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Sustainable solutions for soilless farming: reducing waste with vertical aeroponic systems
No full textThe increase in global population has led to environmental challenges, particularly with increased food demand. Although traditional agriculture has served as a reliable practice for centuries, it has become increasingly unsustainable due to the overuse of natural resources. Under such circumstances, various farming companies have found new farming technologies that allow plant cultivation to occur without the use of soil to reduce land, water, and chemical usage. In Canada, Urban Lighthouse Farm Inc. (ULF) is currently the only vertical aeroponic farming company that is CanadaGap certified. ULF has identified several challenges within the food operation protocol including single-use materials and inefficient disposal of inconsumable plant waste, which could affect long-term sustainability. This study examined plant germination, growth, and reusability of unusable plant matter with four varying germination treatments. Food safe baskets (GyroCups™) and Brassica sp. plant seeds were used to determine a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable technique for plant germination. The fresh weight values of the Brassica sp. plants grown in the four germination methods varied. Brassica sp. plants grown with agar produced the highest weight values. The inconsumable roots from the harvested Brassica sp. plants were reused as a substrate for Blue Oyster (P. columinous) and Oyster (P. ostreatus) mushroom trials to determine the effectiveness of using agricultural waste as a substrate. The mushrooms with the highest recorded weight values were grown with the addition of sterilized roots. These findings provide ULF with a foundation for a “reduce, reuse, recycle” model to incorporate in their farming practices.</p
Political action behind the scenes: exploring Elizabeth Woodville and her influence on the Wars of the Roses
No full textThe Wars of the Roses (1455-1487) has been a widely studied event; however, most women who were involved have been ignored. This thesis aims to explore the life of Elizabeth Woodville, the wife of Edward IV. Precisely, this research will focus on her time as the Queen of England and how she was politically active without being noticed. It argues that Elizabeth was an integral player in the series of wars, and that the victory of Edward IV and the strength of Henry VII’s reigns would not have been possible without her. This thesis will also demonstrate that Elizabeth success was had because of the way that her publicly portrayed herself. Through analysis of her early life, education and actions taken as queen, it will be shown that Elizabeth understood the political situation she found herself in as well as how portraying a specific image could be beneficial to her. Through the use of numerous primary source documents, this research explores Elizabeth’s role within the War of the Roses, both her successes and failures in her efforts towards sustaining her husband’s and sons’ rulership while she was in sanctuary. Secondary research, such as David McGibbon and David Baldwin’s books on Elizabeth and Joanna Laynesmith’s book on queenship in the late medieval period, were essential as women were rarely mentioned in the earliest sources. Overall, this research will ultimately show how these sources work together to demonstrate Elizabeth Woodville’s active role in the political landscape of the Wars of the Roses.</p
Sustaining efforts of mosquito surveillance through a community science-based approach
No full textThe rising temperatures, increased precipitation, and prolonged summer conditions associated with climate change encourages the northward range expansion of various mosquito species into new geographic regions, including Canada. Surveillance is essential for tracking changes in the composition of mosquito populations; however, the cost and effort of traditional methods restricts many regions in Canada, including the Maritime provinces, to infrequent surveillance efforts. In this study, we assessed mosquito species composition and range in New Brunswick using three traditional sampling methods, including CDC light traps, larval dips, and air captures, from 1 May to 15 September 2024. Further, to develop more cost-effective surveillance to enhance long-term monitoring efforts, I recruited community members to donate mosquitoes that landed on their bodies through two collection and deposit sites in two parks in New Brunswick. Through traditional surveillance we collected 17,211 mosquitoes in 7 genera, consisting of 43 species. We identified six new species records for New Brunswick, including species associated with the transmission of West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, and malaria. Community sample sites provided 288 mosquitoes and approximately half of the collection was identifiable morphologically, yielding at least 9 species. I pooled all community samples by location and date, extracted DNA, and sent the samples for Illumina sequencing to identify all species present. Overall, community sampling yielded high richness and diversity for the number of specimens collected. Further, the results presented here demonstrate that the composition of mosquito communities is changing within the Maritimes. I suggest that community science-based sampling of mosquitoes is a valuable and cost-effective method of tracking invasive species between periods of traditional surveillance.</p
Beyond the margins: unveiling the contemporary landscape of historically marginalized groups and protected ridings within Nova Scotia's political parties
No full textThis thesis explores the underrepresentation of historically marginalized groups, such as African Nova Scotians, other racialized groups, and members of the LGBTQ community, within Nova Scotia’s political landscape. A central focus of the research is to examine the extent to which protected ridings in Nova Scotia have served their purpose of supporting the election of MLAs from the historically underrepresented Acadian and African Nova Scotian communities. The possibility of better political representation for underrepresented groups through the province’s unique use of protected ridings is considered.Drawing from interview and survey data from political candidates from marginalized communities who ran in Nova Scotia elections from 2000 to 2023, the research highlights systemic barriers to political participation and representation. It examines the development, effectiveness, and criticisms of protected ridings while also exploring how political parties recruit diverse candidates. The study concludes that while protected ridings have helped increase representation, significant challenges remain, such as racial biases in candidate selection and insufficient support for marginalized candidates. The thesis provides recommendations for further research and policy reforms aimed at fostering greater inclusivity in Nova Scotia’s political system.</p
Exploring the potential of Theraplay with adults: a case study with an adult survivor of complex trauma
No full textTheraplay, used worldwide with children, is a play-based therapeutic intervention designed to effect positive change by increasing attachment security. This study has the distinction of being the first to explore and describe Theraplay as a therapeutic intervention with the non-group adult population. Merging methods of case-study and narrative inquiry, this thesis chronicles one adult’s thoughts, emotions, and stories associated with receiving Theraplay treatment for attachment trauma experienced in his childhood, and describes the modifications made to Theraplay enabling its use with an adult. Data consisted of semi-structured interview transcriptions from two participants, the adult client and his therapist, triangulated with the therapist’s clinical notes and the researcher’s observations as a co-therapist during the latter half of Theraplay treatment. Through the lens of attachment theory, the resulting dataset was analyzed for evidence of change in the client’s Internal Working Models (IWMs) of attachment-security from pre- to post-Theraplay. Results describe changes in the client’s stories of himself, and of others, as a result of his time in Theraplay, including an increased tolerance for risk and uncertainty, an improved relationship with creativity, fewer anxious thoughts, and improved quality of friendships, suggesting positive and helpful change in the client’s IWMs of attachment. Given these encouraging results, continued research into Theraplay is strongly recommended as a way to better understand its potential as a treatment for adults with attachment-injuries stemming from childhood.Keywords: Theraplay, attachment theory, play therapy, attachment trauma, adverse childhood events</p
The graves speak: how bronze age Cretan burials represent Minoan gender constructs
No full textThe study of Mediterranean Bronze Age societies, such as the Minoans on Crete, faces a lot of interest as advancements and developments in biological anthropology are being applied to burials, and new ways of thinking and interpreting evidence, such as gender archaeology, are being utilized. Additionally, old interpretations, once considered as fact, or now being re-examined. Therefore, our previous understanding of Minoan culture and society, including the presence and expression of gender identity, is being overturned. This thesis aims to determine the expression of gender identity and gender roles after death in Minoan burials. Conclusions were based on a review of literature – concerning the archaeology of gender, Minoan iconography, and current scholarship on Minoan gender expression – the case studies of two cemeteries, and the use of burial goods to indicate different statuses. The case studies and supporting literature demonstrated that gender identity did not exist after death in Minoan culture. Individual identity was erased after one died and funerary practices were concerned with the collective through ancestor worship. Another society from that period, the Mycenaeans, was examined, and it is clear that individual identity still existed for the deceased through the types of burials and burial goods used. Therefore, the Minoans are distinct from the Mycenaeans in their funerary practices and the loss of individual identity after death is not a feature of all Bronze Age Peoples. The Minoans did not prioritize individual identity, such as gender identity, after death as seen in the use of collective burial and the indiscriminate deposition of burial offerings.</p
Eyes: a window into the motor adaptation system
No full textResearch on motor adaptation has established the distinction between explicit and implicit motor learning processes and has found ways to observe the influence of each independently (Mazzoni and Krakauer, 2006; Taylor and Ivry, 2011). However, few studies have observed how eye movements change while the motor adaptation system is activated. The present study modulated explicit processes by applying different types of perturbations and sometimes providing an aiming target. Analysis of motor learning and associated gaze behavior found that eye movements tend to reflect a combination of explicit and implicit adaptation processes. During the end of the washout phase in block 1, gaze deviated to the right of the target. Gaze deviations during the end of the adaptation phase as well as washout phases (washout no feedback and the end of washout with feedback) showed correlations to implicit adaptation. Our findings suggest that eye fixation could be a strong predictor, if not a direct component, of motor adaptation processes. Our findings suggest gaze deviation helps the implicit motor adaptation system to improve attention on task-relevant information. It also challenges the recent assumption of rigidity in implicit motor adaptation systems (Wang et al., 2024). Motor rehabilitation and sports psychology benefit from these findings, providing new information to incorporate into their procedures.</p
"We were not in the food business and then Covid hit. We were in the food business." A mixed methods study on the neoliberalization of Nova Scotia's family resource sector
No full textThis thesis explores the processes of neoliberalization pertaining to food insecurity during and onwards of the Covid-19 pandemic in Nova Scotia with a focus on the Nova Scotia Family Resource Sector and its workers. I asked, how did Covid-19 change the food security work of the Nova Scotia Family Resource Sector and what was the impact on the sector and the community from the perspective of sector employees? To answer, I used a mixed methods sequential research design beginning with 11 semi-structured online interviews (with 14 executive directors and/or key staff) conducted between May 4th and July 13th, 2023, followed by an online survey that collected both qualitative and quantitative data from all worker categories (July 24th to August 24th). Thematic coding techniques for analysis of the interview and qualitative survey data were used aided by MAXQDA software. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS statistical software and descriptive statistics were conducted. The results present the nature of the sector’s food work and how it has changed over time (in the early years and during Covid-19 and onwards) as well as workers’ perspectives on their food work. The results are discussed drawing on political-economy and social reproduction theories, and literature about food insecurity and the social service sector. The thesis demonstrates that the family resource sector was ‘roll-called’ (Classens and Martin 2023) to deal with food insecurity – widening and changing their social reproduction role in the community during the Covid-19 lockdowns and afterwards. The sector presented multiple feelings about this process. Many felt this work further entrenched food-based responses at the expense of government responsibility for ensuring economic security. They shared concerns about the unsustainable pressures to serve the food needs of families and their concerns for the community and sector’s future. However, this also coincided with fulfillment in their work and pride in being recognized as effective emergency responders in times of crisis – speaking to the importance of the social service sector.</p
The association between parental self-efficacy and child behavioral problems among participants in the Stop Now And Plan (SNAP) program
No full textStop Now And Plan (SNAP) is an evidence-based program offered to families with children ages 6 to 12 years-old who struggle with significant disruptive behavior problems. Although the program has been shown to be effective in reducing child behavioral problems (e.g., Augimeri et al., 2018; Burke & Loeber, 2015, 2016; Pepler et al., 2010), little is known about how the constructs and mechanisms of the program relate to treatment outcomes. Elements of the SNAP Parent group have not yet been examined to determine their association with child behavioral problems. The aim of this study was to explore whether or not parental self-efficacy (PSE) among mothers who participated in SNAP was related to changes in child behavioral problems over time. The study included 180 mothers who participated in the SNAP program with their children. Parent and child treatment outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention using parent self-report questionnaires. Paired t-tests and multi-level models were conducted. The findings showed that, in general, mothers reported high PSE and children had clinically significant levels of behavioral problems pre-intervention. Statistically significant improvements in PSE (including overall PSE, attunement, and positive parenting practices) and reductions in child behavioral problems (including total, externalizing, and internalizing behaviors) were found post-intervention. Total child behavioral problems decreased over time for all children, but the decrease was slightly stronger for children of mothers with higher overall PSE (b = -5.14, SE = .78, p < .001) than for children of mothers with lower overall PSE (b = -1.99, SE = .78, p = .01). Mothers who reported higher attunement and positive parenting practices reported fewer child externalizing and internalizing behaviors. However, no interactions were found between attunement and positive parenting practices and child treatment outcomes over time. While more research is needed to fully explore how mechanisms of the SNAP program relate to desirable outcomes for children with significant behavioral problems and their families, this study provides an important foundation from which further research can be built.Keywords: Behavioral problems; externalizing behaviors; internalizing behaviors; parental self-efficacy; attunement; positive parenting practices; children; SNAP program; cognitive behavioral therapy</p
Gender-based violence among sexual and gender diverse individuals: exploring the influences of femme, gender identity and feminine expression in different relationship types
No full textGender-based violence (GBV) is a global public health issue, yet it is not adequately addressed in prevailing feminist models, especially for sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities (i.e., LGBTQ+). Femmephobia, the devaluation and regulation of femininity, may offer a new avenue of investigation. This study examined the influence of femme identity, feminine expression (FE), and gender identity (GI) on GBV rates within and outside of intimate relationships among SGM individuals. Two research questions were posed. Within and outside of intimate relationships, 1) Do GBV rates differ among SGM individuals based on gender identity (cis women, cis men, and gender-diverse individuals) and femme identity (femme, not femme); and 2) How do FE and gender identity relate to GBV rates among SGM individuals? The online survey included 259 eligible participants and assessed physical, psychological, sexual, and cyber victimization rates within and outside of intimate relationships. Bootstrapped ANOVAs revealed that femmes and non-femmes did not differ significantly in GBV rates, regardless of context. However, trends toward significance were observed. No statistically significant findings emerged for gender-diverse vs non-gender diverse participants within intimate relationships; however, outside the intimate context, significantly higher rates of physical, cyber, and sexual aggression victimization were found for gender-diverse participants compared to cis women, and trends toward significance were found for gender- diverse participants compared to cis men. Regression analyses showed lower levels of FE significantly predicted higher rates of physical aggression for cis women across contexts. Though not significant, positive relationships existed between FE and physical aggression victimization for cis men and gender-diverse individuals. Findings illuminate the need to consider SGM experiences of GBV in different relational contexts.</p