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Good things to those who ask: ancient answers to contemporary challenges to the efficacy of petitionary prayer
No full textContemporary debate over the efficacy of petitionary prayer has been strongly influenced by Eleonore Stump's 1979 formulation of the argument against its logical coherence. Arguments recognizably similar to Stump's, however, were being considered in the early centuries of Christianity, provoking some discussion but little apparent concern. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the early Christian understanding of the efficacy of petitionary prayer, in conjunction with the contributions of Stump and others interacting with her 1979 article, to determine whether a suitable defence against Stump's argument can be constructed on the basis of the early sources. With some assistance from the philosophy of relations, it closely examines the relational framework suggested by the various factors linked by the early authors to the efficacy of prayer,
ultimately concluding that this framework suggests a plausible means by which prayer gives God additional reason to grant petitions
The movement of Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus Mitchill, 1815 through the Minas Passage–Minas Basin corridor using traditional and novel tagging technology
No full textThe behavior of Atlantic Sturgeon within their spawning and feeding habitat has been well documented. However, there is a lack of knowledge concerning their long-term movements between critical habitats. Understanding patterns in sturgeon's migratory behavior is critical to identify and mitigate harm caused to both Canadian and US Atlantic Sturgeon populations. The focus of my MSc thesis was to use acoustic tagging technology to answer questions regarding 1) patterns in temporal and spatial proximity between Atlantic Sturgeon within a frequented migratory corridor; and 2) spatial overlap and predicting encounter rates of Atlantic Sturgeon with instream tidal turbines located at the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE), Minas Passage, Nova Scotia. For Chapter 1, I used data obtained from acoustic receivers deployed between 2012-2014 within the Minas Passage –Minas Basin corridor to predict whether sturgeon tagged with acoustic transmitters (n = 103) from the same genetic river of origin and, at the same life stage, had a higher likelihood of forming associations. Atlantic Sturgeon were found to co-occur with certain other individuals more frequently than expected by chance in regions that serve as feeding zones but did not exhibit long term associations throughout their marine migration. For Chapter2, I assessed acoustically tagged Atlantic Sturgeons (n = 43) movement through the FORCE test site during 2018-2019. In 2009, the FORCE test site was established on the northern shore of Minas Passage NS to test tidal turbines. We found that a large proportion of tagged Atlantic Sturgeon migrated through this region multiple times throughout the summer at a depth similar to proposed tidal turbines. This study provides baseline data for Atlantic Sturgeon spatial and temporal distribution at the
turbine site. Future studies will assess how sturgeon behavior changes during the presence of operational tidal turbines
Romantic relationship disapproval as a predictor of perceived closeness with social network members
No full textThe present study examined how perceived disapproval of romantic relationships by social network members (friends or family members) predicted closeness of the relationship between the target person involved in the romantic relationship and the corresponding social network member (SNM). Seven hundred and three participants who were currently in romantic relationships receiving disapproval completed a comprehensive online survey examining basic demographics, closeness of relationship with the selected SNM at three different time points (i.e., before any perceived disapproval, at the point of strongest perceived disapproval, and
currently), and perceived strength of the SNM's disapproval. The study further investigated whether levels of perceived disapproval and perceived closeness varied by relationship type (i.e., visibly marginalized relationship vs. non-marginalized relationship) or SNM type (i.e., friend vs. family member). Using a Mixed ANOVA grouping three types of visibly marginalized relationships (i.e., age-discrepant, mixed-race, or same-
sex) together, a significant main effect of time on closeness with SNMs was found, such that closeness dropped substantially when disapproval was detected, and recovered slightly afterwards,but only for those who experienced lower levels of perceived disapproval, and not nearly to original levels. The pattern of change in closeness was moderated by both strength of the SNM's disapproval and SNM type. Relationship type was not found to be a significant predictor of closeness with SNMs. However, follow-up analyses comparing same-sex and mixed-sex relationship types revealed a significant interaction between time and relationship type. Implications and theoretical explanations for such findings were discussed
Straying and Diel movement by upstream migrating anadromous alewife Alosa pseudoharengus (Wilson, 1811) among four rivers in Cumberland Basin, Inner Bay of Fundy
No full textNatal-river philopatry is a common trait across anadromous fish taxa, with iteroparous species returning to their rivers of origin multiple times over the course of their lives. Some straying occurs in most populations, as individuals venture beyond expected migratory paths and colonize new rivers or mix with established populations. From May 2013 to June 2019, we tagged 9270 upstream-migrating adult alewifeAlosa pseudoharengus (Wilson, 1811) in four rivers as part of a study examining the efficiency of local fishways in rivers tributary to Cumberland Basin, Inner bay of Fundy. Fish passage efficiency at obstruction bypass structures like fishways is an important parameter in ensuring conservation of anadromous fish stocks. A total of 5919 tagged fish were detected by antenna arrays installed on the four
rivers being monitored, with 1036 individuals detected on rivers other than the ones on which they were tagged. By comparing straying with fish age, sex, and proximity of destination rivers, we
calculated howthese va riables influenced the migration choices of spawning alewife. To test the effect of artificial illumination on fish passage use by alewife, we illuminated one of two Denil-style fishways in the 2014 season and found that illumination had a negative effect on fish presence within the fishway
Examination of the use of intertidal weirs as fish monitoring platforms in the upper Bay of Fundy
No full textThe upper Bay of Fundy is an area of high ecological importance for a diverse assemblage of fish species. It is also the location of tidal energy demonstration with the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy
(FORCE) facilitating the deployment of tidal in-stream energy conversion devices and undertaking environmental effects monitoring (EEM) at its test site in Minas Passage. Since 2009, FORCE's EEM program has utilized a variety of strategies to gain a better understanding of fish presence and activity within and near the test site. In this study, commercial intertidal weir catches and a single-beam echosounder were used to address identified information gaps, including the suitability of intertidal weirs as fish monitoring platforms. The aims of this thesis were to: 1)examine the trends in the presence and relative abundance of fishes in catches at two intertidal weirs, and 2) investigate the usefulness of an Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler (AZFP) in monitoring fish moving in close proximity to an intertidal weir. Sampling was conducted near weekly during daytime low tides in spring and summer 2013 at weirs in Bramber and Five Islands, Nova Scotia. Clupeids dominated the weir catches. Relative abundance and species richness varied seasonally and reflected the movement and spawning patterns of migratory species. Considerable variation in fish catches were observed over time, with greater fish captures and acoustic backscatter during dusk/night. While intertidal weirs
were shown to be useful monitoring platforms for assessing general patterns in the presence and abundance of fish in nearshore Minas Basin, such sites are not suitable for the deployment of an AZFP. Echosounders
are better suited for the subtidal environment and are likely to be beneficial if used in combination with an experimental weir located in Minas Passage
Sofishticated tracking: improved protocol for acoustic tagging of sensitive clupeid fishes, and applications in investigating postspawning migration of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) in Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy
No full textGaspereau River in Kings County, Nova Scotia, supports a commercially valuable stock of anadromous alewives. Little is known about oceanic movement of this species. In addition to natural mortalities, the population faces potential threat from the development of in-stream tidal energy in the Bay of Fundy. This study offers the first glimpse at post-spawning migration in Atlantic Canada using novel High Residency acoustic tracking technology. The first chapter identified the physiological and behavioural response of alewife to internal tagging based on reflex impairment and post-mortem examinations. The results showed the procedure is viable for the remote tracking of a species known to be sensitive to handling.The second chapter applied acoustic tracking methods to investigate post-spawning migration of Gaspereau River alewife within Minas Basin and through Minas Passage. Minas Passage is a region slated for instream tidal turbine infrastructure so overlap in this region was assessed. Results showed 77% of tagged individuals were
detected by receiver arrays in Minas Basin, including a considerable portion within the Passage. Alewife movement appeared to be primarily dictated by tidal transport. These data will provide baseline information for
future assessments of the stock
Marine nutrient transfer to three Atlantic Canadian lakes from the annual spawning migration of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus Wilson, 1811)
No full textAlewife (Alosa pseudoharengus Wilson, 1811) is an anadromous fish species that migrates annually to spawn in lakes along the eastern coast of Canada and the United States. Their migration provides an influx of crucial nutrients to freshwater environments through carcass decay and excretion of fecal matter, eggs and sperm. Stable isotope analysis performed o n aquatic macroinvertebrates from three lakes in Atlantic Canada determined that enriched 훿13C and 훿15N levels (indicative of marine origin) coincide with the alewife spawning migration. Significant enrichment of 훿13C was observed in Daphnia, Baetidae, and
Chironomidae in Gaspereau Lake, Daphnia, Baetidae and Rhyacophilidae in Jolicure Lake, and Daphnia and Rhyacophilidae in Long Lake.The levels of 훿15N were enriched by 3-4‰ between Daphnia–Baetidae
and Baetidae–Glossiphonidaein Gaspereau Lake; Baetidae–Aeshnidae, Rhyacophilidae–Aeshnidae, Chironomidae–Aeshnidae, and Glossiphonidae–Aeshnidae in Jolicure Lake; Chironomidae–Aeshnidae and
Baetidae–Aeshnidae in Long Lake.I used %NCHS analysis and phosphorus assays on alewife carcasses to determine the quantity of nutrients in alewives that would be provided by mortality from the annual migration. Alewife carcasses were categorized by sex and size and I determined that there was a significant difference of %N and %S between males and females. There was no significant difference in %NCHS or P between size classes or sex. Male alewife composition is 4.95 푔푓푖푠ℎN and 0.24푔푓푖푠 ℎS, and female alewife composition is 5.35 푔푓푖푠 ℎN and 0.25 푔푓푖푠ℎ S. CHP compositions are
25.05 푔푓푖푠ℎ 3.75 푔푓푖푠ℎ and 0.42 푔푓푖푠ℎ respectively. This information can quantify total nutrient input if population abundance, mortality rate, and sex ratio are known for separate alewife populations
Investigating language representations and sensorimotor learning in bilingual speakers
No full textStudies of language representations in bilingual individuals thus far have produced conflicting reports; many patient/case studies suggest languages are represented independently, while imaging and behavioural studies show mixed results with age of acquisition and proficiency level differentially impacting representations. The present study employed an experimental model of sensorimotor learning in speech using altered auditory feedback to investigate the relationship between speech production and language representations in a group of 20 adult English/French bilinguals. To induce sensorimotor learning, participants produced full sentences in either English or French while altered auditory feedback was applied to their vowel sounds in real time. All participants produced English sentences in one session and French sentences in the other. Before and after learning, a transfer test involving the production of isolated words in both English and French assessed vowelproduction in the absence of auditory feedback (i.e., speech was heavily noise masked). The amount of speech motor learning within each language was measured as well as the degree of transfer of the adaptation from one language to another. Results indicated equal amounts of learning in English and French and equivalent transfer between and within both languages. The present study suggests that, in bilinguals, speech motor learning acquired in the context of one language is broadly applicable to a second language. The work supports the idea that the motor programs used to communicate language are shared in the bilingual brain
Synthesis of novel naphthalene-based 14-AZA-12-oxasteriod analogues
No full textSteroids have interesting and complex biological functions in humans. Recently, synthesis of heterosteroids have generated great attention because of their interesting biological and pharmacological activities. Therefore, synthesis of heterosteroids molecules is of interest to synthetic chemistsin this study. A transition-metal-free 3-step synthetic pathway to produce a heterosteroid
was utilized. This pathway involves a cascade reaction of 1-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-2-aminonaphthalenes with levulinic acid for a tandem C-N and C-O bond formation to lead the synthesis of an amide. ESI-HRMS was conducted on several intermediate and final compounds to determine their exact masses. In total, 6 novel 14-aza-12-oxasteroid analogues were synthesized and were characterized by 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopies. X-ray crystallography was used to determine the structure of one of the final products
Screening novel marine fungal strains for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically, eicosapentaenoic acid and arachidonic acid
No full textThe polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are important for human health. Alternate sources of these valuable PUFAs for human consumption are being sought to replace the current, unsustainable, sources: fish oil and animal byproducts respectively. Marine fungi show promise as a novel and potentially lucrative source of PUFAs, which could provide a renewable source of EPA and ARA. In collaboration with Mara Renewables Corporation in Dartmouth Nova Scotia, this study established growth and screening methods for marine fungi, isolated novel strains from the Atlantic Ocean, identified them by ITS rDNA barcoding and determined their fatty acid profiles. Marine fungal strains were grown in liquid cultures and screened for EPA and ARA production using fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Of the 74 isolated marine microorganisms belonging to 25 genera; four Mortierella strains produced ARA and one Pythium strain (oomycete) produced both EPA and ARA, at commercially competitive quantities. Future research will target the isolation and screening of additional strains from these genera and scale up promising strains in bioreactors for optimization of growth and fatty
acid production