14277 research outputs found
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Design, modelling and performance analysis of a residential grid-tied solar photovoltaic system with deferrable load
No full textThis thesis explores the design, modeling, and economic viability of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for residential applications in Lahore, Pakistan, with a focus on optimizing energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. Real-time data on the Power consumption is collected of the house for the design and simulation of the system. The research is structured into three interconnected studies, each addressing essential aspects of solar energy viability. It includes examining the economic and environmental benefits of an on-grid solar PV system for a site in Lahore, Pakistan; utilizing two modeling tools: the System Advisor Model (SAM) and HOMER Pro. Both models validate the system's ability to deliver swift financial returns, significant energy cost reductions, and environmental benefits, making it a sustainable solution for Lahore's energy needs. Moreover, the system has the ability to return excess energy to the grid through net-metering which enhances its economic feasibility. The distinctiveness of the study is examining the design and performance of a grid-tied solar system with deferrable air-conditioning loads, considering recent proposed regulatory changes by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). The study highlights the economic implications of reduced grid buyout rates and by integration the deferrable loads, such as heat pumps, maximum utilization of Renewable source can be achieved. It highlights system cost-effectiveness and sustainability, making it a viable option for residential power generation. Collectively, this thesis demonstrates that grid-connected solar PV systems are economically advantageous, environmentally beneficial, and technically feasible for residential applications in Lahore, Pakistan
Structural investigation of marine biomolecules by tandem mass spectrometry
No full textA wealth of undiscovered scientific information is held within our oceans.
Elucidation of this scientific information will play a leading role in understanding the
aqueous environment.
This thesis focuses on two main research goals. The first one involves the
qualitative and quantitative investigations of the protein composition of Atlantic cod
(Gadus morhua) otoliths. Cod otoliths have been sampled for decades; however, a wealth
of information remains to be uncovered. With advancements in novel scientific
technologies, we are beginning to probe the physiological and biochemical blueprints of
their proteins and biomarker components. This research will help clarify how the aqueous
environment influences the full life history of fish.
Most importantly, it will contribute to efforts aimed at preserving fish populations
for future generations. The detailed study of otolith protein composition is an emerging
scientific field that seeks to explain the diverse roles of otolith proteins and their
relationships with physiological and biochemical growth functions.
The second goal of this thesis involves the structural elucidation of
lipopolysaccharide (LPS) components from marine Gram-negative bacteria that impact
aquaculture ventures. The LPS of bacterial cell walls contains lipid A, which is essential
for fish vaccine development and is used as a vaccine adjuvant. Therefore, we will explore
the molecular structure of two lipid A molecules, isolated from different Gram-negative
marine bacteria belonging to the Vibrionaceae and Aeromonadaceae families.Includes bibliographical reference
An investigation of instructional rounds and novice teacher self-efficacy: an evaluative case study
No full textThe purpose of this qualitative study, situated at an independent Vancouver school, was
to investigate the use of instructional rounds as a collaborative professional learning tool in
promoting novice teacher self-efficacy. The study utilized an evaluative case study approach to
explore the experiences of four novice teachers as they engaged in several rounds of classroom
observation, group debrief, and self-reflection. Data were collected using semi-structured
interviews, document reviews, and research field notes. Findings from the research suggest that
instructional rounds provide an effective vehicle for professional learning and for building
educators’ self-efficacy beliefs. Participants attributed heightened impressions of self-efficacy to
several elements of the instructional rounds process, including (1) creating a shared vision and
goals, (2) engaging in non-evaluative classroom observations, (3) collaborating in a safe and
supportive learning environment, and (4) critically reflecting on their own teaching practices. The
study provides useful insight for administrators and policy makers as they plan high-quality
professional learning aimed toward continuous school improvement. It also underscores the
complexity of implementing robust professional learning initiatives that are designed to foster
greater teacher professionalism. Suggestions are made to help schools renew their focus on
professionalism and teacher self-efficacy, which may help retain a growing number of early
career teachers who choose to leave the profession. Recommendations are also made for
further research.Includes bibliographical references (pages 104-126
Generative models for semantic facial image editing: multimodal approaches
No full textWith the rapid development of digital imaging and machine learning, generative
models for facial image manipulation have emerged as powerful tools, significantly
impacting various domains, from entertainment to law enforcement. Despite significant
advancements in generating natural-looking images, facial editing poses unique
challenges, such as generating high-quality and detailed facial features, preserving
identity, expression, and the integrity of facial structures.
This thesis investigates the application of generative models to facial image manipulation,
targeting four key tasks: unconditional global facial editing (face restoration),
unconditional local facial editing (face inpainting), conditional facial editing
(exemplar-guided facial inpainting), and multimodal face editing.
For the first task, traditional face restoration techniques typically miss finer facial
details. We explored the use of latent representations as style prompts by using GANs
and diffusion models to guide the restoration, improving image quality and detail.
In the second task, existing image inpainting methods often depend on extensive
training data, limiting their effectiveness in few-shot scenarios. We developed a GANbased
method that achieves high-quality results with small-scale data. For the third
task, current methods usually require substantial professional skills to edit facial
attributes like identity, expression, and gender. We propose an exemplar-guided GAN
framework that ensures a seamless blend between edited and unedited areas of the
face. For the fourth task, current multimodal editing techniques can alter unedited
background areas and rely heavily on manually annotated paired data. We introduce
a novel multimodal editing method using GANs that allows for incremental editing
of facial images and reduces reliance on manual annotations.
We introduce novel frameworks that significantly enhance the realism and applicability
of facial image manipulation by solving problems in fidelity in restoration, data
efficiency, exemplar-guided inpainting, and multimodal editing. Our contributions
are mainly four manifold:
• A novel framework for blind face restoration is presented, leveraging latent representations
as style prompts to guide the restoration process, thereby enhancing
the fidelity and detail of restored facial images from degraded sources.
• We introduce a data-efficient generative model for facial image inpainting that
achieves high-quality results on limited datasets, addressing the challenge of
data scarcity and overfitting in image inpainting.
• We proposed an interactive, example-guided facial inpainting framework that
enables users to manipulate facial features with high realism, facilitating userdriven
customization in facial image editing.
• A multimodal facial image editing framework is proposed, integrating various
types of inputs to achieve comprehensive and personalized facial edits, catering
to the diverse needs of digital content editing.Includes bibliographical references (pages 202-232
The relationship between weight stigma and psychological outcomes in young adults: examining the role of shame and self-compassion
No full textWeight stigma is associated with a wide variety of poor mental health outcomes
including disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and psychological distress in young
adults, but few studies have examined mediators or moderators in this relationship. The
present study conducted a principal components analysis (PCA) to explore whether there
was an underlying component among three different measures of weight stigma. A crosssectional
moderated mediation analysis was conducted to examine shame and selfcompassion
as a potential mediator and moderator in the relationship between the PCA
derived measure of weight stigma and psychological outcomes (disordered eating, body
dissatisfaction, and psychological distress). Participants were a university sample of 543
adults between the ages of 18-25 (Mage = 20.33 years, SD = 1.60 years; 73.8% women).
Consistent with hypotheses, results showed that shame partially mediated the relationship
between weight stigma and each outcome (disordered eating, body dissatisfaction and
psychological distress). As hypothesized, moderated mediation analyses showed that selfcompassion
moderated the direct relationship between weight stigma and disordered
eating, but contrary to hypotheses self-compassion did not moderate the mediation. Also
contrary to hypotheses, self-compassion did not moderate the direct relationships between
weight stigma and body dissatisfaction or psychological distress, nor did it moderate these
mediations. Results suggest that shame and self-compassion may help explain the
relationship between weight stigma and disordered eating, body dissatisfaction and
psychological distress in young adults. Further, shame and self-compassion could represent
potential treatment targets to reduce weight stigma and eating disorder pathology in young
adults
Monitoring and Control of a Remote Hybrid Powered Reverse Osmosis Unit for McCallum, NL
No full textPublishedThis study presents the design and implementation of a low-cost, fully offline Supervisory Control and
Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for monitoring and controlling a Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment unit powered
by a Hybrid Energy System (HES) in the remote community of McCallum, Newfoundland and Labrador. The HES
comprising PV panels, a wind turbine, batteries, and a DC diesel generator was designed and validated in prior work. To
address the lack of Internet and cellular connectivity, the proposed system combines Long-Range (LoRa) communication
with a local Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker to facilitate real-time monitoring and bidirectional
control. Two ESP32 LoRa modules form the hardware backbone, enabling wireless data transmission and control across a
400-meter range. Sensor data is visualized through FUXA, an open-source, web-based SCADA platform hosted locally.
The system also provides audible alerts for fault conditions. Seven operational scenarios were tested to evaluate system
performance, confirming reliable data acquisition, robust wireless communication, and effective remote actuation. Lab
tests showed average end-to-end latency of 200–300 ms, zero packet loss in line-of-sight conditions, and a field-unit power
demand of ~21–22 Wh/day. The modular architecture supports scaling to multiple RO units or larger communities without
requiring Internet connectivity. The proposed architecture offers a scalable, energy-efficient, and Internet-independent
SCADA solution for critical infrastructure in disconnected and resource-limited environments
Prevalence and risk factors associated with the most common multimorbidity among seniors in Canada
No full textThis study aimed to identify the prevalence and gender-specific risk factors of the most common multimorbidity among elderly Canadians (aged 65 years and older). This study used a national survey, the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2018 cycle. We defined multimorbidity as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions. Survey-specific procedures were employed to identify gender-specific risk factors. Arthritis and Diabetes were the most common multimorbidity combination among Canadian seniors. Gender-specific risk factors were age and education in females and life stress in males. BMI was significantly associated with multimorbidity in both men and women. The findings will enhance our understanding of multimorbidity, guide future research, and inform strategic planning for chronic diseases in Canadian seniors.Includes bibliographical references (pages 73-93
Library Modernisation within the Context of a Health System Transformation: The Experience of NL Health Services
No full textThe libraries serving the information needs of the health system in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador have experienced a long history of neglect. Since the early 2000s, there has been a consistent decline, marked by library closures, stagnant budgets, and the loss of personnel – all of which have had a detrimental effect on service quality and access to essential research tools. Following several catalysts, culminating with the transition from a regional to a provincial health system in April 2023, a modernisation plan emerged. This initiative prioritised enhancing IT infrastructure and increasing access to electronic resources, with a focus on providing equity across the province’s vast and predominantly rural landscape. This poster will outline the conditions that facilitated the implementation of the plan, the steps taken, what was achieved, and the challenges and successes encountered. As this is a long-term, multi-year plan, directions and goals for the future will also be stated
Chemically guided electrical stimulation as a cell type-specific treatment for depression in rodents
No full textMajor depressive disorder is a mental health condition that severely impacts the lives of those affected. Although many treatments have been developed to alleviate symptoms, their efficiency is limited by low response rates and unwanted side effects. Advancements in the field of neurostimulation provide a promising new avenue for treatment; however, research is still ongoing to determine the optimal parameters and underlying mechanisms of the procedure. In this thesis, I examine the efficacy of a novel combination therapy for depression that applies transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to neurons that have been chemically primed for excitability using the small-conductance, calcium-activated potassium channel antagonist, NS8593, in order to selectively activate a specific subset of neurons in the prefrontal cortex. First, we identified a subthreshold dose for both treatments individually that failed to elicit any behavioural or neurochemical changes in adult rats. These electrical and chemical doses (0.05mA and 1.0mg/kg, respectively) were then combined into one treatment known as EC stimulation and examined across a battery of behavioural tests in the olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) model of rodent depression. We found that EC stimulation reversed OBX-induced hyperlocomotion in the open field test, while also blocking anxiety-related behaviours in the open field and novelty suppressed feeding tests that manifested following tDCS application. These effects were associated with increased serotonin (5-HT) turnover in the left prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, as indicated by a reduction in overall 5-HT and corresponding increase in its metabolite, 5-HIAA. Combination treatment also blocked the increase in hippocampal dopamine that was observed following administration of tDCS or NS8593 alone. However, these effects were observed solely in male rats, as females failed to exhibit a depressive-like phenotype following OBX. The societal burden imposed by increasing depression rates makes the
development of novel interventions for the disorder a priority for public health. Taken together, these results support further preclinical development of EC stimulation as a safe and effective novel treatment for depression.Includes bibliographical references (pages 99-147
Exploring socioeconomic factors in relation to overweight and obesity in Nepal: a demographic health survey analysis
No full textIntroduction: Overweight and obesity is growing public health concerns in Nepal. This study explores the prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity using nationally representative cross-sectional data from the 2016 and 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS). Methodology: The study included men and women with age 15 years and older. After removing missing data, 14,639 participants from NDHS 2016 and 13,183 from 2022 were retained for analysis. Descriptive analysis, along with univariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed using SAS version 9.4. Concentration index and decomposition analysis was conducted to identify contributors to obesity disparities.
Results: Overweight and obesity showed a 41% relative increase between the two NDHS periods. Key factors including age, marital status, household size, wealth index, and residence were significantly associated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity (P<0.001). The highest odds ratio was in the 31–45 age group (OR=3.51 in 2016; OR=3.57 in 2022), richest quintile (OR=7.31 and 5.41) Male (OR=0.59 and 0.69) and Urban resident (OR=1.87 and 1.67).
Conclusion: The significant increase in overweight and obesity in Nepal highlights the urgent need for interventions addressing socioeconomic disparities, urbanization, and lifestyle factors. Strengthened multi-sectoral strategies are essential to curb this growing public health crisis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 93-102