Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of The Effects Of Atp On Primary Brainstem Glial Cells, Donovan J. Aardema Faigh

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Migraine and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) are debilitating orofacial pain disorders that negatively impact one’s quality of life. These disorders are characterized by elevated levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and activation of central nervous system glial cells that promote and maintain central sensitization and enhance pain signaling in response to inflammatory stimuli. The goal of my study was to characterize the effects of the pro-inflammatory signaling molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on intracellular calcium levels, mRNA levels, and protein expression in astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes to better understand the role of ATP in promoting central sensitization. To address this goal, primary …

Using 1:1 Behavior-Analytic Instruction To Enhance Outcomes Of A Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum: A Retrospective Single-Case Clinical Evaluation, Cierra Vandermeer

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which people acquire and apply skills to manage emotions, form relationships, make responsible decisions, and pursue personal and shared goals, and these competencies shape identity development and daily functioning (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning [CASEL], 2020). While there are many SEL programs and curricula that exist for school-aged children, there are few curricula that a) have a focus on 1:1 instruction for preschool to primary-aged children, and b) integrate and incorporate Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles. This thesis reviewed a retrospective case study of a six-year-old female-identifying student who participated in …

Scaling Private Remedies To Public Problems: A Resilient Property Theory Analysis, Marc L. Roark

Articles, Chapters in Books and Other Contributions to Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

Sources Of Tensions In Ai Adoption For Organ Procurement Organizations, Amaneh Babaee

Masters Theses

"Although medical AI systems have promise, the healthcare system has not fully integrated them for improved organizational operations. Studies have been conducted to identify root causes for this hesitancy without targeting a specific domain in healthcare. This generalization can be enhanced for the nuanced or domain-specific factors that offer practical insights to organizations leader. In this thesis, I focus on the factors and sources of tensions in AI adoption in transplant system, which is highly regulated but encourages innovation. Applying the Extended Technology, Organization, Environment (TOE) framework, 10 interviews were conducted at Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs).

Although not always technically …

When Speech Speaks Louder Than Truth: Language Variation And Credibility In The Courtroom, Melanie E. Spinnie

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study aims to investigate how linguistic variation affects perceptions of credibility in courtroom settings. It focuses on how jurors, judges, and other individuals in the legal system may exhibit bias (consciously or unconsciously) based on how a defendant or witness speaks-- this could include speech disorders as well as differences in dialect, accent, and speech style. Through review of relevant literature, review of a relevant historical case, conducting a survey, and conducting a semi-structured interview, this study explores whether certain speech patterns or characteristics are disproportionately associated with negative judgments during legal proceedings, such as reduced credibility and trustworthiness. …

The Ones Who Watched: Technology, Proxy Warfare, And The Testing Ground Hypothesis, Sean J. Oliver

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Great powers need laboratories for war. This thesis argues that great powers find these laboratories in proxy forces. Proxy warfare is not just a tool for strategic influence. It is a machine for experimentation. This study posits a central testing-ground hypothesis. It contends that great powers deliberately use surrogates to vet emerging technologies, doctrines, and mobilization schemes under the pressure of real combat. The analytical methodology is historical. It traces patterns from the ancient world's proxy forces and the innovations of the Crusades to the Cold War and the digital age. The thesis examines enduring patterns, including the tension between …

The United States' Nuclear Deterrent Outlook: Strategies, Challenges, And Future Prospects, Jonathon L. Beening

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study contends that the United States cannot sustain a credible nuclear deterrent through the mid-21st century without modernizing its aging nuclear arsenal and revising its nuclear doctrine to address emerging technological, geopolitical, and strategic threats posed by both near-peer adversaries and non-state actors. Through an examination of deterrence theory, historical developments, current force posture, modernization initiatives, doctrinal debates, counterarguments, and prospective geopolitical scenarios, this research assesses the adequacy of existing policies in maintaining strategic stability. The analysis concludes that credible deterrence in the coming decades will require integrated modernization, doctrinal clarity, and strategic adaptability to face any future threat …

Development And Validation Of The Ipip-Ocean: A Hierarchical Facet-Level Measure Of The Big Five, Caleb Niccum

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study focused on developing a mid-range, hierarchical, five-factor, 20-facet personality inventory (the IPIP-OCEAN) composed of 100 items drawn from both the IPIP-NEO-300 and the Abridged Big Five Circumplex. Hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate the factor structure. Depression and anxiety, measured with the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, were used to further validate the measure through discriminant and convergent validity by examining whether the domains and facets of the IPIP-OCEAN produced findings consistent with those reported for similar scales in prior depression and anxiety research. Numerous factor analyses were conducted on the IPIP-OCEAN dataset (N = 1,058), and a …

Adapting To Uncertainty: Effects Of Environmental Instability On Zebrafish Behaviour, Britney Sekulovski

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis addresses how animals cope with unpredictability by testing how environmental stability changes the behaviour of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in two complementary experiments. In Experiment 1, fish lived for three months in either a Dynamic environment (water temperature, feeding times, habitat complexity, group size, and membership fluctuated) or a Stable environment (all factors constant). Across seven behavioural assays, measuring individual behavioural differences, collective movement, social memory, and information use, Dynamic condition fish were found to be more sensitive to social cues and more likely to conform to recent social information, independent of the quality of the information …

The Effects Of Environmental Complexity On Brain Development And Personality Expression In Western Hognose Snakes, Gokulan Nagabaskaran

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

There is growing interest in snake cognition, personality, and welfare as more snakes are kept as pets, yet little research has been conducted. The effects of enrichment and environmental factors have been well documented in other taxa, and recent evidence suggests that snakes may benefit in similar ways. This dissertation investigated the impact of environmental and social enrichment on personality expression, personality stability, and brain development. Western hognose snakes (Heterodon nasicus) were used as the model species, as they are a popular choice in the pet trade. This allows the research to be readily translatable to husbandry practices of many …

Minority Stress And Drug Use Among 2slgbtq+ Canadians, Robert Chin-See, Todd Coleman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Background: Several social and environmental factors influence drug use behaviors and contribute to frequent drug use among Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and other (2SLGBTQ+) individuals. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between the minority stress, drug use, and other socio-ecological factors.

Methods: This study employed structural equation modelling on data (2021—2022) from a nationally representative pan-Canadian survey (N = 1542) on 2SLGBTQ+ health to examine the association between minority stress, drug use, and relevant socio-ecological predictors. A separate mediation analysis was conducted and controlled for socio-demographic characteristics.

Results: SEM results showed parsimonious fit …

Exploring Parent-Child Reminiscing Style And Internal-State Talk When Discussing Positive And Negative Shared Events, Komal Verma Miss.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Conversations between parents and children about past events play a critical role in children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. Parents scaffold their children in learning to recount details of their autobiographical memories by creating a space to reflect on internal states, specifically emotions and cognitions. Parents with an ‘elaborative’ reminiscing style are responsive to children’s utterances and ask open-ended questions (e.g., What do you remember about...?). Parents who are less ‘elaborative’ typically ask narrow questions like Did you like it?” that do not encourage conversation. Children whose parents use an elaborative reminiscing style have children who produce the most detailed …

Variables Related To School Readiness Among Canadian Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptomology, Carlye Brokl

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms face challenges academically, behaviourally, and socioemotionally at entry to formal education. Yet, these symptoms are rarely investigated prior to school entry, reducing the time that parents can prepare by learning about the disorder, scaffolding their children’s skills, and mediating the risk of long-lasting consequences related to unpreparedness for school. Within the current study, we aimed to uncover specific skills and elements within children’s environments which may be targeted for intervention prior to entering formal education. More specifically, we examined the relationship between the home literacy environment (HLE), mental-state understanding, ADHD symptomology, and …

Children's Peer Selection In Stem: The Influence Of Gender, Ethnicity, And Disability, Meagan Girard, Kim P. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The present study examined how children’s peer selection in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) may be influenced by gender, ethnicity, and physical disability. Sixty-four children (ages 6-12) from elementary schools in Southwestern Ontario completed three tasks: a simulated peer selection task, an attribution of ability task, and a stereotype belief questionnaire. In the peer selection task, participants were repeatedly asked to select one peer from a set of AI-generated photographs showing children who differed by gender (male, female), ethnicity (White, Black, East Asian), and physical disability status (able-bodied user vs. nondisabled). The Peer Selection Task was based on the …

Investigating The Impact Of Winter Exposure To Natural Environments On Perceived Health And Well-Being Using Geographic Ecological Momentary Assessment: A Case Study At Arrowhead Provincial Park, Faith M. Laing

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study examined how winter exposure to specific natural environments influenced perceived health and well-being outcomes using Geographic Ecological Momentary Assessment (GEMA) in Arrowhead Provincial Park. Studies performed in the wintertime are limited, as is our understanding of how specific park features and/or activities impact health and well-being. To address this, GEMA was used with a video component to capture participants’ real-time experience and emotional responses in specific park locations defined by polygon boundaries. Two surveys were administered through participants mobile devices, one being an in-situ engagement survey triggered by entering a bounded location, which included a video and …

Religious And Spiritual Struggles: The Stories Of Nigerian, Immigrant, Christian Women In Waterloo Region, Halima D. Fuller

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

ABSTRACT This research investigates religious and spiritual struggles among Nigerian, immigrant, Christian women in Waterloo Region. Twelve women settled in the region for six months to 11 years participated in the study. Qualitative methodology, narrative inquiry, and a storytelling paradigm informed the research. Semi-structured, in-depth interview questions were used to explore the experiences of religious and spiritual struggles. A meticulous review identifies a scarcity of literature on religious and spiritual struggles in the context of immigration. However, immigration challenges such as language barriers, precarious employment, and mental health issues are well-documented (Bauder, 2012; Beiser & Hou, 2016; Berry et al., …

Science Fiction Cinema And The Technological Sublime: Spectacle And The Infinite From Early Cinema To Digital, David Jackson Dr.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation examines how science fiction cinema constructs and reimagines the technological sublime in the twentieth century: the experience of awe, terror, and admiration provoked by human-made power and scale. Drawing on the philosophical foundations of the sublime in Edmund Burke and Immanuel Kant and extending through Leo Marx’s and David E. Nye’s theorization of the technological sublime, I propose an aesthetic mode in which representation inflected with affect translates technological spectacle into examinations of humanity’s role and agency in the face of overwhelming technologized worlds and in some cases, even the universe itself.

Through three distinct historical periods …

Autism And Homelessness: An Intersectional Case Study In Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Nicole J. Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Homelessness is a growing crisis in Canada, with literature suggesting autistic traits as over-represented within this population. Literature addressing intersectional experiences of autism is emerging, however there are gaps in the research surrounding intersectional experiences of autism and homelessness. Research suggests that autistic individuals may be more vulnerable to experiencing homelessness and face difficulties in exiting homelessness. This qualitative case study utilizes a Disability Justice framework to explore intersectional autistic experiences of homelessness, social service usage, and suggests recommendations on improving support for autistic individuals at risk of and experiencing homelessness. Four autistic participants with experience of homelessness and accessing …

Youth Perspectives On Developing A Sustainable Food Future In Sambaa K’E Nwt., Danielle Elizabeth Bayne Ms

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Food systems in Northern Indigenous communities are shaped by complex and interconnected social, environmental, economic, and political forces that determine how food is accessed, practiced, and governed. Indigenous food systems are deeply rooted in Land-based practices and relationships that support cultural continuity and intergenerational knowledge transfer. However, these systems have been profoundly disrupted by ongoing colonial structures that restrict access to and devalue Indigenous Knowledge and alter harvesting practices. Climate change further intensifies challenges related to traditional food access by altering wildlife behaviour, shifting seasonal patterns and reducing the safety and reliability of traditional harvesting territories. In response, many Northern …

A Constructivist Grounded Study: At The Intersection Of Religion And Intimate Partner Violence In The Context Of An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Community, Lauren Kalvari

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This constructivist grounded theory study, informed by a critical intersectional lens and guided by symbolic interactionist theory, explored how Ultra-Orthodox Jewish women experience and navigate intimate partner violence (IPV) within their religious and community contexts. Ten participants, recruited through purposive and theoretical sampling, were separated or divorced from abusive partners for at least eight months and had engaged in psychotherapy, allowing for retrospective meaning-making. Each participant completed one to three in-depth interviews on IPV, community responses, spiritual conflict, and recovery. Data collection and analysis were conducted concurrently using Charmaz’s iterative constructivist grounded theory approach, which included initial, focused, and theoretical …

Picturing Your Goals: Examining Imagery Perspective And Self-Concordance In Goal Motivation, Cana J. Reuber

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Mental imagery is often used as a strategy to increase motivation and support goal pursuit, but it remains unclear when different forms of imagery are most effective. Prior work suggests that adopting a third-person imagery perspective may enhance goal striving by promoting more abstract, identity-relevant processing. In line with this work, we predicted that third-person imagery would be most beneficial for self-concordant goals. The present research tested this prediction across three studies. In Study 1 (N = 273), participants identified a personal goal, visualized themselves pursuing and attaining it from either a first- or third-person perspective, and reported their …

An Examination Of Speech Motor Control And Auditory Processing In Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Rita Bishai

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Fluent speech production is achieved through a relative weighting of feedback and feedforward motor control systems. These systems are thought to be responsible for the online correction of vocal errors and initiating speech, respectively. The relative weighting of these motor control systems has been shown to differ under conditions of high attentional load and across individual differences in sensory acuity. However, research has yet to examine speech motor control in a population with clinical attentional and sensory processing differences, such as those with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The studies in this thesis aimed to examine how ADHD traits relate to …

Mixed Methods Insights Into Understandings Of And Stigma Towards Autism In Children And Young Adults, Natalia Gc Van Esch

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

BACKGROUND: Autism is widely stigmatized and misunderstood. Existing research using methods such as questionnaires finds that autistic individuals are often evaluated more negatively than their non-autistic counterparts. Unfortunately, this approach provides limited insight into the underlying representations of autism that individuals hold. The present study seeks to examine how children and adults define, describe, and represent autism, and how these representations relate to stigma. METHODS: In Part I, children participated in a semi-structured interview in which they defined autism and created autistic and non-autistic characters using a guided character-building task. Children then rated their characters on a series of social …

Is Prosocial Behavior A Unique Correlate Of Academic Success In Emerging Adulthood?, Jacqueline Di Biase

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Prior developmental research has frequently linked prosocial behavior to stronger academic functioning during childhood and adolescence (Cruz et al., 2024; Gerbino et al., 2018; Oberle et al., 2022), yet its relevance to academic success in emerging adulthood remains unclear. Guided by a Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework, the present study sought to address gaps in emerging adulthood research by examining the academic relevance of prosocial behavior while accounting for influential developmental assets and testing its independent contribution to academic achievement. Undergraduate students (N = 501) completed a cross-sectional self-report survey assessing prosocial behavior, self-control, dutifulness, sociability, and cumulative grade …

Pathways To Prosperity: How Tourism Industry Training Reduces Poverty, Panpan Sun, Songshan Huang, Ghialy Yap, Zhibin Lin, Lei Zhao

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study investigates the effects of tourism industry training (TIT) on poverty alleviation, considering both direct and indirect pathways. Integrating labour mobility theory, human capital theory, and the tourism-led growth (TLG) hypothesis, we propose a new theoretical framework. Based on panel data from 29 Chinese provinces between 2000 and 2019, the empirical results show that TIT has a significant negative effect on poverty level, depth, and severity, with a larger direct impact than the indirect effect through tourism development. We also find significant regional differences in the impact of TIT on poverty reduction, with TIT having a more substantial impact …

Reduced Threat-Related Neural Efficiency: A Possible Biomarker For Pediatric Anxiety Disorders, Julia O. Linke, Reut Naim, Simona P. Haller, Parmis Khosravi, Beck Scheinberg, Meghan E. Byrne, Anita Harrewijn, Ellen Leibenluft, Melissa A. Brotman, Anderson M. Winkler, Daniel Samuel Pine

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: Pediatric anxiety disorders are common and predict adult psychopathology, yet current treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), produce lasting remission in less than 50% of affected youths. To support the search for improved, mechanistically grounded interventions, this study evaluated neural efficiency, defined as similarity in functional connectivity between a threat task and rest, as a potential biomarker. The study evaluated neural efficiency in relation to anxiety diagnosis and treatment response.

Methods: The authors compared 103 youths with an anxiety disorder diagnosis (mean age, 12.5 years [SD=2.91], 62% female) to 103 youths with no psychiatric diagnosis (mean age, 13.4 years …

Fear Of Childbirth As A Perinatal Comorbidity: An Integrative Review, Michelle T. Mcmanus, Ashely N. Payne

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fear of childbirth (FOC) and tokophobia have a significant impact on one in every five pregnant women and is associated with enhanced levels of anxiety, depression, pre-traumatic stress, and has led to increased requests for elective cesarean sections. Given the influence that it has on birth mode and perceived birth experience as well as postpartum wellbeing, it stands to reason that FOC represents an often-overlooked aspect of perinatal mental health.
This capstone reviews cohort, cross-sectional, randomized, and quasi-experimental studies examining prevalence, correlations, and consequences of FOC. It evaluates antenatal education, midwife-led support, and cognitive behavioral therapy as potential interventions. Outcomes …

Judging What Jurors Know: Expert Testimony After Voir Dire, Chris Cox

Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

Tele-Psychiatry Adoption And Its Effect On Rural Mental Health Service Availability, Anna Heineman, Kaylee Canterbury, Taylor Carpenter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose of study: This study examined the association between tele-psychiatry implementation and mental health service availability in rural healthcare settings. The analysis compared tele-psychiatry to traditional in-person psychiatric care among rural populations, focusing on access and utilization outcomes, including time to first psychiatric appointment, number of completed visits, and appointment no-show rates.

Methods: A qualitative literature review following a systematic approach was conducted using peer-reviewed articles published between 2016-2026. Databases included PubMed, ProQuest Health, CINAHL, Journal of Medical Internet Research, and the National Library of Medicine, with Google Scholar used as a supplemental source. The review followed PRISMA …

Mitochondria As Primary Cause Of Neurodegeneration: Evaluating Causality Across Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Als), Alzheimer's, And Parkinson’S Diseases, Makenzie G. Johnson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) have historically been explained through alternate hypotheses despite shared clinical hallmarks that lead to neuron loss. However, these varying explanations could not account for how disease onset begins among other individual issues. This thesis aims to show that mitochondrial dysfunction is a primary driver of neurodegeneration as well as a unifying mechanism shared between the three diseases. Evidence presented in this thesis will show that many issues can arise in mitochondria including issues with energy production, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), apoptosis activation, and calcium regulation. These issues …