title: "An  'excitement  amongst  the  people": Richard  Burpe, Maritime  Baptists, and  foreign  missions, 1810-1853.

contributor:
Wilson, Jonathan (author)
(Moody, Barry) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1993

abstract:
In  the  early  1820's  the  Maritime  Baptists, a Protestant denomination of like-minded believers from  Nova  Scotia and  New Brunswick, began  an  obsessive  interest  in  foreign  missions. So  strong  was  this  interest  that  by 1845  they  had  sent  out their own  foreign missionary,  Richard  Burpe. In order to send him,  the  denomination  required  leadership,  financial  support, and a strong centralized denominational framework. This thesis  will examine what sparked the interest in foreign missions,  the  campaign  to  send  and  support  Burpe, as  well  as the significance of the foreign mission itself to the community.
Richard  Burpe's  departure  represented more  than  a  desire to  Christianize  foreign  peoples;  it signified  a campaign  to show the organizational, financial, institutional, and leadership maturity of Mari time Baptists. When Burpe' s mission  ultimately  failed  due  to  the  misguidance  from  his  own mission board, and his contraction of pulmonary disease, Maritime  Baptists  rejected  the  symbolic  significance  of  the
mission. By reducing  their  support  for  strong,  centralized denominational  efforts,  they  temporarily  set aside  the  course of  religious  institutionalization.

abstract: History & Classics


title: Public lives from private artifacts: the architectural heritage of the Horton-Yankee Planters

type: Text Dissertation/Thesis

contributor:
Davidson, Heather Anne (author)
(Moody, Barry) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

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

subject: LE3 .A278 1989

abstract:
Because  they  left  few  written  documents,  little has  been known  about the  first English-speaking  immigrants who settled in  Horton  Township between 1760 and 1820. Local  histories showed  that  most of  these immigrants remained, established themselves  on  farms  and  raised families  who  generally  followed the  same  cycle.
More  than  200  years  later,  many  of  the  buildings  constructed by these settlers are in use. These previously inarticulate people reveal themselves and their culture through  their  buildings. The  houses  built  between  1760-1820 were analyzed and compared with traditional Connecticut architecture and contemporary changes  in architectural styles.
Through  the  study  a new  style  of  architecture,  the  Horton-Yankee  style, evolves and  three  significant  designs  emerge. Such  developments  reveal  that  this  dynamic  society  welcomed change  and  innovation and  adapted  them  to the new  environment. The Horton-Yankee style is a visual demonstration of the fragmentation  of  the  society  which  enhanced  the  significance of  individualism  among  the  people.

abstract: History & Classics


title: The Development of theological education at Acadia University

contributor:
Cochran, Owen Darrel (author)
(Whidden, Evan M.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1954

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: Flow characterization at a turbulent tidal energy site in Minas Passage, Bay of Fundy

contributor:
Enders, Lilli (author)
(Hay, Alex) (Thesis advisor)
(Karsten, Richard) (Thesis advisor)
(Guerra, Maricarmen) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract:
Characterization of site-specific hydrodynamic variables in an important factor in the successful design of tidal  in-stream  power  systems.  The  Minas  Passage,  one  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy’s  tidal  channels,  presents significant  potential  for  tidal  energy  development  because  of  its  highly  energetic  flows.  Flow  in  Minas Passage is highly turbulent (𝑅𝑒 ≈ 1.4  × 10!). Although great strides have been made towards the complete characterization of the water column in Minas Passage and at similar sites in Nova Scotia, some aspects of the  flow  are  yet  to  be  explored  in  depth.  This  thesis  uses  observational  data  from  five-beam  Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) to examine some of these aspects, namely (1) the vertical structure of the flow, (2) the turbulence characteristics at the site, and (3) the impacts of wind forcing on flow structure.

Vertical profiles of along-stream velocity are fit using two methods: logarithmic law of the wall, and an adapted logarithmic law of the wall with a wake function. Fitting of the logarithmic law of the wall, a well-established  method  for  estimating  the  mean  velocity  in  a  rough-walled  turbulent  boundary  layer,  results here in well-fitted estimations of the velocity profile near the seabed (𝑧 ≤ 5𝑚). Observational profiles are found to deviate from the fitted curves in the upper portion of the water column, measuring significantly faster flows than predicted by the logarithmic law. The adapted wake law model, which includes a cubic wake term to describe flow behaviour outside of the boundary layer, is found to result in much better fits throughout  the  entirety  of  the  water  column,  with  remarkably  low  error  values  across  all  flow  speeds (𝑁𝑅𝑀𝑆𝐸 ≤ 1%).

Turbulence metrics including vertical beam amplitude (acoustic backscatter), variance in the vertical beam, and  turbulent  kinetic  energy  are  examined  and  found  to  comply  well  with  homogeneous  isotropic turbulence theory and with observations at similar tidal sites. Vertical velocity spectra are also computed at varying depths below the free surface, and the presence of an inertial subrange complying with Kolmogorov theory is consistently noted in the absence of wind-generated surface gravity waves.

Analysis  of  vertical  structure  and  turbulence  metrics  is  then  repeated  for  periods  of  high  wind.  The parameters extracted from the logarithmic law and adapted model procedures during windy times do not differ significantly from those calculated for the mean flow conditions. Elevated vertical beam variance and TKE are, however, noted near the free-surface in the presence of wind. Spectral analysis shows consistent peaks  in  the  mid-frequency  range  which  coincide  with  short  (5-8  s)  waves  when  wind  speeds  surpass  a threshold  of  approximately  10 𝑚/𝑠.  This  is  of  particular  interest  at  the  Minas  Passage  site  because  it presents a mechanism for validation of a network of X-Band marine radars at the site.

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics


title: Foraging ecology and body condition of migrant Semipalmated Sandpipers, Calidris pusilla,  on  three  mudflats  in the  Bay  of  Fundy Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve, Nova Scotia

contributor:
Gilliland, Kimberley Mawhinney (author)
(Boates, Sherman) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1992

abstract: The  abundance  of prey and  the  distribution,  body condition  and behaviour of  Semipalmated  Sandpipers  foraging  at three  different  mudflats were  investigated  in  the  Bay  of Fundy  Hemispheric Shorebird  Reserve  in  the Minas  Basin,  Nova Scotia. The  foraging  density  of Semipalmated  Sandpipers was related  both  spatially and  temporally to  their main prey source,  Corophium volutator. The  highest densities  of foraging  Semipalmated  Sandpipers occurred  where  prey  densities were  highest and  occurred  in  the  lowest densities  occurred where  prey densities were  lowest. As the  population  size of sandpipers  increased  in  the  area,  Semipalmated  Sandpipers  increased  the area used  on  medium  and  low prey  density mudflats. Despite  large  and  rapid changes  in  the  number of sandpipers  in  the  Minas  Basin,  the foraging  densities of Semipalmated  Sandpipers  on  mudflats with  different Corophium densities did  not change  over the  migratory period. Body  condition  of Semipalmated Sandpipers collected from all  mudflats  increased  during  their stay in  the  Minas Basin. Body condition  of  sandpipers  collected from  high prey density mudflats increased  at  a fastest  rate.  Semlpalmated Sandpipers  collected  from  mudflats with  medium  and  high  prey densities were in  better condition  than those collected from  mudflats with  low prey  densities.  High  densities  of birds  and  high levels  of social  interaction on medium  prey density mudflats suggest that there was competition for food  on  this  mudflat. Birds  foraging  on  medium prey density mudflats were also  structurally larger than  at the other areas. Presumably the  larger birds  exploited  the  most preferred  mudflats,  while  smaller individuals exploited  less  preferred  mudflats.  While body  size  did  not vary with social  status,  dominant individuals  collected  from  medium  prey  density  mudflats were  in  better condition  and  accumulated more total  body lipid by the  end  of the stopover  period  than  did  neutral  and  subordinate  individuals.

abstract: Biology


title: In fear and anger: Liverpool  Planters (1774-1785)

contributor:
Hartlen, Gary Clair (author)
(Moody, Barry) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1979

abstract:
In  1759  Liverpool  was  just starting  its  rise  as  a frontier  town on  the  wilderness  of  Nova  Scotia's  coastline. Its people  came from  the fishing  communities  of  Cape  Cod  in Massachusetts. They  attempted  to  build their  town  almost  as  an  exact  copy  of  the  communities  they  had  left. This  meant, among  other  things,  that  they  had  brought  New England  Congregationalism  as  their  religious  denomination.
They  found  immediately  that  the  Colonial  Government  in  Nova Scotia  was  determined  to  change  the  social  and  governmental  system  from that  which  they  had  had  in  New England. These  changes  did  not  stop  their establishment  of  fisheries, shipbuilding  and  sawmills  as  the  economic base  of  their  economy.
Liverpool  inhabitants  were  tied  economically  to  the  southern colonies. The  outbreak  of  the  American  Revolution  left Liverpool's  people in  a dilemma. They  were  sympathetic  to  many  of  the  American  complaints against  Britain. The  Liverpool  people  found  money  in  London  to  get  their businesses  started. The  war  was  on  their  doorstep  as  American  privateers disrupted  Liverpool  shipping  and  attacked  the  town. Although  they  had leaned  toward  the  American  position at the  war's  beginning,  privateering assaults  turned  them  into  Nova  Scotia  patriots.
Liverpool's  sailors  took  to  the  sea  as  privateers  after  1778  and they  were  very  successful  at  finally  beating off  the  threat  of  armed aggression  against  their  town. This  movement  also  helped  develop  Liverpool's  shipbuilding. The trauma  of  the  Revolution  was  in the  end  constructive  since  it developed  their  response  to  outside  forces  in an indigenous  manner  which  would  influence  the  town's  growth  for  the  future.

abstract: History & Classics


title: A survey of the groundfish caught by the summer trawl fishery in Minas Basin and Scots Bay

contributor:
Wehrell, Sierra (author)
(Dadswell, Michael) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2005

abstract:
A survey of the groundfishes in Minas Basin and Scots Bay was conducted during the summer of 2004. A small trawl fishery for groundfish exists in the upper Bay of Fundy which is regulated similar to  trawl fisheries occurring elsewhere in the Bay, regardless of the complex environmental variables of the upper Bay.  Twenty one different species were caught during the four month survey but only winter flounder, spiny dogfish, Atlantic sturgeon, and skates were consistently caught during the fishing season. Length and weight measurements were obtained for all species except for sturgeon which were not weighed due to their large size.  Age and sex were determined for winter flounder only. The average fork length of spiny dogfish was 75  cm and the average weight was 2.9 kg. Average length of skates was 48  centimeters, average weight 1.0 kg,  and mean pectoral width was 29.5 cm. The sturgeon captured averaged 152 cm and weighed up to an estimated 100kg.  Most sturgeon were tagged but no tag returns have been received to date. A total of39 sturgeon were caught and 27 of them were tagged and measured.  The winter flounder caught ranged in age from 2 to 9 years and in length from  19  to 49.5  centimeters.  Mean total filet weight for legal winter flounder was
205 gms. During June and the first 2 weeks of July winter flounder were ripe or recently spent. Landings reached their peak during the month of July at a total of 13640 kg of flounder. The fishery in Minas Basin is dependant on the catch of winter flounder but if a consistent market for dogfish could be established this would be a valuable asset to the local fishers.

abstract: Biology


title: Occurence and feeding habits of some juvenile fish in the southern bight of Minas Basin, Nova Scotia, 1979

contributor:
Gilmurray, Margaret Carol (author)
(Daborn, Graham) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1980

abstract: The  feeding  habits  of  juvenile  fish  in  the  southern  bight of  Minas  Basin  were  studied  through  gut  analyses  of  fish  taken mainly  during  eight  24-hour  seine  collections  from  June  13 -August  6, 1979. Eleven  species  were  examined  of  which  Menidia menidia  and  Liopsetta  putnami  were  considered  resident. Clupea har>engus, Gasterosteus  spp. and  L. putnami  were  more  common in samples  collected  during  daylight  and  Anguilla  rostrata  and Pollachius  virens  were  more  abundant  in  night  collections. Feeding  activity was  correlated  with  tidal  state  in  only  three species;  Microgadus tomcod, Gasterosteus  spp.  and  Urophycis  tenuis. The  patchiness  of  the  food  supply  and abundance  of  benthic  organisms  in  the  guts  suggests  that  electivity  indices,  based  only upon  plankton  samples  as  representation  of  the  potential  food supply, are not  valid. Diet  changed  with  ontogeny;  early juvenile  fish  fed  largely  upon  the  copepod  Eurytemora  herdmani whereas  older  juveniles  ate  organisms  (eg.  Corophium  volutator, Diastylis  polita  and  Crangon septemspinosa)  usually  associated with  the  benthos. Such  benthic  organisms,  particularly  C. volu-tator,  are  important  elements  of  the  southern  bight  fish  food resources. This  area  functions  as  a  nursery,  feeding  and acclimation  area  for  several  fish  specjes. Production  of  C. volutator  seems  to  be  of  vital  importance  to  the  higher  trophic levels  in  this  system.

abstract: Biology


title: Ernest Buckler: his creed and craft

contributor:
Cook, Gregory M. (author)
(Sheriff, Jack) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1967

abstract:
No abstract
English & Theatre Studies


title: A  history of the Reformed Baptist Alliance of Canada

contributor:
Britten, Edward Gay (author)
(Whidden, Evan M.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1964

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: Labor management relations in  the coal  mining  industry  of Nova Scotia

contributor:
Morrison, James A. (author)
(No advisor given) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1950

abstract:
No abstract
Economics


title: When Christmas came to New Ross: the history of the New Ross Christmas tree industry

contributor:
Brown, Blake (author)
(Moody, Barry) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1996

abstract:
This thesis examines the development of the Christmas tree  industry in New  Ross, Nova  Scotia  from  the  1920s  to  1980.
When the traditional economic lifestyle of New Ross, based  on  farming  and  coopering,  declined  after World  War  Two, the  village  required  a new economic foundation to remain a viable  community. As  a  result,  New  Ross  took  advantage  of  the increasing  American  demand for  Christmas  trees  in  the  first half  of  this  century  by  exporting  great  numbers  of  balsam  fir Christmas trees throughout the 1940s and 1950s. However, around  1960  the  same  American  market  altered  its  tastes, and forced  New  Ross  to  change  how  it ran  the  Christmas  tree  trade. The exporting of Christmas trees kept New Ross a viable economic  entity, but  made  it  subservient  to the demands of American  consumers.

abstract: History & Classics


title: Modern theologians on baptism

contributor:
Thompson, Eugene Mayne (author)
(Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1956

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: Successive generalized confidence intervals

contributor:
Vibert, Colin (author)
(Peng, Jianan) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract:
The majority of work on multiple comparisons is on comparing the means of k ⩾3 populations following the work of Tukey (1953) on pairwise comparisons of k population means, of Dunnett (1955) on comparisons of several means with a control mean, and of Scheff ́e (1953) on all-contrast comparisons among the population means. This thesis focuses on five different methods to construct simultaneous confidence intervals for
successive comparisons under heteroscedasticity. Th five methods are the MaxT method and MinP method introduced by Westfall and Young (1993) along with the F1 and F2 methods introduced by Xiong and Mu (2009) and the H method introduced in Hannig et al. (2006). Two types of fiducial generalized pivotal quantities (FGPQ) based confidence intervals by Xiong and Mu (2009) and one FGPQ based confidence interval by Hannig et al. (2006). These five methods were developed for two-sided pairwise comparisons. Weprove that the FGPQ-based successive confidence intervals have asymptotically correct coverage. Simulation studies and numerical examples are presented.

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics


title: A  description  of  the  flora  and wildlife of Gilbert  Island,  New Brunswick and  the impact of cattle on those resources

contributor:
Barkhouse, Henry Peter (author)
(Dodds, Donald G.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1975

abstract:
Gilbert  Island  is  an  alluvial  island  in  the  St.  John p River, approximately  7  miles  south-east  of  Fredericton, New Brunswick. The  island,  like  other  near  by  river  islands, provides  valuable  wetlands  and  woodlands  habitat  for  waterfowl and  several  other  wildlife  species. The  agriculture history  of  the  island  dates  back  to  the  late  1700's  and since  1962  it has  been  operated  by  the  New Brunswick  Government  as  a community  pasture.
The 660  acre  island  is  covered  by  170  acres  of  cleared grassland, 345  acres  of  deciduous  woodland  and  145  acres  of sloughs  vegetated  with  aquatic  plants. It is  surrounded by  70  acres  of  river  marshland. Floral  descriptions  of these  island  regions  are  presented.
Ninety-eight  bird  species  including  11  waterfowl  species and  10  species  of  mammals  were  observed  during  the  study  period, May  to  September, 1972  and  1973. The  findings  of  systematic surveys  conducted  to  determine  the  importance  of  Gilbert Island  to  nesting  and  brood  rearing  waterfowl  and  observations  of  mammals and  bird  species  other  than  waterfowl  are reported.
In  1972, 276  cattle were  pastured  on  Gilbert  Island, but  the  number  was lowered  to  218  the  following  year. The location  and  movement  of  cattle  on  the  island  was  monitored throughout  the  1973  season. Cattle  grazed  primarily  on  the grassland  until  early  July,  but  moved  to  the  woodlands  for forage  when  the  grassland  forage  became  scarce. During  the previous  year,  they  also  grazed  extensively  on  the  slough marshlands.
Floral  descriptions  of  10  exclosures  and  10  control areas  are  p~esented  for  comparsions  to  demonstrate  the  effects of  grazing  on  the  flora. Nearly  all  effects  of  the  grazing were  interpreted  as  being  detrimental  to  the  native  flora and  contributing  to  downgraded  habitat  quality  for  wildlife. These  are  reported  on  and  discussed.
It appears  that  cattle  could  be  pastured  on  Gilbert Island  without  causing  these  undesirable  effects  if the grassland  was  properly  managed.

abstract: Biology


title: Confederation and the manifest destiny of the British Northwest, 1850-1867

contributor:
Slauenwhite, Margaret Rose (author)
(MacIntosh, Alan) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1967

abstract:
No abstract.
History & Classics


title: Mind the gap: the role of eyewitness testimony, orality, and memory in the development of the Gospel tradition

contributor:
Kozushko, Peter Alan (author)
(Bock, Darrell) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2018

abstract:
This study field tested a 20-minute, TED Talk style (Technology, Entertainment, Design), introductory presentation of some
new Gospel scholarship, focusing on the role of eyewitness testimony, orality, and memory in the development of the Gospel tradition, to see if this scholarship would offer help in appreciating the New Testament Gospels as historically reliable sources for the life of Jesus. For a century, critical scholars have argued the New Testament Gospels vary too much in their details to present a historically reliable portrait of the real historical Jesus, and, until the turn of the 21st century, no
major effort was attempted to displace this hypothesis. Today this view appears to have a captive audience. Since 2005, Bart Ehrman, a distinguished critical scholar, has authored four New York Times bestsellers inculcating the form-critical view for a popular audience. That is a significant readership. It is also significant that a 2016 report by the American Bible Society reveals the percentage of American Bible skeptics has risen over the past six years from 12 percent to 22 percent. Whether a correlation exists between Ehrman’s popularity and the increase in Bible skepticism, this sudden rise in skepticism in the Gospels is the basis for this thesis project. Skeptics need to know there is another view, but this view also needs to be presented for a popular audience. The presentation field tested in this research was designed to achieve that purpose. The results of a pretest-posttest study conducted with a sample population administering participants a questionnaire before and after the presentation reveal statistically significant results from this treatment.

abstract: Acadia Divinity College


title: Identification of compounds produced by male hairpencil glands of Corn Earworm Helicoverpa zea, and their role in male autodetection and female mate acceptance

contributor:
Mullegama, Sandunika Ranmini (author)
(Hillier, Kirk) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2023

abstract: Heliothine  moths  are some of the world’s most important agricultural pest species. Helicoverpa zea (Corn Earworm), and Heliothis virescens (Tobacco Budworm) cause billions in damage and control  costs  worldwide  each  year.  Given  their  economic  importance,  sex  pheromones  of  many species  have  been  studied  for  development  of  management  techniques  such  as  trapping  for population  monitoring.  The  majority  of  pheromones  identified  and  studied  to  date  have  been female-produced  sex  pheromones.  Less  emphasis  has  been  placed  on  male  sex  pheromones, associated  with  abdominal  hairpencil  structures  which  often  function  in  courtship  or  to  attract females.  Studying  of  male  produced  sex  pheromones  is  as  much  as  important  as  female  sex pheromone  to  develop  novel  integrated  pest  management  techniques.  My  study  examines  the composition,  detection  and  behavioral  role  of  male  H.  zea  hairpencil  compounds in male autodetection and in courtship. Comparative examination of the hairpencil  blend composition of H.  zea  and  H.  virescens  revealed  subtle  differences  in  pheromone  blend  composition  produced by  males  of  these  species.  Electrophysiological  testing  demonstrated  broad  antennal  neuron response  in  both  males  and  females  of  H.  zea  to  nine  key  stimuli,  with  sexual  dimorphism  present in each species. Behavioral assays  suggested that odors released by  male hairpencils are important in  mate acceptance  by  female  H. zea and  may play a role  in  mate choice  and species isolation.  Wind  tunnel  observations  indicated  that  key  H.  zea  hairpencil  odors  (hexadecanyl acetate,  octadecanyl  acetate)  also  function in mate  competition,  antagonizing  responses  of downwind conspecific  males  following a  female sex pheromone plume,  meaning that males use such  compounds  to  repel  competing  conspecific  males.  This  finding  provides  an  insight  on conspecific males’ olfactory processing of a male sex pheromone, as well as a potential new prospect for managing H. zea pest populations.

abstract: Biology


title: DNA barcoding of the maritime shrew, Sorex maritimensis Smith: using DNA sequence of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene in taxonomic and field studies of a Canadian endemic mammal.

contributor:
Jalilvand, Golnar (author)
(Stewart, Donald) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract:
In  2002,  the  maritime  shrew  was  elevated  from  a  subspecies,  Sorex  arcticus  maritimensis,  to  a distinct species, Sorex maritimensis  Smith, based on sequence divergence for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The  maritime shrew is a Canadian endemic found only in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. It has been identified as one of the most susceptible vertebrate species in Nova Scotia to the effects of global warming.
 The first part of this thesis tests the hypothesis that Sorex maritimensis is a distinct species by employing DNA barcoding theory and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene sequences. A variety of tree- and distance-based approaches are used including recently developed methods to delineate species from DNA sequence data such as the Poisson Tree Processes (PTP) method, the  Automatic  Barcode  Gap  Discovery  (ABGD)  method,  the  Assemble  Species  by  Automatic Partitioning  (ASAP)  method,  the  General  Mixed  Yule  Coalescent  (GMYC)  method,  as  well  as multi-rate  Poisson  Tree  Processes  (mPTP),  and  Bayesian  Poisson  Tree  Processes  (bPTP).  All analyses except mPTP and bPTP support the hypothesis that S. maritimensis is a distinct species. In  addition,  the  rate  of  divergence  for  cox1  vs.  cyt  b  was  examined  for  eleven  species  of  Sorex shrews  which  showed  an  atypically  low  rate  of  divergence  for  the  cox1  gene  between  S. maritimensis and S. arcticus.
 The second part of this thesis is an optimization of a non-invasive method to identify shrew species from fecal samples using shrew-specific primers to amplify a short, ~120 base pair section of the cox1 gene. This approach uses feeding tubes baited with dead insect larvae to collect shrew feces, which are a source of DNA for species identification. This technique holds promise for more precisely  mapping  the  distribution  of  this  relatively  rare  shrew  in  Nova  Scotia  and  surrounding regions.

abstract: Biology


title: It's okay: examining stressful PDA experiences and sexual minority well-being

contributor:
Gosselin, Courtney Alyssa (author)
(Holmberg, Diane) (Thesis advisor)
(Blair, Karen) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract:
For sexual minority individuals, same-sex public displays of affection (a.k.a., PDAs) can elicit a negotiation of potential risks and benefits. Experiencing prejudice when engaging in PDA or refraining from PDA out of concern for safety may undermine a sexual minority person’s basic psychological needs to feel autonomous in their actions and connected with their romantic partner. Research suggests that basic need-thwarting experiences can undermine a person’s well-being in the moment and over time in the form of memories. This study investigated processes that may facilitate sexual minority well-being in the face of memories of stressful PDA experiences: a) the ability to associate a negative PDA memory with more positive, need-satisfying memories and b) self-compassion. LGBTQ+-identified adults (N = 129) completed an online survey on LGBTQ+ experiences of affection-sharing. Participants described a memory of a negative PDA experience and up to three memories spontaneously associated with the initial memory (i.e., networked memories). For each memory, participants rated how satisfied they felt in their needs for autonomy and relatedness at the time the recalled event occurred. They also completed measures of self-compassion, and momentary and person-level well-being. Preliminary (i.e., bivariate) analyses revealed that recalling a memory of a past negative PDA experience was related to situational mood but was not predictive of overall sexual minority
well-being—suggesting potential resilience to couple-level minority stress. In multiple regression analyses, neither need satisfaction in memory networks nor self-compassion exerted a moderating effect on the link between the negative PDA memory and well-being outcomes. Nonetheless, results showed that sexual minority individuals who are more compassionate with themselves experience better well-being, suggesting that self-compassion is a worthwhile aim of LGBTQ+-affirmative psychological care.

abstract: Psychology


title: Experiences of queer educators in Nova Scotia: a queer's query

contributor:
Cole, Kate P. (author)
(Surette, Tanya) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract:
This study engaged narrative inquiry to explore the experiences of four queer educators in Nova Scotia’s education system. Grounded in critical, minority stress, and queer theories, this research was guided by the curiosity: “What are the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ educators in Nova Scotia?” While a gap remains in research examining the experiences of queer educators, the peer-reviewed erudition is not currently documenting the revolution of social systems that are happening through activism and the revolutions that continue to happen despite the lack of representation in academia. Participants, selected using an intersectional process, were interviewed twice and invited to speak to their lived experiences as queer educators in Nova Scotia. Three large themes emerged in the thematic analysis from the interview data that
collectively revealed what queer educators have been experiencing across time and geography in their positions as educators in the education system. They shared the impact of the supports, the work, and the microaggressions they experience. Tokenistic experiences were continual in their emergence in the thematic analysis; the queer educators are taking on more responsibilities due to their membership to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community outside of their job description. They highlighted the impact of hegemonic influence and how microaggressions have been given to the queer educators, without ask, and how they are experiencing them firsthand, vicariously, and through institutions that are upheld by the status-quo of heterosexism and cisgenderism. The queer educators have ideas for how they would like the future to look and what can be done to support their existence in a system that currently is not made for them to thrive. The participants’ stories contained within the unique findings and thematic analyses offer insights and
opportunities for transformation that would be beneficial to the education system and those currently within it and those aspiring to join it. This thesis will capture the findings of this research that give invitation to consider ways for educational systems and individuals to interrupt ongoing instances of harm, continue practices that are affirming, and create more than a superficial existence of performative allyship.

abstract: Education


title: Behavioural and neural effects of caffeine on cognition in hormonally cycling females

contributor:
Ferguson, Jordan (author)
(Fisher, Derek) (Thesis advisor)
(Champod, Anne Sophie) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract:
The present study examined behavioural and neurophysiological effects of caffeine on cognition across menstrual cycle phases. Sixty healthy females with hormonally-mediated menstrual cycles (i.e. using combination oral contraceptives) between the ages of 18-40 participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study. Participants were tested during their menstrual or combination hormonal
contraceptive (HC) active cycle phase. Saliva hormone testing was used to confirm menstrual cycle phase. Participants took a caffeine or placebo pill in counterbalanced order before the completion of a visual search task while EEG was recorded. ANCOVAs were used to examine the effects of menstrual phase and drug on behavioural (RT, accuracy) and neurophysiological (amplitude, latency of ERP waveforms previously elicited in visual search tasks; the N2pc and P300) outcome measures. Spearman’s rho was used to examine correlations between hormone levels and caffeine-induced changes for outcome measures. Behavioural results revealed that caffeine improved accuracy but slowed reaction time to targets in the combination HC active phase only. EEG results showed no phase or drug effects on P300 outcome measures. In the caffeine condition, N2pc amplitudes at the parietal occipital region to distractor arrays were significantly larger compared to the placebo condition; this pattern reversed for target arrays. These results suggest a potential reallocation of attention from target to distractor stimuli during the combination HC active cycle phase to maintain task efficiency. Findings contribute to a better understanding of the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying the effects of caffeine on cognition across menstrual cycle phases, which have implications for hormonal birth control as well as hormone therapies for transgender and post-menopausal women.

abstract: Psychology


title: The Sound of Middle-earth: music and song among races in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings

contributor:
Nadeau, Spencer E. (author)
(Whetter, Kevin) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract: J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings has garnered cultural and academic interest since it first came into print in 1954. Tolkien scholarship has developed into a burgeoning area of study in English literature, pioneered by the likes of Flieger and Shippey. The scholarly work of these two has provided the base for Tolkien studies that has been continued by Cawsey and Eden to name just two. From politics and ecology to gender studies, The Lord of the Rings has sparked discussion about every facet of Middle-earth’s legendarium and modern critical approaches to Tolkien’s work. In this work, I offer an in-depth analysis of the meaning and function of music among various races in The Lord of the Rings and seek to demonstrate that the centrality of music in this story, while often overlooked, is of overwhelming importance. An underdeveloped area of this connection is the reason why music plays a critical role in the development of race relations, access to memory, and knowledge transmission in Middle-earth. I demonstrate that music – not just verse, but music – is built into the very fabric of the Middle-earth cosmos. In seeking to further my claim, I look to Boethius, whose treatise on music, De Institutione Musica, places music at the harmonious centre of the universe. Building on Shippey’s analysis of philology, Eden’s brief remarks on music, and Boethius’ accounts of music centring the cosmos, I demonstrate that the music, songs, lyric poetry, and vocal manifestations used by Hobbits, Elves, Men, Ents, and Wizards create an encompassing racial commonality that unites the races of Middle-earth in understanding and expressing memory, history, and knowledge transmission.

abstract: English & Theatre Studies


title: How can we understand Donald Trump?: an analysis of the 45th U.S. President's discourse

contributor: (Rondinelli, Elisabeth) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract:
This paper seeks to gain deeper insight on Donald Trump’s political movement by analyzing five separate Trump rallies from 2019-2021, through the lens of a qualitative content analysis. I ask the questions ‘How does Trump’s discourse work’ and ‘Does Trump’s discourse share similarities with fascism as the literature describes it?’  Cultural sociology, theories of fascism, and theories of religion are brought together to develop a framework for analyzing Trump’s movement. I determine that, through a process of binary coding and ritual, Trump’s discourse is affected and shaped by the way he uses his rallies to sacralize himself and his movement, pollute opposition, designating them as profane/impure, and redraw the boundary between sacred and profane/impure in a way that casts out those who oppose him. Additionally, I determine Trump’s
discourse does share similarities with fascism as the literature describes it, and that his movement can be conceptualized as an attempt to shift the American civil religion into an American political religion.

abstract: Sociology


title: Dream Awakened Eyes: W.B Yeats’ Ecological Reimagining of Ireland

contributor:
Jones, Austin (author)
(La Rocque, Lance) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract: This thesis examines the role of nature and spiritual elements such as folklore, myth, and mystical philosophy in W.B. Yeats’ conception of Ireland. Drawing on the concepts ecological imagination and bioregional principles, I argue that in response to the environmentally and culturally destructive impact of colonialism in Ireland, Yeats offers a reimagining of Ireland in order to assert a sense of place, culture, and community in Ireland. In order to diverge from and dismantle British cultural values and their influence in Ireland, Yeats imagines new ways to define, relate to, and live within his bioregion. His reimagining of Ireland takes place in three overlapping areas of his work including his focus on Ireland as a physical and cultural space, the crafting of a suitable ecopoetic through which to express his vision of Ireland, and the employment of spiritual elements to revalue and reimagine his place in the wake of cultural and environmental loss. I argue that Yeats’ ecological reimagining of Ireland seeks to establish a deeper sense of community and connection within his bioregion, restore a relationship with the land that was lost due to environmental destruction, and disentangle conceptions of Ireland from British influences.

abstract: English & Theatre Studies


title: Applying image segmentation to deep reinforcement learning in video games

contributor:
LeBlanc, David Gregory (author)
(Lee, Greg) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract: Deep Reinforcement Learning (deep-RL) has been used to create agents that can outperform top human players in game domains from chess to modern video games. The models using the most general techniques in this field apply image preprocessing techniques, such as downsampling, that remove key information and non-key information in equal measure. This thesis proposes a novel method of generating image segmentation datasets in domains which can be simulated, including video games. The intention behind this is to enable the creation of image segmentation models that can preprocess image state input to a deep-RL model in a more intelligent manner by removing non-key information from the images. In testing these methods, it was found that image segmentation improved the sample efficiency and reduced the learning time of a deep-RL agent in Pong. Furthermore, it was found that a segmentation model using the proposed automatic method trained on Super Mario Bros., an environment where deep-RL is still behind human ability, outperformed a model using more traditional manual labelling methods in segmentation accuracy and dataset creation time.

abstract: Computer Science


title: A rationale for belief in the deity of Jesus Christ based upon the synoptic Gospels

contributor:
McKim, Mark Gordon (author)
(MacRae, Andrew) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1987

abstract:
The  traditional  identification  of  Jesus  as  being  the deity, has come into  serious  question  in  the  last  one hundred and  fifty  years, both  within  and without  the church. Such  questioning  combined with  the  extraordinary claims  of  Jesus  about  himself (which  if  true  are  of monumental importance) provide  adequate  incentive  to examine the  traditional  identification.
In  Chapter 2,  it  is  noted  that, C. S. Lewis posited that  the  extreme  nature  of  the  claims  Jesus made, left  one with no  alternative  but  to  say he was the  deity,  all  other views  being  ruled  out  of  court. The thesis  endeavours to determine  the  validity  of  Lewis's  position.
In  Chapters 4 - 9 therefore, an examination  of the historical  trustworthiness  of  the  synoptic  gospels - prime sources  of information  about the  life  of  Jesus - is undertaken. Through  consideration  of  archaeological  data (Chapter  4), external  written  evidence (Chapter  5), internal synoptic  data (Chapter  6), the  question  of the  dating  and transmission  of  the  gospels (Chapters 7, 8), and a concluding  section  of remarks (Chapter  9),  it  is  determined that  these  accounts  are  generally  trustworthy. On this basis  then  the  writer  can  legitimately  proceed to  consider Jesus' self  identfication.
In  Chapter 10  the  question of the  self-consciousness  of Jesus, according  to the  Synoptic  Records  is  considered  at some length. It  is  discovered  that  Jesus  did  conceive of himself  in  terms of  the  deity.
In  the  last  chapter,  it  is  first  noted  that  this  writer cannot  accept  Lewis's  penultimate  reasoning  which brings him to  the  conclusion  that  Jesus was divine,  all  other alternatives  being  ruled  out. In view  of  social  contract theory  Lewis's  reasoning seems flawed. However, after eliminating  from  consideration  all  untestable  hypotheses, the  writer  concludes  that, on the  bases  of the  historicity of  the  accounts, and the  extraordinary  claims  of  Jesus, Lewis's  concluding  argument  is  valid, though  not on the basis  he provided  for  it.

abstract: Acadia Divinity College


title: Aspects of the winter ecology and behaviour of bald eagles (Haliaeetus  leucocephalus  alascanus Townsend) on the Shubenacadie River, Nova Scotia

contributor:
Reid, Patricia Royce (author)
(Smith, P.C.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1982

abstract:
Bald  eagles  Haliaeetus  leucocephalus  alascanus Townsend  were  studied  on  the  Shubenacadie  River, Nova Scotia, from  November  to  March, 1980-1981  and  1981-1982, to  determine  abundance  and  age  structure, food  resources and  effects  of  tide  and  ice  on  fora.ging. Eagles  arrived in  November  and  left  in  March; peak  numbers  were 65  and X 4 7. Immatures  increasingly  outnumbered  adults  as  winter
progressed., Eagles  concentrated  in  a 6 km stretch  because of  availability  of  tomcod  Microgadus tomcod (Walbaum), pig  carcasses  at  a farm, and  suitable  perches. Immatures were  more  numerous  in  this  stretch  than  elsewhere. Tomcod spawn  in  the  river  in  January, and  are  present  before  and after  spawning. Eagles  obtained  fish  under  certain  tide and  ice  conditions. Common mergansers  Mergus merganser  L. were  also  caught  under  specific  tide  and  ice  conditions. Most  activity  occurred  in  early  morning  and  late  afternoon,  but  foraging  took  place  whenever  conditions  permitted. When the  river  was  ice-free,  eagles  were  most active  at  low  tide;  with  ice,  tide  had  little effect. Eagles  utilized  certain  perches  consistently,  and  many used  a communal  roost. Birds  were  trapped  and  marked  from
1977  to  1982; some  returned  yearly,  and  some  individuals were  seen  several  times  in  a season. Eagles  appeared elsewhere  in  Nova  Scotia  the  same  winter  they  were  tagged.

abstract: Biology


title: A historical survey of governmental attitudes respecting the question of religion in the public schools of Nova Scotia

contributor:
Price, Neil G. (author)
(Whidden, Evan M.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1958

abstract:
No abstract.
Acadia Divinity College


title: Henry Alline: man of conflict

contributor:
Morrison, George A. (author)
(Whidden, Evan M.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1954

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: The Baptists of Cape Breton

contributor:
Holmes, Samuel MacEwan (author)
(Warren, G.C.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1953

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: Evangelism in the Maritime Provinces

contributor:
Allaby, Harold E. (author)
(No advisor given) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1941

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: The rural church problem in the Maritime Baptist Convention

contributor:
Corey, Ellis Gideon (author)
(Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1940

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: Geochemical and ecological controls on mercury speciation and bioaccumulation in coastal invertebrates (Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy)

contributor:
Bradford, Molly Anne (author)
(O'Driscoll, Nelson) (Thesis advisor)
(Mallory, Mark) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract: Estuaries are ecologically sensitive areas that are vulnerable to bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg), a  potent  neurotoxin  that  readily  bioaccumulates  and  biomagnifies  in  ecosystems  resulting  in  negative impacts on organism health. Studies on MeHg bioaccumulation in coastal invertebrates in Eastern Canada are  limited,  and  these  data  are  necessary  to  determine  risk  for  bioaccumulation  in  higher  trophic  level organisms  like  fish  and  birds.  Particularly,  the  Minas  Basin,  Bay  of  Fundy  is  an  important  site  for  fish spawning and for foraging birds during migration. Fourteen species of invertebrates were collected from five intertidal sites in the Minas Basin during summer 2021 and analysed for concentrations of MeHg and total mercury (THg), and stable isotopes of 13C, 15N, and 34S. The mean concentration of MeHg of all individuals  (12.78    11.23  ng/g  dry  weight  (dw))  was  approximately  an  order  of  magnitude  below  the Canadian tissue residue guideline for the protection of wildlife consumers like fish and birds of 157.20 ng/g dw. Species with the highest concentrations of Hg were the gastropod  Ilyanassa obsoleta, and predatory polychaetes from  the  families  Goniadidae  and  Maldanidae.  Values  were  generally  consistent  with  those found  in  other  studies  in  Eastern  Canada  and  the  United  States.  Trophic  position  (15N)  was  strongly positively correlated with bioaccumulation of Hg (THg: r208 = 0.14, p = 0.04 and MeHg: r208 = 0.34, p < 0.0001).  The  Trophic  Magnification  Factor  (TMF)  and Trophic  Magnification  Slope  (TMS)  were  much higher for MeHg than THg (TMF: 16.41 and 2.60, TMS: 1.21  0.30 and 0.41  0.28 respectively), and the TMF for MeHg greatly exceeded those reported in other studies of food webs containing higher trophic level organisms. Stable isotopes of sulfur (34S) (measured in three species; Corophium volutator, Ilyanassa obsoleta,  and  Littorina  littorea)  were  positively  related  to  MeHg  in  invertebrates,  and  when  used  in combination with 15N values improved predictions of Hg concentrations in biota. To evaluate the effects of  environmental  chemistry  on  Hg  production  and  bioaccumulation,  bulk  sediments  from  all  sites  were analysed for THg, %LOI (carbon), and 34S, and concentrations of MeHg, TOC, sulfate, and sulfide were measured  in  porewaters.  MeHg  in  porewater  was  the  best  predictor  of  invertebrate  MeHg,  but  sediment 34S, which can be used as an indicator of sulfate reduction and thus Hg methylation, was also a relatively strong  predictor  and  should  be  included  in  studies  on  Hg  bioaccumulation  moving  forward  to  improve predictive models. Predictions of Hg concentrations in biota using sediment and porewater chemistry were strongest for the amphipod Corophium volutator, highlighting this species as potentially useful bioindicator of Hg contamination in the Bay of Fundy. This research was reviewed to assess the various geochemical, biological, and physical factors that impact MeHg production and bioavailability in estuaries, which will help to identify ecosystems that are at greater risk for MeHg retention and bioaccumulation.

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: The importance of considering thermal unpredictability in understanding how fish will respond to climate warming

contributor:
Brown, Sarah (author)
(Currie, Suzie) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2023

abstract:
Climate change has led to increases in global mean temperatures, as well as in the intensity, frequency, and duration of extreme temperature events. Notably, the unpredictability of thermal fluctuations  is  increasing  in  natural  ecosystems.  Thus,  experiments  that  incorporate  realistic, unpredictable thermal variability should lead to more accurate predictions of how temperature will impact physiological performance in natural populations. Using the hermaphroditic, amphibious Mangrove rivulus (Kryptolebias marmoratus) as a model species, I investigated the difference between warming predictable and unpredictable thermal fluctuations on physiology and also tested for genetically based differences in phenotypic plasticity among lineages. I hypothesized that compared to predictable thermal variability, unpredictable thermal variability would negatively
affect acclimation capacity. To test this, I acclimated three isogenic lineages of Mangrove rivulus in three thermal groups: predictable (27°C-35°C) and unpredictable thermal fluctuations (27°C -35°C) with a similar thermal load, and stable control temperature (27°C). After five weeks of acclimation, I measured growth rate, thermal biology endpoints (emersion temperature, critical thermal  maximum  (CTmax)),  and  gill  morphology  (interlamellar  cell  mass  height,  lamellar width/height). I determined that fish acclimated to either thermal fluctuation treatment (27°C-35°C) had a lower growth rate than control fish at a stable temperature, yet thermal tolerance was not impacted by either warming temperature cycle. Notably, fish acclimated to either predictable or unpredictable thermal cycle had a reduced gill surface area when compared to control fish, possibly as a preparatory response for emersion.
The results of my thesis led me to develop a collaborative second project that compared two environmentally relevant unpredictable thermal cycles to the mean of the cycle, with the goal of disentangling the effects of thermal fluctuations and thermal warming. We acclimated three isogenic lineages of Mangrove rivulus to four different thermal regimes – two unpredictable thermal  cycles,  one  mimicking  current  climate  conditions  (low  cycle:  24°C-29°C)  and  one predicting warming conditions (high cycle: 29°C -34°C), and the mean of both cycles (low mean: 26.5°C, and high mean: 31.5°C). We measured growth, fecundity, and thermal tolerance and predicted that (1) these variables would be similar in fish acclimated to unpredictable thermal fluctuations when compared to fish acclimated to the mean of the cycle, and (2) these variables would be different between the two unpredictable cycles, with fish in the warming fluctuations having decreased reproductive output, growth, and thermal safety margins as they were more frequently  exposed  to  suboptimal  temperatures.  Our  preliminary  results  supported  both predictions, as cyclic acclimated fish responded similarly to fish exposed to the mean of the cycle, and  fish  in  both  warming  conditions  (high  cycle  and  high  mean)  had  decreased  growth  and reproductive output compared to fish in the cooler thermal groups. Similar to the results of my thesis, thermal tolerance was conserved across groups. Collectively, my data reveal the importance of considering daily, unpredictable thermal variability when studying the effects of temperature on  fishes.  Additionally,  genetically  based  differences  were  observed  in  response  to  thermal
unpredictability, suggesting that an organism’s response to changing environmental conditions is genotype specific.

abstract: Biology


title: Examining population genetics of the Atlantic Sea Cucumber Cucumaria frondosa using COI and RADseq

contributor:
Penney, Matthew Steven Ambrose (author)
(Stewart, Donald) (Thesis advisor)
(Rawlings, Timothy) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract:
The Atlantic Sea Cucumber, Cucumaria frondosa (Echinodermata, Holothuria) is a suspension-feeding sea cucumber found throughout the North Atlantic. Recently, interest has emerged in developing a trawl fishery for this species in Nova Scotia, specifically on the Scotian Shelf. As new fisheries emerge in Canada, precautionary management entails examining underlying genetic structure to inform fisheries stocks. This is also important to follow international efforts from organizations such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to characterize and manage biodiversity as a biological resource. Little is known about the population genetics of this species, including connectivity across the North Atlantic. One previous study examined genetic structure of C. frondosa in the North Atlantic using Cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (COI) and found evidence of minor structure between Europe and North America, but no regional structuring. When this dataset was augmented with additional individuals and sampling sites in this study, the minor structuring between continents remained, but pairwise Fst values between study sites changed. In addition, my results showed that the way DNA sequence data is trimmed can significantly redistribute haplotypes between study sites, implying the need for more standardized methodology for sequence trimming in future analyses. Regional genetic structuring between the coasts of Atlantic Canada and Iceland was re-assessed with a higher resolution method, Restriction Site-Associated DNA Sequencing (RADseq). Overall, both COI and RADseq analyses supported the hypothesis of one metapopulation of C. frondosa across the North Atlantic, with the RADseq analysis indicating that sea cucumbers off the coasts of Iceland and Atlantic Canada constituted at least two subpopulations. In addition, a minor difference between the study site in NAFO Zone 4X and the remainder of Atlantic Canada was found. Thus, there may be greater amounts of genetic structuring within Cucumaria frondosa on the Scotian Shelf than previously thought. There is also evidence that methodology (e.g. marker selection, sequence trimming, sample size) can impact the results of population genetic analyses. The results of this thesis have established a baseline of population structuring for C. frondosa in the North Atlantic, with at least two subpopulations between North America and Europe, but they also demonstrate the need for standardized methodology for trimming sequence data and even selecting appropriate
markers for research questions. This will be important for further work on establishing genetic data as a biological resource and for informing long-term management of fisheries.

abstract: Biology


title: Investigating chemoreception and behavioural responses of Tetranychus urticae Koch to naturally based repellents and acaricides

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

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract:
Tetranychus urticae Koch (the two-spotted spider mite) is an agricultural pest with a host range of over 1100 species of plants. Tetranychus urticae has rapidly developed resistance to a variety of synthetic chemical pesticides due to its high fecundity and short generation time. Plant essential oils have been recognized as a novel natural source of pest control that have a reduced impact to the environment and human health from synthetic pesticides, and which may provide a viable alternative for managing T. urticae. The present study investigates the potential of natural-based products as repellents and miticides. A novel electrophysiological approach was developed to record the electrophysiological response from T. urticae. Additionally, a novel two-choice behavioural assay was designed to determine if T. urticae is attracted or repelled by various
compounds. Both electrotarsograms and behavioural assays were used to identify compounds detected by T. urticae. Using Gas Chromatogram-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) linked to electrotarsographic detection (GC-ETD), it was determined that T. urticae is sensitive to eucalyptol, thymol, and linalool, which are terpenoids commonly found in essential oil mixtures from many plant species. In addition, the study screened volatile organic compounds with different functional groups and found that T. urticae is sensitive to a series of carboxylic acids and a series of aldehydes which are typically detected by ionotropic receptors. By conducting two-choice behavioural assays, it was determined that T. urticae is repelled by many essential oil mixtures, carboxylic acids, and aldehydes. To further identify compounds of behavioral relevance for T. urticae, collections of volatiles from mites were made using thermal desorption linked with GC-MS analysis. Finally, the project investigated alternative uses and potential non-target impacts of novel commercial product (product 102) for acaricide use. Product 102 was tested as a potential fungicide against Botrytis cinerea Persoon and Cladosporium herbarum Persoon. To investigate potential non-target impacts, acute contact toxicity tests were conducted using 102 on Bombus impatiens Cresson.

abstract: Biology


title: Combining charitable data to build better machine learning models

contributor:
Adundor, Srikanth Reddy (author)
(Lee, Greg) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract:
A charity is a not-for-profit organization created to provide help and raise money for those in need. Charities use several approaches to reach donors and raise money. One such approach is machine learning. Machine learning strategies are used to increase retention and donation amounts. Machine learning models use data such as demographic, donation, education and behavioral to predict who will donate. Machine learning models are typically learned on data from a particular charity and applied to test data from the same charity. We experimented with learning models on data combined from multiple similar sources and all the available data from different sources. We hypothesized that these additional sources help build a more accurate model since the algorithm can access more and similarly distributed data. In our research, we wanted to show that combining data from both related and unrelated sources allowed for more accurate and precise models to be learned across a variety of charitable sectors. However, combining data did not help in general; it was
dependent on the machine learning algorithm. We built a machine learning model called a super model. This model was trained using different machine learning classifiers such as Na ̈ıve Bayes, Logistic Regression, K-Nearest Neighbour, Random Forest classifier and Artificial neural network classifier. All the experiments were performed using different methods to determine the best charity and prediction pair. We discovered that Random Forest classifier and K-Nearest Neighbour classifier performed well when trained on the combined data available from all sources.

abstract: Computer Science


title: Anglican and Dissenter responses to the Great Plague of London in 1665: approaches to patient care and pastoral care

contributor:
King, Stephen (author)
(Maxwell, Melody) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract: The Great Plague of London in 1665 brought tremendous challenges for the Christian church. The lack of facilities and expertise for the care and treatment of the sick left Anglican and Dissenter congregations with the responsibility of attending to both the physical and spiritual needs of the city. As many citizens, clergy, and physicians fled the city, those left behind were inundated with the needs of the sick and the poor. This thesis asserts that the theological beliefs of Anglicans and Dissenters concerning providence, fleeing and staying, and charity framed the actions of both their clergy and laity in regard to patient care and pastoral care. Anglican and Dissenter attitudes towards patient care and pastoral care sometimes coincided but more often differed. Investigation of care for the infected, visitation of the sick, worship services, written pamphlets, and plague sermons reveals the work of Anglican and Dissenting churches during this period of crisis. Anglicans most often worked through the parish system to provide for the sick and the poor. Dissenters more often had personal connections to victims of the pestilence. These two Christian groups held different theological views on providence, charity, and fleeing and staying as they pertained to the plague. The findings of this thesis suggest that what these Christians believed about their God and the plague explained to a large degree why they behaved as they did.

abstract: Acadia Divinity College


title: The role of attachment style and emotional maladjustment in technology-based addictions

contributor:
McAulay, Taylor L. (author)
(Symons, Doug) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract: There is current interest in the association between adult attachment style and addiction, as well as a burgeoning interest in excessive technology use, constituting a behavioural addiction.  Accordingly, the present study investigated the relation between behavioural measures of technology use and related self-report measures of addiction, whether attachment style was predictive of addiction to social media, texting, and video games, and whether emotional maladjustment indicators mediated the relation between attachment and addiction. Participants, n = 94, were undergraduate students who reported on their social media, texting, and cell phone game use over the past week using the Screen Time feature within their iPhones. They also provided an estimate of gaming across all platforms. Online questionnaires were used to measure adult attachment style, addiction to technology in three domains, and emotional maladjustment. The results demonstrated that the behavioural records of social media and cell phone gaming were significantly correlated with their respective addiction measures, whereas texting was not. The gaming estimate also significantly correlated to gaming addiction. It was also found that attachment anxiety and avoidance significantly predicted addiction to social media but no other form of addiction. Lastly, emotional maladjustment did not mediate the relation between attachment style and any technology-based addiction. The current study therefore informs interests in technology use and addictions, as well as adult attachment style and emotional maladjustment as related constructs.

abstract: Psychology


title: C.S. Lewis set out to prove the existence of God

contributor: (Killacky, Christopher) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract:
This thesis examines the question: Does C. S. Lewis’s argument from longing, Sehnsucht, support the probable existence of God—an ontological reasoning rooted in Occam’s rule? C. S. Lewis’s argument for the probable existence of God is presented in his fiction and non-fiction. It is initiated in the context of his conversion as he expressed it using the word “longing.” Furthermore, I scrutinized the argument by using the idea of desire in his writings.
  In addition to looking at what Lewis stated regarding longing and God’s existence, the thesis covers historical references to this point of the human quest for God. Subsequently, there is space given to the ontological argument of St. Anselm and William of Occam’s razor as they relate to whether God exists or not. In addition, I referred to other theologians who set out to prove that God exists.
  John Beversluis has formulated Lewis’s ideas on the desire for God as the Argument from Desire. Therefore, a debate on the pros and cons of the Argument from Desire among those who have written about Lewis.
  The existence of God is a topic with a long history, and this thesis sets out to place Lewis in it. This thesis summarizes a specific subject focusing on Lewis and his longing.
  Lewis was evangelistic in his writings. But can Lewis’s arguments still be used to bring someone to faith in God and a relationship with Jesus Christ?

abstract: Acadia Divinity College


title: Polemics as disruption: appropriation and transformation of the manifesto by Nicole Brossard and Sina Queyras

contributor:
VanNorden, Samantha (author)
(Quéma, Anne) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2022

abstract: In my Master’s thesis I provide a genealogy of the manifesto beginning at the outset of the twentieth century as a way to foreground my examination of lesbian and queer polemics. The genre of the manifesto is polemical through the way the writers declare their political views, which they do by both contending against another individual or party and by proclaiming their stance for revolution and change. For my discussion, I argue that Nicole Brossard’s French Kiss (1974) and Sina Queyras’s My Ariel (2017) appropriate the affect of the manifesto in order to disrupt traditional and heteronormative narrative forms that resist a historically situated dominant culture. Each text deploys political resistance by using narrative and visual fragmentation to create a counterdiscourse of gender and sexual disruption. Thus, by appropriating the affect from the genre of the manifesto, Brossard and Queyras disrupt the very stability of oppressive forms of narratives built upon heteronormative phallocentric traditions.

abstract: English & Theatre Studies


title: Gendered affective atmospheres: an intersectional analysis of the Halifax Centre Plan

contributor:
Glazier, Sarah Esther (author)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)
(Mutlu, Can) (Thesis advisor)

rights: The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.

subject: LE3 .A278 2019

abstract: Politics

abstract:
Why do women feel unsafe in the public sphere? Anecdotal narratives, as well those in popular media testify to the notion that women tend to be fearful when encountering the urban, especially when alone and at night. This thesis explores the issue of gendered insecurity in the urban sphere, specifically Halifax, Nova Scotia. However, amongst women there are political identities and experiences that shape insecurity quite differently, thus a purely gendered lens is inherently quite limited. Therefore, intersectionality is a crucial framework for investigating issues of gendered insecurity, as well as providing solutions to these ills.
This thesis utilizes the profession of urban planning and urban planning theory as a focal point of analyzing the urban. As planners are engaged in a process of biopolitical production, imagining and enforcing certain ideals of spatialization, how planners imagine space matters quite profoundly for inhabitants. With Halifax as a case study, specifically the Centre Plan, the most recent planning document for the city, this central research question of this thesis asks how the Centre Plan addresses issues of gendered insecurity with particular attention to intersectionality. Ultimately illuminating that issues of gendered insecurity are not of priority in the Centre Plan, bur rather economic gain is a central objective.


title: An economic evaluation of some silica deposits in Nova Scotia

contributor:
Jones, Barry Edward (author)
(MacNeill, Rupert) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1966

abstract:
This  report  describes  the  findings  of  a survey carried  out  by  the  writer  during the  summer  months  of  1965 of  several  occurences  of  high  grade  silica  material  throughout the  province  of  Nova  Scotia. Several  localities  were  mapped and  sampled, and  a description  of  the  various deposits  is given  herein. Also  described  0 1-s. the  state  of  the  silica industry  at  the  present  time, and  the  specifications  and uses  of  commercial  grade  silica. A  classification  of  silica deposits  is  proposed which  takes  into  account  the  physical properties  of  the  material  making  up  the  deposit.
Of the  seven  localities  examined, 4 are  on  main-land  Nova  Scotia,  and  3  are  on  Cape  Breton  Island. Those on  the  mainland  include  4 occurences  of  Horton  age  sandstones in  Pictou  and  Colchester  Counties; two  large  quartz  intrusives at  west  Country  Harbour, Guysborough  County; the  paraquartzites of  the  White  Rock  Mills  area;  and  paraquartzite  and  Vein quartz  at  Brazil  lake,  Yarmouth  Co. The Cape  Breton  deposits were  occurences  of  paraquartzites  of  the  George  River  group at  Aberdeen, Inverness  County, and  Leitches  Greek, Cape Breton  County, and  an  occurence  of  Horton  Sandstone  at
Bucklaw,  Victoria  County.

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: The history of the township of Cornwallis

contributor:
Newcombe, Isabelle (author)
(Longley, R.S.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1945

abstract:
No abstract.
History & Classics


title: The Christian faith and the university

contributor:
Locke, Frank E. (author)
(Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1962

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: "The help should be greatest where the need is most": the Social Gospel platform of the United Baptist Convention of the Maritime Provinces

contributor:
Feltmate, Darrell (author)
(Wilson, Robert) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1993

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: The analysis of the three cases in a medical setting in which the patient was helped to realize this right to self-determination

contributor: (Montgomery, Frances L.) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1951

abstract:
No abstract
Maritime School of Social Work


title: External factors that have influenced the progress of the Home Mission enterprise under the United Baptist Convention

contributor:
Whitney, Raymond E. (author)
(Whidden, Evan M.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1943

abstract:
No abstract.
Acadia Divinity College


title: Ecology, morphology and management of an unusual population of Maritime garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis pallidulus) on George's Island, Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia

contributor:
Barnes, Suzanne Marie (author)
(Herman, Tom) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1994

abstract:
Parks Canada - Halifax  Defence Complex  is  committed  to developing  George's  Island  as an  historic  site.  Despite  its low  species  diversity  the  island  supports  an  unusually  dense and  morphologically  diverse population of  Thamnop his  sirtalis pallidulus  (Maritime  Garter Snakes).  Three  hundred and  ninety-one  snakes  were  marked  from  May  to  October  1993.  Movement  and activity  patterns were similar  to those observed in  other populations  of  garter  snakes.  The  total  male:female  ratio  was 0.8:1  with  an  estimated  density of  90  juveniles  and  adults per hectare.  Predation  is  limited  and  occurs  primarily  in  spring; low  levels of  human  induced mortality occur  throughout  summer. As a probable result of this relaxed predation pressure, George's Island Maritime Garter Snakes have become docile: during handling only three percent of encounters included biting  and  50%  of  encounters  showed  no  or  only a delayed  anti-predator response. Morphologically the George's Island population is unusual: it contains melanistic and partly melanistic individuals (5 of 394 observations) and an unusually high  number (48%) of individuals with abnormally shaped  and  or  divided  ventral  and  or  subcaudal  scales.  Adults on George's Island appear slightly smaller than mainland adults;  however,  the George's  Island population is reproducing successfully  despite  a less  diverse  diet  than  is available  to its mainland counterparts. Preliminary genetic analysis
indicates  that  of  eleven  enzymes  examined  there  is  one  fixed allele for Mannose-6-phosphate Isomerase and statistically insignificant variation from mainland Nova Scotia in the frequency  of  the  two  alleles  that  code  for  Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase. Recommendations for  minimizing  the impact  of development  on  the  island  include -redirecting proposed  trails away from important garter snake sites and educating the public.  Moni taring of  snake  populations  should provide  a  gauge of  long-term  human impacts  on  the  island.

abstract: Biology


title: Homeless  youth  in rural  Nova  Scotia: what  do they really need?

contributor:
Lelievre, Madeleine M. (author)
(Foster, James) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1994

abstract:
Since 1987 the  concept  of  homelessness  has had  a maJor impact on  the planning  of  social  programs. Homelessness in  rural areas is a significant problem, yet, in comparison with the urban situation, has
been  less widely documented. This study examines the lives of  four young people  in  the rural homeless category.
Data was collected by means of open-ended, videotaped interviews. The participants were encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings about  many aspects of  their lives. Analysis of the interview material revealed a number of common themes. The most immediate problems facing the four young people were related to financial difficulties. They valued the sense of satisfaction and fulfillment associated with being gainfully employed, in contrast to the insecurity associated with being unemployed. All were extremely positive about their experiences with work programs. At school, they had experienced traumas associated with a variety of problems. These included having to repeat grades,  losing contact with peers and living through difficulties at home. However, the positive effects of caring teachers was evident. Despite many set backs, the participants looked forward to a better future. Of key importance was the ability to find secure employment, to upgrade job-related skills and to find affordable accommodation.
The implications of these common themes are discussed with respect to education, counselling and the delivery of  social programs in rural areas.

abstract: Education


title: Baptist attitudes and endeavours toward the establishment of the free nonsectarian school system of Nova Scotia

contributor: Steeves, Armand Grenville Jamieson (author)

subject: LE3 .A278 1957

abstract:
No abstract
History & Classics


title: Our Maritime rural evangelism

contributor:
Murray, Stuart E. (author)
(Warren, Gordon C.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1952

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: The Maritime Baptist Young People's program

contributor:
Hirtle, Vernon Lloyd Arthur (author)
(Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1948

abstract:
No abstract.
Acadia Divinity College


title: Christian journalism: its field and significance for Maritime Baptists

contributor:
Cann, Roger Carl (author)
(No advisor given) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1956

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: Rev. John Chipman Morse, D.D.

contributor:
McGray, George Stanley (author)
(Whidden, Evan M.) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1950

abstract:
No abstract
Acadia Divinity College


title: Reaching the intersection of Indigenous and modern: A critical analysis of disaster risk management modernization in Ivatan Indigenous communities

type: Text thesis

contributor:
Fresnoza, Eli Paolo (author)
(Degree granting institution)

subject: Action Research; Disaster; Indigenous; Ivatan; Knowledge; Modernization

abstract: Known for their Indigenous knowledge, systems, and practices (IKSPs) in managing disaster risks, the Ivatans of Batanes Province in the Philippines are faced with the pressures of modernizing such generations-old traditions. While noble in intent, the technologically-driven narrative of managing disaster risks idealized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) brings to question the change it influences on Ivatan Indigenous communities. The intersection between Ivatan IKSPs and the NDRRMC’s initiatives reflected epistemological contrasts of positivist vis-à-vis constructivist approaches that warranted a critical view. Drawing new understanding and knowledge using the critical paradigm required an Action Research-driven methodology. Specific data gathering and collaboration methods included desk research; validation of an Ivatan DRRM IKSP inventory; FGDs and workshops that delved into understanding community and Local DRRM Council perceptions and critiques; and a workshop to craft recommendations for integrating Indigenous and scientific resiliency systems. Research findings pointed out hegemonic, top- down-centric policies that insisted outsider-oriented, technical solutions that were ineffective to the local context and were potentially damaging to traditional cultural systems and practices of resiliency. However, Ivatans were also faced with endogenous agencies such as the strong thrust for modernity through technology that may potentially wane traditional resiliency practices. Outcomes from community workshops also revealed a paradigm shift in society to integrate the scientific and traditional as a continuous evolution of IKSPs and resiliency in light of the increasing threat of climate change disruptions.


title: What do we mean when we talk about “safe space”?: a philosophical exploration of a contentious metaphor in education

contributor: Simon Fraser University Faculty of Education (Degree granting institution)

abstract: Educators have described their classes and institutions as “safe spaces” with increasing frequency and certainty since the 1990s. However, philosophers of education such as Eamon Callan, Cris Mayo, and Sigal Ben-Porath have found “safe space” to be conceptually and pedagogically lacking when interpreted from intersectional positionalities operating within the hegemonic white, masculine, and consumerist discourses permeating a modern educational system that strives for greater equity, diversity, and inclusion. This work operationalizes “safe space” by recognizing it as what linguists Max Black, George Lakoff and Mark Johnson, and philosopher Paul Ricoeur would term a conceptual metaphor, which structures thinking about education. Critical pedagogues such as Michael Apple, Raymond Callahan, Paulo Freire, Ivan Illich, Herbert Kliebard, and Peter McLaren have argued how this type of structured thinking can influence pedagogical practices; but to date, no in-depth philosophical analysis of “safe space” exists in the literature. Interrogating modern debates about the nature of “space” inherited from Isaac Newton (who viewed it as an absolute container filled with independent subjects/objects), and Gottfried Leibniz (who viewed space as an infinite set of relations between subjects/objects), the implications for any educationally worthwhile understanding and practice of “safety” or “safe space” are shown to be suspect due to the Newtonian inheritances. Ultimately, I posit that “safe space” is unavoidably Newtonian – assumed to be capable of formulation a priori such that students are entitled to a guarantee that a class space will be safe in some sense that can be unambiguously stated, irrespective of who is taking the class, what the class is about, and what is going on in the world. This a priori safe space is then one that institutions feel responsible for guaranteeing, teachers feel responsible for creating and maintaining, with students feeling no responsibility other than reaping its benefits. Linking this work’s conceptual analysis of the Leibnizian inheritances to “space” and “safety” (understood as infinitely relational) to that of critical pedagogues such as bell hooks, I argue for a more philosophically grounded and educationally worthwhile understanding of “safe space”.

abstract: Safe Space; Philosophy of Education; Paul Ricoeur; Isaac Newton; Gottfried Leibniz, bell hooks; Conceptual Metaphor; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)


title: Hello, My Other Self

contributor: Mawhinney, Arhea (Arhea Mawhinney) (author)

contributor: Emily Carr University of Art and Design Graduate Studies (Degree granting institution)

contributor: Crabtree, Brenda (Brenda Crabtree) (thesis advisor)

format:
40 p.
electronic
electronic

rights: This thesis is available to view and copy for research and educational purposes only, provided that it is not altered in any way and is properly acknowledged, including citing the author(s), title and full bibliographic details.

subject:
Weaving
Maori (New Zealand people)

abstract:
Hello, My Other Self is a personal journey of discovery. As a Māori who is seeking cultural kinship, my first integral questions are “ko wai au”, who am I? and “no hea au”, where do I come from? As a Māori designer I look to my whakapapa, reminding me of where I come from, the stories of our people and what makes te ao Māori unique.
Māori design and Māori culture are so closely interwoven that it is impossible to consider these two concepts separately. The backbone of my exploration of woven process fuses customary māoritanga holding steadfast to the blessings of Papatūānuku from inception with contemporary form and practice. Creating narratives of whakapapa, through the intangible knowledge of ancestry that I embody in my being, connecting maker, materials and artifact.
Pursuing this praxis focuses on deepening an understanding of my culture through engaging the notion and dissecting the meaning of weaving as a design practice from material based exploration, to the woven process, to sustainability, where I, as Māori, am considered the medium. The eternal thread or te aho tapu is the genealogical line, the first and sacred line of weaving that guides me on this journey. Te aho tapu in māoridom is our connection to the past, acknowledging this is personally and culturally important as in our concept of time we cannot separate ourselves from our tūpuna or the generation in front of us.This journey is a reflective exploration of material characteristics, creating cloth, a korowai, a blanket of culture, in te ao Pākehā culture, seeking ways I can culturally embrace and sustain culture in today’s world through Māori forms of design. Intrinsically engaging with harakeke and natural fibres that share similar foundational relationships such as flax, buffalo and sheep wool. The use of these materials enhances the cultural values, asserting sustainability of Māori epistemological notions of practice and meaning into my design. I am weaving my story metaphorically, culturally and physically.

abstract: Korowai

abstract: Whakapapa

abstract: Cultural identity

abstract: Contemporary expression

abstract: Māoritanga

abstract: Harakeke


title: Play Imagined: Enabling Children Through Explorations into Creative Participatory Design Methods

type: thesis Text

contributor: Gellis, Jennifer (Jennifer Gellis) (author)

format:
88 p.
electronic

subject:
Design--Educational games
Children with disabilities
Design
Group work in education
Occupational therapy

abstract: This thesis essay and accompanying project explore the use of a generative toolkit designed to involve children with disabilities in the design process. A generative toolkit includes an assemblage of visual materials including several pages of word stickers, carefully selected images, basic shapes, coloured paper and a space on which to arrange them. This thesis is part of a larger ongoing study involving collaboration with children to design a play space in the therapy department at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children in Vancouver, BC. Discussed are the modifications to the toolkit and iterative testing, to determine the function and accessibility of the components. The insights of this study come from recognizing the collaboration between two seemingly different disciplines, industrial design and occupational therapy. "Adults often underestimate the ability of a child or youth to meaningfully contribute to decision-making and research. This may lead to the design of objects and environments that reflect more of an adults" view of the world, rather than acknowledging the valuable perspectives that children have to offer. While involving children with disabilities in research activities may present challenges, efforts to empower them and provide a measure of control over their physical world can contribute to their sense of well-being. Input from children with disabilities can contribute valuable insight to inform the design of products and environments that are meaningful and relevant for them. "Building on Sanders and Stappers" (2008) approach to co-design and generative toolkits, this essay offers a listing of practical suggestions for research and design teams who wish to bring the input of children with disabilities into the design process. The findings consider the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Function, Disability and Health framework, the practical and ethical issues involved when researching with children and youth with disabilities. The research can be extended to develop inclusive toolkits for adults with physical and cognitive limitations, and the elderly. The results could contribute to the increased quality of products for independent living, multi-sensory, communication and positioning and mobility equipment. Additional applications include the design of healthcare education programs, services, knowledge transfer materials, and adaptations to the built environment for accessibility. Implications also involve the area of designing for social impact, including international health, where communication may be limited due to physical, cognitive, social and cultural factors. This study, which employs concepts from the sociology of childhood, theory of affordances, person-centered practice, and sensory integration, illustrates that the toolkit is a valuable, creative and visual method with application for children with disabilities in participatory design.


title: Designing Shifts: Making Of Narratives

contributor: Doyle, Keith (Keith Doyle) (thesis advisor)

format:
107 p.
electronic
electronic

subject: Storytelling Globalization Self-perception

abstract:
Our self-identities are shaped by two things—introspection and external influences. Who we are in terms of our personalities, perspectives, and beliefs is largely determined by how we see ourselves and how we see the world.
Globalization and technological advancement continue to provide us with unprecedented levels of access to this world. At its advent, globalization enriched us with other cultures and insights not previously available. It provided us with new opportunities in media, trade, and access to information and knowledge. Today there are concerns this may have been at the expense of our cultural diversity, which in turn has affected our sense and uniqueness of self. Whether in the form of mobile lifestyle or through the cultural convergence of mass media and exchange of goods, individuals around the globe are affected by the often overwhelming pace of change in their surrounding social contexts. In consequence, the concept of identity and the need for a sense of self are critical.
This study addresses, in part, a concurrent cultural context within which loss of identity and loss of belongingness have occurred. For instance, as a self-identified transcultural person, early explorations of this thesis began within a specific segment of transcultural identities (1) —a cultural group that emerged due to the complex cultural exchanges of globalization leading to such loss of stable identity and belongingness. This phase not only afforded the initial context of this research but also provided an understanding of self as relational to other people and things. Responding to this new understanding, a series of case studies were conducted to explore how design can help shift our perspectives on the way we think about making and the interaction between persons and things.
A generative approach provides new insights; in this type of inquiry, knowledge created from one study influences the development of subsequent research activities. The continuity of this responsive and reactive process led to the formation of Making of Narratives, a practice-led design framework delivered through model and practice. It is a conceptual framework in that it offers a context and conditions (scope/structure) for making meaning and sense of our relationship between persons and things. Within this framework, a set of guidelines are suggested to allow variations of models to be built through iterative and reflective practice. Modelling provides a site for narratives to be tangibly visualized, and practice affords space for introspection and co-creation. Together, model and practice constitute this framework as a tool to attain a deeper understanding of self and others; this, in turn, can lead to fostering a sense of belonging (2) and community. It emphasizes the value of gestural engagement—kinesthesia of the hand and body—in the simple making (3) process as a means to discover, impart and transfer embodied sensory-perceptual knowledge. Making of Narratives offers designers an alternative approach for generative design research and knowledge creation.
This design research explores the potential of storytelling through material practice, specifically through acts of simple making, as a means to help shift our perspectives and deepen understanding of self and others in the midst of the rapid changes in the current era of globalization. (1) Transcultural identity: People who undergo a social and psychological transformation to create a different sense of self—identity as multiple—through experiencing the interweaving and exchange of human cultures (Nguyen & Benet-Martinez, 2010, p. 4). (2) A sense of belonging: Feeling connected or feeling that one belongs in a social milieu (Vallerand, 1997, p. 300); Feeling personally accepted, respected, included, and supported by others in a social environment. Failure to have a sense of belonging may lead
to feelings of social isolation, alienation, and loneliness. (3) Simple making: The kind of making that is considered rudimentary and basic, such as ordering, sorting, assemblage, stacking, binding, and so forth. Simple making within this research allows for easy approachability for any person whether experienced or inexperienced in the creative practice of making.

abstract: Tangible visualization

abstract: Generative design

abstract: Practice-led research

abstract: Material practice

abstract: Self-inquiry/discovery

abstract: Participatory design

abstract: Meaning-making

abstract: Sense-making

abstract: Boundary objects


title: Blurring the Lines Between the Digital and Physical: Designing a User-Interface to Create the 21st Century Town Square

contributor: Humphrey, David (David Humphrey) (author)

format:
64 p.
electronic

subject: Interaction Design--Information technology--Internet (social aspects)--Online social networks--Human-computer interaction--Storytelling

abstract: Metaphors are instrumental to facilitate learning, and to the formation and maintenance of new ideas and concepts, especially in design thinking. This paper discusses the relationship of a specific metaphor in the design process, as well as in design outcomes of the collaborative project titled SQWhere. The thesis explores how a town square metaphor functioned as a creative thinking methodology and research tool throughout the design process. This metaphor provided novel ways of looking at the complex phenomena of digital social networks and human agency. Ultimately, this provides a detailed example of how a metaphorical approach to exploring a concept can guide a user-centered design process in Interaction Design. SQWhere, a mobile storytelling application for the urban pedestrian will connect people in real time and real space in environments. The SQWhere application for mobile phones will enable social interactions and information exchange through location-based storytelling— utilizing video, audio, images, and text. SQWhere will make connections happen at the grassroots level creating an environment of peer-to-peer knowledge exchange— storytelling.

abstract: Metaphor

abstract: Town square

abstract: Location


title: Finding Home and Losing Space

contributor: Whalley, Steven (Steven Whalley) (author)

contributor: Plessner, Daphne (Daphne Plessner) (thesis advisor)

format:
38 p.
electronic
electronic

subject:
Installations (Art)
Drawing
Illustration
Sound art
Animation
Cartography

abstract: My research focuses on an investigation of how my body reacts to spatial and sensory information and developing visual motifs and metaphors that poetically capture somatic interruptions in my daily life. While subjected to the onset of neurocardiogenic episodes that cause me to have uniquely altered sensory somatic encounters, my body feels like a receiver for a multitude of sensory information from internal and external environments. Sometimes objects, shapes, spaces and sound change instantaneously, and my body is left to respond accordingly, losing parts of vision, sense of touch or ability to hear. I look to these somatic experiences for inspiration in making art. Key research questions have guided my practice, such as What can the fragmentation of spaces that occur in these moments provide my practice? How do I translate somatic experiences, such as a corner of a room disappearing or a wall floating upward through the ceiling, into a visual narrative? How does one remain orientated in such a moment and how can one's (re)orientation be transposed into an art installation? My aim was to make sonic, visual and material gestures about these experiences to better understand them and the relationship between sensory and spatial perception. Much of my inquiry assesses the aesthetic content of the ‘home’ as a way of mapping the manner in which my body and perceptions are ‘organized’ by and within the world. I draw on the work of Gaston Bachelard and Tim Endensor, among others, to not only develop my discussion of architectural spaces and its aesthetics but also as a way of navigating my personal experiences of architectural spaces that enclose the fragility of my body and its reliance on an external environment for orientation.

abstract: Mapping

abstract: Projection