Master's Theses

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10294/2901

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Open Access
The Erdős-Ko-Rado Theorem for intersecting families of permutations.
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2010) Purdy, Alison May; Meagher, Karen; Fallat, Shaun; Zilles, Sandra
The Erdős-Ko-Rado Theorem is a fundamental result in extremal set theory. It describes the size and structure of the largest collection of subsets of size k from a set of size n having the property that any two subsets have at least t elements in common. Following the publication of the original theorem in 1961, many different proofs and extensions have appeared, culminating in the publication of the Complete Erdős-Ko-Rado Theorem by Ahlswede and Khachatrian in 1997. A number of similar results for families of permutations have appeared. These include proofs of the size and structure of the largest family of permutations having the property that any two permutations in the family agree on at least one element of the underlying set. In this thesis we apply techniques used in the proof of the Complete Erdős-Ko-Rado Theorem for set systems to prove a result for certain families of t-intersecting permutations. Specifically, we give the size and structure of a fixed t-intersecting family of permutations provided that n ≥2t + 1 and show that this lower bound on n is optimal.
Open Access
Tentativeness and Permeability in the Poitical Thought of Hannah Arendt
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-07) Colgan, Alexander Read; Hansen, Phillip; Drury, Shadia; Ward, Ann; Burch, Robert R.
Hannah Arendt’s distinction between public and private rests upon a distinction between freedom and necessity that many have argued is ontological and thus immutable. This essay disputes that interpretation by discussing the tentative foundations of Arendt’s work on history and the human condition, in order to argue that this distinction stems not from a phenomenological essentialism but rather a meditation on historical forms of living-together that explicitly rejects notions of human nature and causality in history. This tentativeness stems from what Arendt regarded as the disastrous tendency of philosophy to systematize the chaos and disorder of human affairs, so that Arendt claims that the role of political theory is not to preclude or supersede political debate and deliberation, but rather to “think what we are doing.” This interpretation of Arendt’s thought is supported by her shift towards the Roman republic and praise of grassroots political councils, as well as her notions of understanding and judgment as they are reflected in her writings. Ultimately it is shown that freedom and necessity in human affairs are not absolute categories beyond amendment, but two halves of a fluid distinction that is only valid in an inevitably tentative and incomplete hindsight. This has significant implications both for contemporary interpretations of Arendt’s thought and for the politicization of social issues.
Open Access
Universal Mutual Responsibility: Heidegger, Selfhood, and the Possibility of an Ethics of Community
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-07-20) Booÿ, Daniel Nathan; Piercey, Robert; Marshall, George; Ward, Ann; Wall, Kathleen
Martin Heidegger's treatise Being and Time, in seeking to answer the question of the meaning of Being, addresses the subject of the self and various problems relating to selfhood as component parts of his larger project. While addressing the subject of the self, however, Heidegger has overlooked many important considerations, specifically with regards to the way the self interacts with and depends upon its others. The end result of this is that Heidegger's understanding of the self throughout Being and Time carries with it both demonstrable inconsistencies and a number of propositions that require further investigation. This study, thus, has sought to exegetically explicate Heidegger's understanding of the self as it is made manifest throughout Being and Time, to critically pose problems to Heidegger's concept of the self that highlight those places where the self has been left inconsistent or incomplete, and to draw upon both alternate sources and original research so as to augment Heidegger's concept of the self and return a more robust and complete understanding of the self. This study demonstrates that, while Heidegger's concept of the self in Being and Time is fundamentally incomplete and inconsistent at various points in and of itself, it provides an adequate foundation upon which a more complete and consistent understanding of the self and its interactions with its others can be developed. One possible conceptual solution to this problem, a solution that takes its inspiration from various sections of Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, has been proposed below under the name of “universal mutual responsibility.” This solution offers a means by which to preserve Heidegger's existing ontological investigations into the self while supplementing these ontological investigations with those existential considerations Heidegger himself left unexplored. These considerations and their various implications have been read back and reinserted into the text, thus solidifying the concept of universal mutual responsibility as a viable advancement upon Heidegger's existing concept of the self within Being and Time.
Open Access
Ultrasound Testing System for the Detecting of the Shape and Growth of a Vapor Chamber in the VAPEX Process
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-08) Zhou, Wenjin; Paranjape, Raman; Mehrandezh, Mehran; Laforge, Paul; Asghari, Koorosh; Luo, Peng
Acoustic wave detection systems are designed to estimate distances based on the measurement of the time of arrival (TOA) of an ultrasonic wave. It has been used in diagnoses and treatments in areas such as medicine, dentistry, civil engineering, and many other industrial applications. It has also been applied in the oil industry for pipeline inspection and fluid velocity measurement. In this study, a comprehensive experimental program was designed and conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using acoustic waves for detection and monitoring of vapor chamber growth and pressure front movement in porous media during vapor chamber expansion in the VAPEX process. Vapor extraction is a potential nonthermal recovery process used to improve the recovery factor from heavy oil and bitumen reservoirs. In this process, a mixture of light hydrocarbon vapors close to its dew-point, such as propane or butane, is injected into the reservoir through a horizontal injection well. As the solvent vapor comes into contact with the heavy oil, it dissolves in the oil and reduces its viscosity. The mobilized oil then drains into the second horizontal production well. After the breakthrough of the vapor chamber from injection to production well, the vapor chamber begins to grow and more oil becomes mobilized by interaction with the solvent chamber. The simulated VAPEX chamber in this study was conducted by using different sized air balloons buried in a water- or oil-saturated sand pack. The ultrasound receivers were placed on the physical model to detect the acoustic signals from the transducers. A MatlabTM based program was developed to do the signal processing using wavelet signal transform technique to extract the position of the echo signal from the signal record; the size and shape of the air balloons were determined based on the TOF of the ultrasonic signal record. The results of the measurements and simulations show that ultrasound detection system is applicable to test the shape and growth of simulated VAPEX chamber in a lab scale; the image results of the simulated lab model are reliable. It is the first time that such a technique has been proposed for this purpose and it was proven effective on a laboratory scale.
Open Access
'Now You See Me, Now You Don't' - Service Delivery to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Offenders: A Study of Policy and Practice in Saskatchewan Community Corrections
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-09) Gerger, Bonny Lynn; Patenaude, Allan; Jones, Nicholas; Ruddell, Richard; Greenberg, Hirsch; Hardenbicker, Ulrike
FASD offenders involved in community corrections present a variety of challenges. One of the primary presenting challenges facing community corrections practitioners is how best to provide service to FASD offenders. What would the components of a service delivery program include in order to most effectively meet the needs of FASD offenders receiving services from Saskatchewan Community Corrections? Utilizing case study methodology, this research explores the intersection of present day service delivery practice and proposed future practices in supervising offenders as demonstrated by the Strategic Training Initiative in Community Supervision (STICS) project. Interview sampling of two sub-groups of research participants was employed in an attempt to reconcile this method of proposed service delivery with specific aspects of „what works‟ with FASD offenders. Conducting one-on-one interviews with those probation officers involved in the STICS project and the implementation of community corrections policies comprised the first sub-group. Interviews with those involved in the criminal justice system with FASD expertise (ie. lawyers, judges, police, etc.) comprised the second. Using a thematic network as a thematic analysis tool for qualitative data, this research identified limitations within community corrections and the STICS project that would need to be addressed to ensure success in reduction of recidivism and ensuring public safety in providing services to FASD offenders.
Open Access
Natural Gas Development and Grassland Songbird Abundance in Southwestern Saskatchewan: The Impact of Gas Wells and Cumulative Disturbance
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-09-28) Bogard, Holly Jayne Kalyn; Brigham, R. Mark; Davis, Stephen; Somers, Christopher; Wellicome, Troy
The quantity and quality of remaining grasslands in southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada, are threatened by expansion of natural gas development. The number of natural gas wells nearly tripled between 1997 and 2007. Current management strategies do not consider the effect of natural gas development on grassland birds because the impacts are not known. I examined grassland songbirds and vegetation structure across an area with a gradient of gas-well densities to determine whether (1) density and proximity of gas wells influence abundance and occurrence of grassland songbirds or (2) the relative and cumulative effect of different types of anthropogenic disturbances associated with natural gas development (roads, trails, pipelines, gas well size, soil compaction, and crested wheatgrass coverage) influence the abundance and occurrence of grassland songbirds in south-western Saskatchewan. I conducted 1250 point counts in 105 plots (259 ha each) at varying distances from natural gas wells, which ranged from 0-25 natural gas wells per 259 ha per plot. I recorded 7 grassland songbird species: Horned Lark (Eremophilus alpestris), Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii), Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus), McCown’s Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii), Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) and Baird’s Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii). Responses of grassland songbirds to natural gas well density, proximity, and types of disturbance structures varied among species. Overall, Sprague’s Pipit, McCown’s Longspur and Grasshopper Sparrow responded negatively to natural gas development, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Savannah and Baird’s Sparrows exhibited mixed effects, and Horned Larks consistently responded positively to natural gas development. My results also indicate that natural gas ii development affected vegetation structure, which likely influences grassland bird abundance. The species-specific responses to natural gas disturbance seemed closely linked to the associated changes in vegetation structure. As natural gas development increases on Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada pastures and on other grasslands, the effects on grassland songbirds will likely become more pronounced. My research is the first to quantify the relationship between songbird abundance, vegetation structure, and natural gas development. Further work is necessary to assess the effects of natural gas development on grassland songbirds and other species as energy development proceeds.
Open Access
Effects of Anthropogenic Urea on Lakes of the North American Great Plains: Ecological Implications Based on Experimental and Observational Studies
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-10) Bogard, Matthew James; Leavitt, Peter; Weger, Harold; Yost, Chris; Waiser, Marley; Vinebrooke, Rolf D.
Urea consumption has increased dramatically since the 1960s and now comprises over 50% of the nitrogen (N)-based fertilizer used globally. Currently, only 30-50% of N-fertilizers applied to cropland are effectively used by crops, while the remainder is lost to the environment. Urea is also a component of livestock and human wastes. In principal,export of urea to lakes as a consequence of human activities may exacerbate ecological problems associated with eutrophication (e.g. increased productivity of aquatic fauna, deep water anoxia, biodiversity loss, fish kills, etc.), especially in phosphorus (P)-rich aquatic ecosystems. Biweekly measurements of urea content and limnological variables (water chemistry, hydrology, algae, zooplankton) during two summers in a chain of seven productive lakes in central Canada were used to quantify human and environmental influences on temporal and spatial patterns of urea occurrence. Mean (+ SD) urea concentrations varied between 28.7 + 14.0 and 131.7 + 64.9 μg N L-1, increased from headwater to downstream sites, and represented 10-50% of bio-available N. Principal components analysis demonstrated that urea concentrations were elevated in agriculturally-impacted lakes with abundant dissolved organic and inorganic nutrients (N, P, C) and low O2 concentrations, and were inconsistently correlated with plankton abundance and community composition. In contrast, urea concentrations were elevated more than two-fold in lakes receiving N from cities, despite low concentrations of urea in tertiary-treated urban effluent (~50% of lake values). Furthermore, dissolved organic N accounted for ~90% of total dissolved N in a survey of 69 closed basin lakes, suggesting that urea is ubiquitous in regional lakes. These findings suggest a new model for the regulation of the urea in lakes in which land use practices regulate lotic influx, stimulate regeneration from lake sediments, and influence the balance between planktonic consumption and release of urea. Differential effects of urea pollution on phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria were quantified in three mesocosm experiments conducted in P-rich, hypereutrophic Wascana Lake, Saskatchewan. Urea was added weekly at 0, 1, 3, 8, and 18 mg N L-1 to mesocosms (~3000-L) for 21-days each during July, August, and September of 2009. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) revealed all urea concentrations stimulated increases in phytoplankton biomass and productivity to a stable plateau by day 7, afterwards light and P may have limited future autotrophic responses. The magnitude of algal response generally increased with urea loads up to 3 – 5 mg N L-1, but additions beyond that level had little effect on algal abundance, and actually reduced primary production relative to maximum values. In contrast, bacterial abundance and production responded more slowly in a linear fashion to urea amendments, such that bacterial activity was sufficient to deplete oxygen by day 21 in trials with > 8 mg N L-1. These findings suggest that urea pollution at concentrations < 3 mg N L-1 may rapidly enhance net autotrophy, while urea additions > 5 mg N L-1 decreasingly favor net autotrophy. Together, these results suggest that the expected 100 million metric ton increase in urea use by ~2050 is likely to alter global N biogeochemistry, ecosystem metabolism,and accelerate water quality degradation in eutrophic aquatic ecosystems across the planet. This thesis concludes with a brief consideration of management strategies which may reduce urea influx to surface waters and favor maintenance of the ecological integrity of aquatic communities.
Open Access
Comparison of Three Dimensional Measurement Accuracy Using Stereo Vision
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-11) Peng, Jinglin; Paranjape, Raman; Mehrandezh, Mehran; Laforge, Paul; Yang, Xue-Dong
The stereo vision system has been widely used in recent years. The imaging process of a camera consists in projection from a three dimensional world to a two dimensional image in which one dimension of information has been lost. A vision system that consists of two cameras can use the implicit geometry constraint between the images to recover the three dimensional information. Thus, the stereo vision system can be used as a measuring tool. A few applications have been reported and some of them are included by the literature review. In this thesis, two parameters of the stereovision system have been used to test the measuring results: the distance between the cameras and the distance between the cameras and the object. Experimental results show that when the object is close to the cameras (about 912mm), three dimensional measurement has relatively small error. The error increases when the distance becomes larger. Experiments also verify that the larger the distance between the cameras (within the tested range), the better the measuring results, except for the measurements along the depth direction. A quantitative analysis is used to analyze the measuring sensitivity to the movement of the corner point. It shows that measurement along the axis is affected the least. The comparison also verifies that when the distance between the cameras becomes larger, the system becomes less sensitive to the small movement of the corner point.
Open Access
Using Ballistocardiography to Evaluate Cardiac Performance in Trained Male Ice Hockey Players
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-11) Vogt, Emelie Sara Maria; Neary, J. Patrick; Candow, Darren; Dorsch, Kim; Butcher, Scott
During exercise the demand on the heart increases considerably. Evidence suggests that long-term exercise training causes adaptations to the heart that are not present in the sedentary, and is commonly referred to as athlete’s heart. It is not unusual for the cardiac adaptations to mimic certain pathological conditions. Therefore, being able to differentiate the athletic heart from the pathological heart has important implications for trained athletes. The presence of cardiovascular disease permits disqualification from competition or cessation of training to prevent progression of the disease or sudden cardiac death. Commonly used diagnostic tools to evaluate cardiac performance (e.g., echocardiography) can be time consuming and costly, especially for mass screening of athletes. Ballistocardiography (BCG) is a non-invasive technology that has been used to record ultra-low frequency vibrations of the heart allowing for the measurement of important cardiac cycle events including timing and amplitudes of contraction. Recent developments in BCG have made this technology simple to use, as well as time- and costefficient in comparison to other more complicated and invasive techniques used to evaluate cardiac performance. Therefore, the following studies in this thesis project have attempted to (a) demonstrate the utility of using BCG as a screening device, and (b) determine any differences occurring in the athletic heart. The timing and amplitude of cardiac events in trained ice hockey players as well as a recreationally active control group were evaluated and compared using independent sample t-tests. Results found in the following studies demonstrated the utility of using simple, non-invasive BCG to measure cardiac performance, particularly for mass screening. As well, significant differences in cardiac performance were found between trained participants and the control group, thus allowing for the conclusion that regular exercise training leads to physiological changes of the heart.
Open Access
The Amending Formula, Meech Lake, and the Quebec Secession Reference: The Difficulties of Provincial Secession
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-11) Raymond, Jeffery Lee; Ward, Lee; Zhu, Yuchao; Blake, Raymond
The Quebec Secession Reference, rendered by the Supreme Court of Canada,affirmed the position held by the Government of Canada, which claimed that a referendum on sovereignty is not a sufficient legal instrument, in of itself, to effect the removal of a province from the current constitutional order. The Reference also maintains that a constitutional amendment is necessary in order for the province to legally secede. Moreover, it is the opinion of the Court that a referendum on sovereignty is the formal consultation of the people, by their government, with the purpose of determining the province‟s democratic intent to remove itself from the Canadian Federation. However, a successful referendum on sovereignty does not constitutionally empower a province to amend the Constitution independent of the relevant institutions as defined in the amending formula. In fact, the Court informs us that while a referendum on sovereignty is the expression of the democratic will of the people within that given province, it does not allow for the exclusion of the extra-provincial stakeholders within the Canadian federation. This thesis endeavours to understand, in detail and overall scope, the various legal options and limitations available to a province seeking to remove itself from the Canadian Federation. Central to this understanding is the assumption that provincial secession may only be achieved by way of a constitutional amendment, and that a unilateral declaration of independence is not within the jurisdictional power of any provincial legislature on its own. This thesis demonstrates the amending formula is the primary deterrent to any secessionist plan. Therefore, in order to have a comprehensive understanding of the constitutional impediments to secession, and to legitimate the position that the amending formula is the primary secession deterrent, this paper will attempt to delineate the relevant jurisdictional capacities of both the provincial and federal governments during a potential secession process. In order to determine why the question of secession was presented to the Supreme Court in the first place, it is necessary to provide a historical overview and a synoptic review of the Constitutional patriation process, the Meech Accord, the 1995 Quebec Referendum, and the Quebec Secession Reference. These events are critical to understanding why Quebec has demonstrated uneasiness with the idea of Canada as shared by the rest of the country. After presenting the historical overview, an examination of the legal difficulties associated with provincial secession will follow. In addition, the actions and statements of the political actors during the Reference will be examined in order to comprehend the motives of both secessionists and federalists. Finally, we will determine that political action has forced Canada to discuss and examine the legality of this issue. This paper will weigh the legal practicalities involving a referendum result that requires the governments of both Canada and the province of Quebec to negotiate terms regarding secession and whether a consensus would likely follow. Ultimately, the Canadian Constitution and its amending formula provides for the possibility of provincial secession, however, political consensus on the terms of secession would be extremely difficult to achieve. It is also possible the constitutional acceptance of Quebec as a distinct society would have avoided the threat of a secession process altogether.
Open Access
Advanced Music Training and Executive Function: A Neurocognitive Study
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-12) Sabir, Shamma Miriam; Alfano, Dennis P.; Arbuthnott, Katherine D.; MacLennan, Richard; Maslany, W. George
The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between advanced music training and neurocognitive functioning, with specific focus on executive function, working memory, and tactile interhemispheric transfer. Twenty professional musicians and a comparison group of 19 individuals with no formal music training or performance experience completed a battery of measures of executive functioning, working memory, and interhemispheric transfer. The musician group had an average of 20.4 years (SD = 9.6) of formal music training and had started formal music training at a mean age of 5.8 years (SD = 2.5). Results revealed significantly better performance of the musicians group on the Word, Colour, and Interference portions of the Stroop Test and on a test of tactile interhemispheric transfer. These findings provide support for the idea that advanced music training has a positive relationship with some aspects of executive function and interhemispheric transfer, and may have implications for the potential use of music training for therapeutic purposes, as well as for educational programming and policies regarding early music education in the classroom.
Open Access
The Optimal Workplace: Organizational and Managerial Structures Supporting Individual Role Quality in the Workplace
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-12) Rodenbush, Jenifer Dawn; Jurdi, Rozzet; Jeffery, Bonnie; Knuttila, Murray; Tompkins, Gary
Rationale: The purpose of this thesis is to examine employee perceptions and experiences in order to understand which attributes support the creation and maintenance of an optimal work culture. Aim: The thesis is driven by three areas of inquiry: an individual‘s perception of workplace quality and optimality; organizational and managerial attributes contributing to quality workplaces; and techniques applied in a workplace to achieve an optimal workplace culture and employee experience. Methodology: This investigation is situated under the rubric of the Interpretivist paradigm, which emphasizes the importance of understanding the ‗lived experiences‘ from the point of view of those who live it day to day as reality is socially and experientially based, local and specific. In line with this approach, qualitative methodology is used to address the research questions. The qualitative data used within this thesis are collected from four focus groups (n=11). Focus group interviews are conducted to collect original data about workplace managerial structures. The purpose is to add in-depth perspective to a small but growing collection of work in this area. The intent is not to generalize individual experiences, but to understand how a group of Saskatchewan government workers perceive the workplace and define what constitutes an optimal workplace. The data were analyzed using a grounded theory method. Lines of the transcription are sorted by thematic experiences, which are confirmed by empirical data to link individual experiences to relevant workplace issues. Discussion: Results show that personal growth, flexibility and autonomy, social networking, and managerial support, are the factors most sought after in a workplace. The focus group data indicates that individuals who have elevated levels of quality and satisfaction within their work role report more positive experiences in the workplace. Conclusion: Focus group participants discussed their workplace experiences and described how the organizational structure and management style of supervisors affected their perceived work culture. From the findings, interpersonal relationships with managers and peers were the most common source of support for individuals, followed by policies that promoted flexible environments and autonomy. Thus, it was determined that a workplace supporting individual efforts to balance work roles and obligations provides individuals with an advantage in maintaining work and personal role quality,and creating a sense of optimality at work. Keywords: Work and life roles; optimal workplace; role quality; support; managerial and organizational structures; balance; well-being; networking; and satisfaction.
Open Access
Statistical Modeling for Tailings Consolidation Using Index Properties
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-12) Paul, Arjun Chandra; Azam, Shahid; Sharma, Satish; Rahman, Magfur; Henni, Amr
The extraction of mineral resources from the earth generates large volume of mine tailings which are usually disposed hydraulically in tailings pond. To minimize the environmental concerns associated with deposition of mine wastes and reclamation of the containment ponds, the tailings need to undergo an efficient consolidation. The main objective of this research was to develop statistical models for tailings consolidation using index properties based on data in the literature thereby, capturing physicochemical interactions. The first model was developed for groups of tailings (sedimentary clays, residual soils and oil sand tailings) and the second model was developed for all tailings. Results indicated that void ratio varied significantly at low effective stress (< 5 kPa) and high hydraulic conductivity (> 10 [negative superscript 6] cm/s) for sedimentary clays and residual soils, because physicochemical interactions are maximum under these conditions. For oil sand tailings, effective stress (σ') and hydraulic conductivity (k) were strongly correlated with void ratio due to relative homogeneity in material composition. The effect of process conditions on consolidation behavior was found to be negligible for this class of material. By converting void ratio to liquidity index and normalized void ratio, volume compressibility and hydraulic conductivity data in the literature merged for materials of each group even at low σ' and high k. This means that the newly developed relationships can better describe tailings behavior even at low σ' and high k. The volume compressibility coefficients (A, B) varied linearly with plasticity index (I[subscript p]) whereas the hydraulic conductivity coefficients (C, D) followed decreasing power law functions of I[subscript p]. Strong agreements between modeled data and measured data (published in the literature) were obtained for both void ratio (R[superscript2] = 0.98) and hydraulic conductivity (R[superscript2] = 0.99).
Open Access
Flexible Vision-Based Control of Rotorcraft - The Case Studies: 2DOF Helicopter and 6DOF Quadrotor
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-12) Ratanasawanya, Chayatat; Azam, Shahid; Sharma, Satish; Rahman, Magfur; Henni, Amr
Two case studies of flexible vision-based control structure are presented in this work. The first structure is proposed for a 2DOF (degrees-of-freedom) model helicopter. The second structure is proposed for a 6DOF quadrotor. The position-based vision control was adopted for both structures with images acquired from a single camera in an eye-in-hand configuration. The control law proposed for the 2DOF model helicopter is able to track a fast maneuvering object regardless of its initial position on image or its distance from the camera. The equations of motion of the model helicopter are presented for the development of joint level Linear Quadratic Regulators (LQR). Linearized image Jacobian relating optical flow to incremental pitch and yaw motions required to correct task errors is discussed. The speed and precision of the control law in tracking a target object are demonstrated through two sets of experiments. The first experiments have the object fixed to the background while the second tests have the object moved through physical space. In both sets of experiments, the initial position of the object on image and the distance between the object and the camera are varied. The control structure proposed for the 6DOF quadrotor has the ability to switch between human-in-the-loop and vision-based controls. The task of the vision-based control when activated by the pilot is to hover the quadrotor at user-defined pose (position and orientation) relative to an object of interest. An image processing algorithm is developed to extract five non-coplanar feature points from images of the target object in real-time. The image coordinates of the feature points are passed to a pose estimation process based on the Pose from Orthography and Scaling with Iteration (POSIT)algorithm. The human-machine control flexibility is demonstrated by multiple switching between the two control modes in flight. The vision-based controller, when active, is able to bring the quadrotor into the neighborhood of the desired hover pose at a speed comparable to that of a control structure derived based on a motion capture and tracking system. Sources of UAV pose estimation error and constraints of the proposed control structure are also discussed.
Open Access
Double-Crested Cormorant Feeding in Multiple Lake Environments: Intrinsic Markers Reveal Several Prey Sources and Frequent Site Switching by Breeding Birds
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2011-12) Bugajski, Aleksandra; Somers, Christopher; Hall, Britt; Wissel, Bjoern; Wilson, Scott D.
Conflicts between piscivorous cormorants (Phalacrocorax spp.) and humans over fisheries resources occur worldwide. To determine the level of cormorant impacts on fisheries, fish biomass removals are estimated but typically assume only one source of prey near the roost or breeding colony. Cormorants can fly long distances (>30 km) to forage, possibly resulting in fish removal being spread out over several areas within large lakes, or among other bodies of water. I examined the diet and feeding locations of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus; hereafter cormorants) breeding in a multiple lake environment in north-central Saskatchewan, Canada. A majority of their diet was composed of non-sport and non-commercial fish species. Yellow perch (36-196 mm) were a common prey item for cormorants, making up 30-55% of fish biomass consumed, and were therefore used as a model species to determine sources of cormorant prey. Comparison of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes values in yellow perch collected by cormorants and those from known locations revealed several prey sources (different lakes and areas within lakes) and frequent, large-scale switching of feeding locations on a daily and seasonal basis. These findings were also substantiated by cormorant surveys throughout the study area using transect counts, and examination of flight directions to and from a major breeding colony. Prey from areas well-removed from the breeding colony lake (up to 30 km away) were an important part of cormorant diet, representing 70% of fish fed to nestlings in 2010 during the early chick rearing stage. Cormorants began to feed closer to the breeding colony during the late chick rearing stage. Linear discriminant analysis revealed classification accuracy of known location yellow perch to range from 69% to 86%, suggesting that stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen performed well as intrinsic markers of fish source in my study area. My research clearly shows that cormorant consumption of fish happens at a variety of locations, negating the value of the traditional approach of estimating biomass removal from the breeding colony lake as the guideline for making fisheries management decisions. Knowing where prey fish come from and estimating relative proportions taken from various sites will refine biomass removal estimates to help managers better understand potential interactions between cormorants and fisheries. In addition, my research shows that cormorants make decisions about foraging and feeding locations that are independent of breeding colony site selection; i.e., they often use sites well removed from the breeding colony. Factors that influence cormorant foraging locations need to be more thoroughly identified to advance our understanding of their ecology, and to aid fisheries management.
Open Access
Maternal Perceptions of Infant Sleep Problems
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-01) Chan, Kathy; Loutzenhiser, Lynn; Wright, Kristi; Price, Heather; Lewis, Patrick
Infant sleep problems have been found to be related to child, parent, and family difficulties in both the short and long term. Behavioural interventions have been shown to be important for reducing and preventing these associated problems. As the primary caregivers of infants, parents are key figures in providing information about their children to clinicians and researchers. They also determine whether and when to seek treatment for infant sleep problems, and how interventions are implemented. However, little is known about how parents perceive infant sleep problems, a factor that is important in parental decisions for seeking infant sleep interventions. Thus, it is vital to gain further insight into parents’ understanding of infant sleep problems. Guided by the transactional model of infant sleep developed by Sadeh, Tikotzky, and Scher (2010), this study explores the relationship between child age, mothers’ perception of infant sleep problems for their own children, mothers’ sleep-based attribution, and mothers’ assessment of infant sleep problems for children in a scenario. Results from a sample of 878 mothers of children 6 to 23 months of age showed that child age, mothers’ perception of a sleep problem for their own children, and sleep-based attributions were significant predictors of mothers’ assessment of infant sleep problem for scenario children. With regard to child age, mothers were more likely to give more responsibility for sleep behaviours to and to assess an infant sleep problem for older infants than younger infants. When mothers thought their own children had a sleep problem, this seemed to be related to their global perceptions of infant sleep behaviours, as they were also more likely to identify an infant sleep problem for a scenario child. Lastly, mothers attributed greater child responsibility (higher child-centered locus, controllability, and intentionality) and parent-centered locus for good sleep and less so for negative sleep. The implications of these findings and future directions are discussed.
Open Access
Kinetic Study of Catalytic Partial Oxidation of Synthetic Diesel for Hydrogen Production
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-01) Khan, Md. Faysal Ahamed; Idem, Raphael; Ibrahim, Hussameldin; Torabi, Farshid; Gu, Yongan; Zeng, Fanhua
The focus of this research is to study the kinetics of the catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) of synthetic diesel (SD) for hydrogen production. The kinetic experiments were done in a packed bed tubular reactor (PBTR) over a 5wt.%Ni/Ce[subscript 0.5Z]r[subscript 0.33]Ca0.085Y[subscript 0.085] (5N/CZCaY) catalyst prepared by a surfactant-assisted route. The SD is composed of 75 vol.% saturated hydrocarbons and 25 vol.% aromatic hydrocarbons, with an average chemical formula resembling commercial diesel C[subscript 12.87]H[subscript 24.81]. The kinetic experiments were conducted at atmospheric pressure, in the temperature range of 1123-1223K (850- 950 degrees C), with oxygen/synthetic diesel (O2/SD) ratio in the range of 6.7-10.5 and W/FSD,0 weight-time) in the range of 19008-47556 kg[subscript catalyst]*s/kmol[subscript SD]. The experimental results were used to derive an empirical power law rate model. This model was of the form: r'SD = K0e(-E/RT)NmSDNn02. Activation energy was found to be 16kJ/mol and the order of reaction with respect to SD was 1.89 (≈2) and with respect to oxygen was found to be 0.41 (≈1/2). Estimation of the values of the model parameters was based on the minimization of the sum of the residual squares of the reaction rates by Gauss-Newton and Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm using non-linear regression (NLREG) software. Excellent agreement between the experimental and predicted rate was established with an absolute average deviation (AAD) of 8%. The 5N/CZCaY catalyst was tested for an extended time on stream (TOS) operation in order to establish and demonstrate that the catalyst is stable and also to ensure steady state performance. In addition, the effects of reaction parameters such as reaction temperature, feed ratio (O[subscript 2]/SD), and weight-time W/F[subscript SD,0]) on the resultant catalytic activity of the chosen catalyst were also investigated in order to obtain the optimal operating conditions for H[subscript 2] production from CPOX of SD. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first of its kind on the CPOX reforming of SD.
Open Access
Investigation and Reconstructions of the Hydroclimatic Variability of the Souris River Basin
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-02) Vanstone, Jessica Rae; Sauchyn, David; Piwowar, Joseph; Hodder, Kyle; Spence, Chris
growing dependence on surface water resources in the Prairie Provinces has resulted in an increasing vulnerability to hydrological drought. A serious risk from recent and projected climate warming in the Canadian Prairies is a shift in the amount and timing of streamflow. The Souris River Basin has, over the years, been plagued with problems associated with either inadequate water supplies and flooding, both of which affect the social and economic well being of the residents of the Souris River Basin. Managing for the greater range of hydrologic variability evident in proxy records versus gauged, hydrometric records can prepare water managers for adaptation to climate change. Fourteen (2 previously collected and 12 new) moisture sensitive tree-ring sites were chosen and 37 chronologies (annual, earlywood, and latewood) were developed and used to create robust multi-proxy reconstructions of annual water year (October – September) and summer (June – August) streamflow for four gauges within the Souris River Basin. Multiple linear regressions were able to account for ~54-76% and ~38-67% of the instrumental variance for water-year and summer flows, respectively, extending the historical record as far back as 1726, for a total of 280 years. Hydrological extremes were quantified and classified as abnormally wet years being in the 75th percentile, while discharge in the lowest 25th percentile were considered as drought years, with the most severe episodes indicated by flows in the lowest 10th percentile. Water year flows indicate that the most severe low flow events took place in the late 1810s, mid 1830s, 1860s, late 1890s to early 1900s, and again in the mid 1950s. Streamflow reconstructions for the Souris Basin capture the low flow events occurring during the late 1880s through the 1890s (the „Great Die-Up‟); as well as another event known as one of the most severe and long lasting reconstructed droughts from 1841 through 1865, the drought of the late 1790s through the early 1800s, and the occurrence of „El Año del Hambre‟ – the year of hunger, during the late 1780s , as well as during the 12 year period from the 1750s to early 1760s. Spectral analyses provide evidence that streamflow variability in the Souris River Basin is driven by a combination of interannual (~2-6 year), interdecadal (~7-11 year), and multidecadal (~20-30 year) ocean-atmosphere oscillations, such as indices of ENSO, solar sunspot cycles, and PDO, respectively. Correlation analyses, cross-wavelet transforms and wavelet transform coherence identify significant periods of high common power and coherence of high, interdecadal, and low frequency oscillation relationships of streamflow with ENSO, solar sunspot cycles, and PDO indices, respectively. When these sea-surface temperatures and atmospheric oscillations are coupled, and in-phase with each other, it may lead to more prolonged and possibly greater in magnitude extremes than when climate anomalies are out of phase, resulting in a relatively modest influence of streamflow variability.
Open Access
The Fundamental Modules of the Classical Lie Algebras
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-02) Krimker Fernandez, Gustavo Sergio; Szechtman, Fernando; Herman, Allen; Volodin, Andrei; Gilligan, Bruce; Zhao, Kaiming
The main objective of this Thesis is the construction of the fundamental modules of the classical Lie algebras. Weyl’s Theorem shows that if L is a semisimple Lie algebra, then any finite dimensional L−module is a direct sum of irreducible L−modules. Since the classical algebras are semisimple, we just need the irreducible modules in order to obtain the others. On the other hand, the fundamental modules give us every irreducible L− module and, therefore, every finite dimensional L−module.
Open Access
Prairie Spirit: Medieval Revival Ecclesiastical Architecture in Saskatchewan, 1839 - 1913
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2012-03) Dube, Kristie Joy; Fizzard, Allison; Brennan, J. William; Charrier, Philip; Petry, Yvonne; Hillis, Bryan
Architecture is an excellent indicator of the society that produced it. Saskatchewan’s architecture, however, has not received sufficient analysis and there are some major gaps in its history. One of the greatest gaps concerns the medieval revival styles, the Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival styles. These two styles became especially common in the province’s early religious architecture. Therefore, this analysis focuses on the use of medieval revival styles in ecclesiastical architecture from 1839 to 1913. The Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches made use of these styles during Saskatchewan’s most competitive, optimistic, and challenging period. In some instances, these conditions fostered the construction of innovative churches. The majority of these innovative churches were constructed in the harshest rural conditions and are true symbols of the prairie spirit. These early rural prairie churches provide glimpses of a potential Saskatchewan approach to the international styles through both their architectural components and the stories of their construction.

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