title: ENDOCANNABINOID REGULATION OF ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT IN MALE AND FEMALE RATS

subject:
Adolescent
Endocannabinoids
CB1 receptor
Social Behaviours
Stress and Anxiety

abstract: The present thesis investigated the contributions of adolescent endocannabinoid signalling to brain and behaviour development in male and female rats. In chapter 2, daily administration of the CB1 antagonist AM251, alone or in tandem with a psychological stressor, increased social interactions, reduced dorsal hippocampal CB1 expression, and increased mPFC GAD67 expression in female rats 24-48 h after treatment, with no effects in males. In chapter 3, adolescent CB1 antagonism reduced anxiety in adult males, with no effects in females. Conversely, adolescent AM251 increased contextual fear in adult females, with no effects in males. In chapter 4, AM251 females spent more time initiating social interactions after a 5-day drug washout period than vehicle females, with no effects in males. To identify brain regions underlying the effects of AM251 on social behaviours, I repeated social interaction testing in vehicle and AM251 females and collected brains for immunohistochemical labelling of EGR-1 as a marker of neural activation in the CA1, CA2, and CA3 subfields of the dorsal hippocampus and the shell and core divisions of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Consistent with my previous findings, AM251 females spent more time initiating social interactions and had greater EGR-1 cell counts in the NAc shell than vehicle females, with no group differences in the NAc core or in any of the hippocampal subfields investigated. EGR-1 cell counts in the dCA2 were negatively correlated with social interactions in vehicle and AM251 females. A positive correlation between NAc shell EGR-1 cell counts and social interactions was observed only in AM251 females. Regression analysis using drug treatment and EGR-1 cell counts in dCA2 and NAc shell resulted in a model with an adjusted R2 of 0.90. Both drug treatment and EGR-1 cell counts in the dorsal CA2 emerged as unique predictors of individual differences in social interaction, and drug and NAc shell EGR-1 cell counts interacted to significantly predict social interactions in AM251 females only. Together, these studies provide support for sex-specific contributions of endocannabinoid signalling to the development of brain and behaviour in adolescence in male and female rats.


title: Deaf Accessibility in a Three-Day Instructional Skills Workshop: An Explorative Study

subject: Deaf, Disability, Instructional Skills Workshop, ISW, Professional Development

abstract: This study focused on the learning experience of a culturally Deaf person in a workshop milieu where training is short and intensive.  The researcher is a culturally Deaf person who signs fluently and was raised in a Deaf family.  The research examined and evaluated the Instructional Skills Workshop through a CDS orientation to identify possible barriers and sites of potential accommodation for Deaf learners, specifically American Sign Language instructors.  The researcher participated in a three-day Instructional Skills Workshop and maintained a journal of his experiences. The research journal and the workshop manuals constituted the data sets. Data analysis involved a) selecting salient episodes from the researcher’ journal and applying Galloway et al’s Ethic of Accommodation to the episodes and b) applying a SWOT analysis to the overall experience including the manuals. Findings indicate that well-meaning people who assisted in accommodations soon became focused on the ISW process, and that the ISW 3-day structure format, the intensity of the schedule and quick exposure to the foundational premises may not fit a Deaf approach to this short, intensive professional development.  Further study should be conducted in a pilot of a Deaf-friendly ISW using the recommendation of a 4-day format.


title: Transient Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy on Photosystem I Reaction Centers

subject: Photosystem I; Phylloquinone; Electron transfer; Transient Electron Paramagnetic Resonance

abstract:
The reason for the different rates of electron transfer from phylloquinone (PhQ) to the iron-sulfur
cluster FX in the two branches of Photosystem I (PSI) is not fully understood. Techniques such as
Transient Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (TREPR) have allowed further understanding of the
electron transfer rates in these two branches and the role of D575PsaB and Q588PsaA in determining
the different rates. Room temperature 9.5 GHz TREPR measurements were performed on PSI from
the wildtype and three mutant strains of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803,
Q588DPsaA (A-mutant), D575QPsaB (B-mutant), Q588DPsaA/ D575QPsaB (AB-mutant) to determine
the effects of the mutations on the rates of the electron transfer.
The goal of these experiments is to test the model proposed by Ishikita and Knapp, (J. Biol. Chem.
278, 52002–52011 (2003)) that explains the differences in the electron transfer rates as resulting
from differences in the amino acid sequences of the two main protein subunits PsaA and PsaB
which lead to different midpoint potentials of the two PhQs. The model also proposes that aspartate
D575PsaB changes its protonation state during electron transfer.
The model suggests that D575PsaB and Q588PsaA play significant roles in determining the potentials,
but a previous study found that mutations to D575PsaB caused only small changes in the kinetics
(Karyagina, Pushkar, Stehlik, van der Est, Ishikita, Knapp, Jagannathan, Agalarov, Golbeck
(Biochemistry 46, 10804-10816 (2007)). It was proposed that this is because the mutations caused
similar changes in the potentials of both PhQ and Fx. In this thesis, this proposal is tested using
the double mutant Q588DPsaA/ D575QPsaB. Because the two point mutations are symmetrical with
respect to FX but not with respect to the quinones, it is postulated that the potentials of the quinones
should be changed while that of FX should be unaffected and therefore, the kinetics of the A- and
B- branches should be significantly altered. The transient EPR data show evidence that the rates
of electron transfer in the two branches have been swapped in the double mutant Q588DPsaA/
D575QPsaB and this indicates the important roles of D575PsaB and Q588PsaA in determining the
electron transfer rate.


title: Speech Associated with the Use of Speech Generating Devices with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comparison of Two Treatment Conditions

subject: autism

subject: speech

subject: speech generating devices

subject: communication

subject: augmentative and alternative communication devices

abstract: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems are commonly used by children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and communication impairments. Some AAC systems, such as the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS; Bondy & Frost, 1994), have been associated with increased speech. Although the exact mechanism of change is unknown, the creators of PECS (Bondy & Frost, 2004) suggest the use of a time delay when “reading” the sentence strip may be associated with increases in speech. The current study evaluated the effects on speech of two approaches to communication training using the PECS IV+® App as a speech generating device (SGD): (a) SGD speech output without a time delay, and (b) SGD speech output with a 3-second time delay. An adapted alternating treatment design (AATD) across three participants with ASD was used. Results suggest that the influence of the two teaching strategies on speech was different for each participant. For one participant, time delay prompting may have been beneficial in increasing the complexity or length of utterance of her speech. For a second participant, time delay prompting may have been beneficial in increasing vocal speech in the form of word approximations. For the remaining participant, there appeared to be no visible benefit for speech for either teaching strategy (with or without time delay prompting). Implications for selecting and training SGDs are discussed.


title: Examination of efficient roster design in the National Hockey League (NHL)

subject: Roster Design, Cluster Analysis, Player Evaluation, National Hockey League

abstract: The study estimates the values of NHL roster positions. The analysis was conducted in two phases. First, cluster analysis was used to evaluate and rank players for their overall performance across positions. Second, regression analysis based on aggregated player classifications across team-games estimated the value of roster position and measured diminishing returns to talent across positions. Players were evaluated based on their regular season performance. The clustering of all skaters was administered separately for each position and each year. Standardized regular season-long variables were applied in the analysis. The variables used to cluster all positions were: points per time on ice, goals per time on ice, assists per time on ice, plus/minus per time on ice, shots differential per time on ice, blocks per time on ice, hits per time on ice and penalties per time on ice. Forwards were distributed amongst four lines and defensemen were allocated to three pairings. The linear regression analysis used play-by-play data from the 2010-17 NHL regular seasons. Results indicated that an increase in the quality of centers increased the win probability of a team the most. Teams make player acquisitions decisions based on the talent available and their current composition of players. A team’s hockey operations department can use the findings to evaluate their roster composition and identify positions with the greatest marginal benefit from player acquisitions.


title: A Qualitative Study of Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Awareness, Readiness, and Response to Discrepancy in Student Outcomes in a Greater Toronto Area School District

contributor: Department of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies in Education

subject:
leadership
data informed decision making
equity and social justice
school climate, context, well-being
disaggregation and discrepancy

abstract: This qualitative study explored principals’ access, use, and response to discrepancies in student outcomes that reflect systemic inequities. Discovering how principals access, use, and respond to complementary school climate data to attend to issues of disproportionality is an important step toward making schools more equitable and more inviting. Principals’ behaviours with various data sources were explored in relation to Gorski’s (2015) framework of equity literacy by examining principal knowledge and skills in recognizing, responding to, and redressing inequity. Historically, the focus of school improvement has been primarily on student achievement although some school districts—such as this GTA school board—have developed more robust systems of data collection employing greater disaggregating factors revealing inequities in various populations of students. Systemic inequities have been seen in data about school context, student assets, and well-being factors such that measurement of inequity has become possible. This study began with questionnaire data that exposed significant variations with regard to principals’ equity literacy and beliefs. Selection criteria were used to focus on principals who articulated their commitment to equity and demonstrated higher awareness of discrepancy in order to identify promising practices. The purposive sample of school principals was interviewed, again revealing substantial variance in equity literacy. Unexpectedly, almost one-third of principals did not recognize patterns of social inequity in their data. Although participants reported a commitment to equity, interviews revealed much variance between individuals and therefore an inconsistency in capacity to redress inequity. Some principals revealed strategies that could be transformational in creating more equitable schools yet the knowledge and skills required were far from universal. Key threats to using data for equitable purposes were also brought to light including “not seeing” inequity, and underdeveloped data and equity literacy skills. These threats suggest there is a need to employ more consistent techniques to redress inequity and that stronger policies may facilitate better monitoring of equity outcomes.


title: Constructed Ignorance and Inevitable Resistance: Our Knowledge of the Clitoris

subject:
sexual education
clitoris
sexual pleasure
ignorance
sexuality

abstract:
Drawing on Nancy Tuana’s epistemologies of ignorance, this thesis explores the ways in which
ignorance surrounding the clitoris is socially and systemically constructed, and how people with
clitorises resist this gendered ignorance. The researcher conducted interviews with nine women and
trans people about their sexual body, knowledge of the clitoris and their relationship with their own
clitoris. During the in-depth follow-ups, participants were shown an anatomical model of the clitoris and
a Cliteracy art mural by Conceptual Artist Sophia Wallace. After all the interviews were transcribed, a
thematic analysis was conducted. The findings suggest that ignorance—in the forms of erasure,
misrepresentation and dismissiveness—is prevalent in society and participants’ lived experiences. Few
knew about the full size and anatomy of the clitoris and those who did learned this information from
feminist, sexual education sources online. Participants demonstrated that what they know is primarily
from active, self-initiated learning. Most participants indicated that learning about the clitoris is
important for experiencing sexual pleasure, which is evident when examining the ways they sought to
overcome barriers to learning. While the relationship between pleasure and the clitoris is complex, most
participants stated that the organ was central to their experience of pleasure, especially orgasm.
Notably, most participants were queer, and many participants expressed the belief that queer people
are likely to be more knowledgeable than others about the clitoris. The data is contextualized with
explorations of predominant discourses within social spaces such as schools, media and the healthcare
system, focusing on aspects like language, school curricula and visual diagrams. The power dynamics
and gendered processes behind what is known, and, importantly, what is not known, are explored.


title: Taste responsiveness and beer behaviour

subject:
thermal taster status
oral sensations
taste phenotype
beer and cider flavour

abstract: Orosensory perception strongly influences food and beverage liking and consumption. Variation in the perception of these oral sensations presents an opportunity to conceptualise and commercialise products based on consumers’ taste responsiveness. This thesis investigates the role of orosensory responsiveness in alcoholic beverage behaviour. Specifically, examining the role of thermal tasting in beer and cider liking and consumption. 60 participants (31 thermal tasters (TTs) and 29 thermal non-tasters (TnTs) rated the intensity of aqueous solutions of beer- and cider- relevant tastants: iso-α-acid (bitterness), ethanol (irritation, bitterness, sweetness), dextrose (sweetness) and citric acid (sourness) at concentrations typically found in commercial beers on generalised labelled magnitude scales (gLMS). Taste intensities (gLMS) and liking (9-point hedonic scale) of eight beer and cider samples differing in iso-α-acid and ethanol content were also rated. Participants self-reported on their beer and cider consumption. They also rated the importance of select factors when purchasing beer. TTs experienced the bitterness of ethanol more intensely than did TnTs (p(t)<0.05), they also rated the bitterness, sourness, astringency, and overall taste intensity of sampled beers and ciders higher than TnTs (p(F)<0.05). Agglomerative hierarchical and k-means clustering of liking scores revealed 3 clusters of consumers, characterized as ‘bitter dislikers’, ‘beer likers’, and ‘alcohol lovers’. ‘Taste’ was the most important factor consumers used when purchasing beer. It can be concluded that thermal taster status is an important determinant in the perception of beer and cider flavour. These results should assist product developers in designing beers and ciders targeted for specific segments of the population.


title: Atmospheric conditions during the Visean (Carboniferous), and post-depositional hydrocarbon generation in the Shubenacadie Basin, Nova Scotia

subject: Carboniferous Halite Paleoatmosphere Oxygen Hydrocarbons

abstract: Halite has become of particular interest recently due to its potential to preserve ancient air and provide the first paleoatmospheric composition data that is not reliant on proxies. As halite precipitates, fluid inclusions become trapped within the crystal structure. Some of which also capture miniscule gas bubbles of the air present during precipitation. This study presents the first results of Visean (Carboniferous) paleoatmosphere captured in the Shubenacadie Basin, Nova Scotia. To ensure the gas-hosting fluid inclusions are of primary origin, strict screening parameters must be applied. Those deemed adequate from visual and petrographic examinations, had reasonable homogenization temperatures, argon concentration between 0.8 and 1.0 mol %, contained a sum of methane and carbon dioxide below 10 mol %, and displayed minimal gas variation within samples were used for paleoatmospheric interpretation. Trace element concentrations (Mg, K, Ca) of halite were also examined to determine if they could provide further confirmation of primary origin but further work is required to determine its viability. The few halite samples that met all the screening parameters originated from the upper MacDonald Road formation and yielded an O2 window of 11 to 16 mol %. The failed samples in the upper formations contained visible and olfactible hydrocarbons while the lower formations contained elevated methane. This hydrocarbon generation is consistent with and increasing thermal alteration index with depth due to heat generated by the underlying Mississippi Valley-Type deposit in the basin.


title: Synthesis of 3’, 5’-cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) as mucosal vaccine adjuvant and bacterial second messenger

subject: c-di-GMP, vaccine adjuvant ,STING protein,

abstract: The present study describes the synthesis of 3’,5’- cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP), attempts were made to synthesize guanosine bearing a 2’-O-(hexyn-6-yl)- and 2’-O-(6-azidohexyl)-modification using 2,6-diaminopurine riboside as starting material. The synthesis of 2’-O-(hexyn-6-yl) guanosine started with the alkylation of 2,6-diaminopurine riboside with 6-iodo-1-hexyne, which gave a mixture of 2’- and 3’-O-alkylated 2,6-diaminopurine riboside. Treatment of this product with isobutyryl chloride, followed by ammonium hydroxide gave N2-isobutyryl-2’-O-2’-O-(hexyn-6-yl)-2,6-diaminopurine riboside. Subsequent deamination reaction was carried out with sodium nitrite in a mixed solvent gave the desired N2-isobutyryl-2’-O-2’-O-(hexyn-6-yl) guanosine. N2-Isobutyryl-2’-O-(6-azidohexyl) guanosine was also obtained in the similar manner. Synthesis of a second building block, a suitably protected guanosine H-phosphonate was also attempted using guanosine as starting material. Experimental and spectral data are provided for new compounds.


title: Leveraging Mobile App Classification and User Context Information for Improving Recommendation Systems

subject:
Mobile apps
Recommender systems
Product recommendation
Recommendation methods and algorithm
Decision support system

abstract: Mobile apps play a significant role in current online environments where there is an overwhelming supply of information. Although mobile apps are part of our daily routine, searching and finding mobile apps is becoming a nontrivial task due to the current volume, velocity and variety of information. Therefore, app recommender systems provide users’ desired apps based on their preferences. However, current recommender systems and their underlying techniques are limited in effectively leveraging app classification schemes and context information. In this thesis, I attempt to address this gap by proposing a text analytics framework for mobile app recommendation by leveraging an app classification scheme that incorporates the needs of users as well as the complexity of the user-item-context information in mobile app usage pattern. In this recommendation framework, I adopt and empirically test an app classification scheme based on textual information about mobile apps using data from Google Play store. In addition, I demonstrate how context information such as user social media status can be matched with app classification categories using tree-based and rule-based prediction algorithms. Methodology wise, my research attempts to show the feasibility of textual data analysis in profiling apps based on app descriptions and other structured attributes, as well as explore mechanisms for matching user preferences and context information with app usage categories. Practically, the proposed text analytics framework can allow app developers reach a wider usage base through better understanding of user motivation and context information.


title: How Nonverbal Behaviour and Game Context Alter Athletes Perceptions: A Study of Nonverbal Influence on Expectancy of Success and Impression Formation in Different Game Scenarios,  Immediately After an Opponent’s Mistake

creator:
Ra
Razavi, Parmida

subject:
Non-Verbal- Behaviour
Dominant
Submissive
opponent perception
tennis mistakes

abstract: Nonverbal behaviour is a social cognition component of sport psychology. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of non-verbal behaviour (NVB), and game scenarios immediately after a mistake was made. Participants (N = 103) were randomly assigned to one of six groups, comprised of one of two body languages, dominant (n = 51) and submissive (n = 52), and one of three game scenarios, winning (n = 34), tied (n = 34), and losing (n = 35). Due to a high internal consistency between factors of performance outcomes and psychological characteristics one composite variable was created for each variable. Results revealed that dominant NVB was rated significantly higher than submissive NVB in each category, while game situation did not show any significant differences for performance outcome or psychological characteristics. NVB can be a readily accessible resource that should utilized by athletes to gain an advantage over their opponent.


title: Parent Treatment Integrity Across Multiple Components of a Behavioural Intervention

subject:
autism spectrum disorder
behavioral skills training
parent training

abstract: Children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often present with challenging behaviours such as aggression, extreme tantrums, non-compliance, or self-injury, which are associated with increased family stress. Behaviour analytic interventions are considered evidence-based practice for decreasing these challenging behaviours; however, most effective, multi-component interventions are implemented in-clinic by trained professionals, and treatment effects do not automatically generalize to the home. The literature is lacking on parent-implemented multi-component interventions in the home environment, and little research has reported on the levels of treatment integrity with which such interventions are implemented. Treatment integrity is crucial to both intervention outcomes, as well as confidence in the validity of the results. As such, it is important to select effective training procedures that may enhance treatment integrity, such as behavioural skills training (BST). BST is an evidence-based training procedure that is widely used in behaviour analysis to train complex skills. The present study sought to determine whether BST can be successfully used to train a parent of a six-year old child with ASD to implement a multi-component intervention in the home environment, while carefully monitoring treatment integrity levels for each treatment component, as well as impact on child behaviour. Results support the use of BST for this purpose, and implications for future research are discussed.


title: Western Pacific paleoceanography across the Early–Middle Pleistocene boundary (~773 ka, Marine Isotope Stage 19): Dinoflagellate cysts of the Chiba composite section, Japan.

subject: Dinoflagellate cysts, Chiba composite section, Marine Isotope Stage 19, Paleoceanography, Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP).

abstract:
The Chiba composite section, central Boso Peninsular, Japan, is a candidate Global Boundary
Stratotype Section and Point for the Early–Middle Pleistocene Subseries boundary. This
well-exposed, continuous and expanded marine silty sedimentary succession has a detailed
paleomagnetic record and an ultra-high-resolution oxygen isotope stratigraphy supported by
U-Pb zircon dating of the Byk-E tephra bed which occurs ~1 m below the Matuyama–
Brunhes boundary. A detailed dinoflagellate cyst (dinocyst) study from late Marine Isotope
Stage (MIS) 20 to late MIS 19 provides information on paleoceanographic changes in the
Western Pacific Ocean between 791 and 770 ka. During Termination IX, a decrease in
heterotrophic species (e.g. Brigantidinium spp., Selenopemphix nephroides) and
corresponding increase in warm-water autotrophs (e.g. Spiniferites hyperacanthus/mirabilis,
Spiniferites sp. 2) indicate a progressive decline in productivity corresponding to deglaciation
and a transition from cold nutrient-rich waters of MIS 20 to warm conditions in MIS 19. This
gradual warming is interrupted by a sudden but brief cooling at 790 ka which is also reflected
in the MAT-based dinocyst sea-surface temperature (SST) for February and August. The
dinocyst record shows a gradational response to the onset of MIS 19c. Abundant warm-water
autotrophic dinocysts during MIS 19c reflects warm conditions and a northward shift of the
warm Kuroshio current from 786 to 773 ka. The end of MIS 19c is marked by a sharp
decrease in species richness and evenness, an abrupt and sustained rise to dominance
of Protoceratium reticulatum, and a corresponding increase in dinocyst concentrations,
indicating an increase in productivity and presaging the onset of the MIS 18 glaciation.
Pollen and spore concentrations show a strong terrestrial influence during MIS 19. During the
peak of MIS 19, Tsuga has low abundance while angiosperm pollen (deciduous broadleaved
trees) increase significantly, which is similar to vegetation presently dominant in the
northeastern part of the Japanese archipelago.


title: OPEC PRODUCTION DECISIONS, MACROECONOMIC NEWS AND VOLATILITY IN THE CANADIAN AND ENERGY MARKETS

subject: WTI oil, CAD exchange rate, OPEC decisions, inventory announcements, macroeconomic news, Financial Crisis

abstract: This study investigates the determinants of oil and Canadian dollar volatilities. We use the multivariate volatility model to examine the simultaneous impacts of OPEC press releases and production decisions, oil and gasoline inventory surprises, and U.S. and Canadian macroeconomic news announcements on oil and CAD returns and volatilities during, before and after the U.S. financial crisis and European sovereign debt crisis. Besides, we apply the impulse response analysis to decompose the exogenous effects into direct and indirect effects resulting from volatility spillover. We find that the effects of OPEC press releases and decisions are more prominent than those of inventory announcements and macroeconomic news. Furthermore, over 50% of the total accumulated effects of OPEC decisions to maintain, on oil volatility are from the indirect effect via volatility spillover of CAD exchange rate during the U.S. financial crisis. Our findings shed light on the dynamic of volatility spillover channel during financial turmoil, which may facilitate the process of investments and policy decision-making, trading strategies of market participants, and the efficiency of stabilizing market volatility in a multilateral setting.


title: The influence of derivatives usage on firm value

subject: derivatives, hedging, risk management, firm value

abstract:
In contemporary business management, an increasing number of firms use derivative instruments to hedge financial risks, including interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity price risk. Such hedging activities add to firm value by alleviating market imperfections, the presence of which provides an incentive to hedge. However, derivative instruments can also be used for speculation as well as hedging, magnifying risk and potentially reducing firm value. An awareness of the effectiveness of derivatives usage during various economic periods or in various industries, is also of value and can ultimately result in better hedging and even speculation strategies.
In this thesis, we investigate non-financial firms in seven developed countries from 2007 to 2016, and apply fixed effects regression analysis, propensity score matching and difference-in-difference models to examine the relationship between derivatives usage and firm value. The impact of different categories of derivatives usage on firm value is found to differ by country. In particular, although the use of interest derivatives is found to damage firm value worldwide, currency derivative usage appears to increase firm value except in the US and Germany, while the use of commodity derivatives is shown to add to firm value firm only in Germany and Australia.


title: Atmospheric and environmental interpretations of Early Paleozoic halite (Upper Ordovician, Hudson Bay Basin, & Upper Silurian, Michigan Basin)

subject: halite paleoatmosphere Silurian Ordovician

abstract:
Halite sourced from Upper Ordovician strata (Red Head Rapids Formation) in the Hudson Bay Basin and Upper Silurian strata (Salina Group A-2 and B units) in the Michigan Basin was used to interpret atmospheric and environmental conditions during their respective depositional periods. Primary halite was distinguished from secondary or diagenetically altered halite using screening parameters consisting of petrography, trace element analysis, microthermometry and gas analysis of fluid inclusions. Primary halite preserves liquid and/or liquid-vapour cubic fluid inclusions within chevrons and fluid inclusion bands whereas secondary halite contains large, irregularly-shaped fluid inclusions. Petrographic analysis highlights the coexistence of primary and secondary fluid inclusions within some sample sets. Trace element analysis suggests that the deposits of the Hudson Bay and Michigan Basins were likely affected by periodic freshening that altered the trace element concentrations. Homogenization temperatures of the Upper Silurian halite range from 13.3 – 35.2°C which agree with expected paleoclimatic conditions.

The contemporaneous occurrence of primary, depositional halite with secondary, diagenetic halite is noted during the crush fast scan method of gas analysis by mass spectrometry. Diagenetic influences are clearly reflected in the gas analysis results of some halite samples. In part, they reflect the influence of degradation and/or thermal maturation of organic matter and hydrocarbon migration subsequent to halite deposition.

Atmospheric oxygen content in the primary halite from the Red Head Rapids Formation (Upper Ordovician) ranges from 13.5 to 19 %, whereas in the Salina Group A-2 and B units (Upper Silurian) it falls between 20 and 26 %. The measured values of atmospheric oxygen based on Upper Ordovician halite overlap with the range of oxygen modelled by Berner (2006) and Algeo & Ingall (2007), and the values of atmospheric oxygen of Upper Silurian halite correspond to values modelled by Berner (2006; 2009).


title: False Discoveries in the Performance of Canadian Equity Mutual Funds

subject: Equity Mutual Funds, False Discovery Rate, Bootstrap, Benchmark Models

abstract: This thesis assesses the performance of Canadian equity mutual funds over the period 1991-2016 using the False Discovery Rate (FDR) methodolody. We find that around 85% of the sampled funds are genuinely zero-alpha, and the majority of skilled funds lies in the extreme right tail. Overall, false positive rates in the studied population are found to be approximately 20% for gross returns, and 55% for net returns, and respectively 6% and 22% in the case of false negative rates across all factor models. Contrast to negative FDRs, positive FDRs exhibit abnormality among funds from before 2008, and greatly vary across fund groups. In addition, different bootstrap methods confirm the existence of manager stock-picking skill among the fund sample.


title: The Contribution of Nitric Oxide to the Skin Blood Flow Response to Exercise in Boys and Men

subject:
Children
Iontophoresis
Laser Doppler
Microvascular Reactivity
Thermoregulation

abstract: In response to heat stress, children sweat less than adults. However, little is known about their skin blood flow (SkBF) response. We investigated child-adult differences in SkBF during exercise (30 min at 60% VO2max) and local heating (44℃) in 12 boys (9.71.2 y) and 12 men (22.22.0 y) using laser-Doppler flowmetry and L-NAME to inhibit nitric oxide (NO). The exercise-induced SkBF increase was greater in boys versus men (p=0.03). L-NAME blunted SkBF response during exercise in boys and men (p<0.01) (758±201 to 429±229 percent change from baseline vs. 541.6±167 to 352±109 percent change from baseline, respectively). Boys had a shorter time delay between the onset of exercise and onset of SkBF response compared with men (p<0.01) and L-NAME increased the time delay in boys and men (205±48 to 268±90 s vs. 309±71 to 376±116 s, respectively) (p=0.01). During local heating, SkBF increases were greater in boys versus men (p<0.01) and L-NAME blunted the SkBF response in boys and men (2594±939 to 1630±791 percent change from baseline vs. 1600±605 to 1046±345 percent change from baseline, respectively) (p<0.01). These data suggest that boys experience greater and faster increases in SkBF during exercise and local skin heating compared with men. NO influence on microvasculature and thermoregulatory function was not different between boys and men.


title: (Re)Presenting the Orioles:A Historiographical Analysis of Black Hockey History in St. Catharines

subject:
Orioles
racism
hockey
sport history
St. Catharines

abstract: The St. Catharines Orioles was the first all-black hockey team in Ontario and played in the Niagara District Hockey League in the 1930s. The history of the Orioles, like many other African-Canadian hockey histories, such as the Coloured Hockey League of the Maritimes (1890s-1920s) has been overlooked, erased, and ignored. This erasure is indicative of broader sociological issues of race and racism as the historic exclusion and (non)remembering of non-white athletes contributes to our understanding of sport history in the present. By neglecting to include athletes of colour in the mainstream history of sport, sports historians are contributing to the whitewashing of Canadian sport history. This study examines how the Orioles have been remembered and forgotten, considers what voices, perspectives, and identities are marginalized or silenced through hockey histories, and asks how historical discourses shape contemporary constructions of race and sport. In this study, I conduct archival research in the 1937-38 St. Catharines Standard to develop a history of the Orioles as it would have been known in the 1930s. With this history, I work from a historiographical perspective to consider how the Orioles have been racialized and excluded from sports history in the present. I analyse two secondary sources, The Sports History of St. Catharines (McNabb & Meighan, 1969) and St. Catharines: Canada’s Canal City (Jackson & Wilson, 1992), as I identify when and how non-white individuals are included in the histories. Noting the omission of black contributions in these texts is relevant as neglecting to include the role of black citizens is an active form of (non)remembering that perpetuates whiteness through exclusion. This research contributes to our understanding of race and sport in the present and seeks to challenge “the enduring myth of Canada’s benign racial history” (Joseph, et. al., 2012, p. 17) that denies the existence of racism in Canada and seeks to address the gap in historical and sport literature that not only lacks a comprehensive history of the Orioles but has consistently pushed black athletes to the periphery of sports history.


title: The effects of social-comparative feedback on corticospinal excitability and balance performance.

subject:
social-comparative feedback
balance performance
transcranial magnetic stimulation
corticospinal excitability
emotional stimuli

abstract: Social-comparative feedback informs individuals about their performance relative to a falsified group score. Providing positive (“performed better than the group”) social-comparative feedback enhances motivation, self-efficacy and balance performance, while negative (“worse than the group”) social-comparative feedback has the opposite effect. A possible mechanism explaining the motor benefits of social-comparative feedback is it produces a valent (emotional) response that subsequently, alters corticospinal excitability. This is based on studies observing correlations between valence, corticospinal excitability and balance performance. However, the neural processes contributing to the motor and cognitive benefits of social-comparative feedback have not yet been examined. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether social-comparative feedback alters corticospinal excitability and consequently, balance performance. Thirty-six young adults (18 males) completed a balance task (i.e., standing on a stabilometer) eight times. After three of these trials, the control group received their performance outcome (i.e., time on balance) while the other two groups received positive or negative social-comparative feedback. Before and after each instance of feedback, corticospinal excitability was assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Participants rated their perceived skill on the task as well as provided ratings of valence and arousal for the feedback as a manipulation check. Results indicated that by the end of the eight trials, participants in the negative group reported lower perceived skill (i.e., comparative balance ability) than those in the control and positive feedback groups (p<0.001). Despite this difference in feedback perception, all groups improved their balance performance by ~35% across all trials (p<0.001). This change in performance was not matched by changes in corticospinal excitability (p=0.340). These findings suggest that social-comparative feedback has minimal or no influence on corticospinal excitability and balance performance.


title: Eﬃcient Merging and Decomposition Variants of Cooperative Particle Swarm Optimization for Large Scale Problems

subject:
Large-scale Optimization
Particle Swarm Optimization
Cooperative
Merging
Decomposition

abstract: For large-scale optimization problems (LSOPs), an increased problem size reduces performance by both increasing the landscape complexity, as well as exponentially increasing the search space size. These contributing factors make up the "curse of dimensionality", which is addressed either by improving the search operator of the meta-heuristic or decomposing the high-dimensional problem into smaller sub-problems. Unfortunately, non-separable LSOPs contain a scaling number of variable dependencies which should be optimized together but are often separated into different sub-problems due to insufficient grouping strategies. Various particle swarm optimization (PSO) techniques have been proposed in order to address these LSOPs, either through the improvement of search operators or utilizing decomposition. However, there is a lack of comparison between them showing which PSO variant performs best for specific types of LSOPs. Additionally, decomposition variants which utilize a cooperative PSO (CPSO) approach still struggle to properly group related variables in more difficult non-separable multimodal problems. In an attempt to better optimize these non-separable LSOPs, this thesis introduces two new adaptive decomposition and merging CPSO algorithms, referred to as DCPSO2 and MCPSO2 respectively, which offer a new regrouping strategy by adaptively splitting and merging stagnated sub-swarms according to the their fitness. These algorithms proposed in this thesis are then compared against existing CPSO variants in order to establish the best decomposition-based PSO algorithm for LSOPs. Results show that the decomposition and merging variants are able to perform competitively with previously well-established CPSO algorithms for large-scale problems across all problem classes. DCPSO ranks the highest in terms of accuracy across all non-separable problems while MCPSO and MCPSO2 prove to have the fastest convergence amongst all algorithms.


title: Infrared Spectroscopy of Ge:Mn Thick Films Prepared by Ion Implantation and Post-annealing

subject:
dilute magnetic semiconductors
Infrared transmission spectroscopy
Inhomogeneous systems
Ion Implantation
Ge:Mn p-type

abstract:
An infrared transmission study of Ge:Mn systems is presented in this work. Various
Ge:Mn samples have been prepared by both single (Mn2+ ion energy 4.76
MeV, dose 2x10^16 /cm^2) or multiple (dose 1x10^16 /cm^2) into high resistivity
(100) Ge substrates. Both conventional and flash lamp annealing procedures
have been used to prepare a set of samples that were characterized by X-ray
Diffraction (XRD), Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) and magnetometry
as well as infrared transmission spectroscopy (60-8000 cm^-1). After implantation,
the Ge:Mn layers are about 3 mm thick and amorphous as revealed by XRD.
Samples conventionally annealed at temperatures below 250C maintained their
amorphous structure. Samples annealed at temperature above 330C recrystallized
into a polycrystalline structure. SIMS measurements show that the diffusion
of Mn is greatly affected by the starting distribution and that diffusion is
much higher in samples prepared with the lower total Mn dose. The presence
of multiple magnetic phases in all the annealed samples was indicated by field and
temperature dependent measurements of the total moment. Our diverse
preparations suggest that the formation of secondary phases in Ge:Mn system in
unavoidable. Magnetic measurements suggest that the maximum volume fraction
of metallic Mn5Ge3 inclusions is of the order of 1x10^-3, much lower than
the percolation threshold of metallic inclusions in an insulating matrix. Infrared
transmission measurements on the same samples show the presence of a low
frequency Drude like absorption with high hole concentration (p~10^ 18 /cm^3)
which is greater than the critical density for metal-insulator (MI) transition in
Ge. This observation suggests Mn has crystallized in substitutional sites to a far
greater degree than was achieved with traditional equilibrium crystal growth.
The MI transition has been investigated in the Ge:Mn system by studying the
temperature dependent transmission between 4K and 300K and comparing to
similar measurements on a sample of Ga-doped Ge with p = 1.5x10^16 /cm^3
which is on the insulating side of the MI transition. Finally, absorption was
observed that may possibly be attributed to Mn5Ge3 inclusions in the Ge:Mn
matrix.


title: Province-Wide Survey of the Effects of Quality Assurance Measures on Services for Adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and Challenging Behaviours

subject:
developmental disability
developmental services
Ontario
quality assurance measures
challenging behaviour

abstract:
Introduction: In 2008, the Ministry of Community and Social Services in Ontario, Canada passed a developmental services act that includes the Quality Assurance Measures (QAM) for Behaviour Interventions (Part III) and the QAM Policy Directives for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and challenging behaviour. No research has examined the impact of QAM on IDD services.

Methods: Online surveys addressing knowledge, practices and opinions related to QAM Part III and the Policy Directives were distributed to four general groups of Ontario IDD service personnel.

Results: Sixty-six direct-care supervisors, 76 direct-care staff, 79 behaviour consultants, and 26 supervisors in behaviour support services participated. Direct-care staff had less knowledge and a poorer opinion of QAM than the other personnel. Primary reported concerns involved inadequate training and resources to meet QAM requirements.

Conclusions: Personnel’s overall evaluation of QAM is predominantly favourable. Increasing resources, clarifying requirements, and promoting consistent monitoring related to QAM may help address the identified concerns.


title: Self-Regulated Learning and Psychomotor Skill Development in Second-Year Veterinary Students

subject:
self-regulated learning
psychomotor skill
veterinary
suturing

abstract: Previous studies have shown that students who use self-regulated learning strategies have demonstrated improved academic, sport, and medical psychomotor skill mastery. In veterinary education, deliberate practice is currently the educational model for psychomotor skill development in veterinary students. However, with the advent of clinical skills labs, students are expected to self-direct their own development of psychomotor skills, such as suturing, intravenous (IV) catheter placement, and physical exams. Self-directed learning requires the use of self-regulated learning strategies. This research study demonstrates the effect of introducing self-regulated learning theory and deliberate practice theory versus introducing only deliberate theory on the suturing abilities of second-year veterinary students at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was theorized that students who use self-regulated learning strategies and deliberate practice to master their skills would out-perform those students who only used deliberate practice. This was not demonstrated with this research and may have been due to the intervention which involved the introduction of these theories to both the test and control group, or to the small group size that resulted from attrition from this research project.


title: Transmission Dynamics and Epidemiology of West Nile Virus in Ontario, Canada

subject:
West Nile virus
epidemiology
biogeography
range expansion
invasive species

abstract:
The resurgence of West Nile virus (WNV; Family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus) in Ontario, Canada in 2012 demonstrated that there is a great need for a reassessment of the local mosquito fauna, estimation of risk of WNV transmission, and the creation of effective arboviral awareness campaigns. A review of the current literature and collection databases revealed that there are 68 mosquito species known from Ontario (Chapter 2). Ten species were added to the list of species including Culex erraticus (Chapter 3) and Aedes albopictus (Chapter 4), both of which are capable of transmitting West Nile virus.
Ae. albopictus was repeatedly collected from Windsor, Ontario in 2016 (Chapter 4). Immatures (n=78) were collected from tires, StyrofoamTM containers, and discarded garbage. Adult female (n=17) and male (n=2) specimens were collected from light traps (n=7) and Biogents-Sentinel traps (n=10). Additional specimens were obtained from Franklin County, Ohio. The generated gene tree and Bayesian cluster analysis grouped sequences described from Ohio and Windsor together on the same branches. Together these data suggest that the population in Windsor originated as a founder population of North American origin by means of human-aided dispersal.
Mosquito abundance predication surfaces and seasonal distributions were attempted for each vector species to identify where and when vector species are most abundant in southern Ontario (Chapter 5). Spatial prediction surfaces using kriging were created for Aedes vexans, Aedes japonicus, Culex pipiens, Culex restuans, and Ochlerotatus trivittatus. Proximity to landscape variables was observed to improve model prediction.
An epidemiological analysis of WNV human case prevalence and mosquito infection was conducted (Chapter 6).  A strong quadratic relationship between the number of human cases and positive mosquito pools at the end of each year was observed (R2=0.9783, p < 0.001). Spearman rank correlation tests identified mosquito infection rates as the strongest predictors of human case prevalence at a one-week lag period. Average temperature was a strong predictor of mosquito infection rates. Cumulative positive Culex pools recorded by epidemiological week 34 is a sufficient action threshold for West Nile virus epidemics. These data have the potential to contribute to a more efficient West Nile virus awareness campaign.


title: Dreams of the Deceased: Who Has Them and Why?

subject:
Grief
Dreams
Dream Recall
Attachment
Continuing Bonds

abstract: The limited research on dreams of the deceased is a cause for concern for those working with bereaved persons. This research addressed four questions: 1. Why do some bereaved individuals dream of the deceased while others do not? 2. Why are some dreams of the deceased a positive experience, while others are negative? 3. Are dreams of the deceased a form of continuing bond? 4. Are continuing bonds helpful for grief recovery? Four studies were conducted. In one, participants were 268 U.S. residents who had a romantic partner or spouse die in the prior 12 to 24 months. The second study had 199 U.S. residents whose dog or cat had died in the prior six months. The third study had 226 U.S. residents who experienced a stillbirth or miscarriage in the prior year. The fourth study had 218 participants, mostly U.S. residents, who had a romantic partner or spouse die in the prior 6 to 24 months. Participants completed all questionnaires online. Study 1 and 2 focused primarily on the issue of predicting the frequency of dreams of the deceased and found that frequency of general dream recall (all dreams, not just dreams of the deceased) was the primary predictor. In addition, grief intensity, openness to experience, and attachment security all showed indirect effects. All four studies, but especially studies 2 through 4, addressed the questions about the quality of dream experience, the relation of dreams of the deceased to continuing bonds, and the adaptiveness of continuing bonds. In general the findings from all four studies, but especially study 4, support the idea that there are multiple types of continuing bonds with differing impacts on grief recovery, and there are differing forms of dreams of the deceased, not all of which represent continuing bonds.


title: Chemoenzymatic Total Synthesis of ent-Oxycodone

subject: ent-oxycodone, synthesis, chemoenzymatic, morphine alkaloids, cis-dihydrodiols

abstract:
This thesis describes the approach towards chemoenzymatic total synthesis of ent-dihydroisocodeine and chemoenzymatic total synthesis of ent-oxycodone as well as the development of a new method for the preparation of rearranged allylic isocyanates. The synthesis of ent-dihydroisocodeine started from phenethyl acetate and included a microbial oxidation of phenethyl acetate by E. coli JM109 (pDTG601A), a Mitsunobu reaction to the couple A- and C-rings, Heck cyclization to construct the E-ring and Henry reaction to introduce the nitrogen functionality as key steps. The construction of the B-ring proved to be challenging and neither radical cyclization nor attempts to perform photochemistry or nucleophilic opening of an epoxide gave any positive results.
The chemoenzymatic total synthesis of ent-oxycodone was accomplished starting from phenethyl acetate in 23 steps. The tricyclic intermediate was furnished in the same manner as described above. The olefin to ketone conversion and a double Henry reaction allowed the construction of the B-ring. Unfortunately, it was established that the resulting hydroxyl group at C14 and amino group at C9 were of the undesired trans stereochemistry. To complete the morphine skeleton the transformation of the side chain at C13 to an N-methyl-p-toluenesufonamide via Mitsunobu reaction as well as the elimination of the amino group at C9 via formation of an N-oxide were performed. Subsequent radical cyclization of the side chain at the C9 position formed the last D-ring. The silyl ether deprotection followed by oxidation provided ent-oxycodone. The other approach to construct the D-ring was based on the formation of a lactone and the elimination of the amino group via an N-oxide. The nitrogen functionality was reinstalled using sodium azide and was accompanied by the introduction of the C10 hydroxyl group. Reduction of the azide and subsequent formation of the amide allowed access to the core skeleton of the target compound. The removal of the C10 hydroxyl group accomplished the synthesis.
The last project involved the development of a new method for the preparation of rearranged allylic isocyanates from allylic alcohols using 1-cyano-4-dimethylaminopyridinium as the source of electrophilic cyanide.
Experimental and spectral data are provided for all the compounds.


title: Is the Glass Half-Empty or Half-Full? An Exploratory Study of Defence Lawyers’ Constructions of Plea Negotiations and Accused Persons’ Rights within the Ontario Criminal Justice System

contributor: Social Justice and Equity Studies Program

subject:
Plea Bargaining
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Bail
Criminal Justice
Remorse

abstract: Plea bargaining is a pervasive practice in North American legal systems, as well as internationally. In Canada, the majority of criminal cases are disposed of by plea negotiations. Although plea negotiations are a staple within the Canadian criminal justice system, the practice has been continually critiqued in relation to accused persons’ rights. Scholarship existing on the topic typically suggests that plea bargaining negatively impacts accused persons because of the existence of a trial penalty. Using a descriptive exploratory methodology, the present study conducted in-depth interviews with 25 defence lawyers from across Ontario to understand how they construct the trial penalty and the role of remorse and accused persons’ rights with respect to plea bargaining. The present study found that from the perspective of lawyers it is not simply that a trial penalty either ‘exists’ or ‘does not exist’. Rather, their voices point to the deep and complex layers that exist within the practices of plea negotiations, trials, and sentencing. There is no simple formula that a lawyer can use to determine how things will turn out at trial. Instead, various factors, such as the nature of the offence, the offender, witnesses, complainant, court time, court resources, and the economic and administrative demands of an overburdened justice system interact together to create a complex dynamic that the lawyer must assess and present to the client. Ultimately, running a trial is presented to the client as a gamble; yet, in many instances taking the gamble was constructed as being worth the risk. However, findings from the present study also demonstrate that while lawyers continuously expressed the importance of trials, the reality of the situation is that accused persons, for a wide variety of reasons, are often incentivized to plead guilty, even when it is not in their best interest. These decisions have tremendous impacts on the lives of those accused of criminal offences or awaiting trial. Further, certain disadvantaged accused may be more greatly impacted by the criminal justice system, particularly Indigenous and Black populations who are overrepresented within the incarcerated population, as well as accused persons from low socioeconomic status and those who are remanded to custody awaiting trial.


title: Dissecting Collaboration in Environmental Management and Governance: Examining Qualities, Outcomes, and Relationships

contributor: Environmental Sustainability Research Centre

subject: Collaboration, Environmental Management, Environmental Governance, Collaborative Qualities, Collaboration Outcomes

abstract: As a proposed strategy in addressing both limitations associated with conventional approaches to environmental management and governance, as well as challenges of wicked environmental problems, collaboration is a concept in which is highly examined yet unclearly assessed. The thesis aimed to explore collaboration in environmental domain to better understand this intricate process and how it works. Specifically, collaboration was explored terms of three elements: 1) the qualities which contribute to the process of collaboration (e.g. trust, social learning, shared understanding), 2) outcomes of collaborating, and 3) how qualities relate to outcomes (i.e. relationships). Two studies were conducted. The first study of this thesis involved conducting a systematic mapping review to unpack collaboration in environmental management and governance in the scholarly literature in terms of these three elements. The second study involved a multiple case study design to explore findings from this first study in empirical settings, in which three case studies of climate change adaptation collaboratives in New Brunswick were examined using a mixed methods approach. The overall findings from the studies are indicative of some similar elements examined in the literature and present in practice, as well as some discrepancies which should drive further examination into key elements of collaboration. The research contributes both conceptually and empirically to the scholarly literature by addressing gaps of understanding on collaboration in the environmental domain. It also contributes to collaboration in practice, to aid in determining how collaborative strategies can be understood to be more effective as an alternative approach to environmental management and governance.


title: Flavonoid Intake and Periodontal Healing Outcomes Following Sanative Therapy

subject:
periodontal healing
sanative therapy
periodontal disease
flavonoid intake

abstract:
Diet has an important role in the maintenance of oral health. Periodontal disease is
an inflammatory disease of the soft and hard tissues that support our teeth. Sanative
therapy (ST) offers a first-line, cost-effective treatment for periodontal disease. Although
ST improved clinical healing outcomes from baseline, it may not completely resolve
inflammation associated with periodontal disease. Due to the high flavonoid content in tea
and the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of flavonoids, it was hypothesized
that participants with higher daily intakes of tea and flavonoids would have improved
healing outcomes, designated as greater reductions in probing depth (PD) ≥ 4 mm and
salivary biomarker concentration levels (C-reactive protein, interleukin 1-beta, and
interleukin-6) eight weeks after ST. The relationship between tea consumption or
flavonoid intake and clinical outcomes following sanative therapy (ST) has not been
investigated. Participants completed the 2014 Block food frequency questionnaire prior to
ST and provided saliva samples via passive drool immediately prior to ST and eight weeks
following ST. There were no significant associations between flavonoid intake and tea
consumption with periodontal outcomes (percentage of PD sites post-ST ≥ 4 mm) or
change in salivary biomarker concentrations pre- and post-ST. Although, salivary
concentrations of IL-1ß were significantly lower post-ST (p < 0.05). Therefore, our results
suggest that among our sample, no relationship exists between tea or flavonoid intake and
clinical healing outcomes after ST.


title: Identity in Motion:  A Case Study on the Dance Experiences of a Dancer with an Intellectual Disability

subject: Intellectual disability, recreational dance, leisure, sense of self

abstract:
Many individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience significant challenges and
are underserved in our society. Although some of these challenges are directly related to their
disability, most of the difficulties that people with ID face are caused by negative social attitudes
towards ID. The negative consequences of stigmatization towards people with ID create barriers
to creating positive sense of self among members of this population. Studies indicate that leisure
pursuits, such as recreational dance, can help cultivate well-being and enhance sense of self. This
hermeneutic phenomenological case study provides new understanding to the phenomenon
where dance, disability, and sense of self intersect. This case study explores the experiences of
one individual with an ID who is involved with recreational dance and presents the ways that
recreational dance impacts the sense of self of this individual. The results from this research
reveal that recreational dance positively contributes to well-being. The experiences of this young
dancer were addressed primarily in terms of his social connections, character strengths, and
personal growth. In addition, dance has a positive impact on his sense of self as it enhances his
self-confidence, provides him with positive feedback from others, and offers a context through
which he can overcome barriers and challenge stigmatization. This case study provides insight
on leisure-related concepts as well as offers implications to individuals with ID, integrated
dance, and the therapeutic recreation profession.


title: Investigating the Neuromuscular Response to Sudden Wrist Perturbations

subject: Biomechanics Co-contraction Electromyography Perturbations Robotics

abstract:
The purpose of this work was to evaluate changes in forearm muscle activity and co-contraction caused by sudden wrist perturbations during a dynamic wrist tracking task using a haptic wrist robot. Surface electromyography was recorded from eight muscles of the upper-limb. Participants were seated with their forearm placed on an armrest, grasping the handle of a haptic wrist robot. Participants performed trials consisting of 17 repetitions of ±40° of wrist flexion/extension. During trials, participants received 3 perturbations. Perturbations varied based on condition: radial or ulnar direction, during flexion or extension, and with known or unknown timing. Co-contraction ratios for all muscle pairs illustrated significantly greater extensor activity across all experimental conditions. Expected (known) perturbations produced greater anticipatory muscle activity as well as greater task performance. While improving performance, this increase in anticipatory muscle activity may leave muscles susceptible to early-onset fatigue and
chronic overuse injuries in the workplace.


title: Designing, Testing, and Implementing BIAS (Body Image Awareness Seminars): A Positive Body Image Program

subject: positive body image; body image programs; action research; mixed methods; diversity

abstract:
Dissatisfaction with the body is prevalent in North America and body image researchers have called this phenomenon a norm, suggesting it is abnormal for people to love their bodies. Positive body image programs are needed now more than ever but currently they are scarce, and this is especially true for individuals outside adolescent and university student populations. This dissertation describes the design, testing, and implementation of a new positive body image program called BIAS (Body Image Awareness Seminars). This program is unique in three ways: 1) it was created by working with participants using action research, 2) it is applicable to a diversity of people including older adults and people with physical disabilities, and 3) it was informed by positive body image research.
In study 1, initial interviews and focus group meetings revealed a potential knowledge gap in understanding body image between body image researchers and the non-academic community. Participants described a need to understand body image better in order to improve their body image experiences. This study led to the conclusion that psychoeducation is an important component of a positive body image program which significantly informed the design of BIAS.
Study 2 describes the creation of BIAS using action research. Very few body image programs have been designed using participatory methodologies. Instead, most body image researchers create and implement body image interventions without any participant feedback. Study 2 highlights both the advantages and disadvantages of using action research in the design, testing, and implementation of the BIAS program.
Study 3 is an evaluation of the effectiveness of BIAS. Using mixed methods, qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed and both concordance and discordance of results were reported. Participants’ body image was found to significantly improve and this improvement was sustained 6-weeks later. Additional findings include participants experiencing self-compassion, greater knowledge about body image, and becoming positive body image advocates. Study contributions to both the body image and mixed methods literature are discussed.


title: Sex differences in the neural control of muscle

subject: motor unit discharge rate, sex differences, force steadiness, rate of force development, neuromechanics

abstract:
Sex-differences in muscle strength have been linked to differences in muscle size, involved limb, and daily activities. Early work has shown that sex-differences are greater in the upper compared to lower limb, making the upper limb an ideal model to investigate the best statistical approaches for sex comparison. Large differences in the upper limb reveals how biomechanical factors may impact neural control. Since males and females are more comparable with respect to strength in the lower limb, it allows for a determination of whether potential sex-differences in neural control exist without large differences in biomechanics. Understanding sex-differences allows for prescription of rehabilitation and training modalities, taking into account potential specificities in sex-related neuromuscular and musculoskeletal factors. The overall purpose was to examine neural and biomechanical differences that would account for sex-differences in neural control of muscle.
Manuscript 1 examined normalization versus an ANCOVA to assess sex-differences. Sex-differences were seen in elbow flexor strength and rate of force development (RFD). Normalization by either maximum strength or neural factors couldn’t account for all sex-differences in RFD, resulting in an ambiguous interpretation. In contrast, both variables were able to be incorporated in an ANCOVA to determine their relative contribution.
Manuscript 2 examined the effect of task familiarization and the contribution of maximum strength, twitch contraction time, muscle fiber condition velocity, and rate of muscle activation to sex-differences in the RFD during dorsiflexion. There were no significant differences between the sexes in muscle properties, but there were differences in neural control. Additionally, across days females exhibited a neural adaptation leading to an improvement in the RFD.
Manuscript 3 directly assessed potential sex-differences in neural control during force gradation by recording motor unit activity during maximal and submaximal contractions. Females had less force steadiness (FS), which may have resulted from neural compensation for a less optimal pennation angle or a tendency towards greater joint laxity. Higher motor unit discharge rates and incidence of doublets may increase twitch force summation leading to a reduction in FS. Thus, biomechanical, not inherent sex-differences in neural drive led to neural compensation strategies manifesting as a difference in FS.


title: The Evolution Of East Candor Chasma Valles Marineris Mars Proposed Structural Collapse And Sedimentation

subject:
East Candor Chasma
Valles Marineris
Structural Collapse
Interior Layer Deposit
Structural Geology
Mars

abstract:
Valles Marineris (VM), Mars has a long history of sedimentary deposition. East Candor Chasma is located on the eastern flank of

Valles Marineris. Previous studies of the chasma suggests a complex geological history of collapse and basin infill. Interior Layer

Deposits (ILDs) in East Candor Chasma span over 475 km long, 145 km wide and range in elevation from -5.5 km to 3.5 km at

datum. The ILDs can be separated into six different unit varieties-massive, thick layer unit, thin layer unit, steeply inclined unit,

deformed layer unit, and thin mesa unit. The massive unit contains no visible layering and a distinct erosional style. Thick layer

units are found overlying the massive unit and tend to thin upwards within the mound. The thin layer unit overlies the thick layer

unit and can be observed truncating thick layering. A steeply dipping unit is anomalous and found only in one mound within the

chasma. A Deformed layer unit is commonly observed along the walls of the chasma indicating post erosional slumping. A thin

mesa unit is thought to be a late ash cover which conformably drapes all pre-existing geology.

Unconformities are observed throughout the chasma, three occur at an elevation of ~1000 m within the thick layer unit. This

indicates the chasma likely underwent multiple periods of erosion and deposition. Attitude measurements taken within the layered

units of the central mounds reveal a possible secondary collapse along the north wall of the chasma. The lower stratigraphic

section along the north face of the central mounds reveals dips of ~20˚, indicating that the massive unit was likely eroded prior to

thick layer unit deposition.

These observations can be used to interpret the geological history of East Candor Chasma. We suggest that a secondary

collapse occurred along the north wall of the chasma after the massive unit was emplaced. Sedimentation and erosion continued

after chasma collapse allowing for the emplacement of layer and thin mesa units. Two models for the history of East Candor

Chasma are presented.


title: Don’t Stop the Music: Does the Thin Ideal in Pop Music Lyrics Affect Women’s Body Image During Exercise?

subject:
Body Image
Motivational Music
Appearance-focus
Lyrics
Exercise

abstract: Viewing music videos emphasizing the thin ideal female body has been shown to have a negative impact on body image in young women, including increased body dissatisfaction, social comparisons, self-objectifications and body size discrepancies. However, it is unclear whether the changes in body image outcomes are due to the highly objectified images of women representing the thin ideal or the lyrics of the songs. This study aimed to explore the effects of music lyrics on body image during exercise in physically active female university students. A repeated measures design was used; 29 women completed two conditions in which they were asked to walk or run for 30 minutes while listening to music. In one condition, the negative music lyric condition, songs referred explicitly to women’s appearance, objectified the female body, or referenced the thin ideal. In the neutral music lyric condition, the songs did not refer to appearance at all. Participants completed state measures of mood, body satisfaction, self-objectification and body appreciation prior to and following each of their walks/runs. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was assessed following each walk/run and total distance traveled was recorded. Results indicated a statistically significant time effect (all ps < 0.05) for all outcomes except self-objectification, with women reporting feeling more confident, physically attractive, appreciative of their body, happier and feeling less fat, anxious, depressed and angry from pre- to post-exercise following both conditions. There were no effects of condition and no interaction effects. There were no differences between condition for RPE or distance travelled. This study highlights the positive effects exercise has on body image and mood outcomes and suggests that exercise may buffer the possible negative effects of objectifying lyrics. Music that is motivational, even with appearance-focused lyrics, may not be harmful to body image in exercise settings and may be used to keep women happier and more positive about their body following exercise.


title: The effects of distraction on threat-related changes in attention focus and postural control

subject:
postural control
threat
emotion
attention focus
distraction

abstract: The purpose of this thesis was to investigate whether threat-related changes in attention focus and postural control could be modified using distraction. Healthy young adults (N=21) stood without (No Threat) and with (Threat) the possibility of receiving an unpredictable anterior or posterior support surface translation under conditions in which they were required to perform or not perform a distractor task. The results of the thesis showed significant threat-related changes in attention focus and postural control independent of distraction. When performing with distraction compared to without, threat-related changes in high-frequency sway (1.0-2.5 Hz) were significantly reduced, and threat-related changes in attention focus to self-regulatory strategies tended to be reduced. These findings suggest that distraction may modify threat-related changes in attention focus and postural control.


title: Inside Voices: Witnessing Oral Disclosures of Trauma

subject:
Voice
Speech
Trauma
Vulnerability
Witnessing
Acoustic Geography

abstract: Examining the relationship between speaker and listener provides insight into empathy and ethical responses to disclosures of trauma. This study examines the delivery and reception of testimony in performing arts contexts and quasi-juridical settings to find patterns in the way the communication of trauma is delivered and received.  What can we learn from the patterns that emerge among survivors as they speak out about their trauma in various settings? Vocalizing an experience that has caused trauma creates a space that exposes both the speaker and the listener to a kind of vulnerability, which can be felt in that instant as either a release in a process of healing or a new trauma. By analyzing recordings of testimony and spoken word poetry, trends in responses occur that suggest venue and sense of personal responsibility greatly impact the relationship between speaker and listener and the communication process as a whole. These results offer several ways to consider new approaches to sharing and responding to disclosures of trauma.


title: Parenting Challenges and Adaptive Strategies: A Qualitative Analysis of Asian Indian Immigrant Families in Canada

subject: parenting, challenges, adaptive, strategies

abstract: This study examined parenting challenges among Asian Indian immigrant families who migrated from a multicultural society to Canada and how they adapted to their new multicultural environment. I interviewed 19 Indian immigrant parents who have lived in Canada for more than 3 years, asking them to share their parenting challenges and the adaptive strategies they had used to integrate into the Canadian cultural environment. Being with a community of other Indian immigrants and/or members of the extended family played facilitated smoother transitions toward their new cultural environment. Traditional food served as an important bridge to their Indian traditions just as Canadian food served as a bridge to new cultural experiences. At the structural level, all the participants suggested that Canadian schools in the Niagara region should implement a more multicultural perspective. Participants highlighted the importance of family support, community support, and a willingness to accept new lifestyles and career choices.


title: Wearing Yourself or Dressing the Part: Navigating Workplace Dress Codes as Queer, Androgynous Women

subject:
workplace
dress codes
queer
women
androgynous

abstract: In this thesis, I explore various workplace dress codes and expectations in the Niagara Region through the experiences of six queer, androgynous women. Through a theoretical perspective that is informed by both Erving Goffman and Judith Butler, I analyze the women’s decision-making around managing their appearance for work, and the relationship they perceive between their clothing, queer identity, and sense of self. I also explore the multiple challenges that participants have faced in attempting to meet normative standards of ‘professionalism,’ and suggest that many dress code expectations emphasize dichotomous gender norms, and notions of white femininity. Participants’ narratives suggest that rigid dress codes reinforce heterosexist dynamics in the work place, and contribute to the ‘othering’ of queer, androgynous women who do not ‘fit in’ to the status quo. I argue that workplace dress codes need to be more flexible in providing multiple options for employees which do not rely upon gendered norms or categorization. I conclude by suggesting that more work needs to be done on the significance of workplace dress codes regarding their impact on workers who do not neatly fit into the normalized gender binary, and are ‘othered’ at various intersections of their identities.


title: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FAMILY EATING BEHAVIOURS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

subject:
Family Eating Behaviours
Academic Performance
Nutrition Intake

abstract:
Abstract
Objective: To estimate the impact of family eating behaviours on children’s academic performance as well as the role of children’s nutrition intake.
Methods: A total of 2,113 students from grade six in the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) were recruited. Academic performance was assessed through students’ Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) grades, extracurricular activity, leadership and overall academic performance; and family eating behaviours (FEBs) were assessed from both general and specific aspects.
Results: The less optimal general eating behaviours of child, mother and overall family were statistically significantly associated with child’s more extracurricular activity rather than child’s EQAO grades. The less optimal child’s specific eating behaviours were associated with child’s stronger leadership, more extracurricular activity and better overall academic performance; the less optimal mother’s specific eating behaviours were associated with child’s poorer EQAO grades on math and overall but stronger leadership and more extracurricular activity; and the less optimal father’s specific eating behaviours were associated with child’s less extracurricular activity and worse overall academic performance. In addition, “frequently” eating breakfast with parents was associated with child’s higher EQAO grades on math, reading, writing, and overall; “sometimes” eating lunch with parents was associated with child’s better EQAO math grade; and “frequently” eating snacks with parents was associated with child’s better EQAO reading grade but poorer writing and overall grades. Moreover, children’s intake of junk foods affected the relationship between overall family general eating behaviours and child’s extracurricular activity; children’s intake of junk foods also affected the relationship between the child’s specific eating behaviours and child’s extracurricular activity and overall academic performance; and children’s intake of macronutrients, healthy foods or junk foods affected the relationship between the mother’s specific eating behaviours and child’s EQAO math grade.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that FEBs have an impact on children’s academic performance with children’s nutrition intake acting as an intermediary, thus, the importance of family meals and children’s nutrition intake should be emphasized publicly, and family-based interventions should be designed to educate family members as to promote students’ educational success.


title: Exploring Adolescent Student Perceptions and Experiences of Educational Care

subject:
care
educational care
teacher-student relationships
care theory
communication of care

abstract: Despite the presence of teacher caring intentions, too many students in North American schools do not experience successfully communicated care from their teachers. This study explores adolescent student perceptions and experiences of their teachers’ intended communication of care, seeking to better understand and explain educational care. The results of this study provide insights that could help teachers more successfully communicate their intended care to their students, leading to the development of caring teacher-student relationships. This study is a qualitative research design that used a constructivist grounded theory research methodology (Charmaz, 2006, 2014). The study employed unstructured interviews, working with young adult participants who reflected on their perceptions and experiences of educational care while they were in middle school and high school. The study drew on constructivist grounded theory analysis approaches and processes in order to analyze the data, resulting in important descriptions and explanations. The study generated six primary results, (1) a rearticulation of the problem of care in education as the disconnect between teacher caring intentions and student experiences of educational care; (2) a recognition that the problem of educational care is the failure to differentiate between communicating intended care and completing of successfully communicating care (a process that includes the response of the cared-for); (3) a description of the successful communication of care, which includes three distinct categories or dimensions and a number of related sub-categories, or elements; (4) a grounded theory of the intended communication of educational care; (5) a description of the student’s role in the development of a caring teacher-student relationship; and (6) a theoretical explanation of the development of a caring teacher-student relationship. The results of the study provide important insights into how educational care is successfully communicated and how caring teacher-student relationships can be developed. These results have implications for in-service and pre-service teachers, providing them with knowledge about the nature and communication of educational care. The results also provide guidelines and resources that can help teachers to communicate care more effectively and successfully.


title: Stay, Play, and Talk: A Peer-Mediated Social Skills Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Social Communication Difficulties (Phase IV)

subject:
Social Skill Development
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Peer-Mediated Intervention
Stay, Play, and Talk

abstract: Stay, Play, And Talk: A Peer-Mediated Social Skills Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Other Social Communication Difficulties is in its fourth phase of research within a Kindergarten classroom in Ontario, Canada. Its purpose was to introduce a peer-mediated social skills program while observing the effects on peer-to-peer socialization operations and skills increases for those children identified as having social communication difficulties or the characteristics of ASD. Results indicate that all three participants demonstrated an increase in their social communication skills with their typically-developing peers.


title: Modelling and Proving Cryptographic Protocols in the Spi Calculus using Coq

subject:
spi calculus
coq
cryptographic protocols
software correctness

abstract: The spi calculus is a process algebra used to model cryptographic protocols. A process calculus is a means of modelling a system of concurrently interacting agents, and provides tools for the description of communications and synchronizations between those agents. The spi calculus is based on Robin Milner's pi calculus, which was itself based upon his Calculus of Communicating Systems (CCS). It was created by Martin Abadi and Andrew D. Gordon as an expansion of the pi calculus intended to focus on cryptographic protocols, and adds features such as the encryption and decryption of messages using keys. The Coq proof system is an interactive theorem prover that allows for the definition of types and functions, and provides means by which to prove properties about them. The spi calculus has been implemented in Coq and subsequently used to model and show an example proof of a property about a simple cryptographic protocol. This required the implementation of both the syntax and the semantics of the calculus, as well as the rules and axioms used to manipulate the syntax in proofs. We discuss the spi calculus in detail as defined by Abadi and Gordon, then the various challenges faced during the implementation of the calculus and our rationale for the decisions made in the process.


title: Social Media Representations of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, and their relation to Metropolitan Domination: The Case of Attabad Lake

subject:
Attabad Lake
Gilgit-Baltistan
Discourse
Domination
Social Media

abstract: This thesis links the colonial and post-colonial representational history of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan with new actors, emerging representational practices, and contemporary cellular, digital, and virtual modes of representation. The power-laden, partial, and exclusionary nature of colonial representations is well established; this thesis investigates the emerging role of new actors, virtual spaces, and altered representational practices in relation to colonial and post-colonial representations. In order to do this, the thesis examines the representational practices of a range of local and down-country Pakistani actors in virtual spaces, as they relate specifically to the Attabad Lake, a natural disaster turned tourist hotspot in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan. Situating Attabad’s touristification (itself a product of improved road links, cellular connectivity and the site’s visual attractiveness) against the backdrop of colonial and postcolonial representational practices pertaining to Gilgit-Baltistan, I analyze how virtual spaces act as institutional platforms for the production and reproduction of predominantly orientalist discourse. Using textual and pictorial evidence from four virtual data streams (two Facebook pages and two Instagram accounts), I develop the argument that contemporary online representations of Attabad constitute Gilgit-Baltistan discursively in ways that perpetuate (and sometimes disrupt) longstanding colonial and postcolonial portrayals of the region and its people. A significant effect of these online representations is to legitimate Gilgit-Baltistan’s political, economic and cultural domination and control by lowland Pakistan and the Pakistani state.


title: Sclerostin Response to Exercise: Association with Bone Turnover, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

subject: bone, exercise

abstract:
The purpose of this thesis was to compare the response of sclerostin, a bone-specific glycoprotein that downregulates bone formation, to two modes (high impact vs non-impact) of high intensity interval exercise and to examine its relationship to potential exercise-induced changes in bone turnover (Study 1), oxidative stress (Study 2) and inflammation (Study 3).
For the three studies included in this thesis, 40 healthy, young (18-25 years old) female and male adults performed two high intensity interval exercise trials in random order. Trials consisted of eight repetitions of 1 min high intensity running or cycling (mean heart rate 90% of maximum), separated by 1 min passive recovery intervals between repetitions. Blood samples were collected pre-exercise, and 5 min, 1h, 24h and 48h post-exercise. Sclerostin, bone turnover markers (cross linked telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen [CTXI], procollagen type I amino-terminal propeptide [PINP]), oxidative stress markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS], protein carbonyls [PC]) and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], -10 [IL-10], -6 [IL-6], and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]) were measured in serum.
In the first two studies, sclerostin showed a significant time effect, but no significant exercise mode effect or interaction in both females (study 1) and males (study 2). In study 3, sclerostin showed a significant main effect for sex and a significant sex-by-time interaction. Specifically, sclerostin significantly increased from pre- to 5 min post-exercise and returned to baseline levels within 1h post-exercise with greater increase in males than females (47% vs. 34%, respectively). Furthermore, there were no correlations between sclerostin’s exercise-induced increase and the corresponding changes in bone turnover and oxidative stress markers. In contrast, sclerostin’s increase 5 min post-exercise was significantly correlated with the corresponding increase in the inflammatory cytokines, especially TNF-α, which along with sex, significantly explained 34% of the variance in its post-exercise elevation.
In conclusion, in both young females and males, one session of high intensity interval exercise leads to an increase in sclerostin immediately post-exercise, and this increase is of similar magnitude following high impact and no impact exercise. Furthermore, the increase in sclerostin 5 min post-exercise seems to be associated with the exercise-induced inflammation.


title: Thermal Preference and Habitat Use of Eastern Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) in a Southern Ontario Peatland

subject:
Thermal ecology
Habitat use
Gartersnake

abstract: Garter snakes are the most widespread reptile in North America. Despite occupying vastly different biogeoclimatic zones across their range, evidence suggests that the thermal preference (Tsel) of garter snakes has not significantly diverged among populations or different Thamnophis species. The reason for garter snake’s wide thermal tolerance could lie in their flexible thermoregulatory behaviours and habitat use. I aimed to investigate this relationship by first identifying the Tsel of a common garter snake species (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) via a thermal gradient in the lab. I used this Tsel parameter (27.82 – 32.15 ºC) as a benchmark for calculating the thermal quality of open, mixed, and forested habitats all used by the species. I measured the thermal profiles of these habitats by installing a series of operative temperature models that mimicked the thermal properties of living garter snakes and recorded environmental temperatures as living snakes experience them. Lastly, I used coverboards to survey the habitat usage of T. s. sirtalis. Of the three habitats, I found that the open habitat offered the highest thermal quality throughout the snake’s active season. In contrast, I recorded the greatest number of snakes using the mixed habitat which had considerably lower thermal quality. Although the open habitat offered the greatest thermal quality on average, environmental temperatures regularly exceeded the upper limits of the animals’ thermal tolerance, greatly restricting the activity window for Eastern garter snakes. Therefore, the open habitat may be less thermally attractive to T. s. sirtalis. My data show that not all habitat types used by Eastern garter snakes share the same quality and the relationship is not as simple as warm, open habitats are better. Rather, these animals may preferentially seek out areas that offer a mix of both open and closed-canopy spaces to suit their thermoregulatory needs. In conclusion, T. s. sirtalis may select more thermally stable habitats over those that present them with thermal extremes and greater constraints to their surface activity.


title: Salivary and Serum Concentrations of Cortisol and Testosterone at Rest and in Response to Intense Exercise in Boys and Men

subject: Testosterone, Cortisol, High-Intensity Exercise, Pediatrics, Serum, Saliva

abstract: This study compared salivary and serum concentrations of testosterone and cortisol at rest and in response to high-intensity exercise, in boys and men. Early morning saliva and venous blood samples were obtained pre- and 15 min post-exercise from 31 competitive swimmers (15 boys, 14.3±1.8y; 16 men, 21.6±3.1y). Exercise included an all-out 200 m swim, followed by a high-intensity interval swimming protocol (5 x 100m, 5 x 50m, and 5 x 25m). Testosterone (but not cortisol) concentration was higher in men than boys in serum and saliva (p<0.05). Cortisol concentration was higher in serum compared with saliva (p<0.01). Salivary and serum cortisol increased post-exercise, with a greater increase in men compared with boys (group-by-time interaction, p<0.001). Serum testosterone declined post-exercise in serum but not in saliva (medium-by-time interaction, p<0.01). Serum and salivary cortisol (but not testosterone) were strongly correlated in both men and boys, as evidenced by the high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC=0.86 and 0.90, respectively; p<0.001). In summary, early morning high-intensity exercise results in a decrease in testosterone in serum, but not saliva, and an increase in cortisol irrespective of the medium used, in both boys and men. The lack of correlation in testosterone between media suggests that saliva may not be an appropriate medium to examine changes in testosterone following intense exercise. The high ICC observed between serum and saliva cortisol indicates that, in both boys and men, saliva may be used to monitor the cortisol response to exercise.


title: Is Geographic Diversity Good for International Young Ventures? An Internal Social Capital Perspective

subject:
geographic diverisity
learning advantages of newness
internal social capital
international young venture

abstract: An increasing number of young ventures are internationalizing their business early in their life cycles and expanding their scope of international activities into dispersed geographic locations. Yet, the performance implication of geographic diversity strategy for international young ventures remains to be studied. This thesis aims to analyze the link between geographic diversity and international performance, as well as the mediating mechanism of internal social capital and contingent effects of organization structure. This study synthesizes the social capital and exchange perspective with the learning advantages of newness view. The hypotheses are tested with an empirical dataset collected in Zhejiang, China. The results indicate that young ventures going into diverse geographic regions accrue superior international market performance and international investment return, and the mediating mechanism of internal social capital is supported for two of the three dimensions. Furthermore, the indirect effects are moderated by the formality and role concentration within the venture. This study contributes to the theoretical development of the burgeoning field of international entrepreneurship.


title: SILOXANE-CONTAINING PHOSPHOLIPIDS AS POTENTIAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS

subject: Phospholipids, Drug delivery systems, Silicone

abstract:
Drug delivery systems (DDS) have become an important focus research over the past three decades with the emergence of new therapies based on biomolecules such as peptides, DNA, enzymes etc., with the aim of improving or optimising the potency of these biomolecules.
Liposomes are colloidal vesicles derived from amphiphilic phospholipid biomolecules and have the capacity to encapsulate a broad spectrum of molecules. The promise of liposomes in regard to drug delivery relates to an increase in the bioavailability of drugs, a decrease in drug toxicity, an increase in the efficacy of the drug, and targeted delivery to areas of pathology.
Different liposomes varying in their phospholipid composition present different characteristics in terms of entrapment capacity of drugs, stability of liposomes and drug release profile. Optimizing any of these characteristics will hence improve the efficiency of liposomes as DDS.
This study reveals the potential for siloxane-containing phospholipids to display a higher entrapment capacity than conventional liposomes related to 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospcocholine (POPC) and controlled released when using the model compound, calcein. With the siloxane-phospholipids being studied, zero-order release was observed and in some instances appeared to be independent of the pH of the release media.


title: Exploring the Implications of White Teacher Identity in a Critical Participatory Action Research Study

subject:
whiteness
teachers
white privilege
critical participatory action research
high school

abstract: I am convinced that there is an urgent need for transformative work among white teachers in North America in general, and in southern Ontario specifically, that engages them in a critical understanding of their racial identity. This dissertation research project undertakes a possible way to invite teachers into such dialogue. Using critical participatory action research (CPAR) as a methodology, this project focused on developing race consciousness among six white teachers from an independent school in southern Ontario. I led these teachers in a series of workshops that attempted to guide them through an understanding of their white identity in order to observe the possibility of increasing their “race cognizance” (Frankenberg, 1993). I explain the findings by uncovering and analyzing narrative themes that emerged from the data. Throughout this work, I have attempted to honour the words of W.E.B. DuBois (1903), who claimed long ago that “the hands of none of us are clean if we bend not our energies to righting these great wrongs.” The great wrongs he spoke—the wrongs of racism, of white supremacy, of dismissing the import of racial justice work—though long ago, are ongoing, shifting and being perpetuated most notably in places where our youth are being nurtured. The urgency of the work of challenging the complicity and lack of awareness among white teachers is work that I have taken up in this project.