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Healing Through Ancestral Skin Marking: Traditional Tattooing as Healing and (Re)connection for Indigenous People, with a Focus on Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ and Indigenous Women
Get PDFThis dissertation, grounded in Michif and Nehiyaw Plains Indigenous worldviews, explores ancestral skin marking or traditional tattooing as a mode of healing and (re)connection for contemporary Indigenous people with a particular focus on 2SLGBTQIA+ and Indigenous women. Traditional tattooing by Indigenous cultures in so-called Canada was deemed savage by explorers, missionaries, and government, with many communities concealing the practice for fear of reprisals by the church and state. This dissertation discusses a new generation of Indigenous traditional tattoo practitioners that is reawakening this practice. It draws on research-creation conducted while traveling through so-called Canada from 2019 to 2024 and engaging with community members through tattoo practice to describe the development of a new Michif and Nehiyaw tattooing methodology. This methodology is born out of the transformative connections made during those travels and grounded in and guided by Michif and Nehiyaw ways of being. These include the relational methodologies of kiyôkêwin (visiting), wâhkôhtowin (kinship), kitimahkinawow (pity and compassion), and tâpwêwin (truth telling) guiding the development of the new Michif and Nehiyaw methodology: O and ∆. These shapes carry and enact meanings related to gender, identity, belonging, transformation, healing, and connecting to ancestral frequencies. Engaging with these methodologies helps us understand, embody, and practice traditional tattooing as ancestral medicine in support of Indigenous people as we imagine and cultivate bold Indigenous futures
Perspectives de musicothérapeutes concernant l’utilisation de la méthode réceptive de Montage Audio Personnalisé (MAP) auprès d’adolescents et jeunes adultes recevant des soins en santé mentale.
No full textLe passage de l’enfance à l’âge adulte comporte des défis complexes et multiples tels que les relations familiales conflictuelles, la quête identitaire, le décrochage scolaire, l’exclusion et la discrimination, la dépression et les troubles anxieux ou du comportement. Durant cette période de croissance et de vulnérabilité, les adolescents et jeunes adultes peuvent avoir besoin d’un accompagnement psychologique ou psychiatrique. De nombreuses études mentionnent comment l’utilisation de la musique, de la musicothérapie et plus spécifiquement de la musicothérapie réceptive peut se révéler d’un grand soutien pour aider ces jeunes à affronter le tumulte de l’adolescence associé à des troubles de la santé mentale. Le but de cette étude était d’obtenir de la part de musicothérapeutes experts en santé mentale, leurs perspectives sur le potentiel d’application d’une méthode récente de musicothérapie réceptive, nommée Montage Audio Personnalisé (MAP) auprès d’adolescents et de jeunes adultes. Une étude qualitative d’analyse de contenu a été réalisée en utilisant un questionnaire anonyme de type sondage Qualtrics complété par les participants suite au visionnement d’une vidéo d’extraits de séances types MAP inclus avec le sondage. Les résultats obtenus ont mis en évidence la pertinence, les potentiels, les défis et les risques de la méthode MAP pour la population adolescente bénéficiant d’un soutien en matière de santé mentale. Bien que le nombre de trois participants constitue une limite, cette recherche a fourni un approfondissement et une avancée dans l’évaluation de cette méthode ouvrant la porte à des recommandations de recherches et formations futures
Inference of Extreme Value Distributions using Bayesian Neural Networks
Get PDFAccurate prediction of extreme weather events are crucial from a societal point of view, where the consequences of said events can have major financial and demographic impacts upon society.
Extreme Value Theory (EVT) provides a statistical framework for the modelling of such extreme events.
On the other hand, Bayesian Neural Networks (BNNs) extend traditional neural networks by incorporating Bayesian inference, which provides a probabilistic approach to learning and prediction in any given regression task.
In this thesis, we extend the methodology of a recently introduced BNN and integrate it with EVT to be able to infer the parameters of Generalised Extreme Value (GEV) distributions.
We then apply our methodology to annual maximal rainfall in Eastern Canada, where we infer and interpolate GEV parameter estimates across the interpolation region.
The obtained results demonstrate that our approach outperforms Polynomial Regression and Inverse Distance Weighting methods in predicting extreme rainfall events
Thermostat control strategies for thermal comfort and energy-efficient operation
Get PDFThermal comfort standards, such as ASHRAE Standard 55, prescribe a thermal comfort zone based on operative temperature, which includes both dry-bulb temperature and mean radiant temperature in the calculation. However, the built environment, regulated by a dry-bulb temperature based thermostat, will quite often maintain a space outside of its thermal comfort zone. The problem is more pronounced in a space open to a large window surface when the influence of the mean radiant temperature is not considered. The objective of the research is to develop control strategies that can maintain the space within the thermal comfort zone and offer energy savings.
The work is based on energy modeling and simulation of the five thermal zones (core, south, east, north, and west) of a prototypical small office building for four different climate zones (represented by Miami, San Diego, New York, and Montreal) under the influence of various window sizes (ranging from window-to-wall ratios of 10% to 80%). EnergyPlus software is used to simulate indoor environmental conditions and calculate the energy demand to maintain such conditions. Fanger's Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) model is used to estimate occupants’ thermal sensations in the space operated under the control of conventional dry-bulb thermostats. A performance indicator is developed to facilitate the calculation of new thermostat setpoints (and subsequent development of control strategies) that could ensure the space is maintained within the thermal comfort zone and operated with some energy savings for all occupied hours.
Simulation results reveal a monotonic correlation between window size and the number of hours outside of the thermal comfort zone. The proposed control strategies are not only able to maintain the space within the thermal comfort zone and offer energy savings but also can be implemented with no modification to existing HVAC equipment or building fabric
Play Experiences and Preschoolers’ Engagement in Early Writing
Get PDFChildren’s early writing skills at preschool may mediate their future academic success. However, preschool activities solely support transcription despite being only one-half of the writing equation. Introducing a writing purpose can support composition, and one rooted in children’s personal experiences may facilitate their engagement in meaningful writing. The present study used a picture of preschoolers' sociodramatic play experience as a contextual writing prompt to examine whether children’s writing abilities and engagement in a writing process change depending on the context of the picture prompt. A sample of 18 preschoolers participated in a recorded sociodramatic play session, followed by a process-oriented writing session. In a fully within-subject design, preschoolers were asked to plan, write, and read from their text using three contextual prompts. Each prompt included a speech bubble and a different picture context (i.e., preschoolers’ play session, other children's play, and a non-play picture). Children’s text productions were coded for written text sophistication and oral text productivity. Children’s time spent planning and writing were measures of their engagement in the writing process. Comparative analyses of repeated measures ANOVA showed that children's engagement in planning when prompted by the context of their sociodramatic play experience was significantly longer than the other picture prompts. The children also produced more oral text words and more advanced written forms. These findings support the development of writing tasks rooted in children’s experiences to prompt early composition and transcription as integrated skills
Launching the AMPLab Website: Putting the Shelf Online
Get PDFSpokenWeb’s AMPLab is located on the sixth floor of Concordia University’s library building, just off a narrow corridor in the heart of the English Department. It is a unique space dedicated to the practice of literary sound studies, housing an impressive collection of audio-related equipment, from turntables and mixers to microphones, vintage reel-to-reel tape machines, and the latest in digital recording technology
Structural Response of Balloon type Cross-Laminated Timber at Component and Building Levels
Get PDFThis thesis delves into the performance of balloon-type cross-laminated timber buildings. The study focuses on hybrid buildings with balloon-type cross-laminated timber shear walls and steel frames. The effects of mass and vertical geometric irregularities in hybrid buildings are evaluated using Modal Response Spectrum Analysis. The findings reveal that mass irregularities markedly influence inter-story drift, mainly when mass is incorporated at different levels, and that the location of mass addition is vital to the building's seismic response. The vertical geometric irregularity of the building impacts the seismic response uniquely in two orthogonal directions.
Further, the study explores the lateral performance of unbonded post-tensioned balloon-type CLT shear walls. Traditional sensitivity analysis and machine learning models were employed to identify the critical parameters influencing the lateral and uplifting response of the unbonded post-tensioned balloon-type cross-laminated timber shear wall under lateral loading. Various machine learning algorithms were utilised to investigate the best performance model for predicting the critical parameters while applying Shapley Additive explanations (SHAP) to elucidate better the factors influencing lateral and uplifting responses.
The thesis offers valuable perspectives on integrating advanced computational techniques with traditional structural engineering practices, fostering the development of resilient and sustainable building designs
Anti-Judaism in the Gospel According to John: A Consolidation of Historical and Narrative-Critical Research
Get PDFThe portrayal of the Jews in John’s gospel has been one of the most controversial subjects in biblical studies since the events of World War II, which prompted the church to seriously examine its texts and doctrines for their potential to contribute to anti-Semitism. The Fourth Gospel has been crucial in establishing essential Christian theology and its influence within the church and in broader Western Civilization should not be underestimated. The aim of this thesis is to analyze John’s anti-Jewish problem using a synergistic approach that blends historical and narrative-critical research to present a conclusion that respects the text’s genre and purpose. Scholars have rightly proposed that the gospel writers were presenting their unique views of Jesus using literary devices and larger narratives that sway their readers toward their perspective of who he was and why he died. Concurrently, the history of the Johannine community that lies behind the words of their gospel helps to support a narrative-critical reading and provides valuable insights into John’s harsh treatment of the Jews. The application of this methodology follows the author’s intended course of rhetorical argumentation and frames it within the context of an early Jewish-Christian conflict that sparked the anti-Jewish polemic that finds harsh expression in the gospel. The research put forward in this thesis finds that the Jews’ damning characterization and the author’s supersessionistic Christology cannot be limited to the gospel’s late first-century context, but have universal, long-term ramifications that ought to be addressed by the church
Numerical Simulation of Toppling Failure for Jointed Rock Masses
Get PDFToppling failure in jointed rock masses presents a complex geological challenge. Conventional numerical methods often struggle to capture its intricacies, particularly when dealing with jointed rock masses. Experimental studies are both time-consuming and financially demanding. To address these challenges, this thesis employs the Discrete Element Method (DEM), a powerful numerical tool capable of accurately simulating toppling failure processes in jointed rock masses, with a specific focus on block-flexural toppling in natural rock slopes. The DEM not only accurately replicates toppling failure but also provides an efficient alternative to expensive experiments.
The research convincingly demonstrates DEM's precision in predicting failure surfaces and its ability to accommodate large deformations and discontinuities make it a powerful tool. The DEM emerges as a potent and cost-effective tool for simulating toppling failure in jointed rock formations, accommodating large deformations, block interactions, and the consideration of discontinuities during failure. The developed DEM code was utilized to simulate and investigate the toppling failure after being validated with experimental test results. The study also explores key parameters like joint friction angles, spacing, and basal joint sets, investigating their influence on failure mechanics and the overall failure surface, a fundamental assumption in the theoretical method for analyzing toppling failure based on the limit equilibrium method. Overall, this study highlights the assumption that a single failure surface used in the limit equilibrium method is not necessarily valid for block-flexural toppling failures.
Utilizing a developed computational code, this research extends its relevance to real-world scenarios, effectively simulating complex rock slope conditions. It emphasizes the importance of particle size calibration in DEM simulations, highlighting the need to strike a balance between accuracy and computational efficiency. The research reveals that the maximum particle size relative to the minimum sub-domain size, represented by joint spacing or block width, is critical for precise simulations.
The findings indicate that DEM excels in capturing the complexities of toppling failures, especially when challenged with large deformations and block separation. In practical scenarios, DEM outperforms traditional theoretical methods by providing a more accurate assessment of safety factors and offering insights into the intricate micro-level interactions within rock slopes
Embracing Im/possibility: A Black Feminist Exploration of Tau Lewis’ T.A.U.B.I.S. (2020)
Get PDFThis thesis explores the paradox of what it means to live Blackness within a world founded upon its destruction through a critical art historical analysis of Jamaican-Canadian artist Tau Lewis’ exhibition Triumphant Alliance of the Ubiquitous Blossoms of Incarnate Souls (T.A.U.B.I.S.) (2020). Adopting a Black feminist framework rooted in methods of opacity, I interrogate the racist visual, cultural, and social economies that have continuously objectified and dehumanized Black people since the transatlantic slave trade. In doing so, I illuminate how Lewis’ work navigates structures of anti-Black violence and reimagines Black diasporic life beyond white supremacist patriarchal capitalist impositions of negation. Drawing from Black studies scholar Saidiya Hartman’s notion of the afterlife of slavery, I establish Lewis’ work within a larger legacy of Black diasporic practices of Black refusal, care, relation, and radical imagination that grapples towards liberatory ends. At the same time, I consider how T.A.U.B.I.S.’ interdisciplinary nature—which includes poetry, speculative fiction, and hand-sewn textile sculptures which represent imagined Black motherly ancestors—emerges as an expansive site of Black diasporic possibility that transcends reductive constructs of biological determinism. Ultimately, this thesis argues that with T.A.U.B.I.S., Lewis not only tends to present-day Black diasporic subjectivities, but further prompts vital strategies for knowing and living Blackness otherwise in the still unfolding aftermaths of slavery