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A Methodology for Reusing Timber Churches: Crafted Connections for the Rose of Sharon
No full textMaster of Architecture ThesisChurches and places of faith are rapidly closing in Canada. In Nova Scotia timber churches represent an architectural identity and connection to craft. Churches hold intangible values, extending beyond the building fabric, and losing them represents a forfeiture of economic, environmental, and social potentials. Adaptively reusing churches is the most viable method for preventing their loss. There is a knowledge gap between architects and reusing churches, pointing to a need for a methodology. This thesis creates a methodology, for architects, for the adaptive reuse of timber churches in Nova Scotia. The methodology is tested through a design exercise for the Rose of Sharon Church in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Multiple iterations explore how additions can connect to existing structures. The design for the Rose of Sharon demonstrates how contextual factors, such as a layered history and relationships to craft, can influence adaptive reuse designs to create viable futures for timber churches
Using EEG to Endophenotype Schizophrenia
No full textThis dissertation investigates EEG-derived endophenotypes to elucidate the neurophysiological underpinnings of schizophrenia through three interconnected studies.
Study 1: Meta-Analysis of Resting State Microstate Differences in Schizophrenia
The first study is a meta-analysis of EEG-derived microstates in schizophrenia. Microstates are brief, stable patterns of synchronized brain activity. This meta-analysis consolidates data from numerous studies to identify consistent alterations in microstates in individuals with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. The findings reveal significant differences in microstate classes, particularly an increase in the duration and occurrence of microstate class C and a reduction in class D. These alterations suggest disrupted neural dynamics in schizophrenia, highlighting microstate parameters as a potential endophenotype for the disorder.
Study 2: Resting-State Microstate Differences in Early Psychosis as an Endophenotype Candidate. The second study explores resting-state EEG recordings to examine intrinsic brain activity in individuals with early-phase psychosis. Resting-state conditions reveal baseline brain functions, often associated with the default mode network. The study compares these microstates between individuals with early psychosis (n = 27) and healthy controls (n = 30) to determine if aberrant neural dynamics persist in the absence of external stimuli. The results indicate that individuals with early psychosis exhibit distinct microstate patterns, suggesting fundamental disruptions in brain function that could serve as reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring of schizophrenia.
Study 3: Mismatch Negativity as an Endophenotype of Schizophrenia. The third study focuses on auditory processing, a critical domain affected in schizophrenia. Using EEG, this research study investigated event-related potentials (ERPs), particularly the mismatch negativity (MMN) component, which reflects automatic auditory change detection. The study found no group differences. However, MMN measures were associated with clinical symptoms.
General Conclusion: The collective findings of these studies advance our understanding of the neurophysiological abnormalities in schizophrenia. By identifying microstate alterations, this research provides evidence for EEG-derived markers as potential endophenotypes. These biomarkers offer promising avenues for early diagnosis, targeted interventions, and monitoring treatment efficacy, ultimately contributing to improved outcomes for individuals with schizophrenia
What’s that Smell?: Thermally Modulated Machine Olfaction by Joule Heating to Detect And Identify Odourant Molecules
No full textThe olfactory sense is one of the first evolved by early life. Mimicking olfaction through artificial systems provides a crucial understanding of the world and surroundings. The field of machine olfaction aims to achieve just this goal. In this work, the use of a thermally modulated, chemically diverse carbon black-polymer composite sensor array is shown to be able to identify and quantify a variety of odourant analytes. As mammalian olfaction relies on sniffing to maintain a constant response within the brain, so too does thermal modulation provide a drift-resistant peak-to-peak response. Through the sorption and desorption of analyte, the connectivity within the composite will change, causing percolation network-driven changes in resistance, allowing for quantification. The degree of resistive change between exposures of various analytes is unique, providing a fingerprint-like response from an array of sensors. This work demonstrates that both analyte concentration and identity are captured by modulated signal amplitude
To Alberta and Back Again: A Case Study into Cape Breton’s Pathway to a Just and Green Energy Economy
No full textCape Breton has a long history of extractive industry. Industrial decline in the region has led to
high employment and significant social and economic problems. Cape Breton is also at the
forefront of Nova Scotia’s green energy transition, being the site for multiple large scale green
energy infrastructure projects. This thesis seeks to uncover employment gaps in the green energy
sector in post-industrial Cape Breton and analyze the industrial and community viability of green
energy projects in the region. Through the application of a just transition framework, this study
aims to explore how industrial development for green energy can be approached as a means of
community revitalization rather than as just an economic process. A variety of gaps in the Cape
Breton labour force were identified, and current programs and approaches were analyzed using
the Employment Diagnosis Analysis Framework (EDA), developed by the International Labour
Organization. A just transition framework was used to apply the EDA data to current green
energy programs in Cape Breton, with a particular focus on green hydrogen development in Port
Hawkesbury. The study provides direction for the application of a just transition for Cape Breton
communities
From Screens to Stress: Exploring the Link Between Climate Change Communications and Eco-Anxiety Levels. A Dalhousie Case Study.
No full textAs the climate crisis intensifies, so does its psychological impact which is leading to rising levels of eco-anxiety. This thesis explores the relationship between climate change communications and eco-anxiety levels among students at Dalhousie University. Using a mixed methods case study approach, a pilot study survey was administered to assess how different types of environmental messaging influence students' psychological well-being and engagement with climate issues and media. The results revealed that 90.05% of Dalhousie Students are currently feeling eco-anxiety. Negative climate change communications have been shown to exacerbate these emotions and contribute to an individual’s feelings of disengagement. This thesis argues for a balanced communications movement as well as developments of on-campus mental health supports that are tailored towards environmental distress. This research highlights the urgent need to reframe climate narratives and build supportive environments that foster climate resilience in the face of the climate crisis
Spatiotemporal Modelling of Lobster Abundance
No full textSpecies distribution models must account for spatial and temporal auto-correlation in ecological survey data. In this study, we considered a data set on lobster abundance collected by trawl survey programs in the Bay of Fundy area, and fitted a geostatistical generalized linear mixed model incorporating a Gaussian random field to account for spatial auto-correlation. We performed model selection using information criteria and 5-fold spatial block cross-validation. We then used the model’s predictions to produce an index of relative abundance, which displayed an increasing trend between 1995 and 2023. A Bayesian implementation of the model yielded similar results. In a simulation study, we showed that index estimates obtained by modelling standardized count data using the Tweedie distribution are reasonably accurate, and that estimates obtained using delta models are inconsistently biased. A second simulation study showed that combining data from two survey programs is appropriate when creating a model-based abundance index
Fostering Ecology & Community: Writing a Play for Co-Created Housing with Queer Youth-at-Risk, and Stewarding Festivals to Re-Imagine the Wilderness
No full textFoster Ecology and Community joins architecture and theatre to explore the intersections between marginalized queer youth-at-risk and the threatened forests of Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island). Inspired by the annual River Clyde Pageant art festival, the project reimagines stewardship through the tensions between home-making, land, creation, demolition and reclamation. Through the design and production of a multimedia puppet show – integrating architectural representation and methods – this thesis envisions regenerative relationships between festivals, ecological care, and community programming
"It's Like Screaming Into the Abyss": Exploring the Risk Assessment Process as a Dynamic Relationship for Sexually Exploited Youth in Care
No full textThis thesis examines the complexities of risk assessment practices concerning sexually exploited youth in care. Taking an anti-oppressive practice and transformative justice approaches, we explore how risk assessments are employed and impacted by state institutions, social workers/service providers, and the youth themselves. Drawing on qualitative data from 14 interviews with service providers working in the field, this study highlights the relational and interconnected nature of the risk assessment process. Findings highlighted that current risk assessment tools, driven by a checklist approach, fail to account for the lived experiences, autonomy, and protective factors of youth. A thematic analysis revealed that relationships between young people and service providers can either mitigate or exacerbate harm to youth, underscoring the importance of holistic, empathetic, and collaborative approaches in risk assessments. Service providers advocate for the adoption of harm reduction, trauma-informed, and consent-based approaches, emphasizing the need for shared decision-making practices rooted in youth autonomy
SEMANTIC BRIDGE: A MODEL FOR SEMANTIC WEB LITERATURE-BASED DISCOVERIES
No full textLiterature-based discovery focuses on retrieving hypotheses from apparently unrelated scientific papers.
Studies show that joining facts from different documents can suggest unpublished hypotheses, potentially leading to significant discoveries.
With over fifty million papers published and the significant benefits to humanity that discoveries bring, succeeding in automatically generating new hypotheses from the scientific literature is both challenging and crucial.
At this stage, a collective effort and a strong collaboration of technical and domain experts of different disciplines are required.
The best system can be built with technologies that standardize knowledge sharing and reasoning by combining published data, like those offered by the Semantic Web mechanisms.
Surprisingly, existing systems proposed for making discoveries overlook these tools and neither provide means to include other tools to resolve a specific part of the problem.
Thus, they require considerable effort to build from the ground up, which confines them to merely interesting projects that are eventually abandoned.
One reason for not adopting Semantic Web technologies could be the previously scarce availability of essential data resources, a situation that has changed rapidly.
Literature-based discovery systems based on Semantic Web technologies can now be built; the possibility of having a system to make discoveries where researchers, practitioners, and experts of different disciplines collaborate to create its building blocks is concrete.
With my thesis, I propose a model that uses Semantic Web technologies to facilitate the development of collaborative, expandable, and reusable discovery systems.
A proof-of-concept will be presented, demonstrating the integration of natural language processing, efficient reasoning, and innovative result presentation methods.
This system will highlight the effectiveness of publishing scientific assertions with nanopublications, preserving provenance and intellectual property, suggesting a new way to publish papers, and the emergence of a Web of scientific facts for which the study aims to lay the foundation
VIRTUAL MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A SCOPING REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS LIVING IN NOVA SCOTIA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
No full textn/aThis thesis aimed to identify factors influencing the implementation, delivery, and uptake of formal virtual mental health services for children and adolescents and related research gaps. A scoping review was conducted to map existing literature on virtual mental health care for children and adolescents with findings mapped using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. As formal studies often exclude children and youth who do not access services, a secondary analysis was performed using data from a cross-sectional survey of youth and parents in Nova Scotia, collected between June 2021 and April 2022. Virtual care was widely implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and may be a means of overcoming some barriers to care. Our findings highlight the importance of continued research to support effective and sustainable integration of virtual mental health services for children and adolescents