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#Duet me: TikTok as a virtual traditional music community environment
No full text#Duet Me is a masters thesis that explores FolkTok, which is a community on
TikTok surrounding traditional folk music, as well as the virtual sense of place that this
community inhabits. FolkTok exists as an extension of physical world music
communities, as people from various such social environments use TikTok to
communicate with each other, and to share their experiences and repertoire. Yet it also
exists as a separate place in a posthumanist cyborg sense. FolkTok is not merely a
matter of mediated communication, but it is itself the thing that would be
communicated, being a concrete social environment in spite of its lack of biology or
physicality. These conclusions are supported by fieldwork in the form of participant
observation and interviews with community members. This work largely took place in
2021, which is the timeframe on which this thesis specifically focuses.
IIIncludes bibliographical references (pages 103-107
Improving computer systems security through transparent application-level sandboxing based on capability-based platforms
No full textApplication sandboxing, a well-known concept in computer security, focuses on
risk mitigation and allows the deployment of the principle of least privilege. Over
recent decades, substantial efforts have been made to develop both general-purpose
and specialized sandboxing systems. Despite its theoretical strengths, sandboxing
remains challenging to implement in practice.
This study explores how capability-based frameworks can be leveraged to achieve
transparent application-level sandboxing. Capability-based platforms, such as FreeBSD's
Capsicum, provide a strong foundation for addressing the challenges of sandboxing
in a secure and efficient manner. While Capsicum and its derivative, Libcasper, have
made notable strides in providing sandboxed execution environments, they have limitations
in offering effective sandboxing without requiring program redesign or deep
knowledge of the underlying security framework.
To bridge this gap, we demonstrated a proof of concept by building CapExec,
a solution based on Libcasper, that enables transparent sandboxing. We investigated
interposition mechanisms to change the behaviour of programs at runtime leading to
the development of a transparent sandboxing supervisor called Leash. The design
simplifies the specification of sandbox policies through an interactive system, which
requires minimal knowledge of operating system or the security platform internals,
making the solution practical for real-world applications. Ultimately, our work enhances
the security of applications by running them in a least-privileged context and
provides a solid foundation for further advancements in transparent sandboxing for
Unix systems
A moving experience: exploring women runners embodied experience and meanings of body ideals, self-care, and health
No full textThis research explores how seventeen women recreational runners experience their bodies through movement and how these embodied experiences influence their understanding of gendered body ideals, health, and self-care practices. I also incorporate my body story as a reflexive strategy to stay present through the research process. Drawing from feminist poststructural theory, I utilized a moving methodology of interviewing while walking or running to explore how the runners experience their bodies in motion. I focus on how they draw from their running practice as a potential pathway for questioning dominant narratives of body ideals that foster new ways of thinking about healthy or athletic bodies. I demonstrate how the women draw from dominant notions of body ideals to articulate the “runner’s body” while also resisting these ideals as they draw from their own embodied experience of running and witnessing diverse running bodies in the community. Two distinct running bodies emerged: the High-Performance Running Body and the Serious Recreational Running Body. These distinct discursive constructions of who can be “a runner” resisted conventional notions of the runner’s body, which allowed multiple subject positions to become available to claim the runner’s identity. I also present how health and self-care are understood in the context of their running practice. Finally, I provide a discussion related to the importance of body-inclusive communities within physical activity and sports settings.Through this research, I am contributing to the growing body of literature on the benefits of using a moving methodology to engage the body in motion as methodologically generative that bridges a gap between the discursive body and the material body
Integrated ground penetrating radar - electromagnetic induction techniques to support precision agriculture by assessing the effects of agricultural practices
No full textPrecision agriculture (PA) is an emerging approach to increase agricultural productivity while enhancing resource use efficiency, reducing costs, and minimizing negative environmental impacts. Understanding the spatiotemporal variability of soil properties and state variables within the agricultural landscape is crucial for informed decision-making in PA. This thesis explored integrating two geophysical techniques—Ground-penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic Induction (EMI)—to investigate soil properties and state variables in a boreal podzolic soil site in western Newfoundland, Canada. These techniques offer a high-resolution, non-destructive, fast and cost-effective alternative to traditional soil sampling. Proxies derived from GPR (dielectric constant and amplitude), and EMI (apparent electrical conductivity) provide valuable insights into subsurface features, soil water content (SWC), compaction, and salinity, all of which are crucial for agricultural and environmental assessments. This research aims to assess the effectiveness of integrated GPR-EMI for characterizing soil profiles and properties, particularly focusing on their ability to assess spatial variations in soil stratification, SWC, bulk density, and salinity. Implementation of the integrated GPR-EMI technique overcomes the intrinsic limitations specific to either technique. Field experiments were conducted using both GPR and EMI surveys across varying soil conditions accompanied by soil sampling for ground truthing. This study developed predictive models, tested their accuracy, and assessed the ability of the integrated GPR-EMI approach to predict soil properties and state variables. As a result, management zones were delineated based on the integrated technique. The findings demonstrated a strong correlation between GPR and EMI outputs with soil sampling, confirming their complementary strengths in soil assessments. GPR was particularly effective in detecting subsurface stratifications and SWC variations, while EMI provided reliable estimates of electrical conductivity, essential for mapping soil salinity. The integrated GPR-EMI technique proved valuable in improving the understanding of soil properties and state variables and their spatial variability. This research demonstrates the potential of GPR and EMI to be applied effectively in boreal podzolic soils to predict key soil properties and state variables with significant implications for soil management and decision-making in PA. Further research is encouraged to refine the models and expand their applicability across diverse landscapes, conditions and soil types.Includes bibliographical reference
Petroglyphs on the periphery: the landscapes of rock art in the Canadian Maritimes
No full textThis dissertation offers a regional overview of traditions of rock art created by ancestral Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, and Peskotomuhkatiyik in the Canadian Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Specifically, it examines the changing roles of rock art across the boundary of European Contact, identifying similarities and differences in content, style, and landscape placement between pre- and postcontact traditions (and including comparisons with mobile art). Evidence for precontact rock art is limited, restricted to a single Late Woodland site in southern New Brunswick, yet it marks the eastern limit of rock art traditions, often associated with ritual specialists, recorded among Algonquian-speaking peoples stretching across the Canadian Shield, and extending from the Great Lakes to eastern Maine. Most rock art was made between the 17th and early 20th centuries, and the majority of that, during the 18th and 19th centuries. Analysis of the content, style, distribution, and archaeological and historical contexts of 12 postcontact sites reveals not only continuity with precontact traditions, but, increasingly, a greater concern with recording the changing circumstances of Mi’kmaw, Wolastoqey and Peskotomuhkati individuals and communities as they adapted to the challenges imposed and opportunities afforded by culture contact during the colonial period. Significantly, the authorship of petroglyphs appears to have broadened, and although the practice was rooted in precontact pictographic traditions, it was just one facet of a wider ‘pictographic literacy’ expressed across various media. Reflecting a broader suite of concerns than found in precontact traditions, much postcontact rock art relates to the social, economic, political and religious lives of men and women as they sought to retain access to hunting, gathering, and fishing territories and resources, negotiate the introduction of Christianity, adopt new technologies, and diversify their economies. The geographic distribution of postcontact rock art also reflects the impact of European settler colonialism, and the marginalisation and dislocation of Indigenous communities from ancestral territories, and their subsequent removal to reservations or else places located at the margins of the Euro-settler world. In these peripheral places, petroglyphs were markers of continued Indigenous presence, of individual and collective experience and memory, and represent a form of passive resistance to the assimilation and acculturation policies of successive colonial and, later, provincial governments. Today, rock art plays a significant and dynamic role in the revitalisation of cultural memory and identity for contemporary Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, and Peskotomuhkatiyik
Investigating EEG-based motor imagery decoding in the continuous control BCI paradigm
No full textBrain-computer interfaces (BCIs) based on motor imagery (MI) hold significant potential for restoring autonomy to individuals with severe motor disabilities. While decoding of short, discrete MI tasks has been extensively studied, the reliability of sustained MI decoding for continuous control paradigms remains under-explored. This study evaluates the feasibility of classifying four MI tasks (Hand, Feet, Tongue, Singing) versus rest over extended intervals (8–20 seconds) using EEG.
Fifteen participants performed cued MI tasks in a simulated continuous control paradigm. A machine learning pipeline—optimized for real-time compatibility—was systematically assessed, focusing on training data volume, epoching strategies, feature selection, and classifiers. Under the optimal configuration (four training blocks, 4-second epochs with 75% overlap, 10 features, SVM), comparable decoding accuracies were obtained on average across participants for the four tasks (Hand: 78.4% ± 9.5, Feet: 74.0% ± 10.0, Tongue: 74.5% ± 6.4, Singing: 74% ± 5.6), with no significant inter-task differences (Friedman test, p = 0.41). Within participants, however, there was considerable variability in decoding accuracy among the tasks. Comparative analysis against a shorter-interval MI dataset revealed a significant reduction in accuracy under the continuous paradigm only for Singing MI (Mann-Whitney U, U = 44, p = 0.01). Subjective feedback
highlighted Singing MI as the participants’ most preferred task (53.3% of participants selected it as their favorite), while Tongue MI was the least preferred (33.3% of participants selected it as their least favorite).
These results underscore the viability of continuous MI-based control while emphasizing the need to balance technical performance with user-centric design. The novel task of singing MI emerged as a promising candidate for intuitive BCI applications, warranting further exploration of hybrid paradigms and ecological validation to enhance real-world usability.Includes bibliographical references (pages 66-84
Evaluating the potential of using bioremediation and rhizoremediation for a hydrocarbon-contaminated site
No full textThis study assesses the potential of an integrated biological approach to remediate a hydrocarbon-contaminated site with poor soil conditions. It focuses on a 0.85-ha industrial area in Channel Port-Aux-Basques, Newfoundland, operational since 1978. Current contamination levels exceed safety thresholds, necessitating action due to ecological and human health risks. By using natural processes as a means of restoring brownfield sites, the economic and ecological costs associated with capital-intensive remediation technologies are avoided. The study involves a multi-stage experimental design, starting with laboratory trials to assess how various biostimulation and bioaugmentation techniques enhance hydrocarbon degradation. The impact of rhizosphere interactions is also investigated. Promising strategies identified from laboratory trials are implemented in an outdoor leachate-controlled pot experiment. Sampling protocols are employed to analyze changes in hydrocarbon concentrations and soil quality over a one-year period. The study underscores the importance of considering both natural attenuation and enhanced remediation techniques in brownfield management, as supported by the slower but still detectable natural attenuation alongside accelerated remediation with amendments. Treatments involving organic amendments combined with grass seed are particularly effective for hydrocarbon remediation. These findings carry practical implications for remediation strategies, emphasizing the role of organic amendments and rhizospheric interactions in facilitating successful bioremediation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH)-contaminated sites.Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-67
Physical literacy development in people with Parkinson’s: a case study of participant perspectives within community-based physical activity programming
No full textPhysical inactivity among older adults is a present issue globally. As the population is getting older, it is necessary to explore approaches and strategies that may promote physically active lifestyles and healthy aging. Physical literacy is one possible framework researchers and practitioners have pursued due to its capacity to foster meaningful experiences with movement and increase lifelong physical activity for all. While physical literacy appears promising, its use has been centralized in children and youth, with minimal understanding of the concept’s application for older adults with chronic conditions or diseases. This research explored the perspectives of people with Parkinson’s within a community-based organization and highlights how their experiences in physical activity programming contributed to their physical literacy development. The research question was, “How does inclusive, community-based physical activity programming contribute to the overall physical literacy development of individuals living with a specific chronic condition or disease?” To address this question, a qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with eight older adults aged 60 – 77 diagnosed with Parkinson’s. This single case study of one community-based organization was guided by interpretive description methodology and the communities of practice theoretical model knowledge as the conceptual framework. Data analysis resulted in three overarching themes: (1) United Through Participation, (2) Collaboration at all Levels and (3) Meaningful Engagement. Participants attributed great value to their involvement within the community-based organization and its positive impact on their holistic development; however, this area of research warrants further inquiry to understand the complete application of physical literacy for this population.Includes bibliographical references (pages 65-67
The role of patient education materials in supporting guideline implementation and improving outcomes for patients with low back pain in primary care
No full textPatients lack knowledge and have unhelpful beliefs about low back pain (LBP) that are associated with worse outcomes and overuse of diagnostic imaging. Physicians report that the drivers of imaging overuse include patient expectations for imaging and not having a reliable and concise method to explain why imaging is not needed to diagnose most LBP. This dissertation explores whether patient education materials (PEMs) can support physicians in providing education to patients to improve patient outcomes and, in particular, reduce unnecessary LBP imaging in primary care.
First, I conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of PEMs for LBP, but few trials measured knowledge, beliefs, imaging rates, or intervention fidelity. Furthermore, details about the tested PEMs were mostly unavailable, so this review reveals little is known about PEMs’ mechanisms of action, how their content was developed, and what this content entails.
Second, patients want education about LBP treatment options, but the evidence around LBP treatments is continuously changing. Therefore, I conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the analgesic effects of conservative treatments for LBP compared with placebo. Out of 56 treatments, none showed reliable evidence of large effects and the majority (86%) had inconclusive evidence. These findings underscore the need for better resource prioritization in this field.
Third, I set out to assess the content of PEMs, but no tool had been developed to assess if PEMs contain information about patients’ needs. I created a checklist outlining
21 patient information needs (i.e., what patients want to know) and education needs (i.e., what clinicians and researchers want patients to know) about LBP. Using this checklist and other tools I assessed PEMs for their understandability, actionability, readability, quality, accuracy, comprehensiveness, and coverage of information about patients’ needs. PEMs scored poorly across most outcomes and none were actionable or comprehensive.
Overall, my thesis reveals that little is known about if and how PEMs might work to help manage LBP in practice and exposes the systemic issues in their development and testing. More work is required before disregarding PEMs as an intervention for LBP.Includes bibliographical reference
PBDE contamination in Newfoundland: exploring the interconnections between environmental pathways, sociobehavioral insights, and public health impacts
No full textPolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used flame retardants that pose serious environmental and public health risks, especially for coastal communities dependent on marine resources. This thesis provides an integrated assessment of PBDE contamination in Newfoundland, examining emissions from a coastal legacy landfill in comparison to a modern landfill, and investigating the pathways into the marine ecosystem and the resulting impacts on human health. The study contributes to understanding PBDE contamination by offering a comprehensive assessment of environmental pathways, socio-behavioral factors, and public health impacts, with a particular focus on the influence of sociodemographic factors on seafood consumption patterns and risk perception. Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping characterized the spatial distribution of landfills and potential contaminant pathways, revealing potential routes for PBDEs to enter the marine environment. Elevated PBDE levels were identified in certain marine species, highlighting the ongoing presence of these chemicals. To assess bioaccumulation potential, trophic magnification models were utilized, indicating the potential for PBDEs to concentrate in higher levels of the food web. Community surveys revealed a disconnect between public awareness of pollutants and sustainable waste management practices, with sociodemographic factors, including age, education, and income level, significantly influencing both awareness and behavior. This study specifically examines the influence of these sociodemographic factors on seafood consumption patterns and risk perception. Furthermore, dietary exposure assessments, utilizing hazard quotients based on seafood consumption data, highlighted potential health risks for vulnerable populations, with estimated exposures exceeding established safety thresholds. This interdisciplinary approach not only addresses regional challenges but also offers a globally relevant framework for mitigating
persistent organic pollutants in similar settings. By bridging environmental monitoring, behavioral insights, and health risk assessments, the research provides actionable solutions for policymakers and public health practitioners worldwide. These findings underscore the need for integrated mitigation strategies in coastal regions to minimize PBDE contamination and protect public health. This research provides a transferable framework, advocating for sustainable landfill management practices, targeted community-level interventions to promote proper waste disposal and reduce reliance on contaminated seafood, and robust public health monitoring to assess and mitigate risks.Includes bibliographical references (pages 150-179