Open Theses & Dissertations
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Item The optimization of urban-rural demand responsive transportation services in New Brunswick(University of New Brunswick, 2025-03) Cartwright, Abigail; Hanson, Trevor R.; Christie, James S.With over one-third of New Brunswick's population living with a disability, accessible Demand-Response Transit (DRT) services are crucial for those that need it. There is a need for data on the operation and travel patterns associated with DRT services in New Brunswick as new regional agencies are assuming transportation planning responsibilities and looking to expand services. This research used geographically aggregated passenger data from 6 months of trips by a paratransit provider to estimate trip rates and to pilot an exact solution method of Mixed Integer Linear Programming (Christie Method) for vehicle deployment. The Christie Method was able to reasonably replicate the conditions of the existing service provider subject to their level of service requirements and was then applied to a community use-case based on extrapolated trip rates. While effective, the exact solution approach increases processing time exponentially for any additional constraints, therefore other heuristic approaches may warrant future considerations.Item Non-invasive non-normal relative permittivity measurements of buried earth layers(University of New Brunswick, 2025-03) Brown, Brandon C.; Petersen, Brent R.This dissertation presents a method for determining the relative permittivity of surface and sub-surface layers, such as a layer of snow on the ground and the hidden ground layers. In summer, the traditional two-ray model is expanded to three rays, where the new ray penetrates the top layer of ground until it is reflected by a change in the earth medium. In the winter, a five-ray model is used where snow covers the same ground. Measurements were taken in a field area measuring approximately 6800 m2 with the transmitter and receiver in close proximity to the area of interrogation, and where the ground exhibited lateral homogeneity. A genetic algorithm is used to determine the electrical characteristics of the ground and snow layers based on results from measurements taken from four positions and nine heights at each position, in summer and winter. At a frequency of 2.35 GHz, the snow covering the ground during the winter campaign was found to have a relative permittivity of 11.3.Item Complexity, adherence, and nimbleness: Language ideology in a Canadian college(University of New Brunswick, 2025-03) Beres, Kyle; White, Melissa; Rose, Sherry LynnCurrent Canadian language ideology, rooted in settler colonial and linguistic practices, imposes an English standard that discriminates against multilingual international students. This study sought to examine the pervasiveness and reproduction of standard language ideology in a Canadian college. A critical discourse analysis case study was conducted and included interviews with leaders responsible for language and diversity policies, practices, and procedures and analysis of relevant documents. Using inductive, open coding, four themes emerged: 1. complexity of language beliefs, 2. lack of official language policy, 3. adhering to language standards is crucial for student success, and 4. support is an institutional priority, which were triangulated with power, linguicism, and theory of ideology. These findings highlight how language ideology is complex and challenges and reinforces hegemonic norms. Further research is needed to deepen understanding of language ideology and how the institution can embrace global Englishes and reduce unconscious language oppression.Item A qualitative exploration of EMG activity visual feedback for spinal cord injury hand function rehabilitation(University of New Brunswick, 2025-03) Aikens, Janelle; Englehart, Kevin; Scheme, ErikSpinal cord injuries (SCI) often lead to impaired hand function, reducing independence and requiring sustained motivation for rehabilitation, particularly when movement feedback is compromised. Augmented feedback, such as electromyography (EMG)-based visual feedback, may support motor learning and motivation, but its impact on SCI rehabilitation remains underexplored. This study investigates how EMG-based visual feedback influences motivation and its’ suitability for hand function rehabilitation. Using a qualitative approach informed by Self-Determination Theory, we conducted semi-structured interviews with five individuals with tetraplegia and a focus group with seven occupational therapists. Findings indicate that EMG feedback serves as an extrinsic motivator by providing tangible progress indicators and may enhance intrinsic motivation fostering enjoyment and aligning with personal interests. Themes highlight its potential across rehabilitation contexts, from pre-functional muscle awareness to improved patient-therapist communication. This research underscores EMG visual feedback’s role in bridging subfunctional and functional movement, offering a promising tool for advancing SCI rehabilitation.Item Understanding teachers’ and school leaders’ perceptions of the teacher assessment process: Implications for teaching practices and ongoing professional development and learning(University of New Brunswick, 2025-03) Adeniyi, Ruth Oluwafunke; Brien, KenSince the early 19th century, there has been a significant emphasis on regulating teachers’ practices and improving schools through rigorous teacher assessment. Teachers and school leaders continue to face ongoing criticism for their struggles to adapt to evolving assessment policies, especially given the limited evidence of improved performance resulting from these changes. This qualitative case study investigates the perceptions and practices surrounding the teacher assessment system within three middle schools in the Anglophone West School District (ASD-W) in New Brunswick. The primary objectives are to examine the understanding of the New Brunswick teacher assessment system among teachers and school leaders, assess their perceptions of autonomy in the assessment process, identify the impact of self-assessments and reflection on instructional practices, and determine how reflective feedback influences ongoing professional learning. Situated within an interpretative paradigm and informed by Weick’s (1995) organizational sensemaking theory, this research aims to understand how teachers and school leaders continuously interpret and navigate assessment processes to make decisions that enhance professional practices. Purposeful sampling was employed to select research sites within the Anglophone West school district (ASD-W). Data collection methods included semi-structured interviews and document reviews to gain comprehensive insights into participants’ perspectives on the assessment system. This study’s findings highlight the importance of educational policies that balance holding teachers accountable while supporting their professional development while fostering an environment of trust and collaboration. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for comprehensive self-assessment frameworks, reflective teaching methods, and personalized ongoing professional development and learning (OPDL) opportunities. These elements are crucial for enhancing teacher empowerment and improving instructional outcomes. Overall, these findings contribute to the broader discourse on teacher assessment and OPDL, offering valuable insights for policymakers, teachers, and school leaders aiming to navigate and enhance the complexities of teacher assessment systems.Item Estimating the vertical offsets of a crowd-sourced bathymetry system using Kalman Filter solution(University of New Brunswick, 2025-03) Ibekwute, Samuel Izuchukwu; Church, IanCrowd-sourced Bathymetry (CSB), recognized for its potential in mapping uncharted waters, is faced with credibility and useability concerns, which makes Hydrographic Offices (HOs) hesitant to consider them for use in official nautical charts. This research implemented a Kalman Filter (KF) algorithm to estimate the vertical offsets between theGNSS receiver and the sonar and the GNSS receiver and the waterline, two quantities which are often not measured in a CSB system. The algorithm uses Ellipsoid Reference Survey (ERS) principles, estimated uncertainties, and hydrodynamic models for tidal adjustments. The solution was tested with six datasets collected from the Gulf of St. Lawrence where the difference between the previously estimated GNSS to sonar offset and the KF solution results ranged between -1.286m and 1.168m. The results showed the technique's ability to significantly improve CSB data quality by resolving these offsets, paving the way for wider adoption in official charts.Item The Falls Island Collection: A report on a collection of late Maritime Archaic through Protohistoric period artifacts from Falls Island in Cobscook Bay, Maine.(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) Cummings, Joshua A.; Hrynick, M. Gabriel; Anderson, ArthurFalls Island is located in Cobscook Bay, Maine, in the western Quoddy Region. Between the 1930s and 1950s, local avocational archaeologists John and Douglas Knapton visited the island and collected artifacts from eroding shell middens and intertidal zones. Their collection was donated to the Robert S Peabody Institute, where they are currently curated. I analyzed the artifacts using a culture-historical approach. The collection suggests an extensive period of occupation from the Late Maritime Archaic through Late Maritime Woodland periods (ca. 5500-550 cal BP). In this thesis I place the artifacts chronologically using typology from the Quoddy Region, the Atlantic Northeast, and New England. I also conducted a pedestrian survey of Falls Island, which revealed two remaining archaeological sites, and two eroded sites. This thesis uses collections research and pedestrian survey to analyze coastal archaeological sites in the Quoddy Region.Item DGSim: A scalable and configurable framework for simulating energy consumption of household appliances(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) Addala, Bhavani Sai Prasad; Kent, Kenneth B.We introduce DGSim, a flexible and scalable framework for simulating household energy consumption. Traditional energy simulation tools often struggle with configurability across diverse household types and scalability to urban and regional scales. First, we explore DGSim’s ability to adapt to different appliance configurations and household structures, allowing precise modeling of varied consumption patterns. Second, we implement a multi-faceted configurability approach, enabling detailed customization for appliances, usage patterns, and community demographics. Third, we enhance scalability with optimizations that support large-scale simulations involving millions of instances, allowing DGSim to model energy use across residential communities. Our evaluation demonstrates DGSim’s capability to provide insights for demand-side management, highlighting its benefits over existing simulation frameworks for both detailed and large-scale residential energy analysis.Item “The Greatest Scoundrels in the Universe:” Haitian migrants, revolutionary contagion, and Jamaican migration law during the Haitian Revolution(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) Waters, Colin; Hunt-Kennedy, StefanieIn 1791, the enslaved people of French Saint-Domingue revolted, leading to a thirteen-year revolutionary war. In the neighbouring British colony of Jamaica, slaveowners feared that revolutionary ideology would spread and inspire Jamaican bondspeople to revolt. Between 1791 and 1799, Jamaican lawmakers, who were themselves slaveowners, responded to the threat of revolutionary contagion through a series of laws known as the Alien and Foreign Slave Acts. The creation and development of these laws was also shaped by a long-standing political dispute between Jamaica and Great Britain over their respective privileges and powers and over the future of slavery. The legislation sought to limit the entry of Saint-Domingue migrants, including white slaveowners, free people of colour, and the enslaved, restrict their movements within Jamaica, and surveil them. These laws, unprecedented in their scope and severity, demonstrate the ways that Jamaican slaveowners drafted legislation to navigate colonial politics and perpetuate slavery.Item Developing a hybrid actuated cable-driven parallel manipulator using a compact tape rod actuator(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) Sanford, Paul William; Antonio Carretero, JuanCable-driven parallel manipulators (CDPMs) are an active area of research due to their efficiency, speed, and range of workspace sizes. In this work, a parallel manipulator with hybrid actuation is developed to expand the capabilities of conventional CDPMs by adding a compact linear actuator. The linear actuator, which unlike cable actuators can push and pull, is created using three tape measures forming a rigid rod that can be spooled. The combined mechanism is controlled using position and force sensors for each of the four actuators. The mechanical design, control system, kinematics, and electronics are discussed. The cable and tape rod actuators were tested individually and as a manipulator with quasi-static loading. The control system and cable actuators were able to reliably apply compressive forces to the tape rod actuator, which experienced early fatigue and excessive wear.Item Chasing the dream: Understanding the journey of Canadian high performance athletes, the nature of the challenges and the motivation to persevere(University of New Brunswick, 2013-01) Allain, Monique; Morrison, William; Peterson, PatriciaThe purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding o f the journeys of Canadian high performance athletes, specifically, their experiences of strain and social support in becoming and being a senior national team member, representing Canada at international events. Eleven Canadian high performance athletes shared their journeys while competing at the 2011 Pan American Games, held in October 2011 in Guadalajara. The research design employed a narrative inquiry approach, and included in-depth interviews that were conducted with participating athletes. The goal of this investigation was to give voice to the athletes, allowing them to share their stories. The process of interviewing and analyzing the athletes’ stories yielded a deeper understanding of how they drew upon internal and external resources in meeting core psychological needs associated with relatedness, competence and autonomy support. Based on the completed research, a five-step model for building athletes’ resiliency is proposed.Item Evaluating asphalt mixture performance in New Brunswick: Defining baselines for volumetric design with performance verification(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) Biglari, Moein; Sanchez-Castillo, XiomaraThis study aimed to evaluate the asphalt mixtures used in New Brunswick to establish thresholds as a significant step toward adopting the Balanced Mix Design (BMD) approach. For this purpose, asphalt cores were extracted from six in-service pavement sections in the province. Additionally, two widely used mixtures in New Brunswick were produced and compacted in the laboratory. The Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) test was conducted to evaluate the moisture susceptibility of the laboratory-prepared specimens. To assess the rutting potential of both cored and laboratory mixes at high temperatures, the Rapid Shear Rutting Test (Ideal RT) test and Hamburg Wheel Track Test (HWTT) test were utilized. The Indirect Tensile Asphalt Cracking Test (Ideal CT) test and Semicircular Bend (SCB) test were employed to investigate the fracture performance of mixes at intermediate and low temperatures, respectively. Finally, using road survey data collected by (Automatic Road Analyzer) ARAN, final thresholds were determined as acceptance criteria for the province of New Brunswick.Item A system not their own: Investigating organizational barriers and facilitators to mental health care access among youth(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) Miller, David; Ronis, ScottOnset of mental illness predominantly occurs in adolescence, with epidemiological trends continuing to show that youth represent the greatest comparative year-over-year increase in mental illness onset among age cohorts (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2022; Raballo & Poletti, 2020). Despite being most likely to experience the onset of psychopathology, 40% of youth with a mental illness are unable to access appropriate supports (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2015, 2022; Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2016). Barriers stem from constraints in the accessibility and availability of services and are exacerbated by youths’ positions within overarching care systems (de Haan et al., 2013, 2018; Gouliquer & Poulin, 2005). Youth face challenges related to their lack of autonomy, and they disproportionately rely on caregivers and providers for symptom identification and treatment adherence (Birleson & Vance, 2008; Iyer et al., 2015; Wittevrongel et al., 2024). Despite their reliance on adults, 60% of youth endorse receiving little support from others when accessing care (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2022). As such, it is crucial to obtain youth perspectives to determine ways in which their limited agency affects help seeking in a primarily service-provider-controlled health system. Thirty-four semi-structured interviews were collected as part of the Atlantic Canada Children’s Effective Service Strategies Mental Health (ACCESS-MH) project (ACCESS-MH, 2014), a large-scale multi-site qualitative research project examining barriers and facilitators to mental health treatment among youth in Atlantic Canada. Interviews were analyzed using the Psycho-Social Ethnography of the Commonplaces (P-SEC) methodology to highlight the impact of systemic policies and protocols on youth mental health journeys. Complications to access stemming from provincial mental health policies or protocols were coded as “Organizational Moments” (OMs). Two OMs comprise individual manuscripts in this thesis to allow for in-depth analysis of specific complications, coping strategies, and schematic shifts encapsulating the way youth made sense of the barriers to care. Findings provide a contextual perspective of the unique barriers youth face that stem from stepped-care treatment models, standardized care approaches, and legal nonautonomy.Item Beyond moral leadership: Edward H. Levi and the need for structural reform in the Attorney General’s office after Watergate(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) Purnell, Elizabeth; Corke, Sarah-JaneIn the aftermath of Watergate, President Gerald R. Ford nominated Dr. Edward H. Levi as Attorney General (AG) of the United States. Ford hoped Levi’s appointment would symbolize a new tradition of an independent AG. As the nation’s chief law officer and member of the Cabinet, the AG had become enormously influential since the position’s creation in 1789. However, politics and ambiguous language concerning the roles and responsibilities of the AG did much to undermine the AGs independence. Ford, hoping the AG’s character alone would restore the office’s integrity, sought an AG who embodied independence, integrity, and professionalism. This thesis argues that although Levi epitomized these three traits, they did not ensure his success in establishing long-lasting structural reforms necessary to insulate the position from politicization and secure a nonpartisan AG in perpetuity.Item Leveraging bilingual dictionaries to learn word embeddings for low-resource languages(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) Bear, Diego; Cook, PaulWord embeddings [33, 36] have been used to bolster the performance of natural language processing systems in a wide variety of tasks, including information retrieval [42] and machine translation [37]. However, approaches to learning word embeddings typically require large corpora of running text to learn high quality representations. For many languages, such resources are unavailable. This is the case for Wolastoqey and Mi’kmaq, two endangered low-resource Eastern Algonquian languages. As there exist no large corpora for Wolastoqey and Mi’kmaq, in this thesis, we leverage bilingual dictionaries to learn Wolastoqey and Mi’kmaq word embeddings by encoding their corresponding English definitions into vector representations using English word and sequence representation models. Specifically, we consider representations based on pretrained word2vec [33], RoBERTa [31], and sentence-RoBERTa [40] models, as well as, fine-tuned sentence-RoBERTa models [40]. We evaluate these embeddings in word prediction tasks focused on part-of-speech, animacy, and transitivity; semantic clustering; and reverse dictionary search. We additionally construct word embeddings for higher-resource languages — English, German and Spanish — using our methods and evaluate our embeddings on existing word-similarity datasets. Our findings indicate that our word embedding methods can be used to produce meaningful vector representations for low-resource languages such as Wolastoqey and Mi’kmaq and for higher-resource languages.Item Surrogate-based multi-objective optimization of modulated wave laser powder bed fusion using active learning: Balancing time and quality(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) McCarthy, Thomas; Aranas Jr., ClodualdoAdditive manufacturing, and more specifically laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), complements conventional manufacturing by producing a low volume of highly complex functional metallic components. The mode of laser emission, either continuous (c-LPBF) or modulated (m-LPBF), has a pronounced impact on the resulting component. Although both have merits, the c-LPBF process dominates commercial machines and academic efforts. To promote further exploration of m-LPBF, which has the potential to reduce defects and enhance microstructural control, the process must strike a balance between component quality and the industry’s demand for increased production. In this work, a multi-objective optimization framework was adopted to balance time and quality of m-LPBF produced Ti-6Al-4V as a function of key processing parameters. Lacking an analytical model, Bayesian inference of Gaussian process regression was utilized to relate laser power, exposure time, point distance, and hatch spacing to the as-built relative density, serving as a proxy for quality, while batch active learning efficiently sampled the design space. In combination, this model accurately captured the relationship in a modest number of experiments and, in conjunction with the application of non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II, was able to determine a non-dominated set of solutions approximating the Pareto front. Despite the model's accuracy, the current work highlights the need for a sufficiently large data set to accurately reflect the underlying mechanisms occurring in the m-LPBF process.Item The spatial and trophic ecology of invasive Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) in the Wolastoq | Saint John River(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) Culberson, Abigale; Curry, R. Allen; Harrison, PhilipWhen invasive species are introduced, they have negative impacts on the local system, including reducing populations of endemic species and drastically changing the ecosystem around them. As a recently introduced species, Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) are a growing concern in the Wolastoq | Saint John River, New Brunswick. Following their colonization, this master’s project began to investigate the trophic and spatial ecology of Largemouth Bass early in their colonization phase in a novel system at their northeastern range extent in North America. The results of this study suggest that Largemouth Bass exhibit increased predation and competition on local species and are at high risk of spread within the system. Given these results, the threat of Largemouth Bass within the Wolastoq | Saint John River system is high. This study should act as a baseline to compare to any future work and risk assessment.Item A parametric study of a tidal turbine hub retrofit’s influence on power generation and thrust(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) Corbett, Finley; Jeans, Tiger; Gerber, AndrewFor efficient tidal energy extraction using traditional horizontal axis turbines, it is desirable to maximize electrical power output and minimize thrust loads. This research addresses both factors by establishing a workflow to parametrically investigate the influence a co-rotating hub retrofit has on the hydrodynamics of an existing horizontal axis tidal turbine using Computations Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Within the parametric space of the 21 high-fidelity simulations performed, it was concluded that the net effect of the retrofit did not improve power generation, but reduced thrust by a maximum of 0.21%. While isolated torque imparted on the primary blades increased, an added counter-acting moment directly caused by the retrofit neutralized this effect. Primary blade load influence after the retrofit was added was caused by the retrofit tip vortex, the modification of the primary blade relative flow angles, and the increase in horseshoe vortex strength at the root to hub junction.Item Borderline personality vulnerabilities for intimate partner violence perpetration in a non-forensic sample: Developing a typology and theoretical model(University of New Brunswick, 2025-02) Doyle, Jessie Nicole; Campbell, Mary AnnResearch demonstrates that intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators are heterogeneous (Corvo & Johnson, 2013). Borderline personality disorder, a mental health condition reflecting a pervasive pattern of interpersonal and identity dysfunction, emotion dysregulation, and impulsivity (APA, 2013), has often been recognized among IPV perpetrators (Spencer et al., 2019). Nonetheless, not all IPV perpetrators have BPD traits, nor do all people with BPD traits perpetrate IPV. Better understanding a ‘borderline subtype’ of IPV perpetrators may help discern which BPD features are predictive of IPV behaviours (physical, psychological, sexual). The current research utilized online recruitment strategies to: (1) identify latent profiles of self-report BPD features, insecure attachment, and anxiety sensitivity (AS) among a non-forensic sample; (2) distinguish latent profiles on their reported IPV behaviours; (3) test the explanatory value of attachment dimensions and AS in the BPD-IPV pathway; and (4) investigate the validity of BPD features over and above traditional criminogenic risk factors in predicting IPV behaviours. From the final sample of community-based members (N = 451, Mage = 31.98, 62.7% men), two profiles emerged via latent profile analysis: (1) insecure attachment-specific (IAS, n = 90) and (2) mixed borderline features (MBF, n = 361). MANOVAs revealed that the MBF profile endorsed significantly more frequent and severe IPV behaviours and criminogenic risk factors. Structural equation modelling demonstrated that insecure attachment and AS partially mediated relations between BPD and IPV. Hierarchical regression analyses and canonical correlation analyses indicated that BPD features and traditional criminogenic risk factors each have incremental validity in predicting IPV behaviours. Correctional implications include adding BPD features to existing IPV risk assessment tools. Clinically, results corroborate the notion that addressing heterogeneity in IPV offenders is important for tailoring evidence-based interventions to the unique needs of offenders (Butters et al., 2021). Whereas insecure attachment-specific offenders might benefit from attachment-based or emotionally-focused couples therapy, mixed borderline features offenders would likely require interventions that focus on enhancing emotion regulation (e.g., dialectical behaviour therapy). Overall, the present findings support the need to tailor IPV interventions, and continue investigating the role of BPD features in IPV behaviours to maximize the utility of current risk assessment tools.Item Feasibility of producing non-structural wood products using trembling aspen lumber(University of New Brunswick, 2025-01) Zhang, Mengyuan; Gong, Meng; Chui, Ying-HeiTrembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) is abundant in Canada but underutilized in non-structural solid wood products. This study was aimed at evaluating the feasibility of using aspen lumber to produce flooring, moulding, and siding. The shrinkage, surface roughness, and wettability of aspen wood were tested. The surface hardness, screw withdrawal resistance, colour change, and dimensional stability of three products fabricated were examined. The wood yield of each product was analyzed. It was found that aspen showed superior machinability and wettability to silver maple and yellow poplar. Aspen flooring had a Brinell hardness of 13.47 MPa, 60% lower than silver maple. Aspen moulding exhibited a screw withdrawal resistance of 23.42 MPa, 15% higher than eastern white pine. Aspen siding showed comparable colour and dimensional stability to spruce-pine-fir wood. The aspen wood yields were estimated to be 38.25%, 25.4%, and 49.2% for flooring, moulding, and siding, suggesting its potential for non-structural applications.