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From the Access Ramp To Equity and Quality: Alberta Teachers’ Experiences of Educating Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students
No full textThis study examines the current state of education for Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) students in Alberta, Canada, based on the perspectives and experiences of classroom teachers and Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (TDHHs). The research was conducted in three phases: Phase 1 involved interviews, which informed the design of two survey instruments used in Phase 2. In Phase 3, participants helped corroborate and clarify data collected in the previous phases. The study was guided by Piper et al.’s (2006) theoretical framework of access, equity, and quality. The central research question was: What is the current state of education for students who are DHH in Alberta, from the perspectives and experiences of classroom teachers and TDHHs? The findings reveal that while general classroom teachers are welcoming and provide basic accommodations that support visual and auditory access to the classroom, they often have limited awareness of the specialized instructional needs of DHH students. TDHHs possess specialized expertise in assessment and instructional needs of DHH students, but have few opportunities to apply their knowledge with teachers or students. A dearth of qualified professional, paraprofessional support in classrooms and professional development opportunities in DHH Education hinder teachers’ ability to identify and address the specialized instructional needs of this low incidence, heterogenous student population. These challenges highlight the need for improved training, collaboration, and resource allocation to enhance educational outcomes for DHH students
The effect of energetic condition on dispersal by flight and response to semiochemical cues by Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in its expanded range in Alberta
No full textGlobal climate change drives range expansion of various taxa, including the irruptive bark beetle, the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae; MPB), which recently experienced a rapid range expansion. Dispersal and host colonization dictate the rate of spread and establishment of MPB populations. Mountain pine beetle undergo obligatory dispersal flights for host colonization and brood production, yet dispersal remains a poorly understood aspect of their ecology especially in the endemic population state when beetle densities on the landscape are low. Beetle morphology and energetic condition are heritable traits that explain some variation in MPB flight capacity. Selection could act on traits such as wing area, body size, and lipid reserves via spatial sorting in the expanded range of MPB. Mountain pine beetles show continuous flight polyphenisms despite similar morphology and energetic condition. A potential hypothesis to explain this variable dispersal is that energy use during flight triggers responsiveness to the semiochemicals that orchestrate host colonization of pine trees. Plasticity in host-colonization behavior is characteristic of the endemic population state, and may influence the morphology, energetic condition, and dispersal of MPB in the expanded range in Alberta. Here, I test the hypothesis that flight exercise impacts subsequent behavioral response to semiochemicals in two olfactometer experiments that simulate 1) female beetle pioneer response to host volatiles; and 2) male and female joining beetle response to host volatiles and the female-produced aggregation pheromone, trans-verbenol. I also assess electrophysiological response of antennae of female beetles to α-pinene post-flight in an electroantennogram bioassay. Finally, I use pheromone-baited funnel traps to capture MPB across its expanded range in Alberta, Canada to assess the morphology, energetic condition and dispersal of MPB in the endemic state. These experiments provide seven key findings: (1) female MPB in poor body condition due to energy expenditure respond strongly to host semiochemicals post-flight; (2) antennal response of female MPB to the host volatile, α-pinene, increases with relative lipid content of beetles; (3) male body condition or exercise by flight does not influence behavioral response to semiochemicals; (4) field traps captured 0.4% of beetles at distances indicating long-distance dispersal in the endemic population state; (5) beetles in regions along the leading edge of range expansion in Alberta have larger wings compared to beetles in the core of the expanded range; (6) the morphology and energetic condition of field captured beetles is indicative of beetles in the endemic population state; (7) MPB body lipid dynamics vary between beetles in the endemic and epidemic states. Together, my findings support the need for ongoing monitoring of endemic MPB populations that will form future outbreaks and establish a foundation for understanding of state-dependent modulation in response to semiochemical cues in MPB
TrajGATFormer: A Graph-Based Transformer Approach for Worker and Obstacle Trajectory Prediction in Off-site Construction Environments
No full textAs demand grows for faster, safer construction processes, offsite construction has emerged as a solution, though it brings new safety risks due to the close interaction between workers, machinery, and moving obstacles. Predicting the future trajectories of workers and taking into account social and environmental factors is a crucial step for developing collision-avoidance systems to mitigate such risks. Traditional approaches like Kalman Filters (KF) and Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) often rely on static assumptions and hand-crafted features, making them insufficiently responsive to the dynamic nature of construction sites. Data-driven methods, including Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, have shown promise in this domain by incorporating both temporal and contextual information; however, LSTM models struggle with error accumulation, reducing their effectiveness in real-time scenarios. To address these limitations, this thesis proposes a comprehensive framework integrating YOLOv10 and DeepSORT for precise detection and tracking, alongside two novel trajectory prediction models: TrajGATFormer and TrajGATFormer-Enhanced. YOLOv10 serves as the backbone for object detection, reliably identifying workers and obstacles in diverse construction scenes, while DeepSORT efficiently tracks each detected entity over time, assigning unique IDs to maintain continuity across frames. This combination allows for accurate, real-time tracking, providing critical input data for the predictive models. The two predictive models leverage a transformer encoderdecoder architecture with Graph Attention Networks (GAT) to capture both temporal dependencies and spatial interactions. TrajGATFormer focuses on predicting worker trajectories, achieving an average displacement error (ADE) of 1.25 meters and a final displacement error (FDE) of 2.3 meters over a 4.8-second prediction horizon. TrajGATFormer-Enhanced extends this framework to handle both worker and obstacle predictions, achieving even higher accuracy, with an ADE of 1.15 meters and an FDE of 2.2 meters. Comparative analysis showed that both models significantly outperformed traditional methods, reducing ADE and FDE by up to 35% and 38%, respectively. These models can serve as the backbone for constructing collision avoidance alarm systems that can be installed at offsite construction facilities. This system once fully integrated is capable of providing workers with essential information in the event of a potential collision
Physiological mechanisms of survival in the invasive green shore crab
No full textThe green crab (Carcinus maenas) is an extremely successful invasive species, thriving in marine environments around the world, and known for its high tolerance to environmental perturbations. The introduction of invasive green crab can have devastating impacts on ecosystems and native fisheries, increasing competition for habitat and resources, with green crab predating upon native organisms, and uprooting vital eel grass beds. Thus, to understand the environmental factors influencing invasive success, the physiological responses to dissolved organic nutrients, temperature, salinity, oxygen availability, and metal contamination were assessed in green crab from the Canadian Pacific estuaries and global capture sites. Recently, it was discovered that green crab could acquire dissolved nutrients across their gill epithelia from the surrounding environment. To evaluate any potential advantage of branchial nutrient acquisition, we compared the capacity for branchial amino acid transport of common crustaceans in Canadian Pacific waters via gill perfusion and whole-body exposure. Branchial active transport of L-leucine was exhibited in C. maenas, Metacarcinus gracilis, Metacarcinus magister, and Cancer productus across their gill epithelia, and is directly influenced by feeding status. This represents the first description of branchial amino acid transport in Canadian native arthropods, suggesting that branchial amino acid transport is a shared trait among arthropods, contrary to existing literature. The invasive success of global green crab populations is largely attributed to a wide tolerance to temperature in variable environments. Less is known about how environmental conditions such as oxygen availability, salinity, and metal contamination could alter the upper thermal limits, and whether the green crab has undergone physiological adaptations to adjust to new conditions across its invasive range. Here, we employ a multi-stressor approach to investigate the effects of oxygen availability, salinity, and metal contamination on the upper thermal limits of green crab invasive to the Canadian Pacific and Atlantic coastlines, and native to Sweden. Oxygen consumption and heart rate were measured during thermal ramping procedures under varying environmental conditions and used to predict temperatures resulting in cardiorespiratory adjustment and strain. Under control conditions, green crab from all capture regions exhibited an increase in oxygen consumption and heart rate from the 16 °C acclimation temperature to a peak around 34 °C followed by an abrupt decline and a subsequent collapse, marking upper thermal limits around 36 – 38 °C. Green crab from different regions also responded similarly to environmental oxygen, exhibiting consistent reductions in upper thermal limits (the point of metabolic collapse) in hypoxia and negligible improvements in hyperoxia. Acute exposure to sublethal copper concentrations caused a significant drop in respiratory breakpoints, with metabolic failure occurring between 36.5 – 36.8 °C, up to 2 °C sooner than breakpoints within control treatments. Here we suggest that acute copper exposure closely resembles the influence of hypoxia on thermal tolerance, with high copper accumulation within the gills and little accumulation within heart tissues. Finally, the Pacific green crab exhibited an upper thermal tolerance irrespective of environmental salinity, despite exposure to a full freshwater environment. Atlantic green crab exhibited cardiorespiratory failure at ~35 °C when salinity was reduced to 20% saltwater, which further decreased to ~32 °C during acute freshwater exposure. We suggest distinct differences in the upper thermal limits between green crab from two Canadian regions with respect to salinity, potentially indicating regional acclimation to exceedingly dilute environments on the Canadian Pacific coastline. Given the suggestion that green crab within the Canadian Pacific estuaries possess a particularly impressive tolerance to extremely dilute and freshwater environments, the survival and physiological responses to freshwater exposure were evaluated. With a measured freshwater LT50 of ~26 h, Pacific green crab exhibited a remarkably high tolerance to extremely dilute environments compared to historical values. Furthermore, Pacific green crab haemolymph osmolarity, branchial cAMP, oxygen consumption, haemolymph protein, and hemocyanin were unaffected within at least the first 6 h of freshwater exposure, indicating a lack of stress response. This could suggest an ability of Pacific green crab to increase their ecological range and access estuarine rivers to forage or avoid competitive interactions and predation.
In combination, this thesis offers insights into the physiological response of green crab to a variety of environmental conditions that are expected to influence invasive population survival and range expansion, while drawing comparisons between global green crab at a regional level
Women, Education, and Writing: A Comparative Study of British and Chinese Female Writers at the Onset of Modernity
No full textThis dissertation examines the interconnected developments of female education, modernity, and literary production in Britain and China at the onset of modernity. It explores the evolution of women’s educational opportunities, literary expression, and societal roles through a comparative analysis of British and Chinese female authors and/or activists during these periods of significant social and literary transformation: Britain in the revolutionary period (1790s–1820s) and China from the Late Qing to Early Republic (1890s–1930s) . By analyzing their published works and social engagements, it explores how women in both societies navigated and challenged traditional gender norms while contributing to emerging discussions about women’s rights, education, and social participation during these pivotal historical periods. Based on Anthony Giddens’s model of modernity and employing a diverse methodological framework that includes historicity, comparative narratology, and biographical perspectives, this study delves into how education, formal or informal, contributes to women’s exploration of subjectivity through writing. Focusing on how societal and intellectual developments shaped modern gender roles in the early phases, the study explores the transformative educational discourse initiated by pioneers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Qiu Jin, highlighting women’s critical roles in advocating for equal rights of education, which benefited future generations of women, particularly fostering the emergence of female writers. Through semi-autobiographical works written by Wollstonecraft and Ding Ling, the study continues to delve into the fusion of personal experiences and philosophical critique, revealing how these authors blended wide-read fiction with sophisticated political thoughts to challenge patriarchal structures and engage broader readers. The analysis extends to the writing of Jane Austen and Ling Shuhua, where themes of subjectivity, domesticity, and intellectual development are intricately woven into narratives. Their writings not only reflected the challenging status of women during their respective eras, but also contributed to broader discussions about women’s roles in the modernizing societies of Britain and China. The subtle yet powerful ways in which these authors addressed women’s consciousness and development within their cultural contexts reveal how literature served as both a mirror and a catalyst for social changes. Through comparative analysis, this dissertation examines how British and Chinese women utilized education and literary creation as means of self-empowerment and cultural transformation during their respective paths to modernity. While acknowledging the distinct social and cultural contexts that shaped different challenges and opportunities for women writers in Britain and China—thus exemplifying the concept of “multiple modernities” at both national and individual levels—this study also uncovers compelling parallels in how women in both societies pursued literary agency and self-expression during their respective paths to modernity. This study enriches our understanding of the complex relationship between gender, education, and modernization, while illuminating the transnational dimensions of feminist literary history and thought
Seyedehtanaz Saeidzadeh - Abstract 54 - Innovate Conference 2025
No full textINFORM was a successful pragmatic trial designed by our team in Long-Term Care Homes (LTC) in 2016. INFORM supported and facilitated managers’ learning to use a model to undertake change. In 2020, the Ministry of Health (MoH) in British Columbia (BC) approached us to assist with implementation in an initial group of 25 LTC homes
KD King - Abstract 19 - Innovate Conference 2025
No full textMétis Elders have described problems of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) related genital warts and gynecological problems in our oral history. Today, HPV infection is responsible for most cervical and anal cancers as well as many genital and oropharyngeal cancers. Disparities exist in the relative survival from HPV-related cancers for Indigenous Peoples. There is minimal Métis-specific HPV-related cancer prevention research. This study explores the experiences of Métis in Alberta accessing HPV vaccination
LARGE SCALE 3D PRINTING OF POLYMER AND POLYMER/CONTINUOUS FIBER COMPOSITES WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF ISOTROPY
No full textAdditive manufacturing has transformed how complex parts are designed and produced, particularly through polymer-based methods such as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). While FFF is widely used due to its accessibility and material efficiency, its inherent reliance on planar layer stacking results in pronounced mechanical anisotropy, limiting its effectiveness for high-performance applications. This thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into novel strategies aimed at overcoming these limitations by rethinking material deposition techniques and enhancing the structural integrity of printed parts.
A central contribution of this work is the development of a novel z-stitching technique, which introduces interlocking stitch patterns to improve interlayer bonding and reduce mechanical anisotropy. Mechanical testing demonstrated enhanced performance in both modulus and strength along multiple principal material directions compared to traditional FFF, establishing z-stitching as a viable method for producing more isotropic components. To support printing optimization, a computational framework combining finite element analysis and representative volume element modeling was employed. This enabled accurate prediction of the orthotropic properties of complex interwoven geometries and reduced the reliance on extensive experimental testing. The integration of numerical simulation with statistical methods allowed for efficient parameter tuning, accelerating the development of mechanically robust printed structures.
Building on this foundation, the thesis also investigates Continuous Carbon Fiber reinforcement, implemented via customized interweaving deposition patterns. The inclusion of continuous fibers significantly improved stiffness and strength, particularly in the structure’s raster direction, although some anisotropic effects persisted due to material imperfections and bonding variability.
To extend these advancements to industrial-scale applications, the research explores Fused Granular Fabrication (FGF) as a scalable alternative to filament-based printing. A robotic arm-based FGF system was optimized using response surface methodology, hybrid slicing techniques, and a novel bead shifting strategy. These innovations resulted in a 50% reduction in inter-bead porosity, up to 60% improvement in surface quality, and mechanical performance comparable to injection-molded parts. The study also addressed key process challenges—such as thermal control, material flow stability, and bed adhesion—through targeted design improvements.
Together, these contributions provide a pathway toward additive manufacturing techniques that deliver both high mechanical performance and scalability, bridging the gap between prototyping and industrial deployment. This work advances the field by proposing new deposition strategies, validating them experimentally and numerically, and demonstrating their potential for high-strength, isotropic, and reliable 3D-printed polymer components
Examining the Association between Income Inequality and Physical Activity among Canadian Youth during the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textBackground Physical inactivity among Canadian adolescents has become an increasing concern in recent years. This trend has been further exacerbated by periods of societal disruption, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the influence of broader contextual factors—particularly income inequality—on adolescent health behaviors during such crises remains unclear. The pandemic provides a unique opportunity to examine how socioeconomic disparities may have contributed to reduced physical activity levels among youth.
Objectives The influence of contextual factors on adolescent health outcomes during times of crisis remains poorly understood. This study examines changes in physical activity levels among a sample of Canadian adolescents following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and investigates whether income inequality at the census division (CD) level contributed to physical activity changes, with a focus on gender-specific patterns.
Methods Longitudinal data from 8,812 students aged 12 to 18 within 35 CDs were obtained from three waves (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23) of the Cannabis, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol, Smoking, and Sedentary behaviour (COMPASS) study. CD-level income inequality was measured using Gini coefficients. Gender stratified multilevel models were used to analyze physical activity changes across survey waves and to quantify the association between income inequality and physical activity over the study period.
Results Among the full sample, CD-level income inequality at the baseline was significantly associated with higher physical activity levels in both follow-up waves (2021-22: β = 0.042; 95% CI: 0.012, 0.072; 2022-23: β = 0.039; 95% CI: 0.009, 0.069). However, in the gender stratified analyses, income inequality was not significantly associated with physical activity in any survey wave for both males and females. Significant trends in physical activity levels among females (β = 0.057; 95% CI: 0.032, 0.081; β = 0.062; 95% CI: 0.038, 0.086) were observed across the two follow-up waves but not among males (β = 0.039; 95% CI: -0.004, 0.082; β = 0.034; 95% CI: -0.003, 0.082). Conclusion Physical activity levels increased among only females throughout the two follow-up waves. The association between income inequality and physical activity were significant in the full sample of adolescents. These unexpected findings emphasize the need for further research into how the mechanisms of income inequality and health related behaviours may have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic