Ryerson University

About: Ryerson University is a education organization based out in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Computer science & Population. The organization has 7671 authors who have published 20164 publications receiving 394976 citations. The organization is also known as: Ryerson Polytechnical Institute & Ryerson Institute of Technology.

Recycling and Waste Diversion Effectiveness: Evidence from Canada

Abstract: In this paper, we investigate the relationship between recycling policy options and recycling behavior to study the most effective methods of diverting post-consumer waste from landfills. We employ data from a unique, micro-data set collected from households in communities across Ontario, Canada. We estimate the relationships between several commonly recycled materials (newsprint, glass, plastics, aluminum cans, tin cans, cardboard, and toxic chemicals) and individual household characteristics, recycling program attributes, and garbage collection financing methods. We find that user fees on garbage collection have significant impacts on recycling levels for all materials except toxic chemicals, and mandatory recycling programs on particular items have significant effects on recycling for almost all materials. Limits on the amount of garbage that can be placed at the curb, and providing free units under user fee systems, however, generally have a negligible or detrimental impact on recycling.

Aspirations for Higher Education among Newcomer Refugee Youth in Toronto: Expectations, Challenges, and Strategies

Abstract: A large percentage of refugees have low levels of education and official language fluency upon arrival in Canada. Thi spaper discusses educational goals of newcomer refugee youth from three communities in Toronto (Afghan, Karen, and Sudanese), and explores how these are linked to premigration and post-migration determinants. Guided by community-based research principles, we collaborated with eight refugee youth peer researchers and conducted ten focus groups and thirteen interviews with refugee youth. Results show that newcomer refugee youth develop strong aspirations for higher education in Canada as a proactive response to overcome pre-migration experiences of forced migration and educational disruptions. We then discuss how these youth negotiate educational goals in post-migration context in relation to shifts in family responsibilities and everyday encounter with multiple systemic barriers in Canada. In doing this, we examine the thin line between vulnerability and empowerment that refugee youth straddle and reveal policy gaps and contradictions in the depoliticized humanitarianism within refugee resettlement in Canada.

Calibration-Based Iterative Learning Control for Path Tracking of Industrial Robots

Abstract: This paper addresses the problem of path tracking of industrial robots. The main idea is to correct a preplanned path through an iterative learning control (ILC) method. Instead of seeking the conventional ILC strategy, an iterative learning identification method, which is called calibration-based ILC, is developed to identify the robot kinematic parameters along the path in a local working zone. To facilitate calibration-based ILC, we propose two objectives. The first objective is to find the exact values of robot kinematic parameters based on the ILC scheme. The second objective is to search the fastest learning convergence speed and robustness in the iterative domain. Based on the identification of robot kinematic parameters, we then propose an algorithm for the accurate path tracking of industrial robots. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the performance of path tracking can be improved significantly via the proposed method.

Improving Immigrant Populations’ Access to Mental Health Services in Canada: A Review of Barriers and Recommendations

Abstract: This article emerges from a scoping review of over two decades of relevant literature on immigrants’ access to mental health services in Canada. Key online databases were searched to explore the gaps and opportunities for improving access to mental health services using a review framework provided by Arksey and O’Malley (Int J Soc Res Methodol 8:19–32, 2005). Immigrants and refugees came from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds and had complex mental health-related concerns that were not currently being adequately addressed by existing services. The major barriers to the utilization of mental health services included: those related to the uptake of existing health information and services; those that were related to the process of immigrant settlement; and barriers related to availability of appropriate services. A thematic analysis of the range of recommendations that emerge from these studies for improvement of research, practice and policy is provided.

Predictive Current Control With Input Filter Resonance Mitigation for a Direct Matrix Converter

Abstract: This paper presents a control method for direct matrix converters that combines the advantages of predictive control with active damping. The active damping is used to suppress the resonance of the input filter. A discrete-time model of the converter, the input filter, and the load parameters are used to predict the behavior of the input reactive power on the supply side and the output currents for each valid switching state. The control method selects the best commutation state, according to an optimizing algorithm and a cost function, in order to generate unity input displacement power factor with high-quality waveforms. The active damping method is based on a virtual harmonic resistor that damps the filter resonance. This paper shows simulated and experimental results to demonstrate that the proposed control method can generate good tracking of the output current references, achieve unity input displacement power factor, and reduce the input current distortion caused by the input filter resonance.