bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Libertad y negatividad: un análisis de la autoconciencia en la Fenomenología del espíritu de Hegel
Authors: Ojeda Cabrera Jorge
Published: September 2024

El presente artículo ofrece un análisis de la búsqueda de la libertad de la conciencia en cuanto autoconciencia en la Fenomenología del espíritu. En primer lugar, examinaremos el fracaso del estoicismo y escepticismo como figuras de la libertad de la autoconciencia. En segundo lugar, analizaremos con detenimiento el carácter doble de la conciencia desdichada y los motivos que le impiden tomarse como una sola. Por último, veremos por qué para Hegel la negatividad es la fuerza interior de toda actividad que le permite a la conciencia alcanzar el punto de vista del espíritu y, a su vez, al espíritu reconciliarse consigo mismo y ser libre.
The Cooling of Irregularly Shaped Igneous Bodies
Authors: Jaeger J. C.
Published: September 2024

On the assumptions that thermal properties of liquid and solid magma and country rock are the same,and that cooling of the magma takes place by conduction and not by development of systematic convection cells, temperature values are calculated for several types of cooling lava sheets. Isotherms for these conditions are presented. In light of the data derived by formulation of the pattern of isotherms, the assumption that joint columns form perpendicular to isotherms in a cooled igneous body is not necessarily valid. Metamorphism of country rock at specific sites related to the cooling magma is discussed.
High Temperature Acid Rocks Associated With Serpentinite in Eastern Quebec
Authors: Olsen Edward John
Published: September 2024

Highly serpentinized alpine-type peridotites frequently have small, relatively acid rock lenses associated with them. Weakly serpentinized or unserpentinized peridotites are usually associated with segregations of olivine gabbro. A study of the acid rocks found in the highly serpentinized peridotite at Asbestos in eastern Quebec indicates that they are metasomatically altered gabbro bodies. The initial alteration was to a biotite-saussurite which was further altered to a microcline-diopside-albite-quartz rock. The degree of alteration was dependent on structural attitude. These rocks represent high temperature alteration in the amphibolite facies which indicates that the serpentinization of the surrounding peridotite has taken place at a higher temperature than is represented by the general level of regional metamorphism, the epidote-amphibolite facies. Chemical evidence suggests that the components which were added to the gabbros may have been derived in part from the peridotite undergoing serpentinization.
Chemical and Crystal Controlled Magnetization of Rocks
Authors: Howell Lynn G.
Published: September 2024

In large part this review is intended to show the role of chemical magnetization among the principal processes by which rocks become magnetized. Chemical magnetization can occur at any time during the geological history of a formation. The high coercive force of hematite makes for a stable magnetization; thus, red beds have been investigated extensively. However, the extent to which red beds are chemically magnetized has not been established. Since the hematite crystal shows a strong magnetic anisotropy, being ferromagnetic in the basal plane and only slightly, if at all, ferromagnetic along the c-axis, preferred crystallographic orientation can exert a control as to the direction of magnetization. In the Allard Lake hemo-ilmenite ore of Quebec, the preferred orientation seems to exert a controlling influence on the direction of magnetization. Also, such an influence may exist in the Clinton Fe ore of Alabama. On the other hand, chemically magnetized hematite from concretions in the Wilcox beds of Texas shows no appreciable preferred crystallographic orientation as found by both X-ray and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Thus, in this case at least, hematite crystals could grow without control of orientation by the Earth9s magnetic field.
The Join Ca 3 Al 2 Si 3 O 12 -Mg 3 Al 2 Si 3 O 12 and Its Bearing on the System CaO-MgO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 at Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Chinner G. A. , Schairer J. F.
Published: September 2024

Reports the results of experimental investigations of the liquidus and solidus relations along the join grossularite-pyrope, and discusses their petrologic implications.Among the latter, it is noted that the data indicate that instead of being the end product of the gabbro-norite contamination sequence, garnet- and cordierite-bearing magmatic rocks in contact zones may in some instances have been formed by fractional melting of country rock.
Late Newark Fault Versus pre-Newark Peneplain in Connecticut
Authors: Fritts Crawford E.
Published: September 2024

Inferred structural features in S.-central Connecticut previously presented in favor of a pre-Newark peneplain have not been confirmed by recent detailed geologic mapping. Part of the western boundary of the E.-dipping Newark Group [Triassic] formerly interpreted as an unconformable contact now is known to be a fault of late Newark or post-Newark age. The irregularity of the boundary near Bethany Mountain is the result of differential erosion where relief on the pre-Newark surface is moderately high. There is no evidence for the oblique faults formerly inferred there to offset a pre-Newark peneplain. An irregular diabase sheet near the base of the Newark Group in that area is clearly dikelike at Bethany Gap and cannot be used as a marker bed for recognizing concealed faults.
Variations of Some Patagonian Glaciers Since the Late-Glacial
Authors: Mercer John H.
Published: September 2024

After a late-glacial readvance, the glaciers in Argentine Patagonia receded quickly, and by 10,000 B.P. at least one glacier was little larger than it is today. Three episodes of postglacial readvance followed, the first culminating about 4600 B.P. during early Sub-Boreal time, the second about 2000 B.P. during the Sub-Atlantic, and the third during recent centuries. In contrast to most other parts of the world, no glacier, so far as is known, reached its maximum postglacial extent in recent centuries.
Geomorphological Systems; Equilibrium and Dynamics
Authors: Howard A. D.
Published: September 2024

Landform features may be considered as open systems of complex behavior. Adjustments of landforms to changes in environment tend toward an equilibrium state. The influence of a past process on a geomorphic system is proportional to the intensity and duration of its action but inversely proportional to the time elapsed since the action. Tectonic movements are not reflected in a simple manner through individual slopes and gradients of landforms. Given areal uniformity of climate and tectonic history, uniformity of landform parameters characterizes regions of homogeneous geology, whereas contrasting landforms usually reflect areal variations in stratigraphy and structure.
GENERATION Z AND THEIR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Authors: Cazan Ioana-Ruxandra
Published: September 2024

In the ever-changing 21st century, a new generation has emerged that is ready to change the way we see and interact with others. The aim of this article is to observe the intricacies and complexities of Generation Z's personal relationships. To study this particular generation in more detail, we conducted a quantitative study, a survey to be precise, and the results were interesting. We were able to observe how much value these people place on their personal relationships, how they maintain them, how they engage with each other and how important these relationships are to them personally. Personal connections were highly valued by the majority of participants and had a major impact on their lives. Most of them enjoy meaningful relationships and are satisfied with their circumstances. Despite the fact that this generation is chronically online, it seems to be much easier for most of them to build relationships offline, face-to-face. The ability to express ourselves better in person, the fact that we are social creatures, and the fact that real friendships can form and last much longer are just some of the reasons why some people find it easier to build relationships offline.
Unveiling the Behavioural Biases of Retail Investors in Derivative Market
Authors: Mageswari S.S. , Sasirekha P.
Published: September 2024

The derivative market is growing faster than capital markets in recent years. Investors’ focus is moved towards the futures market rather than on the stock market. The involvement of individual investors has increased in the derivative market. In investing, biases lead investors to make irrational and emotional decisions. The study tracks how investors’ be- havioural biases influence their investment decisions and also analyses the moderating effect of “financial literacy” and “self-efficacy” in the derivatives market. The snowball sampling technique was used to collect the primary data from 125 investors from Coimbatore city. Factor Analysis, Multiple Regression, and Structural equation Model were used for analysis. The results revealed that Behavioural biases such as “Herding Behaviour”, “Overconfidence” and “Mental Accounting” positively affect investing in the derivative market and the mod- erating variables “Financial Literacy”, and “Self-Efficacy” directly influence the behaviour of the investors which in turn affects derivative trading.
Asymmetric Effects of Expected Oil Wealth on the Demand for Money in Nigeria
Authors: Enisan Akinlo Anthony
Published: September 2024

The paper investigates the asymmetric effects of expected oil wealth on the demand for money in Nigeria over the period 1986:Q1–2020:Q4, by using linear autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and nonlinear ARDL (NARDL) approaches. The linear (ARDL) bounds testing approach shows that expected oil wealth has no significant effect both in the short and long run. However, when a NARDL model is applied, the effect of negative and positive expected oil wealth shocks on the demand for money is significant and unequal in the long run, with a higher long-term impact of negative shocks compared to positive shocks. This result highlights a long-run asymmetry in the transmission of expected oil wealth shocks. Expected oil wealth is thus rather a long-run phenomenon for the Nigerian money demand function.
Elderly Cruelty: What is the Role of the Caregiver?
Authors: Lucena Hérika Juliana de Araújo , Ribeiro Júnior Francisco José Pascoal
Published: September 2024

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify studies on the prevalence of abuse in the elderly and to estimate the profile of the caregiver of the elderly and the possible reasons that lead them to present a relationship of mistreatment towards the elderly.
 
Theoretical Framework: Population aging is a global phenomenon that has led to an increase in the demand for long-term care for the elderly. In this context, the role of the caregiver, whether formal or informal, becomes crucial for the well-being of this population.
 
Method: Systematic review of population-based studies in electronic databases (PubMed and LILACS), covering the last 15 years. Population-based studies were included and studies without a defined methodological definition were excluded.
Results and Discussion: Thirty-eight articles were found, but only 13 articles were selected. The prevalence studies found coefficients of mistreatment, with physical abuse between 1.2% and 18%. The overload of daily primary care and the lack of careful assessment and subsequent appropriate treatment of the caregiver appear to be related to this relationship of mistreatment.
 
Research Implications: The research may influence the formulation and implementation of public policies aimed at protecting the elderly from abuse. This includes the creation of training programs for caregivers and the strengthening of legislation that protects the elderly.
 
Originality/Value: Although there are several studies on mistreatment of the elderly, the originality of this research lies in its specific approach to the role of caregivers, both formal and informal, in the occurrence or prevention of such mistreatment.
Machine Learning for Accurate Energy Analysis of Double Beta Decay Events
Authors: Naar Meghan
Published: September 2024

Point-contact germanium detectors are used to detect and analyze particles and their decay processes. This research focuses on the search for a phenomenon known as neutrinoless double beta decay, where two neutrons within a nucleus transform into two protons, emitting electrons in the process. Unlike standard double beta decay, no neutrinos are emitted, suggesting that the neutrino may act as its own antiparticle, effectively canceling itself out. Detecting this process would provide crucial insights into the nature of neutrino mass.
During such an event, the detector registers a spike in energy due to the emitted electrons, producing a step-like pulse in the output channels. The energy of the event is determined by the difference in charge between the ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ steps of the pulse. However, accurately determining the energy is complicated by the presence of a resistor in the detector, which causes the top step to decay exponentially back to a baseline in preparation for the next event. This decay makes it challenging to determine the true energy of the pulse.
My work this summer focused on developing machine learning models to reconstruct the step-like nature of pulses from their decayed versions recorded by the detector. This involved constructing deep neural networks trained on inputs (decayed pulses) and corresponding targets (the original step pulses) to learn to accurately reconstruct the target from the input. Initially, the networks were trained on simulated detector data. Once proficient in reconstruction, electronic noise was added to the input pulses to simulate real-world conditions, under which the models were trained to remove both electronic noise and decay. The models were trained to handle pulses with varying decay constants to improve their generalization ability. These neural networks can now be applied to real detector data for accurate energy analysis of double beta decay events.
Stranded Asset Risk in the Bond Market
Authors: Kim Minkang , McGinnis Lauren
Published: September 2024

Asset stranding involves permanently shutting down productive but harmful facilities that impose negative externalities on society. Because bonds are a major source of funding for corporations, investors such as pension funds and insurance companies seeking to reduce their exposure to asset stranding have the potential to limit the supply of capital to polluting firms by divesting their holdings of the polluting firms’ bonds. We examine the implications of stranded asset risk for polluting firms regulated under the Clean Air Act (CAA). Polluting facilities located in counties in violation of the CAA are required to comply with the act’s provisions regardless of cost, leading to a contraction in capital for companies with facilities located in affected counties. More broadly, this study contributes to our understanding of whether and how pollution externalities affect private-sector capital supply to polluting firms.
Investigating Secant Varieties
Authors: Luo Tony , Zwanziger Bernd
Published: September 2024

A variety is a geometric object that locally looks like the set of points that are the solutions of some polynomial equations. Any given variety gives rise to a sequence of secant varieties indexed by the nonnegative integers. The kth secant variety is the union of all planes spanned by k+1 points on the original variety. Like vector spaces in linear algebra, varieties have an intrinsic dimension. A naive parameter count produces an upper bound on the dimension of the kth secant variety called its expected dimension. A secant variety is called defective if its actual dimension is less than its expected dimension. Despite being well understood in a few interesting cases, the classification of varieties with defective secant varieties in general remains far from complete. For a specific class of varieties called smooth toric varieties, our goal is to determine which ones admit defective secant varieties. Using the computer algebra system Macaulay2, we conducted experiments on this class of varieties and collected data on defectiveness, focusing on varieties of low dimension and Picard rank. Toric varieties have strong connections to combinatorics and convex polytopes; for any toric variety, there is a corresponding polytope that contains data about the variety. From the polytope, we are able to construct a particular kind of matrix that encodes information about the variety and its secants, which allowed us to prove defectivity for various Picard rank 2 toric varieties. Conversely, applying results from a paper by Laface–Massarenti–Rischter (2022) to the polytopes, we were able to prove non-defectivity of all secant varieties of certain toric surfaces with Picard rank 2. These statements together yield a classification of defective secant varieties for a subset of 2-dimensional smooth toric varieties with Picard rank 2.
Do Healthcare Institutions Have Consciences and a Resultant Ethical Right to Institutional Conscientious Objection?
Authors: Abernethy Nicholas
Published: September 2024

In healthcare, Institutional Conscientious Objection (ICO) occurs when a healthcare institution (e.g., a hospital) refuses to provide a healthcare service (e.g., abortion) on the grounds that this service contradicts its conscience. Debate rages over whether governments should allow ICO in healthcare. Currently, some do, and some don’t. Among other reasons, the debate matters because ICO can have dramatic effects on patients’ ability to access healthcare services. The debate encompasses many topics, but this paper focuses on the arguments regarding institutional conscience. This topic matters because it is legally important in many countries, and because it is central to the ICO debate; both pro-ICO arguments and anti-ICO arguments are often built on claims about the existence or nonexistence of institutional conscience, respectively. This paper’s overarching question is as follows: do healthcare institutions have consciences and a resultant ethical right to ICO? I answer this question by separating it into two sub-questions. The first is as follows: do healthcare institutions have consciences? I argue no. What I add to the literature here is in-depth critical analysis of the debates over what is necessary to satisfy the criteria for conscience, and I bring in lessons from the philosophy of group agency. Unlike the vast majority of ICO opponents, I charitably engage with the best and most recent arguments for institutional conscience (in particular, work by Xavier Symons and Reginald Mary Chua). The second question is as follows: if healthcare institutions do have consciences, does it follow that they thereby have an ethical right to ICO? Again, I argue no. I answer this question via a highly novel and highly systematic approach, which involves precisely conceptually dissecting healthcare institutions, and I bring in lessons from the philosophy of group rights.
Characterization and Optimization of Biocatalysts for New Recycling Technologies
Authors: Conacher Kate
Published: September 2024

While the term “plastic” refers to a variety of chemically distinct compounds, these materials are all prized for one key property: incredible chemical stability. Consequently, plastics have become a crutch for modern society, both industrially and at-home. However, mechanical recycling initiatives have proven largely ineffective and uneconomical, which has led to a widespread accumulation of plastics and microplastics in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The limitations of physical recycling have increased interest in alternative protocols like chemical recycling methods. This project explores an intriguing biochemical approach which involves enzymes that can catalyze the degradation of specific synthetic polymers.
This study investigates five novel nylon-degrading enzymes, previously isolated from thermostable organisms. The primary objective of this research is to develop and refine procedures for the expression and purification of these nylonases. The enzymes were overexpressed in Escherichia coli hosts and subsequently purified using advanced chromatographic techniques, including Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC).
The optimization of these purification procedures is critical, as it ensures that subsequent assays are conducted with highly purified enzyme samples, while minimizing contaminants and improving sample yield. Future research directions will involve a detailed mechanistic examination of the enzymatic autocleavage and the nylon degradation. An additional goal aims to crystallize the proteins to analyze their active sites. This comprehensive approach is expected to advance our understanding of enzymatic plastic degradation and contribute to the development of more effective recycling technologies.
Exploring Genre-Specific Thought Patterns Through Real-Time Experience Sampling of Movie Clips
Authors: Ketcheson Samuel , Greenstein Shira
Published: September 2024

Understanding cognition during media consumption is crucial to understanding how individuals process complex stimuli in everyday life. This study employed multi-dimensional Experience Sampling (mDES) to capture real-time thoughts as participants viewed 2-3 minute movie clips across various genres. By utilizing movie clips, this study bridges real-world scenarios with the control of a laboratory setting; revealing how different movie genres uniquely shape thought patterns. 
I conducted Principal Component Analysis to identify the underlying structure of participants' thoughts. The analysis revealed four distinct thought components, named based on their loading structure: (1) Narrative Comprehension, (2) Episodic Knowledge, (3) Intrusive Distraction, and (4) Sensory Engagement, replicating components found in earlier mDES movie-watching studies (Konu et al., 2021; Wallace et al., 2024). To examine how subjects’ thoughts differed based on the genre of the movie clip, I conducted a series of linear mixed models comparing component scores for each component across genres. The analysis indicated certain thought patterns differed by genre. In Intrusive Distraction, Comedy clips scored significantly lower than Drama clips (p <.001), Romantic Comedy clips (p = .007), and clips of an unspecified genre (other) (p = .010). In Episodic Knowledge, Thriller clips scored significantly lower than Action clips (p = .002), Comedy clips (p <.001), Drama clips (p <.001), Family clips (p <.001), and Romantic Comedy clips (p <.001). 
Altogether, this study replicates the component structure found in earlier movie watching mDES studies, showing consistency across samples. Additionally, this study makes a significant contribution to the field of ongoing thought research by being the first to empirically establish that individuals’ internal experiences systematically differ based on movie genre. These findings suggest researchers should consider genre-specific influences when designing future movie-based tasks in psychology and neuroimaging studies. However, the small sample size (N=15) warrants caution; larger studies are needed for improved reliability and validity.
Investigating Ways to Mitigate the Effects of Wildfires on Structures
Authors: Harley Sarah
Published: September 2024

Wildfires are increasingly becoming a cause of concern with rising global temperatures. Understanding ways to mitigate wildfire impact on structures is vital for future development to reduce the risk of fire spread and destruction. Through my involvement with Dr. Mark Green’s research group, I gained a novel understanding of the importance of this global issue while also gaining insight into possible solutions. Doctoral student Tadele Getu writes about the factors influencing housing resiliency and mitigation measures elaborating on ways to reduce fire risk in homes. During my assistance with this paper, emphasis on the types of materials and housing building strategies were highlighted in the screening and data extraction process. Moreover, PhD student Branna MacDougal focuses her thesis on the impact of fire on insulated concrete panels. Using furnaces at the National Research Council, I witnessed the specimens’ performance under high temperatures. Assisting in the lab with MacDougal’s project, I helped test key factors that affected the panels' performance under high temperatures, such as the concrete’s strength. I also looked at the impacts of adhesives on wood specimens in collaboration with Joshua Woods and Post Doctoral student Bronwyn Chorlton under high heat by testing wood and rebar samples. Given Dr. Chorlton’s background in timber structures, I helped collect preliminary material for her future paper about mass timber by looking into encapsulated timber structures through standards and codes. Assisting Chorlton with this research has offered insight into the tools that are used for fire research such as the Satec Instron, for which I developed an instructional manual. Getting involved with these projects has provided me with insight into how engineering can be used to innovate against a big problem in our society that is the rising concern of wildfire occurrence.
Markov Genealogy Processes
Authors: Nair Simon , Khatnyuk Denis
Published: September 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for efficient and mathematically rigorous methods to analyze epidemiological time series and genetic data. This project introduces and evaluates various methods for estimating infectious disease parameters. We employed a dynamic Markov chain model incorporating random variables tracking infected and susceptible individuals, as well as their coalescent times. Our objective was to assess the accuracy of different techniques in predicting disease characteristics based on this model. Simulation studies of various existing parameter estimation methods revealed that prediction accuracy falls drastically when a recovery rate is introduced. In response to the limitations of existing methods, we initiated the development of a novel model which would incorporate lineages, allowing us to use phylogenetic trees to estimate parameters. This would lead to an improvement in parameter estimates, especially with a recovery rate, as phylogenetic trees contain more information than the types of data used in existing parameter estimation methods.
Discourses of Hate
Authors: Madden Benjamin
Published: September 2024

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the global North has seen a drastic increase in usage of platform apps’ services. Platforms such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Deliveroo have become staples that connect consumers directly to workers on standby, ready to be activated at a moment’s notice to rideshare or deliver food orders. These companies offer low barriers of entry and flexible work hours, which is the ideal situation for many migrants looking for work. The scope of this research aims to build an understanding of the intersection between the rise of the far-right and the anti-immigration rhetoric in Canada and the EU that influences the hate faced by racialized migrants working highly visible gig jobs in the platform economy. 
By examining academic articles, news reports, and social media communications of far-right groups a major theme is apparent. The online rhetoric of the far-right can be categorized through its usage of fear and hate against racialized migrants. Migrants have been depicted as sexual threats to women, economic threats to workers, and an overall threat to the white population through demographic replacement. This conspiracy theory, known as the ‘Great Replacement’, found its way into the discursive attempts of far-right groups and political parties (ex. Chega - Portugal; VOX - Spain) to promote anti-immigration and violence against migrants. The threat that this rhetoric poses to racialized migrant workers has yet to be fully explored, and despite passing mention in a few academic articles, the violence faced by workers in the platform economy is not common in the literature, even more so in regards to its intersection with race based hate. This gap brings further questions concerning alliances among workers, advocacy groups, and trade unions based along the lines of ethnic, racial, and gendered differences to combat the growth of support for the far-right. 
With reasonable speculation, this research contends that far-right rhetoric and violence will continue to be targeted at racialized migrants in visible spaces and jobs, such as those in the gig economy which requires further labour solidarity and activism to aid migrants in vulnerable situations.
Ice Darkening on Turner Glacier in Auyuittuq National Park, Nunavut
Authors: Gorwill Carolyn
Published: September 2024

The glaciers of the Canadian Arctic are currently the third largest contributor to global sea level rise due to enhanced Arctic warming driving increased glacier melt and runoff (Zemp et al., 2019). Recent modelling suggests that the glaciers of the southern Qikiqtaaluk region, specifically Baffin and Bylot Islands, are 70% more sensitive to 1°C of warming (Brice et al., 2018). However, these studies lack field-based data to contextualize the drivers of glacier change in this region.
Light absorbing particles (LAPs) such as dust, ash, and algae lower the albedo of snow and ice, which is the fraction of light a surface reflects, leading to an increase in the absorption of incoming radiation (Aubry-Wake et al., 2022). On glaciers in western Canada (Engstrom et al., 2022), the European Alps (Di Mauro et al., 2020) and south-western Greenland (Cook et al., 2020), positive feedback mechanisms have been discovered where summer snow and ice melt, augmented by LAPs, leads to the localized release of nutrients in ice and the subsequent enhanced growth of algae. Preliminary remote sensing analysis revealing a dark purple hue on glaciers in the Akshayuk Pass region of Auyuittuq National Park in Baffin Island, NU indicate these processes are likely occurring. The question of how this phenomenon is impacting glacier albedo, and therefore glacier melt which has implications for mass balance and regional sea level rise in the Canadian High Arctic has yet to be answered.
Field-based sampling of LAPs on Turner Glacier, characterized through light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, combined with in-situ hyperspectral spectroradiometer measurements (320nm-1100nm) of the sampled LAPs, and fine resolution (1cm) UAV surveys of sampling sites, are integral to develop a field-calibrated remote sensing approach to monitor LAP accumulation on the glacier surface and to assess the associated melt potential.
Early Signs of Structure in Protostellar Disks
Authors: Schonberg Lance
Published: September 2024

Protostellar disks—rotating disks of gas and dust around pre-fusion ignition young stars—are divided into four main classes:

Class 0: the youngest class, still deeply embedded in their parent molecular clouds and accumulating mass, with a lifespan on the order of 100k years.
Class I: still embedded in molecular clouds, characterized by strong infrared and radio emissions generated by the heat from the collapsing central protostar, with a typical lifespan of a few hundred thousand years.
Class II: more evolved with decreased accretion rates and active planet formation. Lifespan on the order of 2-3 million years.
Class III: low accretion rate debris (mostly dust) disks. Remnants of planetary formation process. Typical lifespan of several million years.

Focusing on the youngest disks, Classes 0 and I, we are investigating how early structure begins to show in the form of gaps and rings, indicating potential future planet formation.
We use high resolution and high sensitivity (sub)millimeter wavelength observations from the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) interferometer. Having identified approximately 10,700 potential Class 0 or I disks in the ALMA archive, we make use of several specialized code packages designed to fit or examine individual disks from their frequency space visibility data rather than from images to build a step-by-step process taking the initial ALMA data and providing the decision-making ability to categorize the disks into four primary categories: Smooth, Structured, Further Investigation, Not Usable.
Having used the summer term to build, streamline, and document the needed process, we report building an initial catalog of usable Class 0 and Class I sources that contains 36 individual objects, with 7 categorized as Smooth, 8 as having Structure, and 6 needing Further Investigation.
Cognitive Mapping of Reachable Space in Humans
Authors: Syan Rohaan , Zhu Tianyao
Published: September 2024

Reinforcement learning illustrates how people represent and learn large-scale environments for spatial navigation. However, it is unclear how “reachable” spaces are represented when performing manual tasks like chopping vegetables. To analyze the mechanisms underlying learning reachable space, we used inspiration from a recent study (de Cothi et al., 2022) to develop a haptic maze task where human participants reached to a target while avoiding invisible haptic obstacles in the environment. Participants reached with a robotic handle, generating contact forces to simulate the maze boundary, obstacle walls, and the floor, which supported the hand. Participants were blind to their hand position, while the target and maze boundary remained visible. Two conditions were implemented for each experiment variation; maze obstacles were invisible in the first condition, then became visible in the second. Audio feedback was given upon finding the target. We tested participants in 25 unique mazes, performing 10 trials within each maze. Two experimental procedures were employed: one with a fixed target and varying starting locations (18 participants), while the other had a fixed starting location and variable targets (10 participants). We simulated and compared the likelihoods of 3 different reinforcement learning models: model-based (MB), model-free (MF) and successor representation (SR). MB-simulated agents learned a map of the maze, planning the shortest route to the target. MF-simulated agents cached and updated the expected total future reward for each action using experience, pursuing the highest-reward actions. SR-simulated agents generated a “cognitive” (predictive) map between grids (states), integrating it with the target to plan actions. Results suggested that humans use a combination of MB and MF to learn reachable spaces. MB agents had higher likelihoods (better represented human behaviour) than MF agents for earlier trials, but MF had greater likelihoods for later trials. Meanwhile, SR learning was significantly worse at predicting participant behaviour.
Unacceptable Experiences Whilst Attending University and Their Association With Student Mental Health, Well-Being and Academic Outcomes
Authors: John Sean Hayden
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Unacceptable experiences (UEs) are commonly reported by undergraduate students. However, their prevalence and impact have not been rigorously studied.
Objectives: To (1) estimate the prevalence of UEs, (2) identify high-risk subgroups, and (3) examine associations with mental health and academic outcomes among undergraduate students attending Queen's University.
Methods: Data from the 2021/2022-2023/2024 cycles of the U-Flourish Student Well-Being Survey were collected at the beginning and completion of each academic year. Validated symptom measures included the GAD-7 (anxiety), PHQ-9 (depression), C-SSRS (suicidal thoughts and behaviours), and WEMWBS-7 (well-being). Self-reported UEs included: sexual violence or harassment, physical assault, bullying, hate crimes, and discrimination. Multivariable regression examined associations between UEs and student mental health, and grade-point average (GPA) from linked university data.
Results: One-third (28.9%) of students (n=797/2,757) reported an unacceptable experience over the academic year. Sexual violence or harassment and discrimination (15%) were most frequently reported, followed by bullying/harassment (11%), hate crimes (4.6%) and physical assault (3.3%). UEs were highest in students who identified as non-binary gender (49%), 2SLGBTQIA+ sexuality (39%) or had a history of mental illness (41%). These UEs increased the risk of reporting clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms by 5-18% and 11-40%, respectively, and Students reporting UEs were also more likely (2-59%) to report having suicidal thoughts and behaviours over the academic year, particularly those who experienced sexual violence (RR:1.59; 95% CI:1.10-2.23). There was evidence that sexual violence, bullying, and hate crimes were associated with lower GPAs among first-year students.
Conclusion: UEs are common among undergraduate students and are associated with significant negative mental health and well-being outcomes. Further research is needed to better understand the nature of these UEs and the mechanisms by which they impact student mental health and academic performance. This information is pivotal to develop evidence-informed prevention and early intervention initiatives.
Hybrid Ising Machine and Reinforcement Learning Approach to Folding Lattice Proteins
Authors: Galipeau Melanie
Published: September 2024

The hydrophobic polarity (HP) protein folding model is a simplified computation model utilized to study the folding of proteins into their three-dimensional structures. Understanding how proteins fold and misfold is fundamental to designing effective, safe drugs, allowing for targeted therapies and better patient outcomes. The amino acids of a protein can be categorized as either hydrophobic or polar, where the hydrophobic beads tend to cluster together in a properly folded protein to minimize exposure to the surrounding environment. Determining the lowest energy configurations of the HP model is a non-deterministic polynomial (NP) hard problem. One method is formulating the HP model as a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) problem which can be mapped to an Ising machine. In the Ising model, the lowest energy state of the system represents the correct lattice configuration of the folded protein. The Ising machine technique utilized of simulated annealing allows for future application of the work on an integrated silicon photonic chip. Alternatively, reinforcement learning designed with an energy-based reward function can optimize the HP model by adapting to the environment without the consequence of remaining in local minima like that of the Ising machine. A hybrid pipeline combining the Ising machine and reinforcement learning sequentially was designed to determine the two-dimensional lattice configurations of various protein chain lengths and sequences, combining the parallel optimization of the Ising machine on an integrated photonic platform and the adaptability of the reinforcement learning algorithm. Results found that this hybrid model improved the accuracy and ability of determining the lowest energy state in contrast to the Ising machine alone as well as improved the efficiency by reducing the number of iterations required when compared solely to reinforcement learning. Future work focuses on implementing a parallel pipeline approach as well as adapting to a three-dimensional model.
Histone H3-K27 and H3-K9 methylation does not predict lifespan in divergent populations of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: DeBellefeuille Cameron
Published: September 2024

A universal theory of aging remains elusive despite decades of research. Traditional gerontological research has focused on genetic alterations as the driving unit of the aging processes. Recent breakthroughs in cellular reprogramming, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, and molecular aging clocks have motivated theories proposing that the disruption of epigenetic regulation is the proximal cause of aging. The claim that aging is fundamentally an epigenetic process, however, is largely based on studies using clonal cell populations and genetically identical organisms. Consequently, there has been limited experimental evidence demonstrating the correlation between epigenetic differences and longevity differences among genetically diverse populations. To address this gap in literature we leveraged laboratory populations of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Using sister populations with evolved differences in longevity after more than 1 500 generations of divergent life history selection, we measured the methylation at the H3K27 and H3K9 sites which have previously been shown to become dysregulated with age. Here we report that there were no differences in the amount of H3K27me3 or H3K9me2 between 3 replicate population pairs of the divergent lines. These results do not support that epigenetic dysregulation is the underlying cause of aging. Future studies investigating additional indicators of epigenetic dysregulation are required to clarify the role of epigenetics in aging.
Examining the Ecosystem-Scale GHG Exchange Following the Acrotelm Harvesting Method (ACM) in Eastern Quebec
Authors: Bot Katherine
Published: September 2024

Traditional horticultural peat production involves the removal of vegetation and drainage of peatlands, resulting in significant ecological disturbances and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Acrotelm Harvesting Method (ACM) was developed as a more sustainable alternative, designed to reduce these impacts by allowing peat extraction without large-scale ecosystem alterations. However, the ACM still necessitates the passage of machinery over the peat, potentially disturbing surface vegetation and altering the carbon dynamics. My project, based at a field site near Baie-Comeau, QC, represents the first comprehensive assessment of the ACM’s impact on net ecosystem exchanges of main GHGs. I focused on evaluating the ecosystem-scale effects by analyzing data collected from paired eddy covariance towers installed at both the control (unharvested) and harvested sites. These towers provide temporally continuous, spatially integrated flux measurements. Preliminary findings indicate that the site subjected to ACM exhibits altered surface topography, leading to overall wetter conditions, compaction of hummocks, and vegetation damage. These changes have resulted in reduced carbon dioxide uptake and increased methane emissions at the harvested site. Through the analysis and interpretation of this data, my research contributes to a better understanding of the ACM’s environmental impact and its potential as a sustainable peatland management strategy.
This research was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Ian Strachan in the Atmospheric Environmental Research (AER) lab.
Differing standards in regulating off campus speech
Authors: Anwar Wardah
Published: September 2024

With the growth of the internet and social media, students are increasingly using online platforms as public forums of communication. This communication occasionally impacts the school environment which has created a new realm of regulation for school authorities. Traditionally, the authority of school administrators’ stopped at the school yard gates. However, the age of social media has prompted reforms in legislation and brought forth novel case law. Ontario’s Education Act currently sets out the test to determine when school administrators can exercise their authority off school grounds: in circumstances “where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school climate.”[1] In the US, the landmark Tinker case set out a different test: school administrators may only exercise their authority against student speech when the speech causes a “substantial disruption or material interference with school activities.”[2] This standard was affirmed to apply to off-campus speech in the Mahanoy case.[3]  The standard in the US is markedly elevated compared to Ontario’s, requiring a more substantial impact on the school climate. This difference raises two important questions: how can this difference be explained and is one standard more fitting than the other?
[1] Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2, s. 306(1) [rep & sub. 2007, c. 14, s. 4; am. 2017, c. 26, Sched. 1, s. 30(3), (4); 2020, c. 18, Sched. 5, s. 8]. (emphasis added)
[2] Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503. (emphasis added)
[3] Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., 594 U.S. 180.
Leveraging Large Language Models for Automating Inductive Qualitative Coding: A Comparative Study of Prompt Engineering Techniques
Authors: Frigui Elias
Published: September 2024

This study explores the potential of Large Language Models (LLMs), like those from the GPT family, to automate inductive qualitative coding—a process of assigning codes to text excerpts and organizing them into categories, traditionally done manually in social science and software engineering research. Our primary question is: Can LLMs effectively automate inductive qualitative coding? 
To investigate this, we compared different prompt engineering techniques, including Zero-shot, Few-shot, and Chain-of-Thought (CoT) learning, in coding interview transcripts. While LLMs cannot fully replace human coders, they can aid the process with a human-in-the-loop approach. Few-shot learning showed consistent performance with moderate amounts data, while CoT proved most effective in reducing partial hallucinations. 
Initially aimed at full automation, our study pivoted to testing prompt strategies after realizing that a human-in-the-loop process would offer better accuracy and flexibility, given the challenges of context and token limits in LLMs. These findings suggest that tailored LLM with adequate prompting techniques can help assist researchers when performing qualitative analysis.
Enhancing Transmission Efficiency in Non-IID Federated Learning by Integrating Quantization into an Existing Trustworthiness Model
Authors: Parihar Zain
Published: September 2024

Federated Learning (FL) is a distributed machine learning paradigm that enables multiple clients to collaboratively train a model without sharing their data, thus preserving privacy. In this approach, data is not transmitted between the client and the base station. Instead, a model is sent to each device, where it is trained locally, and then retransmitted back to the base station. Each iteration of this process is known as a communication round. However, FL faces challenges, especially when data is not independently and identically distributed (Non-IID). Non-IID data means that the data across clients can vary significantly in distribution, leading to situations where certain classes or features are overrepresented in some clients and underrepresented in others. This lack of uniformity quickly leads to biased model updates and reduced performance. To address this, previous studies have introduced trustworthiness metrics to ensure more reliable model aggregation, minimizing accuracy losses associated with Non-IID data.
Another significant challenge is the high transmission load, as model updates between clients and the base station are resource-intensive. Model parameters are transmitted between clients and base stations, which can strain communication channels and slow down the entire process, especially when dealing with larger models and datasets. This communication overhead is a bottleneck that limits the scalability of FL, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
Our research addresses these challenges by integrating quantization into the trustworthiness model specifically in a Non-IID scenario. Quantization reduces the precision of model parameters to minimize data transmission, resulting in more efficient communication. We applied different levels of quantization intensity to a model trained on the CIFAR-10 dataset and found that certain methods can significantly reduce transmission overhead without substantial accuracy loss. Our findings suggest that combining quantization with trustworthiness metrics can significantly enhance the efficiency and potentially improve the adoption of Federated Learning in resource-constrained environments.