title: Our narratives are radical: rethinking suicide care through lived experience

contributor:
Purkis, Jenna (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Rudrum, Sarah) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Sociology

abstract: This thesis qualitatively explores how suicidal people experience and respond to contemporary medicalized approaches to suicide care through examination and analysis of lived experience. Contemporary suicide care is based upon the definition of suicide as a medical problem; as a result, dominant psy discourse and practice addressing suicide has been driven by neuroscientific innovation and clinical expertise rather than the testimony of individuals with lived experiences of suicidality, a population whose perspectives are largely dismissed and discredited due to sanist prejudice and discrimination. Seeking to centre suicidal perspectives in its investigation of suicide care, this thesis presents an autoethnographic account by the author of her own suicide-related hospitalization and qualitatively examines seven interviews with suicide attempt survivors drawn from the Live Through This narrative catalogue to explore the ways in which suicidal people navigate complex relationships with medicalized interventions for suicidality. The LTT survivors reflect that these interventions may provide some benefit, but also often cause harm and emotional trauma to people in crisis. The analysis also explores the tension between conceptualizations of suicidality as a symptom of mental illness versus a response to challenging life circumstances. Outside of the medical model and clinical intervention, the survivors’ narratives emphasize the importance of suicide care that does not focus narrowly on symptomology and psychopathology but instead provides genuine connection and presence in the midst of struggle. Insights drawn from these first-hand accounts of suicidal experiences indicate a need to rethink contemporary approaches to suicide care and shift towards more holistic forms of support for people in crisis


title: Qui(n)te queer: ordinary queer identities in Chaucer's ordinary Canterbury Tales

type: Text Dissertation/Thesis

contributor:
Finlay, Margaret (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Whetter, Kevin) (Thesis advisor)

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 2020

abstract: English & Theatre Studies

abstract:
In this thesis, I fill the gaps in scholarship in the study of queerness within Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is a very ordinary work, not in its excellence, but in its language, characters, and genres of stories. Chaucer is widely recognized as having popularized English as a literary language in a time where important documents and literature were written in the more formal languages of Latin and French. Chaucer's pilgrim characters are shockingly ordinary in comparison with the more popular tales of the court. As for genre, Chaucer does not include many romances, the genre of gentility, but instead, turns to the more common fabliau and sermon. Thus, as Chaucer writes about the ordinary pilgrims in ordinary English with ordinary genres, he would have included queer-identifying people. Recognizing the important work that has already been done with the Pardoner's non-heteronormativity, I look
beyond the Pardoner and the Wife of Bath to fill in the gaps in scholarship. I look to the Knight's Tale, the Miller's Tale, and the Man of Law's Tale, and especially the characters of Emelye, Alisoun, Nicholas, Absolon, the Sultaness, Donegild, Custance, and Hermengyld as further examples of the commonplace queerness within Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
In these three tales, all of which precede the commonly examined Pardoner’s Tale, Chaucer establishes a normalcy of queerness in mediaeval England and in the Tales. Queerness in the Canterbury Tales is not limited to homosexual desire, but encompasses the breaking of the gender binary, and many forms of non-heterosexuality. From these varied examples it is concluded that queerness was an ordinary facet of the everyday lives of ordinary pilgrims in Chaucer's day, and that this includes more characters than just the Pardoner – at least on the road from London to Canterbury.


title: Interfacing MATLAB with with V-REP for easier development of warehousing robots

contributor:
Peng, Qiankun (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Shakshuki, Elhadi) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Computer Science

abstract:
Robots can be utilized for many environments, such as the warehouse environment. However, testing a new robot in a real environment is risky. It may damage the real robot or the environment. Although the Visual Robot Experimentation Platform (V-REP) is a proposed answer, it lacks a robot algorithm coding and debugging environment to implement and test complex robot control algorithms. However, MATLAB provides complex algorithms coding environment and a huge function library. In order to utilize V-REP and MATLAB together, it is required to establish an interface between them.
The primary purpose of the project is to test and analyzethe basics of interfacing MATLAB with V-REP  for  easier  development  of  warehousing  robots.  Specifically,  the  project  focuses on  the construction of the interface, prototyping complex control algorithms with MATLAB, and simulation of a warehousing  robot  with  V-REP  to  test  and  debug  the  MATLAB  algorithms  in  a  simulated warehouse environment.
The core implementations of this thesis are 1) the interface between MATLAB and V-REP, 2) robot's drive and rotate functions, and 3) visual representations of auto-navigation and computer vision algorithms. The implementation environment is for the robot to visually recognize and grasp square and elliptical objects on a given map and move them into the specified basket, throw them into it, and repeat the above instructions. Based on the performance of the robot, we will be able to test and validate the control algorithms prototyped in MATLAB. And, based on the testing result, we can prove that the interface between MATLAB and V-REP can help to establish an easier warehousing robot development process.
The development process is divided into four parts: 1) establishing the warehouse environment and the robot object in V-REP, 2)fast prototyping the complex control algorithms in MATLAB, 3) coding an interface to connect MATLAB and V-REP platforms, and 4) testing and validation of the MATLAB algorithms. In the process of establishing warehouse environment and the robot object, I have carefully studied the knowledge theory of each part, injected my own thoughts and ideas into each part,  and  fused  the  essence  of  this  project  to successfully  test  and  validate  the  complex  control algorithms prototyped in
MATLAB.


title: Risk perception and preparedness as a product of training and experience: a study of hikers and climbers in Canada's “Outdoor Recreation Capital”

contributor:
LaMarre, Sophie (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Bissix, Glyn) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Community Development

abstract:
Outdoor recreation is becoming an increasingly popular pastime amongst Canadians. As more people flock to the outdoors, it is statistically inevitable that more people will also face adverse situations that they may or may not be prepared for. Current research supports the concept that more experienced
participants will be better suited to deal with these risks, but none so far have investigated the specific influence of education on preparedness.The purpose of this thesis was to explore how perceptions of risk and dimensions of experience influenced an individual’s level of preparedness while out hiking or
climbing. As the self-proclaimed “Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada, Squamish, B.C. provided the perfect location for this research. Through in-situ surveys, this study found that increases in both perceived risk and experience, including education, lead to increases in preparedness.


title: A computable general equilibrium simulation of the U.S.-China trade war.

contributor:
Wang, Zihao (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Davis, Andrew) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Economics

abstract:
On April 3rd 2018, the United States of America announced 25% tariffs on goods imported from China, which applied to approximately $46 billion (USD) of trade, and China retaliated by placing tariffs of equal value on imports coming from the United States.  As the two biggest economies in the world, China and the U.S. comprise more than 40% of global trade, and their international trade policies have a significant influence on the global economy.
This study examines the possible consequence of the U.S.-China trade war at the aggregate  level  by  applying  an  Armington  type  of  static  computable  general  equilibrium model.  Simulation results show that both the U.S. and China experience a welfare loss, and the magnitude of loss in China is larger than that of the U.S..  If China retaliates, the U.S. is expected to gain in the manufacturing sector, and China may suffer from a more significant loss in welfare.


title: Effects of environmentally relevant levels of microplastics on hepatopancreas tissue structure in Carcinus maenas (Green crab)

contributor:
Rideout, Aimee (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Gibson, Glenys) (Thesis advisor)
(Ferguson, Laura) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Biology

abstract:
Plastic production has increased steadily since the 1950s; as a result,long-lasting plastic pollution persists in marine ecosystems including oceans, lakes, and small waterways. Plastic debris is manufactured or fragments into microplastics: pieces of plasticless than 5 mm to a few μm in diameter.  Microplastics are a major ocean contaminant and environmental stressor for marine life. The model organism Carcinus maenas(Green Crab), a marine arthropod, was used to investigate the effects of ingested microplastics on the histology of the hepatopancreas, a digestive organ, using histochemistry to visualize potential changesin tissue structure.
I investigated the potential effects of microplastics at low levels of exposure that were typical of concentrations found in the mid-Atlantic Ocean (1-2 particles / m3), and a higher concentration typical of coastal areas (100 particles/ m3). Controls included field-sampled crabs and laboratory cultured crabs without exposure to polystyrene. After six-weeks exposure, I compared the histology of the hepatopancreas using PAS-AB, Giemsa, Gomori’s Trichrome, H&E, and Nile Blue A to stain R absorptive, storage), F (precursor to B cells), and B (digestive enzymes) cells in the hepatopancreas tubules. Results demonstrated numbers of R cells significantly increased after exposure to a high concentration of microplastics. No significant differences were detected between field and control crabs and therefore indicate that tissue structure was not affected by lab culture. Additionally, no differences were detected in the abundance of F-cells or B-cells, likely because of their low numbers. These data suggest that levels of microplastics found in some coastal areas affect the structure of igestive tissue, through the numbers of R-cells, in these wide-spread scavengers.


title: A world not for me: an analysis of the Ontario Accessibility policy

contributor:
Phillips-Smith, Sarah (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Brickner, Rachel) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Politics

abstract:
Throughout history, individuals with disabilities have been discriminated against and even abused due to their perceived deficiencies. Recognizing this discrimination, many countries and organizations including Canada, the United States, and the United Nations have created policies aimed at preventing discrimination against individuals with disability. However,
‘disability’ can be defined in many different ways, with the way in which disability is defined effecting the development and implementation of policies. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA) was the first provincial accessibility legislation created in Canada. As such it can be used as a model for the creation of other provincial acts. This thesis examines if the AODA, at least theoretically, illustrates the social model of critical disability theory framework and if it adequately addresses the barriers to accessibility. Given that the disability model used by policy makers affects the development and implementation of that policy, it is essential to analyse the AODA in order to determine the model of disability used. This thesis argues that the AODA uses the medical model definition of disability. The medical model, as a
result of its individualist focus, prevents the AODA from creating accessibility standards that align with their goals which aim to remove barriers to accessibility as described by the social model of disability.


title: Education-job match and the labour outcomes of recent graduates: an empirical analysis of the National Graduates Survey 2013

contributor:
Powell, Hunter (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Davis, Andrew) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Economics

abstract:
It is well known that the effects of education are significant and positive; however, the dispersion of these effects is very large (Lemieux 2014). One possible cause of this is that recent graduates may have difficulty finding a job that is appropriate for their type of education and level of education. The alignment of the type of education one receives and
the skills used at one’s job is referred to as qualitative match, whereas the alignment of the quantity of education one receives and the necessary quantity of education is referred to as quantitative match. Using a sample of recent graduates from Canadian post-secondary institutions taken from the National Graduates Survey (2013), the effects of job matching and other factors on income and job satisfaction are estimated using ordinary least squares and logit regressions respectively. The determinants of both types of matching are also estimated using logit and ordered logit regressions. Results show that both types of job matching have significant and large positive effects on wage and job satisfaction. Potential risk factors and causes of education-job mismatch are presented and policy recommendations are given regarding these findings.


title: Docoshexaenoic acid-acylated phloridzin, a novel compound derived from apple phytochemicals and fish oil, inhibits the metabolic activity and proliferation of colon cancer cells in vitro

contributor:
Robertson, Sarah Giles (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Coombs, Melanie) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Biology

abstract:
Phytochemicals are natural compounds found in fruits and vegetables that have anticancer potential. Studies suggest that a healthy diet can result in a decreased risk for cancer. The phytochemical phloridzin (PZ), abundant in apple peels, has been esterified with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to generate a new molecule called PZ-DHA. Recent studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of PZ-DHA in experimental models of breast and liver cancers as well as leukemia. In this study, we examined the anti-cancer effects of PZ-DHA on the HCT-116 colon cancer cell line in vitro. A methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay demonstrated that PZ-DHA significantly inhibited the metabolic activity of colon cancer cells in a time-and concentration-dependent manner. Although apoptosis and necrosis were not significantly increased after 24 h exposure to 100 μM PZ-DHA, cell proliferation was significantly inhibited after 72 h exposure at the same concentration. HCT-116 3-dimensional colon tumors were successfully formed in vitro; an acid phosphatase assay was used to investigate the effects of PZ-DHA on tumor viability and the compound did not reduce
cell viability in the tumors after 72 h treatment of 50 or 100 μM. twist and slug gene expression were investigated in PZ-DHA treated cells using quantitative RT-PCR; the viability was not significantly altered after 24 h of 25 and 50 μM concentrations of PZ-DHA. PZ-DHA inhibits the cell viability and proliferation of HCT-116 colon cancer cells, which supports further research on the possible treatment of colon cancer using novel drug candidate derived from food molecules


title: Spatial variation in phenotype of coyotes (Canis latrans) withing Nova Scotia

contributor:
Morse, Jenny (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Shutler, Dave) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Biology

abstract:
An organism’s phenotype is determined by both genes and environment.  I tested if phenotype (morphological body measurements and reproductive measurements) varied spatially among coyotes in Nova Scotia.  The province’s Ecological Land Classification was used; it divides the province into 9 ecoregions based on differences in climate and vegetation.  Phenotypes were analyzed separately for each age-sex category of juvenile female, juvenile male, adult female, and adult male.  Significant variation was found for at least one phenotypic variable in each age-sex category.  There were more differences in juvenile than adult measurements.  Reasons for significant variation among ecoregions could be restricted gene flow, environmental influences, and biased sampling.  Gene flow of coyotes in Nova Scotia can be limited because of physical barriers such as separation of land.  Environment factors including density of resources and weather also influence
phenotype.  Finally, biased sampling because of time of year when collection occurred may be other reasons for variation in measurements.


title: Hindsight bias in predictions of the 2008 Financial Crisis

contributor:
Corbett, Annika D. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(MacLean, Stephen) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Business

abstract:
The 2008 Financial Crisis led to one of the worst recessions in United States history. Select individuals such as Dean Baker, Robert Shiller, Michael Burry and more, published predictions of this financial crisis prior to it beginning, yet none of the predictions were taken seriously at the time. An irrationality within the field of Behavioural Finance by the name of hindsight bias, suggests that the likelihood of an event becomes more apparent after the event is underway. The null
hypothesis used in this paper is that predictions published by a sample of individuals who correctly predicted the 2008 Financial Crisis were contaminated with hindsight bias, discrediting their validity. Analyzing each prediction against the facets that make up hindsight bias is used to determine any existence of the bias. Once a level of credibility has been
established, the current 2018/2019 commentary of the same sample will be considered in an attempt to discover future market implications. The results of the analysis show that in fact no hindsight bias was present in any of the predictions
made by the sample. The validity of all six predictions of the 2008 Financial Crisis indicates that current commentary
regarding the economy should be taken seriously. This paper presents opportunities for future study between Hindsight Bias and the 2008 Financial Crisis; such as an extension of the current study with a larger sample size to explore hindsight bias within other predictions of the 2008 Financial Crisis.


title: Recruitment of Corophium volutator into macrofaunal communities

contributor:
MacDonald, Erin (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Gibson, Glenys) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Biology

abstract:
The Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy, is an unusual environment with expansive tidal flats and high tidal amplitude (15m). The direct-developing amphipod Corophium volutator is abundant on these tidal flats and are critical food sources for ground feeding fishes and migratory birds. I asked how biological  and  environmental  factors  impact  recruitment  of C.  volutator into  established assemblages of macrofauna. Sediment cores, with original macrofauna intact, were collected from three sites with abundances of C. volutatorthat ranged from high (~350/ 10 cm core) to low (~0 Corophium/core, dominated by
the polychaete Heteromastus filiformis). Field sites had similar sediment composition but differed in organic content. Cores were placed in a mesocosm bench on simulated tidal cycles and C. volutator added. After two weeks, cores were sieved and
C. volutator and other macrofauna counted. I found that C. volutator recruited to all three assemblages, even those with low abundance of C.  volutator in the field, recruitment of both adults and juveniles occurred, both brooding and non-brooding females were capable of recruitment, and that after recruitment, males and females were found in approximately the same female-biased sex ratio as occurs in the field. There are also indications that adult C. volutator displace juveniles.


title: Supporting patient physical activity through interventions in primary health care practice: a pilot study

contributor:
Koppernaes, Julia (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Fowles, Jonathon) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Kinesiology

abstract:
Physical activity is well-known to have dose-dependent health benefits in both preventative and therapeutic contexts of health promotion and care. Allied health networks that incorporate exercise professionals into primary care have been shown to be especially effective at improving physical activity levels in various populations. Nova Scotia is particularly inactive as compared to other regions of Canada, with few Nova Scotians meeting the daily physical activity guidelines. Access to physical activity supports such as tailored physical activity counselling and prescription, and physical activity
programs (e.g. community exercise programs or use of monitoring devices) improve physical activity levels and adherence
but can be particularly challenging to access in Nova Scotia, where exercise participation is typically an out-of-pocket (i.e. outside of primary care) expense. The referral system for patients to access such resources can play a substantial role in
whether people utilize such resources. To make these supports more readily accessible, and to develop practical strategies, it is imperative that referral schemes be evaluated and explored in rural communities. By better understanding what people need in terms of support for increasing physical activity, better intervention can be provided in primary care.
Hence, this pilot study examined the effectiveness of physical activity referral programs to influence patient physical activity levels and adherence through a network of primary care and allied health care professionals in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. This pilot study paired objective and subjective measures of physical activity and exercise pre-and post-exercise/physical activity intervention, and evaluated the effect each intervention type had on patient physical activity and confidence to exercise. Results showed a decrease in both physical activity and self-efficacy levels across both groups from pre to post. There were several challenges with bringing exercise referral schemes into clinical practice, even in a newly adopted collaborative care model, that may have influenced the level of participant uptake and the results. Mainly, there was a lack of physician uptake, lack of access to the exercise professional, and lack of patient interest in the PiezoRxD®
pedometer/accelerometer.


title: Olfaction in ticks: electrophysiological and behavioural investigation of tick ixodes scapularis response to essential oil constituents

contributor:
Macpherson, Samantha (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Hillier, Kirk) (Thesis advisor)
(Faraone, Nicoletta) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Biology

abstract:
The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the main vector of Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease. In
Atlantic Canada, the spread of I. scapularis ticks and the high incidence of Lyme disease cases reported in recent years have raised concerns for public health. The threat of disease transmission has resulted in an increasing demand for effective, safe and environmentally-friendly repellent products. Plant-derived essential oils are accessible products that exhibit insecticidal and repellant effects and are promising new potential repellants against ticks and other arthropods. reliminary bioassays suggest that certain essential oils have potential in repelling I. scapularis. This project explored tick responses (using I. scapularis) to stimulation with main chemical components present within selected essential oils. Electrophysiological and behavioural assays were carried out to evaluate which components exert repellent activity. Also, a
tick mounting protocol for electrotarsography was outlined in order to use this technique to screen compounds to determine which are detected via olfaction in ticks. This study has given insight into tick pedipalps being potentially involved in repellency against essential oils. Future studies on tick olfaction will need to be performed in order to gain a
better total understanding of tick olfaction that will result in better means for tick control.


title: Exploring the relationships among professional interest and cognitive abilities

contributor:
Bunker, Katelyn (author)
(Jones, Stephanie) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract:
Research suggests that the relationships among multi-tasking, working memory and fluid intelligence may play a role in
understanding career interest. The current research study investigated the relationship between career interest and
cognitive ability. Cognitive ability was determined by measuring multi-tasking, working memory, and fluid intelligence.
Sixty-two undergraduate students, aged 17–25 years, completed a demographics questionnaire, a career interest survey
(Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Enterprising, Conventional), the Dalhousie Computerized Attentional Assessment Battery
(DalCAB), and the Ravens Advanced Progressive Matrices Measure (APM). It was hypothesized that there would be a relationship between professional interest and cognitive abilities. However, a multivariate analysis of variance did not support the hypothesis. These results show that more research is needed to discover the motivators behind profession interest.

abstract: Psychology


title: Temporal changes in reproductive rate in coyotes (Canis latrans) in Nova Scotia during an incentive program

contributor:
White, Alison (author)
(Shutler, Dave) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract:
Common management strategies for introduced wildlife are often directed toward targeted removal but attempts in eradication or reduction frequently fail. A general assumption has been that reproductive rate will increase with removal
pressure. I quantified reproductive rate in coyotes (Canis latrans) using placental scar counts to determine if an incentive program from 2010 to 2015 and post-incentive from 2016 to 2018 affected fecundity. I also examined associations between placental scars, age, and mass. Analyses were run including all females, excluding juveniles, or excluding non-breeders.
Finally, I examined age structure by year for females and males. Reproductive tracts were collected from 1647 females from 2010 to 2018. Lower canine teeth were extracted for age analyses. Unexpectedly, placental scar counts decreased over time if I included all females or if I excluded juveniles but increased when I excluded non-breeders. This result generally
is contrary to previous assumptions and suggests population density may not have decreased from the incentive program. Older and heavier females had more placental scars but my results for older females did not suggest senescence, possibly because tooth pulp ratios do not precisely reflect actual ages. Age structure was inconsistent among years forfemales, but consistent for males. A higher percentage of juvenile malesin my data compared to adults may be due to higher dispersal rates or could represent actual age ratios in Nova Scotia populations but there is no clear explanation for differences between females and males in age structure; this requires further investigation.

abstract: Biology


title: Past action, current challenges, and future initiatives  -: an investigation into the hurdles for achieving gender equity in Nova Scotia sport

contributor:
Nunn, Sabrina (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Dodge, Ann) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Kinesiology

abstract:
The status of gender equity in sport in Nova Scotia needs attention. Even though gender differences have narrowed slightly, neither equity nor equality exist. Equity is important because when given the chance, women have shown they are capable of succeeding in sport. Studies show that there are numerous barriers that women face that may prevent their
entrance, retention, and advancement in sport. As a result, there are low levels of females participating not only as athletes, but also involved in other roles such as coaches, administrators, board members, and officials. The purpose of this study is to identify barriers that may deter female participation or involvement in sport in Nova Scotia. By sharing conversations with six women directly involved in the sport sector, this study aspires to give them a voice in relation to their experiences, and to profile specific areas where improvement can be made to effect positive change for female athletes, coaches and administrators in sport in Nova Scotia. The results of the study indicate that there are numerous barriers that can prevent females from being involved in sport in this Province. The barriers that were identified by the participants in this study were: confidence, stereotypes, lack of role models, systemic biases, external barriers, and perceived significance. Based on findings from this study, it is suggested that to bridge gender equity gaps, organizations and individuals need to know the
current status of women’s participation in their respected groups, but more importantly, care enough to do something about it. From that vantage point, organizations can then work to create positive environments that are inclusive to all genders to hopefully increase lifelong involvement in sport for all involved.


title: An exploration into sport-related concussion management in Nova Scotia

contributor:
Charnock, Sarah (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(King, Colin) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Kinesiology

abstract:
BACKGROUND: Sport-related concussions (SRC) have become more widely known and researched in recent years. Concussion is known as a functional injury that typically resolves spontaneously within 7-10 days. Approximately 10-15% of concussions last longer than two weeks and no consensus exist with regards to how to manage non-acute concussions. There is a paucity ofresearch exploring the effectiveness of concussion management in Canada while identifying the specific barriers perceived by athletes and health care providers.
PURPOSE: To identify barriers to effective concussion management in Nova Scotia from the perspectives of various health care providers as well as student-athletes. METHODS: This cross-sectional mixed methods study involved 40 student athletes who competed at the varsity or club level at a Canadian institution and 20 health care providers with various backgrounds. Each participant completed a questionnaire while 9 from each cohort participated in a follow-up semi-structured interview to explore the themes that emerged from the questionnaires. RESULTS: In this study, 45% of the athletes reported their concussion recovery lasted more than 30 days and more than 60% indicated they thought their concussions were managed well. However, 30% of athletes did not feel supported by their coaches. Health care providers (HCPs) identified lack of education and awareness as well as miseducation as the largest barriers to effective concussion
management. CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforced that, in addition to previously studied lack of knowledge, there exist other challenges that HCPs and athletes face when it comes to effective concussion rehabilitation. Athletes identified their mental state, attitude and various symptoms as well as pressure from others as being challenges during concussion ecovery. HCPs indicated that systematic issues such as a lack of referral base and minimal follow up, (if any) and doctors’
billings in Nova Scotia were barriers.


title: Task, sex and age effect on sagittal plane biomechanics during single leg and double leg jump-landing: relevance to non-contact ACL injuries

contributor:
Tan, Hui Min Carolynn (author)
(Landry, Scott) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract:
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important stabilizer of the knee. Rupturing this ligament is considered to be one of the most devastating knee injuries that can occur in sport and has many short-and long-term consequences, including the costly surgery and rehabilitation and being more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis in the future. Non-contact ACL injuries are the most common ACL injuries, with common mechanisms for non-contact ACL injuries including landings from jumps, cutting and sudden decelerations. Before puberty, there is no sex difference for risk of sustaining an ACL injury. However, after puberty, females are 4 to 6 times more likely to sustain an ACL injury compared to their male counterparts.
A proposed theory linked to increased injury risk and the sex bias of this injury is the leg dominance theory, which is described as significant asymmetries in muscular strength, joint loading or muscle recruitment patterns, especially in females. Mature females are thought to be more leg dominant compared to males, thus placing their lower extremity at greater risks of sustaining an ACL injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of task, sex and age on lower extremity sagittal plane asymmetry. The hypotheses for the current study are: a) post-pubescent females will have the greatest asymmetries compared to the other participant groups; b) pre-pubescent males and females will have similar asymmetries; c) single leg drop jumps (SLJ) will have greater asymmetries compared to double leg drop jumps (DLJ). A total of 125 athletes involved in cutting and jumping sports who were between the ages of 8-28 years participated in the current study. Participants were divided into four groups, pre-pubescent males (n=20, age=10.14± 1.61 years, playing experience =
4.55±2.31 years), pre-pubescent females (n=23, age=10.58±1.25 years, playing experience=5.96±1.77 years), post-pubescent males (n=37, age=20.73±2.53 years, playing experience=12.22±4.19 years) and post-pubescent females (n=45, age=19.73±1.85 years, playing experience=11.2±3.95 years). A 12-camera motion capture system and three force plates
were used to capture sagittal plane joint angles and moments at the hip, knee and ankle during a double leg and single leg
drop jump protocol. A three-way ANOVA (p £0.05) was used on asymmetry indexes of maximum sagittal plane moments
and angles during stance and angles at initial contact to test for a task (DLJ vs. SLJ), sex (male vs. female), age (pre-pubescent vs. post-pubescent) and interaction effect. Bonferroni pairwise comparisons were performed when an interaction effect was identified. Results showed main (task and age) and interaction effects. It was found that pre-pubescent males had greater asymmetries (peak knee flexion angle, peak hip extension moment) compared to pre-pubescent females. This suggests that asymmetries should also be a focus within pre-pubescent athletes in addition to
post-pubescent athletes. Furthermore, while not significant, there was a strong trend for post-pubescent females having
greater asymmetries compared to pre-pubescent females for maximum hip extension moment. There were mixed results in terms of whether the DLJ or SLJ produced greater asymmetries. The SLJ had greater asymmetries compared to the DLJ
for maximum ankle dorsiflexion and hip flexion angle, while the DLJ had greater asymmetries for ankle dorsiflexion angle at contact. More research is needed to determine whether or not the DLJ or SLJ yields greater limb asymmetry.These findings
provide some insight into the influence that inter-limb asymmetry may have as a potential risk factor for non-contact ACL injuries in athletes

abstract: Kinesiology


title: S&P 500 index option pricing inefficiency surrounding U.S. Federal Reserve meetings and economic uncertainty

contributor:
Evans, Colton F. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Davis, Andrew) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Economics

abstract:
Many researchers such as Galai (1977) have showed that option markets experience periods of inefficiency. Other researchers such as Gemmill (1991) have shown that these periods of inefficiency occur surrounding uncertain events like political elections. Federal Reserve policy meetings occur roughly every six weeks and frequently have uncertain outcomes over potential policy changes. This study uses option data between February 11th, 2005 and December 31st, 2011 to conduct multiple OLS regressions and robustness teststo determine if Federal Reserve meetings and economic uncertainty increase pricing inefficiency in option markets. Results show a statistically significant, although not economically significant,
positive relationship between option market inefficiency, Federal Reserve meetings and economic uncertainty.


title: The relationship between hangover severity and effort as it relates to performance on neurocognitive and physical tasks

contributor: (Kruisselbrink, Darren) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Kinesiology

abstract:
In research surrounding hangover and performance, variance in hangover severity within-subjects and the role of effort on performance has been scarce. In particular, the interaction between effort and hangover severity has not yet been linked to relate to performance outcomes in neurocognitive and physical task completion post-intoxication. This study examined the
relationship between hangover severity and performance outcomes, as well as the relationship between effort and performance and interaction between effort and hangover severity. Volunteers (5 male, 12 female) participated in two drinking nights, one of light alcohol consumption and another of heavy alcohol consumption. Participants were tested in a series of neurocognitive tasks including the Symbol Digit Modality Test, the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test, and the Trail Making B Test, and one physical test of grip strength. The relationship between change in effort, change in hangover severity and the interaction between the two as it relates to performance was analyzed using multiple hierarchical regressions. Though there were statistically significant main effects of hangover severity and effort, the magnitude to which
these variables influenced the performance outcomes was minimal. There were main effects noted for hangover severity across light and heavy drinking nights as overall effort increased and performance decreased when hangover severity heightened. Hierarchical regressions predicting change in performance as a function of change in hangover severity, change in effort, and the interaction between change in hangover severity and change in effort showed that change in grip
strength performance was significantly predicted by change in hangover severity. Furthermore, a significant hangover severity x effort interaction was found with the Symbol Digit Modality Test attempts suggesting that when hangover severity increased substantially, more effort buffered performance decline where as when hangover severity increased by a small amount more effort produced poorer performance. Conversely, the significant hangover severity x effort interaction
with the Minnesota Manual Dexterity test time completion suggests that when hangover severity increased substantially, more effort produced poorer performance whereas when hangover severity increased by a small amount, more effort produced better performance. This study has shown that there are overall residual alcohol effects influenced by hangover
severity and effort, however the magnitude and direction of these results are weakly linked to the performance outcomes.


title: Excited state intramolecular proton transfer reactions in polyaryl bisphenols

contributor:
McNutt, Jenna (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Lukeman, Matthew) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Chemistry

abstract:
Electronic excitation of phenols can produce a significant increase in acidity, causing the phenolic proton to transfer to basic sites on the same molecule in a reaction called an excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). This work involves the investigation of the photochemistry of polyaryls containing two hydroxyl groups.
1,4-di(o-hydroxyphenyl)naphthalene (29) and 2-phenylresorcinol (31) were prepared using a methodology involving Suzuki coupling and demethylation, and were obtained in crude yields of 65% and 59%, respectively. Photochemical studies, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, product studies, and fluorescence spectroscopy, were performed on bisphenols p-di(o-hydroxyphenyl)benzene (28), 29, and 31. Phenol28 underwent ESIPT and reverse proton transfer (RPT) inefficiently (Φ< .01),
as indicated by deuterium incorporation on the central aromatic ring.In addition, a competing side reaction was observed which gave unidentified products.  ESIPT and electrocyclicring closure (ERC) took place on irradiation of 29, and the reaction proceeded cleanly with no side products. The cyclized photoproduct appeared to undergo aromatization on exposure to air. Phenol 31 underwent ESIPT and RPT which gave efficient deuterium incorporation (Φ= 0.25) at the 2’-position.
The results suggest that placement of two electron-donating phenolic hydroxyl groups on the same ‘donor’ ring leads to an enhancement of ESIPT reaction efficiency, whereas placement of these two hydroxyl groups opposite to one another on different rings leads to reduced ESIPT efficiency. This is consistent with a reaction mechanism that involves substantial excited state charge transfer prior to the proton transfer step.


title: Effects of forebrain ATRX deficiency in C57BL/6 male mice on offspring ATRX expression and forebrain development

contributor:
Maillet, Hillary (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Coombs, Melanie) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Biology

abstract:
Early life experience  and  degree  of  parental-infant  attachment  influence brain development, notably areas that support stress regulation, cognition and social behaviours. Animal  models  examining  gestational  stress  suggest  that  sustained  changes  in  gene expression   in   response   to   prenatal   stress   and/or   natural   variations   in   mother-pup interactions  during  the  first  week  of  postnatal  life  is  mediated  by  changes  in  chromatin structure  and  DNA  methylation. Although  the  exact mechanism  is  not  completely understood, the chromatin remodeling factor ATRX is regulated by maternal care.
ATRX is essential for brain development and plays a key role in gene expression regulation. ATRX exerts its effects by binding to heterochromatin resulting in epigenetic modifications,  such  DNA  demethylation,  responsible  for  downstream  gene  activation. ATRX  is  regulated  and  finely  tuned;  small  changes  in  expression  can  cause  synaptic deficits contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism. Siblings of children with autism have an increased relative risk of autism themselves, suggesting a role of Atrx and environment interactions in the etiology of autism.
We  examined brain  weight, Atrx gene  expression  and Atrx gene  promoter methylation  in  brain  regions relevant to  autistic-like  behaviours in  the  adult  offspring  of litters  containing  either  wildtype  female  and  male  mice  or wildtype
female  and Atrx hemizygous male mice. Our findings demonstrate a persistent effect on forebrain growth, Atrx gene expression and promoter methylation, not only in the ATRX deficient male mice, but also in their female litter mates. These results suggest that early life environment and ATRX play  a  role in  mechanisms  underlying  long-term  chromatin  plasticity  and  neural growth relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.


title: Actor-network theory and the Halifax Public Gardents: presenting plants as history making actors

contributor:
Giacomodonato, Holly (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Cohen, Alice) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2018

abstract: Environmental & Sustainability Studies

abstract: This thesis argues that plants, alongside humans, are history-making actors who are a part of the power structure of the Halifax Public Gardens network. This claim is examined by using Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to analyze power dynamics between the principal designer and plant assemblages in the Gardens, power negotiations in the implementation of landscape design, as well as exploring other significant actors’ relationships with the plants. ANT allows for the recognition of diverse actors and analysis of relational and shifting centers of power. Halifax Public Gardens provides a good model for analysis because it is an understudied space, with strong patriotic association, and is a creation of the Victorian era which was dominated by ideas of purity and separation between nature and culture that are criticized in this thesis. Plants in the Gardens had both direct and indirect interactions and relationships with other significant actors in the Gardens including the City Council of Halifax, the Royal Family and the public of Halifax. Plants and design features that had visual connections to the Old World were highly valued. Primary sources were collected from the online and microfilm collections at the Nova Scotia Archives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.


title: The implementation of physical literacy testing on children with disabilities

contributor:
McLaughlin, Emma (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Seaman, Roxanne) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Kinesiology

abstract:
The purpose of the current study is to determine the appropriateness and feasibility of implementing the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (CAPL) protocol in children with disabilities. CAPL has previously only been validated for typically developing children. Both qualitative and descriptive quantitative analyses were used to assess barriers and trends of using this protocol to assess fundamental movement skills (FMS) of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Down syndrome (DS). The results found will be use d to make adjustments to the Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience (S.M.I.L.E.) programming
at Acadia University to ensure that all individuals are provided with the opportunity for physical literacy success.
Themes that emerged from the data coincided with previous literature of Staples et al., (2006). Specifically highlighted was the importance of a person-centered approach, multi-faceted motor behavior, context, choice and autonomy, program adaptation, and reflective practice in an adapted physical activity setting. Researchers discovered the importance of encouragement, positive reinforcement, and video-recordings to help foster a positive learning environment. The information provided by this study is beneficial is determining the appropriateness of physical literacy assessment tools on children with disabilities.


title: Bettering environmental politics through ecological modernization: an analysis of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2015 to 2019

contributor:
Papadogiorgaki, Elektra (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Biro, Andrew) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2018

abstract: Politics

abstract: The devotion that governments and citizens show for the environment can often be conceived as lackluster; economic growth is something states and their people are willing to commit their daily practices and forms of governance to, but the environment always takes a back seat. In Canada, the sphere of environmental politics has been dynamic – each political party has unique and sometimes opposing environmental objectives, often interlinked with economic incentives, and the majority governing Liberal Party of Canada is no stranger to perplexing environmental and ecological plans. Environmental policies and investments, like ecocentric partnerships and carbon pricing, are some ways by which environmental politics flourishes and develops, but in order for the Liberal Party to be the beacon of ecological change in Canada, there must be an obvious acknowledgement for transformation within central institutions – primarily meaning government agencies and those partnered or involved in legislation. Ecological modernization is a theoretical framework that puts an emphasis on modern technology and the “economization of ecology”, with the hopes of solving the ecological crisis. This framework can be broken down into a list of core concepts, from political commitment to economic incentives for businesses, all which are necessary in order to progress towards ecological modernization. Applying these core concepts to policies and approaches taken by the Liberal Party of Canada will provide a clearer sense of whether the party is devoted to these changes and how seriously they take addressing environmental degradation.


title: Influence of the epidermal microbiome in attraction of mosquitos (Culex territans) to green frogs (Rana clamitans) infected with hepatozoon blood parasites

contributor:
Tobin, Megan E. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Smith, Todd) (Thesis advisor)
(Coombs, Melanie) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Biology

abstract:
Mosquitoes, Culex territans, are preferentially attracted to green frogs, Rana clamitans, that are heavily infected with intraerythrocytic Hepatozoon parasites compared to lightly infected or uninfected frogs. Further work showed that bacteria cultured from the epidermis of heavily infected green frogs were significantly more attractive to C. territans than lightly infected or uninfected frogs. The objective of this study was to examine the culturable components of the epidermal microbiome of green frogs infected with Hepatozoon species to determine which species are involved in the attraction of C. territans to heavily parasitized frogs. Analysis of the DNA sequence data was used to identify the culturable components of the epidermal microbiome of eight green frogs, and revealed similarities in the species of bacteria isolated from frogs of the same infection level. The attractiveness to C. territans of each purified bacterial colony was tested against a control plate in a modified PVC pipe and showed that although many colonies were significantly repellant to the mosquitoes, two
species were significantly attractive to mosquitoes. Finally, the attractiveness of culturable bacteria to mosquitoes was
compared to their distribution among frogs of different infection levels. Although correlations were not observed between the attractiveness of bacterial species to C. territans and the intensity of Hepatozoon infection, the results of this study
indicate that there are differences in the attractiveness to mosquitoes among species of bacteria found in the epidermal microbiome of green frogs, and lead to speculation that combinations of bacteria species, or attractiveness manifested by unculturable components of the microbiome, are driving the preference of mosquitoes to heavily infected frogs.


title: Mercury in gull (Larus argentatus) guano samples and changes over two summer seasons on Brier Island, Nova Scotia

contributor:
Geizer, Haley D. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(O'Driscoll, Nelson) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences

abstract:
Biovectors are organisms that can transport contaminants and nutrients to remote locations through excretion, moulting and decomposition of carcasses. Herring gulls (Larus argentatus) are typically top  predators  of  aquatic  systems, which  increases  their  exposure  to  methylmercury  through biomagnification. Methylmercury is  known  for  its  neurotoxicity  and  estrogenic  effects  on organisms. Big Meadow Bog on Brier Island is the summer (May-August) nesting site for ~6000 herring gulls (Larus argentatus). In order to obtain unaffected guano samples, five plastic posts were deployed in the most populated areas of the bog for birds to perch and excrete on. Guano samples were collected every two weeks in summer; totalling 10 sampling trips over two years. A total of 43 guano samples were dried, homogenized and analyzed for total mercury, extractable phosphate and sulphate. This study demonstrated gulls were depositing THg and considerable PO43-throughout their nesting season. It also highlighted that there was a significant decreasing trend of THg
from May through September, which suggests that gulls were potentially switching to aquatic food sources when their young hatched . This would contribute to increased THg values in their guano at the start of their nesting period. I suggest that analysing MeHg, in tandem with THg,  would  provide  more  insights  into  the  movement  and metabolism  of  nutrients  and contaminants within seabirds.


title: Scene-based visual search in persons with autism spectrum disorder

contributor:
Dunn, Hannah E. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Brodeur, Darlene) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Psychology

abstract:
Attention in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been studied extensively using visual search (VS) tasks. Individuals with ASD have displayed superior VS abilities compared to typically developing (TD) individuals in traditional VS tasks, however mixed results have been gathered from studies that employ more real world-like naturalistic arrays, and to date, few studies have compared social and non-social (i.e., animate and in animate) targets in naturalistic arrays.  The current study investigated attention in school-age children with ASD and TD controls, matched for mental age (MA) across groups.  Participants ranging in
age from 5-12 years completed a scene-based VS task that included an animate (i.e., dog) or inanimate (i.e., skateboard) cartoon target within life-like cartoon backgrounds.  Accuracy and reaction time (RT) were
recorded. Results showed a main effect of target type for RT and accuracy.  Both participants with ASD and TD children performed better when searching for the animate target (i.e., dog) than the inanimate target (i.e., skateboard). The results suggest there is intact VS ability in children with ASD, however it is not enhanced when searching naturalistic arrays.   These results also support the idea that individuals with ASD possess a social bias of attention, much like TD individuals. Future studies should examine what aspects of scenes lead to better or worse performance on VS tasks.


title: Accidents, inevitability, and robots: regulating the autonomous car

contributor:
Helm, Hannah (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Mutlu, Can) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Politics

abstract: Autonomous vehicles are the future and their presence on the road is rapidly approaching. These cars will no longer require a human to physically drive them, resulting in a new form of driving. This new way of driving will present many uncertainties to society. Societies have vigorous regulations in place for the operation of vehicles, these regulations will become inapplicable to autonomous cars.Should the autonomous vehicle industry be regulated? What kinds of standards will the new auto industry be held to in relation to these vehicles? What changes will have to be implemented into the insurance industry? Governments have the overarching responsibility to ensure the protection of the public. Regulation of this new activity will be required in order to ensure standards of the vehicles themselves and overall public safety. This project examines the history of government regulation of the automobile industry and also examines the implications resulting from innovative transitions in other industries, such as airplane industry. The airplane industry has moved from being solely human-operated to include autonomous mechanisms such as auto-pilot. This thesis focuses on why government regulation is necessary for the implementation of autonomous vehicles in society. It also employs an ethical framework as part of this analysis and will examine theories of accidents in relation to this issue. These theories, such as Paul Virilio’s theory on accidents explain why government regulation is needed in order to create new regulations needed for this innovation. Accidents are a part of society. Autonomous cars will bring new accidents with them. Regulation is needed to mitigate the possible accidents and damages these new cars present to society.


title: Fitting in or opting out: recruitment and retention in the Atlantic Canada water industry

contributor:
Hechavarria, Havana (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Newman, Randy Lynn) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Psychology

abstract:
The current study examined the role of psychosocial factors as determinants of commitment to the Atlantic Canada water industry. Factors that were examined include sense of belonging, corporate social responsibility, diversity climate, and work-life balance. By surveying industry employees (N = 120), it was found that one’s corporate social responsibility and sense of belonging predict both affective (defined as affective attachment to the workplace) and normative commitment (defined as sense of obligation to remain in the workplace). Gender was found to moderate the relationship between sense of belonging and normative commitment such that belongingness was a better predictor of normative commitment for men than women. Gender was also found to moderate the relationship between diversity climate and normative commitment,
such that as diversity climate increased, men showed an increase in commitment while women showed a decrease in commitment. It was also found that women reported lower levels of sense of belonging and work-life balance than men, which may explain why women are more apt to leave the workforce. Finally, this study identified gaps within the diversity structure of the industry, characterized by gender gaps within particular sectors and an absence of racial diversity. Findings will form the basis of recommendations to the water industry as to how it can adapt/improve the work environment to foster the retention and recruitment of diverse talent.


title: Key mismatch attacks on RLWE encryption schemes

contributor:
Hally, James (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Hooper, Jeff) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics

abstract: Ring learning with errors encryption (RLWE) schemes are a class of public key cryptosystems that securely encrypt messages based on the intractability of hard lattice problems.  Several RLWE  encryption  schemes  have  been  proposed  as  candidates  for  standardization  in  the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) post-quantum cryptography project. A  key-mismatch  oracle  is  an  oracle  that  allows  an  attacker  to  test  whether  a  ciphertext decodes  to  a  given  message.   This  oracle  is  commonly  available  when  the  key  pair  of  an IND-CPA version of these cryptosystems is reused.  In this thesis, we examine an attack that uses a key-mismatch oracle to recover the secret key of an RLWE cryptosystem.  We survey descriptions of this attack on NIST candidates, and introduce a description of the attack for the NIST candidate LAC.


title: Reaching for the top: a descriptive analysis of the transition of female athletes from high school to university sport

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Kinesiology

abstract:
Individuals entering university to play intercollegiate sport face changes across numerous domains including athletic, academic, social, mental health and physical health. Identifying factors that negatively impact the
transition of student-athletes can pave the way from high school to university. Schlossberg created the 4S System Transition model including the Self, Situation, Supports and Strategies as a framework for understanding how transitions impact individuals. The purpose of the present study was to gain insight into the transitional experience of first-year student-athletes to help coaches and athletics department’s staff
facilitate a smooth, successful transition.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five first year members of the Acadia women’s volleyball team in the 2019-2020 season. The present study used Schlossberg’s 4S System as the framework for semi-structured interviews with first-year student-athletes on the Acadia women’s volleyball team. Constant Comparative Analysis was used to determine high level themes followed by more specific, lower level themes common among participants. Results indicated the importance of socialization into team culture and having a supportive network of friends an d family. All participants also felt academics and athletics took priority over sleep and nutrition despite understanding the importance of both in maintaining good health. Participants also stated they had drastically more athlete friends than non-athlete
friends in university and had no other hobbies other than school and volleyball. No matter the issue, all participants felt they had a solid support network at university which served as their most effective coping mechanism. University coaches and athletic departments may use data collected from the present study to improve initiatives created to help incoming athletes transition smoothly including pairing first-years and seniors or creating information packages.


title: The anxiolytic effect of cannabis: a zebrafish learning model

contributor:
Gee, Jeremy A. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(McLeod, Peter) (Thesis advisor)
(Wilson, Brian) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Psychology

abstract:
This study examined the effects of plant-derived cannabinoids, THC and CBD, on fear-memory associative learning using a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. A total of 30 zebrafish were dosed with either CBD (10), THC
(10), or a water control (10) before undergoing a total of 12 shaping trials over the course of 3 days. The shaping trails consisted of a 6-minute swimming stress, coupled with a red background for associative learning. After completing 12 shaping trials, fish were placed in a plus maze on the fourth day, with one arm on the maze wrapped in the same red colour, for behavior analysis. Freezing duration, latency to enter red arm, number of entries into red arm, and total time in red arm were chosen as behavioural indicators of aversion to the colour red. Experimental difficulties and statistical outliers resulted in diminished sample sizes (CBD =
4, THC = 6, Water = 10) and only the difference in total time in red arm was found to be marginally significant, F(2,17) = 3.68, p= 0.047. The water control condition also served to demonstrate the effect of the
experimental manipulation resulting in an aversion for the red arm of the maze, F(3,27) = 4.66, p= 0.009; Results are weakly suggestive of a possible anxiolytic effect of THC.


title: Total variation denoising of diffusion MRI images using a modified monge-kantorovich norm

contributor:
Marcoux, John Mackenzie (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Mendivil, Franklin) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics

abstract: Efficient methods for denoising various forms of data are contantly evolving and are crucial in fields like medical imaging where even small amounts of noise can affect a doctor’s diagnosis. It has been proposed in a 2016 paper (D. La Torre et al) that using the Monge-Kantorovich metric, along with total variation and regularization, one could create an effective and hopefully efficient method for denoising diffusion MRI images.  In this thesis this aforementioned method for denoising will be discussed as well as the advantages of a Monge-Kantorovich style norm versus a Euclidean or other type of norm.  Finally the effectiveness of a python-based implementation that was created summer 2019 will be discussed as a measure of the efficiency of the algorithm.


title: Combating climate change: a need for a just transition

contributor:
Butler, Joshua (author)
(Biro, Andrew) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract:
In a world where the effects of climate change have become more prevalent, especially for people who are already vulnerable to the massive inequities in the world, climate change makes all those inequities worse. It is for this reason that any solutions to combat climate change must look to address these harms that climate change will worsen. The Green New Deal (GND), which was proposed as a resolution in the United States government has sought go after climate change from all angles, and this includes addressing the inequities that are prevalent in the United States. The GND proposes and calls for a ‘just transition’, but what is that? This thesis examines this question and looks at what it means to call for a just transition and its implications. Through a theoretical reading of justice and transition as they are discussed with environmental justice, climate justice, and transitional justice, a definition of a just transition be comes clearer. Within this discussion, is the use of language and the power and the impact of defining such things, like a just transition can have. This thesis will argue that a just transition is not singular, nor should it be defined by a strict definition of what it is or what it is not, as this depends on who’s just transition it is. A just transition is about action,
specifically grassroots action.  It should be looked at and driven through those who are most vulnerable, or risk leaving people behind.

abstract: Politics


title: Confidence lower bounds for comparing several treatments with a control in monotone dose-response studies

contributor:
Robart, Joshua Michael (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Peng, Jianan) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics

abstract:
Dunnett’s procedure (1955) is the most commonly used method to construct simultaneous confidence lower bounds to compare several treatment means with a control mean.   It  is  common  to  assume  that  the  treatment  means  are  monotone  in  many dose-response studies.  In this thesis, we propose a new but simple procedure based on Dunnett’s procedure to take into account the monotone assumption.  We study
the expected gains of the new procedure over Dunnett’s procedure.  We illustrate our new procedure with numerical examples


title: A paleolimnological assessment of the impacts of damming on an upland lake in Nova Scotia: focus on strontium as an indicator of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) migration

contributor:
Crews, Julia M. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Spooner, Ian) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences

abstract:
The discovery in 2018 of a strontium anomaly in a fluvial lake sediment gravity core taken on the Avon River, Nova Scotia, has led to the hypothesis that strontium may be a proxy for anadromous fish movement into freshwater environments. Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) are an anadromous fish species known to bioaccumulate Sr while they inhabit marine environments. Alewife were thought to have migrated up the Avon River
to Mantletree Lake before the watercourse was altered by hydroelectric development. The 2018 study indicated that Sr concentrations in the fluvial lake sediment core declined after the installation of the Forks River dam in 1929 that impeded fish passage. Those results suggested that Sr is transferred by alewife to freshwater environments and thus serves as a proxy indicator of marine derived nutrient transfer to freshwater environments. To test this hypothesis, two gravity cores were obtained from Mantletree Lake, a lake that was located at the headwaters of the Avon River prior to dam installation. X-ray fluorescence was conducted to determine metal concentrations in the Mantletree Lake sediment core; bankside sediment samples were used to determine geogenic Sr concentrations in soils that might have become available upon flooding.
Our study determined that atmospheric lead is an effective time-stratigraphic indicator that can be used to provide adequate dating control for the sediment core from 1920 to Present. Variability in the metal data (Ti, Rb, K) indicates that flooding in Mantletree Lake associated with damming produced considerable bankside erosion and watershed disruption. The C,N and stable isotope data reflect the creation of a new active shoreline and the transfer of terrestrial organic matter into the lake basin. δ15N and δ13C trends are consistent with increased autochthonous productivity after dam installation. The strontium data are equivocal but do not appear to show a strong trend associated with the potential cessation of alewife visitation.


title: Cervical muscle strength and kinematics during an unanticipated perturbation in university aged male and female rugby athletes

contributor:
Ruppert, Abigail (author)
(Lattimer, Lauren) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract:
Concussions are an inevitable risk posed to all athletes, especially those within contact sports. A concussion is the result of linear and angular kinematics of the brain tissue caused by direct and indirect head contact. Female athletes participating in contact sports demonstrate a concussion injury risk factor that is two times greater than their skill and age-matched male counterparts. Rugby is one of such contact sports
in which tackles comprise the main mechanism for concussion; which is caused by inertial impacts, rather than direct impact  to the  head. In  numerous  sports,  female  athletes exhibit higher measurements  of  acceleration  and therefore higher concussion risk. Recent literature has outlined the importance of neck muscle strength and neuromuscular characteristics in the mitigation of excessive head kinematics resulting in
such brain injuries. In  theory,  those  who display  greater  strength and  anticipatory  activation  of the cervical  musculature  will decrease the amount of head acceleration experienced, and lower concussion risk substantially. The current study investigated the  effect  of  sex  on musculoskeletal  and  neuromuscular  characteristics  of  the  cervical musculature, as well as head kinematics during a simulated landing-portion of a rugby tackle. Twenty-three (females  n  =  15, males  n=8)  university-aged  rugby  athletes  participated  in  an  unanticipated  perturbation simulation; and a series of clinical tests of the cervical musculature. Anthropometrics of the head and neck, including neck girth, head girth, head-neck segment length and mass,were ob tained.  Maximal isometric neck  strength  was  measured  in kilograms of  force  (kgf)  in all  planes of  motion, using  handheld dynamometry.  Endurance  of  the  neck  musculature  was  determined  using  the  Isometric  Endurance  test. Electromyography  and  accelerometers  were  used  to  analyze  activity  of  the  sternocleid omastoid,  upper trapezius,  external  and  internal  oblique  muscles;  as  well  as  to  quantify  head,  neck,  and  trunk  change  in velocity  during  a  simulated  unexpected  dynamic task. One-way  MANOVAs  were  used  to  determine sex differences  in  anthropometrics,  muscle activation,  and head  kinematics.  Independent  t-tests  were  used  to compare  neck  muscle  endurance. The  results  of  this  study  found  that  males  demonstrated  significantly greater neck girth, head girth, and head-neck segment mass. Isometric strength was significantly different with  exception  of  the  left  upper  trapezius;  with  males  demonstrating  40-60%  greater strength.  Males demonstrated  43%  greater  muscle  endurance  than  females.  No  statistical  significance  in  neuromuscular activation was found between
sexes; however, female participants exhibited a muscle activation strategy of bilateral co-contraction of the sternocleidomastoid, while males utilized contralateral muscles to the diving direction in order to stabilize the head. Males had statistically significant greater change in velocity of the head in the sagittal plane. In agreement with current literature, males and females demonstrate differences in their ability to stabilize the head in dynamic situations. This data suggests even female competitive rugby players  demonstrate  significant  clinical  factors  that  increase  risk  of  concussion.  Determining where  differences exist in injury risk between males and female rugby athletes can help to design specific injury prevention interventions.

abstract: Kinesiology


title: ‘The other great eye’: the politics of working-class women, motherhood, and the modernist art of Käthe Kollwitz in the Weimar Republic, 1919-1933

contributor:
Farooqui, Afnan (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Dennis, Michael) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: History & Classics

abstract:
In this thesis, I argue that the representation of proletarian women and mothers in the artwork of Käthe Kollwitz can be used to explore the shifts in gender relations during the Weimar Republic. The ‘proletarian woman’ or ‘proletarian mother’ was one of Weimar’s most dominant Modernist tropes, becoming a powerful symbol at a time when motherhood was effectively politicized by male politicians and women reformers alike.
Many representations of women pervaded the Weimar era in response to women’s growing sexual and economic autonomy. Women were politically mobilized en masse as they obtained enfranchisement, championed sex and welfare reform movements, and entered the workforce in droves. For women, the Weimar Republic marked the erosion of pre-war sexual mores and gender divisions –by 1925 around eleven million women worked, comprising roughly thirty-five percent of the total female population. Thus, Kollwitz’s artwork will be explored in order to analyse both idealized representations as well as everyday realities of working-class women. Kollwitz’s politicization and use of motherhood signifies her use of ‘maternal compassion’ in order to assert and legitimize her voice in the typically male sphere of political discourse. Both her political and artistic significance serve to reassert women as self-determining participators in the making of Weimar culture. However, despite struggling to liberate working-class women from their material conditions which she
painfully sought to document in her art, Kollwitz’s depictions of proletarian mothers also served to reaffirm predominant stereotypes and ideas of women as self-sacrificing mothers naturally bound to the family and home. Ultimately, Kollwitz’s work was unable to transcend dominant tropes and liberate women from such constraints.


title: The work of art in the age of digital reproduction: the political significance of the digital music sampler

contributor:
McKaigue, Alexandra (author)
(Biro, Andrew) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract:
Sampling is to use the fragment of another pre-recorded song or sound, from any auditory resource, and to repurpose it in order to create a new musical work. Critics of music sampling characterize the process often as stealing and question its validity in art consumption. Yet this “Is it art?” discussion, which surrounds modern sampling, does not consider the transformation which has occurred to the functionality of music since digital reproduction was conceived. How then has digital music sampling become politically significant? I argue that the advent of the digital music sampler has altered the nature of art because it firmly recognizes the creative interdependence between artists which is often overlooked in conventional property relations. The aspect of the political inserts itself because the music producer asserts their authority over transformative works, and with the aid of the sampler, producers are able to remove music from any context in time
and space. Beatmakers may repurpose music in a transformative manner, for any message they desire, and simultaneously
achieve intertextuality.
This text will support this hypothesis first by providing description of the political evolution of sampling through its technology and associated culture. Then I will use the theoretical framework which Walter Benjamin provides in The
Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction to better understand concepts such as authenticity, originality, and reproduction. Finally, I will address the political significance of sampling by addressing some of the shortcomings of the current copyright legal system by challenging the meaning of “ownership” rights under the law. This thesis will demonstrate that digital music sampling as a form has politicized music because it asks: who gets to listen to what, who creates what, when, and how, and what is appropriate?

abstract: Politics


title: Headed to the streets: a question of colour in the era of mass-incarceration a content analysis of the multi-media project “Die Jim Crow"

contributor:
Winters, Katie (author)
(Thomson, Tony) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract:
This thesis discusses the mass incarceration of Black people in the United States as a new caste system. It consists of a thematic analysis of the multi-media project “Die Jim Crow” about the Black American experience in the era of mass incarcerationand the results of two interviews conducted with project participants. The project includes six songs titled:
“My Name Be Jim Crow”, “Tired and Weary”, “A215-162”, “Plastic Bag”, “First Impressions”, and “Headed to the Streets”, one music video, and a variety of visual art, all complied into one book. The project and its contents were analyzed for consistent themes, identified as historical racism and racial profiling, systemic inequalities in the justice system, dehumanization and humiliation, unacceptable living conditions for inmates in prison, and inadequate reintegration resources. These themes were reiterated throughout the impressive and thoughtful songs, interviews with contributors, and visual art within the project, and they call into question the justice of the United States’ criminal system and its obsession with the disproportionate mass incarceration of Black Americans.
To preface my thesis with a disclaimer that is very important to me: I am neither Black nor have I ever been incarcerated. I am not claiming to understand these experiences and I do not wish to exploit them in any way. My goal is to use the privilege that has been afforded to me through my race and education as a platform to communicate the art and lived experiences documented by the talented, determined, inspirational participants from “Die Jim Crow”

abstract: Sociology


title: Green synthesis of novel naphthalene-based 14-AZA-12-oxasteroid analogues

contributor:
Luo, Jun (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Jha, Amitabh) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Chemistry

abstract:
Polyheterocyclic frameworks, such as steroids, are very important moieties for the  construction  of  biologically  and  pharmaceutically  relevant  molecules. However, synthesis of these structurally complex molecules in a short route from readily available starting materials is a challenge in the field of organic chemistry and therefore is being widely investigated.
This  thesis  reports a transition metal-free four-step synthetic pathway to produce tetracyclic heterosteroid compounds, starting from 2-naphthol analogs. After conversion of 2-naphthols to 2-naphtylamines via the Burcherer reaction, subsequent selective  C-acetylation  via  the  Sugasawa  reaction  and  reduction of  the  acetyl  group using  borohydride,
1-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminonaphthalenes was  obtained.  These amino-alcohols underwent double dehydrations and double intramolecular cyclisation with oxo-acids in a one-pot formation of a C-N bond, a C-O bond and an amide bond in tandem. In total, six novel 14-aza-12-oxa-steroid analogues were synthesised which were characterised through their 1H  and 13 C{1H}  NMR  spectroscopies and high-resolution mass spectra


title: The Nova Scotian wine industry and its relationship with climate change

contributor:
Wei, Wong Marcus Jun (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Duke, David) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: History & Classics

abstract:
History and viticulture are inextricably intertwined. The reputation of a winery extends beyond the quality of its wine; it is the historical narrative, production methods, personal touch, and influences from the natural environment which justify
the price and value underpinning wines. The modern Nova Scotian winery principals face the issue of having a fragmented historical narrative and must decide the nature of the wine industry. Historically, winemaking began during the seventeenth century in Nova Scotia, under French governor Isaac de Razilly, but due to a series of factors, when the British assumed control over Nova Scotia winemaking largely ended. Thus, the change of imperial ownership created a gap in
the history of Nova Scotian wine and this needs to be accommodated in the creation of history by modern wineries. Those wineries are part of a new wave of wineries in Nova Scotia, and their appearance and growth were due partly to the increasingly beneficial (for wine-growing) effects of climate change. Winemaking in Nova Scotia currently plays an essential
economic role in the agricultural development of the province; the challenges pointed out by the Ivany Report can be
addressed in part by a sustainable wine industry in the province. An investigation of the significance of climate change throughout the different periods of Nova Scotia’s wine industry, and of the importance of human agency, can help to
determine the industry’s future sustainability and competitiveness


title: Characterizing a new species of obligate marine fungus from Nova Scotia, Lulworthia fundyense daomc 251940 (Lulworthiaceae, ascomycota)

contributor:
Taylor, Victoria (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Walker, Allison) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Biology

abstract:
Marine fungi contribute to nutrient cycling as major decomposers of organic matter in marine environments. Many species of marine fungi await discovery. In 2017, S. Adams at Acadia University (Walker Mycology Laboratory) isolated a new species of Lulworthia, an  obligate  marine  ascomycete  fungus in  family  Lulworthiaceae,  from  recently  exposed intertidal  wood   from  Apple  River,  Nova  Scotia.  This  project   focused   on  genetic characterization  using  rDNA  as  well  as  morphological  characterization (macro-and micromorphology) of this new species. The fungus was cultured in the laboratory and DNA was extracted  and amplified using  ITS, 18S and 28S rDNA primers. Once samples were verified  using  gel  electrophoresis,  they  were  sent  to  Genome  Québec  for  Sanger  DNA sequencing. Separate  phylogenetic  trees  of  the  sequences  and  closely  related  sequences downloaded  from  GenBank  were made  using  the  neighbor-joining  method  and  1000 bootstrap replicates with MEGA7 software program for the 3 gene regions. Phylogenetic analyses placed the new species on a separate branch with 92% bootstrap support, sister to Lulworthia  atlantica,  providing multilocus genetic  evidence  that  it  is  a  new  species  of marine fungus, provisionally named Lulworthia fundyense. As mature ascomata were not observed  after  more  than  300  days of  laboratory  incubation,  ascospores  (sexual spores)
were not observed. Chlamydospores and conidia were documented in culture. L. nom. prov. fundyense grew faster at warmer temperatures, 25 mm at 21C after 2 weeks on CMA 50% SW and minimal to no growth at 4C after 2 weeks; the fungus is now being tested for its ability  to  degrade  crude  oil  to  identify  biotechnological  potential and  develop  new
strategies to reduce  marine pollution. This project  emphasized the ecological  importance xviii of marine fungi, the undescribed diversity  of marine fungi  in  cold water  habitats and the need for further research on these enigmatic organisms.


title: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in ex situ populations of Eastern Mountain Avens, Geum peckii Pursh (Rosaceae) from Nova Scotia, Canada

contributor:
Dodge, Rebecca S. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Walker, Allison) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Biology

abstract:
Geum peckii Pursh (Rosaceae) is a rare and endangered herbaceous perennial found to exist in only two places worldwide including the White Mountains of New Hampshire and among the coastal bogs of Brier Island and Harris Lake, Digby County, Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia population was reported in 2010 by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) to show a 64% decline in mature individuals since 1986. Acadia University seed bank houses collections of G. peckii seeds for ex situ conservation strategies to study the plant outside its natural environment in a controlled setting. Furthermore, research has observed using mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to inoculate seed bank specimens to
improve establishment of outplanting material and help with recovery strategies. G. peckii was outplanted to a coastal
peatland in 2016 and underwent the following three treatments: commercial mycorrhizal inoculant, native Brier Island mycorrhizal inoculant, and a sterile non-inoculated control (Fancy, 2017). Plants from the ex situ population of G. peckii in
Balancing Rock bog on Long Island, Digby County were extracted from their respective site locations for further analysis
while plant roots were sampled from a separate population located at the K.C Irving Environmental Science Centre (K.C.I.C.
.). Plant roots were stained, and AMF was observed to determine per cent root AMF colonization. The rDNA from root and AMF was amplified using AMF specific primer sets to identify species of fungi colonizing G. peckii. Colonization counts showed a range of 40-49% AMF colonized root length of G. peckii in the Balancing Rock bog. Data obtained through DNA
barcoding showed that all rosettes sampled at the K.C.I.C.. population contained AMF and a potentially new Dominikia (Glomeraceae) species. All plants collected from Balancing Rock bog contained AMF, but samples were not successfully
sequenced. While AMF associations have been noted before in this plant host, to our understanding, this is the first time that AMF species have ever been identified colonizing Geum peckii, and the first time they have been confirmed in an ex situ population located in a peatland bog. This information will hopefully help to streamline future studies and recovery strategies.


title: A tale of two mussels: molecular characterisation of unionid species in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica

contributor:
Bauer, William G. (author)
(Easy, Russell) (Thesis advisor)
(Stewart, Donald T.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract:
Three groups of morphologically distinct freshwater mussels (Family: Unionidae) were collected near Cañas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Two of these three putative species are the focus of this thesis. These species are of interest in terms of (1) documenting the biodiversity of Costa Rica, and (2) because many freshwater mussels exhibit an unusual form of mitochondrial DNA transmission known as doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI). DNA samples from fourteen individuals were extracted, PCR-amplified and sequenced using universal cytochrome oxidase subunit I primers. The results revealed invasive species Sinanodonta woodiana (Chinese pond mussel), and two unionid species that share ~93% and ~89% sequence similarity to native Mesoamerican species Psorula profunda and Anodontites trigonus, respectively. Morphology and recent developments in Mesoamerican unionid phylogenetics suggest that the P. profunda relative is possibly in the genus Nephronaias, which is undescribed on molecular databases, such as GenBank. To assist in
identification, phylogenetic trees were constructed, and results compared with previously published phylogenies. DUI was detected in putative Nephronaias sp. using primers that only amplify a gene region specific to the male transmitted mitochondrial genomes in DUI positive species. The establishment of S. woodiana in Guanacaste and surrounding regions can be attributed to the unusual glochidial life stage of unionids. Phylogenetic relationships, DUI, and the biology of invasive species are all critical aspects to consider in biodiversity conservation of freshwater mussels –an understudied field in Mesoamerica.

abstract: Biology


title: Development of statistical tools to analyze young athletes' biomechanics during movement tasks

contributor:
Sutherland, William (author)
(Chipman, Hugh) (Thesis advisor)
(Landry, Scott) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Every year in the United States alone, over 200 000 people tear their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) which is a primary stabilizer of the knee. Of these injuries, 100 000 need reconstructive surgery, and this costs 2 billion USD and places a significant financial burden on the healthcare system. Non-contact sports such as basketball, soccer and volleyball contribute to 70% of all ACL injuries. Female athletes aged 15 to 25 years are two to eight times more likely to tear their ACL compared to their male counterparts. The purpose of this  study was to investigate fitting high-dimensional logistic regression models to identify features of athletes' biomechanical waveform data collected at the John MacIntyre motion Lab of Applied Biomechanics. The waveforms were individually summarized by a regression of measured values vs time, using B-spline basis functions. This summarized and reduced the dimensionality from 2424 columns of waveform data down to 264. Each column of waveform data following the B-spline reduction represented a tenth of its original waveform. The B-spline coefficients were then used as the predictors in the logistic regression model with shrinkage penalty. The shrinkage method used in this thesis was the elastic net, which is a hybrid between ridge regression and lasso regression. The elastic net penalty was used since there were more predictor variables than observations, and there was high pairwise correlation between predictors coming from the same waveform. The process was tested on three different classification problems, with a 2-class problem and two 3-class problems. The analysis used 20% of the data as a test  set. Within the remaining 80%, 5-fold cross-validation was used to select the elastic net penalty parameters. A logistic regression with elastic net penalty was used to predict participants' age class (young vs old), puberty class (pre vs during vs post-puberty) and a mix of puberty and gender (pre-puberty male and females vs post-puberty males vs post-puberty females). For classifying young vs old participants the model performed with 89% test set accuracy. For classifying pre vs during vs post-puberty the model performed with approximately 67% accuracy. When classifying pre-puberty males and females vs post-puberty males vs post-puberty females the model achieved an accuracy of 95%.  The elastic net logistic regression models were able to correctly identify areas of difference between classes' movement patterns. The model built using the elastic net penalty performed significantly better than models built using the ridge regression or lasso regression penalty. The models created were able to accurately separate classes and identify differences in movement patterns while maintaining high levels of interpretability

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics


title: Examining and improving the timekeeping accuracy of Android

contributor:
Yang, Yixin (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Diamond, Jim) (Thesis advisor)
(Lee, Greg) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Computer Science

abstract:
This thesis investigates timekeeping on Android phones, including how well or poorly Android does on timekeeping, and whether there is any method to improve Android’s timekeeping.  The Android system primarily uses two approaches, NITZ and SNTP, to  synchronize  its  system  clock  to  UTC.   This  thesis  explains  how  these  two  approaches work, and (by analyzing the Android source code) how Android uses them
to  synchronize  its  time  with  UTC.   In  order  to  find  out  the  level  of  accuracy  that NITZ and SNTP can deliver on Android phones, experiments were done on several Android phones to examine how the estimated clock difference between the phone and a laptop running ntpd changes over time.  This thesis also discusses three possible methods to achieve better timekeeping on Android:  installing clock synchronization application, modifying the Android source code, and installing custom ROMs.


title: "Hessians" in Annapolis County

contributor:
Sutherland, Ira Maxwell (author)
(Longley, R.S.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1956

abstract:
No abstract
History & Classics


title: "A student is a student, a type, seldom more": The Acadia (University) Athenaeum, student culture, and the definition of the Christian gentleman,1885-1920

contributor:
Jensen, Stefan P. T. (author)
(Thomas, John) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1998

abstract:
This thesis examines an important element of student culture of Acadia University between 1885 and 1920. Using The Acadia Athenaeum as its primary source, this thesis argues that Acadia University sought to cultivate in its students the values and beliefs that would transform them from young men into Christian gentlemen.
This thesis reveals that young men at Acadia University learned chivalry, manners, honor, and respect from the model of the Christian gentleman. Gentlemanliness was also influenced by evangelicalism, which profoundly shaped student culture at Acadia.
The British Empire had reached the apex of its power and influence during the period under investigation, and Acadia students respected its greatness. Students integrated British-Canadian modes of behaviour into
the model of Christian gentlemanliness. One of the most important beliefs of the British Canadians was the "vertical mosaic", which ranked the nationalities and races of the world in a way that justified the self-styled
racial superiority of British Canadians, which Acadia students embraced.

abstract: History & Classics


title: Evaluating Alewife passage efficiency at a modified culvert on Robinson Brook, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada

contributor:
Le, Travis V. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Stokesbury, Michael) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2020

abstract: Biology

abstract: Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) are an anadromous species of herring that live in the Atlantic Ocean From South Carolina USA, North to Newfoundland Canada. Adult Alewife spend most of their life in the ocean and only return to freshwater lakes to spawn. Alewife hold ecological value as a marine and freshwater  species  when  they  migrate  and  bring  marine  derived  nutrients  in  freshwater  systems. Although there has been research conducted on various styles of fishways and their efficiency, there is little information about the effects of culverts on migration runs of Alewife. Culverts are typically not monitored in any capacity and often create a barrier that prevents Alewife from reaching their natal spawning grounds. This can have a negative impact on the ecosystems as they are prey and predator species. In this study I assessed the passage efficiency of a culvert that is located on Robinson Brook, as well as factors that  contribute to  the efficiency rate. 291 Alewife were tagged  at Robinson brook Culvert to determine the passage efficiency. It was determined that only nine percent of Alewife were successful in ascending the culvert. There was also no significant size difference between the alewife that were detected at the downstream antenna and those that attempted to ascend the fishway indicating that  size  selectivity  may  not  present  at  heavily  obstructed  fishways. The  low  success  rate  can  be attributed to the design of the  culvert.  The smooth concrete bottom increases water velocity beyond the swimming abilities of the Alewife. The culvert also creates a vertical overhang that makes make difficult for Alewife to ascend the fishway.