title: Mechanisms of Naphthenic Acid Toxicity

contributor: van den Heuvel, Michael (Thesis advisor)

contributor: Kamunde, Collins (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Stevens, Don (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Speare, David (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Fast, Mark (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Spears, Jonathan (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: van den Heuvel, Michael (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Kamunde, Collins (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Greenwood, Spencer (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 85 application/pdf

abstract: The Alberta Oil Sands are the third largest reserve of crude oil in the world. Most of this oil is extracted via the Clarke hot water extraction process, producing large volumes of waste water or oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). This water must be kept on oil sands sites, resulting in the creation of large tailings ponds. These ponds contain numerous toxic compounds, one of the principle ones being naphthenic acids (NAs). These are carboxylic acids that are natural components of petroleum and are thought to be responsible for much of the toxicity of tailings ponds. They have been shown to be acutely lethal and have a number of sublethal effects to a variety of aquatic organisms and other species. Despite the wide knowledge of their toxic effects, the mechanism of toxic action of naphthenic acids has remained elusive. Based on the known mechanisms of resin acids, carboxylic acids from pulp and paper mill effluent, it was hypothesized that naphthenic acids would disrupt mitochondrial energetics by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and inhibiting the electron transport system (ETS), which would result in oxidative stress and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). For this thesis, NAs were extracted and purified from a 17-year-old tailings pond yielding a mixture containing 99% carboxylic acids with 90% fitting the classical NA formula (CnH2n+ZO2). Mitochondria were isolated from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) livers via differential centrifugation and the mitochondrial oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential, and hydrogen peroxide production were measured simultaneously using the Oroboros respirometry system following exposure to different doses of the OSPW-NA mixture. Mitochondrial membrane potential and oxidation state were also measured using real-time flow cytometry methods using fluorescent dyes, JC-1 and H2DCFDA, respectively. The effects of two model adamantane NAs, 3,5-dimethyladamantane-1-carboxylic acid and 3-hydroxy-adamantane-1-carboxylic acids, were also examined to determine if they could be used as surrogate toxicants for an NA mixture. The results showed that NAs derived from OSPW inhibited mitochondrial respiration and increased ROS. Oxidative uncoupling of the mitochondria also occurred, but to a lesser degree than the other effects. The EC50 and IC50 values calculated for the endpoints were consistent with NA levels found in tailings ponds, while the estimated EC10 and IC10 values approach environmental concentrations of NAs. The model adamantane acids that were examined showed some similar effects to the OSPW-NA mixture, suggesting that some adamantane compounds may be able to act as surrogates for oil sands-derived NAs. In conclusion, the mechanism of action of NAs appears to be complex and they likely act via multiple mechanisms, wherein mitochondria may be an important target.


title: Sea lettuce to biocarbon and biogas with recovery of nutrients

type: Text Dissertation/Thesis

contributor: Acharya, Bishnu (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Farooque, Aitazaz (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Hall, Matthew (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Peters, Wayne (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Acharya, Bishnu (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Farooque, Aitazaz (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Hall, Matthew (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Peters, Wayne (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Bissessur, Rabin (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Hsiao, Amy (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 127 application/pdf

abstract: Excessive growth of sea lettuce causes problems in the aquatic environment by creating an anoxic event. It leads to death of marine animals, creates bad odor in the environment and chokes off waterways. In this research, hydrothermal carbonization of sea lettuce is used for studying the potential of utilizing sea lettuce to produce value added products. A semi-continuous hydrothermal reactor was developed and the characteristics of hydrochar and process water were compared with that produced from a batch reactor. The experiment was carried in a batch reactor at 150, 180, 200 and 220 ⁰C and in a semicontinuous reactor at 150, 180 and 200 ⁰C for residence time of 0.5, 1 and 2 hours. Hydrochar obtained had heating value in the range of 13.4-20.2 MJ/kg and high carbon content as compared to raw sea lettuce suggesting the use of hydrochar as solid fuel and carbon sequester. Process water recovered organic carbon and nitrogen as indicated by total organic carbon and nitrogen analysis and it can be used as bio-stimulant and for biogas production. The results obtained from the batch reactor and the semi-continuous reactor are almost similar, suggesting that the semi-continuous reactor can produce similar products as a batch reactor. The co-digestion of process water with banana at 37 ⁰C produced more gas than digestion of banana only, but after 10 days of digestion, the biogas production was inhibited due to decrease in pH below 6.5. The results showed that anaerobic digestion must be carried out in a more controlled and continuous reactor so that the process can be monitored, and biogas production can be enhanced. The thesis concludes that hydrothermal carbonization process can convert sea lettuce to products that have application in energy and agriculture.


title: Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries in Standardbred racehorses on PEI

contributor: Muirhead, Tammy (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: McKenna, Shawn (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: MacMillan, Kathleen (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Cockram, Michael (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Thakur, Krishna (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 86 application/pdf

abstract:
Musculoskeletal injuries are an important contributor to poor performance and wastage in Standardbred horses used in harness racing and a source of pain and discomfort. The purpose of the study was to determine associations between risk factors and musculoskeletal injuries. A longitudinal epidemiological study of musculoskeletal injuries in a population of Standardbred racehorses on PEI was designed. A total of 10 trainers were recruited and their horses were followed over one year from May 2017 to May 2018.
Monthly information was collected from 153 Standardbred horses during the study period. On average, each horse was followed for 4.4 months. Most of the horses (85%) included in the study were between two and four years of age, and there were 73 females, 66 geldings and 12 males (intact) in the study population. Horses were in good body condition, 98% of horses scored between 4 and 6 for Body Condition Score (BCS) out of a 1-9 scale.
Forty-five injury events were recorded over a total of 799 visits. This included new injuries, horses that were still classified as injured and repeated injuries recorded during each visit (visit prevalence=5.6%). The incidence rate of injury was 2.19 per horse-month at risk. Seventeen new injuries occurred in pacers (none in trotters) over the 12-month study period, representing a horse level incidence risk of 23%. Forty-one percent of injuries occurred during a race, with 53% occurring during training and 6% during jogging. Fourteen horses had experienced a previous injury prior to enrolment and three of these horses experienced a new injury during the study period.
Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) models were built to investigate associations of horse, track and trainer factors with the probability of injury. An exchangeable correlation structure was used to account for the repeated measurements on each horse. Unconditional associations between selected variables and the outcome were completed to screen for potential associations. Due to the low sample size and the low number of injuries recorded during the study period, only predictors that had an unconditional association with a p-value ≤0.2 were included in the results and discussion.
The 17 new injuries consisted of seven bone, eight soft tissue, and two cases of synovitis that occurred while the horses were in training or racing. There were mild to severe injuries for bone and soft tissue injuries, and one mild and one severe joint injury. The severe injuries included pastern and sesamoid fractures, damage to the suspensory ligament, and injury to the middle carpal joint. Horses with mild to moderate injuries had between three and 90 days off from training. Horses with more severe injuries required up to eight months to recover or left the study.
Significant risk factors identified included: speed at which the horse is trained, previous injury, and conformational faults of offset knees and pelvic asymmetry. The observed number of injuries was much lower than expected therefore the study might have a lack of power to detect significant associations. However, the main risk factors identified provide useful information for improving and guiding management practices. The training time has the potential to be modified to minimize the risk of injury. Training at times greater than 2:15 min/mile was associated with a risk of injury. Therefore, modifying training, perhaps introducing a better balance of slow and fast training may help to reduce the risk of injury. Previous studies have detected that increased speed in training was a significant risk factor for injury. The results from this study provide new information for trainers and owners and can be used to improve management practices. As the present study was completed in one province with a small study population, further studies are required to continue to identify risk factors for injury in Standardbred racehorses.


title: Establishing the reliability of biomechanical measures of postural sway and gait initiation in a cohort of university aged active individuals

contributor: Reed-Jones, Rebecca (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Montelpare, William (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Zerpa, Carlos (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Montelpare, William (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Reed-Jones, Rebecca (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Zerpa, Carlos (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Hunt, Anne (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 91 application/pdf

abstract:
Recent reports linking concussion injuries with the onset of neurological conditions in later years have led to an increase in the likelihood to report head trauma in physical activity and recreation across all age levels. However, since there is no standardized measure of concussion, assessments of head injuries may vary across laboratories/clinics and emergency departments, and therefore decisions about return to work/play may be subjective and inconsistent.

While there are several different methods to identify changes in functional capacity as a result of concussion injury, the estimate of an individual’s centre of pressure provides important information about changes in sway as well as proprioceptive response. Likewise, estimating force during dynamic balance maneuvers adds to information about movement initiation under various conditions. As such, estimating changes in centre of pressure, and force, as a result of a concussion injury may be useful in reflecting the magnitude of the injury.

As a first step in using centre of pressure and impulse forces as potential estimators of the magnitude of concussion injury, the he purpose of the present study was to measure the reliability of centre of pressure estimates during static postural sway and measures of anticipatory postural adjustment during gait initiation under normal and perturbed conditions.

A sample of 28 asymptomatic, university aged participants, with no previous history of concussion over the past 6 months, and no conditions that could affect balance, were recruited. A test-retest design with a two week break between tests, to reduce a learning effect, was used for data collection.

A laboratory force plate (AMTI AccuSway Optimized) enabled the researchers to record measures of balance and gait-initiation under single and dual task conditions.

The results showed that tests of static balance were for the most part statistically reliable as determined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of 0.5 or above (11 of 16 estimates), while only half of the tests of gait initiation produced ICC estimates greater than 0.5. Further, there were no significant differences in the comparison of means for static - single and dual task - balance. However, with regard to estimates of dynamic balance, as determined through gait initiation, a significant difference was observed in the comparison of single versus dual task measures of the minimum force in the X plane for
females.

Establishing measures of static and dynamic balance as a stable measure of the concussion injury will contribute to information used in evaluating an individual’s recovery from head injury, which may support decisions related to return to play/work.


title: Arsenic biomonitoring in rural Nova Scotia, Canada

contributor: VanLeeuwen, John (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Guernsey, Judy (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Kamunde, Collins (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Fleming, David (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: McNeill, Fiona (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Davidson, Jeffery (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: VanLeeuwen, John (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: St.-Hilaire, Sophie (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Kamunde, Collins (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Spangler, Elizabeth (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: electronic 347 application/pdf PUBLISHED

rights:
The author has agreed that the Library, University of Prince Edward Island, may make this thesis freely available for inspection. Moreover, the author has agreed that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor or professors who supervised the thesis work recorded herein or, in their absence, by the Chair of the Department or the Dean of the Faculty in which the thesis work was done. It is understood that due recognition will be given to the author of this thesis and to the University of Prince Edward Island in any use of the material in this thesis. Copying or publication or any other use of the thesis for financial gain without approval by the University of Prince Edward Island and the author’s written permission is prohibited.
Requests for permission to copy or to make any other use of material in this thesis in whole or in part should be addressed to:
Chair of the Department of Health Management
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
University of Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Canada C1A 4P3

abstract:
The objectives of this thesis were: 1) to determine which factors and biological samples were associated with the estimated amount of total arsenic (As) consumed from water and food; 2) to determine which factors were associated with the concentration of total and speciated As ([As]) in urine; 3) to determine which factors were associated with the total [As] in nails and hair; and 4) to evaluate a novel method of quantifying As in human nails via x-ray fluorescence (XRF).
In 2010, a questionnaire was administered to 179 people from two locations in Nova Scotia, Canada. The questionnaire collected information on participants’ eating and drinking habits, and key social and demographic information such as: cigarette and alcohol consumption, length of time in home, household income, etc. Water and biological samples, collected from each participant, were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify the total concentration of As ([As]) and selenium (Se) in each. Total water [As] ranged from <0.02 – 309.2 g/L. Total [As] of urine (adjusted by specific gravity, SG), fingernails, toenails, and hair ranged from <0.71 – 661.1 g/L, from <0.07 – 2.3 g/g, from <0.15 – 4.1 g/g, and from <0.15 – 13.2 g/g, respectively.
Total urinary [As] was associated with estimated total amounts of As consumed from water and food in the last 3 days. Total fingernail [As] and water pH were also associated with the amount of As consumed from water, and income was associated with food As consumption. The depth of the well used to draw
vi
drinking water was associated with water As consumption and total As consumption, especially between the depths of 22 – 55 m.
High Performance Liquid Chromatography was used to measure arsenite (As(III)), arsenate (As(V)), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA(V)), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA(V)), arsenobetaine (AsB), and total urinary arsenic metabolites minus arsenobetaine (TMA), in urine. Total water [As] was a strong positive predictor of all urinary As metabolite concentrations, with the exception of AsB. Consumption of seafood was positively associated with urinary concentrations of total As and AsB, but also As(III), DMA(V), and TMA, suggesting that seafood-derived As may be metabolized in the body to other As metabolites. Both total [As] and [AsB] in urine were found to be slightly higher in older participants. Participants who reported recent consumption of chicken also had slightly increased concentrations of urinary As(V). Finally, a strong positive relationship was found between water pH and MMA(V), DMA(V), and TMA concentrations in urine.
Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses found that water [As] and sample [Se] were predictors of [As] in hair and nails. This finding supports previous research which has found a high degree of interaction between As and Se in humans, which is important to consider when performing an As biomonitoring study.
Evaluation of the XRF found the concordance correlation coefficient and kappa value were highest for fingernail samples of at least 20 mg in mass, but overall, XRF did not compare well to ICP-MS. Using a clinically relevant
vii
concentration of 1.0 g/g on ICP-MS as a cut-off for indicating test positive and test negative samples, the XRF, also using a cut-off of 1.0 g/g, was found to have 100% sensitivity (95% CI: 48 – 100%) and negative predictive value (95% CI: 63 – 100%), however its specificity and positive predictive values were low, at 29% (95% CI: 17 – 43%) and 19% (95% CI: 8 – 33%), respectively.
Further research involving urine as a biological marker of exposure to As should take specific urinary As metabolites into consideration and pay special attention to seafood consumption, which can strongly affect urinary [As], and can potentially lead to an increase in toxic inorganic As metabolites. Studies of As in hair or nails should consider the total and relative concentrations of Se in respective samples. More work is needed before the XRF can be considered a suitable replacement for ICP-MS.


title: Othering homelessness: how lone mothers manage housing insecurity in Prince Edward Island, Canada

contributor: Caine, Vera (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Dashora, Pushpanjali (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Stahlke, Sarah (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Forchuck, Cheryl (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Paul, Pauline (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic application/pdf

abstract: Abstract: Homelessness is a complex socio-economic and political problem that impacts health status and continues to challenge researchers and policy makers in Canada. Individuals and families who lack safe, affordable shelter are heterogeneous and represent almost every facet of society. Although living in poverty is a common denominator for those who experience homelessness, researchers report multiple contributors to housing insecurity including poor mental health, addiction, family violence, unemployment, and insufficient wages. Many of these contributors are understood to be consequences of individual circumstances rather than stemming from much broader socio-economic and political conditions.Research that has explored homelessness in Canada has predominantly been conducted in large urban areas. However, in Prince Edward Island, a province with a high percentage of rural residents, there is no research that has examined housing instability among any population, including lone parent mothers. This knowledge gap is a critical omission concerning women, especially for those who live in rural Canada as there is limited understanding of their daily challenges. The research question for this study was: How do lone parent mothers manage their lives while living homeless in Prince Edward Island? The methodology used was constructivist grounded theory. Similar to classic grounded theory, constructivist grounded theory aims to create a theoretical understanding of the basic social processes at play that are contributing to a social phenomenon, and how participants respond. The purpose of this doctoral study was to create a theoretical understanding of how and why homelessness among lone parent mothers in PEI is a problematic social-economic problem and how they managed in response to their circumstances.Fourteen lone mothers who had experienced homelessness were interviewed at a place and time of their choosing. Following ethics approval, data generation and analysis began immediately and continued in an iterative process until no further discernments were identified. By understanding the lone mothers’ behaviours in response to their socio-ecological circumstances, a social process became apparent which culminated in behaviours of othering the experience of homelessness. A theory titled Othering Homelessness: How Lone Mothers Manage Housing Insecurity in Prince Edward Island, Canada was created based on data analysis to explain this social process.


identifier: u2: Mathematical and Computational Sciences

title: Geometrical approximation methods for the discrete spectra of Schrödinger operators

contributor: Concordia University Mathematics and Statistics (Degree grantor)

abstract: Source type:  Electronic(1)


title: Female faculty members at a Saudi public university: The effect of gender performativity on opportunities for leadership

contributor: Krautwurst, Udo (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Mitchell, Jean (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Fitzgerald, Anne Marie (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Goddard, Tim (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Krautwurst, Udo (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Mitchell, Jean (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Murray, Christina (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Bishop, Pamela (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 217 application/pdf

abstract: There is a dearth of women in leadership positions in higher education institutions. Postsecondary institutions, such as public universities, shape and reinforce socially acceptable roles for both men and women. The aim of this study was to examine the gender performance of six female faculty members at a public university in Saudi Arabia with a goal to better understand how their gender identities affected their leadership opportunities, using a qualitative case study methodology that included interviews, observation, and relevant documentation review. Furthermore, this study investigated the impact of women's gender identity performances and how these performances affected their opportunities to advance to senior positions within the university. I answered three questions: (1) How do female faculty members perform their gender at their workplace? (2) What are the implications of women’s gender performance regarding their leadership opportunities? And, (3) what are the challenges women have been facing that have hindered them from being in leadership positions? I sought to answer these questions through the theoretical lens of gender performativity. This study utilized a gender performativity framework— which suggests that gender is socially constructed through gendered performances— to examine how and why women faculty members form and maintain gender roles within the context of higher educational institutions. Also, this study aimed to unveil the effect of such performances on the job distribution and leadership opportunities available to women, along with the challenges that hindered women from occupying those leadership positions. The main findings were in the following areas: (1) identity; (2) agency; (3) power; (4) resistance and change; (5) the effect of gender performativity in terms of leadership opportunities and; (6) challenges to leadership. Findings indicate that the female faculty members perform a variety of stereotypical feminine gender roles. These gender roles lead to gender performance which has a significant influence with regard to job opportunities for women and also play a part in maintaining gender performance itself. Data also shed light on the challenges and barriers that delay and impede women from opportunities to obtain decision making positions.


title: Experienced personal control and quality of life in late-stage cancer patients

contributor:
Trumpler, Gail M (Author)
(Thesis advisor)
(Supervisory Committee Member)
(Examination Committee Member)
(author)


title: Understanding the behaviour of transition dairy cows

contributor:
Proudfoot, Kathryn Louise (author)
(Thesis advisor)
(Supervisory Committee Member)
(Examination Committee Member)

abstract: Many concerns over the welfare of dairy cattle occur during the time around parturition. As cows transition from a pregnant to a lactating state, they are at high risk of disease and other painful conditions. In most intensive housing systems, these ‘transition’ cows are also kept in environments designed for the ease of management, with little consideration given to the expression of natural behaviours. This thesis addresses two main themes that are currently missing from the transition cow literature: 1) using knowledge of behaviour to improve management and housing practices, and 2) using behaviour as an indicator of poor health. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 address the first theme, and provide evidence that common management practices that disturb cows during parturition may interfere with calving; cows moved from a group pen into an individual pen during a late stage of labour spent more time standing in the hour before calving and experienced prolonged stage II labour compared to those moved earlier. Next, two preference studies were used to determine the type of environments that cows prefer during parturition. Results suggest that cows prefer to be in an undisturbed, secluded environment during labour and calving. To address the second theme, Chapter 2 describes the growing evidence in the human and laboratory animal literature that social behaviour can be useful as both an indicator of illness, as well as an early predictor of disease. Yet, there is little research to date making this link in farm animals. The remaining chapters describe studies that used behaviour to identify cows with three major health problems: infectious disease, dystocia and lameness. Cows with infectious diseases ate less, spent more time lying and secluded themselves from a nearby group pen, all common sickness behaviours in other species. Feeding, social and standing behaviours were also found to predict cows at-risk for dystocia and lameness well before diagnosis. Collectively, these results provide evidence that a better understanding of transition cow behaviour can be useful to both improve housing and management, as well as identify cows at-risk for poor health.


title: Competition at the feed bunk during transition changes the feeding, standing and social behaviour of Holstein dairy cows

abstract: Transition dairy cows are vulnerable to negative consequences of depressed feed intake due to a transient state of negative energy balance that predisposes them to disease after calving. Competition has been identified as one factor that can decrease feeding activity in mid-lactation cows, but the effects of competition on the transition cow are less well understood. The objective of this study was to test the effect of a competition on the behaviour and feed intake of transition cows. Standing behaviour, feeding behaviour and dry matter intake (DMI) was monitored from 1 wk before to 2 wk after calving for 110 Holstein dairy cows. Social behaviour was recorded in the week before calving. Cows were assigned to a competitive (2:1 cows:bin) or non-competitive (1:1 cow:bin) treatment at the start of the study. Treatment groups were balanced for parity and baseline feeding data, resulting in 8 primiparous and 10 multiparous cows per treatment. Competition dramatically increased the number of agonistic behaviours between cows at the feeder. Primiparous cows showed no change in either feeding or standing behaviour when fed in a competitive environment; however, they increased their total meal duration and within-meal intervals in the wk -1 before and wk +1 after calving. In wk -1 before calving, competitively fed multiparous cows increased the frequency of visits to the feeder but consumed less feed at each visit, resulting in decreased daily DMI. Throughout the experiment, multiparous cows fed competitively spent less time eating at each visit and ate at a faster rate, particularly during the 2 wk after calving. Multiparous cows on the competitive treatment also increased the time they spent standing (without eating) compared to cows on the non-competitive treatment. Feeding rate was negatively correlated with social status in multiparous cows. In summary, the results of this study indicate that restricting access to the feeder increases agonistic behaviours regardless of parity, and cows of different parity and social status respond differently in terms of feeding and standing behaviour.


title: Towards the cultivation of 'uncultivable' microbes: The design and development of a microbial domestication pod containing microencapsulated marine sediment bacteria

contributor: Ahmadi, Ali (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Kerr, Russell (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Haltli, Brad (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Ahmadi, Ali (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Kerr, Russell (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Haltli, Brad (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Sieben, Vincent (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Hsiao, Amy (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 306 application/pdf

abstract:
The emergence of antibiotic resistance calls for discovering and researching microbial-origin natural products for antibiotic activity. Since nearly 99% of microbes are 'uncultivable' in standard laboratory conditions, developing cultivation methods for these microbes is of high importance to natural product discovery. This thesis explored the potential for growing 'uncultivable' microbes through the design of a microbial domestication pod (MD Pod). The MD Pod is a 3D printed device containing a cylindrical cavity in which the microbes are placed. Microbes are prevented from migrating across the MD Pod through two enclosing polycarbonate (PCTE) membranes. The PCTE membranes also allow for the diffusion of nutrients, chemicals, and wastes across the MD Pod, supplying the microbes with substances needed for their growth and survival. The MD Pod is different from other similar devices by providing a single cavity for the growth of diverse microbial samples at once, enabling better cell-to-cell communication and, therefore, better chances of growth through achieving quorum sensing.

This thesis also explored the effect of encapsulating microbial cells in agarose microbeads through the use of a 3D printed, 1000 μm cross-flow microfluidic device, in which the shear stress of a mineral oil phase (containing 4% v/v surfactant), caused droplet formation of an agarose/cell mixture. Single-cell encapsulation is targeted to provide each microbe with a separate microbead to grow, and the microbeads are expected to provide the growing microbes with nutrients. Several MD Pod in-situ incubation tests were implemented using marine sediment bacteria collected from North River and Brackley Beach, Prince Edward Island. Most of the tests showed contamination of the used MD Pod devices (confirmed using polymerase chain reaction- denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis). However, devices showing no contamination led to observing that encapsulated microbes formed single colonies after in-situ incubation, which is expected to make downstream microbial isolation easier.

Three known marine sediment bacteria, M. polaris (Gram-negative), P. aquimaris (Gram-negative), and B. licheniformis (Gram-positive), were used as representative bacteria to examine the effect of encapsulation on their growth. It was observed that these species do not form colonies on agar plates from their encapsulated samples when their microbeads were suspended in 50% Instant Ocean®, but B. licheniformis grew into individual colonies when its microbeads were suspended in 10% Marine Broth. Moreover, better cell survival and viability were observed for the three representative species when their respective microbeads were suspended in 10% Marine Broth. This suggested that growth on plates from encapsulated samples might not be suitable for all types of bacteria and that their suspending solution must contain a dilute amount of nutrients (in addition to salts) for their continued growth. It was also found that higher temperatures (40ºC and 45ºC) decreased the survival of the three species, suggesting that exposure to the encapsulation temperature (45ºC) might limit the types of bacteria that could be cultivated after encapsulation.

This thesis also explored the design of a system that provided separation of the mineral oil (used in the encapsulation) from an aqueous phase. Two systems were designed and tested, with a cartridge filter-inspired separation column showing approximately 97% - 99% separation. The system was further tested for microbead transfer from the oil phase to the aqueous phase. Through imaging, microbeads were observed in the collected aqueous phase, indicating that this system could be coupled with the microbead generation system to achieve higher throughput.

Last but not the least, an alternative microfluidic chip fabrication method was proposed and developed. A scaffold (of the desired microfluidic channels) was 3D printed using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), then it was dissoluted in acetone at controlled conditions. The resulting scaffold was then placed in liquid polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and cured. A microfluidic chip was obtained by dissolving the internal scaffold using acetone. A T-junction microfluidic chip was produced using this method and was tested for droplet generation, suggesting that such a chip could be used for encapsulating the marine sediment bacteria. Finally, the ability of this method to fabricate microfluidic chips with different geometries was confirmed by fabricating a bifurcation channel and a drug testing microfluidic chip.


title: High-cost users of health care in Saskatchewan: A population health perspective

contributor: Revie, Crawford (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Neudorf, Cory (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Kuluski, Kerry (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Davidson, Jeff (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Revie, Crawford (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Quail, Jacqueline (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Stull, Jason (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 214 application/pdf

abstract:
Background: A small proportion of the population consumes the majority of health-care resources. High-cost user research is complicated by heterogeneous populations, a natural tendency for a regression to the mean and episodic versus persistent spending patterns. Using two separate study cohorts, 1) a clinical sub-group known to be high-cost – mental health and addiction clients, 2) a general provincial population grouped into separate clinically meaningful sub-groups, this thesis seeks to understand the high-cost health care user population in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada.

Methods: The first two quantitative studies focus on a specific disease sub-population known to be high-cost – mental health and addiction clients. First, a retrospective cohort study explores risk factors associated with high-cost use with a particular focus on individuals who are persistently high-cost year after year. The second study aims to predict individuals at risk of both episodic and persistent high-cost use in the future. Predictive models using Classification and Regression Tree (CART) methods were constructed. The last study takes an overall population segmentation approach to understanding high-cost use. Using the recently developed Canadian Institute for Health Information Population Grouping methodology, individuals were assigned to one of 16 mutually exclusive and clinically distinct health profile groups. Following univariate and bivariate analyses, logistic regression models were constructed for each of the costliest health profile groups to explore risk factors associated with high-cost health care use.

Results: Study 1: Persistent high-cost mental health and addiction clients comprised a small proportion of the study cohort (n = 6,455; 5%) but accounted for 35% of total costs. Exploratory models of mental health and addiction high-cost patients found increased risk of persistent high-cost use with hospitalization(s), unstable housing, severity of the diagnosis (schizophrenia versus others), and multiple comorbidities. Good connection to a primary care provider was protective of high-cost use, particularly when individuals had multiple mental health conditions.

Study 2: The most important variables for predicting one-year and persistent high-cost use were delineated visually in CART diagrams. My models had reasonable calibration and validation and take advantage of health care utilization and demographic information readily available in Canadian provincial administrative health care databases. The visual nature of the CART method assists to make complex data readily understandable to policy and decision-makers.

Study 3: A provincial cohort (n = 1,175,147) was identified for study. High-cost users consumed 41% of total health care resources. The costliest health profile groups were ‘long-term care’, ‘palliative’, ‘major acute’, ‘major chronic’, ‘major cancer’, ‘major newborn’, ‘major mental health’ and ‘moderate chronic’. Both ‘major acute’ and ‘major cancer’ health profile groups were largely explained by measures of health care utilization and multi-morbidity. In the remaining costliest health profile groups modelled, ‘major chronic’, ‘moderate chronic’, ‘major newborn’ and ‘other mental health’, a measure of socio-economic status, low neighbourhood income, was statistically significantly associated with high-cost use.

In each exploratory study, when controlling for a variety of factors including demographics, health care utilization and health status, baseline measures of socio-economic status – unstable housing and low neighbourhood income – were found to be statistically significantly associated with high-cost use.

Conclusion: Interventions aimed at improving population health and reducing the health care costs associated with a ‘high-cost user’ population should consider segmenting the population into relevant homogenous sub-groups, defining high-cost use within sub-groups, and, exploring risk factors associated with high-cost use within each subgroup. Primary health care system transformation efforts could include a ‘high-cost user’ component. Given that having a good connection to a primary care provider was found to be protective of high-cost use, it is suggested that primary care providers, and, high-cost patients themselves design interventions aimed to reduce costs and improve population health. Lastly, socio-economic status must be considered in exploratory and predictive modelling of high-cost health care use; policy efforts to address socio-economic status in a high-cost population may result in health care system cost savings, but more importantly, improved population health.


title: Emergency triage nurses’ knowledge of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

contributor: Bryanton, Janet (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: McClure, Carol (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Kean, Terri (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Bryanton, Janet (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: McClure, Carol (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Kean, Terri (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Herbert, Rosemary (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: MacIntyre, Janet (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 167 application/pdf

abstract: Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death and disability on Prince Edward Island (PEI) and is a serious public and personal health issue. Individuals with COPD are frequent users of Emergency Department (ED) resources. Emergency triage nurses frequently care for individuals with COPD, yet their knowledge of the disease is unknown. The purpose of this study was: a) to determine PEI ED triage nurses' knowledge about COPD and b) to identify if there is a difference in that knowledge based on years of emergency nursing experience and years of triage nursing experience. The study design was a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional quantitative design. A Modified Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire© (MBCKQ©) was used to determine the nurses' knowledge of COPD. Benner's Novice to Expert Model was used to compare nurses’ knowledge of COPD to their years of emergency and years of triage nursing experience. Fifty emergency triage nurses participated in the research. The emergency triage nurses' correct answers ranged from 40 (62%) to 60 (92%) out of a total 65 possible answers with a mean total score of 51 (SD 4.01) or 78.5%. While many COPD topics were answered accurately by the nurses, the topics of breathlessness (55.6%) and inhaled steroids (62.4%) were the least correctly answered. This study identified a statistically significant association between level of COPD knowledge and the employment site of the study participants (p>0.001). The results did not show an association between the level of COPD knowledge and years of emergency nursing or years of emergency triage experience. The findings suggest that COPD education should be available to all PEI nurses across the province. Study results will be used to inform clinical practice and support educational activities among PEI nurses.


title: Fathers’ first lived experiences of their female partners’ postpartum depression

contributor: MacLellan-Peters, Janis (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: McInnis-Perry, Gloria (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: MacLellan-Peters, Janis (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Foley, Vicki (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Macartney, Gail (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 129 application/pdf

abstract: Becoming a parent is considered a major life event. Recently, in Western society, fathers are a more engaged partner in the rearing of a child than previous generations. Since new fathers may lack role models for this new way of parenting, a mother’s role may facilitate the mastering of this new fathering role. However, what is not well known is how fathers experience fatherhood when their female partners’ abilities to parent are influenced by postpartum depression (PPD). A mother’s PPD may affect her ability to properly parent and has potential negative effects on the mother, child, father, and family unit. To date, little research explores the fathers’ lived experience of their female partners’ PPD. The aim of this study was to describe the father’s first lived experience of living with a female partner with PPD. Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological psychological method was conducted using a purposive and snowball sampling strategy to recruit 6 participants when saturation was reached. Giorgi’s (2009) method of analysis was used to form a description of the meaning of the experiences as lived by the fathers. Six essential constituents were identified: (a) turbulent emotional journey; (b) loss of her; (c) life crisis which is overwhelming and burdensome; (d) a forced transformation of self, marriage, and family toward a new normal; (e) uncertainty and a guarded future; and (f) insufficient support and barriers to care. This new knowledge will enhance nurses’ and other health care providers’ awareness of the fathers’ experience of their female partners’ PPD and will enable nurses to be better able to meet the health needs of a new family.


title: Microbial diversity of buckwheat rhizosphere in wireworm-infested and non-infested soils using metagenomics

contributor: Haltli, Brad (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Fofana, Bourlaye (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Lacroix, Christian (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Haltli, Brad (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Bilodeau, Guillaume (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Quijon, Pedro (Examination Committee Member)

abstract:
Wireworm has become a major problem causing extensive crop loss in many potato production areas in Canada. Wireworm control methods includes the use of chemical pesticides. However, pesticides can affect human health and the environment, and their use has consequently been questioned and prohibited in many countries. Therefore, the use of environmentally friendly plant protection techniques, including crop rotation as an alternative to chemical control measures have been promoted to minimize crop damage. In that context, buckwheat is used as a rotation crop to mitigate wireworm damage in potatoes. But so far, less is known about how buckwheat contributes to mitigate disease. This study was designed in a context of integrated pest management, with primary objectives to: (1) determine the microbial diversity in the buckwheat rhizosphere in comparison with other rotation crops; and (2) determine the correlation between the buckwheat rhizosphere microbiome structure and wireworm density. To achieve these objectives, 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing was performed to determine the microbial diversity in bulk and rhizosphere soils of buckwheat and barley grown at two locations during two growing seasons. A pilot wireworm trapping study was also performed to assess the wireworm population following buckwheat and barley as rotation crops. The study identified 27 phyla in the two crops of which Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria were the most abundant and species identification was confidently achieved in 7 phyla including Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Deinococcus-Thermus and Crenarchaeota.
Interestingly, Methylophilus flavus, Saccharopolyspora tripterygii and Deinococcus yunwei-
ensis were three operational taxonomic units (OTUs) found at the species level to be unique to

the buckwheat rhizosphere soil at both locations and purported as non-pathogenic entophytic
bacteria and beneficial for sustainable agriculture. Moreover, after two years, a reduction in
wireworm density was observed in both crops although, the direct link associating the reduced
wireworm density and the observed microbial diversity and the operating mechanisms in each

crop remain to be elucidated. Taken together, changes were observed in the soil microbial com-
munities associated with specific rotation crops and a reduction in wireworm density was correl-
atively observed. Thus, our study showed that the root system of buckwheat influences the struc-
ture of the microbiome in the rhizosphere as hypothesized.


title: Recognition of stress levels in hospitalized equine patients during various veterinary procedures

contributor: Cockram, Michael (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Montelpare, William (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Overall, Karen (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: McDuffee, Laurie (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: McNiven, Mary (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Proudfoot, Katy (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Montelpare, William (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Ryan, Cathy (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 136 application/pdf

abstract: Equine patients admitted into hospital settings can experience varying levels of emotional stress due to changes in environment and handling. They undergo various routine treatment procedures that are not always recognized as stressful. The primary objectives of this study were to determine whether horses were stressed during procedures conducted when hospitalized, and to determine a method for recognizing and quantifying the severity of their stress. Stress severity of a cohort of equine in-patients was examined using observations of video footage to identify behavioural responses, heart rate variability and salivary cortisol measurements taken at baseline and following physical examination, venipuncture, and weighing. Physiological measurements indicated that horses experienced stress during hospitalization, but they did not indicate significant differences between clinical procedures. Comparing physiological measurements to various stress behaviours, indicated that ear flicking behaviour was correlated with heart rate and heart rate variability parameters. Using this data, a behaviour scale was created by first ranking physiological and behavioural measurements to categorize horses based on the severity of their stress responses and then counts of ear flicking were used to create ranges for quantifying stress severity. By utilizing this behaviour scale in clinical practice, it is proposed that handlers can determine whether horses are experiencing stress, and to what extent, and act to mitigate their stress. In doing so, they will improve the ease and efficacy of administering treatments, as well as improve the overall welfare of their equine patients.


title: Development of a smart variable rate sprayer using deep convolutional neural networks for site-specific application of agrochemicals

contributor: Schumann, Arnold (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Farooque, Aitazaz (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Acharya, Bishnu (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Schumann, Arnold (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Cheema, Mumtaz (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Hsiao, Amy (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Acharya, Bishnu (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: electronic 115 application/pdf

abstract:
Potato production in Canada typically involves approximately 20 uniform applications (UA) of agrochemicals during a growing season, while usually ignoring spatial and temporal variations in the occurrence of weeds and diseased plants within potato fields. However, UA poses a serious threat to the environment and substantially increases the cost of crop production. Spatial distribution of weeds and diseased plant patches within potato fields emphasizes the need to develop a smart variable rate sprayer (SVRS). Innovations in development of precision agriculture technologies have enabled Engineers
to develop SVRS using machine vision (MV) and deep learning (DL) to accurately identify and encounter the targets (weeds and diseased plants) in real-time for within-fields variable rate application (VA) of herbicides and fungicides. Five potato fields were selected to collect images of spatially and temporally variable healthy potato plants, diseased potato plants, weeds and their combinations among them and with bare soil patches. The images were collected using a Canon PowerShot SX540 HS camera and Logitech C270 HD Webcam under varying natural light conditions and shadow effects. An image database was constructed by resizing, labeling, processing, and categorizing the above-mentioned images for real-time identification of weed, diseased and healthy plants using DL algorithms. Results of DL models showed > 80% accuracy in detecting targets. The tiny-YOLOv3 models were deployed and integrated into hardware to develop an innovative SVRS (cameras, nozzles, flowmeters, computer, valves and control system). Operational components of the sprayer were calibrated prior to testing in lab and potato fields. The results of lab and field testing revealed that the SVRS was accurate in detecting weeds and diseased plants in real-time and applied agrochemicals on an as-needed basis. Experiments were designed under two-factor factorial arrangements with two treatments (UA and VA) and three levels of weather conditions (cloudy, partly cloudy, and sunny) in a 2x3 factorial design. The spraying techniques and weather conditions were the two independent variables and/or factors of interest with the spray volume consumption as a response variable. A two-way ANOVA test indicated a non-significant effect of the levels of factors of interest on volume consumption of spraying liquid under different weather conditions (cloudy, partly cloudy and sunny); e.g., the spraying application techniques (VA and UA) for both lab and field evaluations had p-values respectively 0.329 and 0.156 for lab testing and 0.968 and 0.751 for field testing during weeds and diseased plant detection experiments. However, there was a significant effect of spraying application techniques on volume consumption (p-value < 0.01). The SVRS was able to save 47 and 51% of agrochemicals for weeds and diseased plant detection experiments, respectively, under all weather conditions. Results indicated that the SVRS was capable of significantly reducing the use of agrochemicals, when compared with UA, both in lab and field environments. The results of this study suggested that the developed SVRS has a great potential to reduce the use of agrichemicals, lower environmental risks, and ultimately improve farm profitability of potato producers.


title: Applications of artificial intelligence and deep learning for sustainable water management in Prince Edward Island

contributor: Esau, Travis (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Esau, Travis (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Wang, Xander (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 111 application/pdf

abstract:
Precision agriculture evaluates and quantifies the input needs of crops for their optimum yield and sustainable production. Growth of potato plants is highly sensitive to drought conditions, which drastically reduce tuber yield if precision supplemental irrigation (SI) is not provided. The hypothesis of this study, that the rainfall in Prince Edward Island is not enough for sustainable potato production in the island, was tested under three specific objectives including i) to model evapotranspiration with artificial intelligence for precision water resource management, ii) to determine the effects of different irrigation systems
(sprinkler, drip, fertigation and control; rainfed) on potato tuber yield, quality, payout returns, and iii) to model the groundwater levels of Prince Edward Island using deep learning methods to ensure sustainability of water balance in Prince Edward Island.

This study used deep learning, artificial neural networks (ANNs) and the standard hydrology models to estimate components of water cycle for their use and impact on potato production in Prince Edward Island. Reference evapotranspiration was estimated with recurrent neural networks (RNNs) namely long short term memory (LSTM) and Bidirectional LSTM. Four representative meteorological sites (North Cape, Summerside, Harrington and Saint Peters) were selected across the island. Crop specific evapotranspiration (ETc) was calculated from reference evapotranspiration (ETO) using Penman Monteith equation, FAO-56 method, ANNs, and RNNs, and LSTMs. Based on subset regression analysis, the highest contributing climatic variables namely maximum air temperature and relative humidity were selected as input variables for RNNs’ training (2011-2015) and testing (2016-2017) runs. The results suggested that the LSTM and idirectional LSTM are suitable methods to accurately (R2 > 0.90) estimate ETO for all sites except for Harrington. No major differences were observed in the accuracy of LSTM and Bidirectional LSTM. The potential gap between ETO and rainfall were highlighted for
assessing agriculture sustainability in Prince Edward Island. Analyses of the data highlighted that the cumulative ETO surpassed the cumulative rainfall potentially affecting yield of major crops in the island. Therefore, agriculture sustainability requires viable options such as SI to replenish the crop water requirements as and when needed. Results suggested that July, August, and September are relatively drier months of the study years and SI may be required to meet the crop water requirements.

In order to evaluate impact of SI, pressurized irrigation systems including sprinkler, fertigation and drip irrigation were installed at small-scale to offset deficit in soil moisture as compared to conventional practice of rainfed conditions, i.e., no irrigation practice (control). Significant differences in potato yield were observed between control and irrigation methods used in this study. A two-way ANOVA was run to examine the effect of irrigation methods and year on potato tuber yield, water productivity, tuber quality, and payout. In term of payout returns the sprinkler treatment performed significantly better than control, drip, and fertigation in 2018. However, in terms of water productivity, the fertigation treatment performed significantly better than the control and sprinkler treatments during both growing seasons. The lower water productivity of sprinkler irrigation was due to higher water consumption in comparison with drip and fertigation systems.

Needs of SI for potato production in Prince Edward Island can be met from groundwater pumping. This necessitates the budgeting of water cycle components for efficient management of water resources. In areas where groundwater pumping is common for SI or for domestic use, the inventory control of groundwater resources could become more convenient with the use of deep learning, ANNs, and RNNs namely a multilayer perceptron (MLP) and LSTM. The analysis of two watersheds namely Baltic and Long creep showed that the deep learning methods used in this study are accurate to simulate groundwater levels. Input variables for this watershed-scale modelling investigation included stream level, streamflow, precipitation, relative humidity, mean temperature, heat degree days, dew point temperature, and ETo. Using a hit and trial approach and various hyperparameters, all ANNs were trained from scratch (2011–2015) and validated (2016–2017). The stream level was the major contributor to GWL fluctuation for the Baltic River and Long Creek watersheds (R2 = 0.508 and 0.491 respectively). The MLP performed better in validation for Baltic River and Long Creek watersheds (RMSE = 0.471 and 1.15,
respectively). The deep learning techniques introduced in this study to estimate GWL fluctuations are convenient and accurate as compared to collection of periodic dips based on the groundwater monitoring wells for groundwater inventory control and management.


title: Technology in K-12 classrooms and teacher-education: A review of literature

contributor: Moffatt, Lyndsay (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: McAuley, Sandy (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Moffatt, Lyndsay (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: McAuley, Sandy (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: MacDonald, Ron (Examination Committee Member)

contributor: Snow, Kathy (Examination Committee Member)

format: electronic 82 application/pdf

abstract:
This study reviews existing research conducted between 2007 and 2017, regarding integrating technology in K-12 classrooms and preparing K-12 teachers for using technology in their classrooms. The present study examines studies concerning the integration of technology in K-12 classrooms and investigates professional development models for encouraging pre-service and in-service teachers to use technology. This study synthesizes quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies in order to have a comprehensive view of existing research. Based on a review of 45 articles concerning integrating technology in K-12 classrooms, and 50 articles focusing on K-12 teachers’ professional development regarding technology, this review found that there were relatively few empirical studies conducted in actual K-12 classrooms and relatively few studies of
embedded professional development. This study seeks to contribute to current research focused on integrating technology in K-12 classrooms and on K-12 teachers’ professional development about teaching with technology. Teaching with technology by mapping each area of research over each other to discover new ways to look at educational research when examining K-12 technology integration. It recommends more empirical
research in K-12 classrooms and more research on K-12 teachers’ embedded professional learning about technology.


title: Development and application of a food frequency questionnaire for use in breast cancer research in Prince Edward Island

contributor: Taylor, Jennifer (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Brimacombe, Michael (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Chan, Cathy (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Van Til, Linda (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Spangler, Elizabeth (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 358 electronic application/pdf

subject:
Health Sciences, Nutrition
Health Sciences, Public Health
Health Sciences, Oncology

abstract: The primary purpose of this research was to develop and pilot test a population specific, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for use in breast cancer research in Prince Edward Island (PEI). It was hypothesized that Island women recently diagnosed with breast cancer would have significantly lower intakes of n-3 fatty acids, monounsaturated fats, total dietary fibre and carotenoids than would women never diagnosed with breast cancer. The research was conducted in two phases. Phase I involved the development of the FFQ. In Phase II a pilot test of the FFQ was conducted in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer and women never diagnosed with breast cancer to: (a ) verify the performance of the questionnaire in regards to the food list length, contents and format; (b) assess dietary intakes of nutrients hypothesized to play a role in breast cancer incidence in cases and controls; (c) assess dietary adequacy; and (d) to investigate to the extent possible the association of dietary risk factors with breast cancer in recently diagnosed cases and controls in PEI.

abstract: While the FFQ food list length and format were judged to be acceptable, pilot test results indicated that 13 food items were rarely, if ever, consumed. Analysis of dietary intakes by the entire sample found that dietary intakes of iron (for ages 34–49 years), calcium, vitamin E and folate were less than recommended. Multivariate analysis indicated that intakes of carotenoids and hours of vigorous exercise were the best predictors of breast cancer status in women aged 50 years and older in this sample: daily dietary intakes of carotenoids in excess of 950 RE and 25 minutes of vigorous exercise per day were associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 38-05, page: 1296.

abstract: Advisers:  L. Spangler; J. Taylor.


title: Development of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression vector for transformation of potato ring rot bacterium

format: 112 electronic application/pdf

subject:
Biology, Molecular
Biology, Microbiology

abstract: Potato bacterial ring rot caused by Clavibacter michiganensis  subsp. sepedonicus (CMS) (formerly Corynebacterium sepedonicus), a gram-positive bacterium, is a big concern to seed and processing potato producers in Canada and worldwide. A plasmid, pHN216 (13.8 kbp), previously modified from two wild type plasmids isolated from  C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (CMM) was used as a cloning vector. Two variants of jellyfish (Aquaria victoria ) green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene (gfp) were inserted in plasmid pHN216 in order to express GFP in CMS. In this study experiments were conducted to transform both CMS and CMM with the recombinant plasmid. Although CMS was the target of primary interest, transformation of CMM was also done. CMM is a pathogen of tomato and does not infect potato. In this study, two recombinant plasmids, pHNG and pHNCG were constructed.  Escherichia coli, CMS and CMM cells were then transformed with these plasmids. A new method for the preparation of competent cells and for electroporation was developed in this study for enhancing the efficiency of transformation and all three bacterial species were successfully transformed with either pHNG or pHNCG. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 42-02, page: 0534.

abstract: Advisers: S. H. DeBoer; F. Kibenge.


title: Development of a haemolymph profile as an aid for assessing the health status of the American lobster Homarus americanus (H. Milne Edwards)

contributor: Guigné, Jacques (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Ikede, Basil (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Markham, R.J. Frederick (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Rainnie, Don (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Speare, David J. (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Waterstrat, Paul (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 365 electronic application/pdf

subject:
Biology, Zoology
Agriculture, Animal Pathology
Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture

abstract: The North American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery is valued at hundreds of millions of dollars annually. It is important to assess health status when lobsters are first caught and during storage in lobster pounds as this information can be used in marketing and management decisions. Five haemolymph parameters (total haemocyte count (THC), differential haemocyte count (DHC), plasma phenoloxidase activity, heat precipitatable plasma protein (HHP) and haemolymph total solids (TS) concentration) were evaluated to identify those which could be incorporated into a haemolymph health profile for H. americanus. Experimental infection models of gaffkemia, caused by the Gram positive bacterium Aerococcus viridans, and bumper car disease, caused by the scuticociliate  Anophryoides haemophila, were used to assess these parameters.

abstract: Haemocytopenia (THC <10 × 109 cells/L) was a consistent finding in the terminal stages of bumper car disease. THCs ranged from <0.1 to 1.5 × 109 cells/L and preceded detection of the ciliate by light microscopic examination of haemolymph. Haemocytopenia was not a consistent finding in the terminal stages of gaffkemia; THCs ranged from 3.6 to 29.4 × 109 cells/L.

abstract: After cytocentrifuge preparations of diluted haemolymph were stained with modified Wright-Giemsa, 11 haemocyte types could be identified using the colour, size, shape and number of cytoplasmic granules, nuclear chromatin pattern and nuclear: cytoplasmic ratios as classification criteria. A maturation scheme was proposed based on haemocyte morphology and results of DHCs of lobsters with gaffkemia. The appearance of immature haemocytes in the circulation in the later stages of gaffkemia when numbers of mature haemocytes were decreasing resembled a type of vertebrate inflammatory response.

abstract: Phenoloxidase activity was only detected in plasma samples after activation with trypsin and was consequently reported as plasma prophenoloxidase (proPO) activity. A reference interval of <10 milli Optical Density (mOD) units/min was established for plasma proPO in hard shell lobsters. Three lobsters with naturally acquired An. haemophila infections had significantly increased (21.6–81.2 mOD/min) plasma proPO activity. Plasma proPO was increased in the late stages of An. haemophila infection in only three of six lobsters experimentally infected with a laboratory strain of the parasite. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

abstract: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 64-07, Section: B, page: 3003.

abstract: Advisers: Richard Cawthorn; Barbara Horney.


title: Development of an immunohistochemical stain to detect heavy metal contamination in biological materials

contributor: Fuentealba, Carmen (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Burton, Shelley (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Fredrickson (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 149 electronic application/pdf

subject:
Health Sciences, Toxicology
Chemistry, Analytical

abstract: A low molecular weight cadmium-associated protein was isolated from rainbow trout liver. Molecular weight was determined to be 14,000 D based on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Isoelectric points were 5.0 and 5.9. Amino acid analysis after purification by carbonyldiimidazole affinity chromatography showed the protein contained 4 mol% cysteine, 3.5 mol% phenylalanine, 2.2 mol% tyrosine and 1.8 mol% histidine. This protein was present in both cadmium injected and control fish as determined by Western blotting using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against the protein. A monoclonal antibody specific for metallothionein (MAb) (1E9) did not react against the protein in Western blots.

abstract: Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections from metal-loaded fish demonstrated no reactivity with either polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies against the cadmium-associated protein. However, immunostaining using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against rabbit metallothionein was positive in both copper-loaded and control rat sections of kidney, liver and small intestine. In copper-loaded rats, intense staining was present within hepatocytes in periportal regions, renal proximal convoluted tubular epithelial cells, and Paneth cells of the small intestine. Staining was both cytoplasmic and nuclear with variability in staining intensity between cells in copper-loaded rats. Staining followed a similar distribution but was much less intense in control rats. Intensity of immunostaining correlated well with hepatic metal content determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). As hepatic copper content increased so did the intensity of immunostaining. Rubeanic acid staining was present only in copper-loaded rats and appeared as small, discrete intracellular granules within renal proximal convoluted tubular epithelial cells and hepatocytes in periportal areas. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 35-03, page: 0815.

abstract: Advisers: I. C. Fuentealba; R. J. F. Markham.


title: Development of an instrument to assess the quality of life of pet dogs

contributor: Hewson, Caroline (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Bate, Luis (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Guy, Norma (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Patronek, Gary (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Timmons, Vianne (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 194 electronic application/pdf

subject: Biology, Veterinary Science

abstract: In their assessment of an animal's suffering, veterinarians are trained to focus on the state of the animal's body, therefore insufficient consideration may be given to the animal's state of the mind and the extent to which its nature is satisfied. The Canine Quality of Life Questionnaire (C-QOL-Q) was developed to encourage a systematic and holistic assessment of pet dogs' QOL. Following objective list theory, the underlying premise was that, for optimal QOL, a pet dog requires the following: predictability of basic needs, high degree of biological functioning, opportunities for pleasure, satisfaction of telos needs, and minimal distress.

abstract: The C-QOL-Q consisted of a pre-tested, telephone-administered questionnaire soliciting information about the above factors, with emphasis on the mental and natural aspects of QOL. There were three types of questions: descriptive, linking, and QOL questions. Response options for the QOL questions were mutually exclusive. They were coded to provide 4 ordered grades of QOL: “O” was the highest, and “C” the lowest. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-02, page: 0499.

abstract: Adviser:  Caroline Hewson.


title: Development of field management protocols for Atlantic rose hip production

contributor: Silva, Marina (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Coffin, Robert (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 193 electronic application/pdf

subject:
Agriculture, Horticulture
Biology, Plant Physiology

abstract: Roses of the genus Rosa are found growing wild throughout the Atlantic Provinces in a multitude of different habitats. Rose hips, the marketable product from these roses, are a rich natural source of bioactive compounds useful in the pharmaceutical industry. In 2004, two wild rose field experiments were established in Prince Edward Island. Experiment #1 was established at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Harrington Research Farm, while experiment #2 was created on private land in the Argyle Shore area. The sites chosen for the experiments differed in soil conditions, microclimate, and the number and isolates of the rose plants used. Planting stock for these experiments was propagated from numerous wild rose (Rosa virginiana x  carolina) isolates collected from populations throughout Prince Edward Island.

abstract: The experimental design for experiment #1 was a 3 x 3 x 2 factorial with 800 plants in a randomized complete block design, and four replicates of each treatment. Treatments were applied at planting and included: in-row mulch (none, bark and straw), in-row fertility (none, compost and fertilizer), and inter-row management (tilled and sod). The experimental design for experiment #2 in 2004 was a 3 x 2 factorial with 560 plants in a randomized split-block design, and eight replicates of each treatment. In-row fertility treatments (no fertilizer and fertilizer) were not included in the initial design for experiment #2, and were added in 2005. In-row mulch and fertility treatments were reapplied to both experiments in 2005. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of several field management practices (in-row mulching, in-row fertility, and inter-row sod) in the establishment of a commercial rose hip plantation in Atlantic Canada. Data collected from both experiments included: mean shoot length, shoot diameter, number of branches per shoot, number of shoots per plant, plant spread, yield of rose hips per plant, and percentage of rotten and failed rose hips.

abstract: Mulching had a positive impact on several aspects of rose plant growth, resulting in larger shoots (length, diameter, and number of branches) and greater plant spreads for rose plants than no mulch. Mulching did not increase the number of shoots per plant, and in some instances had the opposite effect. Straw and bark mulches also improved plant nutrient uptake of P and N, but had no effect on rose hip yields in either experiment. Straw mulch was the most effective in-row mulch treatment for promoting plant vegetative growth in experiment #1, while bark mulch was the most effective in experiment #2.

abstract: Fertilized plants in experiment #1 had greater vegetative growth (significantly higher values for shoot length, branches per shoot, and plant spread) than plants with no fertilizer or compost treatments. The compost used in experiment #1 had clearly positive effects on soil fertility, but not on plant growth or productivity. Fertilized plants in experiment #2 had more shoots and greater plant spreads than did plants with no fertilizer. Use of fertilizer increased plant growth in both experiments, and rose hip yields in experiment #1.

abstract: Tilled inter-row areas led to a larger mean increase (from May to September, 2005) in shoot lengths, diameters, and plant spreads than for the inter-row sod treatments. Biological yield of rose hips was also significantly lower in inter-row sod treatments when compared to tilled treatments in experiment #2. Inter-row sod increased plant uptake of P in both experiments, but was not as effective at promoting plant growth and rose hip yields as the tilled inter-row treatment used in this study.

abstract: In general, the results from this study showed that wild roses responded very well to agricultural management. There was excellent survival of wild plants after transplanting, with only 2 deaths from the more than 1300 rose plants grown in these experiments. Regardless of the original collection source of wild plants, the plants displayed a similar growth pattern with few phenotypic differences under Prince Edward Island growing conditions. When these wild plants were removed from their natural habitat and grown in an agricultural setting, they established well and most began rose hip production in their second season, earlier than in published reports from other countries. The creation of a rose hip plantation is a long-term venture, and the rose plants used in this study are expected to reach full yielding potential only after four or more years of non-irrigated growth. The knowledge gained from this research will be a part of a long term project for establishing wild roses as an alternative agricultural crop for Atlantic Canada.

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 46-03, page: 1364.


title: Development of guidelines for immunological monitoring of gastrointestinal parasites in dairy cattle

contributor: Keefe, Greg (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Markham, Fred (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Conboy, Gary (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Wichtel, Jeff (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Bjorkman, Camilla (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: McKenna, Shawn (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 261 electronic application/pdf

subject: Agriculture, Animal Culture and Nutrition

subject: Agriculture, Animal Pathology

subject: Biology, Veterinary Science

abstract: Gastrointestinal parasites, such as Ostertagia ostertagi , adversely affect milk production in dairy cattle. These gastrointestinal nematodes are ubiquitous in temperate climates, but clinical signs of infection are rarely seen in adult cattle. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on a crude Ostertagia antigen has been used to quantify a cow's immunological response to intestinal parasites, and therefore act as a surrogate measurement for parasite load.

abstract: Svanova (Uppsala, Sweden) developed a commercial ELISA test (Svanovir ®) available in Europe. This test is designed to be used on milk samples, making the collection process very simple, and bulk-tank (BT) or individual cow milk samples can be used. Results from ELISA tests are normalized, using the controls, and reported as optical density ratios (ODRs), thus permitting the ELISA results to be compared between plates, kits and, to a certain extent, studies and regions.

abstract: A large clinical trial, involving over 3,000 cows from nearly 40 herds in 9 provinces, was undertaken to predict the amount of milk loss (kg/cow/day) associated with gastrointestinal parasites and to evaluate the ability of the ELISA to predict the benefit from anthelmintic treatment. Milk samples were collected from cows (>200 days in milk) to measure individual ODRs. Producers applied a treatment (randomly allocated as anthelmintic or placebo) to cows as they calved. Milk production records were acquired from Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) programmes for individual cows on a monthly basis during the study.

abstract: The treatment effect (anthelmintic) on milk loss was expected to depend on the level of parasitism in the cow, where low ODR values from the ELISA test indicated low levels of parasitism. As such, the estimates from the interaction between ODR and treatment on milk production would be able to determine how treatment effect depended on ELISA test results. A fractional polynomial (2-degree) was applied to this interaction since the relationship was nonlinear. To increase statistical power, datasets from two previous smaller, yet similar, Canadian studies were incorporated into the analysis. The large combined dataset was able to predict the amount of individual milk loss (kg/cow/day), based on ELISA test results from individual cows in a herd.

abstract: The final objective of the thesis was to utilize data from both individual milk and herd BT samples, from several studies in North America (including this clinical trial) and Europe, to develop guidelines for the use of a commercial ELISA test (Svanovir®) to predict production losses (for the herd) associated with gastrointestinal parasites in dairy cattle.

abstract: The guidelines required a series of small analyses in order to transform BT ELISA results into averaged individual milk losses (kg/cow/day). Each step along the series used different datasets from various studies. One of the final products is a nomogram (diagram that solves calculations by drawing simple lines) which was designed to interpret ELISA test results to quantify the estimated economic losses associated with intestinal parasites from two BT milk samples taken within one season. While the nomogram reports values using deterministic methods, stochastic processes were applied to estimate uncertainty around the coefficients and identify influential parameters within the guidelines.

abstract: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-06, Section: B, page: 3446.


title: Development of molecular diagnostics for the characterization of Neoparamoeba pemaquidensis Page, 1987

contributor: Ikede, Basil (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Hurta, Rob (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Lewis, Jeff (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Berthe, Franck (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 160 electronic application/pdf

subject:
Biology, Microbiology
Biology, Animal Physiology
Biology, Parasitology
Biology, Veterinary Science

abstract: Neoparamoeba pemaquidensis Page, 1987 is an ongoing pathogen for commercial finfish aquaculture and has also sporadically been associated with mass mortality outbreaks of invertebrates. Despite the ubiquity and importance of this amphizoic amoeba, our understanding of its biology as applied to host range, pathogenicity, tissue tropism and geographic distribution, is severely lacking. This confusion may stem from the inability of current diagnostic tests based on morphology, immunology and molecular biology to differentiate strains at the subspecies level. This study focused on the identification of a subspecies marker able to characterize  Neoparamoeba pemaquidensis strains. The inter-strain and intra-strain variability of the amoeba Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region was estimated. This hypervariable region showed discriminative inter-strain variability among individual amoeba isolates. However, high levels of intra-genomic microheterogeneity were found among sequenced ITS regions. Further investigations on the ITS region of the Neoparamoeba eukaryotic endosymbiont, renamed  Ichthyobodo necator Related Organism, revealed pertinent inter-strain variability and significantly lower levels of microheterogeneity. Phylogenetic and ParaFit coevolution analyses involving Neoparamoeba pemaquidensis  isolates and their respective endosymbionts confirmed a significant coevolutionary relationship between the two protists. The combination of non-shared microheterogeneity and coevolution, presents the endosymbiont marker as a complementary or alternative target to differentiate Neoparamoeba  strains. Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) diagnostic tests based on both ITS regions were developed. The investigations centred on the complications of the amoeba ITS microheterogeneity in the development of a subspecies marker and the use of the endosymbiont ITS region as an internal marker. Both amoeba and endosymbiont ITS PCR-RFLP analyses were successfully used to detect and characterize a N. pemaquidensis  isolate from an episode of Amoebic Gill Disease in Atlantic salmon,  Salmo salar, from the west coast of North America (Washington State, USA).

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-03, page: 1405.


title: Development of the digestive system in larval yellowtail (Pleuronectes ferruginea) and winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus)

contributor: Singh, Amreek (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Ireland, Bill (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Speare, David (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 143 electronic application/pdf

subject:
Biology, Zoology
Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture

abstract: Yellowtail (Pleuronectes ferruginea) and winter (Pleuronectes americanus) flounder are two pleuronectid species that are considered aquaculture candidates in Atlantic Canada. Rearing practices typically use zooplankton that is costly and time consuming to maintain. Weaning to an artificial diet is successful only after several weeks of development. The ability to digest artificial diets and their effect on larval survival, growth and development is not well understood. This study provides information about digestive system ontogeny in both species reared on live food, weaned at day 15 or starved. The objective was to examine the morphological and functional status of the developing digestive tract and determine if different feeding regimes induced diet-related modifications of enzymatic activity.

abstract: Digestive tract ontogeny of larval yellowtail flounder fed a live diet was studied using light microscopy and mucous histochemistry.

abstract: Digestive enzymes were studied in yellowtail and winter flounder larvae reared on three different diets using enzyme histochemical methods. Analysis was based on semi-quantitative ranking of color intensity. Specimens were freeze-dried and embedded in glycol methacrylate. Results suggest that by the time the larvae begin feeding exogenously (7 days post hatch), the digestive system is able to process live food. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 36-06, page: 1558.

abstract: Advisers: Glenda M. Wright; Grey P. Goff.


title: Developmental morphology of galls induced by Diplolepis rosaefolii (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) on the leaves of Rosa virginiana and the influence of Periclistus species on the D. rosaefolii galls

contributor:
LeBlanc, Deborra Ann (author)
Lacroix, Christian (Thesis advisor)
Wright, Glenda (Thesis advisor)
(Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 85 electronic application/pdf

subject:
Biology, Botany
Biology, Entomology
Agriculture, Plant Pathology

abstract: The larval stages of the cynipid wasp Diplolepis rosaefolii induce the formation of single-chambered lenticular galls on the leaves of the wild shrub rose, Rosa virginiana. The gall consists of four tissue layers which surround a centrally located larval chamber. These include an outermost dermal layer, underlying parenchyma, sclerenchyma, and nutritive tissue.

abstract: Development in the D. rosaefolii galls involves a number of characteristics which are unique to this gall, and differ markedly from development in other Diplolepis galls studies. These characteristics include the presence of double sclerenchymal layers and the lack of vascularization in the gall wall. Periclistus is an inquiline in the galls induced by D. rosaefolii. Under the influence of Periclistus larvae, a number of morphological changes, including an increase in the number of larval chambers, were observed in the galls. Initially, a loss of D. rosaefolii-induced nutritive tissue is seen when Periclistus eggs are laid in the galls. Once the Periclistus larvae hatch, the number of cells which make up the parenchyma increases. Changes in tissue type, proportion, and overall morphology exhibited by Periclistus-modified galls were studied using conventional light microscopy techniques.

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 36-06, page: 1530.

abstract: Advisers: Glenda Wright; Christian Lacroix.


title: Diagnosis of acute bovine sarcocystosis using genomic DNA probes

contributor: Long, J.R. (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Markham, R.J. Frederick (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Chan, Cathy (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Horney, Barbara (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 118 electronic application/pdf

subject:
Biology, Microbiology
Agriculture, Animal Pathology
Biology, Veterinary Science

abstract: DNA probes were prepared from a Sarcocystis cruzi sporozoite genomic library constructed in bacteriophage lambda gt10. Two clones of approximately 1.4 kbp and 4.3 kbp, respectively, which showed strong hybridisation with merozoite DNA were selected as probes. The probes hybridized to S. cruzi, and S. hirsuta but not to bovine or canine cellular DNA. The probes detected as little as 27 pg of S. cruzi merozoite DNA.

abstract: Four 3-month-old calves were orally administered approximately 200,000 S. cruzi sporocysts; a fifth calf served as a control. Subsequently, blood fractions (buffy coats, granulocytes fraction (polymorphonuclear cells), plasma) were collected from the calves twice weekly during a 3.5 month period, in order to detect infection by DNA probes and by conventional diagnostic tests.

abstract: Total cellular DNA from the fractions was extracted by phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol method and dot blotted on nylon membranes. Samples were then hybridised to the selected probes radiolabelled with ($\alpha$-$\sp{32}$P) dATP. Indirect fluorescent antibody technique using an anti-merozoite monoclonal antibody was done on buffy coat smears while direct microscopy was used to identify merozoites in blood films stained with Wright's stain. The probes detected merozoites intermittently from day 22-39 post infection in the buffy coat and granulocyte fractions, in the infected calves. This was earlier and longer than diagnosis with either the indirect fluorescent antibody technique which detected merozoites in buffy coats from day 28-35 post infection or the direct microscopy which detected merozoites in blood films from day 25-28 post infection. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 33-01, page: 0120.


title: Distribution of proopiocortin (POC) and proopiomelanotropin (POM) mRNA during development of the sea lamprey: A quantitative spatial and temporal in situ hybridization study

contributor: Lacroix, Christian (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Ireland, william (Supervisory Committee Member)

contributor: Kibenge, Frederick (Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 115 electronic application/pdf

subject:
Biology, Molecular
Biology, Animal Physiology

abstract: The sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, undergoes a complex life cycle beginning with a filter feeding larval stage followed by a seven stage non-trophic metamorphosis, an actively feeding parasitic adult stage and spawning adult stages. The lamprey has ancient origins and conservative evolution but the full extent and the role of hormones the lamprey pituitary secretes is unknown. Recently, two POMC-like pituitary prohormones proopiocortin (POC) and proopiomelanotropin (POM) have been characterized from adult sea lamprey. POC and POM are multi-domain prohormones. POC encodes a nasohypophysial factor (NHF), ACTH, a MSH, and $\beta$-END and POM encodes MSH-A, MSH-B and $\beta$-END. In this study, radiolabelled riboprobes were generated specifically to the NHF domain of POC mRNA and MSH-B domain of POM mRNA in order to examine the expression of POC and POM during development of the sea lamprey by in situ hybridization. Results would implicate the role of POM and POC perhaps not in the initiation of metamorphosis but in some processes necessary for development of the lamprey. The very high levels of POM and POC expression in spawning animals suggest a role in the sexual maturation of lampreys. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 36-06, page: 1549.

abstract: Adviser: Glenda M. Wright.


title: Do You Hear What I Say? Attending to the Voices of Prince Edward Island Parents

contributor:
Simpson, Carolyn E. (author)
Doiron, Ray (Thesis advisor)
Gabriel, Martha (Thesis advisor)
(Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 132 electronic application/pdf

subject:
Education, Early Childhood
Education, Teacher Training

abstract: The purpose of this research was to obtain a perspective from Prince Edward Island parents of preschool children, regarding their views on what is important for them, and for their children, in terms of understanding healthy development and parental support. Specifically the research set out to asses: (a) whether parents believed they had a meaningful voice in program or policy developments which impact children and families; (b) what concerns they might have in relation to child development, childcare, and early childhood education in general; and (c) whether they identified any gaps in current services or programs.

abstract: Do You Hear What I Say? Attending to the Voices of Prince Edward Island Families, captured the opinions and perspectives of parents of preschool children from across the province of PEI regarding their views of early childhood and parenting. Parents indicated that they wanted high quality accessible, affordable childcare, effective communication with program developers and policy makers, ongoing opportunities to provide input into decisions which affect them as parents or their children, programs and services which reflect current research and best practices, and information on child development and parenting techniques. In general PEI parents want to be understood and have their needs responded to in a meaningful way.

abstract: The findings from the research may be meaningful for program and policy developers interested in the health and well-being of families with young children.

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 50-04, page: 2074.

abstract: Advisers: Ray Doiron; Martha Gabriel.


title: Driving cessation: Older women's experiences

contributor:
Bryanton, Olive (author)
Weeks, Lori (Thesis advisor)
Lees, Jessie (Thesis advisor)
(Supervisory Committee Member)

format: 76 electronic application/pdf

subject: Gerontology

subject: Women's Studies

subject: Education, Adult and Continuing

subject: Sociology, Individual and Family Studies

abstract: Having to relinquish driving privileges can be a traumatic event for older women. To understand the impact of driving cessation from the perspective of these women, I conducted individual interviews with eleven women age seventy years of age or older and had ceased driving within two years of being interviewed. The findings confirmed that driving cessation results in a loss of independence and spontaneity, and, for some, social isolation and loneliness. For most of the women in this study, the level of out-of-home activities after driving cessation was sharply diminished, including their ability to go shopping, participate in social activities, and visit with family and friends. For most of the women, public transit was not an option and providing transportation was mostly limited to family or friends. For some, paid home helpers and taxi were also options. The results indicated that preparing for driving cessation appeared to reduce the negative impact of becoming a non-driver. Although some of the women were interested in driving cessation programs, no such programs currently exist in Prince Edward Island. The study confirmed the findings of other researchers that driving cessation negatively impacted on the women's ability to continue participating in out-of-home activities. There was an evident difference between the women's ability to continue to participate in activities they "need to do" versus their ability to participate in activities they "want to do." Self-effacement, loss of spontaneity, and the need to maintain self-worth were explored. This study indicates that driving cessation, whether voluntary or non-voluntary, has a negative impact on quality of life of older women. However, this negative impact can be reduced through education programs for women and their families about planning for driving cessation and through the provision of alternative transportation options.

abstract: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, page: 3248.