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Simulating air absorption in a hydraulic air compressor (HAC)
No full textA hydraulic air compressor (HAC) is a no moving parts compressor that uses hydropower to compress air that is inducted through a Venturi effect. The solubility of gases in water increases with pressure and provides a means for the dissolved gas to bypass the air-water separator and reduce the compressed air yield of a HAC. The model developed and fully described herein extends the approach of Chen and Rice (1983) to allow for a multiplicity of gas mixtures, predicts the compressed air yield reduction from gas solubility, and predicts the compressed air yield improvement by increasing the liquid temperature and the presence of pre-dissolved salts. The model simulated multiple scenarios that adjust the parameters that are known to affect air absorption in the downcomer and returns results consistent with the expected behaviour in each scenario. One of such scenarios was the simulation of the downcomer of the Ragged Chutes HAC installation. The results were compared with the single data point of oxygen concentration in compressed air delivered by a HAC and results from an equilibrium solubility model available in the literature. Under the same conditions, the model described herein predicts a concentration of oxygen of 0.181 mol/mol, a value that is 2.3% higher than the equilibrium condition. In order to match the results of the equilibrium model, the mass diffusivities of nitrogen, oxygen, argon and carbon dioxide needed to be artificially increased from their reported values in the literature by a factor of 2000. This suggests that the solubility kinetics are important to consider in the design of a HAC when predicting the compressed air yield but if the equilibrium assumption is adopted the estimate of compressed air yield will be conservative
A genetics-based approach for the determination of Phalacrocorax auritus diet on Lake Nipissing
Get PDFThe decline in Sander vitreus population on Lake Nipissing (LN) has become an
increasing cause for concern for the city of North Bay and the surrounding communities.
Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) have been suggested as a possible
cause for the decline of these fish stocks. Using a combination of molecular and
bioinformatic techniques, I have developed a non-invasive genetics-based method for the
determination of Double-crested Cormorant (DCCO) diet using the 16S ribosomal RNA
gene. I observed general trends that were consistent over the overall two year-long study.
I observed small differences in diet dependant on the location of the island being studied,
as well as time of year. Overall, I was able to determine that DCCO consisted of the
following relative abundance of prey: 43% yellow perch (Perca flavescens), 27% troutperch
(Percopsis omniscomaycus), 12% pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), 7% walleye
(Sander vitreus), 4% rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), 4% unresolved, and 3% other
species. The data collected from this thesis can be applied to statistical modelling analysis
to possibly determine the impact DCCO have on the overall population of walleye, and
the methods could be applied for long-term monitoring of overall die
Cultivating Olympic champions: a trampoline development environment from grass roots to podium
Get PDFOlympic athletes’ training environments influence their abilities
to develop and excel as Olympians. Our authors considered a
Canadian trampoline training environment with a history of
developing Olympic medal-winning athletes from the grassroots
through to Olympic podium. The sport environment is presented,
drawing upon guided walks, through a cursory description in
accordance with the Environmental Success Factors model
derived from a holistic ecological approach to talent development. This presentation of the Skyriders Training Environment
(STE) reveals how environmental factors facilitate Olympic talent
development culminating in the highest level of artistic sport
performance
Resource-extraction employment proportions and socioeconomic indicators in canadian municipalities
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to describe the distribution of mining employment in Canada by proportion within census subdivision boundaries (CSD), and 2) to describe mining employment in relation to various socioeconomic indicators at the CSD level. This was accomplished by stratifying mining employment proportions into individual categories (none, low, medium, high, and extreme) and calculating the median values of each of these indicators according to mining employment proportion. In effect, communities were profiled according to their level of reliance on resource-extraction dependency. In order to adequately contextualize these findings, a large body of socioeconomic and resource community-based research literature was drawn from. These examples provided a foundational basis for the interpretation and conclusions reached in this studyBachelor of Arts (Hons) in Geograph
Challenges in method development for analysis of selected phenothizaine drugs in biological samples: oxidation of drugs and metabolites during sample preparation
Get PDFThe main goal of this research project was the detection and semi-quantitation of the parent
drugs promethazine (PMZ), and chlorpromazine(CPZ) along with selected metabolites
promethazine sulfoxide (PMZSO), desmethylpromethazine (DPMZ), chlorpromazine sulfoxide
(CPZSO), and desmethylchlorpromazine (DCPZ) in the skeletal remains of rats. We sought to
evaluate the relative distribution of structural analogues (promethazine (PMZ) and
chlorpromazine (CPZ)), and the relationship of multiple metabolites to the parent drug. The first
phase of the project was to consist of method development and validation and the second phase
would be examining a large number of rat bone samples exposed to different drug exposure
patterns. For the analytical method, drug extraction is completed using microwave assisted
extraction (MAE), followed by sample clean-up by microplate solid-phase extraction (MPSPE)
and instrumental analysis by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to
photodiode array detection (UHPLC-PDA). During method development and validation,
extraneous compounds appeared in the chromatograms. The production of unknown compounds
hindered the ability to meet the validation criteria. Thus, the new objective of the research was
characterization of the unknown compounds by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography
coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-qTOF-MS), comparing the
extent of degradation for different extraction conditions, and validation of a new method that
does not promote degradation
Developing protocols for the collection and valuation of wild native seed from the Hudson Bay Lowland.
No full textNative species are being more commonly used and often even mandated in restoration projects. However, commercial seed sources are often unavailable or not of a suitable provenance. Collecting seed from wild sources is an alternative, but it can be challenging. The objectives of this study were to: 1) identify key attributes that influence the value of seed and to evaluate and quantify these differences for 57 native species with potential for restoration in subarctic Ontario; 2) determine if fertilizers could increase the seed yield of wild species with a low seed output; 3) determine and compile simple and effective protocols for the collection, processing, storage, and germination of 60 wild species native to northeastern Ontario. Field studies were conducted at De Beers’ Victor diamond mine, located in the Hudson Bay Lowland in north-central Canada from 2014 to 2016. To complete the first objective, I evaluated the attributes that affect the time and cost of using wild seeds from upland native plants. Taking into account the regional abundance of species, collection obstacles, requirements for identification, ease of processing and storing seeds, and propagation effort, I ranked the results for each species within each attribute. Each category provided a relative value reflective of the effort required to collect, process, store, and propagate seed of a given species. I demonstrate how these relative values could be used to prioritize species in revegetation planning. These relative seed values can also be used to determine seed prices for a variety of projects and locations. For my second objective, I fertilized wild populations of American vetch (Vicia americana) and silverweed (Potentilla anserina). These herbaceous upland species may be useful in reclamation, but had low seed yields in 2014. Fertilization had no effect on seed yield and neither species set seed, regardless of treatment, except for a single American vetch plot. I discuss various environmental factors that may have had an influence on the poor seed yields. Fertilizing wild populations may not be an effective approach to increase seed yield for these species in a subarctic environment, although testing a variety of fertilizer rates and environments could guide future studies.
For the final objective, I field-tested seed collection and seed processing protocols for native species desired for revegetation, and I compiled information from the literature on their storage and propagation requirements. I produced both a general guide and profiles for 60 species. The guide is written in lay language, with many photographs and provides an overview of the required knowledge for harvesting seed from wild plants. This guide will be useful to people who wish to begin collecting seed for any reason, including restoration projects, nursery establishment and even gardening. The demand for native and local seed is growing. With increased mining development in remote areas, the demand for local native seed for restoration will continue to increase. This research will contribute to the knowledge of collecting wild seed from native species and improve the success of these collection programs. This work could provide a base for small business development in remote communities
An examination of the integration processes of Anishinaabe smudging ceremonies in Northeastern Ontario health care facililties.
No full textIn part of the Anishinaabek storytelling traditions, ceremonies emerged from the
teachings from the simple act of offering tobacco to more complex ceremonies such as
the rain dance. The smudging ceremony is no different because it has its own creation
story that emerged with the four medicines (Benton-Banai, 1988; Geniusz, 2009). This
research aims to contribute to the an understanding of how the Indigenous smudging
ceremony takes place and how it is made available to individuals who want to practice
this form of ceremony in urban health care settings.
There has been limited research conducted on Indigenous ceremonies and even
less on the smudging ceremony, which highlights the literature gap on scholarly souces
on these traditional ways of healing written by Indigenous People. Most of the
information on the smudging ceremony is from online sources, Elders that are not
published, and non-Indigenous people. Although there are many books, how-to manuals,
and kits that provide medicines that teach interested individuals on the smudging
ceremony, these could be found in the New Age healing sections at bookstores or in
alternative healing shops that many would not find to be a credible academic source.
None of these sources address why the smudging ceremony is crucial and how it has been
suppressed as part of a much larger process of cultural genocide.
This research is situated within an historical context to better understand why the
ceremony has not been accessible within these health care facilities. There are three
facilities examined in Sudbury and Parry Sound, Ontario. The facilities and policies are
compared to understand the integration processes as well as ensuring that the smudging
ceremony is more accessible. In addition, the contribution of this thesis is to have the
smudging ceremony accessible and accommodated outside the walls of medicine/healing
lodge rooms. Lastly, this study is examined through the Anishinaabe perspective that
complements the decolonization approach as it recommends meaningful pathways that
support the efforts of reconciliation
Computer simulation of molecular shape transitions in adsorbed polymers under confinement conditions
No full textThe structural and dynamical properties of polymer-covered surfaces under confinement
and crowding effects are key to many applications. Earlier work showed the occurrence of
“escape transitions” in small uncompressed clusters (or “islands”) even for repulsive polymers.
These transitions involve a switch from evenly-compact configurations (“trapped chains”), to
uneven compactness (“escaped chains”). Here, we address a complementary question: if the
crowding is reduced by having fewer neighbours, can an external compression produce “escaped
configurations”? To this end, we focused on the confinement of grafted polymers. At low
compression, the inter-chain entanglement increases with excluded volume as chains swell and
interpenetrate, up to a critical chain length where the behaviour is reversed. We conclude that,
when few chains are present or if a larger ensemble of them is arranged symmetrically,
compression induces chain avoidance without inducing escape transitions. The switch in
mechanism depends mostly on crowding, and not on the applied pressure
Understanding caregivers' accuracy in facial expressions of pain in children: an eye tracking study.
Get PDFFacial expressions of pain indicate that you are in need of attention. Previous studies have shown
that caregivers have difficulty distinguishing genuine, suppressed, and fake pain in children. The
current study examined parents’ and nurses’ ability to recognize pain expressions in children
while their eye-movements were tracked, to understand their accuracy and identify strategies to
improve. Results did not show differences between caregiver groups, however there was an
effect of expression type. Participants were more accurate for suppressed than genuine
expressions and more for genuine than fake expressions. Results from eye movement patterns
offer information on how to improve on recognition accuracy. For genuine and suppressed
expressions, participants must attend to the eye zone longer and faster to increase accuracy. For
fake expressions, the mouth zone needs more attention to increase accuracy, also the faster
participants looked at the mouth, the higher their accuracy for fake expressions