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Assessing Psychosocial, Peripheral and Central Neural Correlates of Burnout and Depression in Healthcare Workers
No full textHealthcare workers are at a greater risk for experiencing burnout and depression. Burnout is strongly related to depression, leading to questions as to whether they are distinct conditions. This study examined psychosocial and biological correlates of burnout subdimensions, and how these differentiate from depressive symptoms. Healthcare workers completed self-report questionnaires, provided blood samples for inflammatory marker determination, and underwent a T1-weighed magnetic resonance imaging scan. The emotional exhaustion subdimension of burnout had the greatest overlap with depressive symptomatology, and both were predicted by perceived stress and lifetime trauma. Depersonalization and personal accomplishment subdimensions of burnout were more distinct from depressive symptoms and had unique predictors including work-related trauma and years of healthcare experience. Limited biological correlates of burnout and depression were found, however, psychosocial data highlights that burnout subdimensions and depressive symptoms are unique conditions. This study emphasizes the need for greater mental health support for healthcare workers
Cognitive Predictors of Student Success in the Acquisition of Computer Programming
No full textIn our technology-driven society, computer programming skills are becoming increasingly essential. I examine whether participants’ semantic and syntactic abilities are associated with their achievement in a computer science course. The main study recruited 81 participants and used a battery including CASL, KBIT, and a demographic questionnaire to identify predictive factors. Programming experience and grades were also assessed via demographic questionnaire. The results revealed that syntactic (but not semantic) abilities in English emerged as strong predictors of success in learning programming. Participants who were strong in the syntactic domain were the ones who achieved the highest proficiency in programming languages. The emergence of linguistic syntactic skill as transferable to the domain of computer programming acquisition has practical implications for educators and researchers alike, endeavoring to enhance computer science education. The current study aims to contribute to pedagogical strategies and stimulate further investigation of the cognitive predictors pertinent to programming language acquisition
Defining and Resolving Contradictions in Cultural-Historical Activity Theory
No full textThis thesis develops a standard definition for contradictions and a framework for identifying and resolving them within Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT). Researchers and practitioners striving to enhance organizational efficiency and effectiveness can benefit from this framework, named the Contradiction Identification and Resolution Framework (CIRF). Synthesized from 11 studies and refined through a case study on a customer loyalty program incorporating data protection regulations, the CIRF offers a standardized approach to managing contradictions within organizational activities. Employing a ten-step research method, the thesis yields actionable insights and practical guidelines. The primary contribution lies in developing the CIRF, equipping organizations, practitioners, and management with a systematic tool to address contradictions, thereby facilitating improved decision-making, streamlined processes, and enhanced organizational performance. The nature and practical applicability of the CIRF are expected to have a positive impact on organizational practices, fostering favourable outcomes across various sectors
Biological Effects and Baseline Measures of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in Freshwater Fish of the Athabasca Oil Sands Region
No full textNaturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) is understudied in the Alberta Oil Sands Region. Elevated NORM levels reduce growth, fertility, and life expectancy in wildlife, negatively impacting the ecosystem. This study examines NORM in fish of the AOSR, including its composition and concentration, relationship to other contaminants in the AOSR, and biological effects on wildlife. Gamma spectrometric analysis was used to measure NORM activity in northern pike and lake whitefish, collected from the Gardiner Lakes and Peace-Athabasca Delta. Activity concentrations of NORM isotopes were measured. Activity concentrations of isotopes originating from the 232Th and 238U decay series were present in freshwater fish in the AOSR. Concentrations of NORMs were found to be higher downstream of the AOSR in the PAD This study contributes to the broader scientific understanding of NORM and can inform effective management and remediation strategies to address contamination issues in the oil sands industry
Enhancing American Sign Language Communication with Virtual Reality: A Gesture Recognition Application on Oculus Quest 2
No full textIn recent years, virtual reality (VR) technology has grown by leaps and bounds, transforming all walks of life. At the same time, American sign language (ASL), a visual language, plays a crucial role in communication for people who are deaf, people with autism spectrum disorders, and people with speech and language disorders. In response to advances in these two fields, this paper presents a new approach to ASL gesture recognition utilizing the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset. The application recognizes 15 ASL one-handed static letter gestures and includes a user-friendly interface with instructional support. In a study involving 15 participants, most gestures were recognized within 1-10 seconds and completed within 1-5 attempts. The aim is to adapt the approach outlined in this thesis to a range of applications in order to encourage the utilization of ASL and improve the quality of life for the hearing impaired community
Leveraging Measured Water Level Data to Support Stormwater Management Decision-Making in the City of Vaughan
No full textRecent advances in real-time control technologies have the potential to enhance our understanding of stormwater management (SWM) ponds and support municipal decision-making. This thesis, in partnership with the City of Vaughan and Ioticiti Networks Inc., uses continuous water quantity data measured at ten representative SWM ponds in Vaughan to: 1) improve data quality; 2) inform municipal decisions on pond performance; and 3) assess the performance of SWM pond design models years after construction. Findings indicate raw data require systematic processing and standardized sensor practices to improve data quality. Analysis of water levels, wet-weather response, and drawdown identified priority ponds, including one with potential outlet blockage, another at risk of overflow, and several with drawdown times under 24 hours. The initial design model of one pond reasonably captured 75% of observed storms, but often overpredicted peak water depth due to uncertainties in depth measurement, altered stage-storage-discharge relationship and model oversimplification
Strengthening Beams using FRCM Machine Learning Approach and Numerical Models
No full textDespite the existing studies, predicting failure and post-peak behavior of FRCM has remained a challenge. This research leverages Machine Learning (ML) techniques to evaluate the capacity of FRCM-strengthened beams. This innovative approach addresses the limitations associated with both experimental and numerical models by providing a comprehensive model capable of predicting the response of FRCM-strengthened beams. The model considers various factors, including mechanical and geometric properties of the beams, steel reinforcement, and characteristics of the FRCM layers such as number, type, compressive strength of mortar, and thickness. A novel approach to employ ML is adopted to utilize three separate ML models to assess the beam capacity in pre-peak, failure, and post-peak stages. Following the ML model validation, verified Finite Element (FE) models are used to ensure the proposed model's robustness in handling unseen data
If Walls Could Speak: Intimate Partner Violence and the Creation of Informal Refuges Within the Existing City Fabric
No full textRomantic notions of home are popularly expressed by philosophers and artists, and are marketed by government, architects and developers as an investment that provides people with stability. One’s idealized vision of home is a fundamental task that one strives to attain and maintain. However, experiences at home may involve instability, conflict and violence. This thesis explores how intimate partner violence may impact a female survivor’s sense of home by drawing from the author’s own memories. Memories of abuse are explored through cathartic modelling exercises and shed light on the ways in which distress develops. Recalling a pivotal moment when she was forced to flee the home leads her to question where those who find themselves in a similar position seek refuge if not a shelter
Next-Generation Sequences of Operation for Occupant-Adaptive Building HVAC Systems
No full textOccupant-centric control (OCC), which adapts building systems based on occupants’ presence or preferences, represents a promising alternative to the way buildings are traditionally controlled. However, poor sequences of operation can degrade the benefits of OCC. An analysis of two buildings before and after the initial COVID-19 lockdown --- one with two control logic faults corrected and an occupancy-based ventilation OCC, and one with traditional ventilation --- explored how energy use differed between the two buildings (Chapter 2). A calibrated energy model of the traditionally ventilated building was developed to evaluate how occupancy-based ventilation alongside changes to the sequences of operation impacted energy use. The results showed that OCC savings could be significantly diminished if poor sequences of operation were utilized, and highlighted a need for next-generation sequences of operation that can enable occupant-adaptive HVAC system. In order to enable many OCCs, granular occupant counts are needed. To this end, a methodology for disaggregating building-level occupancy data into zone-level occupant counts using sensor fusion was developed (Chapter 3). With these occupancy data, a practical workflow for implementing and evaluating OCCs via building simulation was created (Chapter 4). EnergyPlus simulations of a nine-office testbed were performed with combinations of OCCs, climates, and envelope assemblies to demonstrate the workflow; the results showed that zone-level demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) and temperature preferences/setbacks during unoccupied hours had the highest savings potential. Given the high cost of sensors, a simulation-based investigation of a case study building was undertaken to determine how DCV, based on the emerging ASHRAE RP-1747 CO2-based DCV approach, could be implemented with minimal sensing infrastructure (Chapter 5). EnergyPlus simulation of the case study building were performed with a variety of occupancy scenarios, sensor positions, and sensor grid densities. Recommendations for sensing infrastructure, as well as proposed changes to ASHRAE RP-1747 were developed. Finally, the next-generation sequences of operation (including zone-level DCV and temperature setbacks) were implemented in a case study building to determine how these changes to operation impact energy use and occupant comfort (Chapter 6). These results will be used to support its adoption by future iterations of ASHRAE Guideline 36
Joy As an Act of Resistance
No full textTrees, forests, building, teaching, joy. A lot of joy. SO much joy. Joy despite it all. Joy no matter what. Joy as an act of resistance. I am examining joy, specifically as an action of resistance within the context of an architectural pedagogy. It’s preceded by the questions: What is happiness? What makes us happy? Can it be manifested physically? How do these physical conjurings of happiness work when the underlying process resists convention? Can all these learnings be neatly wrapped up as a pedagogical approach to architecture, space, and our bodies? Can joy exist in buildings? Or the act of building? How can focusing on joy make us better people, make better cities, make us better to ourselves and the world? That’s a lot of questions and hopefully, with joyful answers to come