Three Essays On Market Dynamics: Counterfeits, Tipping Policies, And Probabilistic Promotions, Yongqin Lei

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

I study the complexities of market dynamics through the lens of investigating counterfeit goods, online platforms' tipping policies, and probabilistic price promotions. This dissertation consists of three essays that examine the strategic interactions between companies and consumers, aiming to offer insights into solutions companies can make to both better protect consumers' rights and enhance their profits. In the first essay, I investigate the issue of counterfeits in online marketplaces, focusing on credence goods such as nutritional supplements whose quality is hard to ascertain. I analyze a two-stage competition between genuine sellers and counterfeiters. I show that counterfeiters may utilize fake …

Shakamohtaa: Connecting And Coming Together To Support International Student Career Readiness, Sabreena Macelheron

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

Abstract

In the evolving Canadian landscape, permanent residency acquisition has undergone a transformative shift from land sales to educational credential procurement. Canadian higher education markets post-secondary qualifications to international students (IS) seeking migration routes, posing nuanced challenges. IS, despite holding higher education credentials, often find themselves relegated to non-field specific jobs due to existing disparities in the Canadian job market. Amid this equation, IS grapple with the essential need for pre-and-post graduate career experiences to fulfill eligibility criteria for permanent residency application. This pursuit extends beyond merely aligning with their credentials, requiring conformity to approved national occupation codes aligned with …

Essays On Credit Risks And Financial Frictions, Jihyun Kim

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis consists of two main chapters studying the interplay between government policies and firms’ financing, focusing on credit risks.

In Chapter 2, I study the effects of government-backed financing on aggregate productivity by exploiting an expansion of government loans to firms in Korea after 2017. I show that the borrowing cost decreased more for firms eligible for government loans relative to ineligible firms. Eligible firms with higher pre-policy borrowing costs had larger post-policy increases in investment than eligible firms with lower pre-policy borrowing costs. At the same time, the exit rate of low-productivity eligible firms decreased the most following …

The Experiences Of Lesbian And Queer Female Teachers In Canadian Schools, Chen Lin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study examines the work experiences of lesbian/ queer female teachers in Canada and how they manage their identities in face of homophobia and heteronormativity in school. I employ a case study involving semi-structured interviews with 4 participants in 3 Canadian provinces – Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. The chief finding of this research is that homophobia and heteronormativity prevalent in school not only prevents lesbian and queer female teachers from coming out to everyone in school but also limits their access to the resources and support at work. This study makes a contribution given that very little existing research focuses …

Listening To Transgender And Autistic Voices: Reflecting On Affirming Research And Mental Health Practices, Kameron Bm Kirbyson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Those who are both autistic and transgender/gender diverse, an often-overlooked group, face difficulties accessing gender-affirming care and appropriate therapy and have higher rates of mental health complications. This study focused on listening to the voices of people who live with both of these identities through semi-structured interviewing and by centring the writer who is also autistic and transgender. Seven participants shared their experiences and highlighted issues they have come up against while trying to access care. Thematic analysis revealed several themes that were sorted into barriers and strengths. Barriers included autism symptoms, complex medical factors, interactions with institutions, traumatic events, …

Towards Effective Communication: An Exploration Of Evidence-Based Strategies For Informal Care Partners Engaged In Difficult Conversations With Individuals With Parkinson's Disease, Emily Brinovec

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Communication deficits are common in Parkinson’s disease and can compromise the ability for informal care partners to communicate effectively with their partner. This may result in the avoidance of critically important conversations, thus placing strain on the relationship, and can harm the well-being of both parties. The aim of this thesis is to explore evidence-informed communication strategies that can be utilized to assist care partners of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (IWPD) in conducting difficult conversations. Utilizing a scoping review methodology, seven themes emerged from peer-reviewed literature on communication: selecting an appropriate physical environment; conversation preparation; verbal communication skills; non-verbal communication …

Towards Understanding And Improving Speech Processing, Sonia Yasmin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This dissertation explores mechanisms for understanding and improving speech processing. First, I used EEG to investigate the acoustic and semantic processing of continuous naturalistic speech masked by multi-talker babble. I found that different features of the same speech signal are reflected in different aspects of the neural tracking response, which are themselves differentially affected by noise. These findings point to a complex relationship between speech intelligibility and neural speech encoding.

Next, I systematically reviewed the current advancements in speech enhancement technologies. I find that speech enhancement algorithms are limited in their generalizability to speech-noise (i.e., babble). I demonstrate that, for …

Exploring The Quality Performance Of Ethno-Specific And Mainstream Not-For-Profit Long-Term Care Homes In Ontario, Lanei Amein

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine how ethno-specific not-for-profit long-term care (LTC) homes in Ontario perform in comparison to mainstream not-for-profit LTC homes using nine RAI-MDS 2.0 quality indicators. Publicly available data from three sources: the Canadian Institute for Health Information "Your Health System: In Depth" database from the Continuing Care Reporting System, data on Ontario ethno-specific not-for-profit LTC homes from the Home and Community Care Support Services, and data on home and ownership records from the Ministry of Long-Term Care “Public Reporting” website, between 2017-2022, were retrieved and analyzed. Descriptive analysis suggests that for all quality …

Prediction Of Teacher Well-Being Through Beliefs: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Educators, Annie Beatty

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Teachers’ beliefs regarding students with disabilities and their overall well-being are critical for successful inclusion. The current project sought to explore whether teacher beliefs predict teacher well-being and aimed to increase our understanding of how teachers’ experiences with inclusion influence well-being and teaching practices. Participants (n=67) completed a demographic questionnaire, the Beliefs about Learning and Teaching Questionnaire, and the Kessler-6 instrument. Eleven teachers participated in interviews regarding their experiences in inclusion and relevant teaching practices. Results suggest that increased professional experience predicted higher levels of distress in teachers. Additionally, thematic analysis of the interviews identified five themes regarding the current …

Bioarchaeological Knowledge Mobilization And The Museum As Knowledge Broker, Teegan Muggridge

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Knowledge mobilization – the process of creating, disseminating, and using knowledge to generate real-world value and impact – is essential in research. The highly contextual nature of human remains poses unique challenges for successful bioarchaeological knowledge mobilization, requiring these projects to address historico-cultural, sociopolitical, and ethical contexts in order to mobilize knowledge in a way that is both accurate and appropriate for diverse communities. This thesis considers the way that museums, as places of community heritage and engagement, may serve as knowledge brokers, facilitating meaningful interactions between researchers and the wider public. Exploring museum professional perspectives in conjunction with an …

Well, Daw! That’S Why I Don’T Sound Like The Recording: Music Production In Elementary School Music Education, Johnny Touchette

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In this dissertation, I discuss how elementary students responded to a music curriculum that foregrounds music production practices. The following question guided this inquiry: How can music industry professionals, music teachers, and students collaborate, share ideas and their experiences to inform a curricular design for public elementary school music education? I theorized that music production practices should be introduced at an earlier stage of learning than discussed by other educators, i.e., at the secondary level. The study consisted of adapting, implementing, and reflecting on a music production curriculum in public elementary school music education through participatory action research, alongside three …

Educators’ Perspectives On Teacher Mental Health And Professional Development., Sybil Hw Chan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Educator wellness is inextricably linked to their ability to teach and support students in the classroom. However, limited research has examined the factors that influence educator mental health in Canada, and the role of mental health-based professional development in these relationships. Therefore, the present mixed-method, multi-phase study examined the current knowledge, understandings, and beliefs about professional development and mental wellness for Canadian teacher candidates and associate teachers. Results from a binomial logistic regression found that higher educator psychological distress was positively correlated with presenteeism, and negatively correlated with workplace psychological safety. A reflexive thematic analysis of twelve semi-structured interviews further …

Understanding Mechanisms Underlying Changes In Parental Care Behaviour In Response To Perceived Paternity In Sunfish, Emma Churchman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Parental care is essential for the survival of many young animals but presents significant costs to the caring parent. To mitigate these costs, parental care systems have evolved to optimize survival and fitness. According to parental investment theory, care allocation is influenced by the offspring’s value, which is often linked to their relatedness to the parent. In this thesis, I explore how hormones and gene expression influence parental care, focusing on bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) and the hybrids they produce with pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus). By manipulating direct and indirect paternity cues – swapping eggs between …

Caught Off Guard: The Fascinating Power Of Surprise In Capturing Covert And Overt Attention, Shahd Abu-Jazar

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

Attention is a critical mental process that allows individuals to focus on pertinent information and filter out distractors. This study's primary goal was to examine how surprise draws attention, which is significant as it may have an impact on memory and learning. This study examines the influence of surprise on attentional capture, both overt and covert, across different levels of outcome predictability in everyday situations using repeated measures ANOVAs. Building on the concept that unexpected events can trigger heightened alertness and memory encoding, we hypothesized that scenarios with less-known outcomes would elicit a stronger attentional response compared to known and …

Scale-Up And Measurement Enhancements Of A Biogenerator Bioreactor, Jason J. Glas

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Renewable energies in the form of wind and solar have seen steadfast growth across the world, however the abundance of these technologies that demonstrate short-term variability in power output threatens power grid stability and necessitates the use of fossil fuels for rapid throttling capability. A requirement for large scale energy storage systems becomes necessary and a system based on hydrogen generation, storage, and consumption for electrical grid supply-demand stabilization using a ferric sulfate oxidant is herein explored, named the BioGenerator. As the name implies, the system functions as an indirect microbial fuel cell using a biologically active broth dominated by …

Optimizing The Management Of Anterior Monteggia Fractures: A Biomechanical Evaluation Of Treatment Options, Kirk D. Vannitamby

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Anterior Monteggia injuries are frequently complicated by persistent radial head instability and suboptimal outcomes. Using a cadaveric elbow motion simulator, we quantified the contributions of ligaments of the proximal radius on maintaining radial head stability, evaluated the effectiveness of ulnar overcorrection to create an apex dorsal angulation in stabilizing the radiocapitellar joint, and finally compared the stabilizing effect of annular ligament repair to three different reconstruction techniques. Our results showed increased anterior radial head translation with progressive soft tissue sectioning with the annular ligament as the primary stabilizer. Ulnar overcorrection and forearm pronation were shown to decrease anterior translation of …

Retrospective Pre-Post Evaluation Of A Healthy Relationships And Mental Health Promotion Program For 2s/Lgbtqia+ Youth, Nikita Kalwani

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Research has found that 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth experience disproportionately high mental health concerns and barriers to accessing support. Protective factors such as school-based support, peer support, and mental health interventions have been found to buffer this risk. The Healthy Relationships Program (HRP) for 2S/LGBTQIA+ Youth is a positive mental health promotion program that aims to build resiliency, bolster healthy relationship skills, and promote well-being among 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes, effectiveness, and feasibility of implementing this program within Gender and Sexuality/Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in secondary schools. Data from students (N = 17) and GSA advisors who …

Perceived Parental Pressure And Coping Mechanisms In Undergraduate Students, Ariel Tran

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

With the rising pressure and competition to succeed academically, it is common for students to feel pressured to perform at a certain level. When this pressure to perform primarily stems from parental figures, there are inconsistent studies determining the effect of parental pressure, the student’s ability to cope with those stressors, and the internalization of those pressure to succeed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to uncover the relationship between perceived parental pressure, self-oriented perfectionism and coping self-efficacy amongst first year university students. A sample of 70 female students completed a series of self-reported questionnaires that included an abbreviated …

The Relationship Between Covid-19 Social Isolation, Social Anxiety, And Locus Of Control, Phoebe B. Everest

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

The current study examined the post-pandemic effects of social isolation following Covid-19. The researchers were interested in social anxiety disorder (SAD) levels among young women and predicted that the personality variable of locus of control (LOC) could influence SAD levels. Participants were recruited from the only all-female university in Canada, Brescia University College (N=64). The researchers correlated the variables of interest using the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-R), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), and Rotter’s internal-external control scale. The researchers hypothesized that there would be a negative correlation between pandemic social engagement and current levels of SAD. This hypothesis was …

Evaluating A Daily Physical Activity (Dpa) Toolkit For Elementary School Teachers, Shelby T. Singh

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The present study investigated whether a centralized toolkit containing easy-to-access resources, and that could be implemented without training, could help to promote greater adherence to Ontario’s Daily Physical Activity (DPA) policy and encourage more physical activity within the classroom. From January to March 2023, 142 Ontario elementary teachers completed pre-/post-surveys assessing DPA practices and were given access to the DPA toolkit. The findings demonstrate that access to the DPA toolkit improved DPA fidelity, as well as increased teacher engagement/enjoyment with DPA, and perception of students’ cognitive functioning, academic performance and mental health. In conclusion, providing accessible, easy-to-use resources that require …

A Musicology Of Record Production - Research Creation, Gender, And Creative Reflective Practice In Project-Paradigm Music Production, Lydia Wilton

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This research-creation project elucidates the “methodology” of producing records. As an artist-researcher, I investigate how a record producer uses the recording studio as a “musical instrument”. My primary research goal is to answer two fundamental questions about record producing that have yet to be addressed and which cannot be explored successfully by other means: “Does the record producer’s creative agency have musical consequences?”, and “If so, what are they?” Through the creative practices I adopted for this project’s artefact - an album of nine tracks, called Blasphemy, that I produced for the London, Ontario-based rock band Nameless Friends - …

Breast Cancer Risk In Women With Breast Bilateral Asymmetry: Machine Learning Based Risk Analysis And Mitigation Through Developing A Framework For Customized Bra Design, Xi Feng

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer globally, accounting for 12.5% of all new cases annually. Research has found a significant correlation between breast bilateral asymmetry and an increased risk of cancer, with women diagnosed with breast cancer having higher levels of bilateral asymmetrical breast volume. Unfortunately, 87% of women with breast asymmetry lack adequate tools for assessing their cancer risk. Early screening using bilateral asymmetry to predict a woman's long-term risk of breast cancer can help physicians make informed decisions about whether to recommend sequential imaging and the frequency of screening. Another important factor in understanding the …

Older Adolescent Perspectives On The Use Of Research Within Online Communities, Ahrrabie Thirunavukkarasu

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study explores the attitudes of older adolescents (aged 16 to 19) regarding researchers collecting personal information from Social Networking Sites (SNSs) through passive observation to support Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) research. The aim of this study is to add to the ongoing discourse in the scientific community, by providing a unique perspective on how researchers can uphold ethical conduct throughout their research process. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach and incorporates a Qualtrics^XM survey and online focus groups (FGs). The findings reveal that participants have reservations toward passive, hidden observational researchers. Despite their concerns, participants support researchers using their …

Black Tio2 Nts And Zno-Tio2 Nts Heterostructure: Synthesis, Characterization, And Synchrotron-Based Spectroscopy Studies, Lu Yao

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The one-dimensional (1D) TiO₂ nanotubes (NTs), and their derivatives have been extensively studied due to their potential use in water-splitting, solar cells, and lithium-ion batteries. Since TiO₂ has a large band gap (~3.2 eV for anatase), there has been a search for higher photocatalytic efficiency by shifting the band gap into the visible range. This thesis presents a study of black TiO₂ NTs and ZnO-TiO₂ heterostructures using synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. It involves the transformation from as-prepared TiO₂ NTs to black TiO₂ NTs via an electrochemical reduction method. ZnO-TiO₂ NT …

Exploring Counsellors’ Insights Into Effective Support For Clients With Low Income, Skylar Rego

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Individuals with low income may experience a greater need for mental health services due to the substantial life challenges and stressors they experience. However, more research needs to explore what has been effective in improving services for this population. The present study addressed this gap through counsellors’ perspectives to identify what has been helpful when working with low-income populations. Counsellors completed an interview regarding their personal and professional experiences working with low-income populations, answering the question, “What have you found to be the most helpful aspects of counselling with clients facing low income?”. Participants then completed a sorting task using …

Exploring The Feasibility And Outcomes Of Concurrent Parent And Child Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Melissa Read

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have shown to be effective in improving child and parent outcomes, including parental stress (Burgdorf et al., 2019; Friedmutter, 2016), child behaviour problems, and child executive functioning (Cheang et al., 2019; Donald et al., 2019; Dunning et al., 2019). The field of mindfulness has evolved to include parents and children together in programs, called parallel or concurrent parent and child MBIs. Children who have experienced adversity may be at a greater need for MBIs, as MBIs target stress and emotion regulation, areas where these children may need greater support (Bethell et al., 2016; Brenmer, 2003). As a …

Social Location & Counsellor Identity: A Reflexive Analysis Of Social Power And The Therapeutic Use Of Self, Stephanie R. Page

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

It has become widely appreciated that health and mental health are impacted by interconnected systems of inequity and individual social location. With demand for psychological services increasing in Canada, there does exist a need to better understand how social location relates to counselling. A random sample of 19 CCPA registered Canadian Counsellors were interviewed and asked about their social location. Participant responses were transcribed and qualitatively analyzed using the Six-Phase Model for Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022). One theme and two sub-themes were carved out: Participant Asset Experiences (25), Self-Identification (15), and Blind Spots (10). Findings relate to …

Investigation Of Segregation In Mixing Pharmaceutical Powders Using Passive Acoustic Emissions In A V-Blender, Omar Salem

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Powder mixing is a crucial and complex step in pharmaceutical production. Monitoring of mixing and segregation processes can be achieved using process analytical technologies to improve product quality. Passive acoustic emissions were examined during mixing in a V-blender. Vibrations from the emissions were measured through an accelerometer affixed to the outer V-shell arm lid. Horizontal and vertical loading configurations of particles were examined. Stable mixtures were reached when the measured amplitude plateaued around the approximate weighted average of the particles in the outer V-shell arm. Horizontal loading trials mixed faster and reached stable mixtures in fewer revolutions than vertical loading …

Indigenization Of Postsecondary Education Applied Learning Curriculum Development, Gabriel Y. Chung

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s (2015) Calls to Action have awoken Canadian society to the reconciliation. Although there is a growing body of knowledge on the individual topics of Indigenous education, knowledge, and leadership, there is relatively little research bringing together these topics in curriculum development practices in a postsecondary education skilled learning context. My problem of practice (PoP) is one that strives to address a low enrolment of Indigenous adult learners and lower positive outcomes from skilled training programs. Situating this problem from my perspectives as a Canadian-born visible minority Settler on Turtle Island and postsecondary education …

The Roles Of Fabp3 In Endothelial Dysfunction And The Transcriptomic Insights Into Cardiovascular Disease, Chi Hien Nguyen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (FABP3) is an effective biomarker for cardiac injuries. However, it has also been tested as a biomarker in patients with peripheral artery diseases; these conditions are complications of atherosclerosis, which is driven by endothelial dysfunction. As FABP3 release is not exclusive to the heart but appears to characterize cardiovascular events, whether FABP3 influences endothelial function is not known. Additionally, the transcriptomic profiles of endothelial cells during cardiovascular stresses remain under-investigated. This thesis investigates the multifaceted role of FABP3 and the transcriptomic alterations in endothelial cells under different cardiovascular stressors, offering novel insights into endothelial dysfunction …