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Hygrothermal analysis of wooden frame and cross-laminated timber walls for energy efficiency and durability in Bhutanese climate
Get PDFMuch research on building envelopes and energy efficiency in Bhutan has been done, however the importance of hygrothermal analysis on timber envelopes has received limited attention. Is constructing all residential buildings with timber in the Bhutanese climate feasible? A simulation-based methodology of white box modeling software Design-Builder and WUFI Pro is used to analyze the feasibility of timber construction. Typical Bhutanese buildings are more energy in-efficient due to poor thermal and leaky buildings envelope. The baseline building has an energy demand of 269.5 kWh/m2a in cold climates and 193.0 kWh/m2a in warm and humid climates. The proposed building, with timber frame and cross-laminated timber (CLT), has energy demand of 93.7 kWh/m2a by following prescriptive ASHRAE standards and 85.8 kWh/m2a by using Passivhaus building envelope in cold climates, with energy savings of 51% and 62%, respectively. For warm and humid climates, the proposed building has energy demand of 168.7 kWh/m2a by following prescriptive ASHRAE standard and 151.2 kWh/m2a for Passivhaus standard, saving 11% and 18% energy, respectively. For hygrothermal performance 24 configurations have been studied for WFW and 72 configurations for CLT wall. 88% of the WFW fail in the cold climate except for those configurations which have both vented and vapor barrier. However, warm and humid weather does not give any moisture problem to WFW. The CLT assemblies pass the durability test in all the simulated configurations including XPS,EPS, MW insulation. The conclusion of the research is simulation based, and further experimental validation is required
Attunement Beyond Nuisance: Olfactory Techniques of Power, Regimes of Perceptibility, and the Permission to Pollute
Get PDFThis paper documents a research-creation project exploring the olfactory dimensions of the public perceptions of air pollution, via a case study of the public and media response in Montreal’s Plateau-Mile End neighbourhood, to wood smoke, and subsequent municipal legislation against wood-burning. It employs the concept of ‘nuisance’ through the creation of an augmented reality media game and other methods to explore the perceptual tensions between annoyance and injury, sensory and physical harm, and the power dynamics that render harms publicly legible or not within larger ‘regimes of perceptibility.’ Within this, the thesis explores how perceived environmental threats to bodily integrity can coalesce a ‘visceral public’, and specifically how odour impacts how such threats are perceived and responded to. The visceral response is contextualised within histories of smoke, smell and public health, studies of public risk perception of air pollution, and the implications of slow violence and uneven geographic distribution of harm from air pollution. Using the Situational Analysis-informed methodology of analytic abduction, the research-creation methods were messy mapping and smellwalking, all of which informed the creation of the interactive augmented reality web game, Nuisances. Through Nuisances, the olfactory ‘techniques of power’ that uphold permission to pollute are identified as Disgust, Diffusion and Differentiation. The game seeks to address these techniques by proposing to offer a the public an alternative mode of perceiving pollution, one that withdraws permission to pollute. Employing the concept of ‘attuned sensing’ in an augmented game experience, Nuisances encourages players to attune to both the sensory dimensions of smell and the broader situation to counter the techniques of power, and produce its own counter-regime of perception
Goal Progress and Break Quality: Investigating Moderating and Mediating Factors
Get PDFWe live in a fast-paced world and are continuously striving to complete tasks and achieve our goals. As a result, we often neglect taking breaks despite their known benefits to overall performance. Goal progress and break-taking have both been studied independently, yet their interrelation remains unexplored. The current research aims to address this gap by identifying how participants react to taking a break as an interruption to an unfinished task. Namely, I aim to examine the relationship between goal (i.e., task completion) progress and perceived break quality, and more specifically identify 1) whether greater progress toward a goal leads to higher perceived break quality, 2) whether the use of external validation (such as nudges) enhances perceived break quality, 3) whether trait hedonic capacity further enhances the break experience, 4) whether feelings of deservingness mediate these effects, and 5) whether higher perceived break quality leads to increased motivation to resume working on the goal-related task after the break. Three online experiments were conducted to test these hypotheses. While the results across the three studies were not entirely consistent, several trends emerged. The data suggests a potential relationship between goal progress and perceived break quality. Some evidence supports the moderating role of trait hedonic capacity and the mediating role of deservingness. There was also some support for the proposition that higher quality breaks lead to greater motivation to resume goal-related tasks after the break. Despite not yielding all the expected results, this research lays a groundwork for future studies in this area
Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and the Digital Underground: Exploring Curatorial Practice Across Independent Music Platforms
Get PDFThe modern electronic dance music DJ has become somewhat of a ubiquitous figure in popular culture, though few efforts have been made to better understand the curatorial dimension of their craft. This thesis responds to the question of how exactly digital music platforms have come to define curatorial practice, and in what ways have they shaped the role of the contemporary dance music DJ. I began by conducting platform analyses of Bandcamp and SoundCloud, in which I examined how their user interfaces, social affordances, and approaches to music categorization relate to certain ideas of musical habitus, curating with care, and networked curation. I then conducted interviews with two DJs from the local Montreal electronic music scene. These interviews consisted of a recording session where DJs were asked to perform one hour long mix, and then a discussion period in which they were asked to reflect on their curatorial voice, preparation methods, and mixing techniques. The recorded mixes act as an auditory accompaniment to my thesis and can be accessed digitally alongside this text. Ultimately, I found that though these platforms may steer curators one way or another by nature of their user interface or integrated algorithms, they are not necessarily shaping the innate qualities of curation. DJs still rely on community connections, active knowledge sharing, and affective responses to music to guide their curation. Instead, platforms like Bandcamp and SoundCloud are most valuable when understood as tools that enhance our ability to curate with care and expand on our pre-existing musical habitus
Ozone removal technologies: activated carbon and MnOx-based systems
Get PDFThis study focuses on ozone removal technologies and their performance in various conditions. Ozone is a highly reactive gas and a critical air pollutant, with a permissible workplace level of 100 ppb over 8 hours, according to OSHA. To address the risks associated with high outdoor ozone concentrations and active ozone emission sources, the use of ozone removal technologies is essential.
Various air treatment technologies, such as activated carbon-based media, and catalytic and photocatalytic decomposition systems, have been employed for ozone removal. However, there is limited insight into choosing the best technology based on specific application requirements. This study aims to fill that gap by systematically evaluating ozone removal using granular activated carbon (AC) and granular manganese oxide-cuprous oxide catalysts. The study found that coconut shell-based AC has substantial ozone removal capacity at moderate and mild concentration levels (95% efficiency), even surpassing the catalyst. However, all ACs experience deactivation at high concentrations. Catalysts, on the other hand, exhibit a gradual decline in active sites over time. The material properties were found to be closely linked to the ozone removal capacity.
To gain a broader perspective on ozone removal technology feasibility, a statistical approach using the fractional factorial method was employed. This approach considered ozone concentration, humidity level, airflow rate, and media volume, and their effects on the performance of different granular materials. The study revealed that humidity can significantly affect the performance of materials, depending on their physicochemical properties. Among the tested materials, the granular MnOx-based catalyst (CAT-E) demonstrated the best overall performance.
The research also addressed the deactivation issue of MnOx-based catalysts caused by water molecules, particularly at high humidity levels. Physicochemical modifications were investigated through synthesis methods and metal doping. These modifications improved the efficiency of the catalysts, with Ce-doped catalysts showing promising results. However, prolonged exposure to high humidity led to efficiency loss (at 80% RH 50% efficiency 6 h post exposure).
Overall, this study sheds light on ozone removal technologies, their performance under different conditions, and potential modifications to enhance efficiency. These findings have implications for improving ozone removal systems in various applications
system dynamics modeling of the food-water-energy nexus in urban areas, focusing on community gardens
Get PDFThe urgent need to address sustainability challenges in food, water, and energy (FWE) has led to the FWE Nexus framework. Ensuring food security and sustainable urban agriculture are critical elements of sustainable development. Community gardens (CG) have gained prominence as they enhance food production, foster social cohesion, and mitigate environmental impacts. This study investigates CGs’ land usage using a system dynamics modeling approach based on data from a case study at Concordia University’s Loyola Campus Garden. Simulations were done using the Vensim Software. The objective is to analyze land usage in response to various CG scenarios: (1) harvesting ratio on dedicated CG land, (2) production efficiency by involving experienced farmers, and (3) cost considerations.
The findings reveal insights into CGs’ potential for sustainable development. More CG land leads to increased local food production, impacting food security positively. Improving CG efficiency enhances their role in addressing food-related challenges. However, financial considerations must be balanced for long-term viability and scalability.
The study aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Evidence supports CGs’ contributions to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Policymakers, planners, and community organizers can leverage insights to promote sustainable urban agriculture and achieve development objectives.
Furthermore, this study highlights CGs’ importance in the FWE Nexus framework and their potential for sustainable development. Understanding land usage dynamics allows informed decisions to enhance food security, foster communities’ well-being, and promote responsible consumption in urban areas
Behind the Scenes: Tracing Shakespearean Discourse from Russian Formalism to Bakhtin’s Theory of the Novel
Get PDFAt the beginning of the 20th Century, in reaction to the 19th-century emphasis on realism, Russian artistic life became strongly influenced by popular theatrical practices, accentuating masks and clowns as dominant themes. This development created an interconnectedness of the Renaissance theatre, such as commedia dell’arte and Shakespearean drama, and the avant-garde culture, whose accent on the elemental presented the traditional masks and stage plots in a new light. As the theater became the governing artistic medium which influenced other media, it also permeated the critical thought of the period. This essay investigates how Shakespearean drama was interpreted and incorporated into the formalist theatrical practices of the time, focusing on Vsevolod Meyerhold’s stagings, as well as the theoretical thought of the formalist circle known as OPOYAZ, and traces those influences in Mikhail Bakhtin’s theory of the novel. The essay provides an analysis of Meyerhold’s experiments with Hamlet, followed by a close reading of Viktor Shklovsky's essay "On the Subject of King Lear.” In the final section, the essay focuses on a close reading of Bakhtin's "notes and additions to Rabelais," which contain unfinished ideas and interpretations of Macbeth and King Lear. Understanding the way Bakhtin re-interpreted formalist ideas about the Shakespearean stage provides new insight into the underpinnings of his theory but also highlights the elements of Shakespearean plays usually left without attention
Scale Up This? Improving Scalability and Viability in Upcycling Design
Get PDFThe circular economy (CE) has been hailed as a model for material recirculation, but waste management remains the dominant method of material recovery. Upcycling offers a transitional approach to the CE, reusing waste in ways which increase its value using current recovery systems. However, craft production methods common to the repurposing approach of most upcycling enterprises hinder their ability to scale up. This thesis aims to assist designers in these challenges by informing and improving operational scalability and business viability in upcycling design.
Despite its multifold benefits, upcycling practices remain niche. Research on the topic is scattered, and very few publications offer detailed practical guidelines for designers, particularly in furniture and object design, a priority sector for circular initiatives given its heavy waste volumes.
To bridge these gaps, this research-creation project employs practice-based, primary and secondary source methods. The author’s design practice in developing a collection of upcycled furniture and objects serves as a real-world example — from material sourcing to design, prototyping and exhibition. This project is later considered in light of two upcycling enterprise case studies as well as a comparative analysis of 20 upcycled furniture and object projects across four categories.
This research confirms the challenges of scaling up while identifying numerous practices which can help. These contribute to a proposed strategic design process for upcycling, from material sourcing through to design development. This practical framework aims to support designers and others in creating scalable, viable upcycling projects and enterprises, thus contributing to increased material circularity
Is Narcissism Long-Lived in the C-Suite?
Get PDFIt has long been understood through Upper Echelons Theory that personality dispositions of top executives can significantly influence strategic decision-making and ultimately firm-level outcomes (Hambrick & Mason, 1984). This study expands on the Upper Echelon’s perspective and provides novel insights into how narcissism, a prominent personality trait in top executives, impacts the length of time spent in top executive positions. Currently, record-high CEO turnover rates are posing threats to the long-term profitability of organizations, and shareholders are losing billions in market value. It was hypothesized that highly narcissistic executives would have shorter tenures due to the self-prioritizing nature of narcissism. The sample consisted of 264 executives who led publicly traded corporations between 2000 to 2018. CEOs have considerable control over the content of company publications, thus there are specific components of these documents that demonstrate biases influenced by narcissistic dispositions. In many cases, narcissistic CEOs have larger self-portraits in annual reports, use a higher percentage of first-person singular pronouns during interviews, and have their names mentioned in press releases more frequently. CEO narcissism was measured using these three indicators of the index developed by Chatterjee & Hambrick (2007). Results reveal that there is not a significant difference in the length of time narcissistic executives remain in positions beneath CEO, including CFO, President, and Chairman. However, once a narcissistic individual is appointed CEO, they tend to remain there for a longer period. This suggests that once a narcissistic executive has risen to the top of an organization, they have a harder time letting it go
Exploring the Relations Between Helping, Sharing, and Comforting in Childhood Prosocial Development
Get PDFProsociality – i.e., acting to benefit others - is an important part of children’s positive development. Despite evidence that children respond to a diversity of needs (e.g., instrumental, material, emotional) in early childhood, different varieties of prosocial behavior frequently do not correlate. This thesis examines prosocial development through the lens of two complementary theoretical perspectives. The social-cognitive constraint framework contends that the ability to recognize and respond to diverse needs relies on distinct social-cognitive processes (Dunfield, 2014), suggesting that distinctiveness of responses should decrease as social-cognitive abilities mature. The motivation-based framework posits that unique motivations underlie different behaviors (Paulus, 2018), suggesting that responses remain distinct as children age. Despite considerable interest, it remains unclear how the associations between varieties of prosocial behavior change throughout childhood. This study aimed to further examine the interrelatedness of the three subtypes by exploring age-related differences in the associations across need and complexity. Overall, 189 3.5- to 7.5-year-old children participated in six prosocial tasks while parents completed the Childhood Prosocial Assessment questionnaire. Correlations and a principal component analysis provided evidence for partial convergence across subtypes. Three components were identified: 1) Parent-Reported, 2) Instrumental-Comforting, and 3) Costly. Multiple regressions demonstrated that age positively predicted scores on parent-reported and instrumental-comforting. The results suggest that prosocial subtypes are distinct in early childhood but may partially converge with age, highlighting that the social-cognitive constraint account alone cannot fully explain the lack of associations across subtypes. Responding to others’ distinct needs must also rely on unique motivations