MS

thesisWater and energy are two inextricably linked resources. Each has the potential to limit the development of the other. There is a substantial body of research dedicated to understanding how the availability of water can limit energy production, but the alternate relationship - that of energy limiting water production - has received much less scrutiny. The demand for both resources is predicted to increase in tandem with population growth, potentially creating or adding to conflict in regions of water or energy scarcity. To greater understand the "water/energy nexus," - a commonly used term to describe their interdependence - each phase of water supply and consumption can be broken into discrete segments that have an associated energy requirement, called an energy factor. An energy factor is the amount of energy used to develop, convey and treat a given volume of water. This study presents a methodology for calculating the energy factors of each phase of the water supply cycle that is "outside the retail meter." A case study of a large water system in an arid region of the United States is used as an example system for applying these methods. Using the case study system as a framework, an energy demand model is developed that estimates baseline energy usage for heterogeneous water systems, and then models changes in energy requirement under three alternate water supply and demand scenarios. The results of the model scenarios reveal that water demand reductions, as can be brought about by targeted water efficiency programs, can have extended energy-saving impacts - affecting all other phases of the water supply cycle. A demand reduction of 25% for the case study water system resulted in a cumulative annual energy savings of 8.9 million kilowatt hours (kWh) - a decrease of 28% from its current level of energy consumption. Modeling the conversion of agricultural or currently untreated water to municipal uses within the case study resulted in an increase in energy requirement by 6.3 million kWh - a 20% increase. Reductions in the availability of imported surface water supply, such as those brought about by prolonged drought, climate change or reservoir sedimentation, can increase energy demand as well. An additional 5.7 million kWh are needed to ameliorate the effects of a 35% reduction in surface water supply for the case study water system - an 18% increase from its current energy requirement. The process and findings of this study reveal a lack of emphasis among water agencies concerning energy consumption, and indicate that changes in supply and use patterns have dramatic effects on energy usage

Évaluation d'un programme de parcours pré-professionnel : points de vue d’anciens étudiants du programme prémédical en milieu rural du Selkirk College

Background: Having a rural background is one of the most predictive factors in eventually having a rural practice, but people from rural areas face several barriers to post-secondary education. Pre-professional rural pathway initiatives are a potential solution. The Rural Pre-Medicine Program (RPM) at Selkirk College, British Columbia was developed to provide students with the credits necessary to apply to medicine and other health professional programs, an introduction to rural healthcare issues, and a unique and comprehensive support program to enable success. Methods: We administered a cross-sectional survey to former students who left the program from its inception in September 2014 to May 2020 to explore the extent to which program aims are being met. Results: The response rate was 49.4% (40/81). Respondents agreed the program increased their skills, their understanding of rural healthcare issues, and enhanced their competitiveness for applying to health professional programs. Most agreed the program increased their future rural work intentions. Respondents suggested that academic programming be more flexible to allow for more varied post-program pathways. Conclusion: This survey provides preliminary evidence the RPM Program is on track to increase the number of people with a rural affinity who prepare to become health professionals.Contexte : Le fait d'être issu d’un milieu rural est l'un des facteurs les plus prédictifs d'une pratique future dans un tel milieu. Toutefois, les habitants des régions rurales sont confrontés à plusieurs obstacles à l’accès à l'éducation postsecondaire. Les initiatives de parcours pré-professionnels en milieu rural sont une solution potentielle à ce problème. Le programme Rural Pre-Medicine (RPM) du Selkirk College, en Colombie-Britannique, a été conçu pour fournir aux étudiants les crédits nécessaires pour faire une demande d’admission en médecine et dans d'autres programmes de formation professionnelle en santé, une introduction aux enjeux des soins de santé en milieu rural et un programme de soutien unique et complet pour favoriser la réussite. Méthodes : Nous avons mené une enquête transversale auprès d'anciens étudiants ayant quitté le programme entre septembre 2014, année de sa création, et mai 2020 pour déterminer dans quelle mesure les objectifs du programme sont atteints. Résultats : Le taux de réponse a été de 49,4 % (40/81). Les répondants ont reconnu que le programme leur avait permis d'améliorer leurs compétences, de mieux comprendre les enjeux liés aux soins de santé en milieu rural et de rendre plus compétitive leur candidature aux programmes de formation professionnelle en santé. La plupart d'entre eux ont déclaré que le programme les avait confortés dans leur intention de travailler en milieu rural. Ils ont recommandé de rendre le cursus plus souple pour permettre des débouchés plus variés pour les diplômés. Conclusion : Les résultats de cette enquête semblent indiquer que le programme RPM permettrait d’augmenter le nombre de candidats à un métier de la santé attirés par le milieu rural

Au soutien de la pré-médecine rurale : évaluation descriptive des premières cohortes d’un programme de doctorat de premier cycle inédit

Implication Statement Selkirk College’s Rural Pre-Medicine (RPM) program launched in 2014 as a unique undergraduate initiative designed to increase the number of students who prepare for future careers in rural healthcare and, in the longterm, to play a role in reducing rural health disparities. Preliminary evaluation indicates most students in the program have rural backgrounds and the majority of graduates with follow-up data go on to further health science programming, including medical school. Challenges with retention have been identified. RPM is committed to ongoing program improvement and to providing a model for similar programs in other jurisdictions. Énoncé des implications de la recherche En 2014, le Collège Selkirk a lancé son programme de doctorat de premier cycle en pré-médecine rurale (PMR), une initiative unique visant à attirer davantage d’étudiants vers une carrière dans le domaine de la santé en milieu rural et, à long terme, à réduire les inégalités en matière de santé dans les zones rurales. L’évaluation préliminaire indique que la plupart des étudiants inscrits dans ce programme sont issus du milieu rural et que la majorité des diplômés pour lesquels des données étaient disponibles poursuivent leurs études en sciences de la santé, y compris en médecine. Des problèmes de rétention ont été mis en évidence. Le PMR s’inscrit dans une démarche d’amélioration continue et désire faire du programme un modèle à suivre ailleurs au Canada

Interaktivt Midgård: tønderæs og fanfiction-romancer i Peter Jacksons Hobbitten

RESUMÉI essayet ”On Fairy Stories” afslører forfatter J.R.R. Tolkien to vigtige begreber, der ligger til grund for hans idéer om Midgård og fantasy-litteratur: subskabelse og indlevelse. Mens begreberne har spillet en væsentlig rolle i den fanfiction- og spilkultur, der har omgivet hans værker, er begge også markant tilstede i Peter Jacksons kritiserede filmatisering af Hobbitten. Ved hjælp af strategier lig dem der benyttes af fankulturen, realiserer og udfordrer Jacksons filmatiseringer forfatterens oprindelige intentioner og viser alternative tilgangsmåder til et evigt udvidende Midgård. ABSTRACT In the essay ”On Fairy Stories”, author J.R.R. Tolkien reveals two important concepts behind his creation of Middle-earth and fantasy literature: subcreation and immersion. While both concepts have played a key role in the fanfiction and gaming culture surrounding his works, they are highly present in Peter Jackson’s often criticized adaptation of The Hobbit that uses interactive strategies similar to those applied by the fan culture to both realize and challenge the author’s original intentions while showing alternative ways of approaching an ever-expanding Middle-earth.

Avoiding grey seal depredation in the Baltic Sea while increasing catch rates of cod

The escalating conflict between gillnet fisheries and the growing seal populations in Baltic Sea has increased the need to reduce direct effects in form of reduced or damaged catches. This study describes the design and catch rates of 20 different seal safe cod (Gadus morhua) pot designs suitable for the Baltic Sea. Catches in numbers of individuals and total catch weight were recorded in 2762 pot hauls with pots varying in terms of size, shape, number of entrances, entrance length, pot placement in relation to the sea floor and catch holding chamber. The aim was to investigate the how the different designs and soak times affected the catch rates under similar conditions. Volume and soak time was significantly positively correlated with catch rates and round bottomstanding pots with a fish holding chamber, funnels and 5 entrances had the highest catch rates. The findings are important for the development of cod pots, which can allow the fishers to continue fishing in areas of high seal density with static gear and hence low-carbon emission and minimum bycatch of marine mammals and sea birds

Preventing Loneliness and Reducing Dropout: Results from the COMPLETE Intervention Study in Upper Secondary Schools in Norway

This study examines the impact of interventions aimed at improving psychosocial health on students’ perception of a caring school climate, their feelings of loneliness, and school completion in Norwegian upper secondary education. Two intervention conditions were tested: a universal single-tier intervention focused on improving the psychosocial school climate: the Dream School Program, and a multi-tier intervention combining the Dream School Program with a targeted measure, the Mental Health Support Team. The direct and indirect effects of these interventions on school completion were analyzed using structural equation models (SEM), with data from 1508 students (mean age at Time 1: 17.02 (SD = 0.92); 60.7% girls; 72.1% Norwegian-born). The results indicated that loneliness levels did not differ significantly between the intervention conditions. However, students in the multi-tier intervention group reported a significantly higher perception of a caring school climate compared to those in the single-tier intervention group. The multi-tier intervention group had a lower rate of school completion compared to the control group and the single-tier intervention group. The SEM analysis revealed that the multi-tier intervention reduced loneliness in the second year of upper secondary school by promoting a caring school climate in the first school year. In contrast, the single-tier intervention was associated with increased loneliness due to a decrease in the perception of a caring school climate. The implications of these findings are discussed.publishedVersio

Models for the Discrete Berth Allocation Problem: A Computational Comparison

Maritime transportation is the backbone of international trade. Over 80 % of global merchandise trade is transported by sea. With an ever increasing volume of maritime freight, the efficient handling of both ships and containers has never been more critical. In this paper we consider the problem of allocating arriving ships to discrete berth locations at container terminals. This problem is recognized as one of the most important processes for any container terminal. We review and describe the three main models of the discrete dynamic berth allocation problem, improve the performance of one model, and, through extensive numerical tests, compare all models from a computational perspective. The results indicate that a generalized set-partitioning model outperforms all other existing models