title: When Moneyball Meets the Beautiful Game: A Predictive Analytics Approach to Exploring Key Drivers for Soccer Player Valuation

subject: Moneyball, sports analytics, player valuation, predictive modeling, interpretable machine learning

abstract: To measure the market value of a professional soccer (i.e., association football) player is of great interest to soccer clubs. Several gaps emerge from the existing soccer transfer market research. Economics literature only tests the underlying hypotheses between a player’s market value or wage and a few economic factors. Finance literature provides very theoretical pricing frameworks. Sports science literature uncovers numerous pertinent attributes and skills but gives limited insights into valuation practice. The overarching research question of this work is: what are the key drivers of player valuation in the soccer transfer market? To lay the theoretical foundations of player valuation, this work synthesizes the literature in market efficiency and equilibrium conditions, pricing theories and risk premium, and sports science. Predictive analytics is the primary methodology in conjunction with open-source data and exploratory analysis. Several machine learning algorithms are evaluated based on the trade-offs between predictive accuracy and model interpretability. XGBoost, the best model for player valuation, yields the lowest RMSE and the highest adjusted R2. SHAP values identify the most important features in the best model both at a collective level and at an individual level. This work shows a handful of fundamental economic and risk factors have more substantial effect on player valuation than a large number of sports science factors. Within sports science factors, general physiological and psychological attributes appear to be more important than soccer-specific skills. Theoretically, this work proposes a conceptual framework for soccer player valuation that unifies sports business research and sports science research. Empirically, the predictive analytics methodology deepens our understanding of the value drivers of soccer players. Practically, this work enhances transparency and interpretability in the valuation process and could be extended into a player recommender framework for talent scouting. In summary, this work has demonstrated that the application of analytics can improve decision-making efficiency in player acquisition and profitability of soccer clubs.


title: Towards Surveillance Education: An Investigation Into the Relationship Between Surveillance Capitalism, Education, and Identity

contributor: Department of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies in Education

subject:
technology
identity
surveillance capitalism
education
behaviour

abstract: This thesis is a philosophical investigation that tracks the increasing influence of surveillance capitalism and its relationship to changes in identity, behaviour, and the classroom to create surveillance education. Education is key in the behavioural development of students and a critical social environment in the development of self-identity. Surveillance capitalism’s practitioners could author student identity by controlling the feedback about behavioural expression in the classroom and create citizens who accept surveillance as a legitimate part of their participation in society. This places humans in the position of a simple natural resource to be stacked, sorted, and manipulated as Heidegger suggested. This thesis begins with an examination of Shoshana Zuboff’s book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism and traces the interconnected nature of these concepts. Zuboff’s arguments are refocused towards identity. An examination of how education is changing and aiding in the adoption of surveillance methods is then undertaken. This leads to the conclusion that humans are now a natural resource and that education plays role in this outcome. Possible solutions to change the course are suggested. Future areas of research are also proposed that will continue to shed light on the emergence and effects of surveillance education.


title: Exploring Vision and Visionary Leadership in Head Coaches of Canadian University Large Team Sports

subject: Leadership, Coaching, Vision, Visionary, Student-athlete

abstract:
The concept of vision has been identified as a key contributor to effective leadership (cf. Donoso-Morales et al., 2017), where vision is related to both change and empowering organizational members to collaborate toward achieving goals (Sashkin, 1988). Scholars (cf. Collins & Porras, 1996) noted that regardless of the leader’s abilities and the quality of vision, the vision is meaningless unless the leader develops a ‘plan’ that includes actionable and measurable processes and an effective communication strategy. Large team sports (i.e., football, rugby) employ large roster sizes and demand from both athletes and coaches a unique and high level of specialization. As team leader, the head coach is responsible for leading all team members towards achieving a common goal. The purpose of this study was to explore if and how Canadian university large team sport head coaches conceive, develop and enact their vision to achieve their desired goals.
To fulfill the study’s purpose, a pragmatic qualitative research design was used to study large team sport head coaches. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were thematically analyzed (Braun & Clarke, 2006) to elicit themes most useful in answering the research questions. From the analysis, the coaches’ plans to enact their vision were found to be focused on student-athletes’ holistic development. Coaches were found to use communication and role-modeling strategies to enact their respective visions for their teams. These findings suggest that large team sport head coaches have an opportunity to concurrently impact their student-athletes’ lives beyond the on-field sport experience while fielding competitive teams.


title: Staff Perceptions on the Qualities of Meaningful Relationships with Residents at End of Life in Long Term Care

subject: long term care, end of life, staff, relationships, meaning

abstract:
Long Term Care is a place where many people die, and it is the job of the staff members to assist the resident with their dying and death experience. A peaceful transition to death is largely dependent on the relationship between resident and staff members. In order to provide the best dying and death experience for the resident, I sought to explore staff perceptions on the qualities of a meaningful relationship with resident at the end of life.
Using interpretive phenomenology as a qualitative research design and Heidegger’s (1962) concept of the lifeworld as a tool of analysis, I uncovered aspects of good ethical care by listening to the people who provide it. I completed a series of nine interviews and depicted staff perceptions of the qualities of their relationships with residents at the end of life. My data analysis uncovered three qualities of staff and resident relationship that positively influenced the dying and death experience for resident. These qualities are fearlessness, meaningful time and vulnerability.
Furthermore, these findings reflect the mutual giving and receiving of care for both staff and resident throughout this relationship. Often this complex dynamic can be misunderstood or masked by what ministry standards tell us in how this relationship should look in LTC. My research exposes a different side of care at the end of life. With all the unknowns a resident is faced with at the end of life, the emotional relationship between resident and staff member can be the most comforting.


title: The Association between Serum Cancer Antigen 125 (CA 125) and Risk of Lung Cancer in Females: Assessing the Possibilities for Early Detection

subject: Lung cancer, CA 125, public health, lung cancer risk prediction

abstract:
Background: Few studies have closely examined the relationship between CA 125 and lung cancer. This study is expected to provide more understanding about CA 125 and its role as a potential predictor for lung cancer risk.
Objectives: To evaluate: i) the association between CA 125 and lung cancer; ii) if the associations differ by potential effect modifier (smoking status); and iii) if the association between CA 125 and lung cancer differs by lung cancer stage (early vs. advanced).
Methods: The present research was conducted using secondary data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) randomized controlled trial (RCT). The associations between explanatory variables and lung cancer were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Each multivariable logistic regression model was adjusted for age, education, current body mass index (BMI), family history of lung cancer, personal history of cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), average number of cigarettes smoked per day and number of years smoked.
Results: The study demonstrated that CA 125 is significantly and independently associated with lung cancer and that CA 125 is associated with early-stage lung cancer. It was found that an elevated CA 125 level was associated with a higher risk of lung cancer in individuals who smoked. Although the study demonstrated promising results, CA 125 did not have a large effect on the study’s lung cancer risk prediction models.
Conclusion: CA 125 is not a strong enough predictor to be used as an indicator in lung cancer screening alone, however it may be useful in a panel of complimentary biomarkers. Future research is needed to explore whether a panel of complimentary biomarkers including CA 125 can improve lung cancer risk prediction.


title: Firm Performance and CEO Compensation: CEO Pay Slice vs Pay-Performance Sensitivity

subject:
CEO compensation
Pay-performance sensitivity
CEO pay slice
Firm performance
Executive dominance

abstract: I study the relationship between CEO incentive compensation and firm performance in the presence of CEO dominance to examine how incentive compensation improves firm performance by reducing agency conflicts between shareholders and managers. I estimate pay-performance sensitivity (PPS) as a measure of CEO incentive compensation and the CEO pay slice (CPS) as a measure of CEO dominance. Controlling for standard control variables, I conduct multiple OLS regressions and find that at the high level of CPS, PPS improves firm performance, but at the low level of CPS, impact of PPS diminishes. This shows that determining stand-alone associations of PPS or CPS to firm value—a popular practice in the literature—might not be adequate because of an unexplored interaction effect between executive incentive and executive dominance. To address the potential endogeneity issues, I conduct robustness check by employing instrumental variables with a two-stage least square (2SLS) estimation procedure. As an additional robustness check, I account for the year effect and confirm that the results still stand to the same level of significance.


title: Twenty years later: Family’s Continued Battle for Media Coverage of their Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

contributor: Social Justice and Equity Studies Program

subject: mainstream media, media coverage, intersectional, feminist, decolonization, colonial, colonialism

abstract: Past research on media coverage of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) has focused mainly on stereotypical images of Indigenous femininity, with limited research on the family’s role and perspectives regarding such coverage. This study examines how family members conceptualise the media coverage of their missing and murdered loved ones, and the family’s role in shifting the dominant media narratives. Drawing on an intersectional feminist framework that pays close attention to decolonization, I reflect on the dominant media discourses about MMIWG. This research focuses on the cases of two Indigenous women – Rosianna Poucachiche,  murdered in 2000, and Shannon Alexander, missing since 2008. The primary data was collected through an in-depth interview with a family member of the two young women. Articles were selected from mainstream media platforms, that include, CBC News, The Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen, Canada NewsWire and the Montreal Gazette. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to analyse data from the interview and news articles, which produced four main themes: impact of colonialism, police role in addressing MMIWG cases, media’s role and coverage of MMIWG, and the experiences and role of MMIWG families in pushing for media coverage. The findings of this research show that, although stereotyping and insensitive media coverage of MMIWG continues, there has been an identifiable change in media reporting in the past decade as narratives shift to more positive language and empathetic tones. I argue that this has been possible due to ongoing Indigenous family and community activism. The findings further reveal that families and activists have pushed media to not only place a greater emphasis on family narratives, but on issues of systemic and racist oppression as well, to acknowledge how these systems are implicated in the phenomenon of MMIWG. Recommendations from this research suggest that mainstream media platforms need to ensure that the families of MMIWG are not only consulted, but that their narratives be prioritised in public reporting on this issue.


title: Discovery of a novel cytochrome P450, (+)-vincadifformine 19-hydroxylase (V19H), distinguishes separate branch pathways forming aspidosperma-type monoterpenoid indole alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus roots

subject: Catharanthus Alkaloids P450 Stereochemistry Vincadifformine

abstract:
Investigation of Catharanthus roseus monoterpenoid indole alkaloid (MIA) biosynthesis and accumulation has been important in elucidating the formation of the antineoplastic drugs, vinblastine and vincristine. These pharmaceuticals are formed by the condensation of the MIAs catharanthine and vindoline, which accumulate in C. roseus leaves. While we had completed and expressed the seven-step pathway from the aspidosperma-type MIA (-)-tabersonine to vindoline in yeast, little was known about the reactions involved in the metabolism of aspidosperma-type MIAs in roots. C. roseus roots convert (-)-tabersonine to lochnericine, the precursor for a major root alkaloid hörhammericine, and the reasons for the production of different aspidosperma MIAs in above and below ground plant organs is unknown. The molecular and biochemical characterization of minovincinine-19-O-acetyltransferase (MAT), tabersonine-19-hydroxylase (T19H), tabersonine-6,7-epoxidase (TEX1/2), and tabersonine 19-O-acetyltransferase (TAT) suggests that biosynthesis of hörhammericine and its derivative, 19-O-acetyl-hörhammericine, involves an ordered series of reactions.
Bioinformatic analysis led to the identification of a root specific homolog of tabersonine-3-oxygenase (T3O), a cytochrome P450 (P450) involved in the formation of tabersonine 2,3-epoxides, as part of the vindoline pathway in leaves. Characterization of the T3O-homolog revealed that it converts (+)-vincadifformine to its 19-hydroxyderivative, (+)-minovincinine, and it was named (+)-vincadifformine 19-hydroxylase (V19H). V19H did not accept (-)-tabersonine or tabersonine-derived (-)-vincadifformine. T19H, another root-specific P450, hydroxylates (-)-tabersonine and its derivatives, including (-)-vincadifformine, to their respective 19-hydroxyderivatives, but does not accept (+)-vincadifformine. TAT will only acetylate the (-)-tabersonine derivatives, whereas MAT only turns over the (+)-vincadifformine derivative to form (+)-echitovenine. This shows that two distinct aspidosperma pathways exist in C. roseus since endogenous vincadifformine must be the (+)-enantiomer instead of the tabersonine derived (-)-vincadifformine.
Modelling studies revealed that V19H activity is competitively inhibited by (-)-vincadifformine, suggesting that the (-)-aspidosperma backbone could still be incorporated into the binding site, albeit without hydroxylation. Models of T3O and T19H were generated to compare their binding pockets with that of V19H, and there were four conserved residues in T3O and T19H that were missing in V19H. Using site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) of V19H at those four residues, the binding pocket became more T3O-like, and V19H gained T3O-like activity without the loss of V19H activity.


title: An Analysis of Behavioural Interventions for Transition Difficulties of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities

subject:
autism spectrum disorder
intellectual disabilities
developmental disabilities
transition difficulties
behavioural interventions

abstract:
Successfully transitioning from one activity, task, or location to another is an important adaptive
skill. For children and youth with developmental disabilities, these transitions can be especially problematic. The purpose of the current study was to systematically examine behavioural studies aimed at improving activity, task, and location transitions for children and youth with developmental disabilities. Four electronic databases (Education Source, Eric, PubMed, and PsycINFO) were searched resulting in 1,439 studies for initial data analyses. Of these studies, 19 met full inclusion criteria and were subjected to additional analyses. Key characteristics of the final sample were described. Existing behavioural treatments incorporated intervention strategies such as visuals, prompting using assisted technology, and video modelling across various settings. Rigour assessments of the final 19 studies resulted in a majority of “weak” quality studies (n =15). Overall, it appears that behavioural interventions may be effective in treating transition difficulties among this population; however, additional research is required.


title: South Asian Immigrant Women Conceptualizing Gender Roles in the Context of Family and Society in Southwestern Ontario

subject: Immigrant women, gender roles, patriarchy

abstract:
Perceptions of gender roles vary in different cultures, influenced by social location and
time. Migration to countries that promote liberal values can impact how men and women
perceive their gender roles, their interpersonal relationships with family members, and
their day to day activities. Informed by a postcolonial-feminist theoretical perspective,
this qualitative study aimed to understand South Asian immigrant women’s perceptions
about gender roles in the context of family and society, prior to migration, and after
immigration to Canada. A unique aspect of this study is that it explored how participants
negotiated their gender roles and identity and exercised their agency prior to migration
and post immigration. Four major themes emerged in response to the interview questions:
1) immigration and resettlement challenges; 2) gender roles and a patriarchal society in
the native country; 3) perceptions of gender role/women’s role in the Canadian society;
and 4) negotiating of gender roles, agency and empowerment. The results of the study
indicate that immigration experiences were diverse and should be analyzed through many
intersecting lenses including gender, class, social status, and education level to highlight
unique challenges experienced by women as opposed to a monolithic representation of
women from the East. The study contributes to the literature on South Asian immigrant
women by using an interpretation that is based on the knowledge produced by the
participants, and by acknowledging their voices as a central focus. Women in this study
show that they are agents of change and are not weak and voiceless as depicted through
Western discourses.


title: Inulin Supplementation to Support Periodontal Health

creator:
Zanatta, Carly
Zanatta, Carly

subject:
periodontal disease
inulin
sanative therapy
prebiotic
gut microbiota

abstract: Periodontal disease is a chronic state of inflammation that can destroy the supporting tissues around the teeth, leading to the resorption of alveolar bone. The initial strategy for treating periodontal disease is non-surgical sanative therapy (ST). Periodontal disease can also induce dysbiosis in the gut microbiota and contribute to low-grade inflammation. Prebiotic fibres, such as inulin, can selectively alter the intestinal microbiota and support homeostasis by improving gut barrier function, preventing systemic inflammation which may help local inflammation in the periodontal tissues. Providing an inulin supplement may benefit periodontal health while providing insight into the complex relationship between periodontal disease and the gut microbiota. The primary objective is to determine if a daily 10 g dose of inulin for 14 weeks is more effective than the placebo at improving clinical periodontal outcomes including probing depth (PD) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Secondary objectives include determining the effects of inulin supplementation pre and post ST on salivary markers of inflammation and periodontal-associated pathogens, as these outcomes reflect more rapid changes than clinical periodontal outcomes. This thesis has involved the design and registration of a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design in which 170 participants who are receiving ST to manage periodontal disease will be randomized to the intervention (inulin) or placebo (maltodextrin) group. The intervention period will begin 4 weeks before ST through to their follow up appointment at 10 weeks post ST. Clinical outcomes of periodontal disease including number of sites with PD ≥ 4 mm and the absence of BOP will be measured at baseline and post ST. Salivary markers of inflammation (interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, c-reactive protein and matrix metalloproteinase-8), periodontal-associated pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans), body mass index (BMI) and diet assessments will be measured at baseline, pre ST and post ST. Inulin is expected to enhance the positive effect of ST on the management of periodontal disease. The results of the study results will help to provide guidance regarding the use of prebiotics prior to and as a supportive adjunct to ST for periodontal health.


title: Contributions of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling on mast cell differentiation and allergic phenotype

subject:
mast cells
MAPK pathway
JNK
ERK
p38

abstract:
Introduction: Mast cells are large granulated immune cells, and major drivers of allergic inflammation. Increased inflammatory activity and numbers of mast cells contribute to allergic disease, which is of increasing concern worldwide. Mast cells are derived from hematopoietic stem cells, which are found in the bone marrow. Specifics regarding the molecular mechanisms that control mast cell differentiation remain largely undiscovered. The mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is a highly evolutionarily conserved intracellular signaling pathway that is active in all eukaryotic cells. We sought to evaluate the role of the three major nodes of the MAPK pathway—JNK, ERK, and p38—in IL-3-mediated mast cell differentiation.
Methods: Bone marrow-derived mast cell (BMMC) cultures were initiated from the bone marrow of C57BL/6 mice and differentiated in the presence of MAPK inhibitors. One group received 1 µM of JNK inhibitor JNK-IN-8, another 1 µM of the ERK inhibitor SCH772984, another 10 µM of the p38 inhibitor Losmapimod. The control group received no inhibitor. The β-hexosaminidase release assay was used to assess mast cell degranulation; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure cytokine secretion; and flow cytometry was used to measure marker and receptor expression.
Results: In the JNK group, cells exhibited a reduced capability to degranulate, a down-regulation in IL-13, CCL1, CCL2, and an up-regulation in basal CCL9 secretion. In the ERK group, mast cells secreted decreased amounts of CCL2, increased amounts of CCL3, and down-regulated c-kit expression on the cell surface. In the p38 group, mast cells exhibited an increased capability to degranulate, secreted lower amounts of CCL1 and CCL2, and exhibited increased c-kit expression on the cell surface.
Conclusion: Overall, JNK inhibition negatively affects both the early and late phases of allergic inflammation, ultimately producing an impaired inflammatory phenotype. ERK inhibition affects the late phase of allergic inflammation and cell surface receptor expression. p38 inhibition affects both the early and late phases of allergic inflammation, as well as cell surface receptor expression. This research contributes to the fundamental biological understanding of mast cell differentiation and may drive the development of future therapeutics for allergic disease.


title: Uncovering the Narratives of the Rehtaeh Parsons Case: A Content Analysis of Canadian Newspapers

subject:
Content analysis
Rehtaeh Parsons
Newspaper articles
Qualitative research
Canadian youth crime

abstract:
The present study provides insight into how the Rehtaeh Parsons case was conceptualized by Canadian news sources. Through the use of qualitative content analysis of Canadian newspapers, the present research involved an examination of how the media socially constructed the case with specific focus on how the issues of bullying and harassment were depicted in comparison to broader social inequalities within our society. This research is methodologically qualitative, informed by an intersectional conceptual framework and engages content analysis of media sources as key method.
The purpose of this study was to examine how the Rehtaeh Parsons case was constructed by Canadian news sources, with specific focus on aspects of bullying and social inequalities that were discussed by the media in relation to the case, and subsequent reaction and response after the suicide of Rehtaeh Parsons. This analysis provided an in-depth understanding of how the case was conceptualized and the core components of the case that were discussed by news sources across Canada. Through the use of an intersectional framework and content analysis this study examined twenty-three selected Canadian newspapers articles that discussed the core components and issues surrounding the Rehtaeh Parsons case.
	More specifically, this study sought to address two major research questions:
1.	How was the Rehtaeh Parsons case conceptualized by Canadian news outlets?
2.	To what extent was the Rehtaeh Parsons case constructed as a case of bullying, harassment and sexual assault in comparison to broader social inequalities within society?


title: Talking during class, packing up books and name calling: Is it really that big a deal? An exploration of classroom incivility

subject:
classroom incivility
adolescents
teachers
peers
antisocial behavior

abstract: The main goal of my dissertation was to explore and expand our understanding of the concept of adolescent classroom incivility. Specifically, I wanted to expand the current research on classroom incivility in children and youth using a range of methods. Methods comprised validating a measure of engagement in uncivil behavior, including open-ended responses to understand the experiences and viewpoints of both adolescent students and their teachers and exploring social network position in relation to engaging in classroom incivility. In Study 1, I validated a scale of uncivil behavior in the classroom. This validation confirmed subscales of intentional and unintentional classroom incivility in adolescents. This study also assessed construct validity via the examination of associations between classroom incivility with self- and peer-reported behavior and mental health correlates. As well, I investigated differential personality profiles of adolescents who reported engaging in intentional vs. unintentional uncivil behavior. Study 2 focused on comparing and contrasting the perceptions and experiences of classroom incivility of middle and high school teachers and students. This study used both quantitative reporting and qualitative methods to investigate how middle and high school teachers were experiencing and understanding classroom incivility compared to students. The results of this study indicated that there were differences in how uncivil behaviors were being perceived by students and teachers, depending on the classroom or individual circumstances. Finally, Study 3 was an exploratory study that investigated the association between social network position and self-reported engagement in classroom incivility. Results indicated a curvilinear association between social network position and classroom incivility, such that students who engaged in the highest or lowest levels of classroom incivility had lower social network position, while students who engaged in moderate levels of classroom incivility had the highest levels of social network position. Taken together, these studies have expanded our knowledge and understanding of adolescent classroom incivility. These results can inform intervention of uncivil behavior in the classroom and have highlighted the importance of limiting uncivil behavior in adolescence in an effort to promote a civil society.


title: An Auto-Ethnodramatic Study of the Lived Experiences of Becoming a Mother Via Anonymous Egg Donation

subject:
Auto-ethnography,
Auto-ethnodrama
Arts-Informed-Research
Egg Donation
Assisted Reproduction

abstract:
Abstract
This auto-ethnodramatic study investigated the experiences of becoming a mother via anonymous egg donation. Few studies have explored the experience of women who become pregnant with donor eggs; women who both embody and disrupt the dominant narrative of motherhood by not being genetically related to the children they nurture. The study presents vignettes informed by performance practices and auto-ethnography that interrogate my struggles as the recipient of donor eggs, including: travelling for fertility treatment in the United States where egg donors are paid, in comparison to Canada where remuneration beyond basic expenses is a criminal offense; relinquishing my privacy regarding my infertility and use of donor eggs; worrying about the physical/mental health of young egg donors; navigating the rights of donor-conceived children to know their genetic progenitors versus the donor’s right to anonymity; and facing the difficult decision regarding what to do with leftover embryos. I drew upon my experience interpreting and performing scripted dialogue as a professional actor, reflexive journaling, personal artifacts and memories, online discussion forums, and the extant literature. Live performance and discussion of personal stories create educational spaces for medical and nursing students and their professors, parents in donor conception support groups, and the general public, troubling social stigmas surrounding women’s reproductive bodies, infertility, and assisted reproduction. Respectful, empathetic dialogue can encourage participants to push against the rigid structures of the heteronormative family and discover their own stories of self, family, and belonging. These stories can be used to advocate for more dignified and compassionate practices within the fertility industry for donors, parents, and most especially the children we are so eager to love.


title: Thermal tasting: methodological considerations and implications for alcohol behaviour.

subject:
ethanol
individual differences
orosensory responsiveness
alcohol consumption
taste interactions

abstract: Thermal tasting is a phenomenon whereby some individuals perceive thermally-induced taste sensations when their tongue is warmed or cooled. These individuals, known as thermal tasters (TT), report a variety of thermally-induced tastes and the tastes reported can vary with temperature regime used and location on the tongue tested. TT are typically compared to thermal non-tasters (TnT), individuals who do not experience thermally-induced sensations. The literature suggests that TT give higher intensity ratings to orosensory stimuli than TnT; however, small sample sizes and differences in classification schemes between studies confound our understanding of TTS (thermal taste status). It is unknown whether the increased orosensory responsiveness of TT is universal or whether it is driven by a subgroup of TT. Furthermore, up to 50% of individuals are non-classifiable (NC). The largest database of individuals who have undergone TTS screening was compiled to address the literature gaps. Findings indicate that TT are more responsive than TnT to orosensory stimuli, regardless of the classification scheme used. The orosensory responsiveness of NC is not homogeneous, suggesting that NC are not a separate group but rather misclassified TT and TnT. Sweet TT are more likely than non-sweet TT to experience thermally-induced sensations during lingual warming. Similarly, sour TT are more likely than non-sour TT to report thermally-induced tastes during cooling. However, no differences in orosensory responsiveness based on these or other subgroups are identified, suggesting that the heightened orosensory responsiveness of TT is universal across this phenotype. The final study sought to characterize the binary interactions between ethanol and four orosensory stimuli (fructose, quinine, tartaric acid and alum sulphate) both overall and by comparing TT and TnT. In general, TT are more responsive than TnT to all stimuli in the study. Few interactions between TTS and stimulus intensity exist suggesting that TT and TnT perceive the sensations elicited by alcoholic beverages similarly, albeit at different intensities. Together, the thesis helps inform best practices for TTS screening and classification, provides insights into TTS mechanisms and furthers our understanding of alcoholic beverage perception.


title: The Proof Is in the Program: Mental Health Literacy Policy Disjunctures in Ontario’s Teacher Education Programs

subject:
Mental Health Literacy
Teacher Education
Program Accreditation
Policy Analysis
Enhanced Teacher Candidate Outcomes

abstract: In June 2013, the Ontario Ministry of Education announced the expansion of initial teacher education (ITE) programs, doubling the number of placement days while incorporating additional content within classrooms to address changing classroom dynamics. Among these additions was a reference to mental health and addictions, a pressing concern given that roughly 1 in 5 young people experience mental health problems during their formative educational years. In September 2015, these enhanced two-year programs came online and enrolled the first cohort of teacher candidates. In this thesis I argue that there has been a breakdown between the “context of policy” and “context of practice” as described by Bowe et al. (1992) within the development and implementation of the enhanced ITE programs offered by participating faculties of education in Ontario. Specifically, this study looked at the process through which the enhanced programs were initiated, the requirements inscribed in policy created by macro, intermediate, and micro level actors, and the challenges in ensuring that content is distributed and applied equally to all students. The study evaluated whether mental health and addictions content was incorporated within the enhanced program, and if it made a difference to the educational outcomes of graduates. Findings indicate that while the programs themselves were modified successfully to address the mental health requirements outlined in O. Reg 347/02, new teacher graduates continue to see the training they have received as inadequate, with significant room for improvement. To address these concerns this study provides solutions for both macro and intermediate level actors to incorporate either a proactive or reactive approach.


title: First impressions of child faces: Facial trustworthiness influences adults’ interpretations of children’s behaviour in ambiguous situations

subject:
Face Perception
First Impressions
Ambiguous Situations
Facial Trustworthiness
Child Faces

abstract: Despite the profound behavioural consequences that first impressions of trustworthiness have on adult populations, few studies have examined how adults’ first impressions of trustworthiness influence behavioural outcomes for children. Using a novel task design, we examined adults’ perceptions of children’s behaviour in ambiguous situations. After a brief presentation of a child’s face (high or low trust), participants viewed the child’s face embedded within an ambiguous scene involving two children (Scene Task) or read a vignette about a misbehaviour done by that child (Misbehaviour Task). In the Scene Task, participants described what they believed to be happening in each scene; in the Misbehaviour Task, participants indicated whether the behaviour was done on purpose or by accident. In both tasks, participants also rated the behaviour of the target child and indicated whether that child would be a good friend. In Experiment 1, young (n=61) and older (n=57) adults viewed unaltered face images. Ambiguous scenes and misbehaviours were interpreted more positively when the target child had a high- versus low-trust face, with comparable patterns of results for the two age groups. In Experiment 2, young adults (N=59) completed the same tasks while viewing images of child faces morphed towards high- and low-trust averages. The pattern of results mirrored that of Experiment 1. Collectively, our results demonstrate that a child’s facial trustworthiness biases how adults interpret children’s behaviour—a heuristic that may have lasting behavioural consequences for children through a self-fulfilling prophecy.


title: An Evolutionary-Developmental Perspective on Altruistic Thinking, Social Reasoning Skills, and Self-Perceptions in Middle Childhood

subject:
altruism
evolutionary theory
development
middle childhood
empathy

abstract: This study utilized an evolutionary developmental framework to explore individual differences and relations among prosocial behaviours and social reasoning skills related to self-perceptions in middle childhood. There is little research in this area specifically, as an evolutionary developmental framework is seldom applied to this age group within the context of education. Participants (n=70) aged 9-11 years old were recruited from different schools under one school board. Participants completed self-report measures online that measured altruistic thinking, perceived academic competence, school-related perceived stress and pressure, global self-worth (GSW), theory of mind (ToM), and empathy. Results showed a significant difference in empathy between those who scored high versus low in altruistic thinking. Altruism was positively correlated with affective empathy and cognitive ToM (e.g., a type of social reasoning skill that involves cognitive perspective-taking), although cognitive ToM was not related to affective empathy. Perceived academic competence was positively correlated with GSW. High levels of perceived classroom-related stress and pressure were negatively correlated with perceived academic competence and GSW. In contrast, high levels of perceived stress and pressure positively correlated to high levels of affective empathy. Implications for practice include the development of strategies for educators to promote positive relationships and altruistic behaviours among students to aid in student well-being. Implications for research include support for the application of an evolutionary developmental perspective to the social domains of classroom dynamics.


title: Quantifying the Relationship of Bilateral Blood Flow in Glabrous Skin at Rest and During Sympathetic Perturbations

subject:
Blood Flow
Sympathetic Activity
Thermoregulation
Laser Doppler Flowmetry

abstract: Sympathetic nervous system regulation of blood flow within glabrous skin occurs through control of vasoconstrictor tone, with vasodilation being a passive process. As bursts of sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity occur simultaneously at separate sites of the body, blood flow patterns should also be closely matched due to the direct connection between sympathetic nerves and peripheral microvessels. With sympathetic activity difficult and invasive to measure directly, the possibility of using blood conductance as an indirect measure seems promising. We investigated the relationship of bilateral blood conductance recordings of both middle fingers in ten (7M, 3F) healthy participants, while at rest and in response to perturbations known to elicit sympathetic activity. Cutaneous vascular conductance was measured from both middle fingers via laser Doppler flowmetry, while at rest in a thermoneutral room for 20 minutes and in response to 4 randomized sympathetic perturbations (2 breath holds and 2 cold stimuli) while centrally vasodilated via heating of the back. Correlation coefficients while at thermoneutral rest were high (0.80 ± 0.22) demonstrating a strong temporal relationship for blood conductance in both fingers. During the sympathetic perturbations, blood conductance in both fingers were more related during (0.93 ± 0.11) and post (0.87 ± 0.11) administration of the sympathetic perturbation than prior (0.67 ± 0.25) to the administration (p = 0.002). Taken together, these findings indicate that blood conductance patterns at separate sites of the body are significantly more related during vasoconstrictor activity and that blood conductance may have potential as a non-invasive measure of sympathetic activity.


title: Dimensions Underlying First Impressions of Older Adult Faces by Young and Older Adult Perceivers

subject:
first impressions
person perception
older adults
developmental psychology
face perception

abstract: First Impressions (FIs) based on facial cues have significant consequences in real-world contexts and have the potential to influence how older adults (OAs), a vulnerable population, are treated by others. The present study used a data-driven approach to examine dimensions underlying FIs of OAs and whether those dimensions vary by perceiver age. In Experiment 1, young adult (YA) and OA participants provided unconstrained, written descriptions in response to OA faces. From these descriptors, 18 trait categories were identified that were similar, but not identical, across age groups. In Experiment 2, YA and OA participants rated OA faces on the trait words identified for their age group in Experiment 1. In separate principal components analyses, two dimensions of sternness and confidence emerged for OA faces for both YA and OA participant ratings. Our results suggest that there are no significant differences in perceiver age when forming first impressions of OA faces.


title: Dancing Beyond Diversity: The Experiences of Black Female Ballerinas

subject:
Spatiality
Black Geographies
Race
Dance
Ballet

abstract: Ballet tends to reflect the intersection of femininity and whiteness, which conjure images of grace, beauty, innocence and fragility. This is the same discourse that is typically used to describe white womanhood (Fisher, 2016; McCarthy-Brown, 2011). This begs the question, “What are Black female dancer’s experiences of belonging?” Accordingly, this research seeks to understand the relationship between race and gender in the production, maintenance, and destruction of power within dance spaces. Using critical race methodologies of counter-storytelling, this research draws on Lefebvre’s (1991) understanding of social space (perceived space, conceived space, and lived space) and Black geographies to highlight and amplify the lived experiences of Black female ballet dancers.  Qualitative data collection methods are utilized to explore these elements and to understand the everyday experiences within dance spaces. I will be conducting interviews, engaging in photo-elicitation, and collecting blog/social media data. This research will analyze how Black female bodies navigate dance spaces and how the interaction with these spaces influences a dancer’s perception of belonging. Accordingly, the objectives of this research are (1) to examine the ways in which experiences of space and belonging are racialized, (2) to deconstruct the historic and contemporary ideals of femininity and its interaction with Blackness, and (3) to explore how racialized ideals surrounding women’s bodies are perpetuated and/or challenged within dance spaces.


title: Teachers’ Experiences of Implementing a Pedagogical Approach for Meaningful Physical Education

subject:
implementation
professional development
elementary
pedagogy
meaningfulness

abstract: Dominant forms of physical education (PE) have been criticized for their inability to promote lifelong movement, with many scholars arguing in favour of an approach oriented toward meaningful experiences in PE. The Meaningful PE approach has been designed in response to this but has yet to be tested extensively in practice. The purpose of this dissertation has been to study teachers’ experiences of learning about and implementing the Meaningful PE approach. Five teachers based in Ireland and 12 teachers based in Canada participated in two separate studies lasting eight weeks and across two school years, respectively. Qualitative data were collected in the form of semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations, community of practice (CoP) meeting transcripts, and reflections. Results of this dissertation are presented in four articles. Article One highlights the experiences of Irish primary classroom teachers, demonstrating preliminary support for the approach from classroom teachers with little background in PE. Article Two focuses on Canadian elementary teachers’ experiences of implementing the Meaningful PE approach with their students and on the factors that influenced their implementation decisions. Primary factors influencing implementation included teachers’ prior experiences and beliefs, students’ responses to the implementation process, and external organizational pressures. Article Three focuses on Canadian teachers’ experiences of learning about Meaningful PE through a professional (PD) initiative designed around characteristics of effective PD outlined in the literature. Teachers were most supportive of the use of a CoP and modelling of the approach to foster their learning about Meaningful PE, while also highlighting several tensions between ideal and practical forms of PD, taking personal and organizational barriers into account. Article Four focuses on my experience of becoming a facilitator of teachers’ PD through facilitating a CoP for teachers. This article highlights the important role of identity in the process of learning to become a facilitator and navigating the tensions associated with that process. Collectively, this dissertation makes a significant contribution to the literature by a) informing the refinement of the Meaningful PE approach, b) offering insights into educational implementation research, and c) adding to the literature on teachers’ professional learning when being introduced to innovations.


title: The effects of postural threat on sample entropy

subject:
Postural threat
Postural control
Sample entropy
Postural perturbation
Secondary data analysis

abstract: The objectives of this thesis were to 1) explore the effects of postural threat on sample entropy, a measure interpreted to reflect the attentional investment in postural control, and to 2) examine the relationships between threat-related changes in physiological arousal, perceived anxiety, attention focus, conventional postural control measures, and sample entropy. A secondary data analysis was conducted on a combined data set derived from two published studies; each study used the postural perturbation threat model which allowed for a comparison between No Threat and Threat conditions. Young adults (N = 105) stood without (No Threat) and with (Threat) the expectation of receiving a temporally and directionally unpredictable support surface translation in the forward or backward direction. Mean electrodermal activity and anterior-posterior centre of pressure mean position, root mean square, mean power frequency, power within low (0–0.05 Hz), medium (0.5–1.8 Hz), and high frequency (1.8–5 Hz) components, and sample entropy were calculated for each trial. Anxiety and attention focus to movement processes, task objectives, threat-related stimuli, self-regulatory strategies, and task-irrelevant information were rated after each trial. The results of the thesis showed that postural threat had a significant effect on sample entropy; higher values were reported in the Threat compared to No Threat condition. However, threat-related changes in physiological arousal, perceived anxiety, and attention focus were not significantly related to changes in sample entropy. Threat-related changes in sample entropy were related to changes in sway amplitude and frequency. The results of this thesis suggest a shift to a more automatic control of posture when threatened despite evidence of increased attention to postural control.


title: The Effects of Behavioural Skills Training on a Parent-Implemented Feeding Treatment via Telehealth

subject:
picky eating
food selectivity
telehealth
parent training
behavioural skills training

abstract: Extensive research has established the effectiveness of in-person behavioural skills training (BST; i.e., instruction, modeling, rehearsal, feedback) to teach individuals to perform a variety of novel skills, including how to implement behaviour analytic treatments for food selectivity. To date, no study has evaluated the effects of a telehealth BST training package to teach parents to serve as primary interventionists and implement a feeding treatment with their child at home. We used a multiple baseline across participants design to evaluate the effectiveness of a telehealth BST training package to teach parents to implement a sequential presentation and nonremoval of the spoon feeding treatment with their child in their home. We found the telehealth BST training package was an effective means of teaching parents to implement a feeding treatment and contribute to the existing literature on parent-implemented feeding treatments to increase children’s consumption of low-preferred food. Results are discussed within the context of treatment implications and suggestions for future research.


title: Design of Redox-active Ligands: In Pursuit of Stable Radicals, their Complexes, and Assembly of Paramagnetic Coordination Clusters.

subject:
Redox-active Ligands
Stable Radicals
Pi-dimerization
Molecular Grids
Valence Tautomerism

abstract:
This thesis describes the design, synthesis, properties, and coordination chemistry of redoxactive
ligands. This thesis also explores new ways of expanding our ligand systems, in order to
improve their binding capacities. We accomplished this by utilizing familiar redox-active
moieties and structures to those published previously in our group, but with enhanced topological
capacities and predictable structural outcomes. Chapter 1 begins with a general outline of the
fundamental principles that govern organic radicals including; their reactivity, their properties
and applications, and how these can be applied to the design of ligands for polynuclear assembly.
Chapter 2 starts with a brief overview of arylazo ligands and the synthesis of a new hydrazone
substituted phenalenol ligand (2.1). In the following section (2.2) we use this ligand to produce
homoleptic ligand mixed-valence complexes featuring trivalent cobalt and iron metals. The
chapter is concluded (2.3) with the synthesis of a new ditopic aryl-azo ligand and its cobalt
coordination chemistry involving a neutral tetra-radical/tetra-nuclear molecular grid featuring
valence tautomerism. Chapter 3 begins with the design and synthesis of a new ditopic diamino
phenol ligand, which was found to oxidize to a neutral stable phenoxyl radical (3.1-3.2). The
solution properties, which include reversible pi-dimerization of this stable radical are also
described (3.3), and later the substitution chemistry of this new ligand is explored (3.4). In
chapter 4, we describe the coordination chemistry of this new ditopic aminophenol ligand, which
includes assembly into several coordination clusters involving copper (4.2), iron (4.3), nickel
(4.4), and zinc (4.5). These coordination clusters feature the ligand in a variety of oxidation
states; including rare examples of dianion “aminyl” radical clusters. In chapter 5, we begin with
a description of a new synthetic derivative which can be used for the construction of larger
tetratopic or asymmetric diamino phenol ligands. In 5.2 we describe the synthesis of a tetratopic
aminophenol ligand along with its reactivity and aerial oxidation to a tri-phenoxyl radical. In 5.3,
we conclude the thesis with the use of an asymmetric diamino phenol ligand and it’s Cu(II/III)
coordination chemistry, which displayed unique reactivity with molecular oxygen.


title: Exploring Mental Health in Sport: The Behaviors, Perspectives and Needs of Stakeholders

subject:
Student-athlete
Mental Health
Coach-Athlete Relationship
Help-Seeking
Coach Mental Health Support

abstract: Student-athletes are at high risk for poor mental health. Leaders within the varsity sport environment influence athlete mental health and help-seeking. This dissertation explored the behaviors, perspectives and needs of athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers as it pertains to mental health in sport. Three studies were conducted, the first utilized the Theory of Planned Behavior to explore factors associated with coach-athlete conversations about mental health. A coach’s Attitude towards having a conversation with an athlete significantly influenced their Intention to do so. Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) significantly influenced the relationship between Social Norms and Intention. Both PBC and Social Norms had a significant relationship with the Behavior (having a conversation about mental health with an athlete). The second study applied a conceptual model from Horn’s Working Model of Coach Effectiveness to explore how an athlete’s perception of coach behavior impacts attitudes and help-seeking behaviors. Psychological distress levels influenced an athlete’s Perception of their coach’s behavior. Openness to help-seeking was significantly related to help-seeking Behaviors and influenced the relationship between personal characteristics and help-seeking. Perception of coach behaviors influenced the relationship between psychological distress and help-seeking from a coach. The last study sought to determine the acceptance of an online varsity sport-specific mental health resource. Preliminary results were promising; The PEER Network was frequently used over the study period and participants had positive and supportive feedback. Overall, results from the three studies suggest that perceived ability and social support may influence whether coach-athlete conversations about mental health occur. Due to the effects of these variables, coach mental health training should focus on improving the skills required for these conversations and normalizing mental health in sport. As an athlete’s perception of coach behavior mediated the relationship between psychological distress and help-seeking, training should also focus on clear ways to show athletes that coaches are supportive of mental health. Athlete-specific training should try and improve attitudes towards help-seeking and highlight the value from seeking help. The PEER Network may be an easily accessible and context-specific way of achieving these educational goals for members of the varsity athletic community.


title: Adults' perceptions of forgetful children: The impact of child age, domain, and memory type

subject:
prospective memory
perceptions of forgetfulness
children
academic
social

abstract: Prospective memory (PM) tasks have been described as social in nature because carrying out one’s intentions often has an impact on others. Despite the claim that PM errors (compared to retrospective memory [RM] errors) are perceived as character flaws, little empirical work has tested this assertion. In particular, no study has examined how adults perceive children’s PM errors. Thus, the aim of the current studies was to examine adults’ perceptions of children’s forgetfulness depending on child age (4 vs. 10-year-olds), domain of the memory error (academic vs. social), and memory type (PM vs. RM). In Study 1, adult participants rated children’s PM errors on seven traits. Findings showed that social errors were rated more negatively than academic errors, and age and domain interacted such that 10-year-olds were rated more negatively than 4-year-olds for making social errors but not academic errors. Study 2 examined the impact of child age, domain, and memory type on perceptions of forgetful children to specifically test differences between PM and RM errors. Results showed a larger difference between ratings of 10-year-olds for their academic and social memory errors compared to 4-year-olds, but only for RM errors.


title: Investigating the Effects of Markers of Biological Stress on the Association between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Central Artery Stiffness

subject:
central artery stiffness
adverse childhood experiences
biological stress
telomere length
mitochondrial DNA copy number

abstract: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). One mechanism by which ACEs may increase CVD risk is through their association with central artery stiffness. Pathways linking ACEs to arterial stiffness have not yet been fully elucidated; however, increased biological stress has been postulated to play a critical role. Recently, two markers have emerged as being potentially useful measures of biological stress—telomere length (TL) and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn). Here, the potential effects of TL and mtDNAcn on the association between ACEs and central artery stiffness were examined. It was hypothesized that TL and/or mtDNAcn would be associated with both ACEs and central artery stiffness, and that these markers would influence the association between ACEs and arterial stiffness. 185 individuals (n = 102 females) aged 19-25 years (mean age 22.5 ± 1.5 years) were included in the current analyses. ACEs were assessed using the CTES 2.0. Central artery stiffness was assessed non-invasively as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). TL and mtDNAcn were assessed using qPCR techniques. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations between ACEs, TL, mtDNAcn, and cfPWV after adjustment for several covariates. ACEs were independently associated with cfPWV (β = 0.147, p = 0.035). Both TL and mtDNAcn were independently associated with cfPWV (β = -0.169, p = 0.012 and β = -0.525, p = 0.017, respectively). There was no significant association between ACEs and either TL or mtDNAcn (both p > 0.05); and neither marker influenced the association between ACEs and cfPWV. Increasing ACEs were associated with a faster cfPWV. This association was not influenced by either TL or mtDNAcn, suggesting that these markers do not provide a link between ACEs and arterial stiffness. Reduced TL and mtDNAcn were also associated with a faster cfPWV. Future studies are required to better understand the association between ACEs, markers of biological stress, and arterial stiffness.


title: From their eyes: Nursing student experiences using repeated reflection from the pediatric patient's perspective

subject:
Reflective Practice
Simulation
Repeated Reflection
Patient's Perspective
Nursing Education

abstract:
Simulation-based learning (SBL) has been a core course component in nursing curricula for decades. The growing use of SBL has led to increasingly lifelike simulations and continued development to maximize learning opportunities. Reflection and debriefing are key components of SBL to improve learning outcomes and clinical skills. Reflection is often described as a process; however, nursing students rarely have the opportunity to participate in the same simulation or clinical experience twice to completely engage in the reflective process.
Reflection from the patient’s perspective is a new concept to simulation, first done by Taplay (2020) using the Reflective Practice from the Patient’s Perspective (RPPP) tool. In this study, we applied the RPPP 3.0 tool to a pediatric nursing simulation, where the simulated child wore spyglasses to record visual and audio data of the simulation (Taplay, 2020). Participants watched their simulations from the patient’s perspective and partook in an interview guided by the RPPP 3.0 tool (Taplay, 2020). Then, participants returned within 2-9 days to repeat the same simulation and reflection.
Participants found value and meaning in the repeated reflection. Themes of reactions, communication, appraisal of performance, and the difference were found. Reflecting from the pediatric patient’s perspective allowed participants to gain insight into how their actions and communication were perceived. Repeating reflection encouraged participants to partake in self-directed preparation and allowed them to gain confidence, implement change, and improve their practice.


title: Reactivity of Aluminum Carbenoid with Unsaturated Substrates

subject:
Aluminum
Carbenoid
Unsaturated molecules
Organometallics
Coupling

abstract:
Reactivity patterns of the β-diketiminate aluminum(I) complex NacNacAl towards a variety of unsaturated molecules were determined. Reaction of NacNacAl with one equivalent of benzophenone affords η2(C,O) adduct III-2 that undergoes cyclization reactions with benzophenone (III-3), aldimine (III-4), quinoline (III-5), pyridine (III-6), phenyl nitrile (III-7), trimethylsilyl azide (III-8), and a saturated cyclic thiourea (III-9). The latter reacted via unusual C−N cleavage. Analogous η2-coordination products were prepared with p-tolyl benzoate (IV-6), N,N-dimethylbenzamide (IV-9) and (1‐phenylethylidene)aniline (IV-13). Addition of pyridine to such species results in [2+2] cycloaddition products analogous to III-6, except for the case of p‐tolyl benzoate when a migration of the alkoxy group from the ester moiety accompanied by hydrogen transfer from pyridine preserves the aromaticity within the latter. Chemoselective couplings between aliphatic ketones and pyridine were exemplified by reactions with non-enolizable (1R)-(‒) fenchone and enolizable yet sterically encumbered isophorone. The reaction with the CH‐acidic ketone (1R) (+) camphor afforded a hydrido alkoxide (IV-11) as the result of enolization. Whereas the reaction of NacNacAl with (1R)‐(−)‐fenchone in the absence of pyridine led to CH activation in the isopropyl group of the NacNac ligand.
	NacNacAl demonstrated diverse reactivity in reactions with N‐heterocycles. 4 Dimethylaminopyridine induces rearrangement of NacNacAl by deprotonation of backbone methyl group of the ligand. C−H activation of the methyl group of 4‐picoline produced a species with a reactive terminal methylene. Reaction of NacNacAl with 3,5 lutidine led to the cleavage of the sp2 C−H bond (4‐position). Another reactivity mode was observed for quinoline, which undergoes 2,2′‐coupling. Finally, a reaction of NacNacAl with phthalazine produced a product of the N−N bond cleavage.
	NacNacAl reacted with a series of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via [4+1] cycloaddition. While a reaction with anthracene was irreversible, with the formation of products of activation of the lateral and central rings, reactions with phenanthrene, triphenylene, and fluoranthene were reversible. Heating reaction mixtures at 90 °C yielded dialuminum hydride VI-6. Mechanistic studies showed that the reaction proceeds via dissociation of polycycles with the release of NacNacAl that undergoes further intermolecular transformations. All novel complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction analysis for most of them.


title: Structural, Magnetic and Vibrational Studies of Entropy Stabilized Oxides

subject:
Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy
Raman Spectroscopy
X-ray Diffraction
High Entropy Oxides
Magnetization

abstract:
The structural, magnetic and vibrational properties of high entropy oxide (HEO) and medium entropy oxides (MEOs) made from mixtures of five and four metal oxides were studied in this work. The HEO and MEOs obtained from solid state reactions in quinary
and quaternary equimolar mixtures of oxides including ZnO, CuO, CoO, MgO and NiO which are called 5-HEO, 4-MEO(-Cu), 4-MEO(-Mg), 4-MEO(-Co), 4-MEO(-Ni) and 4-MEO(-Zn) in this thesis. The samples were sintered at high temperatures followed by air quenching. The x-ray diffraction measurements results show the formation of single rocksalt phase in all of them except 4MEO(-Ni).
The magnetization measurements in zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) regimes under H=5000 Oe have provided strong evidence for long range magnetic ordering in 5-HEO and 4-MEOs. Two samples including 4-MEO(-Co) and 4-MEO(-Ni) exhibit
high frustration factor which is a major component for spin glass phase. The AC susceptibility measurements for 4-MEO(-Co) and 4-MEO(-Ni) with the highest frustration factors have carried out in order to investigate the presence of spin glass. The segregation
of Cu from the rocksalt phase in 5-HEO by resintering at intermediate temperature (700oC) was confirmed by x-ray diffraction measurements, SEM-EDS elemental mapping and magnetization measurements.
Infrared refectance spectroscopy measurements (100-15000 cm-1) for 5-HEO and 4-MEOs with single rocksalt structures have revealed one strong mode and a weaker mode at lower frequency in the far infrared spectra. The Lorentz model and Kramers-Kronig (KK) analysis were implemented for the samples and the results were used in effective charge calculations which reveal that 4-MEO(-Cu) has the greatest ionic character whereas 4-MEO(-Mg) showed the least ionic character. The Raman spectroscopy which complements the infrared spectroscopy was carried out for 5-HEO and 4-MEOs. The results have indicated first and second order Raman modes in addition to a two-magnon mode at around 1600 cm-1 which was confirmed by studying the temperature dependence. While 4-MEO(-Co) also shows a peak near 1600cm-1 it is likely of different origin. In 4-MEO(-Cu) the two magnon scattering peak was not observed and it rather causes a high background which increases with decreasing temperature.


title: Don Cherry's Final Rant: Illuminating Canadian nationalism, racial xenophobia, and hegemonic masculinity

subject: Masculinity, Canadian nationalism, racism, xenophobia, hockey

abstract:
Don Cherry was fired from his position as co-host on the national show “Hockey Night in Canada: Coach’s Corner” in November 2019, following a rant where he singled out new immigrants for not wearing a poppy in support of Remembrance Day. Cherry’s firing was met with fury and outrage by many of his long-time supporters. In this thesis project, I explore these responses in relation to the following broad research question: How does Don Cherry’s final rant on Sportsnet and the popular response to his firing on Twitter, illuminate the continuing salience of white supremacy, xenophobia, hegemonic masculinity and colonialism in Canadian sports discourse?
Drawing on the fields of feminist, anti-colonial and anti-racist studies, and literature in sport studies I conducted a critical discourse analysis of comments on selected national news reports, posted on Twitter. The overall objective of my project was to question taken-for-granted narratives and ideas of Canadian national identity, and explore the implications of these ideals.  Using Canadian hockey culture as a case study, my aim was to develop a rich and accessible entry point for theorizing sports culture and to assess the possibilities and problems associated with re-imagining hockey as a more equitable site of engagement.


title: Metarhizium robertsii interactions with Phaseolus vulgaris (Haricot Bean)

subject:
Metarhizium robertsii
Phaseolus vulgaris
DNA methyltransferase
Abscisic acid

abstract:
Metarhizium is an insect pathogenic fungus, as well as a plant root symbiont. During symbiotic interactions, it can benefit the plant by improving plant growth, antagonizing plant pathogens and herbivores, and enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. In this thesis, the interactions between Metarhizium robertsii and Phaseolus vulgaris (haricot bean) were studied from two aspects. First, a phenotypically degenerated (low conidia production) strain of Metarhizium was serially passaged through bean plant. Second, the immune responses of haricot bean during endophytic colonization were assessed.
Commercial application of Metarhizium for insect biocontrol requires optimal production of conidia as infective propagules. It was demonstrated that conidial production and virulence of phenotypically degenerated Metarhizium were restored by serial passages through bean roots, as well as switchgrass roots, and wax moth larvae. A decrease in the expression of fungal DNA methyltransferase was observed in the phenotypically degenerated Metarhizium strain through bean passages. Whole genome bisulfite sequencing analysis showed differences in the distribution of differentially methylated regions in the degenerated and subsequently recovered strains.
Metarhizium can antagonize the plant pathogen, Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli during bean root colonization. Using comprehensive plant hormone analysis, transcriptional expression, and stomatal size analysis, bean immune responses to colonization by Metarhizium and/or Fusarium were assessed. In comparison to un-inoculated bean, root colonization by Metarhizium resulted in reduction of abscisic acid (ABA), increased stomatal size, and decreased expression of plant immunity genes in bean leaves, which is different from those in bean colonized by Fusarium. Furthermore, exogenous application of ABA resulted in reduction of bean root colonization by Metarhizium but increased colonization by Fusarium, compared to corresponding plants without ABA application. Therefore, ABA was implicated in differential responses of bean plants to root colonization by Metarhizium and Fusarium.
 In conclusion, this thesis provided new insights into the study of the interactions between Metarhizium and haricot bean. Some novel findings were that fungal DNA methyltransferase was implicated in the recovery of phenotypically degenerated Metarhizium and a plant hormone, abscisic acid was implicated in differential interactions of endophytic colonization by Metarhizium when compared to a pathogenic interaction by Fusarium.


title: ‘Molida’, That’s Shimshali Food: Modernization, Mobility, Food Talk, and the Constitution of Identity in Shimshal, Pakistan

subject: modernization identity Pakistan mobility food

abstract: This thesis examines how “food talk” – or talking about food – is used by members of a rural community in mountainous northern Pakistan called Shimshal to articulate identities to both local and transcultural audiences. Food and food practices have been well-established as important resources for the constitution and performance of identity, including in contexts of mobility and modernization. However, the literature on food, identity, and mobility tends to focus on contexts that involve primarily linear, unidirectional, and permanent movement from one country to another. My thesis draws attention to contexts of multilocality, a common livelihood strategy in Shimshal and other rural communities in the Global South in which household members move between and maintain connections in multiple spatially-distanced locations at once. In particular, I examine instances of transcultural identity constitution, in which Shimshalis construct representations for themselves and for outsiders. These kinds of interactions exemplify the increasingly common representational contexts that are both produced by and characteristic of the circumstances of mobility, multilocality, and modernization in which I am interested. To examine how food talk was used as a conversational resource for transcultural articulations of identity, I conduct discourse analysis on two sets of pre-existing published texts: a collection of oral testimonies and an archive of narrativized photographs. I identify four main discourses of modern Shimshali identity in the texts – unity, agropastoralism and modernity, exceptionalism, and multilocality – and trace how food talk is used to help perform these identity tropes to local and transcultural audiences, with talk about food as an agropastoral mode of production, community, health, ‘modernity’, ritual, ‘tradition’, and wealth particularly salient as identity resources. I also show how the use of food talk as an identity resource is shaped by the context in which it is employed, including the perceived aims of different texts and the symbolic and material changes in food itself. Drawing on an autoethnographic sensibility, I suggest that we can gain more meaningful insights into the performance of identity and food talk by attending to the specific contexts of their production and reception. Finally, I show how food talk and identity have changed (and been maintained) in the two sets of texts I analyze, which take place across a period of rapid increases in mobility and multilocality. By doing so, this thesis brings together and contributes to preoccupations from mobility studies, modernization and development studies, migration and multilocality, food studies, identity studies, discourse analysis, and geographical research on rural northern Pakistan.


title: The Effect of Methylphenidate on Cutaneous Blood Flow During Passive Hyperthermia: The Role of Nitric Oxide

subject: Blood-flow, Heat-stress, Methylphenidate, Circulation, Skin

abstract: Whole body heat stress causes a reflex cutaneous vasodilator response driven by a sympathetic active vasodilatory system. Methylphenidate (MPD) is known to increase whole body sympathetic activity, potentially leading to increased cutaneous blood flow via a nitric oxide (NO) based pathway. We investigated forearm SkBF during whole-body heat stress (Tc  Δ + 1.5˚C) with and without MPD (20 mg) ingestion in 6 adult males (23  ± 2 y) using laser-Doppler flowmetry and L-NAME to inhibit NOS (Nitric Oxide Synthase).  Increasing Tc led to higher forearm cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) (p < 0.05) and area under the curve of CVC (AUC) (p < 0.001) measures. L-NAME had a significant effect on CVC (p < 0.05), but not AUC (p = 0.696). MPD had no significant effect on CVC (p = 0.836) or AUC values (p = 0.261). With an increase in Tc, there was a significantly greater contribution of NO to the increase in SkBF, as expected (p < 0.05). Conversely, MPD had no effect on NO contribution to forearm SkBF (p = 0.970). Though not significant, a trend in which MPD decreased time to reflex SkBF plateau was observed (p = 0.200). These data suggest that NO has a role to play in reflex vasodilation, but MPD does not significantly increase SkBF.


title: The Relationship Between Sport Participation, Perceived Athletic Competence and Performance in University Sprinters

subject: Physical Literacy, Sports Participation, Perceived Athletic Competence, Long-Term Athlete Development, Developmental Model for Sport Participation

abstract: Purpose: There is a need for research that investigates confidence, performance, and previous sports involvement among particular sports such as in track and field sprinters. The objective of this study was to investigate relations between previous sport participation, perceived athletic competence, and performance results in university track and field sprinters. Methods:  The perceived athletic competence scale and previous sport participation questionnaire were implemented in the form of an online survey. The best performance times were collected from an online results database. All of the participants were enrolled in university and were members of their respective school’s track and field team. Measures of variability and descriptive statistics were calculated, and Analysis of Variance and t-tests were implemented to analyze potential differences amongst the variables of this study. Results: There were a total of 42 university track and field sprinters between the age of 18 and 23. The highest participated sports (sum) were track and field sprints (624), soccer (234), hockey (189), and basketball (164). A repeated measure ANOVA revealed a significant decrease in sports participation across all and between each of the three age groups (ages 8 to 13, 14 to 17, and 18+). Sports participation was the highest in the 8 to 13 age group. A bivariate correlation and linear regression analyses showed statistical insignificance between sport participation and perceived athletic competence. There was a low positive, but not statistically significant relationship from the 8 to 13 age group. Lastly, there was a statistically non-significant positive correlation for the first age (8 to 13) group and sprint performance times. Conclusion: The findings of the study contribute to the areas of sport participation, sport specialization, and athlete development by confirming what is already presently known while adding new support for track and field sprinting as a late specialization sport and the need for further analysis and investigation in the future with a more diverse sample and a larger sample size.


title: Psychopathy and Fear Enjoyment: The Role of Invincibility

subject:
Psychopathy
Fear
Invincibility
Subjective Appraisal
Fear Enjoyment

abstract: Previous research has found a significant positive relationship between psychopathic traits and fear enjoyment (Book et al., 2020; Hosker-Field et al., 2016a). Because enjoyment of fear may be contingent on not feeling like one is actually in danger (Hitchcock, 1949), the current study investigated whether a sense of invincibility could explain the relationship between psychopathy and fear enjoyment. Participants included two online samples, one from two universities, and one from MTURK (Total N = 825). Participants viewed exciting and fear-inducing videos and completed affective appraisals for each video. As expected, psychopathic traits were associated with less negative and more positive responses to the fear-inducing video. Also as expected, invincibility partially explained the relationship between psychopathy and fear enjoyment. Mediation analyses confirmed a significant indirect effect for negative (but not positive) ratings of the fear-inducing video. The results of the current study supply further support for the Fear Enjoyment Hypothesis (Hosker-Field et al., 2016a) and support invincibility as one possible mechanism of the relationship between psychopathy and fear enjoyment.


title: Cardiac Rehabilitation Maintenance and Prevention Exercise Program: Effects on Depression and Body Image

subject: cardiovascular disease, depression, body image, general-exercise maintenance program, non-pharmacological treatment

abstract: In Ontario, individuals who have experienced a cardiac event are prescribed to participate in cardiac rehabilitation. Most research examining the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation has focused on early phases (i.e., phase 1 and 2) and virtually none has looked at phase 3 maintenance programs, nor have they examined prevention-based programs. Therefore, this study looked at characteristics of those attending a cardiac rehabilitation maintenance and prevention exercise program, differences between those that finished 6-months of the program and those who did not, and the effects of the program on body image and depression. Eligible members (n = 111 males, n = 101 females, Mage = 63.3) of the Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being completed anthropometric tests (height, body mass, heart rate, blood pressure) and self-reported measures of body satisfaction and depression at baseline and after 6 months of participating in the program. At baseline, individuals were identified as being at risk for clinical depression and were slightly dissatisfied with their body function and appearance. Three separate two-way ANCOVAS (for depression, satisfaction with function and satisfaction with appearance) showed that responders reported more favorable psychological profiles than non-responders at baseline, with significantly higher levels of satisfaction with body appearance [F (1, 204) = 5.95, p < .05] and function [F (1, 203) = 8.58, p < .05], albeit no differences in depression scores [F (1, 206) = .78, p > .05]. However, men did report lower satisfaction with their body function than women. A two-way mixed MANCOVA was conducted to examine changes in depression and body satisfaction across the 6-month program; there was no significant overall effect [F (1, 67) = 1.48, p > .05]. Our findings suggest that moderately active men and women may not differ on satisfaction with appearance. Given that those who completed 6-months of the program reported higher satisfaction with appearance and function than those who did not, it may be possible to identify those who are likely to drop out of a cardiac rehabilitation maintenance and prevention exercise program and develop programming to improve body image upon program entry to increase adherence.


title: APP Processing: A Biochemical Competition Influenced by Exercise-Induced Signalling Mediators

subject: Exercise, APP, BACE1, ADAM10, Exerkines

abstract: In our aging society neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are becoming more prevalent. One specific neuropathological hallmark of this disease is excessive accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, which can aggregate to form the plaques commonly associated with this disease. These plaques are often observed well before symptoms of AD develop. Therefore, it is important to find ways to regulate the pathways involved in the production of these peptides. Evidence indicates that exercise has the capacity to reduce Aβ peptide production in the brain. Exercise promotes the release of many different signalling mediators from various tissues and organs in the body. These exercise-induced signalling mediators could be the driving force behind some of the beneficial effects seen in the brain with exercise. The purpose of this study was to examine if post-exercise serum and the factors it contains can alter neuronal APP processing. Human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells were differentiated with retinoic acid for 5 days and treated with 10% pre- or post-exercise serum for 30 minutes. Cells were collected for analysis of acute (30 minutes; n=6) or adaptive (24 hours post-treatment; n=6) responses. There were no statistical differences in ADAM10 and BACE1 mRNA or protein expression with post-exercise serum treatment at either time point. However, there was an increase in the ratio of sAPPα to sAPPβ protein content (p=0.05) after 30 minutes of post-exercise serum treatment. Additionally, 30 minutes of post-exercise serum treatment increased ADAM10 (p=0.01) and BACE1 (p=0.02) activity. These novel findings suggest that post-exercise serum modulates important enzymes involved in APP processing, potentially pushing the cascade towards the non-amyloidogenic arm.


title: Association Between Concussion Understanding and Stakeholder Knowledge Translation in Collegiate Sports

subject:
knowledge translation
social network analysis
Rowan's Law
collegiate athletes
concussion understanding

abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an association between concussion understanding and stakeholder knowledge translation in collegiate sports following the mandate of Rowan’s Law in July 2019. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine concussion knowledge translation within a sport network using social network analysis. A cross-sectional design was used to evaluate 76 collegiate athletes (54 females, 21 males, 1 not identified), aged 20.55 years (SD=3.4) who completed a survey on sport demographics, concussion knowledge and stakeholders who provided concussion information during the sport season. Athlete concussion knowledge scores and reported stakeholders were examined. An average of 3 key stakeholders provided concussion information to 82% of the varsity athletes in our study. Athletes reported that a coach or athletic trainer most often provided concussion knowledge. Overall, athlete concussion knowledge scores were the same for athletes who sought concussion knowledge from stakeholders and those who did not. Over 95% of athletes in the study did not access the Rowan’s Law website for mandated concussion education. These findings suggest that Rowan’s Law is hugely neglected resulting in stakeholder knowledge translation having minimal influence on an athletes’ understanding of concussions. Future recommendations include verified review of mandated concussion education resources and testing of concussion knowledge for all persons associated with sport in Ontario. Due to the large number of athletes seeking concussion knowledge in their varsity athlete network, accurate sport specific resources should be provided to support stakeholders who are in direct contact with athletes.


title: Multi-Guide Particle Swarm Optimization for Large-Scale Multi-Objective Optimization Problems

subject:
Multi-objective optimization
Large-scale optimization
Particle Swarm optimization

abstract: Multi-guide particle swarm optimization (MGPSO) is a novel metaheuristic for multi-objective optimization based on particle swarm optimization (PSO). MGPSO has been shown to be competitive when compared with other state-of-the-art multi-objective optimization algorithms for low-dimensional problems. However, to the best of the author’s knowledge, the suitability of MGPSO for high-dimensional multi-objective optimization problems has not been studied. One goal of this thesis is to provide a scalability study of MGPSO in order to evaluate its efficacy for high-dimensional multi-objective optimization problems. It is observed that while MGPSO has comparable performance to state-of-the-art multi-objective optimization algorithms, it experiences a performance drop with the increase in the problem dimensionality. Therefore, a main contribution of this work is a new scalable MGPSO-based algorithm, termed cooperative co-evolutionary multi-guide particle swarm optimization (CCMGPSO), that incorporates ideas from cooperative PSOs. A detailed empirical study on well-known benchmark problems comparing the proposed improved approach with various state-of-the-art multi-objective optimization algorithms is done. Results show that the proposed CCMGPSO is highly competitive for high-dimensional problems.


title: An Exploratory Study of a Coach's Response to Mandated Regulation Change

subject:
Transition,
Coach
Football
Mandated Change

abstract:
In 2017 the University Interscholastic League mandated a regulation change that all Texas high school football coaches required certification through Atavus Tackling Training. The mandate represented a significant modification to the way tackling is taught, aimed at addressing risk of concussion and serious trauma. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore how coaches’ respond to mandated regulation change.
This qualitative study utilized an individual level of analysis contributing to academic works concerning the understanding of organizational change, including the use of Bridges’ (1991) Transition Model within a sporting context, and the call for agent focused perspective work in neo-institutional theory. Through an abductive analysis blend consisting of inductive coding, and deductive a priori concept of the Bridges Transition Model, this study aimed to discern the role transition played in actualizing institutional change by addressing the research questions:
RQ1: How do coaches respond when faced with mandated regulation change?
RQ2: How does their response reflect transition?
To account for the complex nature of the 15 interviewed head football coaches’ responses, the qualitative methodology of this study utilized various triangulation methods such as data, analysis, and theory triangulation, to capture rigor and trustworthiness.
Rich findings were mined from the data including 15 propositional statements that represented the a priori model and 10 inductive themes that contributed to defining the identity of a coach, and the sport. The overlap between inductive and deductive findings explored factors earmarking why coaches progress or regress through transition. This study found a relationship between responses and the Bridges Transition Model phases (addressing RQ2), in addition to multiple transition cycles, and triggers for movement through the phases based on coaches' individual needs. This research not only provided examples of what those responses were (addressing RQ1), but also discussed why coaches responded in various ways.
Discussion included use of organizational change literature, Bridges’ (1991) Transition Model, and institutional theory, accounting for what coaches experienced and the beliefs and values impacting their decisions and thus, responses to mandated regulation change.


title: Looking in the Mirror of Authenticity: A Self-Study of Teacher Education Practice

subject: authenticity

subject: teacher education

subject: self-study of teacher education practice

abstract:
This study explored the notion of authenticity within the context of teacher education. A
qualitative research approach was chosen employing methods associated with self-study
in order to explore the dissonance I experienced as a relatively new teacher educator. The
purpose of the study was to explore the significance and potential of authenticity in
teacher education. The study involved teacher candidates in an elementary science
curriculum and instruction course that I was teaching. Teacher candidates reflected on
their learning experiences in a course in which I intentionally applied the concept of
authenticity. The study also involved experienced teacher educators whom I engaged in
conversations as critical friends. Analysis of the teacher candidates’ reflections revealed
that the notion of authentic learning resonated with these soon to be teachers. Analysis of
the conversations with teacher educators revealed an important distinction between
teaching the subject authentically and teaching the student authentically.


title: An Evaluation of Video Prompting Procedures to Teach First Aid Skills to Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

subject: Video prompting

subject: Telehealth

subject: First aid skills

subject: Unintentional injuries

abstract: Unintentional injuries are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). First aid training involves teaching critical first aid skills, some of which are designed to treat unintentional injuries. To date, no study has (a) evaluated the effects of video prompting procedures to teach first aid skills to children with IDD or (b) attempted to teach these skills to children using a telehealth delivery format. We used a concurrent multiple baseline across skills design to evaluate the effectiveness of video prompting procedures via telehealth to teach five children with IDD to perform first aid on themselves for insect stings, minor cuts, and minor burns under simulated conditions. For all participants, training resulted in large improvements, which maintained for a minimum of 4 weeks. Further, effects of the training generalized to novel confederates for all participants, and these effects maintained for a minimum of 4 weeks. In addition, participants and their caregivers expressed high satisfaction with the video prompting procedures and telehealth experience.


title: Requisite Characteristics of a Mentor to Establish Positive Relationships in a Type One Diabetes Intervention from the Mentee’s Perspective

subject:
Diabetes
Social support
chronic disease
qualitative research
peer mentoring

abstract:
Background: Diabetes has reached global epidemic proportions. Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) typically strikes in childhood and is now becoming more prevalent in young adults. Evidence suggests that proactive harnessing of the positive attributes of a peer-to-peer mentor-mentee relationship could help mediate and decrease prevalence, assist with better glycemic control, reverse nonadherence and provide psychosocial support and education to people with diabetes.
Research Question: What are the requisite components of a mentor needed to establish an effective mentorship relationship in a peer-to-peer coaching intervention for young adults with type one diabetes from the mentee’s perspective?
Methods: A qualitative research design was used with Sandelowski’s (2010) qualitative descriptive approach. The Right Who, Respect, Information gathering, Consistency, and Support (TRICS) model was used as a theoretical framework (Donlan et al., 2017).
Sample: 20 young adults aged 18-30 with T1D were recruited through snowball sampling. One semi-structured interview was completed with each participant. Data Analysis: All interview data were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim and managed through NVIVO.
Findings/Discussion: Three themes were revealed in the data; 1) T1D is a personal journey through self-realization and acceptance; 2) inconsistencies in social support systems and 3) a mentor- is a companion on the journey. One supplemental theme highlights the perceived impact of COVID-19 on participants T1D.
Conclusion: Individuals with T1D perceived there is value in cultivating a mentored form of peer support. Developing and evaluating a mentor/mentee dyad as a supportive intervention for T1D adults transitioning to adult care is the next step for future research.


title: Fan Responses to Virtual Reality Sport Sponsorship Activations: The Influence of Presence on Emotion and Attitude Formation

subject:
sponsorship activation
virtual reality
presence
emotions
attitudes

abstract:
Considering the massive financial investment into sport sponsorship and the growth of the industry, it is important for managers to understand the strategic implications of their partnership decisions. This is even more essential in the current marketing landscape where advertising clutter and limited attention spans are rampant. Consequentially, experiential marketing has emerged to combat these challenges and provide consumers with unique and memorable experiences. Further, virtual reality (VR) has surfaced as a possible experiential marketing tool in that it has the capabilities of simulating one’s presence in a virtual environment: potentially creating those unique and memorable experiences. With sponsorship activation transitioning into an online environment further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the capabilities of virtual reality make it an attractive option to sport marketers. Presently, this technology is being applied without a clear purpose due to the newness of the platform and the lack of research and understanding regarding its true value. Thus, it is critical to examine how media modes, such as VR, may affect the impact of sponsorship messaging. In exploring sponsorship activation specifically, this study aimed to examine the use of 360-degree video and virtual reality as activation components, and if traditional non-immersive (phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop) and immersive (virtual reality) technologies differ in terms of their influence on important sponsor outcomes such as eliciting emotions and influencing attitudes. This study employed a survey design to compare responses between two groups. The first group experienced a 360-degree sport sponsorship activation video using non-immersive media while the second group experienced the same video in VR. A total of 114 responses were collected (57 in each group). Responses were then analyzed using two-way independent sample t-tests to find any statistically significant differences. Results showed that non-immersive respondents reported higher ratings of arousal compared to immersive respondents. Notably, there was a clear desire
for 360-degree activation content from all users regardless of media mode. This study serves as a preliminary basis of valuation for virtual reality technology as it applies to sponsorship activation.


title: Understanding Interorganizational Relationships and Organizational Capacity in a Youth Baseball Network

subject:
interorganizational relationships
organizational capacity
baseball
youth sport
networks

abstract:
Within the Canadian sport system there has been a noted decline in team sport participation
among youth athletes. Factors that have contributed to this decline include increased competition
amongst organizations, a larger number of sport options and sport specialization. Baseball in
particular is a sport that has seen declining participation rates in recent years. Within the sport
management literature two key concepts have emerged as key areas of interest for youth sport
organizations in their operations; interorganizational relationships and organizational capacity.
Interorganizational relationship (IOR) development has been identified as an effective strategy for
strengthening the capacity of youth sport organizations (Misener & Doherty, 2013). Organizational
capacity has been related to the ability of organizations to draw on a variety of resources to help
achieve desired outcomes (Hall et al., 2003), while there is also evidence to support the connection
between greater organizational capacity and increased success in achieving these outcomes (Jones et
al., 2017). Thus, the purpose of this research study was to examine the relationship between
interorganizational relationships and organizational capacity within a youth baseball network in the
Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada. Data were collected from representatives of ten youth baseball
organizations through a survey instrument via telephone interview format. Data were analyzed using
a social network analysis methodology including the use of the UCINET 6.0 software program and
NetDraw function that allowed for the calculation of density and centrality measures along with
visual representations of the network. QAP Multiple Regression analysis was also conducted and
showed that IORs and sector were both found to be statistically significant in their ability to predict
organizational capacity ties within this network. Overall, the results of this study allowed for
conclusions to be drawn related to network structure, state of organizational capacity, and the
relationship between IORs and organizational capacity in this youth baseball network.