Analysis of biomass supply chain efficiency and feedstock quality for sustainable small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) systems : a case study at the Alex Fraser Research Forest, British Columbia

Forest biomass utilization in British Columbia (BC) remains in its early stages due to limited incentives to shift from lower-cost local energy sources. This contrasts with substantial biomass waste, averaging 2.9 million m3 per year from 2019 to 2023. A significant portion of this waste contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with slash pile burning (SPB)—a common regional practice—releasing an estimated 2.7 megatons (Mt) of CO₂ equivalent in 2021. To address deteriorating climate change, the provincial government has committed to reducing SPB and facilitating bioeconomy by promoting sustainable biomass use. Located in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), the Alex Fraser Research Forest (AFRF) recently installed a small-scale Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant to convert biomass from fuel treatments into on-site energy (heat and power). This initiative serves as a model for remote communities to harness biomass in the energy transition away from fossil fuels. However, BC lacks comprehensive research on biomass supply chains for small-scale CHP plants. This research addressed this gap by examining the optimal biomass supply chain for AFRF’s CHP plant, focusing on: 1) supply chain cost-efficiency and 2) biomass feedstock quality. The supply chain analysis evaluated configurations for two harvesting methods—non-delimbed and delimbed energy wood harvesting—alongside machinery size and chipping location. Findings indicated that the most cost-effective configuration for non-delimbed harvesting includes conventional feller-buncher and grapple skidder with storage site chipping, while it includes conventional harvester and forwarder with storage site chipping for delimbed energy wood harvesting. The quality analysis assessed woodchips based on moisture content, particle size distribution, bulk density, and ash content. Results showed that one-year naturally dried non-delimbed energy wood is the most suitable biomass source for the CHP plant, supplemented with artificial drying as needed. By integrating the findings, the thesis demonstrated an optimal biomass supply chain for the CHP plant, recommending conventional feller-buncher, conventional grapple skidder, and one-year natural drying at storage site, followed by chipping to produce qualified woodchips for the CHP supply. The biomass cost is around 160 CAD/ODT (delivered to the storage facility), covering felling, primary transportation, and chipping, depending on three different treatment objectives.Forestry, Faculty ofGraduat

Investigating fuzzing strategies in a CI/CD setup

Fuzzing best practices suggest that fuzzing should be run for at least 24 hours, if not longer. This recommendation makes it hard to integrate fuzzing into CI/CD contexts, to rapidly check a commit for bugs. Existing studies on CI/CD fuzzing simulated a CI/CD environment by running undirected fuzzers on Magma benchmark programs, which have multiple bugs injected into a single version of the program. Directed fuzzers, such as AFLGo, aim to generate inputs that reach specific target locations in the program being fuzzed. Thus, they should be more effective at fuzzing in a CI/CD environment. In this study, we evaluate both directed and undirected fuzzers in a simulated CI/CD environment. Like prior work, we use Magma as a source of benchmarks, and run fuzzers for 10 minutes. Unlike prior work, we start the fuzzing process from a saturated corpus, rather than Magma's default corpus. Also unlike prior work, we run the fuzzers on versions of Magma programs with a single bug injected. Since Magma patches give directed fuzzers access to too precise information as to the bug location, we provide experimental designs to deal with this threat by adding additional lines of target code to evaluate the sensitivity of directed fuzzers. We report both preliminary results on a small subset of 50 benchmarks and complete results on all of them.Science, Faculty ofComputer Science, Department ofGraduat

Data-driven mitigation of false data injection cyberattacks in networked control systems

The full abstract for this thesis is available in the body of the thesis, and will be available when the embargo expires.Applied Science, Faculty ofEngineering, School of (Okanagan)Graduat

Navigating sensitivity : an exploration of self-acceptance among highly sensitive men

The concept of the highly sensitive man has received limited academic attention, despite a growing cultural shift toward recognizing diverse expressions of masculinity. This study explores the lived experiences of heterosexual highly sensitive men, examining the factors that have supported or hindered their self-acceptance. Using the Enhanced Critical Incident Technique (ECIT), nine participants were interviewed to identify key incidents that shaped their understanding of sensitivity. The findings reveal a number of categories, including emotional regulation, relationships, masculinity expectations, community, and spirituality. Participants described both supportive and challenging experiences in navigating societal norms that often devalue sensitivity in men. Additionally, this study explores the role of language in shaping perceptions of high sensitivity, highlighting the need for alternative terminology that fosters broader acceptance. By integrating existing literature on masculinity, sensory processing sensitivity, and mental health, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how highly sensitive men construct their identities and find belonging. The results suggest that increased awareness, education, and social support can enhance self-acceptance for highly sensitive men. Implications for therapy, workplace accommodations, and cultural discourse on masculinity are discussed.Education, Faculty ofEducational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department ofGraduat

A pipeline for discovery-based research on human T cell development : integrating spatial omics and PSC-T cell platforms

T cells play a critical role in adaptive immunity by recognizing self, versus non-self antigens, effectively protecting against pathogens and damaged or cancerous body cells. The application of T cells in cellular medicine to treat cancer and immunological disorders, as well as in personalized medicine to model disease pathologies, is rapidly expanding due to the potent role of T cells as mediators of the adaptive immune response. Pluripotent stem cell-derived T (PSC-T) cells have the potential to expand access to immunotherapies and disease modeling. However, current in vitro technologies have failed to recapitulate the signaling environments necessary to guide PSC-T cells towards mature helper and cytotoxic T cells in defined, feeder-free culture systems. T cells develop in the thymus, an organ specialized to support stage-specific T cell training via organization into spatially-defined niches. Previously, understanding of human T cell development and thymus niche biology was limited to interpretations from experimental animal models and observational learnings from patient populations with genetic mutations. These interpretations have proven challenging to adapt for in vitro PSC-T cell culture technology development. Here, we employ closed-loop learning to probe human T cell development. We first apply spatial multiomic technologies to create a spatially-defined map of tissue niches guiding T cell development in human postnatal thymus. We then test key insights into thymus niche biology in vitro using our PSC-T cell differentiation platform, demonstrating how our in vivo reference can be applied in vitro to guide T-lineage branching towards mature helper and cytotoxic PSC-T cells. Finally, we use our PSC-T platform to discover novel insights into the contribution of T cell receptor specificity to T-lineage branching. An additional insight from this work is how sex-based differences in thymus regulation and T cell development arise, and the potential for PSC-T platforms to model sex-based differences in T cell development and function. Overall, these data represent a unique resource to investigate how human thymus niche biology guides T cell development, validate niche signaling insights via PSC-T technology development, and demonstrate a novel technology to study and perturb human immune system development.Applied Science, Faculty ofBiomedical Engineering, School ofGraduat

Development of novel stable GRPR-targeting radiopharmaceuticals with low pancreas uptake for cancer diagnosis and therapy

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is overexpressed in multiple cancers, making it a promising target for diagnosis and therapy. However, most clinically evaluated GRPR-targeted radiopharmaceuticals show high accumulation in the pancreas and limited metabolic stability, which may restrict their diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This dissertation focuses on developing radiolabeled GRPR-targeting ligands with reduced pancreas uptake and improved metabolic stability to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy for GRPR-expressing tumors. Inspired by a series of GRPR antagonists published by Schally’s group, we first developed four radiolabeled GRPR antagonists based on the [Leu¹³ψThz¹⁴]Bombesin(7-14) sequence and three radiolabeled GRPR agonists by restoring the reduced peptide bond between residues 13-14 (Leu¹³ψThz¹⁴) in the [Leu¹³ψThz¹⁴]Bombesin(7-14) sequence with a normal amide bond. The antagonist [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB2 and agonist [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-TacBOMB2 showed good tumor uptake and minimal pancreas uptake. Then we modified our lead agonist and antagonist candidates (TacBOMB2 and TacsBOMB2) with unnatural amino acid substitution to strengthen the bonds at the potential cleavage sites of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) to improve the stability. Our findings indicate that the Tle¹⁰ and NMe-His¹² substitutions markedly improve the stability of the GRPR agonist TacBOMB2 without affecting its binding affinity. Though, with no significant improvement in stability, NMe-Gly¹¹ substitution was shown to improve the tumor uptake and provide a better tumor-to-background contrast ratios for [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-TacsBOMB5 derived from TacsBOMB2. Then we labeled our lead candidates with ¹⁷⁷Lu for further evaluations. However, shorter tumor retention and lower absorbed radiation doses in PC-3 tumor xenograft were observed for all our ¹⁷⁷Lu-labeled GRPR-targeted ligands compared with the clinically validated [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-RM2, indicating further optimizations are still needed to prolong the tumor retention for therapeutic applications. To avoid the oxidation of Thz, we replaced the Thz¹⁴ with Pro¹⁴ to potentially prolong the shelf-life of our top GRPR-targeted radiopharmaceuticals. GRPR antagonist, [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-ProBOMB5 (DOTA-Pip-[DPhe⁶,NMe-Gly¹¹,Leu¹³ψPro¹⁴]Bombesin(6-14)), showed great tumor uptake, minimal accumulation in pancreas, and excellent tumor-to-background contrast ratios among all the novel GRPR-targeted tracers in this dissertation. Our results are encouraging to support clinical translation of [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-ProBOMB5 as a diagnostic radiotracer for detecting GRPR-expressing lesions, particularly the lesions in or adjacent to the pancreas.Medicine, Faculty ofGraduat

Characterization and improved lifetime management of serverless cloud systems

The full abstract for this thesis is available in the body of the thesis, and will be available when the embargo expires.Applied Science, Faculty ofElectrical and Computer Engineering, Department ofGraduat

Indigenizing oral health providers’ curriculum worldwide and in Canada

Objectives: Curriculum Indigenization refers to any approach or philosophy of education for delivering Indigenous content and cultural perspectives to the learners. It remains unknown as to whether or not Indigenous content is addressed in the training of oral health providers worldwide, and in Canada. This study undertook a scoping review and a survey of all Canadian dental and dental hygiene programs to investigate the extent to which Indigenous content in addressed within oral health education curricula. Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute’s methodology was followed for the scoping review. The search encompassed literature available until November 1, 2023. Two reviewers performed literature screening independently. “Indigenous”, “education”, and “oral health” were used as initial keywords. An anonymous survey was distributed electronically among all 10 dental and 35 dental hygiene schools across Canada between September and October 2023. The survey focused on Indigenous education objectives, content, method of delivery, assessment, barriers, and facilitators to address such content in the curriculum. Descriptive (means and frequencies) data analyses were performed using SPSS software version 29.0 (SPSS Inc., IL, USA). Results: A total of 948 records were identified for the scoping review, and 23 studies met the criteria for data extraction. The most covered content included Indigenous culture, with rural and clinical placements being the most employed delivery methods, and surveys the most employed assessment technique. For the survey, 90% of dental (n=9) and 71% (n=25) of dental hygiene programs responded, from which 32 had Indigenous content (9 dental: 23 dental hygiene). Lecture format was the most employed teaching approach, and Indigenous people’s health was the most covered topic. A packed curriculum was the most mentioned barrier in offering Indigenous content, followed by Indigenous faculty shortage. Conclusions: Indigenous culture worldwide and Indigenous health in Canada are the most frequently covered contents according to the scoping review. The survey revealed progress in including Indigenous content within Canadian dental and dental hygiene programs, but challenges such as overcrowded curricula and faculty shortages persist. Future efforts should focus on overcoming these barriers and evaluating the long-term impact of these educational programs on health outcomes for Indigenous populations.Dentistry, Faculty ofGraduat

Cree Food Knowledge and Being Well

This paper explores the crucial role of Cree elders’ knowledge in revitalizing Indigenous food sovereignty, focusing on food as a cornerstone of Cree identity, spirituality, and wellbeing. Based on a study of Cree elders in Manitoba in 2020, this paper highlights the depth of Cree food knowledge, intertwined with spiritual practices, language, and land ethics. Using an Indigenous research paradigm, ten Cree elders were interviewed and shared their experiences of traditional communal practices, the detrimental impacts of colonialism on food systems, and the spiritual connections between food, land, and community. The elders emphasized the need for education and the preservation of Cree languages, which encode critical knowledge for sustaining food practices. Through their stories, elders illustrated how food sovereignty is not merely about physical sustenance but involves maintaining sacred relationships and responsibilities to the land and all its inhabitants. This research underscores the importance of Cree knowledge in reclaiming and sustaining Indigenous food systems, essential for the health and resilience of Cree communities.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofNon UBCReviewedFacult

Survey study on Hong Kong residents recently arrived in Canada (second wave) : Preliminary report

To further understand how Hong Kong residents who recently arrived or returned to Canada experience their settlement and integration process and how this process may have influenced their health and mental health conditions, we conducted a second wave of online surveys between September 8 and October 10, 2024. A total of 636 respondents completed the survey. As reported in this survey, this group of respondents are primarily middle-aged, highly educated, and fluent in English, consistent with the targeted population of the Canadian government’s special public policy, the Permanent Residence Pathways for Hong Kong Residents. The findings indicate that most respondents experienced difficulties searching for jobs that met their expectations, securing affordable housing, and accessing health care services; their settlement process was largely smooth. Many respondents established and maintained a relatively active social connection with families and friends in Canada and Hong Kong, who have been their significant social support and help. So far, their social circle has tended to be confined to other people from Hong Kong. Most respondents also demonstrated “healthy immigrant effects,” as most reported no major health and mental health concerns. Among all the stressors, over half of the respondents stated that their status and work problems were their significant sources of stress. These problems are interrelated and may be worsened due to the slowdown of their permanent resident application process. Indeed, nearly half of the respondents were unsure if they would stay in Canada for good. When encountering health and mental health issues, most did not receive formal support. They relied mainly on the support from their informal network, showcasing their impressive adaptability in navigating the challenges of settlement.Arts, Faculty ofSocial Work, School ofSociology, Department ofUnreviewedFacultyGraduat