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Item Open Access Historical accuracy in two video games: a study on reception theory and historical representation in Assassin's Creed(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-06) Safinuk, Corey Spencer; Leyton-Brown, Kenneth; Charrier, Philip; Rowe-McCulloch, MarisHistorical video games are a class of video games set in the past, and these games are considered authentic representations of the past by players. An examination of female nonplayable characters (NPCs) in Assassin’s Creed: Origins and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey using reception as a theoretical framework gauges the historical accuracy of the representations. While some aspects of the depictions were accurate, the accurate aspects were often supplemented with invented and inaccurate details, and other aspects were entirely ahistorical. Historical representations in video games have an impact on players’ understanding of the past, and because video games see regular graphical and story improvements, the representations will have a greater impact in future.Item Open Access Making (in)visible: Marginality, neurodiversity and COVID-19 in urban Saskatchewan(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-07) Knopf, Maren Francesca Savarese; Stewart, Michelle; Carter, Claire; Muhajarine, NazeemPeople with disabilities have been coined invisible citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research responds to the ways people with disabilities and other intersecting marginalities were made invisible during COVID-19 in urban Saskatchewan. Using arts-based participatory this research asks, “what are the practices that worked to invisibilize people with disabilities and intersecting marginalities during the COVID-19 pandemic?” To explore this question the project worked with three community-based organizations and individuals with disabilities in Regina Saskatchewan to unpack stories and truths while co-designing a creative outcome focused on lived experiences of COVID-19. Analysis explores the broader contexts in which people with disabilities were made invisible but includes particular emphasis on four focus areas: housing precarity, mental health, food insecurity and substance use. In doing so, the research is grounded in theoretical underpinnings from queer theory and disability justice. Both of which offer frameworks to examine the systems of compulsory able-bodiedness and heterosexuality that codify ideas surrounding normativity and influence pandemic responses. By telling the often-overlooked stories of people with disabilities, participants asserted that these stories are of importance and are fundamental to a collective understanding of how things happened during COVID-19. In such, the paper discusses how stories and artistic contributions from participants require the development of a radical imagination for post-pandemic futures. Keywords: Neurodiversity, COVID-19, Arts-Based Methods, Intersectionality, Invisibilization, Disability JusticeItem Open Access Enseigner entre les lignes en Saskatchewan française (1905-1968)(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-07) Gemme, Sarah-Maude; Poplyansky, Michael; Rheault, SylvainBased on an analysis of historical school textbooks, exams and other educational resources, this study aims to identify the nature of linguistic representations transposed into the school materials used in French-speaking Saskatchewan between the creation of the province in 1905 and the advent of immersions schools in 1968. The threat of anglicism and English (in general), the “soft” pronunciation of French Canadians, the natural interweaving of language and history and the awareness that there is a formal level of language to adopt were concerns at the time. The line between the imitation of a distinguished linguistic model inspired by Quebec’s classical colleges and the simplification of the language taught to French-speaking children in the province remained fragile. Founded in 1912, the Association catholique franco-canadienne de la Saskatchewan developed a series of initiatives with the aim of making French an attractive and valued language for the younger generation. Generally speaking, while not completely rejecting Quebec influence, francophone residents of Saskatchewan valued local thinking in education rather than idealizing what was done in a majority context. A certain distance needed to be maintained due to the Saskatchewan’s legal reality and the awareness that language is different in a minority setting. Keywords: French-speaking education; Fransaskois; Textbook; Standard French; Education history; Association catholique franco-canadienne de la SaskatchewanItem Open Access From gee to haw (and everything in between): Deconstructing the transspecies pidgin of mushing in northern Saskatchewan(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-07) Doley Barman, Pradeep Ranjan; Oehler, Alex; Abbott, Sarah; Brigham, MarkThis multispecies ethnography deconstructs the Gee Haw transspecies pidgin of settler origin mushing in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Through a focus on multisensory methodological inquiry, I describe interspecies communication and human perceptions around nonhuman knowledge in the context of sled dog racing. This pidgin is a product of biconstructivism which includes motherese (verbal) words rooted in the English language, vocalisation, short phrases for reinforcement, the use of material devices, and training methodologies to shape a multisensory experience of interspecies collaboration. Dogs are considered nonhuman athletes in this hybrid community. They are bred, cared and trained for their “drive”, speed, endurance and the ability to understand commands. The sled dog exchange is explored through the lens of team sports and perceptions around nonhuman “occupation” are explained. This study aims to contribute towards an academic space given to more than human communication by detailing its findings from Gee (right) to Haw (left) and everything in between. Keywords: mushing, pidgin, dog-human communication, nonhuman athletes, haptic socialityItem Open Access The prudent visionary: Mackenzie King's calculated leadership for a complex nation(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-03) Dean, Brady Stephen; Blake, Raymond; Belisle, Donica; Keshen, JeffWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King's enduring political legacy as Canada's longest-serving Prime Minister can be attributed to his ability to balance visionary leadership with political pragmatism. Through a nuanced understanding of Canada's complexity and its historical cleavages, King crafted his vision to align with the nation's readiness for change, while strategically avoiding actions that might threaten national unity. This study delves into King's intricate decision-making process, analyzing key moments throughout his political career, and culminating in the cancelled 1948 trade deal with the United States. By examining King's speeches, diaries, and policies, this research highlights how he carefully and meticulously pursued his vision for Canada. Such an appraisal of King’s leadership challenges the depiction of King by academics as indecisive and acting only to maintain political power. Moreover, this thesis argues that King's deliberate actions and inaction during critical junctures, such as during the conscription crisis during the Second World War and various policies to address both national and international circumstances while he was Prime Minister, demonstrates his leadership skills. In short, this thesis sheds light on the nuanced interplay between King's political maneuvering and his steadfast commitment to a vision for Canada that privileged national unity primarily while moving Canada in a direction that he believed best for the nation and for Canadians.Item Open Access Affect, the fragment, and essayism: How to live the ellipsis(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-07) Bindon, Shelley Diane; Trussler, Michael; Grande, Troni; Schnell, MelanieIn this collection of creative non-fiction essays, the author reflects on some of the life experiences that have shaped her. This project is especially attentive to the socio-political context that queer individuals have navigated in Canada in recent decades and is influenced and inspired by the affect theory and writing methodology found in The Hundreds by Lauren Berlant and Kathleen Stewart. Additionally, Brian Dillon’s Essayism: On Form, Feeling, and Non-Fiction has been instrumental to this project. Keywords: literary non-fiction; essay; affect theory; fragment; essayismItem Open Access Time-optimal motion planning of multiple collaborative robots for pick-and-place tasks(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-08) Rodrigues Pereira dos Santos, Ricardo; Mehrandezh, Mehran; Dai, Liming; Kabir, GolamThe ongoing revolution in robotic automation presents unparalleled opportunities and complex challenges for manufacturing industries. This thesis investigates optimization strategies for a fundamental robotic action: pick-and-place operations. Utilizing MATLAB's Robotics Toolbox, we devise detailed simulations, ranging from dual-robot static workflows (Scenario 1) to conveyor-integrated dynamism (Scenario 2). This research employs diverse optimization techniques that leverage both kinematic modeling and an analysis of robot dynamics for trajectory planning. The outcome? Significantly shortened task execution times through iterative trajectory refinement and tailored adjustments to the simulated work environment. Results not only underscore the tangible impact of simulation-driven optimization, but also point towards conveyor speed control as a key avenue for driving further efficiency gains. These findings offer a framework for continued improvement, and aim at facilitating real-world implementation of these optimized, robotic motion-planning strategies across future manufacturing contexts. Keywords: Robotic Manipulation, Optimization, Simulation, MATLAB, Trajectory Planning, Manufacturing Automation, DynamicsItem Open Access Characterization of CO2 separation from post-combustion flue gas mixtures using nanocomposite membrane: Molecular dynamics analysis(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-03) Quader, Niaz; Muthu, SD Jacob; Shirif, Ezeddin; Henni, AmrDependency on fossil fuels to fulfill the global energy requirement has led to an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial pollution. This has resulted in environmental impact, climate changes, etc. Hence, carbon capture became the focus of industries and academics to reduce the effects of greenhouse gases. However, capturing those free-flowing CO2, especially from the post-combustion flue gas has been a challenge. On the contrary, membrane-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) became a great option due to its retrofitting capability, sustainability, and reusability. Still, considerable research is required to properly investigate and identify the combination of the composite material which comprises both the characteristics of high diffusion rate, high permeability, and high selectivity. In this research, three different nanocomposite membranes composed of a Polyether-block-amide (PEBAX) matrix reinforced with carbon nanotube (CNT), armchair graphene, and zigzag graphene were modelled using a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation tool. Three different flue gas mixtures were modelled using the combination of CO2/N2, CO2/O2, and CO2/N2/O2 with an equal ratio (1:1) composition of the flue gas mixture and an actual post-combustion (APC) flue gas mixture ratio. Two different flue gas mixture were considered to understand the influence of the flue gas for variable concentration and density when permeating through the nanocomposite membrane. The nanocomposite membranes were characterized to determine the diffusion coefficient, selectivity, and permeability of the flue gas mixtures. The Molecular Dynamic Simulation results were obtained using LAMMPS MD modelling code and the visualization software, OVITO. The results confirmed that the CNT-based nano-reinforcement performed substantially better compared to graphene reinforcement for high CO2 selectivity and flue gas permeability for both the (1:1) and APC ratio due to high CO2 separation and capturing take place within the CNT, creating a steady flow for the flue gases with lower molecular weight. Whereas zigzag graphene-based nanocomposite with higher free volume was better suitable for the diffusion of CO2/N2 and CO2/N2/O2 flue gas composition for all ratios and CO2/O2 at equal (1:1) ratios. For CO2/O2 at the actual ratio, CNT-reinforced nanocomposite was found to be the better-performing nanocomposite membrane for flue gas diffusion. Keywords: Nano Composite Membrane, Molecular Dynamics, LAMMPS, Polyether-block-amide (PEBAX), Carbon Nanotube, Graphene, Gas Selectivity, Gas DiffusionItem Open Access Optimize performance of second life batteries in an electric vehicle charging network(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-07) Neigum, Kaila Marie; Wang, Zhanle (Gerald); Zhang, LeiThe ever-increasing concerns of climate change has led to an exponential growth of electric vehicles (EVs) as a way to decarbonize the transportation sector. Although this solution appears promising, this method to reduce transportation emissions does comes with its challenges. Two main criticisms of EVs are the increased electricity demand due to EV charging participation and the accumulation of retired EV batteries. This study aims to provide a solution to both of these concerns. The EV battery can only sustain the vehicle's needs for a limited time. Once the battery reaches a state of health (SOH) that can no longer support the driving requirements of the car, acceleration and duration, it must be retired from the EV. However, these batteries still have much remaining capacity and can be used in less demanding applications where they are referred to as second life batteries (SLBs). This study investigates utilizing SLBs to reduce the peak demand of an EV charging network. A hypothetical charging station in Saskatchewan will be under study as this province operates in a unique, xed-price market which is uncommonly found in previous literature. Since battery degradation is the premise of SLBs, further battery degradation in the form of both calendar and cycle aging will be included in the model. A multi-objective problem is formulated to minimize operational costs of the charging station by balancing battery degradation with the cost of demand, and to achieve optimal performance of the SLB by extending its remaining useful life (RUL). The algorithm updates the battery's SOH daily, and continues to run until the end of life condition of 70% SOH has been reached. The algorithm rst investigated considering only demand in the objective function, followed by the aforementioned multi-objective approach. It was found that considering battery degradation in the objective function allowed for optimal control of the charge and discharge scheduling of the ESS, and by doing so, the RUL of the SLB was signi cantly extended. Next, a new ESS was investigated using the same algorithm. The new ESS was able to generate marginally lower costs and higher savings compared to the SLB, however the SLB still provided signi cantly lower costs, compared to not incorporating ESS at all, at half the investment cost. Various economic metrics, such as total cost of operation, total savings, return on investment, net present value, payback period, and internal rate of return, are used in this study to draw conclusions on SLB use compared to new ESS. The data used in this study was to demonstrate the algorithm and to assess the use of SLBs to new ESS. Further, this study aims to o er a framework for charging station owners to use in assessing the feasibility of SLBs in their respective charging stations.Item Open Access Spinel: a framework for counting wheat spikes and kernels using UAV and ground-based imaging in breeding fields(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-08) Mohammed, Ahmed; Bais, Abdul; Paranjape, RamanQuantifying wheat spikes and kernels is crucial for evaluating the grain yield potential of diverse breeding lines. It enables breeders to measure grain yield and select superior breeding lines to improve crop productivity. Traditional methods for assessing these traits are labour-intensive, error-prone, and manual. Despite the widespread use of deep learning (DL) techniques in recent studies, there remains a gap in applying these methods to provide practical, quantified analyses for breeding field applications. This thesis introduces SPINEL (SPike and kerNEL), a comprehensive framework that combines unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-captured multispectral imaging and fieldcaptured RGB camera imaging for advanced phenotyping. The framework employs three distinct YOLOv8 models tailored to specific detection tasks. UAV-based imaging and infield imaging through mobile cameras are used to address the different scales of imaging required: UAV imaging for whole-field analysis and infield imaging for detailed kernel detection. Multispectral imaging offers more bands than traditional RGB and has proven effective in estimating plant stress and nitrogen content, though its use in spike counting is novel. The first YOLOv8 model focuses on plot detection, the second on spike detection using UAV-captured multispectral images, and the third on detecting spikes and kernels in field-captured RGB images. These models demonstrated high accuracy with mean average precision (mAP) scores of 95%, 86%, and 85%, respectively, indicating robustness in images with high spike density and diverse backgrounds. By integrating data with geolocation information from the multispectral images, SPINEL provides a comprehensive visual representation of spike count and average kernel per spike for each field plot, enabling breeders to assess spike-per-plot and kernel-per-spike traits efficiently. The SPINEL framework addresses the limitations of current methods by offering a precise, automated solution for phenotyping in wheat breeding, facilitating better decisionmaking for crop improvement.Item Open Access Source nutrients identification and management for Lake Diefenbaker irrigation canals(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-07) He, Yi Meng; Young, Stephanie; Wu, Peng; Veawab, Amornvadee (Amy)Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals are an essential part of the agriculture industry in Saskatchewan, Canada, as they provide irrigated water to the downstream farmers. However, filamentous algal blooms occur throughout canals every summer. These algae are not toxic but a nuisance. They block water intakes within the irrigation canals. At present, the approach for controlling algal blooms in Lake Diefenbaker’s M1 canal is manual cleaning of intake screens and periodic application of the algaecide Magnacide H, which is expensive (approximately one million dollars per year) and may be detrimental to the aquatic ecosystem and canal water quality if it is not handled properly. Therefore, there is a demonstrable need to develop cost-effective and environmentally friendly filamentous algal prevention and control technologies. Successful management of algal blooms in the M1 canal requires understanding nutrient dynamics in the canal, as nutrients are one of the critical factors that cause algal blooms. To date, there are no historical data on the characteristics of the M1 canal water and nutrient level in the periphyton. This study collected and analyzed water and periphyton samples from 18 Lake Diefenbaker M1 canal locations collected during nine field trips from June 2022 to October 2023. The results show that nutrient levels in the canal water were low, some below the detection limits. However, the nutrient levels in periphyton samples were much higher than that in the canal water. The results of the periphyton sample proved quantitatively that the internal source of nutrients is the main contributor to algal blooms in the M1 canal. In addition, site-specific nutrient prevention practices have also been developed to prevent the nutrients from outside the canals, such as from agricultural runoff. Keywords: Algal Blooms; Filamentous Algae; Internal Nutrient Loading; Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals; Nutrient Dynamics; Nutrient RecyclingItem Open Access A commercial pathway for evaluating the performance of a novel amine solvent blend in a mini-pilot plant for carbon capture(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-08) Bekoe, Patience Tiorkor; Idem, Raphael; Supap, Teeradet; Tontiwachwuthikul, Paitoon (P.T.)This study investigates the performance of a novel solvent bi-blend, 4M (2:2) AMP:1-(2HE) PRLD, for CO2 capture through absorption and desorption, providing a potential alternative to the conventional 5M Monoethanolamine (MEA). The pathway utilized to assess the performance of the amine bi-blend for commercial application involved conducting carbon capture experiments in a laboratory bench-scale mini-pilot plant. This approach aimed to validate the solvent's performance under conditions that mimic a full-scale commercial industrial CO2 capture plant. The research also addresses the urgent need for more efficient and cost-effective carbon capture solutions to combat increasing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Experiments were conducted with varying feed gas compositions, with CO2 concentrations ranging from 4.5% to 30%, to simulate different industrial emission scenarios. Key performance metrics, including CO2 absorption efficiency, cyclic capacity, mass transfer rates, and energy consumption for solvent regeneration, were meticulously evaluated. For a CO2 partial pressure of 4.5%, the novel solvent blend demonstrated significant performance enhancements compared to 5M MEA. Specifically, the 4M (2:2) AMP:1-(2HE) PRLD blend exhibited an enhancement in absorption efficiency by up to 25% at a reboiler temperature of 110 °C, 41% at 100 °C, and over 700% at 90 °C. Additionally, there was a reduction in regeneration energy requirements by approximately 30% at 110 °C, 43% at 100 °C, and 84% at 90 °C. The novel blend showed robust performance across a wide range of these parameters, indicating its versatility and suitability for diverse industrial applications. The study also revealed an average increase of 150% in the overall gas phase volumetric mass transfer coefficient (KGav) and 110% for the overall liquid-phase volumetric mass transfer coefficient (KLav). These significant improvements emphasize the novel blend's superior mass transfer performance, which is crucial for maximizing CO2 capture efficiency and column design. Parametric studies were conducted to understand the influence of various operational parameters on mass transfer performance. It was observed that the absorption efficiency and mass transfer rates were significantly influenced by CO2 loading, gas flow rate, desorption temperature and pressure. Results from this exercise showed that there is a strong positive correlation between the reboiler temperature and the efficiency as well as the overall mass transfer coefficient. It was also noted that the mass transfer was mainly controlled by the liquid phase while increasing the desorber pressure had an inverse effect on the lean amine loading which was attributed to the higher gas solubility at the higher pressure. The effect of CO2 partial pressure was also studied and a negative correlation was observed between CO2 partial pressure and the absorber efficiency, overall gas phase mass transfer coefficient. Heat duty analysis revealed that the novel solvent blend required less energy for regeneration, thus offering a more energy-efficient solution. The specific energy consumption for the AMP-PRLD blend was found to be significantly lower than that for 5M MEA, highlighting its potential to reduce operational costs and environmental impacts. The study concludes that the novel solvent blend not only provides a more efficient CO2 capture solution but also aligns with the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving net-zero emissions from the indirect co-combustion of natural gas and biomass for energy generation even at relatively lower desorption temperature (100-110 °C) thus significantly contributing to energy savings.Item Open Access Being believed: Life history and the healing journey of Indian Residential School survivors(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-07) Cote-Soop, Heather; Hanson, Cindy; Bockarie, Abu; O’Reilly, E. Kathleen; Cooper, ElizabethThis study explored the lives of two Elders who are Indian Residential School Survivors and asked whether they felt that being believed was a component of their healing processes of overcoming violence at Indian Residential School. I used the notion of “being believed” as an experience linked to epistemic injustice (an injustice related to knowledge and power differences). A considerable part of the Survivors’ healing processes centred on their experience with an out-of-court reparations process known as the Independent Assessment Process (IAP), a compensatory component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA). The study used life history research. A necessary element of life history research is learning about the life of the storyteller, and this study encouraged the Elders/Survivors to tell their stories about their lives from their perspective, culture, and within broader societal circumstances. The Elders/Survivors discussed knowledge systems, systems of power, healing processes, knowledge dissemination, and the Indian residential school compensation programs, especially the IAP. One unexpected finding was the Elders/Survivors felt the support of non-Indigenous peoples in the dissemination of Indigenous knowledge was important. The results suggest how epistemic (in)justice can be better understood by adult educators whose work includes social justice and democratizing knowledge, including practices which can be used to develop policy linked to healing process programs or compensation programs. Keywords: Elders, Survivors, Indian Residential Schools, Independent Assessment Process, epistemic injustice, healing process, life history, storytellingItem Open Access Future nostalgia in the twenty-first century: Hauntology, hermeneutics, and historicity in contemporary popular music(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-05) Jedlic, Ringo Yossarian; Marsh, Charity; Piercey, Robert; Ramsay, ChristineThis thesis offers a critical analysis and discussion of the philosophical and popular culture concept of hauntology and its application to popular music and theory of history, arguing that hauntology is limited in ways that make it unequipped for understanding popular music’s historicity as the form develops into the 2020s. Drawing on UK artist Dua Lipa’s 2020 album Future Nostalgia as a case study, the argument suggests that recent developments in music production and consumption challenge the hauntological understanding of pop’s historicity. It concludes that instead of looking at the historical in pop through the lens of hauntology, popular music’s relationship to historicity can be better understood through the framework of philosophical hermeneutics.Item Open Access A flight for survival and safety: A feminist phenomenological study of women's experiences of intimate partner violence and homelessness(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2023-10) Bayda, Brandy Andrea; Fletcher, Kara; Milne, Lise; Lovrod, Marie; Stewart-Tufescu, Ashleyhis study explores the experiences of four Saskatchewan women as they describe their experiences attempting to maintain housing after their abusive relationship had ended. Using phenomenological methodology provides rich descriptions of what it is like for survivors to navigate housing support services in Saskatchewan. The women’s experiences were gathered through in-person semi-structured interviews, allowing for both structure and flexibility. The study's findings highlight how additional barriers such as stigma, economic abuse, and financial struggles can create significant barriers for some women. These findings add to the growing scholarship in Saskatchewan exploring the link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and women's housing issues.Item Open Access Metal culvert renewal prioritization framework development: A study for Saskatchewan Highways(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2023-08) Marzbani, Pooneh; Kabir, Golam; Khan, Sharfuddin Ahmed; Khondoker, MohammadSaskatchewan comprises over 250,000 km (160,000 mi) of roads, the highest length of road surface compared to any other Canadian province. Along these roads, over 26,500 culverts have been installed for passaging water flow. Some of which have been installed over a century ago with no recorded installation dates. The failure of culverts, caused by a wide range of factors such as environmental, structural, or material failures, can result in sudden and catastrophic consequences, leading to injuries or loss of life. Additionally, damaged culverts can negatively impact water quality by causing erosion and scour, as well as impeding the passage of aquatic species between their habitats upstream and downstream. Thus, timely replacement of culverts can play a crucial role in minimizing such damages. This study evaluates three methods, namely, ordinal logistic regression, artificial neural network, and Fuzzy Inference System, for the prioritization of culverts for renewal. Specifically, the approach presented in this research is developed for metal pipe materials, which are extensively used in culvert installations. Using the condition of 1,000 metal culverts located along Saskatchewan highways, the three methods were employed to rank their condition and determine their renewal time. The evaluation of model performance was conducted using a range of established metrics including the area under the ROC (Receiver Operating characteristic) curve, percentage of correct predictions (PCP), confusion matrix, accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The results of the study indicate that the artificial neural network optimized by genetic algorithm outperforms the other two methods, providing the most effective approach for culvert renewal prioritization. Keywords: Culvert renewal; Ordinal Logistic Regression; Artificial Neural Network; Fuzzy Inference System.Item Open Access NHL draft gem mining: Use of the impact score to find Successful NHL players(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2023-03) Watson, Alexander Clarence Russell; Hoeber, Larena; Reimer, Harold; Pitariu, AdrianLess than 48% of NHL Draftees play in a single NHL game (Wilson, 2016). This percentage further decreases when looking at the players selected after the first round of the draft (Tingling et al., 2011). The objective of this study was to determine if the impact score can accurately predict NHL success for forwards and defensemen selected after the first round, when it comes to games played and points scored. The impact score is a percentage analytic that I created, that measures the player’s points per game total relative to the points scored by their teammates. Data was collected using HockeyDB and EliteProspects (hockey statistic databases) for players selected in the 2005-2015 NHL Entry Drafts. Data was then analyzed to see if having a higher impact score results in more NHL career games played, more minutes played per game, and more points per minute played. A regression was used to answer these questions for players drafted in round 1 and rounds 2-7, controlling for yearly age, league group, area of development, and position. It was found that the addition of the impact score offered significant changes in variation for career games played, time on ice per game, and points per time on ice, but this was more prominent for individuals selected in round 1. It was also found that there was no significant interaction between the impact score and position in both round 1 and rounds 2-7.Item Open Access Frequency domain analysis of U-Net segmented ultrasound images(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2023-08) Steenbock, Henrik Reimer; Zilles, Sandra; Yang, Xue-Dong; Teymurazyan, AramDuring prostate cancer brachytherapy, catheters are inserted into a patient's prostate for a highly localized radiation treatment. Accurately placed catheters are critical for successful treatment and ultrasound images are taken throughout the procedure to verify their exact positions. However, manually locating catheters on ultrasound images is extremely di cult, time consuming, and happens while the catheters are still in the patient. A fully automatic solution could signi cantly reduce procedure time and potentially even improve the precision. This thesis introduces a novel approach that segments 2D ultrasound images using the successful U-Net architecture to determine catheter candidates. These candidates are then extracted and Fourier Transformed into the frequency domain. De-convolution is performed directly in the frequency domain to reconstruct a number of frequency coe cients and remove noise. Additional features are calculated from the frequency coe cients to supplement the determined U-Net con dence and candidate location. Altogether, the features from each catheter candidate are classi ed by AdaBoost.Item Open Access Establishing wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Southern Saskatchewan(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2023-06) Reuter, Sonja Tamara; Hansmeier, Nicole; Chao, Tzu-Chiao; Yost, Chistopher; Van Hamme, JonathanWastewater surveillance has become a crucial part in the monitoring of the COVID-19 pandemic. Infected people shed SARS-CoV-2 in their feces, therefore, virus levels in wastewater reflect the trends in infection numbers in the population that contributes to the wastewater. Wastewater surveillance offers information about the spread of SARS-CoV-2 independent of testing strategies and individual choices and therefore better reflects population health than individual testing. In this study we compared five RNA extraction kits and reagents and different enrichment methods for wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and determined that the solids fraction of wastewater was most suitable for RNA extraction using the AllPrep PowerViral DNA/RNA Kit by Qiagen. We also examined the impact of storage on wastewater samples and determined that while short-term storage does not affect the samples significantly, longer storage changes the measured viral levels. We then used our protocol to establish a wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 viral levels in Regina and nine other locations in Southern Saskatchewan, Canada. We observed that the three waves of COVID-19 during the study time were caused by the variants Alpha, Delta and Omicron and that the SARSCoV- 2 RNA levels in wastewater were a good reflection of the reported active COVID-19 case numbers.Item Open Access Depositional environment and hydrothermal-diagenetic history of pre-salt carbonate in an Early Cretaceous rifted basin, offshore Brazil(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2023-04) Wang, Lu; Qing, Hairuo; Coulson, Ian; Raharimahefa, Tsilavo; Zeng, FanhuaThis study aimed to reveal the depositional and hydrothermal-diagenetic history for the sampled carbonates of the Macabu Formation, in Campos Basin, offshore Brazil. It also investigated the possible alteration conditions affecting these rocks, including: temperature, water pH, pCO2, and fluid origins. The carbonates of the Macabu Formation and their equivalent formations are commonly reported with lithologies composed of stevensite, spherulitic calcite, shrub-like calcite, dolomite matrix, and different forms of silica formed from hydrothermal alteration. However, no spherulite and shrub-like calcite have been observed in the samples investigated herein from well S2. The lithologies of the Upper and Lower units are primarily composed of: (a) depositional minerals: dolomite matrix, and minor detrital materials (quartz, mica, and feldspar); (b) diagenetic minerals: chert, chalcedony, euhedral mega-quartz, and blocky calcite; and (c) minor diagenetic minerals: siderite, illite + kaolinite, dolomite II, solid hydrocarbon materials, pyrite, fluorapatite, and phosphate. Dolomite is the matrix phase to the rock, and the crystal sizes and habits differ between the Upper and the Lower unit cores. The Upper unit core consists of fine grained, laminated dolomite, that is subhedral, whereas the Lower unit core comprises euhedral dolomite, lacking significant sedimentary structures but with distinct crystal zonation; three distinct zones are recognized. Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) analysis was designed to measure the δ18O and δ13C of the three zones, providing insight into the lake water chemistry and temperature changes from the surface to bottom during the deposition of dolomite and the early burial. Diagenetic calcite only occurs in the Upper unit. A limited number of samples were chosen to analyze the blocky calcite and the fine laminated dolomite within for their δ18O and δ13C signatures. The isotopic data for the Upper unit dolomite were compared with those of the Lower unit dolomite to investigate the reasons for an observed change in the alkalinity of lake water. Both the Upper and the Lower unit cores had been hydrothermally altered, principally by silicification. Silicification in the Lower unit was more intensive than for the Upper unit. There are recognized three phases of silicification in core samples of both the Upper and Lower units, and these phases favor the formation of chert, chalcedony, and euhedral mega-quartz, respectively. Chert acted as a replacement mineral, after the original dolomite. Chalcedony occurs as replacement and cementing mineral, and is associated with dissolution of earlier-formed chert and its re-precipitation. The chalcedony developed within one cavernous void has been observed with a maximum number of seven bands, which may represent repeated pulses of hydrothermal recharge, that were responsible for chalcedony precipitate. Euhedral mega-quartz from the Upper unit core were observed in a close association with diagenetic blocky calcite. The SIMS analysis was designed to examine the three phases of silicification, and a set of δ18O and δ30Si data for each phase were obtained. These data have provided evidence of the precipitating fluid temperatures, and of the geochemical character of fluids thought responsible to help understand their possible origins.