title: Leg dominance and asymmetry effects on neuromuscular activation patterns of pre-pubescent and post pubescent male and female athletes during walking and unanticipated side-cutting maneuvers: Relevance to non-contact ACL injuries

contributor:
Ross, Kathleen B. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Landry, Scott) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an essential stabilizer of the knee. Non-contact ACL injuries often occur while performing sporting maneuvers such as unanticipated cutting. Studies have shown that leg dominance may predispose athletes to non-contact ACL injuries by placing both limbs at an increased risk. Analyzing asymmetry and dominance in pre- and post-pubescent athletes may help to identify those at increased risk of sustaining an ACL injury and such findings would be valuable in enhancing current injury prevention programs. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate differences in neuromuscular activation patterns of the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteus medius muscles of pre- and post-pubescent male and female athletes during walking and unanticipated side-cutting maneuvers. In doing so, a comprehensive testing protocol was developed at the John MacIntyre motion Laboratory of Applied Biomechanics (mLAB)
to enable further longitudinal research on ACL injury risk factors to occur. Court and field athletes (male=37, female=40) were recruited from Acadia University varsity programs and local youth sport organizations.  Of the females, 23 were categorized as pre-pubescent (age = 10.61 yr±1.34, height = 148.26cm ±8.49, weight = 39.53kg ±8.36) and 17 categorized as post-pubescent (age = 20.47 yr±1.01, height = 169.07cm ±7.95, weight = 66.24kg ±9.26). Of the males, 20 were categorized as pre-pubescent (age = 10.60 yr±1.60, height = 143.48cm ±24.86, weight = 39.57kg ±10.24) and 17 were categorized as post-pubescent (age = 21.47 yr±2.07, height = 182.17cm ±6.63, weight = 85.13kg ±10.52). Walking and unanticipated side-cutting protocols were used to analyze quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteus medius muscle activation patterns using 16 wireless electromyography electrodes, a 12-camera motion capture system, and three force platforms. Two methods were used to analyze the walking and unanticipated side-cutting data. First, two-way repeated measures ANOVAs (p≤ 0.05) were used to compare the effect of task (walking versus cutting) and dominance (dominant versus non-dominant) on neuromuscular activation patterns of the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteus medius muscles. Second, two-way between subjects ANOVAs (p≤ 0.05) were used to compare the effect of sex (male versus female) and age (pre-pubescent versus
post-pubescent) on the neuromuscular activation patterns of the same muscle groups. Multiple Bonferroni corrected pairwise comparisons were performed on the data when an interaction effect was identified for a particular measure.
Overall, method one results found that the pre-pubescent female group had significantly greater maximum neuromuscular activation of the medial hamstring on the non-dominant leg during both the walking and side-cutting trials when compared to the dominant leg. As well, results from the pairwise comparison showed that for the pre-and post-pubescent males, the
vastus lateralis(VL) on the dominant leg was significantly more activated than the non-dominant leg during the side-cutting trials. Method two results found that the pre-and post-pubescent male athletes were significantly more asymmetrical for the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and gluteus medius (GM) when performing the walking and side-cutting maneuvers in comparison to the respective female groups. Furthermore, the pre-pubescent males and females were significantly more
asymmetrical for the VL and GM when compared to the respective post-pubescent groups. These findings provide some insight into the influence that dominance and asymmetry may have as a risk factor for non-contact ACL injuries in athletes.

abstract: Kinesiology


title: The mitochondrial H-ORF of the Swan mussel Anodonta cygnea: Analyzing the expression of a unique genetic region

type: Text Dissertation/Thesis

contributor:
Veinot, Sarah (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Stewart, Donald) (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 2017

abstract: In most animal species mitochondria are inherited maternally, though some species of bivalves are capable of transmitting their mtDNA through a system called “doubly uniparental inheritance” (DUI). Under DUI, daughters still inherit their mother’s mtDNA maternally, but males inherit mtDNA from both parents and segregate it into different tissues (female in the somatic, male in the germ line), creating a mitochondrial lineage that is distinct from the female one. The genomes of freshwater mussels have been shown to contain unique gender-associated open reading frames (ORFs) called M-ORFs, F-ORFs, and H-ORFS (found in males, females, and hermaphrodites respectively) that are strongly expressed within the gonad tissues of their respective sex. The H-ORF is of particular interest because previous work has shown that it is typically a highly divergent version of the F-ORF, and it is hypothesized that sequence divergence may have caused a change in gene function through differential expression. The H-ORF of the hermaphroditic species, the Swan mussel, Anodonta cygnea, as sequenced and characterized; expression was examined using reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and various combinations of newly designed H-ORF primers. Early RT-PCR reactions showed promise for the H-ORF being present in the transcriptome, but the results have been non-duplicable and at this time inconclusive. If the H-ORF is present in the transcriptome, its expression levels should be compared to other mitochondrial genes to determine the likelihood that it is a functional protein. If it is functional, it is possible that it plays a role in the sex determination system of hermaphroditic mussels.

abstract: Biology


title: Examining varsity and club athletes' attitudes towards performance-enhancing drugs and nutritional supplements

contributor:
Woolridge, Carolyn (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Shields, Chris) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
There are reports of doping as far back as 668 BC, with Ancient Greeks and Roman Gladiators using alcohol and stimulants as a part of their training regimen. In response to the long history of doping, a commensurate rise in anti-doping efforts has
occurred to try to prevent and cease the use of banned drugs in sport. Evidence suggests that athletes hold primarily
negative attitudes toward “doping” in sport; however, studies show athletes report a number of reasons why they could
justify taking performance-enhancing substances, with attitudes differing depending on the sport and the gender of the athlete. For example, one study found that those in contact sports had attitudes that mirrored “masculine” attitudes, while
athletes in non-contact sports demonstrated attitudes that were more in line with “feminine” point of view. It is recognized that there is research regarding athletes’ attitudes towards drug use in sport, yet despite the negative consequences–some
athletes still feel the need to use performance-enhancing drugs. Moreover, there is a proliferation of nutritional supplements available to athletes; however, there is minimal research regarding the attitudes towards the use of supplements, particularly research that includes gender and sport differences.

abstract: Kinesiology


title: Are there differences between how organizations promote their commitment to workplace diversity and how they enact it within their organizations?

contributor:
Hickson, Georgia (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Dye, Kelly) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract: Business


title: Exploring the genetic basis of autoimmune disease through the differential expression of FOXP3 in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) following in dietary sodium.

contributor:
MacLean, Leah Kathleen (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Easy, Russell) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Autoimmunity exhibits a female bias which is consistent across many disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), and rheumatoid arthritis. However, much of the interplay between environment, sex and autoimmunity is not understood. FoxP3 is the primary transcription factor controlling the development of regulatory T cells (Tregs) which help control the immune system through suppressive effects. This study aims to evaluate how an increase in dietary sodium affects the expression of zFoxP3. Additionally, this study examines if  zFoxP3is differentially expressed between males and females. Zebrafish were separated into test and control groups with each group having equal numbers of male and female fish. Following an acclimation period, the diet of the test fish was modified to include a ten-times increase in sodium concentration. Three male and three female zebrafish from each group were sampled at 1, 2, and 4 weeks following the introduction of the increased sodium diet. Total RNA was extracted from gill tissue, followed by cDNA generation. Differential expression of zFoxP3 was evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Analysis of the qPCR results confirm a single product generation, and suggest that zFoxP3is not significantly differentially expressed between different groups. Further analyses will aid to fill gaps in the relationship between causative factors and the development of
autoimmunity

abstract: Biology


title: "Because it's 2015": Gendered media framing and the 2015 federal cabinet announcement

contributor:
Newcombe, Abigail A. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Crandall, Erin) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The objective of this thesis is to examine whether the media coverage of the 2015 federalcabinet announcement marked a shift in how media cover women in Canadian politics. This cabinet announcement is particularly interesting as a case study
because women made up 50% of the cabinet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Given this gender equality, in theory there should be comparable media coverage between men and women cabinet ministers. If all things were equal, one could hypothesize that gender would not play a distinctive role in media coverage.

 In order to determine if there has been a shift in the way that female politicians are depicted in the media, this thesis asks three questions: if the media covered the cabinet announcement through a gendered lens, if the media covered the appointment of women cabinet ministers differently from male cabinet ministers, and if there are differences between newspapers in their coverage. These questions are answered through an inductive content media analysis, using three Canadian newspapers (the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, and the National Post). The results of the content analysis indicate that there was not a shift in the way that female politicians were depicted in the media, and that the media still portrayed female politicians in a way that emphasized their abnormality in the political sphere. This type of coverage also varies between newspaper’s, and appears to be dictated by the newspaper dominant political leaning.

abstract: Politics


title: Political correctness or contested politics?

contributor:
Glazier, Sarah E. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Whitehall, Geoffrey) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The aim of this project is to investigate the contested nature of political correctness. As a concept, political correctness appears to mean different things to different people. The main objective of this thesis is to answer the question of why political correctness appears to be so divisive. To engage in this discussion, I claim that political correctness contains
competing discourses that allows for different meanings. I explore three of the dominant discourses that are embedded within political correctness, 1) freedom of speech; 2) censorship; and 3) moral panic. Each discourse demonstrates a different context that political correctness is represented, however they are not political correctness. The discourse of moral panic however creates a framework for discussing freedom of speech and censorship. Ultimately, I argue that political correctness incorporates different discourses that allow it to be utilized for different political ends. It is the coming together of these discourses that shapes its meaning.

abstract: Politics


title: The influence of training stress on executive functions and brain metabolism within female varsity soccer players

contributor:
Drisdelle, Sara A.J. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Mekary, Saïd) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The presence of stress in an individual’s life can create varying responses within their body, depending on the characteristics of the specific stimuli. Student-athletes are met with a range of athletic and academic stressors that can create significant physical, mental, and emotional consequences if not dealt with appropriately.

In an effort to improve sport performance, athletes  are often exposed to periodic increases of athletic stressors, such as
enhanced intensity, duration, or frequency of a workout. When provided with a proper stress and recovery balance, an athlete should experience performance improvements over time; however, when an amplified level of training continues without suitable rest, a training maladaptation may arise, consequently impacting their performance abilities as well as their overall health.

Although physical exercise has been shown to improve cognitive performance, an increased level of athletic training without adequate rest can create the opposite effect. Executive functions, such as reaction time and inhibition, are impacted negatively by training fatigue. Additionally, it has been well established that the physiological (i.e., brain activation) and psychological health of an athlete (i.e., their mood state) can also be strongly influenced by athletic stress and energy levels.

To the author’s knowledge, no previous studies have examined the influence of training fatigue on executive functions and brain activation in female varsity athletes. A stronger understanding of the biological reactions that evolve within the body when under training stress may allow for more appropriate efforts to be made to reduce the prevalence of training maladaptation and furthermore, athletic burnout.

abstract: Kinesiology


title: Generation of synthetic speech from a neural network output

contributor:
Main, Martin J. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Silver, Daniel L.) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The primary goal of this research has been to create a computer system that replicates the  human  ability  to  learn  how  to  speak.   Specifically,  it  is  to  create  a  computer representation of a speech system that can learn how to reproduce the sounds that it hears.  The system possesses components analogous to the human speech system, using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to emulate aspects of the human auditory system,  and  GNU  Speech’s  articulatory  speech  synthesizer  to  emulate  the  human vocal  tract.   A  genetic  algorithm  is  implemented  which  produces  a  speech  vector to pass to GNU Speech.  An FFT of the audio coming from the speech synthesizer is compared against the FFT of the training audio as a fitness function to developcandidates of the genetic algorithm. The genetic algorithm is executed many times for many different speech sounds, and the resulting FFT-speech vector pairs are compiled into training examples used to train an artificial neural network.

The genetic algorithm is able to produce audio examples that are 71% recognizable to human listeners, and the artificial neural network is able to model these examples with  75%  accuracy.   Experiments  reveal  that  there  is  a  limitation  in  the  ability  of GNU Speech to accurately reproduce human speech, so a certain portion of the erroris due to this inability.  Experiments also reveal that there are limitations to the FFTs capacity to represent the sound for this application, which also explains where some of the error is introduced.

abstract: Computer Science


title: Comparative genetic analysis  of Crocanthemum canadense (L.) Michx. plants of known pedigree (Chasmogamous- or  cleistogamous-derived seeds) using amplified fragment length polymorphisms.

contributor:
Gillis, Erica L. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Evans, Rodger) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Crocanthemum canadense(L.) Michx., commonly known as Rockrose, is an endangered plant native to northeastern North America. Rockrose has a dual breeding system producing two types of flowers in different locations on the same plant in the same growing season: chasmogamous (cross-fertilizing) flowers and cleistogamous (self-fertilizing) flowers. Yorke et al.
(2011) showed Nova Scotia populations of Rockrose had the lowest genetic variation of those examined in its northeastern limit. These results left the question of whether an underlying reason exists beyond disjunction, such as reproductive influences, for the reduced genetic variation in Nova Scotia.  Additionally, several new populations were discovered in Annapolis Valley along Highway 201 and on the Greenwood Air Force Base.  Amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) were used to measure and compare genetic diversity of plants of known pedigree and individuals belonging to
newly discovered populations.  Data were examined with analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), and a neighbour-joining tree to illustrate relationships among individuals and populations. It was determined no significant genetic variance existed between plants raised from cleistogamous or chasmogamous seeds.
Very little genetic diversity was found between new populations examined, and a comparison against old populations
also revealed very little genetic variation.  Low population variance is likely due to continual inbreeding and low rates of cross-fertilization due to isolated, small populationspresent in Nova Scotia.  Implications from this research may inform
future conservation decisions.  Potential breeding projects can use seeds produced by either cleistogamous or chasmogamous flowers without compromising the genetic integrity of Nova Scotia populations.

abstract: Environmental & Sustainability Studies


title: Separate and unequal: An examination of the relationship between colonialism and incarceration rates amongst Aboriginal youth in Canada

contributor:
Kwan, Katrina (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Crandall, Erin) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract: The overrepresentation of Aboriginal youth in the Canadian incarceration system has been the result of decades of systemic discrimination, beginning first and foremost with the interactions between Aboriginal peoples and the first European settlers. Through a process of delegitimization and removal of political agency through settler colonial policies and institutions, Aboriginal peoples across Canada were subject to lower qualities of life and isolation from mainstream society. Over time, such discriminatory practices were folded into governing institutions, resulting in the perpetuation of mistreatment extending beyond judicial sentencing. This thesis takes an historical institutionalist approach to trace the development of contemporary norms that affect the treatment of minority groups, making particular note of the emergence of privilege as a phenomenon and similarities found in other settler colonial states, including the United States and Australia. By unpacking and analyzing the flaws that exist within governing institutions, this thesis considers several approaches that may help to address the overrepresentation of Aboriginals in Canadian custody.

abstract: Politics


title: Age and size selectivity of the Gaspereau River Alewife Fishery: Implications for the assessment of this stock

contributor:
Billard, Mark C. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Redden, Anna) (Thesis advisor)
(Gibson, Jamie) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Biological reference points	 are	metrics based on	the	biological characteristics of a fish stock and its fishery. They provide	the	link	between stock assessment and management objectives, and are used to gauge whether management	objectives are being achieved.	Age	and	size can influence the impacts of a specific harvest rate depending on whether younger,	 smaller	or	o
lder,	larger	fish	are	being	harvested.
A
fishery	that	is	selective	for	certain	age	classes
w
ould	have	different
biological	reference
point
s	for	the
stock,	and	could	require	different	management	of	the	fishery.
In	this
study,
I
examined	the	selectivity	of	a	commercial	alewife	fishery	on	the	Gaspereau	River,
Nova	Scotia.
Alewife	(
Alosa	pseudoharengus
)	is	a	diadromous,	herring
-
like	fish	species
that	spawn	in	the	rivers	and	lakes	along	the	eastern	seaboard	of	North	America.	Alewife
are	fished	throughout	their	range	as	they	return	to	their	natal	rivers	to	spawn.	In
s
pring
2016,
biological	characteristics
,	including	weight,	fork	length,	sex,	and	age	data	were
collected	from	alewife	sampled	at	a	commercial	fisher’s	stand,	and	at	a	fish
ladder	4
km
upriver.	Data	were	used	to	reconstruct	numbers
-
at
-
age	for	the	total	run.
S
ignificant
difference
s
w
ere
found	in	mean	fork	length,	weight,	age,	and
proportion
of	repeat
spawners	between	the	two	sampling	locations,	indicating	that	the	fishery	is
highly
selective.	Selectivity	was	calculated	for	age	classes	three	through	s
ix
,	incorporated	into
the
calculations	for	the
b
iological	reference	points
for	this	fishery,	and	compared	to
existing
b
iological	reference	points
based	on	the	assumption	the	fisher
y	is	non
-
selective.
Although
this	study	shows
the	fishery	is	selective,	effects	on	the
biological	reference
points
were
minor,	likely	due	to	the	absence	of	immature	fish	in	the

abstract: Biology


title: You won’t believe what these four theorists think about social media (number three will shock): The role of political theory in understanding social media

contributor:
MacLeod, Justin W. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Whitehall, Geoffrey) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
This thesis looks at cotemporary studies of political theory and applies them to our contemporary understanding of communications through social media. This thesis took ten articles from the academic journal Social Media + Society
and applied the works of Theodor Adorno, Jürgen Habermas, Jean Baudrillard and Jodi Dean to determine what the key
trendsin contemporary literature surrounding social media were. These trends were then broken down to draw conclusions as to whether or the theorists under consideration remain relevant, as well as determining the relevancy of
postmodernism as an area of study. This thesis concludes that postmodern theory is largely overlooked, and that the work of Jürgen Habermas and Theodor Adorno remains relevant tin current communications theory.

abstract: Politics


title: The synthesis of novel Stannylenes and testing their reactivity towards forming heavy element multiple bonds

contributor:
Johnson, Michelle L. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Ellis, Bobby) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The syntheses of several N,N-bound stannylenes (Sn(NR2)2, NR2= Mes2Mal and Dipp2Nacnac) and N,C-bound stannylenes
(ArSnNiPr2, Ar = Mes, Tripp, TerMes, and Mes*) were attempted, but the stannylenes were unable to be isolated.  The syntheses of several compounds featuring heavy element multiple bonds were also attempted using a bis(amido)stannylene (Sn(N(TMS)2)2 and nitrogen (TMSN3) and phosphorus reagents ((TrippP)3, (MesP)4, and (PhP)5). Only the reaction with TMSN3 resulted in a product consistent with having a tin-nitrogen double bond. The redox chemistry
of bis(amindo)stannylene was also further investigated through a cycloaddition reaction with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene which yielded a tin heterocyclic product. Reaction products were characterized by 1H, 13C{1H },31P{1H}, and 119Sn{1H} nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Further work is necessary to confirm the tin-nitrogen double bond geometry and determine its reactivity as well as to optimize the synthesis conditions.

abstract: Chemistry


title: Efficacy of probiotics in improving memory and symptoms of anxiety and ADHD in children: A double-blind study

contributor:
Morley, Nicole A. (author)
Acadia University (degree_grantor)
(Potter, Susan) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2016

abstract:
In a world where there are limited treatments that do not have adverse side effects for children affected by anxiety and/or ADHD, the current study examined the therapeutic potential of probiotics for these conditions. The effects of probiotics on
anxiety, ADHD, and memory were assessed in children aged 6 to 14 years. Participants (n=21) consumed probiotics or placebo for 4 weeks. Outcome measures included the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (Parent & Child
versions), the Child Disruptive Behaviour Disorders Rating Scale (ADHD items only) and memory tests (visual & verbal). As hypothesized, visual memory improved in the probiotic, compared to the placebo, condition. Hyperactivity also improved, but in both groups. There were no other significant effects on any of the measures. However, many results were in the
hypothesized direction. With a larger sample size, perhaps these results would reach significance

abstract: Psychology


title: Response of primary myoblast cultures isolated from Duchenne muscular dystrophy mouse models to inflammatory stimuli and inhibitors

contributor: (Uaesoontrachon, Kitipong) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2016

abstract:
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of diseases that result in progressive muscle weakness. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive form of MD that results from the absence of the protein dystrophin. As a result, muscle fibre
membranes are damaged upon contraction to the extent that the natural regenerative properties of muscle, normally provided by primary myoblasts, are exhausted. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible role that primary myoblasts play in muscle inflammation that is observed in DMD patients. Primary myoblasts were isolated from the new
murine model of DMD, D2.B10-Dmdmdx (DBA/mdx), and a purification procedure was standardized based on the adherence properties of primary myoblasts. Cultures were treated with five inflammatory stimulating treatments: lipopolysaccharide (LPS), single-stranded RNA (ssRNA), Toll-like receptor (TLR)-7 agonist, TLR-8 agonist and TLR-9 agonist. Cultures were also treated with a commercially available inflammatory inhibitor, prednisolone, and Compound #1, which is under confidential agreement between the provider and AGADA Biosciences Inc. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), the expression level of inflammatory genes of interest was determined in primary myoblast cultures in response to the aforementioned stimuli. Results indicated that these cells not only possess TLR-7, TLR-8 and TLR-9, but
also play a role in the inflammatory response. Additionally, inhibition of this inflammatory response was observed as a result of Compound #1 and prednisolone treatment. The identification of primary myoblasts being involved in the inflammatory response further develops our understanding of this complex response, and also offers a less expensive and more efficient in vitro option for pre-clinical drug trials for DMD.

abstract: Biology


title: Interrogating a label: An autoethnographic account of a man and feminism

contributor:
Murphy, Liam Patrick (author)
Acadia University (degree_grantor)
(Dahringer, Heather) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2016

abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to host a discussion around men and feminism, in an attempt to sort out whether or not men may be considered feminists, or if that is a question worth asking. This thesis is written through a layered autoethnography, coupling my personal experience with existing feminist literature. An autoethnography is an incredibly personal research method. WhileI conclude it to be immaterial whether or not men may be considered feminists, I also expand my own thinking through a personalized academic journey.

abstract: Sociology


title: Infection dynamics of Hepatozoon clamatae and Hepatozoon catesbianae in green frogs, Rana clamitans

contributor:
Lepage, Candis Danielle Jean (author)
Acadia University (degree_grantor)
(Smith, Todd) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2016

abstract:
Hepatozoon clamatae and Hepatozoon catesbianae are malaria-like erythocytic parasites that preferentially infect the erythrocytes of green frogs and bullfrogs, respectively, and often occur simultaneously in both species. The purpose of this research was to monitor parasitaemia (i.e., infection levels) in laboratory-raised green frogs, infected with various combinations of Hepatozoon clamatae and Hepatozoon catesbianae, to investigate competition that may occur between
the two parasite species within experimentally infected green frogs. PCR technology was used to develop a method of
differentiating between the two Hepatozoon species at the molecular level to allow more accurate evaluation of infection
levels. Source frogs naturally infected with one or both Hepatozoon species, and larvae and pupae of the mosquito vector,
Culex territans, were caught from ponds in Kings County, Nova Scotia. Mosquitoes were fed on source frogs to acquire infection, and were later fed to laboratory-raised frogs. Parasitaemia was monitored every 10 days for 120 days. Due to the occurrence of asexual division, or erythrocytic merogony, in cohorts 3, 4, and 5, differentiation between species was not made until 80 days post-inoculation. Based on the linear mixed-effects model, it was determined that in the instance of a pure H. clamatae infection, there is a significant decrease in parasitaemia between 80 and 100 days, while in contrast,the same decrease is not found in the case of mixed infections. This suggests that there is a phenomenon occurring in mixed infections that causes parasitaemia to remain constant. Additionally, with a 3:1 mixed infection of H. clamatae to H. catesbianae, the proportion of H. clamatae remained significantly higher than H. catesbianae; however the details regarding the specific interaction between the two parasites could not be fully resolved

abstract: Biology


title: Annual cycle in body mass and organ size in long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis

contributor:
Mahoney, Savannah (author)
Acadia University (degree_grantor)
(Mallory, Mark) (Thesis advisor)
(Shutler, Dave) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2016

abstract:
Organ use varies throughout the annual cycle of various organisms. Tradeoffs between functional importance and cost of organ maintenance therefore change at different time periods. Many migratory birds have cycles of atrophy and hypertrophy in different organs to accommodate these tradeoffs, thereby adjusting nutrient allocation to tissues to match
their energetic needs. These cycles have not been studied yet in long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis). This study focused on adjustments in organ size and body mass during three distinct time periods in the lifecycle of long-tailed ducks: pre-breeding, breeding, and migration. Over 150 long-tailed ducks were collected at several Canadian field locations over a period of three years, and from those carcasses I conducted dissections, recorded body mass and the size of hearts, gizzards, and livers. Results indicate that overall body mass increases over the year, heart size does not change, and liver and gizzard atrophy during breeding and hypertrophy during migration. Patterns were similar for females and males. This study provides support for the hypothesis that adjustment of organ size throughout the annual cycle is an adaptive trait exhibited by long-tailed ducks.

abstract: Biology


title: Female autodetection and plasticity of pheromone response in the corn earworm moth  Helicoverpa zea

contributor:
Gjelaj, Ersa (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Hillier, Kirk) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract: Most studies on insect olfaction have focused on males responding to female sex pheromones, in part due to assumptions that females were anosmic to sex pheromones. However, recently ‘autodetection’ (the ability for females to detect and respond to conspecific female sex pheromones) has been observed in female moths in the family Heliothinae.  The objectives of this study were to examine the functional importance of autodetection in Helicoverpa zea by determining what chemicals and concentrations result in a physiological and behavioural response, the genetic basis correlating to response, and whether olfactory habituation contributes to compound sensitivity in females. Sensitivity to major and minor pheromone components was tested by behavioral bioassays and electroantennograms (EAG), and RT-PCR and qPCR techniques were used to determine and quantify the expression of olfactory receptors (ORs). All methods were carried out on two treatment groups; habituated, or ‘grouped’ females, and naïve, ‘ungrouped’ females.  Behavioural trials suggest that females engaged in a ‘spacing behavior’ in response to two key compounds, with greater response in the ungrouped females. EAG responses showed statistically significant differences between concentrations of compounds, as well as grouped and ungrouped treatments. Finally, there is strong supporting evidence that there is greater expression of OR genes in the ungrouped treatment. Discovery that habituated females have a decreased peripheral sensitivity to compound due to down-regulation of their olfactory receptors could have major implications in how laboratory experiments are conducted, as well as providing additional knowledge for use of pheromone based mating disruption strategies.

abstract: Biology


title: The synthesis of N,C-Bound phosphenium cations and reactivity studies with hydrogen, ammonia and carbon dioxide

contributor:
Chahine, Soleil (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Ellis, Bobby) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The scientific community  is moving  towards eco-friendlier practices. Two areas that pose environmental concern are the emission of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and the storage  of gases, like  hydrogen and ammonia. N,C-Bound carbenes (R2N–C–R’) activate ammonia and hydrogen, so it is hypothesized that N,C-bound phosphenium cations (R2N–P+–R’) will  also  activate  these  molecules  due  to  similar  reactivity  to  carbenes.  If successful, phosphenium cations would be a more cost-effective alternative to carbenes as an  industrial method of reducing greenhouse gases  and storing gases.  The study  of N,C-bound  phosphenium  cations  is  a  very  new  and  promising  field in main  group  chemistry research, as only two  synthesized  examples  of  these  compounds have  been reported  in literature.

A  series  of  phosphenium  cations were synthesized  using  combinations  of  the following   carbon-bound   groups: 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,4,6-triisoproylphenyl, 2,6-diisoproylphenyl and 2,6-dimesitylphenyl, and  the  following  nitrogen-bound  groups: diisopropylamine and   dicyclohexylamine. The   synthesis   of different salts   of   the phosphenium  cation
was  attempted,  using  the  following  anions:  tetrachloroaluminate, tetrafluoroborate and trifluoromethanesulfonate
triflate. Solutions of the salts were treated with excess amounts of small molecule reagents (carbon dioxide, hydrogen and ammonia). The resulting products were characterized by 31P, 13C and 1H NMR spectroscopy.

abstract: Chemistry


title: The role of numeracy, reading comprehension, and decision-making styles in the cognitive reflection test

contributor:
Keddy, Sarah (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Mehta, Rick) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) is a three-item measure that contains problems that produce an incorrect intuitive response; the correct response requires deliberation. Three new versions of the CRT have been created: CRT 4, CRT-L, and
CRT-2. Stepwise regression analyses were used to examine the extent to which three variables were predictive of performance on each version among 95 undergraduates: numeracy, decision making styles, and reading comprehension.
Results showed that one measure of numeracy and reading comprehension were predictive of performance on the original CRT, two measures of numeracy were predictive of performance on CRT-4, rationality and two measures of numeracy were predictive of performance on CRT-L, and rationality was predictive of performance on CRT-2. These results suggest that each version has different qualities and each should therefore be used in different ways.

abstract: Psychology


title: The effects of aerobic exercise intensity on cognition in adults aged 18-45

contributor:
Earle, Meghan J. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Mekary, Saïd) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
As rates of obesity and disease related to sedentary behaviour continue to rise in today’s society, the role that exercise plays in achieving a healthy lifestyle is becoming increasingly important. Considering government  health care spending,
exercise is a cost-effective way to intervene and combat against chronic disease and ageing. To date, it is still debated which exercise interventions are the most effective in achieving proper fitness and health standards for different populations.

Aerobic exercise provides increases in cardiorespiratory fitness, therefore lowering the risk of premature death and allowing individuals to complete activities of daily living. Moderate-intensity interval exercise (MICE) has displayed a positive effect on the peripheral aspects of cardiorespiratory fitness, while the increasingly popular high-intensity interval exercise
(HIIE) has greater influences on the central components of aerobic fitness.

With the prevalence of dementia and other conditions that are related to the brain’s executive functions, many efforts have been placed on finding pharmacological treatment to reverse the effects. Exercise has the capability to act as a primary intervention for delaying the onset of these conditions if maintained throughout an individual’s lifespan. While it has been shown that aerobic exercise can increase a person’s level of executive functioning, it is still unknown whether there is a superior intensity of exercise that yields enhanced effects. At the time of this study, the literature did not reveal a superior exercise intensity to combat cognitive decline in humans. This study aims determine whether there is a difference in the effects that MICE and HIIE have on executive functioning after a 6 week stationary cycle exercise program.

abstract: Kinesiology


title: Effects of a custom made mandibular repositioning mouthguard on airway dynamics and aerobic performance in trained cyclists

contributor:
Osborne, Sarah J. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Murphy, René) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
When  optional,  athletes  often  opt  out  of  wearing  mouthguards  in  fear  of  being subjected to obstructed breathing or discomfort. Commercialization of the devices led to progressive advances in design, as manufacturers addressed the
criticisms put forth by the athletes.  The  role  of  mouthguards  in  sport  is  expanding  beyond  their  protective  use,  as
research has begun to investigate the potential for certain designs to induce performance enhancing effects. In recent years, manufacturers have incorporated the jaw-repositioning dental technique  into  mouthguard  designs,  in  the  pursuit  of  developing  a  product  that induces ergogenic effects  through  facilitation  of  improved  airway  dynamics. Anterior
advancement  of  the  mandible  has  commonly  been  associated  with  increased  airway  size and is a jaw-repositioning technique that is prevalent in the treatment of disorders that are characterized  by  closing  of  the  airway. The  purpose  of  this  study  was  to  investigate  the influence of  a  mandibular  repositioning  mouthguard on  cardiorespiratory parameters during maximal exercise intensity in  cyclists  who  are  presumed  to  be  limited  by  the respiratory  system.  Results  indicated  that  the  mouthguard  produced  no statistically significant  effects  on  airway  size  or aerobic  performance  variables.  However,  the majority  of  the  subjects  exhibited  increases  in  airway  volume  and  maximal  oxygen uptake when the custom designed mouthguard was worn.

abstract: Kinesiology


title: Adult attachment style and caregiver attitudes before and after raising a virtual child: Is avoidance related to negative attitudes?

contributor:
Hutchins, Sarah A. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Symons, Doug) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Raising a child virtually is advantageous as it allows for faster development while in a controlled setting. A previous study had participants raise a virtual child while adult attachment style and caregiver attitudes towards the child were examined with self-report questionnaires. Results indicated that individuals developed feelings for their on-line children, and that avoidant adult attachment style was related to negative parental attitudes. The present study attempted to replicate such findings, while adding a published measure and assessing variables both before and after the task. With intercorrelation
sand hierarchal regression analyses, results indicated that those higher in avoidance were less willing to serve as an attachment figure for their virtual child. In contrast to hypotheses, the other two caregiver measures were not significantly related to attachment, nor was the published parent-child relationship measure at either time.

abstract: Psychology


title: Wolfville local food bucks: A farmers' market coupon program designed to increase community food security

contributor:
Wall, Jessica (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Warner, Alan) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Millions of people go hungry in Canada each day, and this issue has been addressed by food banks, community food centres, and other models. An alternative model is coupon programs where low-income families receive weekly vouchers
for their local farmers’ market to purchase more fresh foods. There is research to support the effectiveness of coupon programs in the United States, but limited information pertaining to Canada. Prior to conducting this study, there were no
records of any farmers’ market coupon programs in Atlantic Canada.

The purpose of this research was to explore how best to design a farmers' market food coupon program to increase the access of fresh local food for people with low incomes in rural areas. This was done through a six-week pilot project in Wolfville, Nova Scotia where 17 people received weekly farmers’ market coupons. Participants were identified by the local
bank and were involved in the design and evaluation of the program through pre- and post-interviews.

The program helped overcome the barriers of price, transportation, and seasonality and people’s produce consumption
increased from 2.12 to 2.940 servings of fruits and vegetables during the program. There were no restrictions on the coupons and 91% were spent on food. Overall, this program was successful and it also helped increase participants’ social
support networks. Local food must be affordable and accessible to achieve community food security. The lessons learned
from this pilot project can provide insight to future planning for programs of this nature in other rural communities in
Atlantic Canada and beyond.

abstract: Community Development


title: The Role of community art in placemaking and community development

contributor:
Perry, Karlee (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Bissix, Glyn) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The purpose of this study is to determine how community art can be used as a form of community development through analyzing its impact on the community capitals. Through relevant content analysis and semi-structured interviews with appropriate field leaders, the barriers to implementing community art and recommendations for the evaluation of community art were established. These findings will be beneficial to those within the field of placemaking or community development, or those simply seeking additional information regarding community art.  The specific topics within these
findings include how community art relates to the natural, built, human, social, cultural, and commercial capitals; the cha
llenges and barriers of implementing community art projects; and recommendations for the assessment of community
art projects.

abstract: Environmental & Sustainability Studies


title: Seals in western Hudson Bay: Assessing proportions in natural and human harvests using genetic methods

contributor:
Sherbo, Bryanna (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Peterson, Stephen D.) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Arctic seals are of great importance to polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and humans, however the ecosystem that supports them is changing as the climate warms.  In spite of the importance of seals, little is known about their abundance or the relative abundance of each species. The proportion of seals harvested by hunters and seals killed by polar bears could be used to infer the naturally occurring relative abundance in Hudson Bay.  This study compares 104 seal samples harvested by hunters between 2014-2016 and 12 seal samples killed by polar bears in 2014. All samples are from Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba. Analysis of the samples determined which species: harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), ringed seal (Pusa ispida),  and bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) are killed by polar bears and humans. I developed a restriction enzyme digest to determine the species of these samples, quickly and cheaply. I found that there was no difference (p=0.998,
Freeman-Halton extension of the Fisher’s exact test) between the proportion of seals harvested by humans or by polar bears, which suggests that both polar bears and humans are harvesting seals in the proportions with which they are
encountered in this area. The data also provided insight into polar bear diet, in that they prefer ringed seals over bearded and harbour seals. Understanding predators and their prey in the Arctic is important as climate warming and changes occur in sea ice habitat that seals and polar bears rely on.

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: Examining Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Spartina patens Aiton and Spartina alterniflora Loisel in the Minas Basin, Nova Scotia

contributor:
d'Entremont, Tyler (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Walker, Allison) (Thesis advisor)
(Lopez, Juan Carlos) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Saltmarshes are one of the most productive ecosystems found worldwide, providing habitat for a diverse group of organisms. Saltmarshes form the basis for many food webs and play a role in storm buffering and coastal stabilization. Critically they serve as nursery and refuge habitat for many fishes, crustaceans and birds. Unfortunately, saltmarshes are in decline worldwide due to anthropogenic destruction, the warming global climate and sea level rise. In this study, Iexamined arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the root tissue of two dominant saltmarsh grasses, Spartina patens and Spartina
alterniflora (both Poaceae). AMF are known to colonize most plants, providing water and minerals in exchange for a carbon source. Nine sample cores were collected at the beginning, middle and end of the growth season for each species from the saltmarsh surrounding Wolfville Harbour, Nova Scotia. AMF root colonization counts were conducted using ink and vinegar staining to visualize the AMF microscopically and determine the strength of the mycorrhizal mutualism. DNA was extracted from the Spartina roots and subjected to a nested PCR to amplify the fungal ITS barcoding regions of the rDNA, purified through agarosegel extraction and re-amplified using a single general fungal primer set for sequencing. S. alterniflora showed an overall colonization rate of 9%, while S. patens exhibited a much higher colonization rate of 68%. One AMF
species (Funneliformis geosporum, Glomeraceae) was identified from both Spartina species using DNA barcoding. The data collected throughout this study may help with the conservation and restoration of saltmarshes in Nova Scotia. Knowing the strength of the mutualism and understanding the AMF species forming them will help with the production of local AMF inoculants to aid in Spartina re-establishment in Nova Scotia.

abstract: Biology


title: It's all about sex-here and now: The dynamics of heterosexual relationships at Acadia University

contributor:
Weaden, Devon (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Frank, Lesley) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The research seeks to discover students’ experiences and perspectives on dating and intimate relationships, and how they define them. By exploring the identified relationships and the rural setting of Acadia university, the research tries to uncover any correlations between those identified relationships and the isolated location of the university. By using convergent parallel mixed method that included secondary analysis on an existing Hook Up Culture survey and qualitative interviews, the results reveal that place, in particular to the rural setting of the university, shape three types of intimate
relationships in unique ways: hook ups, dating and romantic relationships. The findings reveal that the rural location of the university has an influential impact on the way that students define and engage in three distinct types of heterosexual intimate relationships: hooking up, dating and romantic relationships. Students emphasize that these relationships tend to
root from hook ups, and remain temporary due to emerging adulthood and futuristic orientations to life post university.

abstract: Sociology


title: Ironstone of the Ferrona Formation, Nova Scotia, and the biogeochemical cycling of Fe and P

contributor:
Dunn, Sarah K. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Pufahl, Peir K.) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Early Ordovician phosphatic ironstones of the Ferrona Formation, Nova Scotia, provide a unique window into the biogeochemical cycling of Fe and P at the onset of the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event (GOBE). The Great  Ordovician Biodiversification Event (ca. 480 to 445 Ma) represents the most important sustained increase in marine biodiversity in Earth history. While the Cambrian Explosion produced skeletonized organisms with a range of body plans, the GOBE records the diversification of these animals.

The Ferrona Formation is composed of at least four aggradational parasequences that record high-frequency fluctuations in relative sea-level during an overall marine transgression.  Each decameter-scale cycle reflects progradation of ironstone-
rich middle shelf deposits over deep-water mudstone, as accommodation filled.  Lithofacies associations suggest Fe and P were delivered to this storm-dominated shelf via upwelling of anoxic ferruginous waters.  Such upwelling stimulated primary production and deposition of organic matter in distal lithofacies near the locus of upwelling. As ferruginous water was advected away from the upwelling front, and mixed with oxygenated seawater, Fe-(oxyhydr) oxides precipitated in pore water to produce ironstone.  In deeper environments with minimal terrigenous clastic input, Fe-redox pumping and
bacterial respiration of sedimentary organic matter, concentrated P in pore water to precipitate sedimentary apatite.  Seemingly, these processes also operated in shoreface sediments to produce the hematite, Fe-silicate, and sedimentary apatite-rich lithofacies that characterize many ironstones around the world.

This model contrasts longstanding ideas that rely on a continental source of Fe. It also highlights the potential connection between seawater redox conditions, nutrient cycling, and biological events such as the GOBE

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: Exploring the decision to give versus withhold feedback on others' romantic relationship: An interview study

contributor:
Moult, Ryan (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Holmberg, Diane) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Previous research has explored the consequences of individuals receiving feedback from social network members about their romantic relationships. However, very little research has been conducted on what prompts members of the social network to provide such feedback. This exploratory study aimed to discover some of the factors that motivate social network members to provide disapproving feedback about relationships, and what factors might inhibit giving feedback.
It also investigated why participants disapprove of others’ relationships, how they reveal their disapproval, and how their feedback is received. Participants first completed an on-line screening survey, and then 40 participants (21 females, 16 males, and 3 transgendered individuals) were questioned in more depth using a semi-structured phone interview.
Participants were asked to discuss a time they disapproved of a family member’s relationship and a time they disapproved of a friend’s relationship. Results showed that disapproval was more commonly expressed if the social network member was close to the target participant. Social network members sometimes did not offer disapproval because they were afraid of ruining the relationship with the target participant. The most common initial reactions to expressed disapproval were
anger and/or defensiveness, and acceptance. Future research needs to be conducted to determine the optimal times and strategies for expressing disapproval to target participants, using correlational studies, and to determine if there are other factors affecting the expression of disapproval that were not identified in the current study.

abstract: Psychology


title: Mixed mating and its ecological impact on an endangered plant: Crocanthemum canadense (L.) Britt.

contributor:
Evans, Emily (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Evans, Rodger) (Thesis advisor)
(Hillier, Kirk) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Reproductive biology has important implications for the genetic makeup and demography of a population.  By playing a major role in controlling genetic diversity, the mating strategy utilized by a species can help predict the adaptability and future viability of populations. The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the unique mixed mating system utilized by an endangered plant, illuminating potential related ecological repercussions. Crocanthemum canadense(L.) Britt. (Rockrose or Canada Frostweed) is a small perennial herb listed as critically imperiled under the Nova Scotia Endangered Species Act. Rockrose exhibits a unique mixed mating system called dimorphic cleistogamy, whereby a single plant produces both cross-pollinating open flowers and self-pollinating closed flowers temporally separated within a single season. The seasonal transition from one floral type to an other was assessed by comparing several floral characteristics using various microscopic analyses. Moreover, seed production in a field-based exclusion trial and pollen-ovule ratios of flower types were compared to determine the dominant mating strategy of the plants. Seed viability characteristics were also compared between flower types to determine if a difference in fitness existed between progeny from crossed versus self-pollinated flowers. Results indicate that flowers gradually change in morphology and reproductive strategy within a season, with transitional states between dominantly cross-pollinating and obligate self-pollinating flowers. Seeds from late-season closed flowers had a lower percentage germination success than open flowers, revealing a possible decrease in fitness of progeny from closed flowers. An increase in the infestation rate of open flowers by larvae of Mompha capella in comparison to previous records in 2014 was also documented. By consuming
seeds from open flowers predispersal, the florivorous moth larva further exaggerates the number of inbred seeds produced per plant relative to outcrossed seeds, decreasing a plant’s contribution to the genetic diversity of subsequent generations and ultimately posing risks for the adaptability and success of future Rockrose population

abstract: Biology


title: Management of Delia platura, through timed planting of Phaseolus vulgaris

contributor:
Silver, Natalie (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Hillier, Kirk) (Thesis advisor)
(Blatt, Suzanne) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
All Delia spp. larvae feed on the roots of crop plants and the tissues of germinating seeds causing plant death and crop loss. Management of this species through selectively timed planting of P. vulgaris is not well understood. Here, three experiments were conducted to observe the relationship between P. vulgaris and Delia spp. pests. In experiment 1,a field study evaluated bean planting date as a potential pest management practice, P. vulgaris, planted at two week intervals, showed 14 June planting date to have the highest plant survival and mean bean number per plant, as well as lowest damage ratings compared to other planting dates. Experiment 2, a choice experiment in growth chamber investigated D. platura female varietal preference during oviposition.  Based on egg counts, no difference was found in female varietal preference, but a significantly larger number of eggs were laid at early phenological stages than later stages. Experiment 3 was a growth chamber study observing P. vulgaris response to D. platura infestation level attack. Two varieties of P. vulgaris
were infested with D. platura at two phenological stages. Higher infestation levels resulted in higher damage ratings, but no difference was observed across damage ratings between varieties or phenological stages. Results in experiments 1 and 3 showed severely damaged plants survived and compensated for damage, growing up to six beans, providing evidence of
P. vulgaris tolerance to D. platura and other Delia spp. attack.

abstract: Biology


title: Geological setting of Au-Cu-Ni-Pb occurrences in the Second Gold Brook Area, Southwestern Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia

contributor:
Chew, Taylor M. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Barr, Sandra) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Exploration and mining activity in the Gold Brook area of the southwestern Cape Breton Highlands date back to the late 1800s, and focused on auriferous quartz veins in metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks of what was then called the Precambrian George River Group. As a result of mapping in the 1980s, the metamorphic rocks were re-assigned to the Silurian Sarach Brook Metamorphic Suite (SBMS).  Subsequent work in the southern Cape Breton Highlands did not include the Gold Brook area, in spite of its apparent economic potential. Hence this study was undertaken to provide enhanced
understanding of the geology of the Gold Brook area, and included mapping, sampling, petrographic interpretations, and chemical analyses. Mapping showed that the area is underlain mainly by metavolcanic rocks interlayered with metasedimentary units including quartzite, slate, phylliite, and schist. These rocks are intruded by granite of the Bothan Brook pluton to the east and bounded by gneiss from the Middle River Metamorphic Suite in the north. Carboniferous sedimentary rocks unconformably overlie the older rocks on the west and southwest. Chemical characteristics of the mafic
metavolcanic rocks indicate they are tholeiitic and display both MORB and volcanic-arc signatures. Their chemical signatures combined with abundance of interlayered quartz-rich sedimentary rocks suggests that they may have formed in a back-arc setting. Sampling and chemical analysis showed little evidence of Au in the Study area. Some samples of massive sulphides (pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, pentlandite, sphalerite, and galena) were collected from mine waste piles but none were found in outcrop. The lack of evidence for economic mineralization in the area suggests that such occurrences may be confined to the areas of historical mining activity in Second Gold Brook.

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: Exploring community engagement in tidal energy development: Issues and challenges

contributor:
Wallace, Emma-Lynn (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Colton, John) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract: Renewable energy development has become increasingly important in Canada over the last decade.  The establishment of renewable energy targets to address greenhouse gas emissions has been the primary catalyst for this development.  Canada has recently been recognized as a world leader in the production and use of renewable energy (Natural Resources Canada, 2014).  Nova Scotia, like many other provinces, has set a renewable energy target.  This increased reliance on renewable energy, and tidal energy, has called for the industry to practice community engagement.  Community engagement though, has many issues and challenges to be considered.  The purpose of this research is to better understand key issues and challenges in stakeholder and community engagement in relation to tidal energy development in Nova Scotia.  Qualitative research in the form of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Nova Scotia tidal energy industry professionals explored key issues in stakeholder and community engagement.  Results provide insights into key issues in four thematic areas that include role of government, exploring community benefits, First Nations and stakeholders, and engagement principles and practices.

abstract: Community Development


title: An angular analysis of the B -> K*µ+µ- decay using anti-de sitter/Quantum Chromodynamics

contributor:
MacGibbon, Angus Ryan (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Sandapen, Ruben) (Thesis advisor)
(Ahmady, Mohammad) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract: Using Anti de-sitter/Quantum Chromodynamics (AdS/QCD), a new technique proposed as being complementary to traditional Lattice QCD, the complete set of angular observables in the rare B→K∗μ+μ− decay using light-front holographic B→K∗ transition form factors were predicted.  Light front holographic AdS/QCD is a relatively new technique that maps 4-dimensional non-perturbative QCD field theory to a dual gravitational theory in a higher dimensional curved space.  Whereas fields under the quantum field theory are strongly interacting, the ones using gravitational theory are weakly interacting.  This means that we can use perturbative theory in this 5-dimensional dual gravity theory, and then map it back to QCD field theory to predict non-perturbative QCD qualities.  This AdS/QCD technique is being applied in B→K∗μ+μ−,  and more specifically in this thesis,  to compute the angular observables of this decay.  Angular observables are particularly sensitive to New Physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). The anomalies previously found using Lattice QCD for the P′5 and a FB angular observables were confirmed using AdS/QCD.

abstract: Physics


title: Girls and gaming: Influencing young women to join computer science

contributor:
Thackeray, Hayly (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Trudel, Cindy) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2016

abstract:
The number of women in Computer Science has been decreasing drastically since its peak in  1982. Overall enrollment for both men and women has dropped 25% but women’s enrollment  in  Computer  Science has  dropped  92% [1].  If  society  wants  to  improve the technology sector it  needs  to  empower  women  and  encourage  women  to  join  this  field.
Information Communication Technology (ICT) jobs are currently in the most demand in Halifax [29], and yet women only make up 24% of current ICT Nova Scotian employees [29]. This  is  a  modern-day  Rosie  the  Riveter  moment  of  which society  needs  to  take advantage.  The  purpose  of  this  thesis  was  to  create  a  curriculum  that  encourages  young women to start programming and perceive Computer Science as a viable field of study. The curriculum was tested in an alpha, beta, and gamma test so it could be perfected for final delivery at  a  girl’s  Computer  Science  camp  in  August  of  2017. The  curriculum  was successful in convincing girls to consider Computer Science as a career option, successful in  encouraging  girls  to  continue  programming  after  the  event,  and  successful  in  helping girls express their individuality through programming.

abstract: Computer Science


title: Geological setting and petrology of the Rocky Brook area, Western Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

contributor:
Poirier, Simon (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Barr, Sandra) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2016

abstract: The Rocky Brook area 15 km southeast of the town of Chéticamp in the Cape Breton Highlands was mapped and sampled for petrographic and chemical studies. The area is underlain mostly by the Cambrian (?) Jumping Brook Metamorphic Suite (JBMS), bounded on the west by the Devonian Fisset Brook Formation, which in places unconformably overlies the JBMS and in other places is faulted against it, and on the east by a faulted contact with the Devonian Margaree Pluton.  The JBMS is divided into the Faribault Brook Formation, consisting mainly of metabasalt and minor metagreywacke, and the Barren Brook Formation, consisting of metagreywacke and minor metasiltstone. Geochemical data and petrographic analysis indicate that the protolith of the metabasalt is mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB). The Barren Brook Formation is inferred to overlie conformably the Faribault Brook Formation, and the two units are interpreted to have been formed in a back-arc basin based on their chemical and lithological features. Petrographic study of clasts in an area of conglomerate inferred to overlie the Barren Brook Formation shows that it contains clasts of Fisset Brook Formation basalt, constraining its age to Devonian or younger. The Jumping Brook Metamorphic Suite is intruded by several younger igneous units, including mafic and quartz-feldspar porphyry dykes, monzogranite, and stockwork-style quartz-veined quartz-feldspar porphyry. The mafic dykes are interpreted to be related to the Devonian Fisset Brook Formation basalt based on petrographical and chemical similarities. The quartz-feldspar porphyry dykes and monzogranite are most likely related to the Devonian magmatism in the area based on chemistry, petrographic features, and lack of metamorphism. Relationship to other units and age of the stockwork-style quartz-veined quartz-feldspar porphyry remain enigmatic.

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: A comparison of doctrine of Satan in the Bible and the Qur’an

contributor:
Abd El-Rahaman, Nael (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Brackney, William) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Only three major religions; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have ideas of Satan that are historically and theologically connected with one another. This thesis investigates Satan in the Hebrew/Christian Bible and the Qur’an. The study demonstrates that people who adhere to the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, or the Qur’an share similar conceptions about Satan. Theologians of the three different faiths agree on the idea that Satan is a person who was created by God to serve a fundamental purpose in human life. However, how he has been used by God is debated across the three religious traditions. Iwill also show that Satan is one of the religious figures theologians of different faiths have used to form their theology in their attempts to understand God and His relation with His creation.

This study presents useful details to understand Satan and his role according to what is found in the holy books; the Hebrew/Christian Bible and the Qur’an. In addition, it provides a collection of different images and ideas about him introduced by Christian and Islamic theologians. I argue that, while there is still much to be examined, the Hebrew/Christian Bible and the Qur’an share very similar views about Satan.

abstract: Acadia Divinity College


title: Shaped for faithful witness: Missional hermeneutics and the task of preaching

contributor:
Fields, David Ross (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Holmes, Stephen) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The aim of this study is to further the development of a missional theology of preaching and extend the practice of preaching that employs a missional hermeneutic.The thesis of this work is that preaching that utilizes a missional hermeneutic will serve to form a missional identity in a congregation, including the preacher, and prepare God’s people to engage in faithful witness to Jesus. This thesis was explored by preparing a handbook that introduces a missional hermeneutic and develops a theology and practice of preaching from this perspective.  The handbook was introduced to a
study group of three preachers for a period of five weeks.  Interview data was collected and analyzed to examine the educational process for preachers exploring a missional hermeneutic and to determine the impacts of the handbook on their perspectives and practices. The study noted six significant educational factors involved for preachers exploring and adopting a missional hermeneutic and discussed six major impacts of the handbook for the study group. The results of the study, and feedback from preaching participants, were used to revise the handbook project, sharpening the tool for future use with preachers.

abstract: Acadia Divinity College


title: Deutero dipping?: The legitimacy of criteria used to support and refute Pauline authorship of the pastoral epistles

contributor:
Wood, James Matthew B. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Zacharias, H. Daniel) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract: The debate about the authorship of the Pastoral Epistles has reached an impasse because scholars appeal to criteria that can be conformed to their presuppositions about Paul: style and content. Concerning style, there is no consensus in the humanities about what style is, nor is there a standard method for conducting statistical analysis. Instead, expert stylisticians recognize that style varies according to context of situation, age, etc. With respect to content, idealizations of Pauline churches as charismatic and egalitarian societies has led scholars to exaggerate the differences between Paul’s undisputed letters and the Pastoral Epistles, which can be resolved by using Greco-Roman associations as an interpretive model for Pauline statements about leadership structure and the role(s) of women. Thus, these criteria are best omitted from Pauline authorship studies, as they are subject to methodological variables that render them too ambiguous for attribution.

abstract: Acadia Divinity College


title: Coming back together: Veterans' capacity as the missing element in the systems of transition to civilian life

contributor:
Landry, Denise (author)
(Day, Deborah) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2016

abstract: This study used a series of in-depth individual interviews, supported with document analysis, with formerly deployed Veterans, to learn about their transitions between military and civilian life after being medically released from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The study was conducted near the end of Canada’s engagement as part of the NATO contingent in Afghanistan. Participants revealed themselves as capable and resourceful in their analysis of the overwhelmed and inadequate transition systems charged with the care of ill and injured troops. The neoliberalist mind-set of the then Harper Government, with its over-reliance on narrow understandings of healing, and fiscally motivated service delivery, particularly in mental health and vocational support, heavily influenced the transition systems. Combined with the effects of stigma, this situation significantly reduced opportunities for fulfilling post-military careers, and ignored the capacity and aspirations of returning soldiers, and the needs of the partners and families who are their greatest resource.

abstract: Education


title: Malory's Trinity in "The Tale of Sankgreal" section of the Le Morte Darthur: The triangulation of chivalry between Launcelot, Galahad, and Garwain

contributor:
Caissie, Rebecca Michelle (author)
(Whetter, Kevin) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2016

abstract: Exploring the various power relations between the Round Table knights in La Morte Darthur, by Sir Thomas Malory, reveals both the power and the vulnerabilities of chivalry, which often forces the knights to choose a course of action that, while on the one hand fulfills part of the Pentecostal Oath, also causes him to break the oath he has sworn to uphold. The knights are caught in a paradoxical tragedy of ideology, where private human desires clash with the public duties and ambitions, As the complexities of court life evolve, so too must the knight evolve to secure the safety of Camelot and safeguard Arthur. Ultimately, it is up to the knight-king Arthur to maintain law and order based on his ability to lead his knights. Arthur does not escape the paradox of knighthood, which leads to the greatest tragedy of all, his death and the end of Camelot.

abstract: English & Theatre Studies


title: Ecology of the Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei selousi Rothschild, 1898.) in the Bangweulu swamps, Zambia, Central Africa.

contributor:
Manning, Ian Patrick Alexander (author)
(Dodds, Donald) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1983

abstract:
Research into the ecology of the sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei Rothschild, 1898.) in the south-east Bangweulu, Zambia, was
carried out between 1973 and 1976. The sex ratio for sita-tunga does not differ significantly from 1:1, although 47.3% of the
population are adult females and 25.6% adult males, 12.1% immature males, 4.3% immature females and 10.6% calves. Two conception peaks are related to the onset and cessation of the rains with breeding occurring throughout the year. Sita-tunga occur singly (50%), in twos (22.2%) or in threes (16.7%). Females and their calves are the only group with any integrity. The maximum number observed in a group was 7. The minimum 2 2 home range for males is 0.0363 km and for females 0.176 km. Aggression and the mutual avoidance of dominant males suggests territoriality. Sexual dimorphism is marked. Pelage colouration is variable. The white facial markings are important in male agonistic displays. Criteria for relative age
determination of sitatunga were derived from eruption and attrition sequences of impressions taken from maxillary teeth.
Males reach a theoretical maximum weight of 106 kg at 8.1 years and females 51.5 kg at 7.34 years. Males are 54.6% heavier than females and maximum horn length is achieved at 7.5 years. Age is significantly correlated with weight, horn
length and the length/weight index. The mean horn length for adults is 64.2 cm and the mean front hoof length, for both sexes, is 7.6 cm. The impact of man on sitatunga in the Bangweulu is minimal.

abstract: Biology


title: An investigation of the effects of local neighborhood structure on the performance of randomized optimization methods

contributor:
Alothaim, Nada Abdullah (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Mendivil, Franklin) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract: In this thesis we survey how some features of an optimization algorithm influence its performance on various objective functions.  We employ randomness and iterative methods in the search by using stochastic optimization algorithms.  In order to measure and fully compare the performance of these algorithms we implement a process of computing the average expected hitting time (AEHT) for all possible distinct objective functions on different structures.  We perform an exhaustive study for a small numberof points in the state space (four, five, six, seven). In the first part of this thesis, we study the effects of local neighborhood structure on the performance of the (1+1) Evolutionary algorithm (EA). The neighborhood structure  is  given  by  the  details  of  the  mutation  operator,  and  so  we  are  really studying the effectiveness of different mutations.  The (1+1)EA is same as the rest of local search algorithms which get stuck in the local minimum.  One fact about using (1+1)EA is that the AEHT is infinite if and only if the objective function has a local minimum.  Thus, in terms of the total edges that are missing we distinguish the preferable structure that produces fewer objective functions that lead to infinite AEHT. In the second part of this thesis,  we modify (1+1)EA with a new version of this algorithm, and we call it the q-algorithm, allowing an uphill step but with a probability of q.  For q > 0, AEHT is always finite.  Significantly, there are cases when (1+1)EA gives a finite AEHT for some objective functions but the q-algorithm gives an even smaller value.

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics


title: A stochastic harvest Leslie matrix simulation model for evaluating wildlife population reconstruction methods using harvest data.

contributor:
Chen, Entao (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Zhang, Ying) (Thesis advisor)
(Teismann, Holger) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Population reconstruction models are commonly used by wildlife managers to analyze
animal populations, although realistic and accurate population information is gener-
ally unavailable for evaluating these methods.  To aid in the evaluation of population
reconstruction  models,  we  developed  a  stochastic  harvest  Leslie  matrix  simulation
model that generates population and harvest data.  The ergodic results of the pro-
jection by the stochastic harvest Leslie matrix simulation model and the stochastic
growth rate under such a projection were studied.  The stochastic harvest Leslie ma-
trix simulation model was proved to generate at least weakly-ergodic population pro-
jection results.  Through extensive simulation studies, the population age distribution
generated by the simulation model was shown to be convergent, which is the usual
model assumption underlying population reconstruction methods.  A new modeling
approach for analyzing population age distribution based only on harvest data was
also  proposed.   Through  extensive  simulation  studies,  this  new  modeling  approach
was shown to provide accurate estimation of the population age distribution while
imposing no strict assumptions on the fertility and the natural mortality of animals.
A new R package, Wildlife 1.0, contains the main results from this thesis.

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics


title: The rhetoric of new conquest and its use in the exilic and post-exilic books

contributor:
Bass, Jennifer Nicole (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Wooden, Glenn) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Violence in the Hebrew Bible is a subject that is uncomfortable, and so scholars often ignore or gloss over it, favouring instead metaphorical or even pacifistic interpretations of uncomfortable texts, rather than interpreting them in their
cultural setting. This is especially true for the violent language used in the later books. However, the language is present and needs to be addressed.

One of the most important metaphors used in exilic and post-exilic literature was the New Exodus. New Exodus language was used to describe the Exile and return from Persia, which opens the question as to whether or not, like the original Exodus, the figurative Exodus ended in a New Conquest. Coupled to this, there are similarities between the elements of the ban (חרם), which was implemented during the Conquest by the Israelites, and the even ts of the Restoration, and between the justification of the ban in the Conquest and the attitude of the returnees to those in the land.

Over the course of this study themes will be discussed that relate to both the original Exodus and Conquest and the Exile and Restoration, in order to clarify the figurative links that were made between the two time periods. Themes that are covered include the use of violent language, the New Exodus, Yahweh as the Divine Warrior, the ban, and the second temple. They are looked at, primarily, to understand how the golah community was interpreting the events and changes that were happening around them. The focus will be on violent language and imagery, which will be followed from its roots in early conquest stories through to its role in the development of apocalyptic literature. The main goal is to demonstrate
whether or not the community purposefully used New Conquest language, and for what reason.

abstract: Acadia Divinity College


title: Statistical surrogate modelling of a deterministic financial model for tidal energy generation

contributor:
Kidney, William (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Chipman, Hugh) (Thesis advisor)
(Karsten, Richard) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The Bay of Fundy is a region of the Atlantic Ocean located between the Canadian provinces  of  New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia.   It  is  known  for  having  the  highest tidal range on Earth, creating great potential for harvesting tidal energy.  In order to make the harvesting of tidal energy economically successful, there are many variables that the decision makers within an organization will want to consider, such as how many turbines to deploy, which turbine design to use, and who to hire for installation and maintenance.  A deterministic computer program that models several economic parameters of interest and uses over 50 input variables was developed by Roc, Funke,and  Thyng  (2015).   The  economic  outputs  are  internal  rate  of  return  (IRR),  levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and overall benefit (OB). Some of the variables that the deterministic computer program uses as inputs have values that are proprietary information  that  companies  are  not  always  willing  to  release,  while  others  are  not proprietary, but difficult to measure.  A model that requires only the variables necessary to obtain an accurate prediction can be quite desirable.

This research treats the deterministic financial model as within a black-box, and uses it as a basis for developing surrogate statistical models which approximate the deterministic  computer  program  with  a  known  degree  of  accuracy,  and   depend  on fewer input variables.  This can provide insight into whether there are combinations of only a few variables which determine the financial success of a tidal energy project in the Bay of Fundy.  The benefit of this can be seen as three-fold:  First, some of the variables that may have been difficult to obtain values for will no longer be required. Second,  any variables which are shown to dominate the likelihood of the economic success of the project will give a project manager insight as to where they need to spend the most time exploring options.  Third, results that contradict intuition can lend insight as to whether the deterministic computer program is accurately representing the effects of the variables.

This black-box analysis reveals that by using only 15 of the original 51 input variables, surrogate models can be constructed that capture up to 79%, 98%, and 94% of the variability of IRR, LCOE, and OB, respectively.

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics


title: Precarious possibilities: Disability, self-advocacy, and university learning

contributor:
Bruce, Cynthia Ann (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Aylward, M. Lynn) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Disabled students in Canadian universities obtain academic accommodations through an individualized service approach. Yet actual support implementation is variably dependent on their ability to self-advocate, to navigate policy and process, and on faculty willingness to accommodate. This study drew on the under-represented voices of disabled students to uncover the production and disruption of marginalization, and understand the potential for faculty to facilitate meaningful post-secondary inclusion. The experiences of disabled students and their professors were explored as they worked to arrange accommodations with a focus on the phenomenon of self-advocacy and its place in access processes. Interview data were generated with 30 disabled students and sixteen faculty members from three Nova Scotia universities. Tanya Titchkosky’s theorizing of access as an interpretive social scene and Fiona Kumari Campbell’s framing of ableism as a
deeply entrenched societal expectation informed the analysis. Through the required and narrowly defined phenomenon of self-advocacy, disabled students enter into a precarious reality that privileges ableist normativityand naturalizes disability as undesirable. However, findings also suggest that attending to positive and reciprocal student/faculty relationships could
significantly change how universities think about and respond to disability.

abstract: Education


title: Annual spatial ecology of Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) in eastern North America

contributor:
Anderson, Christine M. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Mallory, Mark) (Thesis advisor)
(Gilchrist, Grant) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Ecological studies on birds tend to be biased towards the breeding season, yet understanding the full annual cycle of an organism is critical for understanding how effects carry over between the seasons. The aim of this thesis is to gain a more complete picture of Herring Gull movements outside the breeding season. By examining the migration and wintering patterns of Herring Gulls from five different sites across their breeding range in eastern North America, I evaluate the variability in the behaviour of this highly flexible species, both among individuals and populations. My research reveals
for the first time that Herring Gulls breeding in the Arctic migrate long distances to spend the winter in the Gulf of Mexico.
I confirm that Herring Gulls from the Great Lakes disperse and do not truly migrate. Regardless of the distance they travelled, Herring Gulls tended to migrate at a seemingly relaxed pace, with many stopovers and indirect routes. Each population of Herring Gulls had strong migratory connectivity between their breeding and wintering are as, meaning that environmental stressors in one area can potentially have strong population-specific effects. This finding gives a particular
significance to the differences I observed in winter habitat use among populations. I found that Herring Gulls from the Arctic spent the majority of the winter in marine habitats, while those from the Great Lakes and Atlantic Canada used a wider variety of habitats. However, only in the Atlantic populations did a large proportion of individuals spend most of their time in urban habitats. Previous studies have found that Herring Gulls in Atlantic Canada have lower survival rates than those in the Great Lakes and the Arctic, which suggests that there may be a link between urban habitat use during the winter and poor adult survival.

abstract: Biology


title: Culturally relevant pedagogy in Nunavik

contributor:
Morgan, Robert (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Aylward, M. Lynn) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
An Inuit worldview challenges schooling that requires	students to sacrifice their cultural identity in	the	name of academic success.	Through	a critical	Indigenous research methodology,	using case study	design, data	were generated from conversations with educational leaders and	teachers	from a school community	in Nunavik, Quebec. Data was analyzed	through	the	lens	of culturally relevant	pedagogy and its	criteria that students must have academic success, develop and	maintain their cultural competence	and	possess	critical consciousness.

In support of	 education defined by	Inuit for	Inuit in Nunavik, this study explored how educators are working towards a critically	active and ideological	position	that schooling be	centered in Inuit knowledge and ways of knowing. Proposals are	made for and to educational leaders to	work from an ideological commitment to culture	based schooling,	and	for all educators to	employ	critical constructivist pedagogies that simultaneously	cultivate	academic skills, including cultural skills, and a critical consciousness in order to produce an	equitable, effective education system in Nunavik.

abstract: Education


title: Comparative analyses on the phenology, electrophysiology, and chemisty of the beech leaf-mining weevil (Orchestes fagi L.) and its novel host American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.)

contributor:
Pawlowski, Simon P. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Hillier, Kirk) (Thesis advisor)
(Sweeney, Jon) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The beech leaf-mining weevil, Orchestes fagiL. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a common pest of European beech, Fagus sylvatica L. (Fagales: Fagaceae), in its native European range which has recently (2012) become established in Nova Scotia, Canada where it similarly damages American beech, F. grandifolia Ehrh. The objective these studies are to develop effective strategies to monitor and control of this new invasive species. Chapters focus on the life history and phenology of both
O. fagi and its novel host, F. grandifolia. Evidence is presented to support the existence of a male-produced repellent pheromone and for males to have trichromatic vision. Female O. fagi had larger electroantennal responses to host volatile organic compounds. GC-FID analyses of F. grandifolialeaf development indicated fluctuating volatile profiles throughout the
growing season. The studies in this thesis provide phenological and biochemical context for future studies on O. fagi
host location tactics and the development of integrated pest management strategies.

abstract: Biology


title: Exploring patient-centered pedagogy: a focused ethnography of second year medical students' experiences among texts, subjects, and contexts

contributor:
Picketts, Leanne (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Hemming, Heather) (Thesis advisor)
(MacLeod, Anna) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Purpose:  Developing patient-centeredness is a core competency of medicine, and by extension, medical education. The current literature is limited to demonstrating how and why patient-centeredness has been implemented in the curriculum, and on students’ attitudes toward learning about communication skills. There is a lack of insight into students’ perceptions of and experiences with patient-centered pedagogy. Students’ attitudes have a powerful effect on behaviour; understanding students’ experiences with curricular methods may provide a practical application toward developing patient-centeredness more effectively. This study explored how patient-centered pedagogical tools affect medical students  and their development of patient-centeredness.
Method:  Data collection was ethnographically influenced, and included a document analysis combined with observation and semi-structured interviews of six second-year undergraduate medical students. Results were thematically analyzed using social constructivist and institutional ethnographic theoretical frameworks.
Results: There are both positive and unintended consequences of pedagogical tools on the development of patient-centeredness. Although the tools offer a reminder to explore patient-centeredness, they may also lead to inauthentic performativity. The use of interview frameworks is contextually situated and differs between the simulated and clinical environments. The informal curriculum also affects the development of patient-centeredness, particularly through work-based learning, observational learning, and role modeling.
Conclusion:  This study offers insight into students’ perceptions of patient-centeredness, as well as insight into students’ practices. The findings highlight some of the strengths and weaknesses of patient-centered pedagogy, and identifies
initiatives to improve and enhance the patient-centered curriculum: ensuring the patient-centered curriculum is integrated into the entire four-year undergraduate curriculum and offers continuous opportunities for deliberate practice; providing learners with early patient contact; ensuring interview frameworks such as FIFE are reminders and not explicit techniques
that reduce the complexity of doctor/patient communication; and further faculty development to understand and role model the patient-centered curriculum.

abstract: Education


title: Anthropogenic debris and pathology in aquatic birds

contributor:
Holland, Erika R. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Mallory, Mark) (Thesis advisor)
(Shutler, Dave) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
Plastics in marine and freshwater environments area global environmental issue. Plastic ingestion is associated with a variety of deleterious health effects for wildlife, and is a focus of much international research and monitoring. However, little research has focused on the ramifications of plastic debris for freshwater organisms. In chapter 2 I quantified plastic and other anthropogenic debris in 350 individuals of 17 freshwater and one marine bird species collected across Canada
. I determined prevalence of anthropogenic debris in freshwater birds’ to be 11.4 % across all species studied.
In chapter 3 I determined the prevalence of anthropogenic debris and their consequences in seabirds, using four species of
procellariid seabirds found beached on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada between 2000 and 2012. Pooling the four species,
no differences in prevalence of different pathologies was found relative to age or sex, with birds having (in descending order of occurrence) emaciation, autolysis, parasite infection, inflammation, trauma, bacterial infection, drowned, tumors, tissue necrosis, impaction, myopathy, or pneumonia. Northern fulmars washed up dead of emaciation less frequently
(69/115; 60%) than sooty (36/48; 75%) or great (67/86; 78%) shearwaters. Pathology in northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis
), sooty (Ardenna grisea) and great shearwaters (Ardenna gravis) appeared unrelated to mass of debris ingested or body mass, and similarly body mass was not significantly related to mass of debris ingested.
This work established that anthropogenic debris is a genuine concern for management of the health of freshwater and marine ecosystems, provided a baseline for the prevalence of anthropogenic debris ingestion in freshwater birds in Canada, and presented the first in-depth look at pathology of birds beached on Sable Island.

abstract: Biology


title: Un'TPACK'ing athletic therapy education in Canada:: An exploration of an innovative case-based learning approach

contributor:
King, Colin D. (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(MacKinnon, Gregory) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2017

abstract:
The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that impacted the use of technology-assisted educational tools in athletic therapy education.  Data collection was divided into three mixed-methods phases, each contributing to the overall research question.  Phase 1 used surveys and interviews to reveal AT educators’ initial pre-dispositions regarding preferred pedagogies and technology integration.  Following an iterative constructivist instructional design, Phase 2 used feedback from Phase 1 to design the Multimedia CBL Sports Injury Assessment Educational Tool to ensure its appropriateness for AT
education.  The final phase used a case-study to elicit feedback from AT students and educators about the impact of the M-CBLSIAET on the nature of learning and teaching.  Students’ suggested that the tool contributed to the learning experience by: creating contextually-enriched scenarios; engaging students in critical thinking/reflection; stimulating higher levels of clinical decision-making; organizing peer interactions; and extending learning outside of the classroom.  Furthermore, AT educators also considered the tool to positively impact teaching by: highlighting the potential roles for technology in AT education; using technology to empower course content/pedagogy; and promoting critical thinking about different pedagogies in AT education.

abstract: Education