22962 research outputs found
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Fishing for Sovereignty: Strengthening Food Security and Inuit Wellbeing through Fish and Seafood
No full textThis dissertation examines food security challenges and opportunities within the context of Inuit Nunangat, focusing on the community of Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut. Employing a community-based participatory research approach, this work investigates food insecurity, dietary shifts, the nutritional significance of country foods, and the role of small-scale fisheries in promoting food sovereignty and community resilience. Chapter 2 uses an adapted version of the Household Food Security Survey Module to assess food insecurity prevalence and coping strategies. There were 105 respondents from 91 households. Results indicated severe food insecurity in 66.7% of households, driven by high food costs and limited income. Social networks were crucial for coping, underscoring the need for programs enhancing access to country foods. Chapter 3 analyzes data from a country food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to estimate daily intake and nutrient contributions, using the Canadian Nutrient File for calculations. Findings show that Arctic char and narwhal muktuk were primary sources, contributing significantly to nutrient intakes. These insights highlight the critical nutritional role of country foods and the impact of dietary shifts toward non-nutrient market foods. Chapter 4 uses a systematic scoping review of peer-reviewed literature from six databases to identify themes and research gaps related to fish and seafood's role in food security. The review emphasizes the need for integrated fisheries, food, and health policies. Chapter 5 employs a qualitative approach, using 15 key informant interviews with elders, fish harvesters, and community leaders to capture Inuit perspectives on small- scale fisheries. The study underscores the cultural importance of fishing practices and the infrastructure barriers limiting year-round access, economic growth, and food sovereignty. Chapter 6 offers a critical reflective analysis of the author's role as a non-Indigenous researcher. Additionally, this chapter proposes a Northern-specific transformational research model rooted in ethical reflexivity, community-led processes, and systemic change. The dissertation concludes that supporting small-scale fisheries through adaptive policies, community-led quota systems, and infrastructure investment can strengthen food security and economic resilience. Ultimately, this work advocates for a paradigm shift away from food security, towards food sovereignty, where food security policy and research are grounded in Inuit rights and leadership thereby dismantling colonial barriers and fostering self-determination.Northern Scientific Training ProgramSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of CanadaUniversity of Guelp
The Changes of Female Images for Autonomy of Marriage and Reproduction in Chinese Movies
No full textIn the hundred years since the breakup of the Qing Dynasty in 1912, aspects of Chinese society have changed dramatically. Apart from political institutions, this change has been reflected in the status of women, the movie industry, and censorship. The images of women in Chinese cinema are mirrors of gender consciousness and political ideologies in the Chinese public and Chinese filmmakers. During this time, these images have tried to break the patriarchal concept that men were believed superior to women and the outdated customs of arranged marriages and child brides, and encouraging the pursuit of self-motivated relationships based on love. It is a truism that the institution of marriage is a political product. During the Maoist era, when collectivism was practiced and the political atmosphere was highly fraught, the model of marriage for women in Chinese movies was the projection of Maoist political propaganda. Even today, decades after the implementation of the Reform and Opening Up Policy, women's pursuit of love marriages and reproductive freedom has yet to be realized.2027-12-1
Squirrels and the City: Exploring the Development of the Gut-Brain Axis via Maternal Effects in response to Urbanization in Wild Eastern Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)
No full textRelated dataset: Mably, Emma E.; Grant, Alannah; Stothart, Mason; Newman, Amy E., 2024, "Replication data for: Squirrels and the city: Exploring the development of the gut-brain axis via maternal effects in response to urbanization in wild eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)", https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/ZKFZJT, Borealis, V1.The experienced environment is critical in shaping physiology, particularly in urban ecosystems characterized by anthropogenic food sources and stressors. This study of wild eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) investigated the impact of maternal gut-brain axis on offspring physiology through maternal matching, a mechanism that promotes adaptive fit to maternal experience. By comparing squirrels across environments from urban to exurban, I found support for the hypothesis that maternal matching, in conjunction with environmental differences, influences the abundance of bacterial taxa associated with negative health status. However, contrary to my hypothesis, juveniles and adults in the urban environment did not match in measures of beta-diversity, suggesting that horizontal transmission may contribute to the observed patterns of microbial diversity of urban offspring. Finally, the urban-adjacent environment emerged as a potential refuge that fosters microbial alpha and beta diversity, challenging traditional notions of anthropogenic exposure as a homogenizing force in urban greenspaces
Effects of soil amendments and timing of inoculation on the development of clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae)
No full textRelated dataset: Chesney, Shauna, 2025, "The effects of soil amendments and inoculation timing on the development of clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae)", https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/T0JJND, Borealis, V1.Clubroot is an important disease limiting canola production in Canada. The current study examined the effects of selected soil amendments and inoculation timings on the development of clubroot. Lime consistently reduced clubroot severity when soil pH was raised above 7.0. There was no interaction with boron. Boron reduced clubroot severity at relatively high rates. However, determining how boron suppresses clubroot was inconclusive. An experimental biofumigant was evaluated and was not effective against clubroot. Induced resistance / susceptibility was investigated using the reaction to avirulent / virulent pathotypes on split-root plants. Inoculation on one side of the split-root system did not induce a resistant or susceptible reaction on the other side when inoculated with the alternative pathotype. Based on the results of these studies, lime is the best option to include in a management system for clubroot in canola
Examining Ethical Considerations in the Development of Animal-focused Technologies and Digital Natures
No full textDigital technologies continue to transform how humans notice, know, and live with other species. Whether a smart pet monitor used at home or an acoustic sensor monitoring wildlife, these animal-focused technologies exemplify a topic of study known as “digital natures”. As human interactions with other animals become increasingly intertwined with the digital, questions about impacts and ethical considerations also gain attention. In this thesis, I explore the implications of technologies used to observe, understand, and support the lives of other animals. More specifically, I examine how researchers and designers understand ethical considerations that relate to their work on animal-focused technology development. Following a more-than-human approach to ethics informed by critical posthumanist scholarship, my objectives focus on identifying and describing the sociotechnical landscape of animal-focused technologies, investigating perspectives on ethics in the everyday research/development of animal-focused technologies, and exploring tools or strategies that can support researchers/developers navigating ethical considerations in their work. I meet these objectives through a critical discourse analysis, through interviews with specialists working on animal-focused technologies, and through the creation of an interactive tool for ethical reflection. From here, a few core insights proceed. First, dominant narratives about animal-focused technologies point to specific actors, human and nonhuman, practices, and ideologies that form what is accepted in the research/development of the technologies, or the potential trajectories of what the technologies come to be. Second, practitioners share their experiences with specific ethical considerations that appear during their work on animal-focused technologies. Lastly, my creation and testing of an interactive tool, NETCT, reveals the potential for creative, narrative-based methods to support ethical reflection in digital natures contexts. Taking all of the insights together, this thesis contributes to critical research on digital natures in digital geography and related critical more-than-human scholarship, including posthumanist and science and technology studies. Not only does it call for increased attention to ethical considerations in the development of animal-focused technologies, it also expands on how ethics may be conceptualized and approached in the study of digital natures
Management of Stemphylium Leaf Blight on Onion: Fungicide Efficacy, Pathogen Resistance and Cultivar Sensitivity.
No full textRelated dataset: McFaul, Emily, 2025, "Supplemental data for: Management of Stemphylium leaf blight: Fungicide efficacy evaluations", https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/PX0N50, Borealis, V1.Related dataset: McFaul, Emily, 2025, "Supplemental data for: Management of Stemphylium leaf blight: Onion cultivar sensitivity to S. vesicarium toxins.", https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/PLYZRI, Borealis, V1.Stemphylium vesicarium (Wallr.) E.G. Simmons causes Stemphylium leaf blight (SLB), that reduces onion (Allium cepa L.) yield and quality through premature defoliation. Fungicides are used to manage SLB, but resistance to FRAC groups 7, 9 and 11 has been reported in Ontario. This study evaluated the efficacy of fungicides, resistance in S. vesicarium to two new FRAC group 7 fungicides and onion cultivar sensitivity to toxin(s). Field trials showed that synthetic and biological fungicides did not reduce SLB severity. In vitro assays found increased resistance to fungicide penflufen and partial resistance to fluxapyroxad compared to 2013. Differences in cultivar sensitivity to S. vesicarium toxins were identified; cv. Highlander was the most susceptible. Toxin solutions produced symptoms of leaf dieback, suggesting phytotoxins could aid in selecting resistant cultivars. This research emphasizes the need for additional fungicide resistance management tools such as disease forecasting and improved screening methods for resistant onion cultivars
Bridging Guelph’s Digital Divide: Visualizing Community-Level Broadband Strategies to Reduce Digital Inequity
No full textThe goal of this mixed-methods study was to inform and potentially formulate strategies for sustainable community-level broadband connectivity to improve digital equity across Guelph. Socioeconomic and internet data was mapped to identify a vulnerable Guelph neighbourhood to explore further. A survey was shared with the Onward Willow neighbourhood, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with community leaders to explore existing digital resources and gaps in services. A community design workshop was held with Onward Willow residents to brainstorm solutions to local digital equity issues. The results of these methods informed a 3D model prototype of the Onward Willow neighbourhood with VR capabilities, illustrating potential design opportunities to make internet access, digital devices, and digital skill-building accessible to the community. Income and language barriers were identified to limit digital access in Onward Willow. Community organizations have a key role in addressing this issue by sharing accessible digital resources at a local scale.Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada2026-03-0
Ribosomal DNA variation and recombination in natural populations and mutation accumulation lines of Daphnia
No full textRibosomal DNA (rDNA) plays a critical role in ribosome biogenesis by encoding ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), which are essential for protein synthesis. rDNA is a multigene family that is highly conserved within species but varies between species. This study investigates rDNA variation and recombination using whole-genome sequencing to analyze Daphnia natural populations and mutation accumulation (MA) lines. Using 169 Daphnia pulex individuals from 10 natural populations we observed that rDNA copy number varied by an order of magnitude among individuals. Sequence variation within individual genomes was also pronounced, with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) predominantly located in regions under lower functional constraint, such as intergenic spacers (IGSs) and expansion segments of rRNA genes. Strong linkage disequilibrium among variants enabled the identification of distinct haplotypes within populations, with few haplotypes shared between populations. Estimating copy number and haplotype diversity within individuals revealed that intraindividual sequence variation shows little correlation with copy number. Chronic exposure of D. pulex MA lines to environmentally relevant concentrations of nickel and copper, either individually or in combination, had no direct impact on rDNA copy number or sequence variation. However, this exposure may have indirectly influenced rDNA dynamics by altering recombination rates. We highlight the importance of the number of generations between samples taken within lines when estimating rates of change, as rDNA copy number can change substantially within just a few generations. Using Daphnia obtusa MA lines, we tracked rDNA copy number and sequence variation across 91 genomes over 90 generations. An overall decline in rDNA copy number was observed, though short-interval sampling revealed both increases and decreases. The frequency of five rDNA haplotypes shifted in frequency over time, enabling estimation of a recombination rate of 0.098 events per generation. Computer simulations showed that unequal sister chromatid exchange contributed more to rDNA copy number variation than crossing over and with a few exceptions, replicated the extent of copy number variation among MA lines. By integrating data from natural populations and MA experiments, this provides insights into rDNA copy number dynamics, sequence variation, and heterozygosity. Frequent rDNA recombination during apomixis further advances our understanding of rDNA evolutionNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canad
Assessing Judicial Influence on Canadian Federal Social Policy: A Punctuated Equilibrium Analysis
No full textIn Canada, the policy potential of courts has been recognized in the academic literature; however, reliable assessments of the magnitude of judicial policy influence remain contested. Compared to other institutional venues (i.e., executive, legislative), what are the magnitudes of judicial policy influence? This dissertation also aims to make some initial, qualified observations about the extent to which courts reflect the dynamics and ideas within a policy subsystem, or the degree to which courts diverge from prevailing dynamics and ideas. Drawing on punctuated equilibrium theory (PET) and Hall’s three orders of policy change, this dissertation compares the magnitudes of judicial policy changes to broader patterns of policy changes in an effort to situate courts as a relevant venue in the policy process. Judgments, legislative, and regulatory changes in 16 Canadian social policy issue areas under federal jurisdiction are documented and coded based on the intensity of legal outcomes. Case studies in electoral and cannabis policy apply PET to assess the agenda-setting capacities of judicial venues compared to the executive and legislative venues by assessing Globe and Mail coverage and public witness presentations for the main bills in the Charter era (1980–2019). The research findings demonstrate that the executive venue is the main policy venue, but courts exert meaningful policy influence in complex ways. The findings also show that sometimes courts reflect broader changes and sometimes courts offer novel contributions to policy disputes depending on the broader policy context. Therefore, the research offers a more reliable assessment by comparing courts to political venues. The policy-oriented approach also offers future research avenues to more effectively assess the nuanced ways courts influence policy.2026-10-0
Maternal, Metabolic and Mammary-level Factors Associated with the Production and Composition of Bovine Colostrum
Full text linkDuring late gestation, dairy cattle are subjected to a multitude of physiological, hormonal, and metabolic changes that may alter the partitioning of nutrients towards the mammary gland for colostrogenesis. Studies were conducted to investigate how maternal, metabolic and mammary-level factors impact colostrogenesis and colostrum composition. From d-19 ± 4.0, primiparous (PP; n = 20) and multiparous (MP, n = 28) cows were fed a diet high (HED) or low (LED) in dietary energy density. Colostrum yield and IgG content were not influenced by closeup dietary energy level; however, HED cows had higher colostral insulin, somatic cell and sialic acid content, but lower total oligosaccharide (OS) content, than LED cows. Colostrum production of PP cows had a greater dependence on circulating glucose (glc), while MP cows were more sensitive to alterations in metabolic signaling. The utility of Doppler ultrasonography of the milk vein (MPFMV) was characterized as a non-invasive technique to determine calving and fresh period mammary plasma flow (MPF) as an estimate of mammary metabolism in MP cows (n = 11 parity 2, n = 10 parity 3). Although no relationship was observed between MPFMV and the Fick principle, MPFMV increased by 15.8% from calving to 7 days in milk. The MPFMV technique and collection of mammary acetate and glc uptake were conducted from d-49 to calving to characterize prepartum mammary metabolism and its association with colostrum production. Mammary metabolism recommenced as early as wk-2, with correlation and regression analyses highlighting the importance of adequate dry-off and the far-off non-secretory period in promoting colostrum yield. From d-39 2.21 to calving, collection of prepartum milk demonstrated that the early, gradual accumulation of IgG and total OS was positively associated with their final output in colostrum. In summary, colostrum production is differentially influenced by closeup nutrition and metabolism in PP and MP cows, and the far-off, non-secretory period and the early, gradual prepartum accumulation of bioactive compounds is important for maximizing colostrum production