empathy of the readers. This paper explores the role Theory of Mind plays in establishing resonance in Interactive digital climate fiction, by studying how linguistic cues and images in an Interactive Fiction evoke readers to infer the mental states of characters enhancing emotional engagement and empathy. The study employs a mixed-method approach, using Theory of Narrative Empathy as the theoretical framework. The study includes a pre-test and post-test assessment adapted from the Interpersonal Reactivity Index to measure changes in empathy levels and open-ended questionnaires elicit participants\u27 reflections on resonant moments, before and after engaging with the interactive fiction “The Bitter Sea”. This study will combine both quantitative and qualitative methods, using paired statistical tests to assess changes in empathy scores and thematic analysis to identify moments of emotional resonance linked to Theory of Mind inferences about characters\u27 thoughts and emotions. The results are then cross-referenced with Interpersonal Reactivity Index scores to determine whether engaging Theory of Mind strengthens emotional connections with characters and their stories. The hypothesis of the study is that readers will show a significant increase in empathy levels after engaging with the story, as measured by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. This research examines how interactive digital fiction can enhance empathy and emotional engagement, offering contributions to narrative studies and digital humanities
A Cartography of Care: Breaking from the Failures of Etiquette to Map Systems of Liberation-Informed Care
No full textIn this auto-enthnographic text, I discuss my artwork to sort through familial prescriptions of East Coast WASP-ish structures of etiquette and search for new paths towards a relationship with the dining table. Resting on notions of positionality, direction, and navigation in contemporary work that bridges Queer and Fat Studies, I guide readers towards a system whereby needs—those of Queer and Fat people and others—may be addressed holistically, while more clearly recognizing how notions of care are positioned within systems of power