Digital Commons Network^™

Sense Of Community In Young Adulthood And Its Relation To Early Childhood Experiences, Madeline Gritzan

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The present study focused on sense of community and community involvement in emerging and young adulthood and examined how these relate to involvement in an early childhood developmental (ECD) program. This study explored the effects of early childhood participation in the Better Beginnings Better Futures (Better Beginnings) program on entrance into communities later in life. The research objectives were to (i) identify factors related to developing sense of community in emerging and young adulthood and (ii) understand differences in adulthood sense of community based on early childhood experiences. The sample consisted of young adults who participated in three …

“Invisible” Parent Experiences Of Homelessness And Separation From Their Children In Canada, Rachel A. Caplan

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Family homelessness includes a sub-group of individuals whose experiences remain largely hidden or “invisible” within Canadian homelessness systems: parents who have been separated from their children. Yet, to date, little research has focused on the experiences of “invisible” parents who have experienced homelessness, mental illness, and separation from their children in Canada. The purpose of this dissertation was to help fill this notable gap in the literature, as well as to inform community psychology and family homelessness theory, research, practice, and policy in Canada.

The Canadian At Home/Chez Soi (AHCS) research demonstration project included a subset of parents with mental …

Never Seen Before--Again: Aesthetic Adaptation And Transmedia Storytelling Networks In The Age Of Digital Cinema, Mike Mccleary

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The primary purpose of this study is to re-evaluate the theorization of the narrative/non-narrative divide in cinema because there is still far too much rich information that is being lost in the chasm left between these two positions, particularly when it comes to the study of spectacular imagery. Working beyond the binary construction of a narrative/non-narrative divide allows for a more nuanced and dynamic analysis of the information that is conveyed by the cinematic image and, more specifically, by way of its aesthetic design. By no means is this study championing image over story or any other such formulation; rather …

Functional Characterization Of O-Acetyltransferase Wssi: Role In Bacterial Cellulose Acetylation Of Achromobacter Insuavis And Pseudomonas Fluorescens, Alysha Burnett

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Cellulose biofilms consist of a community of bacterial cells encased in a self-produced matrix of polymers (e.g. exopolysaccharides, such as cellulose) that facilitate a firm adherence to surfaces. The acetylation (addition of an acetyl group on carbohydrates) is crucial in virulence; thereby in some cases allowing opportunistic bacteria to cause harmful diseases. Pertaining to this research, the wrinkly spreader (WS) genotype of Pseudomonas fluorescens colonizes the air-liquid interface on food, water sources and human tissue to form a robust biofilm with the ability to spread across surfaces. The composition of this biofilm largely consists of bacterial cellulose polymers …

Access To The Healthcare System For Acb People Living In Waterloo Region, Ontario: A Racial And Socio-Ecological Examination, Tiyondah Fante-Coleman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Little research has investigated the barriers and facilitators to accessing healthcare for African, Caribbean, and Black people in Canada. This thesis identifies barriers and facilitators using a socio-ecological framework in two papers. Five focus groups were held with 22 ACB participants in Waterloo, Ontario. Thematic analysis guidelines informed the analysis of focus group data. The first paper identified barriers at the social (racism and employment, immigrant status) and institutional (wait times, out-of-pocket expenses) levels. Community connections was the sole facilitator at the social level. The second paper identified four barriers at the interpersonal level: physicians’ style of care, lack of …

Spatial Big Data Analytics: The New Boundaries Of Retail Location Decision-Making, Joseph M. Aversa

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation examines the current state and evolution of retail location decision-making (RLDM) in Canada. The major objectives are: (i) To explore the type and scale of location decisions that retail firms are currently undertaking; (ii) To identify the availability and use of technology and Spatial Big Data (SBD) within the decision-making process; (iii) To identify the awareness, availability, use, adoption and development of SBD; and, (iv) To assess the implications of SBD in RLDM. These objectives were investigated by using a three stage multi-method research process. First, an online survey of retail location decision makers across a range of …

Spinal Motor Neuron Excitability During Fatigue, Nathalie Cecire

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Fatigue during sustained or repeated muscular contractions can be from contractile failure within the muscle or reduced excitability in the supraspinal and spinal motor neurons. However, spinal motor neurons can also compensate for fatigue. We speculate that one way the spinal motor neuron compensates for fatigue is through an increase in excitability via the activation of persistent inward currents (PIC). In other conditions where there is a reduction in descending drive, such as during spinal cord injury and aging, there are adaptions of the spinal motor neurons to have elevated PIC amplitudes or towards a greater prevalence of PIC, respectively. …

"And Now I'M Able To Fight For My Future": A Qualitative Exploration Of The Perspectives And Experiences Of Service Users Of Faith-Based Ngos In Ghana, Kevin Devotta

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have grown in their importance in the international development field over the past 30 years. As a result of their rapid expansion and growth in influence, questions about their accountability, including their accountability to their service users, are being raised by key stakeholders (donors, NGO staff, and the service users themselves). Faith-based organizations (FBOs) are an increasingly important sub-group of NGOs, yet few studies exist which examine the accountability of FBOs to their service users. This study aims to help fill the gap in the literature by exploring the perspectives and experiences of FBO service users in …

Toward Using High-Frequency Coastal Radars For Calibration Of S-Ais Based Ocean Vessel Tracking Models, Ben Freidrich

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Most of the world relies on ships for transportation, shipping, and tourism. Automatic Identification System messages are transmitted from ships and provide a wealth of positional data on these open ocean vessels. This data is being utilized to determine the optimal path for ships, as well as predicting where a ship may be going in the near future. It has only been in the past decade that Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) signals have been easily received with satellites (S-AIS) so there have been few studies that look at using available information and pairing it with the new abundance of ship …

Beneficial Mourning By Inmates Who Have Lost A Significant Person, James Bradley Shoemaker

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Incarceration is already replete with loss before someone of significance to an inmate dies. The prison environment challenges every aspect of grieving, and failing to effectively mourn pathologizes grief, reduces quality of living, and results in behaviours that cause recidivism. It is a poignant interaction between this researcher in his role as a chaplain and a particular inmate that provides the impetus for this study. This study begins with a qualitative meta-synthesis that examined 10 qualitative articles and dissertations published over the last 30 years to explore how some inmates manage to effectively grieve the loss of a significant person. …

Understanding Motor Vehicle-Based Travel: Examining The Experiences Of Yukon Tourists, Natalia Wegrzyn

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In the past several decades, scholarly research has simultaneously expanded in three research areas: northern tourism, drive tourism and the tourist experience. This study used an exploratory approach to understand the relationship between those three areas through a case study of the Yukon. Lead by four guiding questions 1) what are motor vehicle-based tourists’ expectations of Yukon? 2) how do Yukon tourists’ expectations influence their motor vehicle travel? 3) how does the motor vehicle influence tourists’ experience in the Yukon? and 4) how is Yukon reflected in the narratives of motor vehicle-based tourists? a mixed methods approach was used to …

Dispersal As A Buffer Against Zooplankton Community Change In Response To Fluctuating Salinity Levels On The Great Plains, Mercedes Huynh

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The North American Great Plains is home to thousands of closed-basin lakes that are sensitive to changes in hydrology. Climate change models predict increased aridity in this region over the coming century, which is expected to lead to higher salinity levels in many freshwater lakes. Increases in salinity levels may impact zooplankton communities, as laboratory experiments show that many freshwater species have a low tolerance for elevated salinity levels, and field data demonstrate that salinity is the primary factor structuring aquatic communities on the Great Plains. Changes to zooplankton communities could lead to a trophic cascade based on their important …

Biogeochemical And Hydrological Impacts Of A Low-Severity Wildfire In The Wetland-Dominated Zone Of Discontinuous Permafrost, Caren J. Ackley

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Northern regions are experiencing rapid climate warming. As these regions warm, the occurrences of naturally ignited wildfires are increasing in frequency, severity and area burned, calling for a more thorough understanding of post-fire eco-hydrological impacts. Changes in runoff chemistry, and soil moisture and thermal regimes, have been attributed to the significant loss of organic matter (OM) and exposure of deeper soils, leading to enhanced permafrost degradation, ground surface subsidence and the conversion of peat landscapes from long-term C sinks to sources. However, low-severity wildfires often result in minor OM loss. Due to the significant and immediate threats posed to the …

Characterization Of Wssf; A Putative Acetyltransferase From Achromobacter Insuavis And Pseudomonas Fluorescens, Cody Reese

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Biofilms are a survival mechanism commonly employed by communities of bacteria for adherence and protection. Bacteria produce a matrix of polymers (e.g. exopolysaccharides, such as cellulose) that allow them to exert control on their local environment. In the case of cellulose biofilms, acetylation (addition of acetate on carbohydrates) is paramount for polymer integrity and in some cases virulence. For this research, the wrinkly spreader (WS) genotype of the emergent human pathogen Achromobacter insuavis facilitates infections of the eyes of contact lens wearers and the lungs of Cystic Fibrosis patients (CF). Chronic infections have created a growing concern for the protective …

Towards Secure And Fair Iiot-Enabled Supply Chain Management Via Blockchain-Based Smart Contracts, Amal Eid Alahmadi

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Integrating the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) into supply chain management enables flexible and efficient on-demand exchange of goods between merchants and suppliers. However, realizing a fair and transparent supply chain system remains a very challenging issue due to the lack of mutual trust among the suppliers and merchants. Furthermore, the current system often lacks the ability to transmit trade information to all participants in a timely manner, which is the most important element in supply chain management for the effective supply of goods between suppliers and the merchants. This thesis presents a blockchain-based supply chain management system in the …

The Experience Of Mindful Self-Compassion, Erika Ristok

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Given the benefits seen in the literature with regards to mindful self-compassion, embodiment of positive emotion, and the efficacy of brief interventions, this study sought to advance an understanding of the experience of mindful self compassion. Eight participants were taught a brief self-compassion exercise along with a step that embodies a feeling of comfort. The participants were drawn from a wait-list for counselling services at a Family Health Team site. They were interviewed using a semi-structured interview format following training and practice with the self-compassion exercise. Qualitative phenomenological analysis was used in order to gain an understanding of the essence …

Psychosocial Development And Well-Being In Retirement: The Relationship Between Generativity, Ego Integrity, And Regret Among Canadian Retirees, Shauna Spirling

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Transitions such as retirement may facilitate change in social and psychological dynamics, perhaps encouraging what Butler (2002) refers to as a life review: an introspective process encouraging reflection on the life course, potentially eliciting regret(s). Older adults may especially be tasked with coming to terms with the life they have lived given time constraints and perceivably less opportunity to rectify paths not taken. Drawing upon Erikson’s (1950) stages of generativity and ego integrity, the purpose of the present study is to understand the role of psychosocial development in the presence or absence of regret as well as to further understand …

Moral Development In The Online Context, Sarah Mitchinson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Past research has found strong evidence that individuals behave differently when they are online compared to when they are in face-to-face interactions. These differences may be caused by factors such as anonymity, remoteness from interactions and reduced empathy. The current study attempts to expand on these past research findings by examining moral development and specifically the relationships between moral emotions, moral identity and antisocial behaviour in the online context. In total, 392 participants were placed into three separate age groups: early adolescence (n = 99, aged 12.42-14.33), late adolescence (n = 180, aged 17.17-22) and early adulthood (n = 113, …

Long-Term Effects Of A Universal Program On Child Welfare Youth's Psychosocial Outcomes, Alexis Gilmer, Colleen Loomis

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The present project conducted two studies to better understand the impacts of former involvement with the child welfare system on young adults’ psychosocial outcomes at ages 18 and 30. In the first study (N = 598, M_age = 18.47 years) participants who were involved with child welfare during youth had higher rates of depression than those not involved in care. Using a quasi-experimental design, we hypothesized that participation in a universal community program would moderate the relationship between child welfare system involvement and negative outcomes; the hypothesis was not supported. The second study explored trends ten years later …

Processing Youth Adventure Wellness Experiences: Poetic Representations Of Youth’S Peace Bus Experiences, Ty Th Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This narrative inquiry explored how youth are processing their Peace Bus program experiences two and a half years after program completion. The purpose was to gain an understanding of (1) what program components the participants reflect on, (2) how they conceptualize their program experiences, and (3) what factors contribute to their reflection processes. This research sought to address the gap in literature where little is understood about the ongoing experiences of program participants of adventure wellness programs and the processes that lead to positive changes. As the researcher, I conducted a qualitative study using narrative inquiry and poetic representation methods. …

Host Community Impacts: Learning From The Experience Of Hosting International Volunteers In El Barrial, Suchitoto, Getsemani And San Miguel, El Salvador, Mike Boylan

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Previous exploration of International Experiential Learning (IEL) programs has generally focused on the experience of Northern volunteers, without considering the outcomes in Southern host communities. Contemporary scholars raise serious concerns about potential harm being done in Southern host communities as a result of IEL programs that resemble historical colonialism. This study contributes to the growing body of research that addresses this gap in the understanding of Southern host community experiences. The results tell us that the host community members do not articulate negative experiences in the way that post-colonial scholars predict. The analysis of 23 interviews including host community members, …

Policy, Plans And Processes For Developing And Improving The Use Of Hazard Maps In Climate Change Adaptation For Yukon Communities, Stephanie Pike

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Climate change has quickly become one of the most commonly discussed topics in northern Canada. Communities located in Canada’s north are facing impacts to every aspect of life. Hazard mapping is one of the tools used to predict risk from climate change impacts and thus assist communities in adaptation planning. The Northern Climate ExChange in Yukon has developed hazard maps for seven communities across Yukon. While hazard maps are a useful tool, in order for them to reach their maximum potential, users need to be well educated and trained to use them. Capacity and communication are arguably the most significant …

Use Of Pre-Industrial Baselines To Assess Sources And Pathways Of Metals In Surface Sediment Of Floodplain Lakes In The Peace-Athabasca Delta (Alberta, Canada), Tanner Owca

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The effects of natural resources exploitation in northern Canada on downstream aquatic ecosystems is a concern. Assessing these effects requires comprehensive monitoring practices to better inform stakeholders and environmental stewardship decisions. Here, a monitoring approach is developed and applied to assess metals concentrations in lake surface sediments of the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD), northern Alberta, Canada. Since the ecological integrity of the PAD is strongly tied to river floodwaters that are critical for replenishing the delta, and the PAD is located downstream of the Alberta oil sands, concerns have been raised over the potential transport of metal contaminants to the PAD …

Diversity And Evolution Of Seeds In Cuscuta (Dodders, Convolvulaceae): Morphology And Structure, Magdalena Olszewski

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Cuscuta is a genus of nearly 200 obligate stem parasites with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution and considerable agricultural and ecological significance. Dodder seeds are considered “unspecialized”, with no morphological adaptations towards particular dispersal vectors; however, the seed coat anatomy has recently suggested an adaptation to endozoochory. This is the first attempt to provide a genus-wide overview of the diversity in morphology and anatomy of Cuscuta seeds, together with an assessment of the water gap and exploration of various form-function relationships. I surveyed 104 species belonging to all four Cuscuta subgenera. Seeds of the species of the first infrageneric dodder …

Characterizing The Cellulose-Modifying Enzyme Bcsg From Escherichia Coli, Alexander Anderson, Joel T. Weadge

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Microbial biofilms are communities of microorganisms that exhibit co-operative behaviour, producing a matrix of exopolysaccharide that enmeshes the community. The well-studied human pathogens Escherichia coli and Salmonella entericaproduce a biofilm matrix comprised chiefly of the biopolymer cellulose, along with amyloid protein fibers termed curli. This biofilm matrix confers surface adherence and acts as a protective barrier to disinfectants, antimicrobials, environmental stressors, and host immune responses. Pertaining to this research, the bcsEFG operon, conserved in the Enterobacteriaceae, encodes an inner membrane-spanning complex responsible for the addition of a phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) modification to microbial cellulose, essential for extracellular matrix assembly and …

Changing The Narrative Of Social Determinants Of Health: Messaging For Ontarians, Emily Churchill

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are conditions in which people live, such as physical environment or political context, which impact health. In Canada, SDOH are the greatest determinants of life expectancy. Despite evidence that broader social structural factors are key determinants of health, a majority of the public Ontario hold an individualistic view of health and do not see the government as having a role in decreasing health inequities. It is imperative to address the gap between public opinion and existing evidence as governmental policy will have the greatest effect on decreasing health inequities caused by SDOH. This thesis is …

Context Is Everything: An Investigation Of Spanish River Carbonatite And Its Effects On Soil-Plant-Microorganism Systems, James Mc Jones

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

With growing concerns about agricultural sustainability and food security, the use of rock fertilizers and agrominerals is receiving renewed interest. A wide variety of geological resources have been proposed as crop nutrient sources, with silicate rocks the predominant focus. Carbonatite rocks are known to weather more readily than silicate rocks; yet, they have received relatively little attention as it is thought their high Ca and Mg contents hinder effective nutrient release. However, there is strong evidence that the nutrients within carbonatite rocks are easily accessible to plants, and that these rocks have noticable effects on crop plant growth. Here I …

Nanoscale Building Blocks: Bridging The Gap Between Potential And Realized Applications, Nicole Ritter

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The vast potential of nanoparticles and nanotechnology remains largely untapped; the crucial bottleneck being the knowledge gap between making and using nanoparticles (NPs). This PhD work bridges this gap by focusing on synthesizing nanoparticles with applications at the forefront. Four peer-reviewed publications are presented in Chapters 3-6, a safety and toxicological perspective is given in Chapter 7, and current work and future progress are summarized in Appendix 1. Bimorphic silver nanoparticles were prepared, presenting an innovative method to synthesize diverse nanostructures using polymeric surface blocking to break symmetry in seeded regrowth (Chapter 3).¹ Silver stars with D_5h symmetry …

Does Perceived Ecological Integrity Affect Restorative Health Outcomes? An Examination Of Visitor Experiences In Diverse Environments In An Ontario Protected Area, Catherine E. Reining

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The human health and well-being benefits associated with nature contact is well established. Parks and other forms of protected areas contribute significantly to these benefits by providing access to nature. However, limited research has been done on how different environments within protected areas (e.g., forests, coasts, areas being restored) and the perceived quality (i.e., ecological integrity) of these environments affect the health and well-being outcomes of visitors. This study builds on previous work to better understand how visitor experiences provided by diverse natural and built environments in Pinery Provincial Park affect perceived restorative outcomes as one aspect of health and …

The Muslimah Project: A Collaborative Inquiry Into Discrimination And Muslim Women’S Mental Health In A Canadian Context, Brianna Hunt

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In Canada, Muslim women face a unique form of discrimination based on their religious, racial, and gender identities (Helly, 2012; Mohanty, 2003; Zine, 2008). These complex forms of discrimination make it difficult to access adequate supports for positive mental health and wellbeing (Burgess, Ding, Hargreaves, van Ryn & Phelan, 2008). Grounded in feminist intersectional theory and practice (Hill Collins & Bilge, 2016), the present manuscript emerges from a community-based project centered around Muslim women’s experiences of discrimination and resulting adverse mental health impacts. Through a series of five focus groups (N=55) the research team engaged with Muslim women from diverse …