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Determinants of state level variation in electric vehicle sales in the United States and the impact on regional air quality
No full textThis thesis focuses on determining which factors contribute to state-level variation in electric vehicle (EV) sales with a focus on the effectiveness on EV sales levels and markets shares on air quality in the United States. Previous research has identified the effect of federal rebates on EVs, but many of the studies have been focused on a state or a region, and the research based on the entire country is outdated.The thesis examines whether the rebate-based state incentive systems for EVs currently implemented are effective in converting consumers to switch to EVs. Once the state-level variation is determined, the effectiveness of EVs in reducing pollution will be investigated.To evaluate the state-level variation in EV adoption, a pooled OLS model with EV sales and market shares as the dependent variable is implemented to estimate which factors may contribute to the variation of EV sales. To discover the effect of EV market shares on air pollution levels, each pollutant is regressed on variables that may contribute to the variation in air pollution levels in order to isolate the effect of EV adoption rates.This thesis found that state-level financial incentives are insignificant in converting consumers to adopt electric vehicles. The presence of clean energy, the weather, the presence of electric vehicle chargers, and demographics significantly explain the variation in the sales and shares of electric vehicles across states and over time. Given this variation, it was determined that EV sales shares lead to a slight reduction in CO, NOX, and O3.These findings are relevant to state-level governments that want to most effectively encourage consumers to purchase EVs in the goal of reducing air pollution.</p
Giants, games, and fate: an examination of the heroic challenge in mediaeval epic and romance literature
No full textWith this thesis I examine the function of the heroic challenge in mediaeval epic and romance literature. I first define the heroic challenge and its function in motiving the hero and proving their heroism. I subdivide the heroic challenge trope into three smaller common categories – Giants, Games, and Fate. To explore the variations of the heroic challenge within the genre, I examine specific instances of challenges, such as The Beheading Game in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and note their significance to the development of the hero figure. Part of my goal is to showcase both the importance and prevalence of the challenge in heroic literature, so I also included shorter interchapters on the Fled Bricrend and The Awntyrs off Arthure. I begin with Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and how the poem combines the subcategories of the heroic challenge into one formidable foe. From there, I move to the Ulster Cycle and ways in which the heroic challenge unfolds less as a physical trial and more the mental and emotional fallout of the challenges. I then switch over to the Awntyrs and Sir Malory’s Morte Darthur to explore the tragic aspect of the challenge evident in King Arthur’s dealings with Fate. The thesis concludes with an acknowledgement of the importance of the heroic challenge and chance in the heroic narrative.</p
Gender politics & pedagogy: how gender is being introduced in introductory politics courses at Acadia University
No full textUsing a mixed method approach, this thesis investigates how gender politics is being introduced in introductory politics courses in the Department of Politics at Acadia University. The first part of my research was a content analysis of introductory politics syllabi that were offered between 2020-2023, analyzing how gender politics is integrated into course materials and themes. To supplement these findings, I carried out semi-structured interviews with each fulltime Department of Politics faculty member who taught those courses to reflect on the content analysis findings and get a more nuanced understanding of how gender politics is being introduced, if at all. The results of this project show that, regardless of syllabi content showing a lack of gender as a prominent theme in introductory politics courses, gender politics is being introduced in introductory politics courses by all faculty members in two prominent ways: informally through class discussions and readings, or a combination of both formally, meaning dedicating class content and time on the subject, and informally. Other findings suggest that although gender politics is being introduced somehow, professors face pedagogical challenges that undermine the introduction to gender. These challenges include discrepancies in student engagement and a lack of student reading. The findings of this project both contradict and support previous literature on the subject of gender politics and pedagogy. An overall comparison to other research findings shows that the Acadia University Department of Politics Faculty is doing well in introducing gender politics in 1000- and 2000-level courses.</p
Identifying barriers to and preferences for cardiac rehabilitation programs among self-identifying women in Canada: a mixed-methods study
No full textCardiac Rehabilitation (CR) programs are chronic disease management programs combined with exercise training, lifestyle education, and access to specialized health professionals to assist individuals with managing and treating cardiovascular disease (CVD). Adherence to CR can help improve CVD risk factors, medication adherence, exercise capacity, psychosocial well-being, and overall quality of life. Unfortunately, women are less likely to be referred, enroll and adhere to CR programs, thus contributing to CVD as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women globally. Therefore, this study aims to determine the barriers to attending, and preferences for, CR programs for all those who identify as women in Canada. This mixed-methods study included a quantitative online survey to understand the obstacles and preferences to enrolling and adhering to CR programs. A subsample of participants engaged in a virtual one-on-one semi-structured interview to gain a more unique perspective from their lived experience. Ninety-three women across nine provinces in Canada completed the online survey, and of those, twenty individuals engaged in the one-on-one interviews representing five provinces. The results from the online survey, including the Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale (CRBS), indicated barriers to attending their CR programs were severe weather, lack of energy and finding exercise too tiring or painful. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) resulted in an average anxiety score of 7.95 (borderline abnormal anxiety) and an average depression score of 5.69 (normal). The average Self-Efficacy for Exercise (SEE) score was 52.6, indicating low confidence to engage in physical activity. The main findings of the interviews revealed the greatest barriers to adhering to CR programs were time of day, family responsibilities, time to get diagnosed or referred, travel, and lack of support. The common preferences were supportive staff and peers with commonalties to feel safe and monitored during exercise, offering a women-only program, and offering more program times. Further efforts are necessary to find possible solutions for all women attending CR programs and incorporate these and women’s preferences to ensure they feel safe and want to engage in CR programs to obtain the support they need.</p
Maternity bias in academia: how motherhood affects career progression
No full textThe purpose of this study was to investigate how motherhood influences the advancement of female academics in Nova Scotia universities. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach to determine the existence of maternity bias in these institutions. Six female educators from different universities took part in this study and shared their experiences through semi-structured interviews that lasted between 30 and 60 minutes. Thematic analysis was employed to identify common patterns and themes that emerged during the interviews. There were four main themes that emerged in the analysis process: childcare accessibility, balancing parenting responsibilities with work commitments, systemic bias in Nova Scotia universities, and advocacy and intervention. In the final chapter, these findings are discussed, and their impacts are assessed.</p
Body-building: the effects of (aging) church buildings on local congregations
No full textEvery congregation in Atlantic Canada meets in a building or structure of some form. Church buildings cannot be escaped in this climate, and neither can the responsibility for maintaining them. Many congregations, well established in years, today face the prospect of having to perform significant repairs and renovations to their aging buildings—with an eye to accessibility—over and above regular annual maintenance and rising heating costs. When faced with such burdens, congregations must make important decisions that will affect their future, for better or for worse.This thesis explores the effects of an (aging) church building on a congregation’s local ministry and mission in Atlantic Canada. It argues that congregations rooted in Christ’s presence and in place are free to determine by God’s leading, with contextual research, whether a creative building change would foster spiritual vitality and missional impact.It first lays a biblical and theological understanding of what it means to be a congregation and explores the role of facilities in serving the congregation as a tool for ministry and mission in their community. Next, it considers some of the literature that has been offered to date related to the topic of church buildings, especially the concepts of space and place. It also considers the alarm bells being sounded regarding church buildings by entertaining the guiding principles of the landmark 2015 Church of England report on how the Church manages its 16,000 buildings, as well as the conclusions of Stephen McMullin’s work on declining congregations, and issues regarding accessibility.The field research was qualitative and consisted of six focus groups. Each group was comprised of five to seven members. Five of the focus groups were from different congregations. The sixth focus group was comprised of self-identified non-believers residing in the same broader geographic community as one of the congregational focus groups. In addition, three in-depth, one-on-one interviews were conducted with senior pastoral leaders with a variety of experiences related to the theme of this study, including the house-church movement; multi-site ministry; and acquiring an aged church building. All research was conducted in Atlantic Canada.The results verified some assumptions, but also revealed a few surprises, one of which was that non-believers gave responses with theological implications to matters related to church buildings. As part of the project, a resource is offered to help guide pastors and lay leaders in conversations about the future of their church buildings. The analysis of the focus group and interview data is detailed in the thesis.</p
Sociality influences thermal sensitivity: lessons from an amphibious mangrove fish
No full textClimate change is threatening biodiversity as temperatures become warmer and more variable. Ectothermic animals, such as most fishes, are particularly vulnerable to increasing temperatures because all aspects of their biology are controlled by their surrounding environment. How species respond to temperature depends on a suite of abiotic (e.g., oxygen) and biotic (e.g., sex, age) factors. Notably, altered social interactions between species and/or individuals can have effects on all interacting parties, influencing responses to environmental change with downstream consequences for ecosystem function. Despite this importance, how social interactions influence responses to temperature is not well understood. It has recently been demonstrated that brief periods of social experience in fish influence thermal responses and thermal sensation via the thermal sensor, TRPV1 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily v member 1); however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. The stress hormone cortisol is a compelling candidate as it changes with sociality and has modulated thermal sensors in mammalian cells. Thus, I first tested the hypothesis that socially mediated thermal responses are a direct result of a change in physiological state, specifically an increase in the stress hormone, cortisol. To test this, I used a highly homozygous lineage of an amphibious tropical fish, mangrove rivulus (Kryptolebias marmoratus) where socially mediated thermal responses had first been observed; specifically, socially experienced fish emerged from warmer water than their naïve counterparts. I first determined that socially experienced fish have higher whole-body cortisol levels compared to naïve fish. To identify if cortisol is a mechanism for socially mediated thermal desensitization, I tested socially experienced and naïve fish along with socially experienced fish and naïve fish treated with metyrapone, a cortisol inhibitor. If cortisol impairs thermal responses, inhibiting cortisol would cause socially experienced fish to emerge from water at temperatures akin to naïve control fish and this is what I observed. I also used capsaicin, a TRPV1 specific agonist, to stimulate the thermal sensor without an increase in temperature. We know socially experienced fish require more capsaicin to emerge, suggesting a desensitization. If cortisol contributes to thermal desensitization, then inhibiting cortisol would cause socially experienced fish to emerge from water at similar concentrations to naïve control fish and this is what I observed, supporting my hypothesis. These data point to cortisol as a novel mechanism underlying socially mediated thermal responses and desensitization. Given that cortisol is not exclusively affected by sociality, results from my study suggest that other physiological states that change cortisol concentrations may also impact thermal responses and thermosensation in fish.I determined social experience affects thermal responses at least partially through cortisol modulation of TRPV1; however, social organization in animals is diverse. Many species of fish form social groups and some, like mangrove rivulus are more aggressive, and readily engage in contests and form hierarchies. In my second data chapter, I asked if an aggressive encounter in the form of an acute dyadic contest mediates thermal responses through desensitized TRPV1, then contest winners and losers will sense and respond to temperature differently. I first determined the winner and loser status of fish in dyadic contests and measured 1) the emersion temperature and 2) the concentration of the TRPV1 agonist, capsaicin, at emersion. Since fish of subordinate status can have decreased physiological performance, I predicted that losing fish would have higher emersion temperatures and capsaicin concentrations compared to winning fish. My results supported my predictions. Higher emersion capsaicin concentrations for losing fish suggest increased stimulation of TRPV1 channels is needed to escape and therefore losers are experiencing thermal desensitization. Cortisol concentrations were higher in winners suggesting cortisol has differential effects on thermal responses compared to what I observed with social experience. I also measured TRPV1 gene expression and found no change between winners and losers suggesting a post-transcriptional modulation of this thermal sensor. Overall, both the outcome of dyadic contests and social experience can change how fish sense and respond to changes in their thermal environment, but the mechanisms underlying these responses appear to be distinct. Given the current weather extremes, climate warming and unpredictability, my findings indicate the importance of considering biotic, social interactions to make more accurate predictions on the capacity of fishes to cope with warming, ultimately to improve conservation efforts.</p
The effect of psilocybin on the behaviour and physiology of an isogenic mangrove fish
No full textHallucinogenic “magic” mushrooms are becoming more prominent for their potential therapeutic properties. Psilocybin is the primary alkaloid in these hallucinogenic mushrooms (Psilocybe spp.) and has been known to produce calming effects in humans. It interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain that mediate anxiety and stress. The use of non-human models is compelling as an approach to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of psilocybin with more robust conclusions. I investigated the behavioural and physiological effects of psilocybin in an isogenic lineage of an emerging model fish species, the mangrove rivulus (Kryptolebias marmoratus). These fish are known for their high activity levels and socially dynamic behaviour, often exhibiting aggression towards conspecifics. This aggression can lead to physiological responses such as an effect on the neuroendocrine stress hormone, cortisol. The primary objective was to determine if psilocybin could induce calming effects in situations of social aggression. To address this goal, I used a waterborne concentration of 3000 g/L, based on previous dose-response experiments. If psilocybin reduces social aggression in mangrove rivulus, then psilocybin-treated fish will engage in fewer aggressive behaviours and exhibit decreased activity levels compared to control fish. To test this, I subjected a focal fish to social stimulation with a conspecific (stimulus fish) and 24 h later, administered a single psilocybin dose to the focal fish for 20 min, before a second social interaction. I measured a range of behaviours including frequency and time spent in aggressive behaviours as well as activity levels. My results revealed considerable intraspecific variation in the behavioural response of these homozygous fish to a low dose of psilocybin, suggesting that genotype does not have an effect on the measured behaviours. Notably, I observed a significant decrease in activity levels and in the frequency of swimming bursts toward the stimulus fish with modest alterations on some other behaviours following psilocybin treatment. In the behavioural endpoints where I observed an effect, I examined the duration of these effects. Psilocybin exhibited diverse responses for each behaviour. However, psilocybin treatment showed an effect up to 7 days following treatment for the frequency of lateral displays. Psilocybin had no effect on whole body cortisol concentrations after any of the behavioural trials, with or without psilocybin. My study demonstrates that psilocybin reduces aggressive behaviour and activity levels in mangrove rivulus and adds to the increasing literature of psilocybin as a therapeutic agent. These data are promising and could help the translation of this pharmaceutical into clinical studies for therapeutic treatment applications.Keywords - Psilocybin, Psilocin, Sociality, Aggression, Activity, Mangrove rivulus, Cortisol</p
Toward healing waters: inflammation in the gut and brain and the role of INSL5 in recovery from traumatic brain injury in Zebrafish
No full textThe role of insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) in inflammation and fibrosis has not been studied despite the known anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties of other relaxin family peptides. Inflammation following traumatic brain injuries (TBI) is a global cause of concern due to the puzzling crossover between gastrointestinal and neurological disorders via the gut-brain axis. With high expression in the brain and gut, I hypothesized that INSL5 would affect inflammation in these areas following TBI. A zebrafish (Danio rerio) TBI model was used to study the effect of INSL5 treatment on inflammation in the brain and gut following brain damage. Anesthetized zebrafish received a puncture wound in the left telencephalic hemisphere with the undamaged hemisphere serving as a control. They were placed in 1 L of ambient water containing 3.9×10-9 M INSL5 or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) vehicle as a control for 60 min. Two days after the brain injury, the fish were euthanized. Brains were processed for immunohistochemical detection of L-Plastin and PCNA, whereas gut protein isolates were analyzed using Western blotting for pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. There was a significant decrease in L-Plastin and proliferating cell nuclease antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity in the telencephalon of fish treated with INSL5. In the gut, there was a significant increase in both pro-inflammatory markers in brain-damaged fish, but no significant effect of INSL5 treatment. Significant dimorphism in responses was found between males and females in both PCNA and L-Plastin mean immunoreactivity. These data suggest that gut inflammation increases in brain-damaged fish. In addition, INSL5 treatment might reduce inflammation in the brain following injury permitting neurogenesis to occur.</p
Biodiversity and ecology of salt marsh grass root endophytes from the Minas Basin, Nova Scotia
No full textRecognized within international environmental laws, salt marshes play a critical role in several economically and ecologically important services, including recreational and commercial fisheries, providing coastal community protection, and contribute to mass carbon sequestration. Vegetation in Minas Basin, Nova Scotia salt marshes is dominated by keystone salt marsh grass species Sporobolus alterniflorus (formerly Spartina alterniflora), Sporobolus pumilus (formerly Spartina patens), and Sporobolus michauxianus (formerly Spartina pectinata). The biodiversity and interactions between plants and fungi in salt marsh sediment remain understudied. Sporobolus species roots were collected from three natural and one restored Minas Basin salt marsh and plated onto YMA+ and V8+ media to isolate non-mycorrhizal root endophytes in culture. DNA was PCR-amplified using the ITS5 and ITS4 primers to make taxonomic identifications. Sporobolus pumilus was also propagated from seed in tissue culture on five different media types, and roots were experimentally inoculated with four endophytic fungi identified from Sporobolus species: Paralulworthia sp.1, Falciphora sp., Dimorphospora sp., and Ophiosphaerella sp. Plant vigor and growth (root, and shoot lengths, and total plant weight) of control (non-inoculated) plants and plants inoculated with endophytes were assessed after 28 days of growth under controlled parameters. Thirteen filamentous fungi were identified and their known ecologies are discussed (endophytic, saprobic, pathogenic, plant growth promoter). Five taxa were identified as known marine fungi, with Paralulworthia being the most common genus collected. Natural salt marshes had higher root fungal species richness and abundance than the restored salt marsh studied. Endophyte inoculation results suggest S. pumilus plant and root growth promotion by some root endophytic fungi may be possible and warrants further study. This study will contribute to improving native salt marsh plant propagation and robust restoration techniques.</p