title: Inductive transfer applied to the prediction of ground water levels

contributor:
Drane, Patrick Adam (author)
(Silver, Daniel L.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2010

abstract: This research uses Artiﬁcial Neural Networks with inductive transfer to predict the ground water level of the Greenwood monitoring well using weather data as input, as a proxy for the aquifer recharge rate. The ﬂow rate of nearby streams (Stream Flow and Base Flow) are used as additional inputs or as secondary tasks. A basic single task learning model is constructed using only weather data for predictions. These results are compared to other single task and multiple task models through the use of mean absolute error to see if any improvement is provided over the basic single task model. The models use two days worth of weather data to predict the ground water level ﬁve days into the future. It is shown that models developed using ﬁve years worth of training data and inductive transfer perform as well as the base models constructed using ten years worth of training data. The multiple task models are also shown to perform as well as single task models with additional inputs. The neural networks show the greatest error when predicting the extremes of the ground water level over the test set. The use of additional sources of transfer, as well as the use of Stream Flow and Base Flow in combination to improve the accuracy of the models is suggested for future work.

abstract: Computer Science


title: Corticosterone in Leach’s storm-petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa)

type: Text Dissertation/Thesis

contributor:
Lightfoot, Holly L. (author)
(Shutler, Dave) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

rights: The author grants permission to the University Librarian at Acadia University to reproduce, loan or distribute copies of my thesis in microform, paper or electronic formats on a non-profit basis. The author retains the copyright of the thesis.

subject: LE3 .A278 2010

abstract: Ecologists are increasingly interested in how hormones help species adapt to their environment. Corticosterone is a hormone which regularly circulates in an individual’s blood stream, and concentrations increase when individuals are stressed. Corticosterone can cause the liver to release glucose as an energy source to contend with stress. For this reason it is commonly known as a stress hormone. My objectives were to test if corticosterone was related to handling time, age group, sex, mass, and size in Leach’s storm- petrels ( Oceanodroma leucorhoa). I also wanted to test if there was a relationship between a chick’s corticosterone concentration and that of its parent’s. Field work was conducted on Bon Portage Island in Nova Scotia; here Leach’s storm- petrels were retrieved from their burrow nests and blood was collected to assay corticosterone and to genetically sex the petrels ( males and females are visually indistinguishable). Corticosterone concentration did not significantly increase with longer handling time for adults, but did for chicks. Overall handling time was the most significant predictor of corticosterone concentration. There was no difference in corticosterone concentration of males versus females or between adults versus chicks and was unrelated to mass, size, and age group. Finally there was a positive relationship between a parent’s corticosterone concentrations and that of its chick. Although there are few studies on corticosterone in Leach’s storm- petrels, my results on corticosterone concentration and handling stress, age, sex, size, and mass are consistent with data from related species. 1

abstract: Biology


title: A nerve racking experience . . . regeneration of the central nervous system in the Polychaete Pygospio Elegans (Spionidae)

contributor:
Veinotte, Chansey J. (author)
(Gibson, Glenys) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2010

abstract: Some animals have astounding capacity for the regeneration of lost tissues.  Nerves are essential for successful tissue regeneration; for example, if nerves are  removed from a regenerating salamander limb, regeneration will fail. The objective of  my thesis is to characterize nerve regeneration in the spionid polychaete Pygospio  elegans Claparede 1863, a species that can regenerate a new head in as little as eight  days. Despite the widespread ability of polychaetes to regenerate, neural regeneration is  known in only a few species. According to Müller ( 2003), the nervous system plays a  critical role in inducing the activation of regeneration in polychaetes. Using indirect  immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy I described regeneration  of the nervous system of P. elegans over an eight- day period and developed a  chronological timeline linking the intervals of tissue regeneration with the corresponding  nerve growth. My results showed that most of the central nervous system was regenerated  within the first four days of regeneration, that most of the anterior nervous system was  replaced by neurite sprouting from the remaining original nerves, and that neural  regeneration occurred faster than did regeneration of some other tissues ( muscle, gut).  There has been little research conducted on the role of the nervous system in regeneration  of annelids. My results provide a sequence of nerve regeneration allowing for further  investigation of nerve role in regeneration including the significance of such early onset  of neural activity.

abstract: Biology


title: Heat shock proteins in the relaxin-induced protection of ischemic neural tissue

contributor:
Dow, Natalie R. (author)
(Wilson, Brian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2010

abstract: Relaxin is a peptide hormone with many diverse physiological actions. Although it was  originally characterized as a pregnancy hormone, recent studies suggest that relaxin  provides a variety of mammalian organs with protection against ischemia and reperfusion  injury. Protection occurs through a variety of mechanisms such as oxygen free radical  reduction, mast cell and neutrophil inhibition, vasodilation, and subsequent improvement  of collateral circulation. In addition, it is possible that relaxin alters the production of heat  shock proteins, which are part of the cellular stress response and function in the proper  folding and transportation of proteins. The purpose of this study was to investigate the  production of heat shock proteins in the relaxin- induced protection of neural tissue under  ischemic stress. Organotypic slice cultures of neonatal rat brains were cultured over  fourteen days and were then allocated to one of three media treatments: normoxic,  hypoxic, and hypoxic and relaxin. Following treatment, slices were returned to normal  culture conditions. At 6 and 12 hours post- treatment, slices were flash frozen or fixed and  Hsp70 production was measured using immunohistochemistry. Ischemic slices that had  been exposed to relaxin exhibited a reduction of Hsp70s, suggesting that relaxin  suppresses the cellular stress response in neural tissue and possibly suppresses ischemic  damage. Gene expression data from ongoing qPCR studies may corroborate our  qualitative protein expression results. Stroke is currently the fourth leading cause of death  in Canada, with 80% of cases resulting from ischemic stroke. This research may lead to  therapies to ameliorate the effect of stroke.

abstract: Biology


title: Mary, Queen of Scots: The political career of a queen determined to rule

contributor:
Sealy, Jessica (author)
(MacDonald, Jennifer) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2010

abstract: Mary, Queen of Scots, has been portrayed as an ineffective ruler who had no interest in Scottish  politics. In reality, she was not a reluctant monarch. Despite having a short and relatively  uneventful political career, Mary demonstrated her resolve to rule through three distinct phases of  involvement in Scottish politics. Her time as queen began with a period of determination, lasting  from 1561 to 1565. During this time, Mary nominated her Privy Council, developed a policy of  religious acceptance and held an extremely successful Parliament. She also established positive  foreign relations with England while maintaining those established through her first marriage with  France. Mary attempted to use her second marriage as a political bargaining chip to solidify her  alliances, marrying Lord Darnley and improving her position in the English succession, in 1565.  However, with this marriage began her phase of domestic distraction. Her decision to focus on her  queenly duty to maintain the royal line by producing an heir distracted her from the legislative  process. This was the only period of Mary’s political career during which she was reluctant to  take an active role in governing, as she became focused on handling her husband and the  scandalous events he brought into her life, rather than on maintaining the level of involvement she  had previously had in her government. Two tumultuous years later, Mary abdicated as queen in  favour of her infant son. At this time, she realized how deeply she cared about leading her  kingdom and entered a period of desperation, spent imprisoned in England. This phase was  characterized by frantic pleas to be released, followed by plots to escape and reinstate herself in  Scotland. Mary did not give up on her desire to regain her position as Queen of Scotland until the  day of her execution. This thesis will conclusively illustrate that Mary Stewart was not politically  indifferent through an extensive examination of each of these phases of her political career.

abstract: History & Classics


title: Québec's myopic public sphere

contributor:
Bertrand, Philippe (author)
(Horgan, Mervyn) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2010

abstract: The work of Jurgen Habermas has analysed the public sphere, a realm within  which people debate. According to Habermas, the public sphere, because of structural  transformations of society, has disintegrated. This sphere in which people used to debate  democratically about the interests of the population has eroded, especially with the  invasion of capital within culture. In fact, once people started to benefit economically  from culture, the content presented to the audience was transformed from something  valuable to society to something profitable to media owners.  This thesis demonstrates that the rise of consumerism has played a role in making  mass culture an important tool for the commoditisation of society, creating a never-ending  flow of consumption items. I argue that laissez- faire economics, the system in  which the communication sector navigates, inevitably leads to concentration of  ownership in the media. This concentration accelerates the problems created by the  invasion of capital within culture.  The case study of this thesis demonstrates that Québec‟ s public sphere has  become myopic, because people debate mainly about apolitical matters. I argue that the  unfettered rise of conglomerates such as Quebecor has played an important role in the  creation of Québec‟ s Myopic Public Sphere.

abstract: Sociology


title: “Le monde a bien changé”: Examining identity and migration within contemporary Acadian society in New Brunswick

contributor:
Haché, Joanni (author)
(Brittain, James) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: In this thesis I examine the societal conditions and circumstances facing a particular subsector of New Brunswick-based French minorities – specifically the Acadian communities in the context of the province‟s contemporary reality. For this study I look at shifts in the social, economic, and cultural life of Acadians, which directly and indirectly impact the dynamic of our collective and individual identity. To do so I investigate the socioeconomic condition leading to migration flows of Acadians from northern to southern New Brunswick (and outside of the province), inter-provincial flights of social capital, and the societal affects of state policy toward bilingual communities in contemporary New Brunswick. Moving beyond issues of political economy, I also investigate what defines an individual as Acadian in today‟s society. Is Acadian identity simply a matter of language or is it more an issue of culture and being?

abstract: Sociology


title: Questioning conformity: The Beats and New York intellectuals in the postwar years

contributor:
Firlotte, Zachary (author)
(Dennis, Michael) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: The Beat Generation was a group of writers and poets that transcended the middle-class  conformity and affluence of postwar America and found inspiration in the subcultures  that existed on the margins of society. Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, and Allen  Ginsberg created literature that advocated alcohol and drugs, jazz music, minority  cultures, and Eastern religion in order to separate themselves from the mainstream and  live alternatively. The New York intellectuals were a group of largely Jewish ex-radicals  that became influential literary and social critics in the liberal consensus of the postwar  years. After the realization of Stalinist totalitarianism, they adopted a virulently anti-communist  worldview and advocated the merits of American liberalism, but remained  critical of the mass conformity among the white middle class. The New York  intellectuals ultimately dismissed the Beats and their literature as anti-intellectual and  incapable of enforcing significant change to postwar conformity and affluence. However,  the Beats’ literature has continued to resonate with youth through the years and continues  to be studied into the twenty-first century. This thesis will argue that in failing to support  the Beats and their literature, the New York intellectuals missed an opportunity to  endorse the only literary and cultural rebellion of the postwar years.

abstract: History & Classics


title: American eel (Anguilla rostrata) habitat use in a pristine watershed in Nova Scotia

contributor:
Stevens, Lydia Anne (author)
(Avery, Trevor) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: American Eels are a species of “Special Concern” as assessed by the Committee on Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). If the Government of Canada accepts this assessment and lists American Eels under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) as such, then a management plan for the species and its habitat must be prepared. The objective of the management plan is to conserve the species and prevent it from becoming “threatened” or “endangered”. The purpose of this research is to gain a better understanding of habitat use by American Eels and to estimate their population size in a pristine watershed in Nova Scotia as a baseline for a long-term monitoring program. Twenty-nine baited eel pots were set around the near-shore waters of Oakland Lake in various habitats. Habitats were categorized based on depth, topography, and bottom composition. Captured eels were tagged using a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag and their capture area recorded. In 2009, a total of 91 eels were caught over 15 days of fishing between 19 July and 21 August with 67 total recaptures. In 2010, a total 249 eels were caught over 34 days of fishing between 21 May and 24 August with 130 total recaptures. In 2010, the number of eels caught tended to be fewer at the end of the season in comparison to the beginning. It was also found that few recaptured eels returned to the same trap. Gaining a better understanding of growth patterns and habitat use will enable conservation of habitat, and provide valuable information to help prevent further declines in American Eel populations.

abstract: Biology


title: The effect of genetic mutations on biofilm production in Listeria monocytogenes

contributor:
Tucker, Adam B. (author)
(Bell, Colin) (Thesis advisor)
(Ells, Tim) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: The foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is responsible for listeriosis, a disease  that endangers immuno-compromised individuals, the elderly, and pregnant women. The  pathogen is capable of surviving harsh conditions, allowing it to inhabit food-processing  facilities for long amounts of time. This persistence is due to the ability of Listeria spp. to  form biofilms that protect against disinfectants. Understanding of the influence genes  have in biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes is limited. To examine the genetic role in  this process, a transposon library of 4300 Tn917 mutants of L. monocytogenes 568  serotype 1/2a (Lm568) was screened for biofilm variation. The screening process  consisted of a crystal violet staining assay, in which the mutants were cultured in 96 well  micotitre plates in modified Welshimer’s broth. After 72 h, 0.3% crystal violet was  added, and then ethanol was used to extract the dye from the stained cells of the biofilm.  The stained ethanol was then measured spectrophotometrically for quantitative analysis.  Mutants exhibiting variability in biofilm formation were isolated but were unable to be  sequenced. Assays were also conducted on previously sequenced mutants with known  transposon insertions to see how specific genes alter biofilm production when treated  with a preservative or cleaning solution ingredients (NaCl, H2O2 and ethanol). Some tests  showed significant variability in biofilm production. Future studies into specific genes  that affect biofilm production may aid in preventing the pathogen from inhabiting food-processing  facilities.

abstract: Biology


title: Canadian pension system: Problems and reform

contributor:
Zhang, Meng Xue (author)
(Kayahan, Burc) (Thesis advisor)
(Wang, Xiaoting) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Under the great pressure of the aging population and the recent recession, Canadians are facing a national pension crisis. The pension issue has increasingly become one of the hot topics of concern in the government, the public and academia. This paper provides a thorough examination of the current Canadian public pension system. It discusses in detail the major programs and benefits in the three-pillar pension system. Using the existing literature on particular issues regarding the pension system (i.e. pension coverage, replacement rate, contributions, etc.), I provide an overall discussion of the pension system in Canada and the challenges faced by the future retirees. Problems are explained in demographic, economic and administrative perspectives. This paper also infers two possible solutions for pension reform: one is to improve the system by fixing the current one and the other is to innovate by carrying out a new program. These proposals, Vertical Expansion of the CPP (VEC) and Canada Supplementary Pension Plan (CSPP), are explained and compared in this paper. Finally, pension facts and strategic reform response in Nova Scotia are presented.

abstract: Economics


title: An analysis of fear-based manipulation in American televised news

contributor:
McDougall, Brock D. (author)
(Pyrcz, Greg) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Despite our tendency to gain everyday social and political knowledge from the mass media we neglect to take into account the power this knowledge has in mediating our social and political realities. This thesis argues that the use of emotions, particularly fear, within the mass media, has the power to mediate and manipulate perceived socio-political life. The implication for such manipulation is found in the link between the mass media, deliberation and democratic outcomes. It is argued that a recurrent pattern can be identified in the American polity, from relative liberalism toward conservatism. This pattern is illustrated in both historical and more contemporary examples using sources that focus on the particular role of American televised news media. The thesis outlines the theoretical framework needed to understand how fear-based manipulation works and how people’s perceived realities can be mediated by the mass media. The initial theory also focuses on many of the aspects of modern media that contribute to its manipulative characteristics. An historical example is considered, one that focus on a fear-based manipulated shift in democratic politics from the liberal 1960s to the 1980s and the election of Ronald Reagan. It is suggested that the decade between these two periods was a time in American history when a powerful exaggeration of fear moved Americans toward conservatism partly as an irrational emotional response to representations in the mass media. A more contemporary example attends to the rise in conservatism following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, highlighting the relative liberalism before the attacks and the rise in Bush Administration approval amongst the American populace afterwards. It is argued that an exaggerated sense of fear exacerbated by the media, manipulated citizens once more. Applying a theoretical understanding of emotional-based manipulation, it was found that in both cases the use of fear and other emotions in the media contributed to a turn towards the political right in American society. The thesis concludes by briefly considering the future of fear-based manipulation in American media and suggests some potential options for counteracting manipulation and the mediating of realties. It is also important to note that this thesis does not suggest that each instance of manipulation was necessarily intentional, but that manipulation is nevertheless detrimental for deliberative democracy. 1  "What difference does it make if it's true? If it's a story and it breaks, they're gonna run with it."  Wag the Dog, 1997 (film)

abstract: Politics


title: On God and guilt: The origins of morality in Nietzsche's Genealogy of morals

contributor:
Scarfone, Matthew (author)
(Wilks, Ian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Nietzsche’s critique of morality is multipronged, ranging from an assault on its detrimental effects for select types of persons, to a denunciation of the primacy of life-denying values therein. A complete account of his critique would require volumes; indeed, Nietzsche assigned himself this task for many years, producing numerous works that address morality.1 Instead, the focus of inquiry here will concern the specific manner in which Nietzsche suggests morality first appeared. Bernard Reginster tells us that one of Nietzsche’s primary goals is to examine the conditions under which human beings devised the notions of good and evil.2 Accordingly, I will look at how morality is said to have originated, with specific attention paid to the role that the concept of guilt (schuld3) is said to play in its development. It will be shown that Nietzsche’s account offers two primary catalysts for the origin of morality. First, he identifies the internalization of man4 as the point in which human beings created an inner-life in which moral valuation could take place, and second, he analyzes the creditor-debtor relationship and shows how it leads to a point where morality seemingly becomes necessary.

abstract: Philosophy


title: Where the river meets the sea

contributor:
Pierce, Danielle (author)
(Campbell, Wanda) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: “Where the River meets the Sea” is a short story cycle that examines the dynamics and differences that exist between a coastal upbringing and an inland one. Place plays an integral role within the fabric of the cycle; each of the seven stories is set in a specific place in Nova Scotia ranging from the Southwestern tip of Baccaro, to the tiny inland village of Quinan. The protagonist, Maddy, identifies with the coast and her connection is manifested in the second section of the cycle where her father Llewellyn reveals their familial history near the water. The antagonist, Silas, was raised inland and does not share the same sense of home when he and Maddy are at the shore. Her inability to reconcile their differences and the message of persistence against the odds conveyed by Llewellyn both play a role in Maddy’s decisions about their relationship, and she ultimately finds resolution with someone new.

abstract: English & Theatre Studies


title: Impacts of climate change on agriculture in Nova Scotia

contributor:
Adlakha, Emma-Lee S. (author)
(Skjei, Scott) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: In this analysis, the impact of climate change on agriculture in Nova Scotia is estimated. Using the Ricardian method of analysis, climate variables are regressed on the value of farmland in the province of Nova Scotia.  The regression output produced from the relationship of climate variables and the value of farmland is found to be suffering from the phenomenon of autocorrelation. Once the regression output is corrected for autocorrelation, the regression is ran again and agriculture in Nova Scotia is found to be unaffected by increasing temperatures and increasing amounts of precipitation.

abstract: Economics


title: An inadequate response: The NGOization of the sub-Saharan African HIV/AIDS epidemic

contributor:
Boudreau, Chantal C. (author)
(Brickner, Rachel) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: The HIV/AIDS epidemic, primarily located in Sub-Saharan Africa has had  devastating social, political, medical and economic affects, each exacerbating the other,  resulting in a particularly complex phenomenon. The complexity of the HIV/AIDS  pandemic therefore requires a holistic approach of services that would engage all sectors  affected by the virus. Due to key institutions being weakened by Structural Adjustment  Programs, many Sub-Saharan African states have been unable to adequately respond to  the HIV/AIDS crisis allowing for NGOs to dominate this field. In studying both the  Gates and Stephen Lewis Foundations it becomes obvious that the NGOization of the  epidemic is inadequate in providing a holistic approach in combating HIV/AIDS. This is  largely due to their patchwork effect in both quality and access as well as their  dependence on wealthy donors to provide their funding. Furthermore, the NGOization of  HIV/AIDS results in the dependence of many developing countries upon the developed  world, as NGOs provide an alternative vehicle in providing social services, allowing for  state institutions to remain inadequate.

abstract: Politics


title: Development and characterization of a near-infrared cathodoluminescence detector

contributor:
Webber, Daniel J. R. (author)
(Robertson, Michael) (Thesis advisor)
(Williams, Peter) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: As an alternative to purchasing commercially available optical detectors for the detection of cathodoluminescence signals, two cost effective and high performance detectors were developed and investigated. The first was a near-infrared (IR) luminescence detector based on avalanche photodiode (APD) technology, and the second was based on a 3000 pixel linear CCD array for the parallel acquisition of spectra and full colour imaging. The primary motivation for this work was that the existing optical detectors presently available on the CL system do not operate efficiently in the near IR wavelength regime and the time required to record a CL spectra serially can be prohibitively long for specimens that are easily damaged when interacting with an electron beam. All aspects of the design: mechanical, electrical, optical, and programming, are discussed, including justification for the methods and approaches used during development. Signal-to-noise considerations will be investigated and how the implementation of avalanche photodiode cooling improved the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) considerably. The optical characterization of the detector is discussed, including experimentally measured optical system response curves showing the wavelength response of the APD detector in comparison to the existing detectors. The performance of the APD detector was studied using two phosphorescent powders displaying a wide range of luminescent intensity. CL examination of the weakly luminescent red phosphorescent powder highlighted the lower SNR of the APD, as compared to the PMT, when operated in the linear mode. In order to improve the low-light performance of the APD, it is recommended that the Geiger mode of operation be the focus of future study. . The development of a parallel acquisition system for CL spectroscopy was successful. However, the wavelength range of the CL signal that could be measured was limited to 325 nm using the 600 lines/mm diffraction grating. A grating with a ruling of 150-300 lines/mm would be viii  required to cover the entire visible-to-near IR wavelength range. In addition, recommendations are made on the use of the parallel spectrometer for the collection of colour images.

abstract: Physics


title: Alterations in muscle activity patterns during during overground walking and treadmill walking at level and uphill inclines in an older active female population

contributor:
Moore, Tannille (author)
(Landry, Scott) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Purpose: To investigate muscle pattern differences as described through the use of surface electromyography (EMG) between 2 different surfaces (treadmill and overground) and inclines (level and uphill at 6°) in a physically active female older adult population.  Methods: Healthy active female older adults (n= 20; 56.4±4 yrs; 68.7 ± 14.3 kg; 162.9 ± 5.8 cm ) performed a walking protocol that involved overground and treadmill walking at 2 inclines while surface EMG was used to measure activity patterns of the medial and lateral gastrocnemii, medial and lateral hamstrings, and vastus lateralis and medialis. EMG data were normalized using maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) and principal component analysis (PCA) was used on the waveforms, with PC scores being statistically analyzed using a two way repeated analysis of variance.  Results: Greater muscle activity magnitudes due to both surface and incline effects were demonstrated for all muscles during stance except for the vastus medialis. The vastus medialis did, however, demonstrate a trend towards greater activity magnitude. Phase shifts were also identified for the gastrocnemii and vastii muscles during stance. For the swing phase, the only significant difference was a greater activity magnitude due to incline for the medial hamstrings.  Discussion and Conclusions: This study is the first study to identify differences between overground and treadmill surfaces while walking for both a level and uphill condition. Uphill walking and overground walking utilize higher levels of muscle activity, and are greater stressors of the locomotor system. These findings have important implications for future research and exercise programs aiming to use incline as a locomotive stressor.

abstract: Kinesiology


title: Impact on medium-term individual capacity building from involvement in Participatory Food Costing

contributor:
Monteith, Hiliary (author)
(Anderson, Barb) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Food insecurity is a multifaceted issue that requires further attention in Nova Scotia and throughout the world. Capacity building is considered to be a strategy for improving food security and is suggested to be a benefit of participatory processes. The purpose of the present study was to explore the individual capacity building processes and outcomes of medium-term involvement, defined as greater than four years, in Participatory Food Costing. Seven participants of the Nova Scotia Participatory Food Costing Project who had been involved for at least four years were recruited for this study. All participants were Nova Scotian women and most were affiliated with their local Family Resource Centres. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with each participant and the questions followed the adult learning model. The data were collected, transcribed and coded using the phenomenology approach of qualitative research. Nine main themes emerged through analysis of the interviews: awareness, personal development, participation, readiness to change, influence on others, political impact, self-esteem, project continuity and project growth. These themes were consistent with the dimensions of capacity building that have been outlined in the published literature, indicating evidence for capacity building. The findings of this study demonstrate that capacity building processes and outcomes of those involved in Participatory Food Costing can contribute to solving food security related issues.

abstract: Nutrition & Dietetics


title: Acadia University as a placeless space: the presence and effectiveness of student activism in the commercialized University

contributor:
Muehlberger, Christina (author)
(Whitehall, Geoffrey) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: The University has not been protected from the growing influence of neoliberal policies  in society. This has resulted in the commercialization of this public institution. The two  key effects of this commercialization are the increased openness of the University to the  special interests of the corporate sector and the adoption of the forms of operation  common to the corporate sector by the University. This has created what Bill Readings  calls the “contemporary University,” which is a bureaucratic corporation whose sole  social responsibility to society is providing services for a fee. The purpose of this thesis is  to explore how space is conceptualized in the contemporary University and how the  construction of space impacts the presence and effectiveness of student activism. By  applying the arguments of David Harvey, Doreen Massey, and Sharon Zukin, I argue that  in the contemporary University, corporate actors and an autonomous administration use  the control of space to foster a particular culture and landscape that forms the University  into what Michael M’Gonigle terms, a “placeless space.” By examining the case of  Acadia University, it will be demonstrated that the University as a “placeless space”  negatively affects the presence and effectiveness of student activism, which, in turn,  hinders the University from achieving its proposed vision. To conclude, this thesis will  argue that the University must realize its potential as a place. This will allow the  University to become a situated community that supports the emergence of student  activism, which is positive for both the University and society at large.

abstract: Politics


title: Using paleolimnological methods to track late holocene environmental change at Long Lake, New Brunswick – Nova Scotia border region, Canada

contributor:
Dunnington, Dewey W (author)
(Spooner, Ian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: The Missaguash Bog and Amherst Marsh are situated along the border of Nova  Scotia and New Brunswick at the head of the Bay of Fundy and have a long history of  anthropogenic influence. Long Lake and Round Lake are small, shallow lakes in the  middle of this marsh system and are influenced by a number of human-induced changes  including water control structures, dredging of channels, and increased use through  recreation, construction, and forestry. The impact of this activity on Long Lake was  studied using paleolimnological methods to link changes in organic content, lead,  titanium, and other proxies observed in sediment cores to the known history of the lake  basin, leading to a better understanding of how small, shallow lakes react to  anthropogenic influence.  It was discovered that Long Lake was very sensitive to changes in precipitation,  temperature, and lake level. Data from core stratigraphy and historical sources indicate  that drainage modification lowered the lake level in Long Lake during the mid-1800s,  after which wave action heavily disturbed unconsolidated organic sediment. Deposition  resumed with predominantly inorganic sediment, indicating a fundamental change in  depositional dynamics. Geochemcial proxy data suggest sediment resuspension and  mixing have occurred in the top few centimetres of sediment, possibly due to increased  turbulence from motorboat activity.  The sediment record from Round Lake provides evidence for significant  atmospheric deposition from industrialization in Amherst during the late 1800s and early  1900s. Lead peaks were used to provide age control on geochemical data, and correlates  well with regional atmospheric lead records.

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: The effect of short-duration rainfall on the surface water quality of Thomas Brook, Kings County, Nova Scotia

contributor:
Healey, Allison L. (author)
(Hebb, Dale) (Thesis advisor)
(Spooner, Ian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: The surface water quality of freshwater systems is an indicator of the overall health of an ecosystem. Nitrogen and phosphorus are limiting nutrients in freshwater systems, so slight increases in either nutrient can negatively affect surface water quality. Agricultural practices dominate approximately 50% of the Thomas Brook watershed, which is located in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, so nitrogen and phosphorus are used as fertilizers in high amounts during the growing season.  This research project focuses on the movement of nutrients from agricultural land into the watercourse during periods of precipitation and their effect on the health of the watershed. An analysis of the surface water quality of Thomas Brook during three periods of moderate to heavy rainfall, estimated to exceed 20 millimetres, in the spring of 2011 determined the increase in nutrient concentrations as a result of excess water and sediment input from overland flow and throughflow.  Results from this study show that the nutrient pathway from land surfaces into local surface water during rainfall events differs depending on the nutrient fraction and is a function of the slope of the landscape, duration of precipitation, and/or grain size of the till within the watershed. Major findings indicate that total phosphorus migration is correlated with sediment movement due to overland flow. Nitrate migration into Thomas Brook occurs as a result of throughflow and this fraction only entered the watercourse during periods of long-duration precipitation. The pathway of migration of these nutrients may aid in verifying the efficacy of beneficial management practices that have been implemented within the Thomas Brook watershed.

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: Klondike: Girls gone wild

contributor:
Steele, Kaitlyn M. (author)
(Poulter, Gillian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: The women who participated in the Klondike stampede of 1897-1901 were a different breed than their Victorian mothers and grandmothers. In many cases they dreamed of something more for themselves than settled society could offer. A unique opportunity was offered to them in the gold rush frenzy of 1897. In the far corners of Canada was the geographically isolated Yukon. Dawson City, at the centre of the Klondike hullabaloo, was a town of men, mining, and mud. Here, women were able to transcend the gender roles of their foremothers and find a place in the predominantly male dominated public sphere. Some women were able to do this easily, having the personality or the education to stand strong against their male peers. Diaries, newspaper articles, and published accounts of Klondikers give positive and encouraging feedback on those women who were making an effort to transcend the accepted gender ideology in the Klondike. Some of these women took significant strides by offering their domestic services for a price in the frontier boomtown of Dawson - duties expected rather than appreciated in settled society – and sometimes making personal fortunes. Other women, with strong personalities, pushed further by becoming authoritative figures in the Klondike community. This was unprecedented. There was something new arising in the opportunities for these women.

abstract: History & Classics


title: The National Parks: "Where the Wild Things Are" - an environmental history of United States park development before 1940

contributor:
Alway, Alexandra M. (author)
(Duke, David) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: This thesis examines the development of the National Parks in the United  States, and uses Yellowstone National Park as a major case study for studying  park development. It is organized chronically and focuses on the development of  park management and policy from the foundation of Yellowstone in 1872 until  1940. The first chapter is a historiographical analysis of the philosophical  thought that led to the creation of the National Parks and the more modern  historical writings about the period. The second chapter focuses on the reasons  for the creation of the National Parks and the initial problems that came about as  a result of the manner in which the parks were set up. The time frame for the  second chapter is the founding of Yellowstone through the turn of the century.  The third chapter focuses from the turn of the century through the beginning of  World War II. Beginning with a discussion of the changes that were made in park  management and policy as a result of the problems created during the initial  period, the chapter leads into a second set of problems that occurred as a result  of the changes. In conclusion, the challenges facing the National Park Service in  the early twentieth century are similar to the problems facing it in the twenty-first  century. These challenges stem from the creation of the park, which prioritized  recreation, but also included an element of ecological protection.

abstract: History & Classics


title: Look at you in those genes!: Potential epigenetic effects mediated by environment in Polydora cornuta

contributor:
Pierce, Robyn M. (author)
(Gibson, Glenys) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: Environmentally induced variation in phenotype during development is referred  to as developmental plasticity. Developmental plasticity is thought to be based on  epigenetic processes, such as histone modifications and DNA methylation. The objectives  of my thesis are to investigate whether epigenetic modifications are linked to  developmental plasticity in the spionid polychaete, Polydora cornuta, and to determine if  changes in histone modifications occur during metamorphosis. Adult P. cornuta were  exposed to environmental treatments including those rich in methyl donors (e.g.  Folate/vitamin B12) and methyl releasers (e.g. Bisphenol A). Adult sections and larval  whole mounts were treated with antibodies for histone modifications and observed using  fluorescent microscopy. In adults, hypomethylation of H3K9 and H3K4 and  hypoacetylation of H3K14 were observed in females from each treatment (enhanced diet,  folate/vitamin B12 diet, and BPA diet), relative to controls. Selected tissues of control  adults and larvae showed comparable H3K9 me1 patterns. In contrast, adults from the  BPA treatment showed H3K9 hypomethylation of the gut, whereas BPA larval gut cells  were monomethylated. Results indicate that 1) the environment does affect histone  modifications, which could ultimately produce alternative phenotypes, 2) all three  modifications varied with treatment in adult tissues, 3) and while tissues of P. cornuta  appear to have similar H3K9 me1 patterns prior to and following metamorphosis, this  modification in adults appeared sensitive to treatment (BPA). This suggests that histone  modifications are a potential mechanism by which the environment can influence  developmental plasticity and that larvae respond differently to these factors than do adults.

abstract: Biology


title: The effect of a head-to-head competitive environment on the manifestation of the contextual interference effect in a lab task

contributor: (Kruisselbrink, Darren) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: When practicing more than one skill, or variations of a skill, practice can be scheduled in  a random order (ACB BAC BCA) or a blocked order (AAA… BBB… CCC). The  contextual interference (CI) effect is a paradoxical effect, where random practice  produces deficits during acquisition, but generates better performance during retention  tests as opposed to blocked practice. The purpose of the present study was to determine  whether practicing a simple lab task in a head-to-head competitive environment would  mediate the CI effect. Forty-two participants completed 72 trials of 3 variations of a  computerized four-segment movement task, assuming either a blocked or random practice  schedule. Fifteen minutes and 24 hours following practice, participants competed against  one another in two head-to-head retention tests, with monetary rewards available. In  acquisition, the random group performed significantly slower than the blocked group  (F(1, 40) = 93.07, p < .001) and made more decision making errors (t(40) = 3.08, p =  .003). Results from the retention tests showed no significant difference in retention  performance between the blocked and random groups, however performance for all  participants was significantly superior in the delayed than in the immediate retention test  (F(1, 40) = 66.09, p < .001). While a competitive environment does not seem to alter the  acquisition deficit experienced by random learners for this task, the competition and  incentives seemed to have motivated the blocked learners to become engaged enough in  the task to override the usual CI effect detriment in retention. The competitive  environment and potential rewards may also have influenced participants to retain the  learned task longer in order to perform better in the delayed retention test.

abstract: Kinesiology


title: Orthographic influences on metaphonological tasks: evidence from event-related brain potentials (ERP)

contributor:
Higgins, Kristen (author)
(Newman, Randy Lynn) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: Metaphonological tasks are often used to assess children’s phonological processing skills and predict their reading abilities (e.g., Ecalle & Magnan, 2007). The present thesis uses event-related brain potentials (ERP) to determine whether two metaphonological tasks are subject to orthographic influences. In Experiment 1, participants performed a phoneme deletion task better with transparent words (e.g., buckle) compared to opaque words (e.g., knuckle). ERP responses triggered to the isolation point of the words showed greater negativity between 200ms and 400ms in the opaque condition compared to the transparent condition. In Experiment 2, a phoneme replacement task was conducted, in which nonword targets (e.g., /tif/) were primed with pseudohomographs (e.g., /dif/), nonhomographs (e.g., /zif/), and unrelated nonwords (e.g., /wus/). As expected, the unrelated nonwords showed PMN and N400 responses. However, the pseudohomograph and nonhomograph conditions did not show either response, indicating significant priming of the target. It was concluded that orthography is automatically activated in metaphonological tasks when performed with word stimuli, but not when performed with nonword stimuli. Future studies should evaluate the use of metaphonological tasks with nonword stimuli as a more appropriate measure for predicting children’s reading abilities and assessing their phonological skills.  Keywords: metaphonological tasks, orthography, event-related brain potentials (ERP)

abstract: Psychology


title: Optimization of the monocular indirect ophthalmoscope

contributor:
Parsons, Cathryn Anna Mae (author)
(Robertson, Michael) (Thesis advisor)
(Winslade, Tim) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: The ophthalmoscope is an important instrument for all optometrists and ophthal-  mologists for characterizing the state of health of the eye. In the early 1990s the  monocular indirect ophthalmoscope went out of production, and without the on-  going support of the manufacturer, the optics of the device can deteriorate over time.  A local optometrist initiated this research project, with the goal being to de-  termine the optical elements causing the aberration, and how they may be  xed. In  order to understand the complex optics of the instrument and to investigate changes  in the component on the end-use performance, an interactive computer program was  developed, in the Processing™ environment, to model the device and an emmetropic  eye using a ray optics formalism. The schematic model of the eye used was the Le  Grand Full schematic eye. It was determined that the dimensions of the  lament of  the adapted bulb were not appropriate for the device. Information within the retinal  image is lost due to the light from the extremity of the adapted bulb being cut o   by the iris upon leaving the retina. To correct this issue, a new adapted bulb should  be found with an overall  lament length of less than 1.9 mm.  This research will hopefully aid optometrists in maximizing the performance of  their monocular indirect ophthalmoscopes for many years to come.

abstract: Physics


title: Photophysiology of Bolidomonas pacifica

contributor:
Thomas, Sara L. (author)
(Campbell, Douglas) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: Bolidomonas pacifica is a cholorophyll a/c marine phytoplankter in a sister lineage to the  more widely distributed diatoms. Marine diatoms thrive under conditions of fluctuating  light, so this study sought to characterize the photophysiology of B. pacifica, and its  responses to upward fluctuations in light. B. pacifica were grown under six  photosynthesis photon flux (PPF) levels between 30 to 450 μmol m-2·s-1, a range  spanning the bottom 10% of the photic zone up to the near-surface top 30% of the photic  zone. The cells achieved maximum growth of 0.55 d-1 at 250 umol m-2·s-1, equivalent to  the middle of the photic zone, with a light compensation point for growth of ~15 μmol m-  2·s-1. Light capture measures for Photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry were much greater  than in marine diatoms, with a low growth PPF effective absorbance cross section of  ~1071 A2·quanta-1 that decreased slightly under higher growth PPFs. Light response  curves of PSII electron transport showed a transition point from light limited to light  saturated that corresponded with growth PPF, thus electron transport rate showed PPF  level acclimation. When analyzing B. pacifica responses to mixing through the water  column, it was found that within 15 minutes of being shifted to a higher light, B. pacifica  cultures induced PSII repair, thus stabilizing PSII function in the face of accelerated  photoinactivation. When a chloroplast protein synthesis inhibitor (lincomycin) was used  to block PSII repair, the cells suffered progressive loss of PSII function, with a  susceptibility to photoinactivation of ~1 x 10-5 A2·quanta-1, about double that of marine  diatoms under comparable conditions. Bolidomonas has a larger absorbance cross section  serving PSII than diatoms, but must induce greater amounts of repair to account for  higher susceptibility to photoinactivation.

abstract: Biology


title: The invisibles rules of food in modern western societies

contributor:
Trudel, Caroline (author)
(Horgan, Mervyn) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Eating is a common activity that the majority of western people do on a regular basis. However, because most western people approach food repetitively, eating behaviours seem to be taken for granted and, in consequence, tend to be robotic. The thesis presents how eating is more than just a physical activity. Food is culturally coded and comes to have meanings beyond its actual physical substance. Eating is also a repeated daily practice that brings people together but that also socializes western people. Eating is therefore a social activity that has been structured and that sometimes reveals social inequalities in modern western society. Individuals tend to follow what I call „the invisibles rules‟ around the proverbial western table. The thesis then examines how food creates and maintains social inequalities by looking at many of the differences and distinctions we find at a societal level in the everyday experiences of eating. Overall, this thesis demonstrates how food speaks the words of what our modern society is about.

abstract: Sociology


title: Minkowski dimension and content of fractals

contributor:
Saunders, John Charles (author)
(Mendivil, Franklin) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: This thesis focuses upon fractal geometry and how we can characterise various fractals  by two properties known as the Minkowski dimension and the Minkowski content. A  fractal is treated as a geometric construct of a generic set of points considered in an  m-dimensional Euclidean space.  We  rst explain how Minkowski dimension and content are important in measur-  ing the \size" of a set. Measuring the size by length if the set is 1-dimensional, area  if the set is in a plane, or volume if the set is in 3-dimensional space will only work for  certain simplistic sets, for example a polygon or polyhedron. Hence we need another  method of measure. Chapter 1 explains how this can be done with Minkowski dimen-  sion and content and how subsets of 1-dimensional Euclidean space or a straight line  can be measured with Minkowski dimension and content. We then go into a section  that goes through various properties that make Minkowski dimension and content  useful in certain respects.  The third chapter looks at sets in higher dimensions where we try to  nd sets of points  that have any given positive Minkowski dimension. We create a two-dimensional  cut-out set where we remove various rectangles out of a larger rectangle, leaving only  straight lines. Given any Minkowski dimension between 1 and 2, we can create a set  using this construction. The Minkowski content is easily calculable. Then we look  at a set consisting the perimeters of concentric squares and then a subset of this set  consisting of only countably many points. What is special about this construction is  that not only can we generate a set with any Minkowski dimension between 0 and 2,  but we can do so where the set only has one limit point. We then consider an analo-  gous set in m-dimensions where we construct a set consisting of the m-1-dimensional  surface area of concentric m-dimensional hypercubes and then again a subset of this  set consisting of only countably many points. Again, the construction of the count-  ably many points only as one limit point and such a set can be constructed that has  any Minkowski dimension between 0 and m. The Minkowski content is not calculated  for these sets, but a di erent kind of Minkowski content was calculated.

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics


title: Perpetuating the Third World woman: A critical analysis of Oprah Winfrey and Nicholas Kristof

contributor:
Lush, Gillian (author)
(Brickner, Rachel) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: This thesis explores how the idea of development has been shaped by the ―experts‖ of the developed world and the implications of this discourse. It shows how women have been affected differently and how this difference paints women in a certain way. Drawing on Mohanty‘s understanding of Third World difference, this thesis shows how women in the Third World are seen as powerless objects rather than agents in their own lives. Academics, the media and politicians/activists have a tendency to portray women as the stereotypical image of the Third World woman. This thesis looks at the works of Oprah Winfrey and Nicholas Kristof and how they also perpetuate the disempowering discourse. The conclusion addresses a different way of considering the Third World woman.

abstract: Politics


title: The partial extraction of soil samples across the Gay's River lead-zinc deposit via a cation exchange mechanism

contributor:
Isnor, Amanda M. (author)
(Murimboh, John) (Thesis advisor)
(Stanley, Cliff) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Most mineral deposits that are exposed at the surface have already been found by  mining companies over the last 50 years. The deposits that have not been discovered are  typically buried by some form of surficial materials such as gravels, tills, or volcanic ash.  These materials make mineral deposits difficult to detect because they prevent direct  observation of the host rocks during exploration. However, groundwater can travel  through the deposit and transport metal ions from the mineral deposit to the surface  where they can adsorb onto organic matter, and Fe- and Mn-oxy-hydroxides present in  the soil. Extracting the labile components of the soil could detect these metal ions, and  thereby detect mineralization at depth.  Samples were collected along a traverse at the Gays River Pb-Zn mine near  Shubenacadie, NS. The B-horizon of the soil was sampled because it likely contains an  abundance of cation exchange sites. These soil samples were extracted using weak  chloride salt solutions. The type of salt solution (KCl, NaCl, MgCl2 and CaCl2) and  concentration (0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 M) were varied and the resulting extractions analyzed  using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), producing 12 datasets.  Deionized water was used as a control.  Results indicate that the CaCl2 extractions at 0.1 M concentrations exhibit the  highest metal concentration, but Pb and Zn anomalies occur just down-slope and down-ice  of the vertical projection of mineralization in virtually every reagent and  concentration. As a result, these extractions can be considered effective in detecting  mineralization at depth.

abstract: Chemistry


title: Petrology of the Indian Lake and Leadbetter Road plutons, Antigonish Highlands, Nova Scotia

contributor:
MacFadzen, Amy L. (author)
(Barr, Sandra) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: The Indian Lake and Leadbetter Road plutons are located in the Antigonish Highlands of northern mainland Nova Scotia. They are separated by the West Barneys River plutonic suite, a large ca. 470 Ma composite pluton. This study describes the petrography and geochemistry of the Indian Lake and Leadbetter Road plutons, and investigates whether or not they are likely to have been comagmatic with each other or with other dated suites in the Antigonish Highlands. The Indian Lake pluton is not reliably dated but is interpreted to have formed at about 615–605 Ma like some other plutons in the Antigonish Highlands. It consists of a calc-alkaline suite of medium-grained quartz diorite and medium-grained monzogranite gradational to granodiorite and tonalite. Both the monzogranite/granodorite/tonalite and quartz diorite contain abundant dioritic inclusions. Chemical data from 15 samples from the Indian Lake pluton show that SiO2 content ranges from about 49% to 74% and reveal trends consistent with crystal fractionation of plagioclase and mafic minerals. The petrographic and chemical characteristics are similar to those of I-type granitoid suites formed in subduction zone settings at active continental margins. In contrast, the Leadbetter Road pluton consists mainly of coarse-grained alkali-feldspar granite with quartz phenocrysts. It is petrographically similar to some components of the West Barneys River plutonic suite. Chemical data from 6 samples shows compositions characteristic of within-plate A-type granite. SiO2 ranges from 75% to 78% and high Zr, Y, Nb, and Ga/Al ratios are distinctive. Also distinctive is the elevated rare-earth element content, with light REE up to 900 times chondritic values and heavy REE up to 60 times chondritic values. These petrological characteristics suggest that the Leadbetter Road pluton is more likely related to West Barneys River suite than to the Indian Lake pluton.CHAPTER 1 Purpose, Methods, and Previous Work 1.1 Introduction The aim of this project is to describe and interpret the petrographic and chemical characteristics of the Indian Lake and Leadbetter Road plutons in the central Antigonish Highlands of northern mainland Nova Scotia (Figs. 1.1, 1.2). The characteristics of the plutons are compared to determine if they are likely to have been co-magmatic. Archibald (2011) suggested that the Leadbetter Road pluton could be part of the Indian Lake pluton that had been separated from the main pluton by intrusion of younger gabbro and granite of the West Barneys River plutonic suite (Fig. 1.2). However, other workers have suggested instead that the Leadbetter Road pluton is part of the West Barneys River plutonic suite (Escarraga 2010; Escarraga et al. 2012; White et al. 2011). The petrographic and chemical characteristics of the plutons are also compared to other dated plutons in the Antigonish Highlands (e.g., Sandy Gunns Lake, Ohio, James River; Fig. 2.2). The Indian Lake pluton has not been reliably dated and its petrological characteristics have not been previously studied in detail, but it has been assumed to be similar to dated ca. 615-605 Ma plutons elsewhere in the Antigonish Highlands (Murphy et al. 1991; Escarraga 2010; White et al. 2011). This study attempts to determine if this inferred correlation is reasonable or not.

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: Repression and revelation: Exploring the function of the Gothic mode in Alice Munro's Too Much Happiness

contributor:
Maltby, Megan (author)
(Quéma, Anne) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: My thesis will explore the use of the Gothic mode in Alice Munro’s most recent collection of short stories, Too Much Happiness. Sigmund Freud’s theory of the uncanny will act as a framework for my argument as I explore how repression is portrayed at both the individual and the domestic level in Munro’s work in order to perform two prominent functions of Gothic literature: either her stories demonstrate the possibility for one’s own psyche to be more threatening than any external force or villain; or, they explore the impact of social norms which repress female agency.  The uncanny occurs when something which was once familiar becomes unfamiliar, and according to Freud this is due to a novel event which stimulates some part of an individual’s repressed thoughts and leads the self to experience dread. Munro depicts how, when certain repressed desires and memories are stimulated, one’s own psyche can actually be the most unfamiliar part of an individual. She also depicts an uncanny representation of domesticity at the familial and community level which has a terrifying effect on readers because this representation contrasts familiar people and settings with drastically unfamiliar behaviours and situations.  I will also study Munro’s ability to invert the traditional Gothic binary of a female character victimized by a dominant male villain, either by depicting male characters who do not exercise dominance, or by portraying the escape of a repressed and damaged female protagonist. I will argue that, while exploring in uncanny terms the social implications of a male-dominated world, Munro’s portrayal of characters also inverts traditional gender roles, thereby effecting a turning point in the female Canadian Gothic tradition by providing a positive sense of transcendence.

abstract: English & Theatre Studies


title: Feminism, the unfinished revolution: An analysis of feminism within Canada and its continuing utility

contributor:
McCarthy, Erin (author)
(Moore, Barbara) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: For the past several decades feminism has produced and fought for the equalization and emancipation of women. The first and second wave feminist movements created a lot of social change and in the 1970s alone Canadian women made incredible gains towards equality. For the first time Canadian women were no longer seen as second-class citizens and started to fully and actively participate in the political, educational and socio-economic spheres. Though the recognition of women’s rights has been attained there is still a manifold amount of work before complete equity can be achieved. So why is it that although there is still much work to be done, feminism is at a standstill? Many have labelled third-wave feminism to be “dead”. However, feminism is not only alive and still questioning the dominant paradigm, but is relentlessly fighting, struggling and rebelling for (what I have deemed to be) their unfinished revolution.  Radical and Black feminist theories along with Marxist Feminist framework will help frame my research throughout this thesis. Within this thesis I analyze qualitative interviews and secondary sources to explore why feminism is not only relevant but undeniably needed for today’s women and men and how feminist perspectives can be a useful tool in the obtainment of social justice for women.

abstract: Sociology


title: Leaders' political entourages: Central campaigns of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party

contributor:
Andrews, Bronwyn S.W. (author)
(Stewart, Ian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: There has been little research conducted within Canada on the entourages of people  that assist and support our political leaders. While much research has been done at the  international level, there is a dearth of information available at the provincial level in  Canada. Until now, we have had no definitive academic knowledge of how a provincial  entourage might function. This thesis sets out to determine whether or not Dr. Sid Noel’s  theory of leaders’ political entourages within Canada at the federal level generally applies  to the entourages of two recent leaders of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.  Using an elite theory approach, I interviewed thirteen past members of Robert  Chisholm and Darrell Dexter’s Central Campaigns. While Noel’s work refers to leaders’  entourages – a fact that produced multiple expressions of concern from many of the  interviewees as they did not identify as being part of an entourage, but rather as NDP  workers primarily – I show that Noel’s work on federal entourages does, in fact, apply  within the Central Campaign structure. In both case studies, the same results appeared:  four characteristics were affirmed and one characteristic was largely inaccurate. Based on  these conclusions, further research can be conducted on the structure and function of  provincial leaders’ entourages across Canada, research that will gain importance as  leaders’ entourages continue to grow more influential and organized despite having no  official acknowledgment within the formal Canadian political system.

abstract: Politics


title: Physical education teachers' beliefs about essential resources needed to effectively include students with disabilities

contributor:
Pritchett, Aimee M. (author)
(Seaman, Roxanne) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: The purpose of the study was to find what resources physical education teachers believe they need to successfully teach an inclusive class. The experience of physical education teachers (n=10, 5 males and 5 females) who currently teach or have taught elementary and middle school aged students were gained using semi-structured interviews. Semiotic clustering was used to analyze the data. Five themes emerged from the data. They were: (a) need for education about adaptation; (b) need for more adaptive equipment; (c) need for more relevant in-service training; (d) importance of networking; and (e) interest for visual support. The participants expressed why these resources are important to an inclusive physical education class as well as limitations in receiving the support. For example, for the need for education on adaptation theme the denotative meaning was that this resource is important, because adaptations were based on the students’ needs. Many of the physical education teachers gave this statement. It was important for the physical education teachers to base the adaptations on the student needs for the students to be successful. The connotative meaning was that adaptations are important for all students.

abstract: Kinesiology


title: N,N-bound phosphenium cations: synthesis and reactivity with carbon dioxide and oxidizing reagents

contributor:
Hyson, Kimberly D. (author)
(Ellis, Bobby) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels is a major focus within the research  community. Our research group has developed specific types of main group compounds,  which include salts containing N,N-bound cyclic phosphenium cations, as possible  sequestering agents for carbon dioxide. In addition, we have explored the reactivity of  N,N-bound cyclic phosphenium cations with chalcogen-based oxidation reagents. The  N,N-bound cyclic phosphenium cations showed signs of interaction with carbon dioxide,  suggesting their potential applications for sequestering carbon dioxide. The N,N-bound  cyclic phosphenium cations also showed reactivity toward trimethylamine N-oxide, a  common oxygen atom transfer reagent. These phosphenium cations were developed by  reactions between bulky diazabutadienes and their hydrogenated analogues with  phosphorus tribromide to produce the desired phosphine halide precursor. Finally, the  phosphenium cations were produced through halide abstraction with aluminum chloride.  An N,N-bound acyclic phosphenium cation also showed coordination to a low valent tin  complex. These acyclic phophenium cations were developed in a similar manner to the  N,N-bound cyclic phosphenium cations. The ligands synthesized were analyzed with 1H  NMR spectroscopy, while the phosphine halides and salts containing N,N-bound  phosphenium cations were primarily characterized with 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy.

abstract: Chemistry


title: How corruption undermines the rule of law in China and engenders civil instabilities

contributor:
Wong, James (author)
(Biro, Andrew) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Despite ample research by social scientists on the issue of corruption in China, few researchers have looked at governance in China by inferring from the sociocultural norms and philosophies that are integral to the identity of Chinese citizens. This thesis will incorporate three different Chinese philosophies, Confucianism, Sage Kingship and Legalism, to explain why the Chinese government needs to adhere to these philosophies in order to achieve good governance. Using case studies that deal with issues such as economic deprivation, environmental degradation and excessive censorship, the thesis will explain why good governance, driven by these Chinese philosophies, is needed to ensure the civil stability of China. The thesis will look at how poor governance, caused by a lack of the rule of law, has led to four recent developments in China: 1) the involvement of the Chinese middle class in civil disobedience in response to environmental degradation; 2) the introduction of free intraparty elections in Chinese villages; 3) demonstrations by Chinese citizens and journalists against the excessive press censorship in China; and 4) the anti-corruption reforms that have been promised by the new Chinese leader, Xi Jinping. This thesis will explain how corruption undermines the legitimacy of the Chinese government and why political reforms are necessary to prevent civil instability from further spreading in the society.

abstract: Politics


title: Convergent and predective validity of the Self-Control and Self-Management Scale(SCMS)

contributor:
Jacquard, Laura (author)
(Horvath, Peter) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The current study examined convergent and predictive validity of the Self-Control and  Self-Management Scale (SCMS) and its subscales using global personality measures and  four behavioural goal-related ratings. Mezo and Short (2012) established convergent  validity of the SCMS through correlations with mindfulness, positive affect, negative  affect, life satisfaction, depression, stress, and anxiety. However, research has not  investigated how behavioural self-regulation and experiential self-regulation may overlap  and differ. Correlations were used to examine convergent validity.!The current study also  included an exploratory component, which correlated the SCMS with goal-related rating  scales and measures related to experiential self-regulation. There were 127 participants  from a convenient sample. Scales and goal-related ratings were used to collect data at two  different times. Evidence was found for convergent and predictive validity; however, it  did not follow the expected pattern of relationships whereby the type of SCMS subscale  would correlate or predict similar goal-related ratings.

abstract: Psychology


title: Temporal and spatial movement patterns of striped bass in the Minas Passage, Bay of Fundy

contributor:
Keyser, Freya M. (author)
(Redden, Anna) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The Bay of Fundy’s Minas Passage (5-6 km wide) is currently the site for in-stream  tidal energy turbine testing, but it is also a passageway for many commercially  and recreationally important migratory fish species. Among these are striped bass  (Morone saxatilis), a recently listed endangered species. The objectives of this project  were to determine the movement patterns of sub-adult and adult striped bass within the  passage, and to assess the potential risk of interaction with tidal turbines. A total of 40  transmitter-tagged striped bass (20 adults and 20 sub-adults) were tracked using 29  bottom-moored VEMCO acoustic receivers. Two lines of receivers spanned the width of  the Minas Passage and a third line spanned the turbine test area. All recovered receivers  (n=27) logged valid detections, with the highest number of detections occurring in July.  Of the 40 striped bass tagged, 25 were detected, with more adults detected (75%) than  sub-adults (50%). Adult fish were detected at depths throughout the water column, while  sub-adults were detected only in the top 25 m (above turbine height). Fifteen striped bass  (mostly adults) were shown to move back and forth through the passage at a mean  swimming speed of 2.35 ± 0.71 m/s. Fish were detected more often at night than during  the day. Detection frequency was higher during neap tidal cycles than during spring tidal  cycles and was negatively correlated with current speed. Slightly more detections were  during ebb tides than during flood tides. Unexpectedly, individual striped bass were  shown to make multiple crossings of the Minas Passage during summer. In addition,  many passed through the turbine test site at depths that include turbine hub height. The  ability of striped bass to detect and avoid tidal turbines when travelling at high speed  remains unknown.

abstract: Biology


title: Lead accumulation in open water wet ecosystems in the Border Marsh region of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

contributor:
Englehardt, Patrick Owen (author)
(Spooner, Ian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Open water wet ecosystems (OWWE) in the Border Marshes region (BMR) provide productive avian and invertebrate habitat. In the BMR lead (Pb) is a contaminant of interest due to potential bio-magnification and subsequent uptake by migratory waterfowl in OWWE. This study focuses on the relationships between constructed OWWE, autochthonous productivity and lead accumulation. Eleven sites were selected to represent the spectrum of the OWWE environments in the BMR. Sites were characterized by measuring salinity (0%- 2.83%), pH (6.6-9.1) and specific limnological and physical parameters. Variability at each site was defined through weekly determination of water pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity and total dissolved solids (TDS). Top-of-core and bottom-of-core OWWE sediment samples were collected for each site and analyzed for loss on ignition (LOI), carbon-nitrogen (C:N) stable isotopes and elemental concentrations of Pb and other environmental proxies (Ti, Fe, Mn) using an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF).  C:N data indicates variable productivity (6.73 - 17.62) and that the organic sediment in all environments is dominantly autochthonous. Till and salt marsh sediment had variable concentrations of lead (salt marsh sediment 8ppm; till 20 ppm). The variation in sediment lead concentrations is likely due to a combination of factors including variable shoreline erosion, variable autochthonous productivity and, in some cases point source pollution. OWWE have lower lead concentrations (0-28 ppm) in both modern and older sediment samples than natural lake sites (18-95 ppm; White, 2012). There was little evidence to indicate that lead sequestration correlates with salinity or pH. Results suggest xii  constructed OWWE have higher autochthonous productivity and lower lead in surface sediments than natural OWWE or natural lakes in the BMR1

abstract: Environmental & Sustainability Studies


title: Performing history: Gender, race, class, and caste an examination of Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Thing

contributor:
Colford, Emily B. (author)
(Eustace, John) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Ahrundhati Roy‘s The God of Small Things challenges predetermined categories of identity by calling attention to the performative nature of all identity. Guided by Judith Butler‘s theories of performativity, I argue that Roy reveals all axes of identification to be performed projects. In this project I focus my examination to the axes of gender, race, class, and caste; however, I suggest that these are not the only identities being reproduced and performed throughout Roy‘s narrative. The axes of identity work concurrently within social spheres and within the narrative to position individuals in social hierarchies. Though there are instances in the novel when the characters use performative identity in order to elevate themselves in social hierarchies, I want to suggest that identity is forced upon them. Roy‘s characters are subsumed in an entire act that was going on before they arrived on the scene, and are forced to perform ―already existing directives‖ (906). If they do not perform their roles, they are punitively regulated. These enforced performances give gender, race, class, and caste identity the ―appearance of substance,‖(907) and propagate their perception as an inherent biological essence. I argue that Roy‘s protagonists are given agency through their developing awareness of the performative nature of identity. Thus, the protagonists understand their capacity to resist the sanctions of History. The characters‘ resistance throughout the novel create moments of potential in their attempt to redefine the strict classifications of gender, race, class, and caste identity.

abstract: English & Theatre Studies


title: A paleolimnological record of anthropogenic impact on water quality in First Lake, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia

contributor:
Tymstra, Drake (author)
(Spooner, Ian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Lakes situated in urban environments are commonly subjected to a variety of anthropogenically induced pressures. Since 1920, First Lake in Lower Sackville has been the focus of watershed development and lake water quality degradation is an ongoing concern. A paleolimnological approach was undertaken to provide insight into the relationship between watershed development and water quality. A year-long study of limnological conditions in the lake and a historical survey of existing data were conducted to characterize seasonal physical and chemical lake conditions. First Lake stratifies strongly during the summer and algal blooms and hypolimnic anoxia commonly occur. Survey results indicate that shallow Secchi disk depths (< 2 m), strong stratification (~6 m), neutral pH values, and oxygen-deprived bottom waters (<5%) commonly develop as the summer progresses. A 33 cm long sediment core from the lake basin captured approximately 600 years of sediment accumulation. Atmospheric Pb concentrations were used to approximate sedimentation rates. Pre-development (pre-1920) data indicate a productive, likely mesotrophic lake. Higher δ 15N values and lower C/N ratios near the top of the core indicate increased primary productivity within the lake as a result of increased nutrient input from early agricultural development after 1920. Changes in concentrations of Ti, Cu, K, loss-on-ignition and magnetic susceptibility values indicate landscape instability, and an increase in sediment and toxin transfer into the lake associated with urbanization in 1960. These data indicate that changes in water quality in First Lake are strongly linked to specific anthropogenic activities in the watershed, an understanding of which is a fundamental factor in developing effective lake management strategies.

abstract: Environmental & Sustainability Studies


title: Is carbon-added tax better than a carbon tax for China?

contributor:
Wang, Qian (author)
(Hobson, Paul) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: The Kyoto protocol committed industrial nations to cut their carbon emissions by at least 5 percent below the levels in 1990 in a span of 5 years. Carbon taxation provides one mechanism for achieving such a goal. In Canada, two provinces, British Columbia and Quebec, have introduced direct carbon taxation as a policy directed at reducing carbon emissions. The Mintz-Olewiler carbon tax model would convert the $1.04 per gallon federal tax on gasoline to a national carbon tax, equivalent to roughly $42 per tonne of CO2. This carbon tax would then be extended to include heating oil, natural gas, coal, etc., ensuring a level playing field across alternative fuels. There is a proposal to introduce a carbon tax in China. The tax would be of the type levied in British Columbia albeit at a significantly lower rate. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the merits of, instead, imposing a national carbon-added-tax, similar in design to a value-added-tax.

abstract: Economics


title: Mad fashion: The fashion, femininity and sexuality of the female characters in Mad Men, a content analysis.

contributor:
Annett, Clare E. (author)
(Abramson, Zelda) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: The television show Mad Men follows the lives of the employees of New York City advertising agency Sterling-Cooper, in the early 1960s. In my thesis using Mad Men as a case study, I examine the role fashion and sexuality play in women’s working lives and I look specifically at fashion and sexual relations. This research offers a unique contribution to the literature, as there is minimal written that focuses on fashion and feminism. This research provides a different perspective, as well as a creative approach to feminism and its ties with fashion. Using a content analysis of all four seasons aired, I examine the key female characters (Peggy, Joan, Rachel, and Faye) in relation to fashion, power and subordination. The theoretical frameworks in which this thesis is situated are Hakim’s (2010) concept of erotic capital, Giddens’ (1979) Agency Theory, Apthecker’s (1989) idea of dailiness, and theoretical debates between Second and Third Wave Feminist thought. I conclude that overall, a woman can be feminine, express her sexuality, and at the same time maintain power and control. While these characters are fictional, their daily struggles, as well as their reactions and strategies, are representative of real women. Fashion, sexuality and power are not, to this day, mutually exclusive categories.

abstract: Sociology


title: Kerouac, the Beat Generation, and America in the 1950s

contributor:
Phillips, Robert Martin (author)
(Dennis, Michael) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2004

abstract: Abstract  Jack Kerouac was born on 12 March 1922 in Lowell, Massachusetts the third child of his French Canadian parents. Shortly after his move to New York in 1940 to attend Columbia University on a football scholarship. Kerouac began his restless wanderings that would dominate his adult life. Kerouac published his first novel The Town and the City in 1950 in the traditional and academic style but it was his second novel which appeared in 1957 called On the Road for which he is best remembered. On the strength of this work Kerouac became an icon of his generation. His iconic status was built upon the rebellious lifestyle he wrote about. In cultural terms Kerouac can be successfully compared to other male icons of this time: Marlon Brando, James Dean, and Elvis Presley. Each of these characters was rebellious, both in the media and in their own lives. For this natural expression which these icons all shared the young felt able to associate with them far more than they had with the American icons of before.  Kerouac described his generation which was coming of age in the postwar years as being beat meaning; beaten down, downtrodden. His generation was one which idolised these icons who went against the conservative standards of America at this time as they felt alienated from a political system which continually disappointed them. Owing to the peculiar situation that America was placed in following WWII the beat message reached not only national but international attention.  The central tenets of the beat generation appear in Kerouac's work On the Road and people reading it attempted to copy the lifestyle which it demonstrated. The work was initially very shocking to society and was heavily condemned on the basis of its affects upon the morals of society at this time. This shock value helped push back the conservative boundaries and allowed greater personal freedoms in which the developing generations revelled.  The 1950s were a fast paced decade and soon Kerouac's place as an iconic status for the young was replaced with a new group of writers led by Ken Kesey. This new group expressed itself along similar lines to the beat generation, but far outdid the beats in terms of rebellion. They could be termed as second generation beats as they were more of a continuation than a separation from the group.   Kerouac is good to study when looking at the beat generation as he was its icon. He did not bridge the cultural gap to the 1960s, staying instead in the 1950s mindset. This state of being out of touch can be seen in Kerouac's few public appearances in the 1960s. His work had originally only social implications but it soon took on a far wider meaning; religious, political, and economic. By breaking the social codes of his time Kerouac helped advance the freedoms of the younger generation of his time. This was felt in the generation that followed also. Kerouac is remembered as an icon of rebellion and the movement which he gave direction to was the first postwar counterculture in America.

abstract: History & Classics


title: Coping with harm reduction: Considering the impacts of long-term methadone maintenance treatment among stabilized participants in rural Nova Scotia

contributor:
Zimmer, Emilie (author)
(Abramson, Zelda) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) for opioid addiction has been promoted for its economic efficiency in reducing the various social and individual harms associated with the use of illicit (or illicitly obtained) drugs (particularly injection drug use). However, within Nova Scotia little attention has been given to the lived experiences of those who participate daily in this highly restrictive and regulatory program. The purpose of this study is to contribute to an understanding of the practical, everyday experiences of methadone use for persons receiving MMT through primary care settings in rural, Nova Scotia. Drawing on seven, semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted with long-term, stabilized methadone users as well as professionals involved with the management of opioid addiction, this study questions what implications the long-term and regulated nature of MMT may have for participants’ well-being. Key findings from this study suggest that while stabilization indicators may offer the appearance of treatment success, participants’ lived experiences indicate, to the contrary, that prolonged methadone use is a problem in and of itself, bearing profound implications for their well-being. Treatment features found to conflict with participants’ well-being included: the addictiveness and long-term nature of treatment; lack of medical support to taper; conflicts between a participant’s desire for further change and rigid treatment regulations; lack of ancillary support services available to participants receiving methadone from primary care settings; and identity contamination in community pharmacies. Recommendations for treatment providers and policy makers include the development of comprehensive provisions to support participants who wish to successfully taper and move beyond maintenance.

abstract: Sociology


title: The effect of fungal endophytes on white spruce trees subject to various physiological stresses.

contributor:
Postlethwaite, Victoria R. (author)
(Reekie, Edward) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Fungal endophytes have the potential to act as an alternative pest control method and research in this area is growing, however the ancillary benefits of fungal endophytes to host plants, especially their influence on stress tolerance in the host, are not well characterized. Chlorophyll fluorescence, specifically the parameter Fv/Fm, can be used to detect stress levels in plants. This study investigated the effects of fungal endophyte inoculation on Fv/Fm values in white spruce (Picea glauca) trees subject to winter, heat, and drought stress. Measurements were taken from May to August, 2012, in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, on 24 white spruce genotypes and three endophyte strains. Endophyte strain did not affect the results, but treatment, date, and spruce genotype often affected Fv/Fm values. Generally, previous studies indicated that endophytes had a positive interaction with their host, often conferring stress tolerance to their host. This was not seen in my study, as endophyte treatment generally played a negative role in the trees, potentially due to the production of reactive oxygen species by endophytes or their damage to the cuticle causing increased minimum leaf conductance, for example. The endophytes did enhance recovery mechanisms to some extent, counteracting some of the negative effects. There appears to be a complex relationship between fungal endophytes and their host, ranging from mutualistic to antagonistic. Additional research into the recovery mechanisms provided by fungal endophytes would help to further our understanding of the interaction between host and endophyte.

abstract: Environmental & Sustainability Studies


title: Mapping the mental health needs of Acadia University students

contributor:
Law, Alexandra R. (author)
(MacLeod, Peter) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Mental health problems appear to be on the rise and mental health services on university campuses may no longer be meeting the needs of students. The present exploratory studies investigated the one-year prevalence of mental illness at Acadia and informed on students’ perceptions of the mental health services available to them. Data collection included the administration of two separate surveys to 1) returning Resident Assistants (N = 26), and 2) the university student population (N = 774). Results showed that the majority of students deal with symptoms of anxiety (82%), and depression (65%). In addition, a significant proportion of students reported symptoms of suicidal ideation (24%), self-harm (10%), eating disorder (23%), and coping with a sexual assault (12%). As well, on-campus resources received a number of poor ratings. Overall, mental health problems proved to be very prevalent and services available to students did not appear to be satisfactory.

abstract: Psychology


title: The socio-political implications of egalitarian graffiti in western society

contributor:
Creaser, Lincoln (author)
(Brittain, James) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Graffiti’s ability to change the conditions of our urban environment by rejecting traditional notions of artistic practice creates an agent of social and political change that holds the power to change public opinions. Due to this ability it is an art form that is repressed, co-opted and censored by states the world over. This work aims to prove that Graffiti can be used as a tool for revolutionary socio-political change, and as such is subject to the aforementioned state reactions.

abstract: Sociology


title: The persuasion of social and political thought: Reading into the Canadian judicial system

contributor:
Wadley, Chelsea (author)
(Marwah, Inder) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to explore the reasons behind which judges make the decisions they do. It will be argued that social and political influences may have the potential to shape and guide the judicial decision-making process. The application of elite theory helps to understand why judges may act outside the norms of judicial impartiality, as a means to preserve judicial authority and respect the social and political values of Canadian citizens. Exclusively focusing on the child pornography case, R. v. John Robin Sharpe, this thesis will examine the conflict between rights and values, and which course of action will best promote the overall good of society. Moreover, a counterfactual analysis will be employed as a means of explaining the Supreme Court’s decision. To conclude, this thesis analyses the role of judges in interpreting Canadian laws alongside changing values and growing liberalism.

abstract: Politics


title: Monitoring the relaxin-induced reduction of cellular injury due to ischemia using Hsp70

contributor:
Nunn, James E. (author)
(Wilson, Brian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Organotypic brain slice culture was used to study the cellular protective effect of relaxin 2  and 3 under oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) stress. The production of the heat  shock protein (Hsp) 70, which is highly stress inducible, enhances the ability of cells to  effectively inhibit cell death processes and was used as an indicator of cellular stress.  Brain slices (400μm) from neonatal rats, at the level of the somatosensory cortex, were  cultured for 14 days and divided between 4 treatment groups: normoxic control group  (oxygenated balanced salt solution (BBS) with glucose), hypoxic (deoxygenated glucose  free-BSS), hypoxic with 10-7 M human relaxin 2 and hypoxic with 10-7 M human relaxin  3. Treatments lasted for one hour and then slices were returned into normal culture  conditions and Hsp70 levels in brain tissue were analyzed 1 hour later using a  human/mouse/rat total Hsp70 Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit and  immunofluorescent staining for the presence of Hsp70. Treatment means were compared  using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post-hoc mean comparison test  and were considered significantly different at p<0.05. Relaxin 2/3 treatment groups  showed an overall decrease in the production of Hsp70, indicating relaxin peptides might  have effects that reduce cellular stress under OGD conditions, however; this result was  only significant for relaxin

abstract: Biology