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Fatigue performance of hydrogen production risers on floating offshore wind turbines in the touchdown zone
No full textThe global demand for hydrogen is projected to increase significantly over the coming decades, driven by the transition toward low-carbon energy systems. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global hydrogen consumption is expected to rise from under 90 Mt in 2020 to over 200 Mt by 2030, with the share of low-carbon hydrogen increasing from approximately 10% to 70%. Hydrogen production using floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) has recently emerged as a promising solution, offering the potential to generate hydrogen offshore and reduce reliance on high-voltage power transmission to shore.
Multi-layer flexible risers (MLFRs), configured in catenary or lazy-wave profiles, may be used to transport hydrogen from floating wind turbines to subsea pipelines. These risers are subjected to severe wave- and current-induced oscillations, leading to fatigue damage accumulation, particularly at two critical locations: the hang-off point and the touchdown zone (TDZ), where cyclic contact with the seabed occurs. While riser–seabed interaction effects have been extensively studied for steel risers, their influence on the fatigue performance of MLFRs used for hydrogen production remains largely unexplored. Current engineering practice often relies on simplified linear elastic seabed models, despite remotely operated vehicle (ROV) observations confirming the formation of deep seabed trenches in the TDZ.
This thesis investigates the effect of complex riser–seabed interaction on fatigue damage accumulation in the TDZ of MLFRs connected to FOWTs. An integrated analytical model is developed by coupling a boundary-layer solution in the seabed interaction region with a catenary formulation for the suspended riser segment. This approach enables continuous stress distribution predictions along the riser and is suitable for early-stage design assessments. A representative FOWT system, based on environmental conditions in Newfoundland and Labrador, is considered. To enhance accuracy, a detailed finite element sub-model of the MLFR is developed in ABAQUS and incorporated into a global analysis framework, allowing explicit modeling of the riser’s multilayer annulus and advanced non-linear hysteretic seabed interaction.
The results demonstrate that advanced riser–seabed interaction modeling significantly influences fatigue damage distribution in MLFRs. This is particularly important because simplified seabed models may underestimate fatigue life and misrepresent critical damage locations. Non-linear interaction models generally reduce fatigue damage in the TDZ while shifting peak damage toward the floating structure. This finding highlights the importance of incorporating realistic seabed behavior in the fatigue assessment and configuration optimization of hydrogen production risers
A pilot study of a novel sleep scoring system to measure insomnia treatment response in breast cancer survivors
No full textInsomnia is prevalent among breast cancer survivors and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an effective treatment. Research using polysomnography (PSG) to objectively measure sleep outcomes in response to CBT-I is limited. This single-arm study of nine breast cancer survivors examined sleep response to CBT-I using an in-home PSG device.
The first objective examined feasibility of using the Cerebra Sleep System, an in-home PSG device, pre- and post-treatment. Recruitment and retention rates were relatively low, but the device was feasible to use. Attitudes towards using the device were mixed; some felt it was fine while others felt it was awkward and may have impacted their sleep.
The second objective examined CBT-I sleep outcomes measured with sleep diaries and in-home PSG. Sleep diary measures of sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, and wake after sleep onset significantly improved. PSG-measured sleep efficiency and wake after sleep onset significantly improved but time spent in sleep stages did not significantly change.
Using an in-home PSG device may be feasible with changes to improve recruitment and retention rates and lessen the burden on participants. CBT-I may result in objective improvements in sleep continuity metrics. Future research should consider a largescale study with changes in methodology
Artificial intelligence, scholastic development, and academic proficiency of graduate students in Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador
No full textThis study investigated how artificial intelligence (AI) enhances scholastic development of graduate students at Memorial University; examined the perceptions of graduate students towards the use of AI in enhancing their academic proficiency; and examined the challenges and benefits of AI in the university setting. The study employed a phenomenological research approach and qualitative methods, utilizing interviews with 15 participants from Memorial University, Newfoundland (five academic staff, five non-academic staff, and five graduate students). Data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method to analyze qualitative data to ensure adequate presentation. Based on the participants' positions, the study concluded that AI tools have enhanced the scholastic development of graduate students at Memorial University in many areas of their studies. Also, graduate students perceived that the advantages of using AI outweigh the disadvantages because the tools help them to be efficient and productive. Nevertheless, if artificial intelligence is not carefully regulated and integrated into educational systems with clear guidelines, there is a significant risk that students may become overly dependent on it. AI tools have all-around benefits in university settings. Graduate students make use of the tools to enhance their productivity. Academic staff members employ AI tools to enhance their teaching methods, research endeavors, and student support services. Similarly, non-academic staff leverage these tools to optimize their operational tasks within the system. However, excessive dependence on AI tools may undermine graduate students' critical thinking abilities, potentially contributing to higher instances of cheating and academic misconduct
Toward place-based marine plastic monitoring in Arctic surface waters
No full textThe Nunatsiavut Government (NG) has long led interdisciplinary, Inuit-prioritized environmental monitoring in Labrador. As marine plastic pollution increasingly interacts with Arctic ecosystems and Inuit foodways, community-based approaches to monitoring plastics are essential. However, typical academic monitoring often produces generalized, large-scale results that are not easily applicable to local concerns. The first portion of this thesis investigates plastics in surface water in Nunatsiavut and proposes two methods to support community-relevant monitoring. First, we develop a technique that combines scientific and local knowledge to assess whether plastics likely enter Nunatsiavut's marine environment locally or from long-range transport. Second, we argue that place-based analysis offers more meaningful insights than broad, regional averages. While Nunatsiavut samples share some characteristics with other Arctic studies, we find that local differences in concentration and type of plastics highlight the value of localized analyses. Building on these findings that support place-based monitoring, the second portion of this thesis critically reviews how Arctic surface water plastic studies scale their research, showing that research tends to prioritize academic interests over local relevance through an analysis of scale. Overall, both studies argue for more locally grounded, place-based research approaches
Modelling arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy using human iPSCs
No full textArrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a hereditary heart disease characterized by ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, and heart failure. Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) hosts one of the world's largest concentrated populations of ACM patients due to a heterozygous, autosomal dominant founder disease-causing variant in the TMEM43 gene (c.1073C>T; p.S358L). My project addresses questions pertaining to 2 less well-known aspects of this disease: 1) Why are there no known individuals with homozygous TMEM43 p.358L variant? 2) Why are females protected from severe disease progression compared to men? For the first question, there is one case of two TMEM43 P.S358L heterozygous patients having children together, with one variant-negative child, and no reported pregnancy losses. Thus, we hypothesize that the homozygous variant might be so severe that it is an early embryonic lethal. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to introduce the homozygous TMEM43-S358L variant into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from an affected male ACM patient. These homozygous TMEM43-S358L variant iPSCs can differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs); however, these cardiomyocytes exhibit extreme arrhythmic tendencies and contract approximately twice as fast as heterozygous variant ACM patient iPSC-CMs. Regarding the second question, ACM affects both sexes, but males are more severely affected. We found that iPSC-CMs from a severely affected female patient exhibit clear arrhythmic phenotypes, including calcium alternans, early afterdepolarizations, and oscillations, even at baseline. These abnormalities worsen with β-adrenergic receptor stimulation. This suggests that female carriers may not be fully protected and may exhibit subtler or stress-triggered symptoms. Collectively, these findings suggest that female carriers may not be uniformly protected from disease severity and highlight the importance of considering sex-specific mechanisms in ACM diagnosis and therapeutic approaches. Elucidating these sex-based differences in ACM could help explain why disease presentation varies between males and females and inform the development of more effective, personalized treatments for patients with ACM
Bridging the gap: understanding the retention experiences of asylum seekers & refugees in Newfoundland and Labrador
No full textThis study investigates the integration, well-being, and long-term retention experiences of asylum seekers and refugees in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province often overlooked in Canadian migration literature. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, one asylum-seeker and one refugee, the study examines how institutional constraints and grassroots innovations co-produce the everyday realities of newcomer life in a smaller urban population, non-metropolitan. Findings reveal that while formal policies frequently exclude asylum seekers from core services, local actors compensate through flexible, trust-based interventions such as one-on-one settlement planning, embedded service delivery, occupation-specific language instruction, and peer-led support networks. These practices, often operating outside formal eligibility frameworks, reflect an ecosystem logic that prioritizes care, continuity, and cultural responsiveness. The study highlights digital inequity, housing insecurity, and credential recognition as key structural barriers, while also showcasing emerging models of trauma-informed, gender-responsive, and community-rooted integration. The study contributes to Canadian refugee policies and migration studies by calling for policy reforms that embed flexibility, enhance coordination, and affirm the legitimacy of informal and refugee-led initiatives. Ultimately, the study argues that Newfoundland and Labrador's evolving practices, though fragmented and under-resourced, offer valuable insights for inclusive, sustainable settlement in both rural and urban contexts
Conditional copula modeling for the analysis of multiple phenotypes in genetic association studies
No full textGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) aim to identify genetic markers associated
with various human traits. However, many genetic markers are linked to multiple phenotypes,
reflecting the complexity of genetic influence and the concept of pleiotropy.
Traditional single-phenotype approaches may overlook broader genetic effects across
correlated traits. This dissertation addresses these challenges by extending the method
of Konigorski et al. (2019) to develop a conditional copula-based framework for estimating
and testing the dependence between phenotypes conditioned on a genetic
effect. Our approach models the dependence structure between traits relative to a genetic
marker, improving the precision of genetic effect estimation. Through simulation
studies, we demonstrate that our model behaves well under estimation and testing
procedures, providing unbiased estimates, controlling Type I error rates, and yielding
good statistical power. This work contributes to advancing GWAS methodologies
by addressing correlations between traits, enhancing the understanding of complex
genetic architectures, and offering an alternative tool for multi-phenotype genetic
analysis
A morpho-phonological study of plant names in Akan (Twi)
No full textThis study investigates plant names in Akan (Twi) from the perspective of morphology and
phonology. The Akan language (Kwa language group) is mainly spoken in Ghana, West Africa,
and some parts of Côte d’Ivoire. This study investigates about three hundred (300) plant names in the Twi dialect, with the aim of investigating the ways in which these names are structured
both morphologically and phonologically and providing accurate documentation of plant names in Akan (Twi). The data for this study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources.
The primary data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with native speakers of Akan
in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and some farmers in Ghana. The secondary data were obtained
from existing ethnobotanical research that documents plant names in the Akan language.
The study reveals that plant names can be single stems, can be multi-morphemic (involving affixation and/or reduplication), and can be compounds. Some of the compound plant names are perceived as single words, while others are perceived to be separate words. The study
further reveals that plant names in Akan (Twi) can be formed from noun-noun, noun-adjective,
and noun-numeral combinations. Some phonological processes that plant names undergo in the language include sound changes that occur during the formation of plant names, such as vowel harmony and assimilation. These phonological features play a significant role in shaping the structure and pronunciation of plant names. The study also argues that naming is important in
every society because names designate the person, a place, and things and give a unique identity
(Arthur, 2019). Both cultural and linguistic factors significantly influence naming conventions across different societies, reflecting a complex interplay of historical, social, and linguistic elements (Guerrini, 2022). Among Akan speakers, names are not merely identifiers but can be imbued with cultural significance, embodying traditions, beliefs, and societal values. It is argued
that names are not only linguistically significant but also culturally rich. The study reveals that some Akan plant names assigned reflect the belief system of the Akan people, that some plant names are derived because of their physical characteristics, function, or their location, and that some have symbolic or folklore-based associations
Reinterpreting encounters: comparative study of William of Rubruck's travelogue and Sri Lankan inscriptions in medieval road contexts
No full textThis study explores medieval inter-cultural encounters by critically comparing Sri Lankan inscriptions with William of Rubruck’s 13th-century travel report, using Sanjay Subrahmanyam’s ‘Connected History’ theoretical approach. It examines how both sources construct and perceive foreigners as the ‘‘Other’’ within their political and cultural contexts. Sri Lankan epigraphic records reveal the island’s active role in Indian Ocean trade, diplomacy, and cross-cultural alliances. Rubruck’s travelogue, by contrast, reflects a Western Franciscan worldview encountering the Mongol empire. By placing these historical records in conversation, this study emphasizes the interconnectedness of Eurasian societies, offers a comparative reinterpretation of cross-cultural representations, and underscores the importance of analyzing such encounters as interrelated discursive constructions rather than as historically isolated representations
Ceramics of the fisheries: an analysis of Breton coarse earthenwares in the North Atlantic from the 16th to the 19th centuries
No full textThis research examines post-medieval coarse earthenwares produced in Brittany, France,
between the 16th and 19th centuries, brought by Breton fishers participating in the migratory cod
fisheries to the North Atlantic region of Canada, including Newfoundland and Labrador, Saint-
Pierre et Miquelon, and Nova Scotia. Alongside the Basques and Normans, the Bretons were
among the first European groups to exploit the Gulf of St. Lawrence�s marine resources. Yet,
despite their central role in the early transatlantic cod fisheries, their material culture in the North
Atlantic remains underexplored, and knowledge of Breton ceramics is almost nonexistent in North
America. In Brittany, coarse earthenwares were produced on an artisanal scale primarily for local
sale, with larger production centres distributing their vessels regionally. Therefore, their presence
in the North Atlantic serves as tangible evidence of coastal Breton communities and offers insight
into their involvement in transatlantic fisheries. By comparing the ceramic assemblages from the
Anse � Bertrand site in Saint-Pierre and eight French fisheries sites in Atlantic Canada with
reference collections from ceramic production centres in Brittany, this thesis identifies the Breton
regions most directly associated with crewing and outfitting ships for the North Atlantic cod
fisheries. By integrating microscopic analysis and historical data from both production contexts
and transatlantic consumption contexts, this research advances understanding of Breton ceramics,
the regional identities of Breton fisherfolk, and the development of the transatlantic cod fishery