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Federalism and climate governance: assessing the effectiveness of Canada's carbon pricing policy within the framework of the Paris Agreement
No full textClimate change presents one of the most pressing policy challenges of our era, affecting ecosystems and societies globally. According to the IPCC report (2022), human activities, particularly the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs), are identified as the primary drivers of this crisis. In response, there is widespread recognition of the urgent need to transition to a low-carbon economy. Key to this transition are policies aimed at curbing GHG emissions, while fostering economic sustainability. One important policy instrument that has emerged over time is 'carbon pricing', designed to incorporate the environmental costs of carbon emissions into economic decision-making. By establishing a price on carbon, these policies encourage businesses and individuals to opt for more environmentally friendly alternatives, thereby contributing to overall emission reduction targets.
Canada, as a prominent developed nation and a signatory to the Paris Agreement, has implemented robust carbon pricing strategies to regulate GHG emissions. Since 2015, the federal government has made a national carbon pricing policy a cornerstone of its climate change strategy. The introduction of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (GHGPPA) in 2018 exemplifies Canada's commitment, aiming to incentivize emission reductions across various sectors of the economy.
Despite its promise, the real-world impact of carbon pricing remains a subject of debate. While widely acknowledged as a potentially effective approach, questions persist about its actual efficacy in combating climate change, especially considering the influence of federalism in either hindering or bolstering policy effectiveness within federal states. This study seeks to contribute to this ongoing discourse by conducting a thorough analysis of Canada's experience with carbon pricing. The study explores the dynamics that led to the collapse of support for a national system of carbon pricing in Canada. It argues that, while there was considerable expert consensus and political support for carbon pricing, given the earlier provincial policies, ultimate support for a national system of carbon pricing collapsed for largely political reasons. Despite surviving numerous court challenges, which affirmed the federal government's right to set a price on carbon emissions, regionalism and demands for provincial autonomy ultimately undermined broader support for the policy
Interactions between learning English and studying drama: an autoethnography of being a drama student in an English-language context
No full textIn a multicultural, plurilingual, and welcoming environment like Canada, there is a
continuous demand for English as an Additional Language (EAL) learning. In this context,
pedagogical approaches should be carefully chosen to reflect learners? traits and cross-cultural
experiences.
This thesis examines the relationship between drama education and language learning,
aiming to offer insights and inspiration for EAL educators and learners, drama practitioners, and
individuals residing in multicultural settings, such as Canada.
Autoethnography is employed as the methodology. The analysis draws on the
researcher?s personal experiences as both an EAL learner and a drama student living in Canada.
By analyzing the researchers? personal experiences alongside relevant literature, this thesis
examines how the interaction between drama and language education can be most effectively
realized. It argues that this integration is particularly valuable for EAL learners who are
interested in drama and are learning with non-native-English speakers from diverse cultural
backgrounds
Identifying factors which affect the diagnosis and treatment of youth with psychotic disorders in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
No full textPsychotic disorders are considered the most debilitating psychiatric conditions, and youth living with these disorders require significant supports to diagnose and treat their condition. Many youth rely on emergency services such as emergency departments (EDs) to manage their condition. This research sought to answer the question: What are identifiable factors affecting the diagnosis and treatment of psychotic disorders for youth in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)?
Three separate, though related studies were conducted. The first study examined variables affecting ED utilization for youth with a psychotic disorder in urban versus rural NL. The second examined the effect of COVID-19 on ED utilization for this population. Linear regression modelling was used in the analysis, with generalized estimating equations (GEE) required for study two. Both studies identified rural residence and sex as being associated with increased ED utilization for youth with a psychotic disorder in NL (p<0.05) in the multivariate analyses. ED utilization rose significantly (p=0.01) during the first year of COVID-19 then returned to levels similar to pre-pandemic utilization.
Study three used qualitative methods to add to the quantitative findings. A grounded theory approach was used to collect and analyze data from interviews with clients of mental health services and family members, as well as focus groups with caseworkers. The study: 1) described patterns in clients’ developmental history, 2) identified challenges clients and family members experienced getting a diagnosis, managing medications, and receiving adequate support in the community, 3) identified gaps in services experienced
by clients and family members and reported their recommendations. Caseworker participants recognized topics appearing in client and family member interviews as consistent with their experiences with this population in their practice.
The results of this research identified existing gaps in services for this population using both quantitative and qualitative methods and reported the recommendations of family members and caseworkers as to how these gaps in service may be addressed. This research is intended to provide school staff, clinicians, caseworkers, and policymakers with the tools to strive to improve the services for one of the most vulnerable populations in our society.Includes bibliographical references (pages 100-129
Acute cellular responses to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons
No full textIschemic stroke occurs when a blood clot obstructs blood flow to the brain, depriving brain cells
of oxygen and glucose and causing cell death. In the acute post-stroke period, the ischemic core
can expand into the penumbra due to delayed death of injured neurons. There are no treatments in
the clinic that specifically rescue these injured neurons. Although strategies to rescue injured
neurons have proven effective in preclinical studies, they have failed to translate into clinical
treatments due to a combination of factors including species differences. The development of
human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) has provided an opportunity to study how human
neurons respond to ischemia in real-time. The goal of this project was to establish a cell culture
model of hiPSC-derived neurons and assess the cellular response to an ischemic insult. After 2
weeks, hiPSC cultures consisted primarily of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and neurons. To
replicate ischemic conditions of the penumbra, oxygen-glucose-deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)
was used. Apoptosis significantly increased at 24h post-OGD. Neurons were more susceptible to
OGD/R compared to NPCs, exhibiting greater cell death. This study has provided an in vitro
model for understanding the cellular mechanisms post-stroke, potentially bridging the gap
between preclinical findings and clinical treatments.Includes bibliographical references (pages 74-101
A mathematical framework for memory and learning mechanisms In animals
No full textThis thesis investigates traveling wave solutions in a class of partial di erential equation
models describing knowledge-based animal movement via nonlocal perception
and cognitive mapping. Such models, inspired by the work of Wang and Salmaniw
(2023), account for how animals sense their environment, retain information in memory,
and adjust movement strategies accordingly. Two types of perception kernels
are considered: a Dirac delta kernel, representing instantaneous local sensing, and a
Gaussian kernel, representing spatially distributed sensing with memory decay.
The study applies the upper and lower solution method to establish the existence
of traveling wave solutions for each kernel type. Proof outlines are presented for both
cases, highlighting the key analytical steps. Numerical simulations in MATLAB are
used to visualize the resulting wave pro les and propagation speeds, illustrating how
sensing range and memory a ect movement dynamics.
In addition, the thesis analyzes steady states of the system, performing stability
analysis through linearization and phase portraits to determine long-term behavioral
patterns. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of how sensory perception
and memory can shape the spread and persistence of animal populations in
heterogeneous environments
A data-driven examination of the effects of process variables on sheet caliper during papermaking
No full textPaper thickness, known as caliper, is a critical feature in producing newsprint.
The traditional newsprint made at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Mill (CBPPL) undergoes a
calendering (8flattening9) process at the end of the line, where the sheet caliper is controlled to
meet a specific outcome. A potential market for CBPPL involves paper that does not go through
the calendering process. This necessitates a better understanding of the relationship between the
paper caliper and other variables present in the manufacturing process so that CBPPL can
diversify its production line. This thesis is an observational study examining the relationship
between the caliper and other process variables. This is done using baseline statistical
techniques, including covariance/correlation analysis, regression, principal component analysis,
and a neural network. These techniques show that variables such as species, basis weight, CD
tear and KSI have a statistically significant relationship with the caliper. This understanding of
variables within the papermaking process is beneficial to CBPPL and the paper-making industry
as a whole; further research could be done to explore the effect of tighter control of wood species
mix and the interactions of variables within the process.Includes bibliographical references (pages 69-73
Low complex symbol detection and sensing parameter estimation techniques for MIMO RIS-assisted ISAC systems
No full textIntegrated sensing and communication (ISAC) has been proposed as a key technology
for sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks, enabling joint communication and
sensing capabilities over shared spectral and hardware resources. Research on reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) has also demonstrated their potential to enhance
the performance of 6G systems. However, the integration of the RIS into multipleinput
multiple-output (MIMO) ISAC systems introduces significant challenges for
symbol detection and sensing parameter estimation, primarily due to increased system
complexity.
This thesis investigates low-complex joint detection and estimation algorithms
for the MIMO RIS-assisted ISAC systems. In the first part of the work, an adaptive
sphere decoder (ASD) algorithm is proposed for near-optimal symbol detection with
significant computational complexity reduction. The algorithm adaptively selects
the number of candidate nodes based on the noise characteristics of the received
signal, thereby reducing computational complexity without compromising detection
accuracy. A probabilistic analysis of the computational complexity is provided due
to the randomness of the number of visited nodes (VN) per level in the search
tree. Additionally, an interference cancellation (IC)-based minimum mean square
estimator (MMSE) is used to estimate sensing parameters.
In the second part, the study examines the impact of processing order on the
overall system performance of the MIMO RIS-assisted ISAC systems, whether communication
symbol detection or sensing re
ection coefficient estimation should be
performed first. Both detection-first (D-E) and estimation-first (E-D) approaches
are analyzed. A mathematical formulation for the MMSE estimator is adopted for
the E-D approach, and an iterative successive IC-based framework is proposed to enhance
performance in both D-E and E-D approaches. Furthermore, a novel adaptive
K-best algorithm (AKBA) is proposed to reduce the complexity of symbol detection
while achieving near-optimal performance by dynamically adjusting the number of
VNs according to the level of the search tree.
Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed symbol detection algorithms
for the MIMO ISAC-RIS system achieve near-optimal symbol detection performance
while providing substantial complexity savings. Additionally, the E-D approach
demonstrates a notable improvement in symbol detection accuracy and sensing parameter
estimation with the iterative approach. These findings contribute to the
development of practical and scalable ISAC solutions for 6G networks, addressing
critical trade-offs between detection accuracy, estimation reliability, and computational
complexity
Impact of elevated estrogen on the testis with potential implications for prostate carcinogenesis
No full textLoss of the androgen-regulated gene Nkx3.1 leads to prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), a precursor to prostate cancer (PCa). Elevated testicular estrogen may disrupt hormonal balance in the prostate and downregulate Nkx3.1 expression by indirectly suppressing androgen production via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Previous research has shown that increased levels of estrogen within the prostate can induce PIN. However, the effects of elevated estrogen levels in the testis, particularly when Nkx3.1 is absent and their potential downstream impact on prostate carcinogenesis remain unknown. This study investigates the effects of systemically elevated 17β-estradiol (E2) levels on the testis in the absence of Nkx3.1. Testicular morphology and connective tissue organisation were assessed by histological analysis following prolonged exposure to elevated E2 via subcutaneous implantation of 90-day extended-release pellets. Cancer-related gene expression was analysed by RT-qPCR after acute administration of elevated E2 by subcutaneous injection. Alterations in testicular morphology and connective tissue organisation were observed; however, no significant changes in gene expression were detected in Nkx3.1-deficient mice in response to E2 treatment. Nkx3.1-intact mice exhibited reduced Esr1, increased Esr2, increased Myc and unchanged Trp53 expression levels following E2 treatment. These findings show that elevated testicular E2 induces tissue abnormalities in the absence of Nkx3.1 and regulates cancer-related gene expression when Nkx3.1 is present, suggesting that Nkx3.1 may modulate testicular response to estrogen, with potential implications for prostate carcinogenesis
Risk-based reliability assessment of flexible risers for offshore oil and gas production in the Orphan Basin
No full textRisers operating in ultra deepwater fields require a high level of proven reliability. The Orphan Basin, offshore Newfoundland, is much deeper than other basins in the region at over 2500 m water depth. For this basin, reliability issues are exacerbated due to risks introduced through the coupling of ultra deepwater and ice prone waters. Since fields that require ice management are most often developed using an FPSO with a disconnectable buoy, the unique loads created through flexible riser operation when the buoy is disconnected need to be considered to fully assess the likelihood of riser failure. A site specific, risk-informed approach to assess flexible riser reliability for the Orphan Basin development using flexible riser technology is required and thus presented.
The Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) was used as the baseline analysis method to determine leading failure mechanisms. A fuzzy TOPSIS-based decision model was then implemented to enhance failure prioritization considering ten (10) interdependent risk circumstances. A probabilistic TOPSIS approach was also completed to validate the results. The failure risks of carcass collapse, lateral buckling, radial buckling, and armour layer degradation due to corrosion were the main failure mechanisms identified through all approaches. A comparison to OREDA industry data was made to validate the findings.
The effectiveness of mitigation of the highest risk failure modes was analyzed and mitigation strategies proposed. The unmitigated failure modes were further analyzed through Finite Element Analysis using OrcaFlex. The OrcaFlex model considered an FPSO with a disconnectable buoy, a Production flexible riser which varied in length to meet a Lazy-S wave configuration from 1500 m to 2900 m. The resultant compression when the buoy was dropped to 200 m below mean sea level (MSL) was assessed through quasi-static analysis, and the static loads at buoy hang-off for a
connected scenario were extracted. This data was used to calculate the propensity of the riser to fail due to collapse, lateral buckling or radial buckling due to the Reverse End Cap Effect (RECE). The factors of safety against failure were plotted considering recognized industry allowable utilizations for each water depth. Non-linear behavior was observed for all three failure modes studied, suggesting that risk increases disproportionately to increased depth. To formalize this relationship, a novel Risk Amplification Factor (RAF) is proposed.
The analysis suggests that at water depths greater than approximately 2000 meters, standard flexible riser design, operation and maintenance approaches may not support an adequate level of flexible riser reliability due to increased risks associated with collapse, lateral buckling and the RECE. Based on this risk escalation, a risk-based inspection (RBI) plan is proposed for flexible risers in UDW ice-prone fields such as the Orphan Basin, to optimize monitoring intervals and focus inspection resources on the most vulnerable riser components
Quantifying queerphobia in the Canadian Federal Public Service
No full textThe Canadian Federal Public Service has been directly shaped by centuries of 2SLGBTQIA+
discriminatory policies, and its very foundations were constructed at a time when queerness was
criminalized. In the years since the end of the LGBT purge, many researchers have measured
anti-2SLGBTQIA+ discrimination among federal public employees. Yet, there is a significant
gap the scholarship about anti-2SLGBTQIA+ attitudes in the contemporary Public Service.
This thesis addresses that gap by quantifying the presence of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ attitudes in the
public service. Through the use of survey data and statistical models, this study demonstrates the
continued presence of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ attitudes in the Canadian Public Service. The findings
provide new insights about anti-2SLGBTQIA+ discrimination in Canada and contribute to the
growing body of literature that challenges the notion of bureaucratic neutrality