title: An investigation into the genomic evolution of the histone gene family

contributor:
Kaupp, Kristin C. (author)
(Snyder, Marlene) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The extremely high level of within and between species similarity of the histone gene  family has lead to the proposal that the histone gene family is subject to concerted  evolution (Liao 2003; Maxson et al. 1983). Both mechanisms of concerted evolution –  unequal crossing over and gene conversion - have been documented to occur, and are  understood in molecular detail, but their role in concerted evolution is primarily based on  theoretical and/or mathematical models with limited data from actual genome sequence to  support them (Sturtevant 1924; Hurst et al. 1972). It is the hypothesis of this thesis that if  unequal crossing over is the main mechanism of concerted evolution, then the edges of  the histone gene clusters are more likely to show mutation than the interior of the clusters.  The adjacent regions to the histone gene clusters may therefore be informative about the  evolutionary history of the histone gene family. This investigation into the genomic  evolution of the histone gene family was conducted using genomic analysis of DNA  sequence adjacent to the histone gene clusters in Drosophila melanogaster and  Drosophila virilis. DNA sequence was downloaded from the public FlyBase database  (McQuilton et al. 2012). Sequence analysis programs were used to search for previously  unidentified informative sequence. After several rounds of comparison and analysis,  many interesting elements were identified. These include eight previously identified  histone pseudogenes that were typed in terms of the class of histone protein they used to  code for and two previously unidentified histone pseudogenes. Two transposable  elements in the histone gene region, Roo and Pogo, were determined to have led to the  separation of the histone gene clusters and to the development of an H4 histone  pseudogene. From these results and others, inferences can be made about the evolutionary  events that have occurred to generate and maintain the histone gene family.

abstract: Biology


title: Sequencing the control region of the male-transmitted mitochondrial genome of the horse mussel, Modiolus modiolus

type: Text Dissertation/Thesis

contributor:
Powell, Amy E. (author)
(Stewart, Donald) (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 2013

abstract: Marine mussels (Family Mytilidae) have a unique system of mitochondrial DNA  (mtDNA) inheritance, called doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI). In this system, two  mitochondrial genomes exist: the F genome, that is female-transmitted, and the M  genome, that is male-transmitted. It has been proposed that the mitochondrial control  region of marine mussels could play a role in sex determination. In most animals, the  control region plays an important part in regulation of transcription and replication of  mitochondrial genes, but is not known to perform any other function. My objective was to  develop a procedure to amplify and sequence the control region from the male genome of  Modiolus modiolus, commonly known as the horse mussel. Initially, mtDNA from M.  modiolus sperm was isolated, and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S  ribosomal RNA genes were amplified using PCR. Amplification was verified through  agarose gel electrophoresis, and samples were sent to McGill University for sequencing.  These genes are thought to flank the M. modiolus control region and surrounding genes,  based on gene order in female M. modiolus. Partial COI and 16S rRNA sequences were  used to design primers for the male control region and surrounding mtDNA using the  Primer3 program. Nine primers were designed to target both sides of the genome between  COI and 16S rRNA. Using long PCR, three different pairs of primers amplified a region  of approximately 10 kb, which is close to the size of the known female control region and  surrounding genes. Further sequencing will be required to determine if any of the samples  contain the male control region. Analysis of the male control region sequence will help  provide valuable information toward further exploration of its function and the  evolutionary dynamics of this gene within the family Mytilidae.

abstract: Biology


title: Household energy consumption in the United States

contributor:
Zarzecki, Ashley (author)
(Kayahan, Burc) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Residential energy consumption is a major component of the American national energy profile. When addressing issues of greenhouse gas emissions, understanding what factors contribute to residential energy consumption becomes crucial. This thesis uses regression analysis to determine what these factors are and isolate for their relative impacts on the amount of energy consumed. The data comes from the 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey.  Geographic region, weather, dwelling characteristics, appliance characteristics, behavioral characteristics, and input prices are found to significantly contribute to household energy consumption. Dwelling characteristics, behavioral characteristics, and demographic characteristics have the greatest relative impacts on energy consumed. The effect of appliance efficiency on energy consumption is examined. Results indicate that the energy efficiency of appliances do not significantly impact the energy consumed by the household. This lays the groundwork for further research to test Jevon’s Paradox using efficiency measures that go beyond appliance efficiency. Moreover, results indicate that in landlord-tenant utility agreements tenants consume more energy when they are not directly responsible for payment. This provides evidence of a principal-agent issue in landlord-tenant energy bill payment agreements.

abstract: Economics


title: How attachment style predicts incivility, civility, and cohesion in the workplace

contributor:
Stacey, Adam M. (author)
(Price, E. Lisa) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Incivility, civility and workgroup cohesion have been identified as important workplace  constructs. However, little research has addressed individual perceptions of these  constructs. In recent I/O research attachment theory has been used to conceptualize  workplace relationships. The present study aimed to identify relationships between  attachment style, incivility, civility, and workgroup cohesion. It was hypothesized that  increased attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance would each significantly and  uniquely predict increased perceptions of incivility and decreased perceptions of civility  and workgroup cohesion. A survey of health care workers (N=1011) was conducted by  the Centre for Organizational Research and Development. Results indicate both  attachment orientations are significant and unique predictors of all study variables. These  findings have implications for employees and employers alike. Considerations for future  research are also discussed.

abstract: Psychology


title: The mediating effects of coworker trust on incivility, psychological safety, and satisfaction among nursing professionals

contributor:
Hackett, Santana L. (author)
(Leiter, Michael) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Incivility and psychological safety are related to employee  relationships, work performance and wellbeing (Lim, Cortina & Magley,  2008; Carmeli, Brueller and Dutton 2009). Trust is a central component to  the development of positive interpersonal relationships and the social  environment has a strong influence on employee satisfaction (Utriainen &  Kyngas, 2009; Tyler, 1996). The present study examined the role trust  plays in the relationship between nurse’s experiences of their social  environment and their satisfaction at work. Surveys were completed by  1015 nursing staff across four Canadian health care organizations. Results  revealed that coworker trust mediated the negative relationship between  coworker incivility and job satisfaction. Trust was also found to mediate  the positive relationship between psychological safety and satisfaction in  the nursing population. Findings contribute to the current nursing literature  surrounding the adverse effects of incivility in the workplace as well as  expand on the benefits of establishing psychological safety in the  workplace.

abstract: Psychology


title: Autism Spectrum Disorder and its effects on social and family relationships

contributor:
Tilt, Margaret (author)
(Thomson, Tony) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to examine the experiences of families living with Autism to  determine whether those experiences provide us with a better understanding of the social  implications of the disability. The literature review on Autism Spectrum Disorder and its  social consequences revealed important issues regarding family dynamics, community  services and support programs, as well as public perceptions in relation to the family.  The theories of stigma and labeling were used to illustrate how stigma and labels affect  the formation of individual and family identity through both positive and negative sources.  The identification of Autism as a deficit or difference was also discussed as a current  debate within the field of disability. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to carry out  three interviews with five participants. From this research it was concluded that Autism  has a considerable effect on how families adjust to living with the disability and how it  affects their identity as a group within society. Autism is associated with an increased  amount of stress within the family but can also have positive outcomes on the ability of  parents to better understand and empathize with their children as well as others. The  identity formation of a family with Autism influences how families are able to cope with  the disability.

abstract: Sociology


title: Monsanto: A case study of monopoly corporate power

contributor:
Taylor, Allison (author)
(Sacouman, Jim) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The following thesis has been researched by means of systematic review of academic literature that focuses on the areas of monopoly corporations, agribusiness, biotechnology, and Monsanto. The central argument of this work is that Monsanto comes as close as a company can to being a pure case of monopoly corporate power. Monsanto has used its power to exploit farmers all over the world, as well as increase the problem of hunger and starvation on this planet rather than help eliminate it, which is what they claim to be doing. What people need to do is educate themselves on how our food is produced and help find ways to help overcome the power of large corporations like Monsanto. Even the smallest changes, like rejecting genetically modified foods, can help to challenge the agenda of these corporations and start collective demands for more human and environmentally friendly production, manufacturing, and sales processes.

abstract: Sociology


title: An economic impact assessment of UNESCO World Heritage designation in Eastern Canada

contributor:
Purdy, Ethan (author)
(Kayahan, Burc) (Thesis advisor)
(VanBlarcom, Brian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: As the tourism industry continues to grow and become increasingly competitive, destinations want to find ways of distinguishing themselves. One such option is a World Heritage designation. We investigate whether or not sites that have been added to the World Heritage List have realized positive economic benefits as a result of their World Heritage designation. This study focused on four sites in Eastern Canada: Old Town Lunenburg, Grand Pre National Historic Site, the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, and Miguasha National Park. Data from before and after the World Heritage designation was used to conduct regression analysis to quantify the impact of designation on visitation to the site. A net present benefit was calculated for each site using 16 years of benefits and 19 years of discounting. A positive net present value was found for all four of the sites, although The Joggins Fossil Cliffs and Miguasha National Park had smaller economic impacts than the others. We find that World Heritage does indeed have a positive effect; however, the overall impact for Natural sites as designated by UNESCO is less than Historical/Cultural sites.

abstract: Economics


title: When you need a hand: A model of attachment and support seeking in romantic relationships

contributor:
Glasgow, Jillian (author)
(Holmberg, Diane) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The current study investigates a moderated mediation model of attachment, support  seeking and well-being in a romantic dyad, where the support seekers’ (SSs') attachment  predicts the method they use to seek support, which in turn predicts the support givers’  (SGs') well-being, depending on the SGs’ attachment styles. Couples completed an online  background questionnaire assessing attachment, and five diary questionnaires, assessing  how they sought support and their daily well-being. Using a statistical macro called  Process (Hayes, 2012), several direct effects were found, as well as moderated mediation.  Specifically, it was found that when more fearful avoidant SSs use direct support seeking,  it is associated with increased psychological well-being for fearful SGs. Additionally,  when dismissing avoidant SSs use downplaying, it predicts decreased psychological well-being  for fearful SGs. Implications are discussed.

abstract: Psychology


title: Probiotics and the microbiome: Clinical intervention for anxiety and depression

contributor:
Hunter, Zoe J. (author)
(Potter, Susan) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The effects of probiotics on anxiety, depression, anxiety sensitivity, and associated  physiological factors were examined. Forty-six participants consumed probiotics or  placebo for 10 weeks each. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) and the  Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) were completed by participants at the beginning and end  of each phase, and additional health questions were answered biweekly. At the time of  writing, all 46 participants had completed Phase 1 but only 11 had completed Phase 2.  Contrary to the hypotheses, DASS and ASI scores decreased in both the probiotic and  placebo groups, with DASS scores decreasing more with placebo than probiotic.  Participant expectancies, higher initial DASS and ASI scores, catastrophizing, and  allegiance bias may have contributed to the large placebo effect. Interestingly, the  probiotic group lost an average of five pounds, whereas the placebo group maintained  their body weight.

abstract: Psychology


title: Student Volunteer Abroad Programs—imagined political identities: Imperial capitalist development and the depoliticization of the altruistic fantasy

contributor:
Mitchell, Sarah (author)
(Brittain, James) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Under neoliberalism, consequential impoverishment, exploitation, and environmental degradation perpetually guarantee the demand for the development enterprise. The timely emergence of neoliberal doctrine with various trajectories of a new development was anything but coincidental, as the formation of a capitalist hegemon reinforced the need for a development counterpart. Thereby, the development enterprise is presently circular, recurring, and thus quite profitable. As a growing humanitarian consciousness materializes, a disregard for relations of power and privilege remains pertinent. Within the focus on contemporary development, characterized by a fashionable civil society, professionalized Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and online activism, students are recruited into Student Volunteer Abroad Programs (SVAPs). Effectively, these altruistic and esteemed volunteer programs focus on the false binary, the North-South divide. Poverty in the Third World is sensationalized while poverty within North America appears non-existent. As a result, volunteerism has become an international and exotic phenomenon, which is arguably characterized by volunteer self-betterment, and more seriously, the depoliticization and pacification of social movements pushing for substantive change. This work utilizes secondary source analysis to examine the perhaps ineffectual nature of SVAPs, suggesting that fragmented apolitical identities are informed by the imperial capitalist development fantasy that works within—not against—the predominant system of exploitation.

abstract: Sociology


title: Development and adaptation of the NewRadial web application to arbitrary data sources

contributor:
Bruce, Jacob (author)
(Benoit, Darcy) (Thesis advisor)
(Giles, Rick) (Thesis advisor)
(Saklofske, Jon) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2012

abstract: NewRadial is a new kind of data visualization for conducting humanities research.  Software for examining and annotating literature often imposes, quite naturally for  most written work, an implicit structure of linearity inherited from the front-to-back  nature of printed books, resulting in interface designs involving ordered lists of pages,  and searchable text encodings of the literary content of the work. This single vision of  what de nes a book causes trouble when applied to di erently structured literature  such as that of William Blake, who himself struggled with the constraints of the  printed page. The NewRadial web application o ers an alternative environment for  working with literary texts that is not limited by the paradigm of the printed book,  consisting of a persistent workspace for online scholarship in terms of groups and  connections between icon-based media.  In fact, the issue of di erently structured works of literature goes beyond concerns  of visualization, in that di erently structured media are often represented digitally  using di ering formats and standards. In order to make use of the many data sources  available online now and in the future, NewRadial must interface with web services  that expose programming interfaces as widely varied as the services themselves. To  facilitate this, NewRadial includes an extendable system of pluggable adapters written  in JavaScript to convert data from remote services to a usable format. In addition,  NewRadial makes its content available to other applications in the form of RDF-  encoded representations of its groups, connections, comments and users, available  through an HTTP API.

abstract: Computer Science


title: The effects of fungal endophytes on physiological and morphological traits in Picea glauca

contributor:
Jabre, Loay (author)
(Reekie, Edward) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Endophytes are organisms that live symbiotically within plants. The two have  been intermingling for millions of years with relationships varying from mutualistic to  antagonistic. Fungal endophytes can produce secondary metabolites (e.g. rugulosin)  with anti-herbivory characteristics providing protection for their host and suggesting  an eco-friendly solution to insect pests for the forest industry. Previous research also  shows that endophytes can affect their hosts’ physiology and morphology. This study  examined the effects of three fungal endophyte strains on photosynthetic rate, stomatal  conductance and leaf/shoot morphology of 24 white spruce genotypes. In vivo gas  exchange measurements were conducted using an ‘open flow gas exchange system’ to  survey physiological responses. Tree height and stem volume measurements were  recorded along with needle length and width to survey morphological responses.  Effects of treatment were strongly influenced by endophyte strain and white spruce  genotype. Responses varied between positive and negative, with one endophyte strain  increasing needle width and stem volume. The same strain also improved stomatal  conductance when measured under decreasing light levels. The different genotypes  responded in a variety of ways to treatment and showed marked differences in their  characteristics. These results, combined with entomological data, can be useful in  determining which spruce genotypes and endophyte strains are most suitable for use in  the forest industry.

abstract: Biology


title: Biological evaluation of metal-containing compounds to assess potential for use in photodynamic therapy

contributor:
Colpitts, Julie A. (author)
(McFarland, Sherri) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Cancer is a prevalent medical concern and there is much room for improvement in the drugs and therapies used to treat it. One such treatment is photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT makes use of relatively non-toxic drugs that are activated by light to cause cell death. An ideal PDT agent will have many important qualities and should have limited toxicity in the dark but cause severe cytotoxicity upon administration of a light dose, have a mechanism of uptake into cancerous cells and/or a cancer-specific molecular target, be capable of absorbing light at long wavelengths, and be capable of biological activity in an oxygen-independent manner. Metal-based compounds can be synthesized in to meet as many of these criteria as possible. To assess the effectiveness of compounds as potential agents for PDT, a series of biological experiments is performed. Such experiments use a variety of techniques and procedures to evaluate the presence of DNA binding, light-induced damage to DNA, enzyme targeting, uptake mechanisms, as well as cytotoxicity and photocytotoxicity of each compound in two cancer cell lines. A new technique to assess the mechanism of action (necrosis vs. apoptosis) of cell death was employed to assess its value as a potential screening procedure for photodynamic compounds but was impractical. Experiments were implemented as a means for understanding the intricacies of each compound and to judge which compounds should be sent on through the resource exhaustive process of in vivo experiments, leading eventually to human clinical trials. Although each experiment provided valuable information about the compounds studied, no single experiment is a perfect indicator of good PDT action in cancer cell lines. Consequently, the in vitro work described within this thesis has aided in redirecting the drug discovery process in the McFarland laboratory.

abstract: Biology


title: Risk factors for sexually coercive behaviour in university men

contributor:
Lopes, Megan (author)
(Price, E. Lisa) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Recent research suggests dating violence, including incidences of sexual coercion, is problematic in adolescent dating relationships (Sears, Byers & Price, 2006). Researchers have found that between 9% and 30% of youth have been involved in an incident of dating violence, whether it be victimization or perpetration (Knox, Lomonaco, & Alpert, 2009; Swahn et al., 2008; Tyler & Melander, 2012). A study conducted by Sears et al. (2006) was especially beneficial in outlining the co-occurrence of psychologically, physically, and sexually abusive behaviours in the dating relationships of adolescents. The current study was a partial replication of Sears et al.'s study using a university-aged population. It was hypothesized that a general aggression variate, which includes sexual aggression, as well as a sexual but not psychological variate would be found. Additionally, the added component of attachment was analyzed in this study in order to deduce if there was a relationship between sexual coercion and specific attachment styles in university-aged males. A total of 122 male undergraduate university students took part in this study. Canonical correlation analyses were used to examine the relationship between the risk factors and male university students’ use of sexual coercion. It was concluded that men who reported being more psychologically and physically aggressive also tended to exhibit hostile attitudes toward women, as well as experience more physical victimization in their relationships. Results also indicated that men who reported being more psychologically aggressive only tended to report experiencing both psychological and sexual victimization. Lastly, men who were more sexually aggressive also tended to report having an avoidant attachment pattern, in addition to experiencing sexual victimization in their dating relationships.

abstract: Psychology


title: Phylogeographic analysis of genetic structure present in Purple Sandpipers

contributor:
LeBlanc, Nathalie M. (author)
(Mallory, Mark) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) is a small shorebird that breeds in the Arctic  and winters along northern coastlines. It has a wide geographic distribution, ranging from  Nunavut, east to Greenland, Iceland, and Norway in the summer, and wintering farther  south along eastern North America and western Europe. Due to difficulty in recapturing  banded birds, migration routes between breeding grounds and wintering grounds are  poorly understood. Populations appear to be declining, and future conservation efforts for  this species will benefit from a thorough understanding of their migration patterns. This  study uses two mitochondrial DNA loci to identify underlying genetic differences  between breeding populations of Purple Sandpipers. Samples were taken from wintering  locations along the coast of Maine, as well as from breeding locations in northern and  southern Nunavut. Results indicate some genetic structure present within the samples  tested, though variation is not specific to either breeding location. These results lay the  groundwork for further analyses using both mitochondrial loci and microsatellite markers.

abstract: Biology


title: Evaluation of a curriculum-appropriate nutrition education video informed by Nova Scotia adolescents’ needs and preferences for new media

contributor:
Hogg, Jennifer (author)
(Morley, Catherine) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Recent federal and Nova Scotia (NS) reports on unsatisfactory adolescent health indicate  poor nutrition as one contributing factor. Nutrition courses are open credits in NS public  schools (i.e., completion of a nutrition course is not mandatory for students to graduate);  therefore, not all students receive nutrition education. The incorporation of effective  online-accessible nutrition education videos (NEV) may help increase students’  knowledge and skill acquisition and could also serve to make accurate nutrition  information available to an entire student body (i.e., including students not enrolled in a  nutrition course). The purpose of this thesis was to identify adolescents’ needs and  preferences for video-based nutrition education, to develop a video based on these needs  and preferences and the NS Family Studies curricula while incorporating what is known  about creating educational videos that effectively increase knowledge and skill  acquisition, and to assess the video based on participant-identified needs and preferences.  The study was conducted in three-phases: 1) interviews with adolescent participants  (n=8) to learn about their needs and preferences for video; 2) making a NEV based on  Phase 1 findings and the NS Family Studies curricula; and 3) evaluation of the NEV  relative to the expressed needs and preferences from Phase 1. Thematic analysis resulted  in nine topics with corresponding characteristics and five foundational video elements  that participants identified in NEV videos deemed acceptable for use inside and outside  the classroom. The characteristics of an effective and accepted NEV highlighted in this  study can help inform the development and selection of nutrition education videos and  future research on this topic.

abstract: Nutrition & Dietetics


title: Psychological skill use, adherence, & relationships in injury rehabilitation: Perspectives from student therapists and varsity athletes

contributor:
Deal, Colin J. (author)
(Shields, Chris) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Athletic injuries have significant psychological, physical and social impacts on the injured athletes. Adherence to injury rehabilitation has been found to be a key determinant of both recovery time and the quality of athletes‟ recovery. Athletic therapists, a paramedical profession specializing on the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries, are the first line of assistance in helping athletes manage this adherence. Unfortunately, athletic injury rehabilitation adherence tends to be much lower than desired. These findings highlight the importance of understanding how to maximize the efficiency of injury rehabilitation within the context of athletic therapy. Because athletic therapists and injured athletes form a “helping relationship,” the qualities of the relationship that exists between athletic therapists and injured athletes should be examined. However, little research has examined this relationship or the use of psychological skills in injury rehabilitation of varsity athletes in conjunction with student therapists.1

abstract: Kinesiology


title: Cost-benefit analysis of building bicycle lanes in Truro, Nova Scotia

contributor:
Main, Hannah E. (author)
(VanBlarcom, Brian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: With rising gas prices, the threat of climate change, and the growing problem of obesity, bikeway networks have become increasingly popular over the past few years as an infrastructure to encourage bicycling. This thesis examines the feasibility of building bicycle lanes in the town of Truro. The costs of building a bicycle lane network in Truro are compared with the benefits. The benefits of building bicycle lanes are the benefits of switching from car travel to bicycle travel. The internal and external costs and benefits are quantified following Litman (2009). To compute these benefits, it is necessary to estimate how many people would be likely to switch from using a motor vehicle to using a bicycle if indeed a bicycle lane was in place, and how many additional kilometres would be traveled by bicycle if there was a bike lane. These estimates are found using Statistics Canada census data on number of commuters on each mode of transportation, data on average commuting distance, and previous research on the impact of bicycle infrastructure on bicycle commuting. Once these estimates have been completed, the benefits of bicycling are compared with the costs of construction of the bicycle lane network to find the estimated net benefits. Results show that when only commuters are taken into account, costs of building a bicycle lane network exceed benefits.

abstract: Economics


title: Excluding women's voices from public discussion: Silencing as a form of social control

contributor:
McKee, Carolyn (author)
(Brickner, Rachel) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Women’s right to control their bodies was a central issue of the 2012 elections in the United States. During the election year, women were silenced when they attempted to defend their right to access abortion services and insurance coverage for contraception as they were prevented from participating in both state-level and national debate. While the definition of rape was expanded during the incumbent Obama’s administration, rape culture still persisted and resulted in women being unable to share their experiences with sexual violence. This thesis explores how this silencing of women has occurred at many levels and in many forms, and how silencing is a mechanism for social control.

abstract: Politics


title: How well do people use numbers in decision making?

contributor:
Munro, Carly E. (author)
(Mehta, Rick) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The current study used a 2x2 design to examine the influence of the natural frequency  view (Gigerenzer & Hoffrage, 1995) and the causal Bayesian reasoning view (Krynski &  Tenenbaum, 2007) on accuracy and base-rate neglect in Bayesian reasoning tasks. In  addition, it examined whether numeracy could predict accuracy and rates of base-rate  neglect. In accordance with the natural frequency view, higher accuracy was observed  when natural frequencies were used. Furthermore, the causal Bayesian reasoning view  was partially supported, in that higher accuracy was observed when causal presentation  was used. However, the view’s assertions regarding mental mapping were not supported,  suggesting that more research into the mechanism is needed. Finally, higher numeracy  was associated with greater accuracy and lower rates of base-rate neglect.

abstract: Psychology


title: Monitoring system for red-striped fireworm, Aroga trialbamaculella Chambers, 1875 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and other pest species found in Nova Scotian blueberry fields

contributor:
Nunn, Matthew L. (author)
(Hillier, Kirk) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The red-striped fireworm (RSF) is a pest of lowbush blueberries in Nova Scotia.  The objective of the study was to evaluate a putative sex-attractant monitoring system for  red-striped fireworm. In addition, biodiversity of three groups of potential pest insects,  including froghoppers (Cercopidae), leafhoppers (Cicadellidae), and flea beetles  (Chrysomelidae), were assessed in sweep samples from four-trapping fields. Putative  attractants were tested singly and as blends, along with solvent controls. Trapping and  sweep samples were collected between 15 June 2012 and 25 July 2012. Trapping did not  produce a significant result for a specific attractant from the odorant combinations tested.  For sweeps, two flea beetle species (Mantura chrysanthemi and Altica sylvia), 15  leafhopper species, and three froghopper species (Philaenus spumaris, Lepyronia  quadragularius, and Clastophora saintcyri) were isolated. In addition, sampling effort  was evaluated to determine effort needed to yield population and biodiversity estimates.

abstract: Biology


title: Contributions of image presentation, verbal presentation, and practice to learning a procedural motor task

contributor:
Baird, Evan (author)
(Major, Sonya) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The current study examined different ways of presenting information to teach people how to complete a procedural motor task, namely a bowline knot. One hundred and fifty nine undergraduates were randomly assigned to conditions using a 2 (video vs. static images) x 2 (narration vs. text) x 2 (practice with a rope vs. no practice) between-subjects design. Viewing the video led to better knot-tying performance compared to static images. In some cases, practicing the task led to greater knot tying performance than not practicing. No differences between the effectiveness of narration and text were found. Taking learning time into consideration, using a video appears to be a very efficient way of learning a procedural motor task. The findings pertaining to the effectiveness and efficiency of learning from a video underline that video presentation can be a very important tool in learning a procedural motor task.

abstract: Psychology


title: Gender, sport and the media: A study of the Canadian television coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games

contributor:
McCormick, Emily (author)
(Moore, Barbara) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: This thesis examines the representation of female athletes by the media using the key concepts of patriarchy and gender inequality. The study is conducted in the form of two content analyses. The first content analysis studies the Canadian prime time coverage of the 2012 London Olympic Games on CTV, and the second content analysis studies fifteen episodes of Sportscentre between August and December 2012 on TSN. The content analyses study both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the coverage in order to obtain results that are both valid and reliable. The findings reveal a significant discrepancy between the representation of women in sports in the Olympics and in regular sports media. The Olympics were found to be fairly gender equitable. Qualitatively, female athletes were treated and discussed in the same ways as men. Quantitatively, women had slightly less coverage time but the difference was not substantial. Sportscentre, however, demonstrated a considerable lack of women’s coverage. Women’s sports were rarely mentioned and stories pertaining to women often did not demonstrate their athletic abilities. These results suggest a need to improve the coverage of women’s sports year round in order to advance perceptions of women’s sports in society and women’s role in the sporting world.

abstract: Sociology


title: Towards the synthesis of heavy main group compounds with asymmetric double bonds

contributor:
Fraser, Emily C. (author)
(Ellis, Bobby) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Several N,N-bound halophosphine precursors and subsequent phosphenium  cations were synthesized and characterized by 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy. N,C-bound  and C,C-bound halophosphines were also synthesized and characterized by 31P{1H}  NMR spectroscopy. These compounds were then treated with an N-heterocyclic carbene  in THF, in an attempt to form a compound with a heteronuclear double bond between  phosphorus and carbon. All reactions with the carbene produced a colourless precipitate,  in a filtrate which ranged in colour from yellow to red, depending on the phosphorus  species used. The filtrate and precipitate were both characterized by 31P{1H} NMR  spectroscopy. The reactions with the carbene and the C,C-bound halophosphines showed  the most potential in the formation of a compound with phosphorus-carbon bonds, as the  31P{1H} NMR chemical shifts of the colourless precipitates occurred from −27 ppm to  −50 ppm, which is consistent with reported values for related species, and was similar to  values as predicted by DFT calculations. The reactions with the carbene and  phosphenium cations were found to be least successful in forming phosphorus-carbon  bonds, as the 31P{1H} NMR chemical shifts of the filtrate suggested that the counter  anion had been attacked by the carbene, regenerating the halophosphine precursors.

abstract: Chemistry


title: Relaxin does not reduce apoptosis resulting from oxygen and glucose deprivation in cultured rat brain slices

contributor:
Harrison, Julia M (author)
(Wilson, Brian) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Relaxins are peptides belonging to the insulin/relaxin superfamily of peptides. Aside from well-established roles in pregnancy, evidence suggests that relaxins may have other roles in the body, including the protection of tissues during periods of ischemia. During a heart attack, relaxin has been shown to have vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory actions which protect tissue from ischemic conditions. Recent evidence suggests that relaxin has neuroprotective actions in response to ischemia as it does in the myocardium. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective potential of two relaxin peptides, H2 relaxin (the main circulating form) and H3 relaxin (found exclusively in the brain), by testing whether either of them inhibit apoptosis (programmed cell death) resulting from oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in organotypic rat brain slice cultures. Apoptosis was assessed indirectly using an ELISA to measure histone content in total protein isolated from brain slices. In addition, an immunofluorescence assay was used to identify caspase-3-positive cells in slices. Cultured brain slices from day-10 neonatal rats were randomly divided among four treatment groups each lasting 1 hour (n=12/group): OGD, normoxic (normal physiological conditions), OGD with 100 nM H2 relaxin and OGD with 100 nM H3 relaxin. Eight brain slices from each treatment group were removed from culture at 8 hours and 12 hours post-treatment to be used in the cell death detection ELISA. The remaining four slices per treatment group were removed at 8 hours post-treatment and were fixed and processed for caspase-3 immunostaining. We found that there was no significant reduction in the degree of apoptosis following treatment with xi  either relaxin. These findings suggest that relaxins are not inhibiting apoptosis under the conditions of this experiment. It is possible that neuroprotective effects of relaxin may occur earlier during periods of ischemia. As single doses of relaxin were used in this study, it is also possible that higher doses of either peptide may have inhibited apoptosis.

abstract: Biology


title: Detecting fine-grained gold in pedogeochemical samples from the Fifteen Mile Stream gold property, Nova Scotia

contributor:
Willson, Jason C. (author)
(Stanley, Cliff) (Thesis advisor)
(Murimboh, John) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Pedogeochemical exploration for gold is impeded by the ‘nugget effect’, a  sampling error that causes extremely variable Au grades in geochemical analysis due to  the collection of rare but large gold nuggets, adding noise to geochemical data that  obscures dispersal patterns and makes exploration for gold extremely challenging. The  conventional method used in avoiding the nugget effect involves taking large samples,  because such samples likely contain numerous coarse gold nuggets, and thus exhibit  reproducible grades and avoid the ‘nugget effect’. An alternative method, developed in  China for regional gold exploration in stream sediment samples involves a different  rationale, and involves analyzing small samples. This method ostensibly circumvents the  nugget effect, by lowering the probability of collecting the rare, large gold nuggets.  In this research the small sample method was applied to B-horizon samples  developed over a previously identified Au geochemical anomaly to determine if this  approach can effectively be used in pedogeochemical exploration. Gold grades in 14 size  fractions (from 0 to 250 μm) and sixteen 0.3 g replicate analyses from up to 30 soil  samples have been compared. Results confirm that the small samples do contain  variance-inducing coarse gold nuggets. This indicates that the small sample strategy does  not produce an advantage over conventional (large sample) analysis in gold exploration.  Although unsuccessful, this study provides significant insights regarding alternative  approaches that could be successfully used in gold exploration.

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: Mother-child relationships in a small high-risk sample: sensitivity, attachment security, and talk about thoughts and feelings

contributor:
Dellapinna, Erin E. (author)
(Symons, Doug) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The current study examined the relationships between maternal sensitivity, child-parent  attachment security, and talk about thoughts and feelings. A high psychosocial-risk  sample of 11 parent-child pairs were observed in their homes as well as during lab  visits at Acadia University. During home visits maternal sensitivity and attachment  security were observed and assessed using the short version Maternal Behavioural Q-Sort  and Attachment Q-Sort, respectively. Parent-child pairs were brought to Acadia  University for a lab visit and engaged in a video-recorded play interaction revolving  around health-related issues, which was later coded for talk about thoughts and feelings  and mutual regard. Parents and children also completed language measures. Results  supported the first hypothesis of the current study, which was that there would be a  positive relationship between maternal sensitivity and attachment security, even when  controlling for language variables. It was also predicted that child attachment security and  maternal sensitivity would be positively related to talk about thoughts and feelings by the  child and parent respectively. No significant relationship was found.

abstract: Psychology


title: What's in a name? That which we call "Politics"

contributor:
Lamey, Jordan (author)
(Brickner, Rachel) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The name Political Science has come to represent a particular  epistemological understanding of the discipline by way of the 1960’s behavioralist  movement. This way of thinking, while historically challenged, still represents a  dominant foundation of the discipline at the highest institutional level, even if there  are many within the discipline that no longer align as such.  Through an extensive literature review, and eight qualitative semi‐formal  interviews and email correspondences with both retired and present professors  from Acadia University, the departmental origins and history are examined. An  analysis of these interviews yields the professor’s explanations for why the current  faculty chose to change the department name, and why the original faculty members  were less inclined. It will be demonstrated that the decision made by faculty at  Acadia University in 2010/2011 to change the department name from Political  Science to Politics was a decision of intellectual honesty in choosing a more  representative title, but also a recognition of the diverse research and subsections  that are marginalized under Political Science. In conclusion, possible effects of the  name change will be explored upon students, the department and the faculty. This  project will contribute to the history of the Politics department at Acadia and help  provide an explanation as to how the new name builds a new understanding of what  the study of politics entails.

abstract: Politics


title: Family politics in the Wars of the Roses

contributor:
Lindale, Elisabet A (author)
(MacDonald, Jennifer) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The Wars of the Roses (1455-1487) was a contentious period that has challenged and  perplexed historians since it took place. During this tumultuous period, the Yorkist and  Lancastrian descendents of Edward III fought amongst themselves for the greatest prize:  the throne of England. The male and female descendents of Edward III had to rely on  their families in order to protect themselves and their families’ interests. The first part of  this study explores the impact of family connections on three female descendents of  Edward III, as well as two newcomers to the family: Anne Neville, Elizabeth of York,  Margaret Beaufort, Margaret of Anjou, and Elizabeth Woodville. The second part of this  study explores the impact of family connections on the key male descendents of Edward  III: Henry VI, Edward IV, Richard III, and Henry VII. While supremely important, the  function and power of the immediate family affected the leading male and female figures  in different ways. Family superseded some gender differences, such as marriage, lineage,  inheritance, support, and symbolism. However, individual circumstances, personalities,  and gender constraints accounted for variation amongst the men and women involved in  the conflict. Because of fifteenth-century gender norms, men had greater agency than  women and could act independently of their families in more obvious ways. That being  said, this thesis will demonstrate that women were crucial to the conflict in many  respects, and could exercise power to varying degrees by influencing the men in their  lives. This thesis will illustrate that natal and marital family connections were the most  important determinants in either success or failure during the Wars of the Roses, which  was, at its heart, a family conflict.

abstract: History & Classics


title: Set up for failure?: An examination of the Nova Scotia sexual health education curriculum

contributor:
Muise, Megan (author)
(Moore, Barbara) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: This thesis illustrates the need for and the importance of more comprehensive and in-depth sexual health education in Nova Scotia. With the use of secondary sources, interviews, autoethnography, autobiographical analysis and retroactive participant observation, current sexual messages present in our society are explored through a feminist lens. It is therefore concluded that there is a need to combat these messages and replace them with more accurate and healthy depictions of sexual relationships via the implementation of better public school curricula.7

abstract: Sociology


title: Grundy oriented colouring

contributor:
DeViller, Sophie Joan (author)
(Clarke, Nancy) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: To properly colour the vertices of a simple graph, one can use the Greedy colouring  algorithm which assigns to vertex v of a graph G the least indexed colour not already  used on the neighbours of v. The maximum number of colours used in any applica-  tion of the Greedy colouring algorithm is called the Grundy number of G. Grundy  colouring is well-studied for undirected graphs and will be de ned here for oriented  graphs.  Three possible de nitions for Grundy oriented colouring will be explored. Bounds  will be given for the Grundy number on common classes of oriented graphs including  paths, cycles, trees and graph products for the de nitions considered. The lexico-  graphic product will be investigated in further detail. The idea of oriented cliques  and oriented Grundy cliques will be explored. Results for the Grundy number of  oriented and unoriented graphs will be compared as well as comparisons between the  two possible de nitions will be investigated.

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics


title: An exploratory study of how individuals perceive aggression in e-mail

contributor:
Thompson, Shannon M. (author)
(Weatherbee, Terrance) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Aggression is something that affects people in all workplaces. It affects both  productivity and employee satisfaction. Aggression can have negative effects on  employees such as health problems (Baron, R.A. & Neuman, J.H., 1996) and job  dissatisfaction (Lapieere, Leck & Spector, 2005). This is a problem that must be further  researched to determine what situational or individual factors are at play. This will allow  effective interventions to be designed so as to reduce incidents of these harmful  workplace behaviors. This research examines aggression in email and how individuals  perceive it. More particularly, it examines the difference, if any, between how males and  females perceive aggression in email. Understanding how aggression is perceived is  important because it can allow organizations to work to reduce the potential for  aggression and conflict in their workplace.  The goal of this research was to explore the differences between how males and  females perceive aggression in email. There is evidence to suggest that females and males  perceive aggression differently in face-to-face communication settings. An article  published by Frodi, Macaulay and Thome (1977) shows evidence that suggests men and  women react differently to external cues and Hall (1978) found that females are actually  more efficient at interpreting nonverbal cues. This would suggest that males and females  could perceive aggression differently in email conversations. Understanding these  differences will allow organizations to help employees of different sexes understand what  the opposite gender perceives as aggressive. It will also allow organizations to create  effective policies that could help eliminate unwanted email aggression. This would help  increase communication efficiency and job satisfaction in the workplace.

abstract: Business


title: An electrophysiological study of the influence of category predictability on phonological activation in visual word recognition

contributor:
MacInnis, Natasha M. (author)
(Newman, Randy Lynn) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded to examine the role of phonology in a  semantic categorization task. Half of the participants categorized stimuli into one of two  broad categories (natural or manmade), while the other half categorized stimuli into  narrow categories (e.g., type of flower). Across both categories, low or high frequency  exemplars (e.g., sheep) were replaced on some trials by pseudohomophones (PsH; e.g.,  sheap) or spelling controls (e.g., sheel). Across both categories and frequency groups,  none of the identified ERP responses (P200, N400, P600) differentiated between PsH and  spelling controls. Findings suggest that participants did not activate the phonological  representation of a PsH to categorize stimuli, otherwise responses to PsH would have  matched the exemplars. It is concluded that orthography appears to be the primary  constraint by which meaning is activated in the context of a categorization task.

abstract: Psychology


title: Impact of water chemistry on invertebrate communities in agricultural wetlands in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

contributor: (Bondrup-Nielsen, Soren) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: The importance of wetlands has been often overlooked in favour of land conversion for  industrialization and modern agriculture. According to Ducks Unlimited (DU), over 90  percent of the wetlands in the Annapolis Valley have been lost to development. In order  to mitigate these losses DU has constructed wetlands in the agricultural landscape of the  Annapolis Valley. In addition, most farms have both wetlands and ponds that are used for  irrigation but which can still serve as an important habitat for a variety of species. In  2008, the Nova Scotia Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (NS-EHJV) developed a plan to  assess wetland habitat quality for duck broods of various species. To evaluate the  assumptions of the NS-EHJV for increasing duck production in the agricultural landscape,  surveys of duck broods and invertebrates were carried out in the Annapolis Valley in  2009, 2010, and 2011. During 2012, evaluation of chemical and physical variables was  added to the assessment. The chemical limnology component included nutrient analysis  phosphorus, pH measurements, and chlorophyll a determination. In-situ measurements of  water temperature and specific conductivity were also taken. This study compares DU  constructed wetlands and farm ponds/wetlands with respect to chemical and biological  properties of wetlands in the Annapolis Valley. Farm ponds/wetlands had consistently  higher species richness and diversity. Results indicate eutrophication of most wetlands by  the end of the sampling period; however, invertebrate species richness and diversity  appear unaffected by eutrophic conditions. Greater numbers of ducklings were found on  wetlands with higher invertebrate species richness and diversity, suggesting that greater  invertebrate species richness may indicate more suitable habitat for duck broods.

abstract: Biology


title: Barriers to entrepreneurship in Bangladesh: An exploratory study of causes and solutions

contributor:
Rahman, Kazi Kashfia (author)
(Sheppard, Michael) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Barriers to entrepreneurship have been a vital concept for small-to-medium  enterprises (SMEs) in Bangladesh. Despite its increasing salience, these barriers have  been under-investigated. This research explores the major barriers to entrepreneurship for  SMEs in three industries and identifies possible solutions that could help these SMEs  achieve optimal productivity. This study also analyses the degree of a firm's willingness  to invest in a local renewable energy solution to enable optimal productivity while  benefitting the community. The thesis begins by introducing the current problems faced  by industries in Bangladesh. The literature indicates that power and gas shortage, heavy  traffic, and political instability are the most significant barriers to entrepreneurship. This  thesis investigates these barriers, and their impacts, by categorising problems by type and  severity across three industries. It also explores possible solutions, such as renewable  energy projects, to overcome critical limitations to growth. The findings from multiple  case studies and a pilot empirical study suggest that firms are more likely to invest in  renewable energy solutions because of community benefits rather than an anticipated  increase in firm productivity. This is an unexpected result which suggests further research  is required to better understand the motivations of entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.

abstract: Business


title: Pains of incarceration: The stigmatization of incarcerated mothers

contributor:
Glinsky, Victoria L. (author)
(Thomson, Tony) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2013

abstract: Gender roles and identity are some of the most important forces that determine who we are. In prison, it is common for one’s identity to be stripped away through a series of degradation ceremonies and constant humiliations. This thesis investigates how gender-based incarceration policies have targeted women and, even more harshly, mothers. While the term ‘jail’ refers to an institution which houses those who have been convicted under provincial sentencing, the term ‘prison’ is used for federal offenders. A combination of stigma and labeling theory was utilized as complementary frameworks within a feminist perspective, producing a theoretical approach to the issue of social stigmatization of maternal incarceration. Through qualitative research, including interviews with two mothers who had previously been in a provincial institution for a minimum of six months and two Elizabeth Fry Society employees, my work explains why incarcerated mothers are a targeted cohort and how the development of social stigma is linked to criminal and social background. In addition, this study uncovers ways in which the mother can further enhance her family relationships after incarceration within the community. Ultimately, it was found that society plays a large role in determining the label that is placed on those in trouble with the law, but it is also up to the mother to determine the role of that label in her life. The investigation determined that the oppression that mothers face after jail is a direct reflection of self-stigmatization developed by the mothers who arguably forfeit their opportunities as being a respected mother in society.

abstract: Sociology


title: The effect of carbon dioxide concentration on stem elongation in 17 woody species

contributor:
Easson, Leanne D. (author)
(Reekie, Edward) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: The effect of light on seedling de-etiolation and elongation has been well  documented. Etiolated seedlings use their seed reserves to elongate rapidly in order to  reach the surface of the soil where light is available for photosynthesis. In addition to a  change in light availability, seedlings are also exposed to a carbon dioxide gradient. Deep  within soil, root and microorganism respiration cause a carbon dioxide efflux. As a  seedling reaches the litter layer, the carbon dioxide concentration decreases, and  continues to decrease to atmospheric levels above the litter layer. Although this decrease  in CO2 concentration could be used by seedlings as a developmental signal to help control  the etiolation response, little is known regarding the possible effect of CO2 on etiolation. I  examined the effect of carbon dioxide on seedling elongation in 17 species of trees and  shrubs of varying seed size. Plants received 4h d-1 of light at an irradiance of 2.5 μmol m-2  s-1 for a total of 7 days. Seedling elongation was examined at four different carbon  dioxide levels: 0, 380, 760 and 1520 μmol•mol-1. Generally, species with smaller seed  sizes responded positively to an increase in carbon dioxide in terms of height, while  species with larger seeds responded negatively. Small seeded species need to reach the  surface of the soil before their limited seed reserves are depleted. This may explain the  positive height response of species with small seeds to elevated carbon dioxide. Previous  studies have shown that photosynthesis in species with large seeds responds more  positively to elevated carbon dioxide than in small seeded species. When light is  available, it may be more beneficial for larger seeded species to remain under the litter  layer, where the carbon dioxide concentration is higher.

abstract: Biology


title: Growing a sustainable relationship between the Acadia Community Farm and the School of Nutrition and Dietetics

contributor:
Holmes, Monica (author)
(Anderson, Barb) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Experiential community-based learning has been identified as an important aspect in  enhancing university curriculum. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the  feasibility of utilizing the Acadia Community Farm as a support and teaching tool within  the curriculum of the Acadia School of Nutrition and Dietetics. Following ethics approval,  faculty and students from the Acadia School of Nutrition and Dietetics were recruited for  the research study. All faculty were invited to take part in face-to-face interviews, and  second, third, and fourth year students were invited to take part in one of three focus  groups aligning with their year of study. The research methodology utilized for the study  was grounded theory; interviews and focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim,  and were coded to identify themes.  The main themes identified were increased awareness of the Farm, procurement of food,  volunteering, and sustainability. Study results determined that the main challenges were  the logistical implications of incorporating the farm into pre-existing curriculum, and  included time, seasonal availability, and limited resources. Recommendations for future  integration include forming a working group with representatives from Nutrition and  Dietetics and the Acadia Community Farm to move forward with ideas for incorporating  the Farm into curriculum, changing the procurement process, influencing national  accreditation guidelines, and incorporating a multidisciplinary approach to support  sustainability. In conclusion, this study provides the Acadia School of Nutrition and  Dietetics with potential opportunities and recommendations for future integration of the  Acadia Community Farm into curriculum.

abstract: Nutrition & Dietetics


title: An exploratory study of e-mail and performance feedback in organizations: Constructing a preliminary theoretical framework of e-feedback

contributor:
Balsor, Matthew R. (author)
(Weatherbee, Terrance) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: There is a wealth of research on both informal and formal communication in organizations which indicates that performance feedback is a critical work factor for supervisors and subordinates. However, this research has been conducted in a pre-21st century paradigm and has rarely been focused on the effects of the communication medium that is used for the provision of performance feedback. Although the use of e-mail has been attracting some recent attention from researchers in terms of its influence on interpersonal relations in organizations, there has been limited, if any, research focused on the effects e-mail may have on communication processes within performance feedback models.  This research included two studies that explored the use of e-mail for job or performance feedback in organizational work settings. The first study explored the perceptions and experiences of employees from various organizations to determine how e-mail is being used in the workplace for performance communication. The results of the first exploratory set of interviews were used to develop a general model, inclusive of both formal and informal feedback given and received in e-mail. The second study expanded upon the results of the first study by seeking to understand employee perceptions and responses as they relate to positive and negative feedback in e-mail. The combined results are presented to assist practitioners and researchers in understanding the effect using e-mail to give positive and negative feedback may have on employees.

abstract: Business


title: The price of immigration is more than just money

contributor:
Blackman, Kathy L. (author)
(Moore, Barbara) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: The cost of racial relations due to the regulations imposed and enforced through immigration policy are of great interest to me. How and why Canada allows certain people to cross the boarders while sometimes forcefully keeping others out has always puzzled me. I thought by doing an honours thesis on this topic I would be able to come to some conclusions and even reasoning‟s as to why our immigration system is run the way it is, and why we have the laws and regulations that we do. This research has certainly enlightened me to aspects and regulations that I was not really aware of before beginning this process. The final goal is to shed light on some of the issues that are facing new immigrants once they actually get to come to Canada and experience the inequalities that plague them due to injustices perpetuated by the immigration system.

abstract: Sociology


title: Petrology and tectonic implications of mafic to intermediate dykes in the Kellys Mountain area, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

contributor:
Gates, Jonathan Martin (author)
(Barr, Sandra) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278

abstract: Samples from 40 mafic dykes in the Kellys Mountain area in east-central Bras d’Or terrane in Cape Breton Island were studied in order to determine their petrology and tectonic setting, and to compare them to mafic dykes elsewhere in the terrane. The area is underlain by Proterozoic metamorphic rocks (Bras d’Or Gneiss and George River Metamorphic Suite), and Late Proterozoic and Late Cambrian dioritic and granitic plutons, all intruded by abundant mafic to intermediate dykes. Carboniferous sedimentary rocks of the Horton and Windsor groups unconformably overlie all of these units, constraining the age of emplacement of the dykes to between Late Cambrian and Late Devonian. Petrographic examination indicates that the dykes are of five main types: clinopyroxene-bearing gabbroic dykes, amphibole-bearing dioritic dykes, gabbroic dykes containing both clinopyroxene and amphibole, plagioclase-rich gabbroic to dioritic dykes, and rare lamprophyric (minette) dykes with phlogopite phenocrysts. Most of the dykes are fine-grained and a few are amygdaloidal, indicative of shallow emplacement. Whole-rock chemical analyses of 21 samples show loss-on-ignition values up to 11.5% but mainly between 2 and 7%. Dykes classified as gabbroic on the basis of mineralogy generally have volatile-free SiO2 contents less than 52% and are mainly tholeiitic, transitional to alkalic, with the relatively immobile high-field strength elements indicating that they formed in a within-plate tectonic setting. In contrast, the dioritic dykes have higher SiO2 and chemical characteristics suggesting that they are calc-alkalic and formed in a volcanic-arc setting. Although the Kellys Mountain dykes have simiarities to dykes elsewhere in the Bras d’Or terrane, the differences preclude a definitive correlation and hence the age of the dykes remains poorly constrained.

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: Age, learning, and memory honey bees (Apis mellifera)

contributor:
Deveau, Daniel A. (author)
(Shutler, Dave) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: The European honey bee (Apis mellifera, hereafter honey bee) lives in hives containing thousands of individuals that operate in an age-determined caste system. A worker honey bee adult starts as a nurse bee completing solely within-hive tasks, becomes a guard bee after three weeks, and becomes a forager bee for the last segment of its life. The different tasks honey bees take on as they age become steadily more dangerous. Honey bees incur wing damage as they work, with some tasks leading to more damage than others. Honey bees experience wing wear at a predictable rate making it a good indicator of relative age. The objective of this study was to test for a link between age and learning and between age and memory in honey bees. Associative learning and memory are very important for young honey bees, because they use scents learned in the hive to guide them when foraging later in life. Honey bees were put through the classical conditioning process based on honey bee’s proboscis extension reflex (PER). PER is a common learning paradigm and is simply a honey bee extending its proboscis in response to stimulation of its antennae with a sugar solution coupled with scented air. After 24 hr, I tested whether honey bees still responded in the absence of a sugar reward which was interpreted as evidence of memory. There was a significant negative correlation between age and learning, but not between age and memory. Most honey bees did not learn or remember scent regardless of age and those that did remember were of all ages. There was also no correlation between learning and memory.

abstract: Biology


title: The emergence and role of counter-hegemonic globalization in Venezuela

contributor:
Sterrett, Shannon João (author)
(Brickner, Rachel) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Politics


title: The reactivity of diarylgermylenes with allyl chloride

contributor:
Ochola, Janet (author)
(Lukeman, Matthew) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: The Laser Flash Photolysis of 3,4-dimethyl-1,1-diarylgermacyclopent-3-enes led to the formation of diarylgermylenes that were detected at 500 nm. The reactivity of these diarylgermylenes was studied with allyl chloride at 25⁰C in hexanes. The (1+2) cycloaddition of the diarylgermylenes to the unsaturated carbon-carbon bond of allyl chloride formed germiranes that were detected at about 280 nm. The rate constant of germirane formation, kQ, was found to be (4.7±0.2) x109 M-1s-1. The germirane decay was also studied and the rate constant of the decay, kdecay,1, was found to be (40±2) s-1. The electronic effects on kQ and kdecay,1 were investigated using Hammett correlations, and no significant electronic effects on either rate constant was found. This may be due to poor electronic communication between the large germanium centres of reactivity and the much smaller carbon rings. On a shorter time scale, an additional transient species was found during the reaction of the methylated diarylgermylenes with allyl chloride, having a λmax of 320 nm and a lifetime of 3 μs. It was proposed that this species was most likely the Lewis acid-base complex with electron pair donation from the halogen. The final product of the reaction between the diarylgermylenes and allyl chloride was the product of insertion of the diarylgermyelenes into the C-Cl bond. The rate constant for this insertion, kins, was equal to kdecay,1 if the germiranes decayed to the insertion product. If the germiranes had to break down to the diarylgermylenes and allyl chloride for the insertion to take place, kins was at least 1x106 M-1s-1.

abstract: Chemistry


title: Poetry is everyday language: An analysis of metaphor in two Canadian children's verse novels

contributor: (Wyile, Andrea Schwenke) (Thesis advisor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: This thesis explores the recent global popularity of verse novels in children‟s literature through an examination of the use of metaphor in two Canadian children‟s verse novels: Pamela Porter‟s The Crazy Man and Kevin Major‟s Ann and Seamus, with illustrations by David Blackwood. The first chapter defines both metaphor and the verse novel, and examines aspects of Canadian identity that have been established in children‟s literature. The second chapter discusses the novels as works of historical fiction and how events, both local and national, affect both the characters‟ and the readers‟ personal and cultural identity. The third chapter explores the child‟s journey in establishing a sense of home, an aspect of the child‟s identity, through metaphors developed from the physical landscape distinctive to the Prairie and Atlantic regions of the respective novels. Having defined these conceptual metaphors and explored their associated metaphorical linguistic expressions, this thesis concludes that the Canadian children‟s verse novel, because of its connections to everyday language, is an excellent genre through which to establish a sense of self and national identity not only for its characters, but also for verse novel readers. The children‟s verse novel allows for a personal exploration of the self through first-hand perspectives of characters, but also through important cultural ideals. The verse novel can highlight that culture and one‟s identity are inherently connected.

abstract: English & Theatre Studies


title: The Battle of Britain: Misperceptions that led to victory

contributor:
Armour, Douglas M. (author)
(Doerr, Paul) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: This thesis examines British preparations for the future of aerial warfare in the 1930s and the subsequent Battle of Britain in 1940. It argues that British planners in the 1930s prepared for the wrong war that was going to be fought in 1939 and early 1940. It shows that this mistake in planning was mainly due to poor information and an institutional bias toward offensive bombers. The thesis then looks at the defensive preparations made by Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding. It argues that though Britain had prepared for the wrong offensive battle that was fought in 1939 and early 1940, the preparations it made for a defensive battle gave the RAF a distinct advantage over the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain which would follow.

abstract: History & Classics


title: Determination of rooting and gibberellin-like activity present in commercial seaweed extracts derived from Ascophyllum nodosum and Macrocystis integrifolia

contributor:
Whitcomb, Jamie (author)
(Kristie, David) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Extracts derived from various species of brown algae are known to benefit plant performance. Despite numerous studies on the effects of these products, the bioactive compounds responsible remain unknown. Objectives of this study were to attempt to isolate the compounds that are responsible for the high levels of rooting and gibberellin-like (GA-like) activity present within three seaweed extracts (SWEs), Acadian Marine Plant Extract Fertilizer (ASL), Kelpgrow Liquid Seaweed Extract (Kelpgrow) and Kelpak Liquid Seaweed Bioregulator (Kelpak). We also examined whether laminarin, a storage polysaccharide found in brown algae, could induce rooting or GA-like effects similar to that of the SWEs. Fractions of the SWEs less than and greater than 13,000 MW were obtained by dialysis and tested using the Mung Bean Adventitious Rooting Bioassay (MBARB) and the Lettuce Hypocotyl Bioassay (LHB). All three SWEs were able to elicit a significant rooting response; Kelpak elicited a rooting response characteristic of auxins as the majority of its rooting activity is found in its LMW (<13,000 MW) fraction and the roots generated resemble those induced by auxins. The root initiating activity of both ASL and Kelpgrow appeared to be split between molecules greater than 13,000 MW and smaller than 1,000 MW. However, root morphology suggested that the LMW compounds are not auxins. Commercial laminarin elicited a rooting response at concentrations found in SWEs. This activity was eliminated by digestion with laminarinase. However, partially purified laminarin extracted from the SWEs by the McKinnon lab at NRC-IMB did not elicit a rooting response. The three SWEs were also able to elicit a significant GA-like response; however, the GA-like activity of dialyzed fractions was found to be highly variable. As a result, the size of the molecules responsible for the GA-like effects of SWEs remains unclear. Commercial laminarin had no effect in the LHB. Overall, this study suggests that laminarin could be responsible for the rooting activity of ASL and Kelpgrow SWEs, but more research is needed to determine its role.

abstract: Biology


title: Supervisor incivility and coworker incivility as predictors of instigated incivility in a sample of nursing professionals

contributor:
Patterson, Ashlyn M. (author)
(Leiter, Michael) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Workplace incivility is a problem for both employees and employers, as it can lead to  declines in job satisfaction, quality of work, and psychological well-being (Blau &  Andersson, 2005; Pearson & Porath, 2005). The current longitudinal study focused on the  development of instigated incivility, which is the extent to which participants  acknowledge engaging in uncivil actions towards others. More specifically, this study  examined the role supervisor incivility and coworker incivility had on the development of  instigated incivility. Nurses from five Canadian hospitals (N=290) completed surveys on  two occasions measuring instances of both incivility and civility. Correlational analyses  showed supervisor incivility, coworker incivility, and instigated incivility were all highly  related. Results from a hierarchical multiple regression showed supervisor incivility at  Time 1 was the only significant predictor of instigated incivility at Time 2, over and  above the effects of instigated incivility at Time 1. Implications for human resource  departments, and future research, are discussed.

abstract: Psychology


title: Dynamics of E. coli O157:H7 persistence and migration on baby spinach

contributor:
Taylor, Luke R. (author)
(Bell, Colin) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278

abstract: Increasingly, fresh and minimally processed vegetables and fruit are being implicated as vectors for gastrointestinal disease in human consumers. There are various points on the field to fork continuum at which bacterial contamination can occur, many of which currently are under intensive study. However, little is known of the behaviour of bacterial pathogens once contact is made with plant tissue. The survival and migration dynamics of two toxin-negative variants of E. coli 0157:H7 (Strains NCTC 12900 & DM4) on packaged retail-level baby spinach was examined in order to expand this information base. Changes in the counts of E. coli deliberately introduced to the upper surface of individual leaves were monitored during their subsequent storage at 6C in the dark. In addition, the capacity of contaminated leaves to serve as a source of contamination (donor of E. coli) to other spinach leaves held in close proximity with them was assessed. By varying the moisture in the containers as well as the strain of E. coli, the effects of both ambient moisture (Rh) and bacterial flagella on survival and cross contamination rates were examined. Both E. coli strains survived in a culturable and transferable condition on the donor leaves for up to 12 days, regardless of moisture content or the presence of a defective flagella-coding gene. Transfer to "clean" spinach leaves did occur in mixing containers but at low migration rates (<1.0% migration when compared to initial inoculum of donor). Newly acquired E. coli from donor leaves declined in number during the first three days post-mixing but they tended to persist at low levels. The total aerobic counts collected from the same leaf wash liquid as the E coli. revealed some interesting trends. As the E. coli counts began to drop throughout the trial, the numbers of total aerobes usually increased. This indicates that the decline in numbers observed of the E. coli are not indicative of what is occurring to all bacteria on the leaf. E. coli survives in a culturable form on both directly and cross-contaminated spinach leaves under conditions simulating retail storage for up to 12 days post inoculation and is able to move to adjacent non-contaminated leaves for all of this period.

abstract: Biology


title: Top-antitop cross-section measurement strategy with the ATLAS Detector at the LHC

contributor:
LeBlanc, Matthew Edgar (author)
(Canepa, Anadi) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: A measurement of the top-antitop pair production cross-section in the dimuon  channel with the ATLAS detector was made, using in a data sample of L = 32:1  pb􀀀1 from the LHC's 2010 pp collisions at  p  s = 7 TeV. This analysis utilizes a  binned likelihood  tting algorithm to separate signal and background events. This  method increases the acceptance of the signal and thus may reduce the statistical  uncertainty of the measurement. The cross-section is measured to be   t t = 148:8   39:8 (Stat:)   (Syst:) pb using the missing transverse energy as the  discriminating variable in the  t, in agreement with the results of the ATLAS Top  Physics Working Group.

abstract: Mathematics & Statistics


title: The crisis of genocide studies: Towards an immanent critique and a political ethic

contributor:
McDonald, Dakin A. (author)
(Whitehall, Geoffrey) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Employing the methodology of immanent critique, I suggest that the discourse of genocide studies can and should be different. I argue that fighting genocide—the „ultimate crime‟—does not require modernist prescriptions for the Global South. Rather, following the work of Michel Foucault, Giorgio Agamben, and Nancy Scheper-Hughes, while attending to local discursivities of genocide in Europe, Africa, and the Americas, I argue that greater attentiveness to quotidian practices and everyday violences, as well as the effects of our own knowledge practices, are important means through which to challenge the invisible genocides that all too often operate in our midst. Most important, however, is recognizing that genocide is an expression of anti-politics to the extent that such destructiveness attempts to eliminate other stories—that is, ways of being and knowing the world differently. Confronting genocide, therefore, demands the enactment of an affirmative political ethic that celebrates the endless potentialities of human interaction. Thus, the artistic expression of stories can also serve as an affirmative political means by which to counter the anti-political tendencies of this „age of genocide.‟

abstract: Politics


title: Membrane bioreactor technology: A novel approach to the treatment of compost leachate

contributor:
Brown, Kayleigh H. (author)
(Tong, Anthony) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: Since the implication of the Solid Waste Resource Management Strategy in 1995, Nova Scotia has been a leader in waste diversion, with a disposal rate that is approximately half of the national average. Many strategies contribute to this success, one of which is composting organic wastes. While there are many benefits to composting, a significant problem that exists is the formation of compost leachate. Compost leachate is formed when the organic material begins to decompose and the water contained within the matter seeps out and settles. It contains large quantities of ammonia, metals and oxidizable organic material, making it a risk to the environment if released untreated.  The treatment of compost leachate using membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology was carried out for 52 days. The progress of the system was monitored daily via the measure of several important water quality parameters, including chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate and dissolved oxygen. It was found that the COD of the MBR effluent plateaued at approximately 390 mg/L, which represented a decrease of 99% from an initial COD of 116,000 mg/L in the leachate. The ammonia concentration in the leachate was reduced almost completely from around 2,700 mg/L to only 0.046 mg/L in the effluent, while an increase in nitrate concentration in the effluent to 710 mg/L was observed. The microbial population of the MBR tank was also examined. It was found that the population increased by almost 10,000 times during the experiment period.

abstract: Chemistry


title: Assessing an ecosystem services approach to agricultural land management in Greenwich, Kings County, NS: Connecting human well-being and the land

contributor:
Pick, Jennie E. C. (author)
(Lusby, Linda) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: This study investigated the practicality of applying an ecosystem services approach, as defined by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, to contentious land management issues in Kings County, Nova Scotia. It was hypothesized that such an approach could satisfy landowners looking for compensation, public members looking for land conservation, and decision makers in finding solutions. A struggle over zoning legislation in the hamlet of Greenwich provided a case study for investigation. Two members of provincial government, a farmer on the rezoning application in Greenwich, and a member of the public activist group “No Farms No Food” were interviewed. Public surveys were distributed in Greenwich, scientific literature and Kings County Council publications were reviewed, and a list of ecosystem services pertaining to agricultural land in the area was generated. Ecosystem services were found to be poorly recognized for their importance to human well-being in Greenwich, despite the numerous important services that the land provides. Food production was consistently identified as the primary reason to conserve agricultural land. A strong split in views over whether the land should be conserved and whose responsibility it was to do so was also represented. The study concluded that there are many benefits to conserving agricultural land that reach beyond food security, and that conservation should be not only the responsibility of landowners, but of everyone who benefits. It was also determined that many solutions strengthened by an ecosystem services approach have the potential for compromise amid the involved groups, and should be given more consideration in future management decisions.

abstract: Earth & Environmental Sciences


title: A sociological study of identity, ritual and a little drama

contributor:
Morgan, Alexandra (author)
(Horgan, Mervyn) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: This thesis investigates the ritual process of identity formation for theatre students at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Combining the author’s background in both sociology and theatre disciplines, this thesis makes use of Erving Goffman’s investigation of self in group settings, Howard S. Becker’s specificity of art worlds, and Victor W. Turner’s tripartite breakdown of the ritual process to analyze significant rites of passage for first year theatre students. The content is primarily made up personal reflection, but also features primary research conducted for this study. Over a two-week period the author sat in on the Acadia Theatre Company’s rehearsals for their Fall production, three plays by Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch. This thesis supports Turner’s claim that any ritual can be broken down into three sections: separation, liminal, and reincorporation or reaggregation.

abstract: Sociology


title: The self and the problem of choice

contributor:
Hanna, Lauren M. (author)
(Whitehall, Geoffrey) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: This thesis analyzes the idea that there is a problem of choice that is a unique  phenomenon in modern Western culture. Choice is celebrated in relation to freedom,  moral and ethical progress; yet, the proliferation of choice in mainstream society has led  to individual confusion and anxiety. Literature has expanded to address these issues.  However, choice is predominately explored in terms of psychology and economics. The  emphasis is on human shortcomings and new decision-making strategies. My objective is  to explore how the problem of choice emerges. There is a common assumption of being  able to know one’s self—preferences, identity and morality—in order to be able to choose  rationally and to make meaningful choices. Therefore, I argue that the problem of choice  in modern life is made possible by the self.  In order to explore the self in relation to the problem of choice, I analyze three  treatments of the self. I first explore Charles Taylor’s account of the self in Sources of the  Self: The Making of the Modern Identity. For a second treatment of the self, I analyze  Michel Foucault’s Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Finally, I analyze Jane  Bennett’s Enchantment of Modern Life: A ttachments, Crossings, and Ethics for a third  treatment of the self. Bennett argues that the self is infinitely connected to human and  nonhuman bodies. I conclude that if Foucault’s analysis of the self and the disciplinary  society are brought forward, then Bennett’s problematization of the modern sense of self  and expectations of control are helpful in analyzing the problem of choice. Though  individuals are expected to be rational and responsible, they cannot fully predict or  control the world or their choices. Thus, adopting Bennett’s idea of the contingent,  rational self as well as the ethical stance she suggests provide one way to move forward  with choice in modern life.

abstract: Politics


title: Cost-benefit analysis of a natural gas lateral pipeline to the Annapolis Valley

contributor:
Turner, William L. (author)
(Kayahan, Burc) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: This a study of the economic benefit of bringing natural gas to the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. Large volume potential customers are profiled and found to be primarily using Bunker C residual fuel oil, which then is contrasted with natural gas in terms of use, efficiency, price and environmental effects. Based on the customers‟ energy needs, the construction cost of a 105km 6 inch lateral pipeline connecting to the provincial pipeline network north of Halifax is calculated. With 2010 average prices for Bunker C and natural gas a Net Present Value of $51.8 million is established for the project with a 31% Internal Rate of return and break even of four years. As the economic value of this project depends greatly on the price differential between the fuels a sensitivity analysis is conducted. The environmental costs of emissions are quantified to incorporate externalities into the analysis. Limitations of the study examine why a favourable economic analysis does not necessarily mean a viable project. Based on the IRR the project does appear financially viable from a commercial standpoint.

abstract: Economics


title: Learning disabilities and delinquency

contributor:
Wratschko, Kayla A. (author)
(Thomson, Tony) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: This thesis discusses the nature of learning disabilities in relation to the factors effecting juvenile delinquency in order to analyze and discuss the link between learning disabilities and delinquency. The goal was to assess the existence of a link between learning disabilities and delinquency. Extensive research (e.g., Lane 1980, Lombardo 1991, Waldie & Spreen 1993) was conducted in the 1970s and 1980s to determine whether there was a direct link between learning disabilities and delinquency. No empirical, direct relationship was found. This thesis suggests that the connection between learning disabilities and delinquency may be indirect in nature, and compares common characteristics of learning-disabled youth and the characteristics that are associated with delinquency and finds considerable overlap. Three interviews were conducted with professionals who work with learning-disabled and/or delinquent youth. It was discovered through the interviews that the link, depending on the learning disability as defined within the thesis, can be both direct and indirect. Changes in the environment of learning-disabled youth can make a positive difference and potentially reduce the likelihood that they will act in ways that might be adjudicated delinquent. For youths with specific learning disabilities, it is difficult to establish programs to decrease the likelihood of being adjudicated delinquent.

abstract: Sociology


title: Use of ampelographic methods in the identification of Nova Scotian grape (Vitis spp) cultivars

contributor:
Wiser, Laura A. (author)
(Kristie, David) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 2011

abstract: In recent years the evaluation of suitable grape (Vitis spp.) cultivars for the Nova Scotia grape growing and wine industries has become increasingly important. Despite this, little material exists documenting the morphological characteristics of grape cultivars grown in Nova Scotia. This lack of material could make identifying unknown cultivars in a vineyard problematic. The objectives of this study were to describe grape cultivars based on several ampelographic characteristics proposed by Pierre Galet (1979), and to evaluate these characteristics to determine their usefulness in identification. Twenty-nine cultivars that are currently grown in Nova Scotia were described based on morphological characteristics such as leaf colour, hair type, tendril placement and tooth size and shape. Leaf measurements, such as vein length ratios, leaf size and sinus depth, were also used to describe cultivars. Results demonstrated which characteristics were useful in identification and which were not. For instance, indument, or hairiness, was useful as it allowed all cultivars to be divided into numerous small groups, and in some cases narrowed down the identities of single cultivars, such as Einset and KW96-1. Other characteristics, such as tendril placement, were less useful as all sampled cultivars showed an identical pattern. In many cases vein length ratio measurements were also of little use, as these measurements tended to differ little between cultivars. The results of this study provided a preliminary means of cultivar identification and an approach to identification that did not previously exist for Nova Scotian viticulture. However, future work is required to test this proposed method of identification. Additional cultivars and characteristics should also be included in future work.

abstract: Biology


title: Sexing criteria and sex ratio of Corophium volutator (Pallas) in Minas Basin during winter

contributor:
Schneider, Saul Daniel (author)
(Boates, Sherman) (Thesis advisor)
Acadia University (Degree grantor)

subject: LE3 .A278 1990

abstract: This study examined sex ratio in Corophium volutator from Blomidon, Starrs Point, and Evangeline in the Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia in winter. This was done in order to gain a better understanding of sex ratio. A new sexing criterion using spines on the first segment of the first antennae of females was tested. This technique makes the sexing of C.volutator < 1mm possible. The primary sex ratio was highly skewed (approximately 1 :4) indicating that sex ratio is biased at a very early age. Variation in sex ratio was found between different cohorts, different exposures, and among different sites. Generally speaking, sex ratios were all biased in favour of females. The ratios found in the juvenile cohorts in areas subject to shorebird predation had more females per male than the adult cohorts or the juvenile cohorts in areas where there was negligible shorebird predation. This variation was examined with respect to shorebird densities, and other extrinsic factors which could possibly be responsible for the different sex ratios were considered. The results of this  study do not support previous assumptions concerning shorebird predation of C. volutator. More  research is required on the foraging behaviour of the Semipalmated Sandpiper Ca/idris pusilla and other predators. Research should also be done on the primary sex ratios of C. volutator from different sites to determine the cause and evolutionary significance of skewed sex ratios in this organism.

abstract: Biology