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We propose a multiagent, large-scale, vehicle routing modeling framework for the simulation of transportation system. The goal of this paper is twofold. Firstly, we investigate how individual and social knowledge interact and ultimately influence the effectiveness of resulting traffic flow. Secondly, we evaluate how different discrete-event simulation designs (delays vs. queuing) affect conclusions within the model. We present a new agent-based model that combines the efficient discrete-event approach to modeling with the intelligent drivers who are capable to learn about their environment in the long-term perspective from both, individual experience, and widely available social knowledge. The approach is illustrated as practical application to modeling commuter behavior in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. All simulations in the paper are fully reproducible as they have been carried out by utilizing a set of opensource libraries and tools that we have developed for the Julia programming language and that are openly available on GitHub. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel approach for enhancing long-term runoff simulations through the integration of empirical mode decomposition (EMD) with four machine learning (ML) models: ensemble, support vector machine (SVM), convolutional neural networks (CNN), and artificial neural networks with backpropagation (ANN-BP). The proposed methodology uses EMD to decompose precipitation and temperature time-series into intrinsic mode functions, thereby revealing underlying data patterns. Subsequently, these components are incorporated into the ML models to simulate the runoff time-series. The effectiveness of the hybrid models is evaluated using streamflow runoff data obtained from the Grand, Winnipeg, and Moosonee Rivers in Ontario, Canada. Four widely used performance indices, namely, correlation coefficient, root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute relative error, and Nash--Sutcliffe efficiency, are employed to assess the models' performance. The results demonstrate that the hybrid EMD-ML models exhibit significantly superior performance compared with the standalone ML methods. During the validation phase, the EMD-Ensemble, EMD-SVM, EMD-CNN, and EMD-ANN-BP models exhibit notable reductions in the RMSEs of monthly streamflow estimates for the Grand River, amounting to 11%, 22%, 8%, and 33%, respectively, compared with their non-EMD counterparts. Additionally, these hybrid models exhibit improved RMSEs for yearly simulations in the Winnipeg River, with reductions of 54%, 0.08%, 6%, and 4.5% respectively. To further enhance the accuracy of monthly and yearly streamflow estimates, an SVM-recursive feature elimination technique is employed to select a more appropriate EMD dataset in all study cases. This research underscores the potential of integrating EMD with ML models to enhance long-term runoff simulations. The outcomes highlight the superior performance of the hybrid EMD-ML models, demonstrating their ability in generating lower biases than the standalone ML methods. These findings hold significant implications for the field of computational fluid mechanics and can contribute to the understanding of hydrological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Disability Studies is the property of Canadian Disability Studies Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, the optimal scheduling of multienergy has become the focus of the research. Against this background, this paper builds a model of a multienergy flow system of cooling, heating, and power, and advanced adiabatic compressed air energy storage (AA-CAES) is introduced to smooth wind power generation (WPG) and supply heating/cooling energy. Simulated annealing algorithm (SAA) is employed to energy-saving scheduling of the system with "exergy assessment" method. The energy-saving index and the exergy efficiency are compared in different cases. SAA is compared with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm in solving the optimal scheduling strategy. The cooling, heating, and power demands of an industrial park and WPG in typical days are employed to the simulation. The scheduling results of exergy input of SAA are far less than those of PSO in typical days of different seasons. The multienergy system without AA-CAES is also modeled, and energy-saving economic scheduling is carried out. The exergy efficiency of the system with AA-CAES is between 38% and 58% while the exergy efficiency of the system without AA-CAES is merely between 27% and 48%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Geographer is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Toppling the statue of Queen Victoria in July 2021 did not end the reign of colonialist memory on the Manitoba Legislature's grounds, but simply marked the removal of its most accessible symbol. This paper examines the sculptural programme of the Legislative Assembly and how its engagement with the classical world glorifies the role of European settlers while erasing the contributions and experiences of Indigenous people. It details the exclusionary narrative told by these statues through the lens of ancient art and modern architectural history, tying Beaux-Arts architecture and the City Beautiful movement to the White supremacist classicizing aesthetics of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It argues that the imagery used on the Legislative Building was intended to recruit White settlers into a colonial and capitalist vision of Manitoba. More specifically, it examines the connections between images from antiquity and the idea of Manitoba as the centre of a powerful colonial enterprise, through an architectural nostalgia that distorted the realities of both the ancient past and the present. Using the ancient Roman practice of damnatio memoriae ("condemnation of memory"), this paper contends that statuary like that found on the Legislative Building offers a pretense of permanency and authority that has in reality been challenged as long as monuments have been used for this purpose. Ultimately it considers more dynamic forms of commemoration, such as the orange flags planted around the plinth where Queen Victoria once stood, and how communal memory can be more responsive and reflective of the people it represents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harvesting shallow geothermal energy for heating and cooling building spaces in winter and summer is considered environmentally friendly and renewable. Recently, geothermal energy piles have been used as heat exchanger elements in ground source heat pump systems to exchange heat with the ground underneath buildings for heating and cooling purposes. However, imposing thermal cycles on such piles may result in possible adverse effects on their structural and geotechnical performance. A comprehensive understanding of the behavior of geothermal energy piles is therefore vital for the successful applications of such systems. This paper aims to investigate the interaction between the soil and geothermal energy pile subjected to a combination of mechanical loading and thermal cycles. Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) finite element analyses were carried out on a hypothetical geothermal energy pile using climatic and geological conditions in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Numerical results were presented in this paper in terms of pile head displacements, strains, and stresses developed in the pile, as well as shaft friction and effective radial stresses along the pile-soil interface. The effects of heating and cooling on the ultimate geotechnical pile capacity were also presented. Based on the numerical results, it was found that the thermo-mechanical loads have considerable effects on the geothermal energy pile responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethical research practice within community-based research involves many dimensions, including a commitment to return results to participants in a timely and accessible fashion. Often, current Indigenous community-based research is driven by a partnership model; however, dissemination of findings may not always follow this approach. As a result, products may not be as useful to participants who were motivated to be involved in the research process. We conducted a seven-week workshop on three occasions with different First Nations and Metis women and girls (age 8-12) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The workshop explored participants' perspectives around health, safety, and family wellbeing using a strength-based, participatory approach. Participants noted that a key challenge they face when interacting with researchers, policy makers, and program staff is the lack of tailored dissemination materials. Returning results in a format that meets the expressed desire of participants is an ethical necessity to ensure that research is not perpetuating past colonial practices. Doing so quickly and with meaningful content requires careful execution and consideration, especially when working within intergenerational contexts. We describe in this paper how results were returned to families in an accessible way outlining the role that integrated knowledge exchange can play in the process of healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood is both renewable and natural, which are qualities that make it both environmentally sustainable and useful in terms of development. However, wood also has certain inherent defects, such as its tendencies to shrink when dried and rot when wet. These defects restrict the use and popularity of lumber as a building material. In this paper, the effects of beeswax impregnation on the dimensional stability of wood were studied. Pieces of African padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) (20 mm × 20 mm × 20 mm) were used as the test material. The wood was treated at a temperature of 120 °C for periods of 3 h or 6 h. Measurements of weight gain rate, size expansion coefficient, and contact angle of the control samples were compared with samples treated with beeswax for 3 h and 6 h to explain macroscopic changes in wood. The effects of beeswax impregnation were compared using scanning electron microscopy, thermal weight loss characteristic analysis, and functional group analysis. The results indicated that, to some extent, beeswax impregnation improved the dimensional stability of wood and remarkably enhanced its surface hydrophobicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Profiles the landscape of the North End of Winnipeg, Canada. The poverty-stricken area; The classic example of the ecological processes of invasion and succession; The ethnic other; Self-help and political action; Landscape and internal diversity.

Ralph B. Peck (1912–2008), graduate and doctor of philosophy in civil engineering (1934 and 1937 respectively) from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, was one of the major contributors to the development of geotechnics in the twentieth century. Born in Winnipeg (Manitoba) as an American national, he was influenced from childhood by the world of civil engineering through his father, Orwin K. Peck, who was a civil engineer, mainly as a structural engineer in the railway sector. In the absence of job offers as a structural engineer, Ralph Peck arrived at Harvard University in 1938 to attend the soil mechanics courses taught by Arthur Casagrande, which guided Peck's professional career towards geotechnics. In addition to Casagrande, Peck had the opportunity to meet and work with other very important people related to geotechnics: Albert E. Cummings, Laurits Bjerrum, Alec W. Skempton and especially Karl Terzaghi, with whom he established a great friendship, in addition to providing support, professional advice and performing important work, such as the Chicago Subway Works. Peck actively dedicated himself to consulting work, which led him to visit 44 states within the United States and 28 countries on five continents. In addition, he also participated in research work where he was asked and was a committed lecturer at the University of Illinois, where he was a professor for 32 years. The objective of this paper is to analyse, through Peck's biography, his contribution to the field of geotechnics based on his research, teaching and consultancy work, and through the influence of Peck on other important people in the field, such as Karl Terzaghi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, changing environmental, developmental activity, government policies and laws, lifestyle changes and affordability dynamics have continued to threaten the self determination and food sovereignty of Indigenous peoples in the community. Their perspectives, teachings, and voices are rarely present in any scholarly work. Despite food security being a significant challenge among many First Nations communities on Turtle Island, there needs to be more empirical, community-based research that underscores the role of traditional food systems and associated values and teachings in Manitoban communities through an Indigenous lens. This research addresses that gap by building upon Indigenous perspectives and knowledges on the status and future directions of food security and sovereignty in Misko-ziibiing (Bloodvein River First Nation). Guided by Indigenous research protocol and using a qualitative research approach, ten in-depth interviews with Bloodvein River First Nation (BVR) and Winnipeg Elders were conducted. Data was also sourced through discussions with local council members, participant observation, and field visits during 2017. The fundamental values and traditional teachings associated with food sovereignty within the community are aligned with the spirit of sharing, including sharing ethics and protocols, social learning within the community, and intergenerational transmission. Enhanced intergenerational transmission of traditional teachings, education and language revitalization, and local leadership involvement can strengthen these social and cultural values to enhance Indigenous food security and sovereignty in Misko-ziibiing. This research identifies the knowledge and views of Elders, hunters, trappers and fishers, contributing to the current studies associated with traditional food systems and teachings. Strengthening social and cultural traditions and values is vital in working toward Indigenous food governance, sovereignty, and revitalization of their Indigenous food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD, Streptococcus pneumoniae) has been a nationally notifiable disease in Canada since 2000. The use of conjugate vaccines has caused a shift in the distribution of serotypes over time. This report is a summary of the demographics, serotypes and antimicrobial resistance of IPD isolates collected in Canada in 2021 and 2022. Methods: The National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) of the Public Health Agency of Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba collaborates with provincial and territorial public health laboratories to conduct national surveillance of IPD. There were 1,999 isolates reported in 2021 and 3,775 isolates in 2022. Serotype was determined by the Quellung reaction or whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined by WGS methods, broth microdilution, or data shared by collaborators in the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance program at the University of Manitoba. Population-based IPD incidence rates were obtained through the Canadian Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. Results: The incidence of IPD in Canada was 5.62 cases per 100,000 population in 2021, decreasing from the peak of 10.86 cases per 100,000 population in 2018. Serotypes with increasing trends (p<0.05) between 2018 and 2022 included: 4 (6.1%–12.4%), 9V (1.0%–5.1%) and 12F (4.8%–5.4%). The overall prevalence of PCV13 serotypes increased over the same period (31.2%−41.5%, p<0.05) while the prevalence of non-vaccine types decreased significantly (27.3%–21.5%, p<0.0001). The highest rates of antimicrobial resistance in 2021 and 2022 were seen with clarithromycin (21%, 2021; 24%, 2022) and erythromycin (22%, 2021; 24%, 2022). Multidrug-resistant IPD continued to increase from 2018 to 2022 (6.7%–12.6%, p<0.05). Conclusion: The number of cases of IPD continued to decrease in 2021 in comparison to previous years, however, 2022 saw a return to pre-COVID-19 levels. Disease due to PCV13 serotypes 3, 4, 9V and 19F, as well as non-PCV13 serotypes 12F and 20, is increasing in prevalence. Surveillance of IPD to monitor changing serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Context: Surgical site infections (SSI) continue to be a major cause of morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospital stays and a major reason of financial burden to health-care providers and patients after major abdominal surgeries. Along with infection control practices and care bundles, additional use of devices which protect the wound from contamination is believed to decrease the burden of SSI. Aims: This study aims to assess the benefit of single-ring disposable wound protector in preventing SSI, overall complications, hospitals stay and morbidity data in laparoscopic colorectal resection. Settings and Design: The study design involves case--control study, retrospective. Subjects and Methods: A case--control study comparing single ring oval wound protector versus conventional wound protectors retrospectively between August 2019 and December 2021. The ease of use of the device, rate of SSI, overall complications, hospitals stay and morbidity data were analysed. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical analysis was performed by IBM SPSS Statistics 20 version. All Categorical Variables will be described as frequency and percentage. Continuous variables will be described as mean ± standard deviation. Continuous variables were analysed using t-test and categorical parameters using Fisher's exact test. Results: Of the 110 patients studied, wound Protecting devices were used in 58 patients Wound Protector Group (WPG group) and 62 patients did not use such devices (no WPG). The groups were comparable in demographic features, risk features, systemic illness, type of surgeries undertaken and the specimen extraction wound used. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of SSI (1.7% vs. 16% P ≤ 0.008) and the hospital stay (P ≤ 0.03) when WPG was used compared to the group in which it was not used. Conclusions: Apart from the use of infection control practices and care bundles, the use of oval-shaped single-ring wound protector is likely to reduce SSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Physical salt attack (PSA) is a key damage mechanism of concrete in salt-bearing environments. • The current paper presents a case study analyzing the condition of repaired concrete piles in 47-year-old administrative building. • Deterioration of the concrete piles was observed above the ground level and repair zones. • Thermal, mineralogical and microscopy analyses showed that the underlying mechanism of damage was PSA. • The repair concrete could not stop the progress of PSA on the concrete above it. • Recommendations for future repair strategies are made. Physical salt attack (PSA) is a key damage mechanism of concrete in salt-bearing environments. Multiple case studies were reported throughout literature on PSA of concrete; yet, without any case on the performance of repaired concrete elements. The current paper presents a case study analyzing the condition of repaired concrete piles in 47-year-old administrative building in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, after 22 years from repair works. Deterioration of the concrete piles was visually observed above the ground level and repair zones, in the form of scaling, crumbling and reduction of cross section. In addition to fluid transport and pore structural features tests, mineralogical, thermal and microscopy analyses were performed on concrete chunks/cores extracted from the piles to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of damage. The repair concrete was capable of mitigating chemical and physical sulfate attacks; however, it could not stop the progress of PSA on the concrete above it, urging for careful design of repair strategies for elements subjected to PSA. Recommendations for future repair in this case are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the application of multi-temporal optical and polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) Earth observations for crop characterization. Crop dry biomass, Leaf Area Index (LAI), and Plant Water Content (PWC) were estimated and assessed using Machin learning approaches. An accurate estimation of crop parameters provides essential information to increased food production and plays a crucial role in the management of agricultural lands. Multispectral and PolSAR data provide valuable observations of spectral and structural properties which are essential for crops parameter modelling. The Earth observations used in this paper were collected by RapidEye satellites and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) system in the summer of 2012, over an agriculture area in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The RapidEye vegetation indices (VIs) and UAVSAR polarimetric parameters were used as inputs in artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector regression (SVR) models for canola biophysical parameters estimation. The best models were provided by SVR for canola. Also combining optical VIs and polarimetric features appeared as a powerful tool for crop parameters estimation in agricultural lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acids (FA) and their derivatives with long alkyl chain structures are good candidates for wood esterification to confer thermoplastic properties to wood. Nevertheless, they do not react easily with hydroxyl groups of wood. In this study, we investigated the reactivity of wood with various fatty acids of different chain lengths using trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) as the impelling agent in various reaction conditions. Generally, the esterification of fatty acids without solvents resulted in higher Weight Percentage Gain (WPG) and ester content than the reaction in the presence of CH2Cl2. The esterification reaction could be performed effectively at room temperature, though an increased reaction temperature provoked degradation of the esterified wood. WPG of 67% was obtained for the C3 and 253% for the C16 alkyl chain analogs, respectively. Nevertheless, the ester content was fairly uniform, with values between 10.60 and 11.81 mmol ester/gram of wood for all chain lengths. A higher quantity of reagent led to higher ester content, which tended to stabilize after a ratio of 1:4 wood and TFAA/FA. The esterification reaction was performed rapidly, with an ester content between 7.65 and 9.94 mmol ester/gram of wood being achieved only after 15 min of reaction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was performed to confirm the drastic chemical changes of wood before and after esterification. Morphological observation by scanning electron microscope (SEM), softening measurement by thermomechanical analysis (TMA), and contact angle measurements demonstrated the possibility of esterified spruce wood being applied as a new bioplastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: Mahmud et al. (2012) Outbreaks of influenza-like illness in long-term care facilities in Winnipeg, Canada. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 10.1111/irv.12052 Background Outbreaks of influenza-like illness (ILI) are common in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and result in significant morbidity and mortality among residents. Objectives We describe patterns of reported ILI outbreaks in LTCFs in Winnipeg, Canada, and examine LTCF and outbreak characteristics that influence the clinical outcomes of these outbreaks. Methods We analyzed the electronic records of all ILI outbreaks reported by LTCFs in Winnipeg from 2003 to 2011. Outbreak duration, ILI attack rates among staff and residents, and residents' death rates were calculated by presumed viral etiology, staff vaccination rates, type of influenza chemoprophylaxis used, and time to notification to public health. Results Of a total of 154 reported outbreaks, most ( N = 80) were attributed to influenza, and these outbreaks tended to have higher attack and death rates among LTCF residents compared with outbreaks caused by other respiratory viruses (12) or those of unknown etiology (62). About 92% of residents and 38% of staff of the average LTCFs were vaccinated. Chemoprophylaxis was used in 57·5% of influenza outbreaks. Regardless of presumed viral etiology, outbreaks reported within 3 days of onset ended sooner and had lower attack and mortality rates among residents. Conclusions Influenza-like illness outbreaks still occur among highly immunized LTCF residents, so in addition to vaccination of staff and residents, it is important to maintain competent infection control practices. Early identification and notification to public health authorities and possibly early initiation of control measures could improve clinical outcomes of ILI outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Geotechnical Journal is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Building on an international literature that stresses the growing importance of cities in both the economy and governance, this paper proceeds from the premise that national government support is essential to the maintenance of a social safety net, but that a great deal of local initiative is also necessary in order to ensure that national government funds are spent in a manner appropriate to the very different conditions in different cities. The paper focuses on a case in which a municipal government initiated a tri-level government program. Winnipeg officials and politicians developed a proposal for federal and provincial participation in a locally created welfare-to-work scheme, a scheme that, unlike conventional workfare, offered union wages and training leading to well-paid work. The municipal government provided on-the-job training for workers selected from the welfare rolls to carry out infrastructure upgrades and financed the project with money the federal and provincial governments saved on welfare payments. The paper argues that the municipal government was uniquely well placed to identify needed work, as well as to choose welfare recipients who would be able to benefit from the job training on offer. In this case, therefore, we argue that local initiative was essential to the success of this federally and provincially financed welfare-to-work program. The findings of the theoretical literature we review suggest that it could eventually become a precedent for further municipal and local activism along similar lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems using beam selection is investigated in this paper. Based on the results of a channel sounding campaign carried out at the University of Manitoba for line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) scenarios, it was possible to contrast the results of transmitter, receiver and joint beam selection in rich scattering environments. The channel was characterized in the 1-2.4 GHz frequency band with a multipath delay resolution better than 5.8 ns. The beam selection was performed by exhaustive search method. The results led us to important conclusions regarding the beam selection procedure and its potential to improve the indoor channel capacity. In LOS, the single input single output (SISO) system that favours the maximum power direction of arrival (DOA) maximizes the capacity. Capacity improvements are observed by increasing the number of receiver beams (RBs) only at high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for omnidirectional transmission. The best performance in transmitter beam selection in LOS is observed by increasing the number of transmitter beams (TBs) for high SNRs. In the case of NLOS, the capacity performance is improved when more than a single beam is used in either, transmitter or receiver side. The joint transmitter-receiver beam selection exhibits best capacity performance only for large SNRs in LOS while the SISO systems outperforms any joint beam selection alternative for low SNRs. In contrast, in NLOS environments, the use of joint beam selection shows a constant capacity performance improvement starting from lower SNR than in the LOS case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Geotechnical Journal is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper reviews the flood frequency characteristics of the Red River at Winnipeg. The impacts of persistence in the flood series on estimates of flood quantiles and their associated confidence intervals are examined. This is done by generating a large number of data sequences using a mixed noise model that preserves the short-term and long-term correlation structures of the observed flood series. The results reveal that persistence in the data series can lead to a slight increase in the expected flood magnitude for a given return period. More importantly, persistence is shown to dramatically increase the uncertainty associated with estimated flood quantiles. The 117-year flood series for the Red River at Winnipeg is demonstrated to be equivalent to roughly 45 years of independent data.Key words: flood frequency, extreme events, simulation, historical data.Cet article examine les caractéristiques de la fréquence des crues de la rivière Rouge à Winnipeg. Les impacts de la persistance dans la série de débits sur les estimés des quantiles de crues et leurs intervalles de confiance associés sont examinés. Ceci est effectué en générant un large nombre de séquences de données en utilisant un modèle avec bruits mixtes qui préserve la structure de corrélation à court et à long terme de la série de débits observés. Les résultats révèlent que la persistance dans la série de données peut mener à une légère augmentation de la magnitude anticipée de la crue pour une certaine période de retour. Plus important encore, il a été montré que la persistance augmente dramatiquement l'incertitude associée avec l'estimation des quantiles de crues. La série de 117 ans de débits pour la rivière Rouge à Winnipeg a démontrée être équivalente à 45 ans de données indépendantes.Mots clés : fréquence de crues, événements extrêmes, simulation, données historiques.[Traduit par la Rédaction] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgent cancer care (UCC) clinic at CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) opened in 2013 to provide care to individuals diagnosed with cancer and serious blood disorders experiencing complications from the underlying disorder or its treatment. This study examined the impact of the UCC clinic on other health care utilization in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. An interrupted time series study design was used to compare the rates of emergency department (ED) visits, primary care clinician (PCC) visits, and hospitalizations from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2015. Rates of ED visits were also stratified by ED location, severity, and cancer type. We found a 6% (95% CI 1.00–1.13, p-value = 0.0389) increase in PCC visits, a 7% (95% CI 0.99–1.15, p-value = 0.0737) increase in hospitalizations, a 4% (95% CI 0.86–1.08, p-value = 0.5053) decrease in the rate of ED visits, and a 3% (95% CI 0.92–1.17, p-value = 0.5778) increase in the rate of ED visits during the UCC clinic hours after the UCC clinic opened. The implementation of the UCC clinic had minimal impact on health care utilization. Future work should examine the impact of the UCC clinic on other aspects of healthcare utilization (e.g., number of tests ordered and time spent waiting in CCMB's main clinics) and patient quality of life and patient and health care provider experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power utilities worldwide commonly use the radial distribution system because of its advantages of being simple in structure and having relatively inexpensive installation costs. It has a disadvantage in that its power supply reliability is low because the load side of the fault section will suffer from an outage in the event of a fault in the system. However, recently, with ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) development, system reliability is required to be high as the outage-susceptible loads increase. In addition, the increase in the connection of distributed resources such as renewable energy and electric vehicles is making it impossible to predict the power flow and reducing line utilization. Therefore, a loop power distribution system is proposed as a measure to solve this problem. Because all buses (nodes) in a loop distribution system have two or more power supply routes, they are more reliable than the radial system. It allows them to improve line utilization by connecting lines with different load peak times. However, in the case of a fault in the loop distribution system, the fault current is supplied from both directions, making it impossible to properly isolate the fault section with the protection method of the conventional distribution system. The permissive overreach transfer trip (POTT) method using communication to compensate for the limitations of conventional protection devices, and the other method using directional distance relay, is proposed. However, these methods operate by determining the direction of the fault current but have a disadvantage. It is difficult to detect a fault due to the effects of ground faults and distributed generation (DG) occurring in other lines. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a protection coordination algorithm that uses the negative-sequence component of voltage and current that occur when an unbalanced fault occurs, rather than the determination of the directionality and use of communication. To validate this, we configured a system using PSCAD/EMTDC (Manitoba Hydro International Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), a system analysis program package and verified the results depending on the type of faults with the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of fiber-reinforced composite materials for the construction and rehabilitation of civil engineering structures is relatively new. Structural members are routinely joined by bolted connections. Bolted connections are relatively easy to assemble and maintain, and are capable of transferring the high loads that typically occur in civil engineering structures. Currently there is a serious lack of knowledge on the behavior and design of bolted connections for fiber-reinforced composites. In light of this, a comprehensive experimental and analytical investigation was conducted at the University of Manitoba to study the behavior of bolted connections in composite materials appropriate for civil engineering applications. A total of 102 single-bolt connections were tested up to failure. The various parameters investigated were the width of the structural member, the edge distance, the thickness, and the direction of the fibers with respect to the applied load. The experimental program also included comprehensive material testing to determine the various in-plane material properties. This paper discusses the experimental program, test results, and various modes of failure as affected by the foregoing parameters. From the test results an analytical model and design procedure were developed as proposed in a companion paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resource, with properties of scarcity, is one of the vital resource endowments. Like land resources, the prices of these resource endowments should be correlated to their locations to follow fair and reasonable principles. The current water price systems are mainly policy-oriented fixed regimes. And the water use was charged according to the regional-average situation with scarce consideration of the fine-scale geographical water accessibility. With a combination of the water accessibility and the current water pricing regime, this paper first proposed a novel water pricing model, the Water Price at Grid-scale (WPG) model, to dynamically allocate water prices to fine grids for urban residents. The WPG model was examined in the case study of the Han River Basin in the Hubei province of China. The specific results were: (1) the P grid of Tier I is between 0.66 and 3.94 yuan/m³, the P grid of Tier II is between 0.57 and 5.44 yuan/m³, and the P grid of Tier III is between 0.47 and 6.94 yuan/m³ in the study area. (2) the grids with more water acquisition generally have lower water prices than others and vice versa. (3) the average water prices in tiers obtained by the WPG model are generally higher than that derived from the current water pricing system. The results proved that the proposed WPG model spatially allocates the three-tier water prices into grids of urban areas. The WPG framework can be adopted in any society by involving its water price regimes and adjusting the scale of grids and the pricing year. This study provided a new viewpoint of domestic water pricing involving fine-scale water accessibility. The WPG model has great potential to ease water shortage pressure in water-limited societies and can be utilized and loaded into the current smart-city network for efficient and fine-scale water resource management. [Display omitted] • The location attributes of water resources should be considered in water pricing. • The WPG model was proposed to endow with the location attributes to water prices. • The SHRD model and the current water pricing regime were combined in the WPG model. • The fine-scale three-tier water prices were obtained using WPG model in case area. • The dynamic WPG framework can be loaded into smart city networks in any society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colonoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing colorectal neoplasms. However, colonoscopy is often repeated preoperatively due to non-standard documentation and inconsistent practices by index endoscopists. Repeat endoscopies result in treatment delays and can increase risks of complications. National consensus recommendations were recently developed for optimal endoscopic colorectal lesion localization. We aimed to assess baseline colonoscopy practice differences from the new recommendations with a focus on geographical variability in report quality between urban and rural referral sites. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent elective surgery for colorectal neoplasms at a single institution in Winnipeg between 2007–2020. We compared endoscopy report quality to the national recommendations with charts stratified by endoscopy location. Our primary outcomes were overall report documentation completeness and use of recommended practices. Results: One hundred ninety-four patients were included (97 rural, 97 urban). The mean overall compliance with the recommendations for urban endoscopies was marginally better compared to rural endoscopies (50% vs. 48%, p = 0.04). Sixty-eight percent of the reports complied with tattoo indications (72% urban; 63% rural, p = 0.16). On average, reports included 29% of recommended tattoo information (30% urban; 28% rural, p = 0.25) and demonstrated 74% appropriate tattoo technique (70% urban; 81% rural, p = 0.10). Twenty-one percent of reports included photographs of lesions in accordance with the national recommendations (28% urban; 13% rural, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Endoscopists frequently omit recommended practices for optimal colorectal lesion localization. Rural reports miss more recommended information compared to urban reports. Future research is needed to facilitate province-wide high-quality endoscopy reporting for patients regardless of endoscopy location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature superconducting (HTS) power cables are a potential solution for the grid integration of offshore wind farms since the HTS cable can conduct bulk wind power at low voltage levels. However, the transient current through the HTS cable in cases of low voltage ride through (LVRT) operation has a negative impact on the HTS cable operation due to the quenching phenomenon. This paper analyzes the impact of LVRT control strategies on the HTS cable operation. In addition, a coordinated control of wind turbines for LVRT improvement of an offshore wind farm is proposed. The feasibility of the HTS cable application for the grid connection of offshore wind farms is also discussed in this study. The proposed controller is designed for the wind turbine generator based on a type-4 permanent magnet synchronous generator. In the proposed controller, the transient current through the HTS cable is reduced by regulating the machine side power during fault conditions. The feasibility of the proposed controller is validated in the PSCAD/EMTDC program (Manitoba Hydro International Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, version 4.2.1). The effects of transient current on the cable temperatures and resistances are analyzed in this study. Simulation results show that the proposed control strategy could reduce the transient current and temperature rise of the HTS cable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new control scheme for the low frequency AC transmission (LFAC) system aiming at extending the point-to-point configuration to form a multi-terminal electrical energy network. The multi-terminal low frequency ac (MT-LFAC) system configuration is based on the use of modular multilevel matrix converters (M3Cs) and virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control. The M3C is the next ac/ac converter generation, which is used as an interface with the conventional AC network and the LFAC electrical energy system. Application of VSG control is proposed to enable proper power sharing, to provide synchronization of each terminal, and frequency stabilization, thus, to offer multiterminal forming capability. Two different operation modes are applied in the system to damp the frequency deviation after a dynamic perturbation, which provides additional stabilization feature to the VSG. Frequency restoration mode and commanded mode of power sharing are applied as dynamic states to validate the robustness of the VSG control system. Besides, to solve the negative impact of low X/R ratio in the LFAC electrical energy system, we enhance the VSG control by proposing a virtual-impedance-based solution, which increases the output total impedance on the low frequency side and prevents the coupling between P and Q. The operation of the proposed system is examined by simulation results with a precise model of M3Cs in the PSCAD/ EMTDC software environment (version 4.2.1, Winnipeg, MB, Canada). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualitative research often involves the collection of data from multiple sources, inclusive of the embodied and multisensorial. These differing data sources, that are not language based, pose difficulties for researchers. Often this multimodal data is collected alongside interviews, field notes and other language-based data and then translated into language. In the process of this translation, the embodied, relational, and multisensorial aspects of this data is often lost. To address this issue, we created E mbodied Mapping/s (EM) as an approach for collecting, analyzing and becoming-with non-language-based data. This doing of embodied mapping/s is not about fixing lines and encounters in order to produce a two-dimensional cartography, plan or model; on the contrary it is about exploring differing embodiments and material relations among people and things to create a new inquiry in embodied and multisensorial research and methodologies. Embodied mapping/s suggests a need for a more holistic exploration of qualitative methodologies beyond language and visual communication. Through centralising embodiment, not only as an analytical method but also as something that informs innovative methodologies and methods, these doings of embodied mapping/s offer something novel to qualitative inquiry and embodied methodologies. To evidence the doing of embodied mapping/s, two multi-sited case studies in Canada will be explored—the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa; and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, to advance methodological insights in relation to multimodal and multisensorial research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission (2021) decided to call on external expertise to advance the debate on the future of the European Union (EU) Customs Union. To that end the Commission established a ‘Wise Persons Group on challenges facing the Customs Union.’ The Wise Persons Group (WPG) was an independent, high-level group comprised of people with experience in politics, law, industry, the public sector, international trade and academia. The WPG’s primary goal was ‘to reflect on the development of innovative ideas and concepts and deliver a report that contributes to a general inter-institutional debate on the future of the Customs Union.’ The Group published its report and recommendations in March 2022 under the title Putting more Union in the European Customs. Ten proposals to make the EU Customs Union fit for a Geopolitical Europe (European Commission, 2022a). Walsh has now joined the debate to demonstrate how necessary pragmatic compromises on the implementation of customs law have militated against the fundamental concept of the Customs Union since its inception and will continue to do so in the future unless there is the required political will to remedy the known fault lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Jewish Studies / Études Juives Canadiennes is the property of Association for Canadian Jewish Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Indigenous youth are key partners in improving our understanding of holistic health and identifying solutions to address health-related issues. The Urban Gardens Project was a community-based research partnership involving Indigenous youth co-researchers, Brandon University, Indigenous Knowledge Users, Elders, and Indigenous organizations in Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba. Using the Medicine Wheel as an analytic framework, the study identified key indicators of spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing that Indigenous youth attributed to gardening. Findings illuminate the need for policies to foster Indigenous youth engagement, leadership, and urban gardening programs that advance Indigenous cultural practices to contribute to Indigenous health and wellbeing. The research was funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Optimal intervals between repeat colonoscopies could improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. We evaluated: (a) concordance between clinician and guideline recommended colonoscopy screening intervals in Winnipeg, Manitoba, (b) clinician opinions about the utility of an electronic decision-making tool to aid in recommending screening intervals, and (c) the initial use of a decision-making smartphone/web-based application.Methods: Clinician endoscopists and primary care providers participated in four focus groups (N = 22). We asked participating clinicians to evaluate up to 12 hypothetical scenarios and compared their recommended screening interval to those of North American guidelines. Fisher's exact tests were used to assess differences in agreement with guidelines. We developed a decision-making tool and evaluated it via a pilot study with 6 endoscopists.Result: 53% of clinicians made recommendations that agreed with guidelines in ≤ 50% of the hypothetical scenarios. Themes from focus groups included barriers to using a decision-making tool: extra time to use it, less confidence in the results of the tool over their own judgement, and having access to the information required by the tool (e.g., family history). Most were willing to try a tool if it was quick and easy to use. Endoscopists participating in the tool pilot study recommended screening intervals discordant with guidelines 35% of the time. When their recommendation differed from that of the tool, they usually endorsed their own over the guideline.Conclusions: Endoscopists are overconfident and inconsistent with applying guidelines in their polyp surveillance interval recommendations. Use of a decision tool may improve knowledge and application of guidelines. A change in practice may require that the tool be coupled with continuing education about evidence for improved outcomes if guidelines are followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the potential use and quantification of human enteric viruses in municipal wastewater samples of Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) as alternative indicators of contamination and evaluated the processing stages of the wastewater treatment plant. During the fall 2019 and winter 2020 seasons, samples of raw sewage, activated sludge, effluents, and biosolids (sludge cake) were collected from the North End Sewage Treatment Plant (NESTP), which is the largest wastewater treatment plant in the City of Winnipeg. DNA (Adenovirus and crAssphage) and RNA enteric viruses (Pepper mild mottle virus, Norovirus genogroups GI and GII, Rotavirus Astrovirus, and Sapovirus) as well as the uidA gene found in Escherichia coli were targeted in the samples collected from the NESTP. Total nucleic acids from each wastewater treatment sample were extracted using a commercial spin-column kit. Enteric viruses were quantified in the extracted samples via quantitative PCR using TaqMan assays. Overall, the average gene copies assessed in the raw sewage were not significantly different (p-values ranged between 0.1023 and 0.9921) than the average gene copies assessed in the effluents for DNA and RNA viruses and uidA in terms of both volume and biomass. A significant reduction (p-value - 0.0438) of Adenovirus and Noroviruses genogroups GI and GII was observed in activated sludge samples compared with those for raw sewage per volume. Higher GCNs of enteric viruses were observed in dewatered sludge samples compared to liquid samples in terms of volume (g of sample) and biomass (ng of nucleic acids). Enteric viruses found in gene copy numbers were at least one order of magnitude higher than the E. coli marker uidA, indicating that enteric viruses may survive the wastewater treatment process and viral-like particles are being released into the aquatic environment. Viruses such as Noroviruses genogroups GI and GII, and Rotavirus were detected during colder months. Our results suggest that Adenovirus, crAssphage, and Pepper mild mottle virus can be used confidently as complementary viral indicators of human fecal pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The episodic buildup of gas-phase reactive bromine species over sea ice and snowpack in the springtime Arctic plays an important role in boundary layer processes, causing annual concurrent depletion of ozone and gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) during polar sunrise. Extensive studies have shown that these phenomena, known as bromine explosion events (BEEs), ozone depletion events (ODEs), and mercury depletion events (MDEs) are all triggered by reactive bromine species that are photochemically activated from bromide via multi-phase reactions under freezing air temperatures. However, major knowledge gaps exist in both fundamental cryo-photochemical processes causing these events and meteorological conditions that may affect their timing and magnitude. Here, we report an outdoor mesocosm study in which we successfully reproduced ODEs and MDEs at the Sea-ice Environmental Research Facility (SERF) in Winnipeg, Canada. By monitoring ozone and GEM concentrations inside large acrylic tubes over bromide-enriched artificial seawater during sea ice freeze-and-melt cycles, we observed mid-day photochemical ozone and GEM loss in winter in the in-tube boundary layer air immediately above the sea ice surface in a pattern that is characteristic of BEE-induced ODEs and MDEs in the Arctic. The importance of UV radiation and the presence of a condensed phase (experimental sea ice or snow) in causing such reactions were demonstrated by comparing ozone and GEM concentrations between the UV-transmitting and UV-blocking acrylic tubes under different air temperatures. The ability of reproducing BEE-induced photochemical phenomena in a mesocosm in a non-polar region provides a new approach to systematically studying the cryo-photochemical processes and meteorological conditions leading to BEEs, ODEs, and MDEs in the Arctic, their role in biogeochemical cycles across the ocean–sea ice–atmosphere interface, and their sensitivities to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Pain is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Drawing on qualitative data gathered in the inner city of Winnipeg, this paper seeks to answer the following questions: What do urban Aboriginals think of African refugees? Do Aboriginals feel threatened by the arrival of refugee migrants in their neighbourhoods? If so, why and if not, why not? Findings from this exploratory study reveal a mixed picture of how Native1 inner-city residents perceive newcomer refugees. Some Aboriginals have negative perceptions of refugees, largely caused by feelings of inter-group competition over jobs and subsidized housing. Other Aboriginals appear to have a sympathetic view of refugees, since they can identify with them as racialized minorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The housing difficulties facing many low income Canadians today is well documented. For newcomers, and particularly refugees, these challenges may be amplified. This paper considers the influence of legal status and place in the housing outcomes of government-assisted refugees and refugee claimants in Vancouver, BC and Winnipeg, MB. Results from the study indicate that while claimants in Vancouver face a more difficult 'pathway to permanent housing' than do government-assisted refugees, the same is not true in Winnipeg. More alarmingly, certain refugee groups face barriers beyond legal status and place, owing to characteristics of the group itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An extensive research project is currently being carried out at the University of Manitoba, Canada, involving the development of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) wind turbine towers. The towers consist of multi-cell segments, each segment constructed from eight filament wound cells jointed together with resin applied over their interface. The present paper mainly addresses the static and dynamic characteristics, such as failure static loads, modes of failure, fundamental frequencies and periods of such segmented composite towers. Both experimental and numerical results are presented. The experimental investigation involved the testing of two jointed scaled towers. These specimens had a total height of 4.88-m (16-ft) and were tested as cantilevers under static and dynamic loading. The testing was conducted at the W.R. McQuade Structural Engineering Laboratory of the University of Manitoba. Finally, finite element models were developed to analyze the structural behavior, static and dynamic, of single and multi-cell composite segments and towers. The results from the finite element models under static loading were validated through comparison with the experimental results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Native Studies is the property of Brandon University, CJNS, Faculty of Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents an interview with 20th century intellectual activist Graham Spry. He mentions his involvement in the 1919 Winnipeg, Manitoba labor strike. Spry believed that the newspaper "Manitoba Free Press," in which he was a longtime employee, dominated the paper industry then as well as now. He also comments about the political leanings of the various newspapers of the time.