2011 / 6th Annual University of Regina Graduate Student Research Conference

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https://hdl.handle.net/10294/3259

Creating Community Consciousness: Students Expanding Knowledge & Creativity

Editors:

Timothy Maciag
Richard Dosselmann
Elizabeth Starks

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2011 University of Regina Graduate Students' Association Student Research Conference Schedule
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) University of Regina Graduate Students' Association
Open Access
The Purple Public Administration of Saskatchewan
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Fullmer, C. Scott
The public service in Saskatchewan has had difficulty defining the relationship with the political masters. It has been a long held principle that the public service should be willing to serve the elected despite ideological differences. The classical Woodrow Wilson model of public administration has been problematic due to a drift in the recognition between responsibilities of administrators and politicians, sometimes called the “grey” or “purple” zone in policy making. This paper argues that the new public management approach which promotes an exchange of contracts between administrators and politicians has lead to a toxic and adversarial relationship between politicians and administrators. A more formal recognition of the “purple” zone in public policy will enable the province to better tune the performance of management in the public sector and will better define the roles of both administrative and political decision-makers.
Open Access
Tracing Ghosts: The Uncanny Appropriation of History
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Edge, Cara
Dark deeds and spectral beings have long been part of the Gothic tradition so it is not surprising that they would play a large role in Margaret Atwood’s oeuvre, given her academic training and personal interest in the genre. However, Atwood has taken these traditional characteristics and altered them to help create a unique subgenre of Southern Ontario Gothic. Devious acts in Atwood’s works not only create the spectral beings, but also create a need for confession of them. While Lady Oracle does not begin with an outright admission of guilt on the part of the protagonist, the narration that follows is undoubtedly, as Peter Brooks defines confession: “a verbal act of self-recognition as wrongdoer [which] provides the basis of rehabilitation” (2). While Joan is aware that she is making a verbal confession, she is unaware for what she is confessing. Her confession is not an attempt to acknowledge what she has done, but rather to acknowledge who she is by revisiting the past. While she has indeed lived this story, and thus should find it familiar, her version of the story has been altered by time, creating an uncanny “second self,” or ghost, that resides on the boundary between the familiar and the grotesque. Rather than exorcising the ghost, as in traditional Gothic tales, Atwood’s Southern Ontario Gothic requires that the protagonist confesses her true identity and reintegrates her ghost back into herself in order to cease to be haunted.
Open Access
Molar heat capacities of Chemical Solvents used for the Absorption of Carbon Dioxide
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Rayer, Aravind V.; Henni, Amr
The molar heat capacity, Cp, is a key thermo physical quantity needed for thermodynamic calculations. It is crucial for designing chemical processes as well as for the progress of thermodynamic theories. Knowledge of the heat capacities of liquids as a function of temperature renders some insight into their molecular structure and provides information on intermolecular interactions.Thermochemical and thermodynamic calculations depend heavily on the temperature dependencies of the constant pressure heat capacities of liquid phases. This work reports measured molar heat capacities of 44 pure solvents in the temperature range 303.15 to 393.15 K at atmospheric pressure. The structural similarities in this set of compounds led us to explore the application of group additivity analysis to the reported heat capacity data. Two analyses are reported: the first yields estimates of CH3, CH2, CH, NH2, NH, N and OH group contributions to the molar heat capacities at each investigated temperature; the second analysis utilizes a molecular connectivity approach to obtain a single equation that models the molar heat capacities of the amines over the investigated temperature range. Absolute average deviations for the group additivity analysis was found to be less than 3% and for the molecular connectivity analysis was found to be less than 6%.
Open Access
The Devolution of Health Care in the Canadian North
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Sebastian, Ciara
The Constitution of Canada sets out the division of powers between the federal and provincial governments. Unlike provinces, territories are created by federal statute and not by the Constitution. They therefore have no inherent power, only that which is transferred to them by the federal government. While jurisdiction over matters relating to health rests with provincial governments, the federal government has jurisdiction over "Indians and lands reserved for Indians." These two sections create complications around who has jurisdiction, and therefore responsibility, over health services with respect to "Indians". The issue of jurisdiction with respect to health is made all the more complicated in the context of the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, where jurisdiction is not guaranteed in the Constitution. In 1954, the federal government assumed responsibility for the delivery of health services to all citizens of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. The federal and territorial governments agreed that this would be preferable over a system where the responsibility for health services would be shared between two levels of government, with the federal government being responsible for "Indians" living in the territories and the territorial governments responsible for everyone else. However in the 1980's, health care began to be gradually transferred back to the territorial governments thus bringing the territories more in line with provinces in terms of the responsibility for health services. This paper will compare and contrast the processes through which responsibility for health care services has been devolved from the federal government to the three territorial governments.
Open Access
Does Training in a Synthetic Environment Work? Emergency Intersection Clearing: Skill Acquisition and Skill Transfer
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Kratzig, Gregory P.
Each year, throughout North America, hundreds of people die in collisions that are a direct result of an emergency responder driving to a call. Finding ways to decrease this has become increasingly important, and one of these ways may be using simulator technology. While simulators have been used with great success in the areas of pilot and medical training, research using driving simulators in a law enforcement environment is sparse. This paper will provide evidence that will begin to fill the research gaps, by providing empirical evidence that systematically investigates how using driving simulators will not only enhance emergency response instruction, but will provide training opportunities that we could not previously teach. We have optimized time spent on training through the use of specific driving scenarios which are designed to provide clear evidence needed to achieve intersection clearing proficiency in a simulator. Although evidence of the transferability of skills from a simulated driving environment to a real world setting has been missing, this paper will report on the results of two years of research conducted with over 1500 police cadets trained at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Training Academy (RCMP) in Regina Saskatchewan. Using only 7 simulator scenarios, cadets are achieving maximum performance proficiency in a driving simulator. This proficiency has transferred into optimal performance in a real world training situation. This instructional method has reduced classroom sessions, and has permitted cadets to begin training in a police-training vehicle at level that previously first occurred in the field.
Open Access
Particle Identification Techniques for Nuclear Particle Physics Experiment
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Li, Wenliang; Huber, Garth
The 12 GeV electron beam upgrade at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) in Virginia calls for new set of experimental equipment to detect produced particles at higher momenta. In Experimental Hall C of JLab, the Super High Momentum Spectrometer (SHMS) will be installed as part of the upgrade. The essential role of SHMS is to allow scientists to distinguish different particle types and measure their momenta and angles of emission. A part of the SHMS instrumentation known as the Heavy Gas Cherenkov detector used for particle identification is being constructed at the University of Regina. The presentation will briefly present the particle identification techniques used in the SHMS, especially for the Heavy Gas Cherenkov detector.
Open Access
Visions of Food Sovereign Land Tenure in Saskatchewan
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Beingessner, Naomi
A radically different vision of access to and control over land, as the basis of a new food system, is necessary in striving for a socially and ecologically just agriculture. Using data from indepth interviews of farmers involved in a progressive agrarian organization and in alternative land tenure models, this paper explores visions of radical changes to the dominant agricultural land tenure system in Saskatchewan. Interviewees address primary problems of loss of farmers and rural communities, and accessibility, affordability, and concentration of land, as the result of market forces. They agree on several key points, including the importance of collective action, community, and values of interdependence, diversity, and sustainability, all consonant with food sovereignty's conception of land as multidimensional and noncommodifiable. In the struggle against the hegemonic ideology of private ownership of land, a common politicized vocabulary and frame of reference, and greater communication between actors about strategies, practices, and insights, may facilitate action. Food sovereignty can provide these for various groups tackling land tenure problems in Saskatchewan.
Open Access
Managing Price Risk on Canadian Farms
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Zak, Allen; Khan, Saqib
Agriculture commodity prices have experienced increased price volatility in recent years. This can be attributed in part to irregular weather events, increasing demand from developing countries for agricultural and food products and increased interest from non-commercial investment funds (speculators). This volatility in the agricultural commodity prices may result in a potential loss of revenue for the farmers, making their cash flows more risky. Volatility in the currency exchange rate is another contributor to farm price risk as the commodities in international markets are traded in U.S. dollars. If this price volatility is not properly managed it can result in loss of income and ultimately negative cash flows for larger operations. This paper strives to develop a risk management program (RMP) that can be used by producers to mitigate much of the price risk. The RMP provides price forecasts, using a combination of technical analysis that is based on market trends, and fundamental analysis that is based on the laws of demand and supply. Given the forecasted prices, the RMP will then recommend market timing strategies to optimize revenues. This means, rather than selling all the harvest together at one time, the producers would spread out the sale over different periods. The RMP forecasted trends would dictate what portion of the harvest would be sold in each period. The RMP further recommends hedging (risk reduction) strategies using futures and option contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges.
Open Access
Running on Empty: Alberta's pending resource problems
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Oram, Michael
Southern Alberta is facing a looming resource crisis that surprisingly has nothing to do with oil. The South Saskatchewan River Basin, which is the only river system that does not flow north, is at or has exceeded maximum water allotment for the region. This has created an impending crisis considering that the majority of the Alberta population lives in the southern region, including the sprawling metropolis that is Calgary. Several attempts have been made at solving this looming problem such as the new Alberta Land Use Framework, amendments to the Alberta MGA and various development plans such as the County of Rocky View’s Growth Management Strategy. However, with little to no collaboration between governing bodies and no proposed plans to ease the stresses on the South Saskatchewan River Basin, the problem remains prevalent. What options do policy makers have to solve this problem and how can this issue, which is largely ignored at the political level, be put on the public agenda? This presentation will explore these issues and there implications within both Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Open Access
Development of Inference Methodology for Supporting Understanding of Composting Processes
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Sun, Wei; Li, Gongchen; Huang, Gordon
Composting, one of the promising biotechnologies for solid waste management, is a process where organisms convert organic materials into a hygienic and bio-stable humus-like product. Food waste composting has gained increased attention in the past decade. Efficient operations of composting relies on insights of relationships between state variables (e.g. oxygen concentration, ash content, moisture content, and pH) and specific characteristics (e.g. microbial activities, maturity, and stability). Previously, many experimental approaches were developed in analyzing these relationships. However, experiment-based evaluations could hardly help quantify the interactions among multiple composting state variables. In comparison, a model-based analysis could help examine the inherent impacts of various factors on the biological and physiochemical processes and gain an in-depth insight into the related mechanisms. This study attempted to develop inference methodology based on multivariate analysis to describe the nonlinear relationships between the selected state variables and characteristics of interest in food waste composting. The experimental data from bench-scale composting reactors were used to demonstrate the applicability of proposed methods. These methods would help identify the most significant relationships, understand the interactive mechanisms, and infer the hard-to-obtain characteristics in an easier manner, during composting and many other environmental processes.
Open Access
Integrated Goal Programming for Water Resource Management and Water Pollution Control under Uncertainty
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Chen, Yumin; Li, Gongchen
In this study, an integrated inexact fuzzy chance-constrained goal programming (IFCCGP) approach is proposed for water resource management and effluent control at regional scale under uncertainty. IFCCGP integrated the interval programming (IP), fuzzy programming (FP), chance-constrained programming (CCP) within the goal programming framework. IFCCGP adopted lexicographic goal programming to deal with the preemptive water resource management priorities of different goals from different sectors. IFCCGP incorporated the CCP in its optimization process to analyze different streamflow scenarios and three typical scenarios were discussed. In this case, IFCCGP was applied to a water resource management system with multiple users, which means multiple water withdrawal sites and effluent discharge sites, within a region. Solutions from IFCCGP can provide water allocation patterns that lexicographically optimize the water resource management goals from different aspects according to their preemptive priorities, minimizing their deviation respectively. The reasonable solutions were generated for decision variables, with the optimal membership functions for the goals which represented the satisfaction levels of the goals. Thus a number of decision alternatives can be generated under different streamflow levels. This approach can provide decision makers the desired alternatives with acceptable satisfaction levels. The proposed approach can deal with practical problems associated with variety of uncertain information.
Open Access
An approach to face recognition using Bayesian networks
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Moise, Marian
There are many categories of algorithms that tackle face recognition, one of them being based on Bayesian Networks which allow to encode causal relationships between different kind of random variables, thus helping to express correlations between salient facial features(eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth). Although current algorithms are quite successful on controlled conditions, performance decreases rapidly in case of unconstrained viewing conditions, such as head pose and illumination for instance. In order to diminish the influence of lighting conditions, histogram equalization is used as a preprocessing algorithm. The used algorithm for features extraction from the grayscale image is the two-dimensional Cosine Transform (2D-DCT) and for facial features localization it has been used the Active Shape Models (ASM) which consists in fitting the shape of an object, using a previously learned global shape model, and represented as a set of landmark points on the face. The model of the used Bayesian Network can be explained as follow: the root node on the top represents a face (node F), which is composed of the relationships between eyebrows (node B), eyes (node E), the nose (node N) and the mouth (node M).And finally, these types of facial features generate the corresponding observations. Finally, we compare the proposed system with two popular appearance-based approaches: PCA (Principal Components Analysis or Eigenfaces) and LDA (Linear Discriminant Analysis or Fisherfaces).
Open Access
Insider looking out versus outsider looking in: Perspective effects on the memory of textual information
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Chan, Greta
In discourse processing, it has been demonstrated in numerous studies that readers construct mental pictures of what they are reading. For example, when the sentence “A woman came into the house” is read, the reader will form a mental picture in which the front of the woman is seen and the woman is moving toward the observer. On the contrary, when the sentence “A woman went into the house” is read, the reader will imagine seeing the back of the woman and she is moving away from the observer. In most published studies, researchers compared different mental representations by asking readers to read different sets of sentences. In other words, the researchers manipulated the text to create different mental representations in the readers. In the current study, I demonstrated that different mental representations could be created in different readers even when all the readers were reading the same text. The method I used was asking people to recall the same story from the perspectives of different characters (e.g., characters inside a house versus characters outside of the house). For this reason, my experimental manipulation was on the reader, not on the text. I found that this perspective-driven recall had a long-term effect on what people later believed they had read in the original text. Conclusion: Imagination that takes place after reading can distort readers’ memory for what they have originally read.
Open Access
2011 University of Regina Graduate Students' Association Student Research Conference Abstracts
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Maciag, Timothy; Dosselmann, Richard; Starks, Elizabeth
On behalf of the University of Regina Graduate Students' Association executive I would like to welcome you to the sixth annual Student Research Conference, titled Creating Community Consciousness: Students Expanding Knowledge & Creativity. The aim of the conference has remained the same as in previous years ~ to provide a platform for students to share their academic knowledge and creative works with the academic and local community. In helping organize this annual event I have had the unique perspective of witnessing first-hand the excitement of students in all disciplines ~ eager to come together and share their knowledge and creative works. It truly is something great. I wish to thank the university community and all of the sponsors for supporting this year's conference. I also wish to thank the many volunteers who have helped in organizing the event. I specifically wish to thank Richard Dosselmann, Elizabeth Starks, and Bahman Ahmadi for their ongoing help and support. I also wish to thank all of the members of the GSA executive: Adam Belton, Jane Rose, Emenike Ezechikwelu, Adewale Babatunde Aderoju, and Dorothea Wojtowicz, all of whom have helped make this conference possible. I wish to provide a special thanks to Bill Brown and the executive members of the GNU/Linux Open Source Users of Regina, Saskatchewan (LOSURS). With their participation in this year's event, it is my hope that it is the beginning of more collaborative efforts between university students and local community groups. I also wish to thank our two keynote speakers: Robert J Sawyer and Dr. Richard Stallman for their participation. Both of these speakers are people I admire very much and I am grateful I was given the opportunity to bring them to Regina to speak at this event ~ helping expose their work to the academic and local community. I hope that you take this opportunity to explore the research and creative works throughout the 2 day event and engage the presenters with questions and comments.
Open Access
Development and Application of Meso-scale Soil Test System
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Saadeldin, Ramy
This paper describes the design and fabrication of a new Mesoscale Soil Test System. This equipment is developed to find out innovative solutions for the construction of civil infrastructures on problematic soils, such as expansive clays. Expansive clays occur in the city of Regina and exhibit large amount of volume change due to seasonal climatic changes. The conventional laboratory test methods are not able to capture the field conditions of expansive clays. Development of modified testing methods can support geotechnical investigations for expansive soils. Meso-scale Oedometer Test System (MOTS) was fabricated at The University of Regina to take the advantage of testing an undisturbed Meso-scale soil samples (24 inches diameter). The (MOTS) is developed with approximate cost of $ 285,000 and is funded by Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). A high quality undisturbed sample of Regina clay was recently retrieved with the help of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure. The cost of sample acquisition was about $5,000 including the personnel time, backhoe operation, and transportation. MOTS apparatus will be provided with different sensors to measure the changes in loading, deformations and soil pressures.
Open Access
Determination of Carbamate Insecticides, their Degradation Products and Phenylurea Herbicides in Atmospheric Samples in the Prairie Agricultural Region
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Fergus, Nicole
Saskatchewan has the highest provincial pesticide usage in Canada. With the drought expected in Saskatchewan due to climate change, there will be increased crop production pressures and in turn, increased pesticide use. Increased pesticide use impacts human health, the environment, and resource management, among other things. Because of this, it is important to determine the amount of pesticides in the environment. This presentation introduces a new analytical method using liquid chromatography-positive electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of carbamate insecticides, their degradation products, and phenylurea herbicides in atmospheric samples. Atmospheric samples were collected at Bratt's Lake, Saskatchewan located in the prairie agricultural region. At present, there has been little to no atmospheric sampling of these pesticides, especially in western Canada and the objective is to provide the first detection for some of the target pesticides in the atmosphere.
Open Access
Advanced Photo Sensors for Particle and Medical Physics
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Tahani, Mehrnoosh
In recent years, tremendous effort has been expended on subatomic physics, with the building of new laboratories to better understand the natural laws governing the universe. Jefferson Lab, one of these Laboratories in the United States, contains four experimental halls and aims to explore some of the least understood aspects of our known physical laws. The new experimental hall in Jefferson Lab, Hall D, will house a new experiment called GlueX. A critical component of GlueX is a custom-designed device comprised of layers of optical fibres and lead sheets, which will detect subatomic particles. For this purpose, GlueX will be using a new-generation photo sensor, which also has wide applications in medical physics.
Open Access
Photochromic Dithenylethenes: From Sunglasses to the Controlled Release of Drugs
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Cai, James (Jianxin); Murphy, Scott
There are several classes of molecules in organic chemistry that exhibit photochromism, one of which is dithienylenthenes (DTEs). Photochromism is defined as a light-induced reversible transformation between two isomeric compounds. Upon irradiation with ultraviolet light, DTEs undergo a change in colour from colourless open-ring isomers to blue colored closed-ring isomers. This colour change is due to the extensive change in molecular geometry between their isomeric forms. The new DTE compounds that I have synthesized will be used to develop drug delivery vehicles that will release their drug cargo upon irradiation with light. Our DTEs will act as the ON/OFF switch for this delivery. These vehicles are prepared by incorporating our DTEs into the membrane of biocompatible lipid vesicles or liposomes, which are spherical, self-closed structures, composed of curved lipid bilayers which entrap part of the solvent, in which they freely float, into their interior. I have developed a new approach for the synthesis of symmetrical and asymmetrical DTE compounds. I will discuss these results and the recent synthesis of dimeric DTE molecules that will also be used in light-activated drug delivery therapies.
Open Access
A Grounded Theory Examination of the Experience of Experts Leading and Contributing to Support Groups for Women Suffering from Postpartum Depression
(University of Regina Graduate Students' Association, 2011-04-01) Roberts, Ashley
The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the subjective experiences and opinions of a group of women who have previously attended or facilitated support groups for women suffering from postpartum depression (PPD). PPD is one of the most commonly diagnosed postnatal complications in women, yet little is known about what the benefits and limitations of support groups are, or what the experience of attending a support group entails. This study will be conducted with the use of qualitative research methods, specifically grounded theory. Participants will be recruited using purposive sampling and will be asked to take part in an open-ended qualitative interview that will be tape-recorded and transcribed for analysis. The data derived from each interview will be analysed using a three-stage coding process that will allow for categories and themes to emerge. Finally, a propositional theory describing the experiences and opinions of the participants will be developed. The proposed study will give women who have extensive experience offering support and education to those suffering from postpartum depression a forum to share their knowledge and expertise. The data derived from the study may provide suggestions as to how to encourage more women who are suffering from PPD to use support groups to work towards healing. Furthermore, the information attained in the study could offer recommendations on how to improve the care offered by postpartum support groups.

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