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The impact of a disability affirming writing activity on well-being and mood in university students with disabilities
Full text link1 online resource (61 pages) : colour illustrations, graphsIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 43-52).University students with disabilities face barriers such as discrimination and stigma, which hinder their success. Compared to non-disabled students, they also experience higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, and a lower quality of life. Evidence suggests a positive disability identity may mitigate negative well-being outcomes, predicting greater life satisfaction, more hopeful thinking, and lower anxiety and depression among adults. In the present online experiment, the causal impact of a disability affirming (versus a general affirming) writing activity on the mood and wellbeing of students with disabilities was tested. In this online experiment among N = 48 university students with disabilities, it was hypothesized that a disability affirming writing activity would boost positive mood and reduce negative mood (Hypothesis 1). It was further hypothesized that this effect (on mood) would be more pronounced among students with a stronger disability identity (Hypothesis 2). Findings ran contrary to expectations. Participants randomly assigned to write about a positive (non-disability related) experience reported a significantly greater increase in positive mood than those randomly assigned to write about a positive disability experience. Further, although
disability identity was associated with a more positive mood change after the writing
exercise, this change was found regardless of the writing exercise completed. As several participants in the general writing activity spontaneously chose to write about positive disability-related experiences, exploratory analyses were conducted. Surprisingly, participants with a stronger disability identity who wrote about positive disability events experienced a significant increase in negative mood, whereas those who wrote about positive (non-disability-related) events experienced a significant decrease in negative mood. The mixed emotions associated with disability identity are discussed. The responsibility of universities to foster disability inclusive cultures is also discussed. Future research should consider measuring the impact that disability affirming writing activities have on mood over longer periods of time
Assessing the impact of insecticides on Hemlock Woolly Adelgids (Adelges tsugae) : implications for Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) conservation
Full text link1 online resource (vi, 37 pages) : colour illustrations, colour maps, graphs (some colour)Includes abstract and appendix.Includes bibliographical references (pages 28-32).Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), a foundational species in North American forests,
is under threat from the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA, Adelges tsugae). This study
examines the impact of HWA infestation on eastern hemlock growth patterns in Kejimkujik
National Park, Nova Scotia, through dendrochronological analysis. A total of 230 tree core
samples were collected from treated and untreated stands to assess growth trends, tree health, and the effectiveness of systemic insecticide treatments. However, extreme rot and poor core integrity reduced the usable sample size to 15. Tree-ring analysis revealed fluctuating growth trends, with a period of increased growth in the mid-20th century followed by significant decline in recent decades, particularly after HWA detection in Nova Scotia in 2017. Statistical comparisons between treated and untreated plots suggest that systemic
insecticides may mitigate growth decline but do not significantly enhance tree diameter growth in the short term. Cross-dating with historical samples confirmed that growth suppression coincided with the arrival of HWA, emphasizing its impact on tree vitality.
These findings highlight the urgency of conservation efforts to protect eastern hemlocks
from HWA-induced decline. While insecticides provide temporary relief, long-term solutions
such as biological control and climate-adaptive forest management strategies must be prioritized. Future studies should continue monitoring tree-ring responses to treatment, assess climate-driven stressors, and evaluate the effectiveness of integrated pest management strategies. This research contributes to a growing body of literature on HWA management and forest resilience, informing conservation policies for eastern hemlock populations in Atlantic Canada
The application of community policing to African American/Canadian communities and the contribution of deliberative dialogue as a communicative exchange
Full text link1 online resource (46 pages)Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 42-46).Community policing emphasizes communication between law enforcement and the
communities they serve. This study defines the key principles of community policing, including developing partnerships, problem-solving, and transforming police culture. Exploring the historical critique of traditional policing models, this thesis highlights the estrangement between police and marginalized communities, especially African American/Canadian groups. This study addresses the challenges of implementing community policing in these communities, where police are often viewed as an oppressive force. It emphasizes the importance of communication in rebuilding trust and reducing tensions. The concept of deliberative dialogue is introduced to enhance communicative exchanges and address societal power imbalances, ultimately improving partnerships and policing effectiveness. This work contributes to discussions concerning police reform and aims to improve community relations
Determination of the resonance strength of the 11.83 MeV state in the 22Ne(alpha, gamma)26Mg reaction
No full text1 online resource (ix, 57 pages) : illustrations (some colour), charts (some colour), graphs (some colour)Includes abstract and appendix.Includes bibliographical references (pages 56-57).The 22Ne(α, γ) 26Mg reaction indirectly influences the s-process in both asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and massive stars by competing with the 22Ne(α, n) 25Mg reaction that acts as a neutron source. This reaction becomes astrophysically significant only at temperatures exceeding 1 GK, which are likely found in the carbon-burning shells of massive stars with masses M > 8M⊙. As a result, there is limited literature available on its resonances and resonance strengths especially at the resonance corresponding to the Ex = 11.83 MeV excited state.
Using the DRAGON recoil separator at the TRIUMF particle accelerator in Vancouver, BC, we directly measured the 22Ne(α, γ) 26Mg reaction. Specifically, the Ecm = 1.213 MeV resonance populating the Ex = 11.83 MeV was investigated. A resonance strength ωγ = 1.5 ± 0.1 meV was determined using singles data. While a resonance strength ωγ = 1.8 ± 0.3 meV, for coincidence data was found to be within agreement, the use of a partial BGO array has resulted in an unreliable BGO efficiency. Thus, the singles result is taken to be the most accurate value.
These results are compared with the previously accepted resonance strength of ωγ = 2.5 ± 0.3 meV, as reported by Wolke et al. (1989), suggesting that the true resonance strength may be lower than previously believed. The improvements in experimental setup and methodology over the past 36 years are discussed in the context of these findings. Furthermore, the implications of these results on the sprocess and their influence on stellar reaction rates are explored.</p
Irish in Halifax
Full text link1 online resource (v, 120 pages) : illustrations (some colour), maps (some colour), colour graphsIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 107-120).Although much scholarship exists on the history of the Halifax-Irish, the question of the
linguistic background of the city’s early Irish-born residents and their Canadian-born
descendants remains underexplored. Even though many Irish who arrived between 1815 and
1845 came from Irish-speaking regions, limited historical references to Irish present challenges in documenting Halifax’s Irish speakers and may lead to a presumption that the Irish community was primarily Anglophone. However, the mother tongue question in the 1901 Canadian census offers a valuable research tool. Drawing on the census returns, this thesis identifies and profiles those Halifax respondents who reported Irish as their mother tongue. To date, only two Canadian localities—Gagetown, New Brunswick, and Montreal’s St. Gabriel’s Ward—have been studied through this lens. Employing a similar methodology, this study of a third location provides fresh insights into the Halifax-Irish and contributes to the emerging historiography of the Irish language in Canada
A graph machine learning approach to estimating scoring probabilities and drive outcomes in gridiron football
Full text link1 online resource (x, 63 pages) : colour illustrations, graphs (some colour)Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 60-63).Machine learning models for score outcome probability and drive outcome probability for the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL) are introduced and tested on play-by-play data. Of particular interest are Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) models, which in addition to training on features of individual plays also use information about the immediately preceding plays when generating their scoring predictions. A GCN model using drive information, a GCN model without drive information, and two non-graph models are compared, with additional testing to fine-tune models. The GCN model does not significantly change in accuracy or calibration when not using information about previous plays in the series, but both types of graph models are outperformed by well-tuned MLPs
Humour’s influence on decision-making : a video-based study of board member interactions in meetings
Full text link1 online resource (117 pages) : chartsIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 79-85).This dissertation explores how humour shapes director interactions and decision-making
in board meetings. Using a video-based case study of a Canadian non-profit board, two key
investment decisions are investigated: the establishment of an endowment fund and the
procurement of a web-based client relationship management system. A multimodal analysis of the board interactions, integrating video recordings, transcripts, and meeting documents,
systematically identifies episodes of affiliative and ironic humour and maps these onto distinct
manoeuvring and deliberative strategizing practices. The findings reveal that humour lingers across meetings, mitigating tension and influencing the timing and outcomes of decisions. The executive director’s interventions, both inside and outside board meetings, further demonstrate how the use of humour influences decision-making processes. This dissertation contributes a process model tracing humour’s lingering effects on board strategizing over time and offers insights to advance the strategy-aspractice and organizational humour literature. It concludes with implications for practitioners related to the role of humour and decision-making during board meetings
Condition and electrofishing recovery time in juvenile life stages of Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Full text link1 online resource (42 pages) : colour illustrations, colour maps, graphs (some colour)Includes abstract and appendix.Includes bibliographical references (pages 36-40).The endangered status of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) in Nova Scotia has led to the implementation of recovery and management plans within the inner Bay of Fundy watersheds. This includes the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ Live Gene Bank program, which stocks Atlantic Salmon fry in rivers historically inhabited by Atlantic
Salmon. The Maritime Aboriginal People’s Council has a partnership with the Coldbrook
Biodiversity Facility that supports the stocking of rivers of cultural significance to the
Mi’kmaq people of Nova Scotia with Atlantic Salmon fry reared in facility from wild genetic strains. In this study, stocked inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon fry and parr collected as part of the Maritime Aboriginal People’s Council electrofishing surveys were studied to determine the efficacy of current in-stream recovery practices and test for differences in juvenile size between two rivers (Debert and Folly). I found that condition factor at a given life stage did not vary between rivers. Thus, fry and parr from these two rivers were pooled in studies of electrofishing recovery. As ventilation rate can be a good predictor of metabolic rate in juvenile Atlantic Salmon, I counted opercular beat frequency as a proxy for oxygen consumption rates. Ventilation rates were continuously monitored for 20 minutes in an in-stream flow through holding tank and opercular beat frequencies were counted 0, 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-minutes post-electrofishing. When differences in size were taken into account, life stage did not have a significant effect on relative opercular beat frequency. I found that relative opercular beat frequency declined ~20% after 20 minutes of recovery post-electrofishing in both parr and fry. These data suggest that a 20-minute recovery period post-electrofishing results in a reduction of juvenile inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon ventilation rates, indicating there is some recovery from stress using our current protocol
From ordinary to extraordinary : female relationships and witchcraft in Rothesay, 1662
Full text link1 online resource (v, 111 pages) : illustrations, colour mapsIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (pages 102-111).During the Great Scottish Witch-hunt of 1661-1662, Scotland experienced its most intense
period of witchcraft prosecution. One of the communities most profoundly affected was
Rothesay, located on the isle of Bute. This thesis primarily draws on kirk session records (1658–1661) of the Church of Scotland and the transcription of a collection of confessions, declarations, and memoranda on witchcraft taken in the presence of local religious and civic officials in Bute in 1662 and later printed in the Highland Papers. The Rothesay kirk session records and the Bute manuscript on witchcraft serve to examine how female relationships both shaped parish life and reveal the processes of moral regulation, discipline, and accusation in the community. Employing a micro-historical approach, this study traces how women as family, kin, and neighbours lived and interacted in both ordinary times and moments of crisis. It argues that female relationships were central to the social fabric of mid-seventeenth-century Rothesay. These dynamics, often obscured in broader histories, emerge through close analysis of local records. By showing how everyday tensions escalated in extraordinary times, this study offers insight into the localized context of a witch-hunt and the gendered relationships that both sustained and fractured communal life
The ceramics of the Kejikawek L’nuk, Port Joli (Emsik)
Full text link1 online resource (78 pages) : colour illustrations, colour maps, colour graphsIncludes abstract and appendices.Includes bibliographical references (pages 59-61).This project evaluated nearly 400 sherds excavated from shell middens in Port Joli site
AlDf-03, dated to the Kejikawek L’nuk (Woodland Period). These ceramics, excavated in 1957-59 by naturalist John Erskine, are one of many legacy collections held by the Nova Scotia Museum. I consider surface decorations alongside manufacturing attributes as key identifiers of knowledge transfer in and between communities, particularly between women. Knowledge transfer in the ceramic assemblage, demonstrates how information moves throughout the community – as such, it paints a picture of community needs, priorities, and social demographics overtime. AlDf-03 presents evidence for increasing expediency and specialization in the manufacture of ceramics, suggesting an increased population. I have additionally recognized important differences between the AlDf-03 assemblage and the material excavated by the E’se’get Archaeological project (2008-2012), namely the presence of pseudo-scallop shell decoration in Port Joli. There is further evidence in the decorative technologies that ceramic trends spread along the Mersey-Allains River corridor, potentially originating in some cases along the Atlantic coast and moving inwards towards the Bay of Fundy. In total, this research has demonstrated not only the importance of revisiting legacy collections but the benefits of considering knowledge transfer analysis to identify trends in ceramic use and manufacture over time