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Using spatial ecology data to inform development and mitigation of a trap rock quarry in Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) habitat
Get PDFMining practices can negatively impact turtles through degradation of wetlands and surrounding
upland habitat, alteration of movement corridors, accidental mortality, and increased risk of nest
and turtle predation. These impacts, in turn, can cause changes in patterns of energy allocation,
skewed sex ratios and changed demography, which may ultimately lead to population declines.
The aim of my study was to describe the demography of, and identify critical habitat for, a
population of globally-endangered Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) inhabiting an area
of interest for development of a trap rock quarry. In addition to generating important knowledge
about population ecology and habitat use, my study can serve as the “before” study in a BeforeAfter Control-Impact (BACI) study quantifying impacts of quarrying on turtles. Using radiotelemetry, GPS dataloggers, and capture-mark-recapture surveys, data were collected at an
impact (quarry) site and a control site, and thermal data were collected during overwintering
using iButtons. I captured 56 turtles at the impact site and 13 at the control site, and estimated
population sizes were 79.6 +/- 17.9 (1.84 turtles/ha) and 16.0 +/- 21.2 (0.32 turtles/ha),
respectively. Body size was larger at the control site, but body condition was similar at both
sites. Daily distances moved and home range sizes did not differ between sites, and were
generally smaller than conspecific values reported in the literature. I identified nesting (15
impact, 2 control) and overwintering (12 impact, 7 control) sites, both considered critical
habitats. Overwintering water depth ranged from 30-150 cm (before ice-on) and turtles
overwintered at temperatures reported previously in the literature (1.5 to 0.5 ºC). My data can be
used to quantitatively inform quarry development and mitigation strategies, essential components
to balancing the needs of species at risk and humans
Situé: arénas de l’autoroute 11 // Situated: Highway 11 arena’s
No full textComment l’architecture peut-elle renforcer l’identité locale du nord aux arénas communautaires
existants par la transformation tout en conservant la mémoire collective déjà présente?
La notion de lieu est un concept aussi vague que fascinant. Durant ma jeunesse et
jusqu’à ce jour, j’ai été privilégiée de visiter plusieurs endroits grâce au hockey. Sur notre
territoire canadien, certains lieux, et indirectement bâtiments, semblent mériter et recevoir
politiquement et architecturalement plus de respect comparativement à d’autres. Les arénas
communautaires sont importants et représentent le bâtiment le plus fréquenté et utilisé par la
communauté locale dans les petites communautés canadiennes mais souffrent de ce manque
de mérite respectueux. Treize communautés et leurs arénas en bordure de l’autoroute 11
dans le nord-est Ontarien seront visités et analysés selon leurs similitudes et différences pour
conclure avec un seul site choisi par la fin du semestre. Cet aréna sera le premier prototype
né de la recherche élaborée de cette thèse. Théoriquement parlant, un autre problème émerge avec la typologie des arénas
communautaires; de tels bâtiments ne sont pas classifiés assez nobles pour être considérés
de l’architecture avec un grand ‘A’. Je vais défier cette opinion répandue et rendre
le respect approprié et dû à ces bâtiments en grand besoin de soins, réparations et
rajeunissement pour assurer leur pérénité. Une transformation architecturale sera proposée
afin d’offrir davantage à la communauté. Pourquoi considérer des stratégies de rénovation
versus la construction d’un nouveau bâtiment sera un sujet débattu. La valeur de la mémoire
collective enfermée dans le présent bâtiment sera d’une grande valeur pour ma stratégie.
Ces petites municipalités ne possèdent aussi aucun, sinon très peu, d’exemples
d’architecture contemporaine publique de qualité. En raison des contraintes de l’économie
locale et du très petit bassin de taxes municipales dans le nord, les nouveaux bâtiments
civiques requièrent souvent accès à l’aide des autres paliers gouvernementaux. Cela équivaut
souvent à une réplique d’un modèle comprenant une structure en acier préfabriquée conçue
dans le sud ontarien afin de minimiser les coûts. En gros, la notion d’identité, de mémoire
collective, de régionalisme et même de développement durable dans tous ses aspects est
ignorée. Mon projet va annuler l’option d’un nouvel aréna selon les normes que permet le
financement gouvernemental afin de considérer et incorporer ces notions si importantes. La
question du lieu en toute sa grandeur sera explorée car ce simple concept déterminera une
méthodologie, des justifications et un design reflétant le style et les intérêts locaux, avec des
ressources locales pour l’économie locale
Ramsey Lake Interpretive Centre : an architectural response to aquatic environmental public awareness
No full textThis thesis will aim to address the following theoretical questions: How can
architectural interventions mitigate human impact on a more than human
landscape? How can enhanced and sustainable interaction between aquatic
life and people contribute to greater appreciation and conservation for underwater ecosystems?
Specifically, this thesis will study and analyze Ramsey Lake, in Sudbury,
Ontario, Canada, through mapping exercises, scientific research, media
articles, and site documentation to inform the design of a “Ramsey Lake
Interpretive Centre”. The centre would raise public environmental awareness
of regional aquatic ecosystems and provide direct opportunities for environmental remediation of a lake which has been impacted by industrial activity and urban development for over one-hundred-years.
Ramsey Lake was selected as the focus of this study because of the central
role that it plays within the community. In addition to acting as a drinking water reservoir for over 40% of Greater Sudbury, it also represents a significant centre for culture and recreation within the community
Lattice boltzmann models for heat transfer and anisotropic flows
No full textFluid flows and associated heat and mass transfer problems are governed by several nonlinear second-order partial differential equations for which the analytical
solutions are hard to obtain. Therefore, the numerical simulations are very useful in
the research of the flow and heat transfer problems. In the last decade of the 20th
century, a relatively new computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method, so called the
lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) was proposed. The method is coding and meshing
friendly and is rapidly developing in recent years.
In this thesis, three new methods for the flow and heat transfer based on the LBM are
presented. First, we give a counter-extrapolation approach to calculate the heat and
mass transfer problems between conjugate interfaces with the interfacial discontinuity. By applying the finite difference approximation and extrapolation, the conjugate
interface problem can be separated into two individual heat and mass transfer problems with Dirichlet boundaries, and the Dirichlet boundary problems can be solved
by applying the LBM (or other CFD methods).
Secondly, we consider the inlet and outlet treatment of periodic thermal flow. The
periodic features of fully developed periodic incompressible thermal flows will be
carefully examined by applying the LBM. The distribution modification (DM) approach and the source term (ST) approach are proposed, which can be both used for
periodic thermal flows with constant wall temperature (CWT) and surface heat flux
boundary conditions.
The last method is a rectangular lattice Boltzmann model for anisotropic flows based
on coordinate and velocity transformation. Unlike the other existing rectangular
models which tuned the lattice Boltzmann algorithm to fit the rectangular or cuboid
lattice grids, this method applies the general lattice Boltzmann method to solve the
transformed system over regular square lattice grids.
All these methods have been carefully examined in several simulations by comparing the LBM results to those of analytical solutions and previous publications using different numerical techniques. The results of the first and second methods are satisfactory. However, the result of the last method for the rectangular lattice Boltzmann
model suffers numerical instability and inaccuracy. The reason has been analyzed,
and a possible reform has also been suggested. The future research topics for each
method have been proposed as well
Perceived impact of rotating shift work on health and wellbeing among underground workers
No full textWorkers in the mining industry are exposed to several risks and hazards in the
underground environment. Shift work is a common working arrangement in the mining industry
and is associated with many adverse health outcomes. In Canada, there is limited research
between rotating shift work in the minerals industry and the effects on health and wellbeing of
workers, especially utilizing a qualitative design. This thesis aimed to understand the impact of
rotating shift work on perceived health and wellbeing among some underground workers in
Sudbury, Ontario.
This qualitative descriptive study utilized individual, semistructured interviews with a
sample of underground workers (n = 12) employed in Sudbury, Ontario. Interviews were
digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s 2006 version of
thematic analysis. Participants in this study perceived both advantages and disadvantages of
working on a rotating shift schedule in relation to their health and wellbeing. Final themes that
emerged from the data included: strong preference for the night shift, challenges associated with
impact on personal wellbeing, advantages and disadvantages on work environment wellbeing,
benefits and challenges of wellbeing external to work, strategies for coping with shift work,
family advantages, challenges with partner relationships, challenges and opportunities in
relationships with children, and strategies used to protect family wellbeing. The findings of this
study may influence future research studies using a quantitative or mixed-method design, and
larger samples
Integrating mainstream and indigenous approaches in a private clinical setting
No full textThis report thoroughly examines and discusses my Advanced Practicum experience. The
practicum was completed from October 23rd, 2017 to March 6th, 2018 within Tremblay
Counselling Services of Timmins, Ontario. The primary learning objective was to critique the
applicability of certain theories and approaches such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, which are
highlighted in the literature review while reflecting on how I could integrate an Indigenous
framework within my practice approach.
The Advanced Practicum offered an experiential learning experience, which was a more
enriched opportunity to observe, assess, and critique the theoretical models utilized within
therapy. In addition to my placement, a parenting group pilot project was also initiated. This
project was an opportunity to learn about group facilitation and group processes. Primarily, the
goal was to disseminate awareness and education concerning intergenerational trauma and its
residual impacts on individual, familial, and community wellbeing. Essentially, the parenting
group pilot project sought to fill a gap in services pertaining to Indigenous led support groups as
it was discovered that culturally congruent interventions were lacking, specifically within the
community of Timmins.
Throughout my practicum placement, the integration and process of reflection was a key
component in fostering self-awareness and professional development, which positively shaped
my identity as an Indigenous practitioner. My goals for completing the Advanced Practicum
sought to enhance, build, and strengthen my clinical skillsets while gaining confidence as I am
wholeheartedly drawn to Indigenous mental health social work practice.Master of Social Work (MSW
Using epigenomics data to predict gene expression in breast cancer
No full textEpigenetics is the study that deals with phenotype alterations that do not cause any modification in the
DNA sequence of cells. Basically, it adds something to the top of DNA to alter its properties. This
subsequently prevents the execution of certain behavior of DNA. Such epigenetic alterations are found
in cancerous cells. These alterations are not the only cause of cancer; nevertheless, accurate statistical
data that provides adequate shreds of evidence is still missing. In this research, four different types of
data are used to bifurcate cancerous cells from non-cancerous cells. The data are Methylation, Histone,
Human Genome and RNA-Seq data. The processing of these datasets is done using custom R-script.
The tool that is used for feature selection and classification in the presented work is Weka 3.With the
help of the machine learning method, the epigenetics data shows the prediction of breast cancer in the
given set of cells
Le développement de publics pour les arts en milieu minoritaire
No full textMalgré les importantes sommes investies dans la mise en place d’équipements culturels et la
promotion de la culture, l’accès aux arts reste largement inégal. La grande majorité des
publics consommateurs des arts correspondent toujours aux mêmes catégories
démographiques : forte scolarisation, revenu élevé, résidence urbaine, absence de handicaps,
etc. Toutefois, des gens font exception à cette règle, leurs habitudes de consommation
artistique transcendant cette typologie, faisant d’eux des publics atypiques.
En s’inspirant de la thèse de Lahire (2004) sur la dissonance culturelle, nous avons voulu
explorer la question de la participation culturelle au-delà des critères sociodémographiques,
pour répondre à la question : l’exposition au marketing culturel et la participation aux
initiatives de développement de publics sont-elles des facteurs déterminants du choix de
consommation de produits et d’expériences artistiques ? Des entretiens semi-dirigés ont été
réalisés auprès de 24 représentants de ces publics atypiques parmi la population francosudburoise – communauté culturelle et linguistique en situation minoritaire – eux-mêmes
identifiés à partir des 160 répondants d’un questionnaire de présélection.
L’analyse textométrique de ces entretiens a révélé que le développement de publics rejoint
les consommateurs atypiques des arts par le biais des communications directes et des
nombreux liens sociaux qui relient ces individus aux organismes culturels. Ils décrivent
l’utilité du développement de publics sous l’angle d’une logique idéologique, en appui à la
cause franco-ontarienne dans laquelle ils sont engagés. Quant aux non-consommateurs
atypiques, leurs liens avec les arts se tissent principalement par le biais du milieu scolaire. Leur appréciation du développement de publics relève de la logique démocratique, étant
surtout préoccupés par les questions d’accès aux arts et de transmission culturelle.
Ainsi, la dissonance dans les profils s’explique par le fait que les individus étudiés résident
dans une proximité relationnelle et idéologique plus ou moins importante avec le milieu des
arts franco-ontariens, et que l’effet de cette proximité surpasse celui des classes sociales.
Cette forte ou faible proximité caractérise largement leur rapport à l’art, faisant en sorte
qu’ils ont ultimement une exposition et une appréciation distinctes des initiatives de
développement de publics
Mining, injuries, and the compensation process: who does it hurt the most?
No full textThe thesis aimed to determine the impact of a lower back injury and the compensation claim
process experienced by some male underground workers in Sudbury, Ontario. A qualitative
descriptive study design was employed and utilized inductive, in-depth, in-person interviews.
Participants were recruited using an existing database of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local
6500. Thematic analysis was employed and yielded the following themes: extreme financial
hardship, compromised family relationships, feelings of depression, unsafe work environments,
punishment for injured workers, denial of illness and compensation by the employer, and a tough
fight for compensation. In conclusion, the results of this study emphasized the need for additional
research about the biopsychosocial consequences of an injury, how to better support an injured
worker and the importance of providing process, policy, and injury prevention education for all
individuals involved in an injured workers journey
Development of a glycoliposomal delivery system to improve dynantin antagonism of the kappa opioid receptor
No full textκ opioid receptors (KOP) play a role in the addictive properties of nicotine by opposing its
rewarding effects. Using a KOP antagonist, we aim to modulate this relationship, and prevent the
negative effects of withdrawal that causes individuals to relapse. A novel glycoliposomal delivery
system was used to improve the stability of dynantin, a KOP antagonist peptide, in human plasma.
Reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to study the
entrapment and stability of dynantin. Subsequently, the in vitro Parallel Receptor-ome Expression
and Screening via Transcriptional Output–Transcriptional activation following arrestin
translocation (PRESTO-TANGO) system was used to study the affinity and selectivity of dynantin
at the KOP compared to the δ and μ opioid receptors (DOP and MOP). Results showed that
dynantin had good selectivity for KOP without activating or blocking DOP or MOP. The ratio of
peptide: mannose lipid: cholesterol was modified to improve the stability of dynantin in human
plasma. Dynantin was completely degraded in plasma after 24 hours with no cholesterol present,
while a 1:5:2 ratio (peptide: mannose lipid: cholesterol), had 71±4% of dynantin remaining after
24 hours. Importantly, the delivery system had no effect on the affinity of dynantin at the KOP.
Our delivery system therefore shows promise in its ability to increase the bioavailability of
therapeutic peptides such as dynantin, for which we demonstrate here a promising ability to act
selectively as an antagonist at the KOP