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Questions pour un bibliothécaire
Get PDFCet article propose un récit biographique du point de vue de l’auteur sur ses responsabilités professionnelles actuelles au sein d’une bibliothèque universitaire, les motivations qui l’ont conduit à choisir la bibliothéconomie comme carrière, ses contributions aux activités de recherche dans son établissement, ainsi qu’une analyse des défis et des opportunités auxquels sont confrontés les bibliothécaires universitaires.
This article presents a biographical account of the author’s perspective on his current professional responsibilities within an academic library, the motivations underlying his decision to pursue librarianship as a career, his contributions to research activities at his institution, and an analysis of the challenges and opportunities encountered by academic librarians
Advanced Alarm Systems: Optimal Design, Performance Comparison, and Alarm Flood Monitoring
Get PDFAlarm systems are crucial for ensuring the safety and efficiency of industrial operations. However, operators often face an overwhelming number of alarms, many of which are false or nuisance alarms. To mitigate the issue of nuisance alarms, techniques such as delay-timers, up/down counters, and time-deadbands are used to enhance alarm system performance. This thesis provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of these techniques using performance indices: False Alarm Rate (FAR), Missed Alarm Rate (MAR), and Expected Detection Delay (EDD). The study aims to identify the optimal technique that balances accuracy and delay in industrial settings. The contributions of this study are twofold: Firstly, a systematic performance analysis of the three techniques is conducted. This includes individual evaluations under varying alarm thresholds, accuracy comparisons using ROC curves, and a generalized comparison combining accuracy and delay. Secondly, a novel algorithm is proposed to select the optimal alarm reduction technique for a given detection delay, allowing operators to meet practical constraints in alarm system design efficiently. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated through numerical examples, with results presented as augmented matrices and visualized in color-coded plots. This simultaneous comparison of techniques facilitates the design of more efficient and reliable alarm systems.
Following contributions to the study of nuisance alarm reduction, the second focus of this thesis is on alarm flood monitoring. It introduces a novel methodology for online alarm flood classification using the High Density Alarm Plot (HDAP), a visual analytics tool. This study begins by laying the necessary groundwork for the proposed classification method, including the development of a dynamic HDAP for real-time alarm flood monitoring and a modified representation of HDAP tailored for the classification task. The methodology involves using labeled historical alarm data to generate templates for each alarm flood category (or process fault). These templates are then used for the online classification of alarm floods into existing categories. The study concludes with a case study evaluating the effectiveness of the proposed method, demonstrating its potential to enhance alarm flood management in industrial settings
Crop use and responses to deterrents by Roosevelt elk in an agricultural landscape
No full textHuman-wildlife conflicts are intensifying worldwide, partly due to increasing agricultural land use. Agricultural damage by large herbivores is a common source of conflict that poses significant ecological and economic challenges. In this thesis, I addressed this form of human-ungulate conflict by (1) investigating the abundance, distribution, and behaviour of Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) in an agricultural landscape on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, and (2) evaluating the responses and habituation rates of ungulates to motion-activated, multimodal deterrents.
In Chapter 2, I measured the abundance, spatial-temporal distribution, and intensity of crop field use by Roosevelt elk in the eastern region of the Cowichan Valley, British Columbia. Using motion-sensing cameras, I estimated a minimum population of 195 elk occupying the study area with demographic ratios indicative of population growth. Elk use of crop fields peaked seasonally in early spring and late summer, was highest at sites farther from human infrastructure, and was characterized by increased nocturnality in areas with greater road density and open crop cover, and during months overlapping with hunting season. Semi-structured interviews with landowners corroborated findings from camera data and suggest that local elk abundance and use of crop fields is increasing, intensifying conflicts related to crop loss and property damage.
In Chapter 3, I examined the behavioural responses of Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) to motion-activated acoustic and visual deterrents deployed on crop fields. I contrasted ungulate responses to human voices (shouting and talking), natural predator vocalizations (wolf and cougar), dog barks, and bird calls (as a control), presented with and without flashing LED lights. Multimodal stimuli combining acoustic and visual cues increased the likelihood of flee responses by 3.9 times in elk and 2.0 times in deer. Human shouts elicited the strongest responses, surpassing other acoustic treatments. However, rapid habituation occurred over my six-week study period, particularly in elk, with slower rates of habituation observed at sites incorporating multimodal stimuli and in areas with reduced human disturbance.
Together, this research may help inform the management of human-ungulate conflict in my study area and other agricultural landscapes. The findings highlight opportunities to implement seasonal management interventions to reduce conflict and to develop behaviour-modifying deterrents that support proactive wildlife management. The similarity of results between camera data and landowner reports suggests that community-based monitoring might be used to assess human-wildlife conflict and identify mitigation to promote coexistence in shared landscapes
Brain Tissue Compliance in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Stroke Patients
No full textIntracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), a devastating subtype of stroke with a mortality rate of 40-50%, is caused by ruptured blood vessels in the brain, leading to bleeding (i.e., hematoma). In some patients, such as those with larger bleeds, the mass effects of the hematoma and edema raise intracranial pressure (ICP) to pathological levels, contributing to risk of poor outcome including mortality. According to the Monro-Kellie doctrine, put forth in 1783, brain compliance mechanisms involve the diversion of venous blood and cerebrospinal fluid from the cranium to create space and mitigate elevated ICP, while it is assumed that the brain tissue remains immutable. Our preclinical studies in ICH rodent models challenge the concept of brain tissue immutability, in which we have observed significant parenchymal compression through reduced neuronal volume and increased packing density. We refer to this phenomenon as ‘tissue compliance’. As we have expanded this finding in numerous translational studies, the objective of this thesis is to examine whether tissue compliance occurs in the clinical ICH population.
This thesis examines whether and by how much parenchyma volume reduction occurs in ICH patients. We conducted a retrospective analysis on computed tomography (CT) scans of 96 ICH patients (average age 63.8 years old, 55% males) with an average hematoma volume of 32.4 mL and 35.3 mL at the first and second scan (separated by ~23 hours), respectively. Hematoma growth (any absolute increase) occurred in 44% of patients, with a minimal but significant growth of the hematoma of 2.9 mL on average across all patients (p=0.028). As hypothesized, the contralateral hemisphere volume was significantly reduced by 12.7 mL (p<0.0001) between scans. This was unrelated to midline shift (R2=0.012, p=0.21), which averaged 2.3 mm. These findings suggest that distal parenchymal shrinkage may be a major compliance mechanism after ICH; the implications for ICP and brain function merit further study
Techno-economic analysis of Flywheel Energy Storage Systems for Alberta highway electric vehicle charging infrastructure, Edmonton – Calgary case
No full textThis thesis presents a techno-economic analysis of integrating Flywheel Energy Storage Systems (FESSs) into electric vehicle (EV) fast charging infrastructure along the Edmonton-Calgary corridor in Alberta, Canada. With the rapid growth in EV adoption, there is an increasing demand for robust charging infrastructure, posing significant challenges due to high initial costs, electrical grid instability during peak demand, and variable electricity tariffs. This research aims to address two central questions: (1) What kind of FESS design strategies are needed and what configurations are superior for EV fast charging infrastructure; and (2) Would FESSs be economically competitive with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) within the specific context of the Edmonton-Calgary highway corridor.
Chapter 3 analyzes FESS design and sizing, comparing rotor materials like steel and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP), along with rotor geometries, to assess suitability for EV fast charging. It finds that while CFRP rotors enable higher angular velocities, they are more costly than steel, and hollow rotors reduce mass by a third. Chapter 4 then compares the economic viability of FESSs and BESSs using the HOMER Grid software, revealing that BESS consistently offers lower costs, particularly under the R63 tariff. Despite the superior economic performance of BESSs, FESSs present distinct advantages in terms of safety, reliability, and performance consistency in extreme temperatures—a critical consideration given the harsh climatic conditions of the Canadian prairies. FESSs’ ability to deliver high power with minimal degradation and its inherent fire resistance make it an attractive option for specific applications where these factors outweigh the economic drawbacks.
The findings of this thesis emphasize the importance of selecting the appropriate Energy Storage System (ESS) technology and tariff structure to optimize the economic and technical performance of EV charging infrastructure. While BESSs currently provide a more cost-effective solution, FESSs offer valuable benefits in terms of operational safety and resilience, particularly in environments with extreme temperature fluctuations
A cross-habitat comparison of nutrient availability and levels of invasion in central Alberta
No full textGiven the extent and impacts of invasive non-native plant species, land managers have looked to ecological theory to understand why certain habitats are more invaded than others. Theory predicts that these differences are linked to intrinsic variation in soil nutrient availability or soil nutrient pulses following disturbance. However, despite a growing body of literature on invasion-soil nutrient relationships, these relationships have rarely been tested across different habitat types. To address this knowledge gap, I carried out a field survey and a field experiment and examined soil nutrient dynamics and levels of invasion across five habitat types (prairie grasslands, wolf willow shrublands, aspen forests, jack pine forests, and white spruce forests) in central Alberta, Canada. Specifically, I compared habitat types in terms of their 1) temporal soil nutrient dynamics and 2) nutrient availability following disturbance, and 3) determined if their soil nutrient availability coincided with their level of invasion. Linear Mixed Effect Models (LMEs) were used to compare ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), total carbon, and total nitrogen content. In addition, I used linear regression to relate soil attributes to levels of non-native plant invasion across habitat types. In general, inorganic nitrogen availability fluctuated over the growing season and increased following mechanical soil disturbance. Inorganic nitrogen availability was greatest in wolf willow shrublands, while spruce forests had the highest levels of total carbon and total nitrogen. Jack pine forests were consistently the most nutrient poor out of the studied habitat types. However, no clear relationship was observed between soil nutrient availability and levels of invasion. This could indicate that soil nutrients alone do not play an important role in driving non-native plant invasions, and that other factors, such as propagule pressure, may be more important in driving invasions across habitat types. By identifying which habitats are more susceptible to invasion, land managers can better allocate limited resources to mitigate the spread of invasive species in Alberta. As much of central Alberta has been developed, it is imperative to conserve the remaining native habitats and the ecosystem services that they provide
Insight into government, January 31, 2025
No full textAlberta's independent newsletter on government & politics
nitisiy: An exploration of the interconnection between nêhiyaw Ceremonies ekwa physical activity
No full textThe purpose of this research was to explore the interconnection between nêhiyaw ceremonies and physical activity. Two research questions guided this work: How do nêhiyaw ceremonies teach me of the importance of honoring mobility and physical wellness? and How are nêhiyaw ceremonies and running interconnected in a sacred and healing way for a nêhiyaw iskwêw? As a nêhiyaw iskwêw researcher, autoethnography was an ideal approach for studying how physical activity and ceremony are interconnected in a much deeper way than previously researched because, as stated by Whitinui (2013), this form of research provides a culturally diverse method of inquiry. Autoethnography allows for a reflexive personal journey and journaling to recount and reflect on Elder teachings, âtayôhkewina (sacred stories), hardships, humor, ceremonies, lived experience, love, âcimowina (stories), identity, language, and truth tellings. To undertake this method of research I called in all of my relations and, at the end of the journey, I will give back to all of my relations. Autoethnography through the lens of a nêhiyaw iskwêw was not only about the research, but also about finding meaning that comes from those deep interactions to then pour love into the sharing of knowledge for the next seven generations. This exploration contributes to understanding the interconnection between nêhiyaw Ceremonies and physical activity. Through an autoethnography I was able to share my knowledge and Truth Tellings through âcimowina (stories) of sharing the love âcimowin (story) of me and kokum which was fundamental in understanding wâhkôhtowin (relational knowledge). Sharing my love âcimowin (story) of running speaks of honoring the mobility of my maskawâtisiwin (physical power). In sharing rejuvenating my soul, âcimowina, I described a love story of aging and the importance of the sharing of sacred Cree Star Teachings
