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This thesis investigates Canadian prairie plants as sources of natural product compounds capable of inhibiting human cell division. Natural products present an opportunity to identify novel anti-mitotic compounds to address the lack of known inhibitors for many mitotic regulatory proteins. By biology-guided fractionation, we purified the natural products anemonin from Pulsatilla nuttalliana and (+)-6-tuliposide A from Erythronium grandiflorum, and this is the first report of their anti-mitotic activities. We then conducted a comparative study between pulchelloid A (from Gaillardia aristata), anemonin and (+)-6-tuliposide A, and identified unique mitotic arrest profiles, suggesting distinct protein targets and mechanisms of action consistent with the widespread relationship between structure and function in biology. The discovery of natural product inhibitors from Canadian prairie plant species holds tremendous potential for advancing our understanding of mitotic regulation and contributes to the development of targeted treatments for precision medicine.

DNA damage occurs regularly and results in various biological consequences, including cancer. One specific type of DNA damage is the formation of adducts, which arise from various sources, including cigarette smoke and pesticides. The local helical structure of adducted DNA is dictated by the chemical composition of the lesion. Furthermore, various known conformations of adducted DNA have been shown to differentially impact DNA repair and replication. Although this underscores how the lesion dictates biological outcomes, structure–function relationships have yet to be fully explored. Thus, this thesis uses computational modelling to examine the complex interplay between the adduct chemical composition (e.g., bulky moiety shape, adduct linker type, and lesion number) and the resulting damaged DNA structure and lesion mutagenicity. Overall, novel trends in the helical conformation and lesion repairability as a function of the chemical structure of the DNA adduct are uncovered, which have implications in the severity of the long-term biological consequences.

Dehumanization has facilitated the worst atrocities in humanity’s historical record and continues to facilitate some of the gravest cruelties in the world today. While there is substantial work on dehumanization within philosophical and scientific disciplines, there remains an incongruence within the theoretical conceptualizations of dehumanization leading to the neglect or denial of the dehumanization of women. Some contend that dehumanization most characteristically occurs between racial or ethnic groups, but dehumanization may be a more general and deeply embedded aspect of human nature, more robust and perilous in its potential to victimize any member of a distinct group, even where group memberships might otherwise overlap with one another in more affiliative ways. As our social environments are evolving in lockstep with our communication technologies, the recognition of and response to the dehumanization of women remains inadequate and morally inexcusable.

This thesis describes how induced gut inflammation induces brain inflammation via the brain-gut axis. It further shows that mice with elevated gut inflammation display post-shock behavioural correlates of anxiety for longer duration than mice that do not have gut inflammation. The gut-inflamed mice also show a reduced ability to recover from fearful experiences and higher relative quantities of inflammatory markers in the nucleus accumbens. Mice receiving both gut inflammation and psilocybin show reduced anxiety behaviour and lower relative quantities of inflammatory markers in the nucleus accumbens. This thesis demonstrates that induced gut inflammation drives increased inflammation in the nucleus accumbens and results in increased measures of anxiety in conditioned and unconditioned behavioural tasks. Some outcomes were ameliorated by the addition of a single dose of psilocybin. Overall, these data improve understanding of potential mechanisms by which anxiety may be produced and treated. Research was completed under protocol number 2018.

Sulfate (SO42-) pollution is contributing to the salinization of surface waters worldwide. Wetlands are natural filters on the landscape that remediate surface water by retaining and processing pollutants. However, the capacity for wetlands to process excess SO42- from wastewater is poorly understood, especially for natural (as opposed to constructed) wetlands. Here, I explore the SO42- remediation capacity of Frank Lake, a restored, multi-basin wetland complex in southern Alberta, Canada, that is used to treat effluent from municipal and beef slaughterhouse sources. Using a combination of approaches, I show that there was limited SO42- processing throughout the wetland. Mass balances constructed for two distinct hydrologic periods showed that Frank Lake shifted from a SO42- source during wet years (2013 - 2015) to a sink during drought years (2021 - 2022). Yet I found little evidence of active SO42- processing in surveys conducted during drought years. SO42- remained the dominant form of sulfur (S) among all three basins (>95% of total S), implying little net change in the S pool. Similarly, dual stable isotope ([delta]34S and [delta]18O) analysis showed limited isotopic enrichment among wetland basins, implying limited transformation of SO42- via microbial reduction. Sediment incubations confirmed the patterns observed with stable isotopes, showing little net removal of SO42- throughout the wetland. The preferential reduction of nitrate (NO3-) and other more energetically favourable constituents of the effluent may restrict the extent of microbial SO42- reduction throughout Frank Lake. The limited extent of emergent and submerged vegetation may also limit SO42- uptake by plants. Given the limited SO42- processing in Frank Lake, and the headwater position of this wetland complex in the broader aquatic network, my work provides context for previous reports of increasing salt concentrations documented in rivers of the South Saskatchewan River watershed.

The Southern Ocean is a remote but unique ecosystem with high winds, strong currents, and a handful of islands surrounding the Antarctic continent. Reduced gene flow due to these physical and non-physical barriers supports rapid evolution and endemism within the Southern Ocean. Seabirds are a good model to study barrier-mediated speciation as they face a limited number of physical barriers, yet they are a highly diversified group. In my thesis, I used molecular markers to study population differentiation in five Southern Ocean seabird species at the three levels: among ocean basins, within oceans and within a single island. Sooty albatross (Phoebetria fusca) and yellow-nosed albatross showed population differentiation between Atlantic and Indian Ocean basins. Two sister species of yellow-nosed albatross, Atlantic (Thalassarche chlororhynchos) and Indian (Thalassarche carteri), both showed population genetic structure within Atlantic and Indian Oceans, respectively. The other two study species, Kerguelen shags (Phalacrocorax verrucosus) and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) breeding on Kerguelen Island, showed genetic structure among different breeding colonies of each species on the same island. Non-physical barriers such as natal philopatry and at-sea distribution, are limiting gene flow in the Southern Ocean at different geographic scales.

Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) are a class of chemical contaminants used to help counter UV-induced damage to manufactured goods, especially plastics. The broad applicability of BUVSs has resulted in their ubiquitous detection in aquatic ecosystems and biota. Although BUVSs are detected globally in aquatic ecosystems, a limited number of studies have investigated the potential toxic effects of BUVSs to fish. Of the limited toxicity data for BUVSs, studies suggest that certain BUVSs might dysregulate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) causing early life-stage toxicity in fishes. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to use in vivo and in vitro approaches to characterize the toxicity of 2-(benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methylphenol (UV-P), 2-(Benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methyl-6-prop-2-enyl-phenol (UV-9), and 2-[3-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]ethyl methacrylate (UV-090) as agonists of the AhR across a phylogenetically diverse number of fish species. In vivo toxicity was assessed by exposing zebrafish (Danio rerio) to BUVSs by microinjection and toxicities were assessed by recording embryo mortality and malformations including yolk sac and pericardial edema, and spinal curvature. Each of the tested BUVSs caused dose-dependent increases in embryo mortality following exposure. In vitro activation of the AhR by BUVSs was determined with a luciferase reporter gene (LRG) assay using COS-7 cells transfected with the AhR of zebrafish or eight other species. Results confirm that UV-P and UV-9, cause toxicity via AhR activation whereas, UV-090 lacked the ability to activate the AhR, indicating that its toxicity is independent of the AhR. Furthermore, interspecies differences in sensitivity to AhR activation by BUVSs was observed. Overall, this study fills knowledge gaps regarding the potential toxic effects of BUVSs to fishes and can help guide improved objective assessment of risks posed by BUVS that have AhR agonistic properties for the protection of Canada’s

The most tangible consequence of permafrost thaw is thermokarst, which is landscape destabilization resulting from ground ice melt. The main objective of this thesis was to model and map thermokarst susceptibility across Yukon, Canada. An inventory of 3376 historically mapped thermokarst landform point locations was extracted from the Yukon Geological Survey’s Digital Surficial Geology dataset. Of these, 25 lakes, 27 landslides and 93 pingos in the Dawson City study area were manually delineated on the World Imagery baselayer in order to assess their morphology and distribution relative to similar landforms in other regions. Subsequently, generalized linear models of thermokarst susceptibility in Yukon were constructed using a range of topographic, geologic, environmental and climatic predictor variables from existing regional or global datasets. A novel potential surface radiation adjustment was developed to correct for seasonal snow cover. Using the mapped thermokarst landforms in the Dawson City study area as a training dataset set, the resulting optimal lake and landslide susceptibility models use slope as the sole predictor variable, while the pingo susceptibility model uses profile curvature. Overall, 3, 34 and 0.1 % of Yukon is modelled as being highly susceptible to thermokarst lake, landslide and pingo development, respectively. The models were evaluated using the Yukon thermokarst point location dataset, randomly distributed points, and select multivariate logistic models. The thermokarst lake susceptibility model performed best overall. This study shows that relatively simple modelling techniques can be effective in mapping thermokarst susceptibility, and highlights the importance of rigorous, up-to-date thermokarst landform inventories to aid in future modelling efforts.

Bug reports serve as critical communication channels between users and software developers, conveying information about unexpected issues or flaws within a software system. Sometimes developers or triagers need to spend significant time understanding a long and complex bug report. A bug report summarizer streamlines the bug triage process for software developers by condensing complex bug reports into concise and informative summaries, facilitating efficient issue prioritization and resolution. To cater comments to the need of the developer for the complex bug report, prior work suggested the solution of annotation of bug report comments. Though the developed annotator worked well, it had issues with annotating the description and off-topic labels. Other prior work identified fiftyone patterns to detect planning in bug report comments. We used these phrases to create an annotated dataset of bug report sentences for plan intention research. In this research, we improve the annotation capabilities of the description and off-topic labeler and automate the plan labeler using a supervised machine-learning approach.

The far-infrared Universe provides substantial insights into the formation of stars and planetary systems, the assembly history and evolution of galaxies, the origins of the Universe, and the search for life. Despite its great scientific potential, the far-infrared Universe remains relatively unexplored with the degree of spatial resolution that is available in observations at other wavelengths. Double-Fourier spatial-spectral interferometry provides a promising path to achieve transformative spatial resolution in far-infrared observations. To further study this technique and improve on its technology readiness, we have constructed a far-infrared double-Fourier interferometry testbed that is coupled to a unique detector array of feedback-controlled transition-edge sensor bolometers. To fully understand measurements made with the interferometry testbed and ensure that these are well-calibrated, the detector system must be understood and characterised at a technical level. The detector array itself is a bespoke system with a substantial parameter space that can be optimized for different use-cases which has made this a daunting task. This thesis centres on the experiments I have conducted to characterise, calibrate, and optimise the detector system both in a general sense and in the context of the double-Fourier instrument. Through this investigation of the detector system, I have reduced the spectral noise of the double-Fourier interferometry testbed by 70%. Throughout this work, I review the concepts and theory related to measurements made with Fourier transform spectrometers and double-Fourier interferometers (Chapter 2). Additionally, I discuss transition-edge sensor bolometers and introduce the feedback-controlled bolometer system (Chapter 3). I have included a detailed discussion of my experiments to chracterise the measurement process of the detector array, optimise its noise performance, and tune its response to optical modulation (Chapter 4). I also provide a

Soil acidity is an increasing concern for growers in the southern prairies of western Canada. This study took place over a three-year period, starting in 2020, the research lime treatment plots were established in low soil pH zones, in the three cropped fields: Hilton, Sierra and Kings Lake. Both powdered or granular lime was surface applied on long-term no-till fields, with one of three placement methods: no incorporation, incorporation with harrowing, or incorporation using tillage. Soil sampling was followed by pH measurements conducted in November 2021 and 2022. In Fall 2021 only the treatment of powdered lime incorporated using tillage increased the soil to the pH target of 6.5 for the 0-15 cm depth. By Fall 2022 soil sampling, pH analyses showed that all lime treatments were effectively ameliorating the low pH soils. Further study investigated spatial variability of soil pH on the study fields, the most practical sampling density for accurate pH maps was shown to be 1 sample spot per 0.8 hectares. After this study, data was gathered on the incorporation methods and lime forms. It was determined all treatments sufficiently raised the pH to an acceptable level for crop growth, after two years. Furthermore, the assessment on pH variability was vital to understanding how variable soil pH can be in a field.

Circadian rhythms are daily physiological cycles with wide-reaching influence on biological, mental and behavioural functions. We are at our best when our circadian rhythms function in a stable and consistent manner synchronous with stable and consistent patterns of day and night. Disruptions to circadian rhythms cause all manner of negative effects. One effect that is of particular interest to this study is that spatial memories formed while circadian rhythms are in disarray are not retained as well as those formed in stable conditions. The sorts of memories affected this way have a common factor. They all rely heavily on the hippocampal memory system. Methods have already been devised to read and decipher the neural code of hippocampal place cell firing patterns. However, until now, no attempt has been made to view how circadian disruption influences these hippocampal neural patterns. This experiment bridges that gap.

Prolonged sedentary time and inadequate physical activity are detrimental to the health of older adults. Sex and gender may influence health and movement behaviours that impact health. The purpose of this research was to scope the available literature on sex and gender in sedentary behaviour and then explore the relationship between biological sex and gender traits on movement behaviour patterns among older adults. In the scoping review, 210 articles were screened and 41 were identified that examined sex and/or gender in relation to sedentary behaviour in older adults. Almost all studies used sex- and/or gender-related terms interchangeably. Of the 41 articles, 28 studies suggested the division of household labour is the main explanation for any observed sex and/or gender differences in sedentary behaviour. The remaining 13 studies identified other factors that may influence this relationship, like social support, access to transportation, and area-level crime incidence. To further explore the relationship, observational data from 72 healthy older adults (80.1 ± 9.4 years) were examined. Movement behaviours were assessed using ActivPAL4™ inclinometers and participants completed the 30-Item Bem Sex-Role Inventory to assess masculine and feminine traits. There were no statistically significant associations between movement behaviour variables, sex, and masculine and feminine scores. This exploratory study demonstrates a need for consistent use of sex and gender terminology and better tools to assess gender. A more comprehensive understanding of the complexity of sex and gender in relation to health is needed to enable the creation of tailored movement behaviour interventions for the aging population.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a major concern in the food industry and requires effective control measures to prevent foodborne illnesses. Previous studies have demonstrated increased difficulty in the control of biofilm-forming STEC. Desiccation, achieved through osmotic stress and water removal, has emerged as a potential antimicrobial hurdle. This study focused on 254 genetically diverse E. coli strains collected from cattle, carcass hides, hide-off carcasses, and processing equipment. Of these, 141 (55.5%) were STEC and 113 (44.4%) were generic E. coli. The biofilm-forming capabilities of these isolates were assessed, and their desiccation tolerance was investigated to understand the relationships between growth temperature, relative humidity (RH), and bacterial survival. Only 28% of the STEC isolates had the ability to form biofilms, compared to 60% of generic E. coli. Stainless steel surfaces were exposed to different combinations of temperature (0°C or 35°C) and RH (75% or 100%), and survival rates were measured over 72 h and compared to controls. The results revealed that all the strains exposed to 75% RH at any temperature had reduced growth (p < 0.001). In contrast, 35°C and 100% RH supported bacterial proliferation, except for isolates forming the strongest biofilms. The ability of E. coli to form a biofilm did not impact growth reduction at 75% RH. Therefore, desiccation to 75% RH at temperatures of 0°C or 35°C holds promise as a novel antimicrobial hurdle for the removal of biofilm-forming E. coli from challenging-to-clean surfaces and equipment within food processing facilities.

I reviewed a method and apparatus used to establish a research paradigm studying the free-ranging black-billed magpies (Pica hudsonia) that are local to Western Canada. Corvids, like the magpie, have a long history of being fruitful model species in psychological investigations, and their relative abundance in Lethbridge affords an opportunity to conduct meaningful research in a way that is minimally invasive, cost-effective, and logistically practical. Here, I discuss the exploratory investigation of the factors that relate to magpie engagement with custom, automated feeding apparatus, after considering initial oversights in theoretical rationale and logistical failures to implement theory-driven study design that incited the necessary shift in telos. Several results (including failures) provide fruitful insight into how to better implement future investigations with the custom apparatus. In reflection, this investigation has clearly demonstrated that our apparatus affords a minimally invasive way to study the local corvid populations (both magpies and the common crow) and provides relatively high experimental control compared to typical investigations of organisms in ecological valid settings.

This thesis examines accessibility to sexual violence services for 2SLGBTQIA+ and faith affirmed communities in Southern Alberta. My central research question was: what is the current state of accessibility to sexual violence services for underserved communities in Lethbridge and surrounding rural communities? The limited scope of inclusion within the scholarship I reviewed meant I was unable to explore a wide range of diverse experiences and how different facets of identity may contribute to increased vulnerability of experiencing sexual violence. Using a combination of praxis and embodiment as methodologies, I conducted eight individual interviews with participants who self- identified as either 2SLGBTQIA+ and/or faith affirmed. Following the completion of each interview, as well as the transcribing process, I deployed intersectional and queer theoretical frameworks to find common themes throughout each of my conversations with participants. I found common themes relating to the normalization of sexual violence, through sites of indoctrination and structures of inequity. I also found a common theme surrounding access and affirming sexual violence services in Southern Alberta. To demonstrate the commonalities identified, experiences and/or examples are pulled directly from my conversations with participants. These experiences and examples are then used to detail pathways forward.

The next generation of far-infrared space observatories will feature large (2 m to 3 m class), actively cooled (4.5 K) telescopes and high resolution spectroscopic capabilities provided by a Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS). In the absence of telescope self-emission and with access to ultra-sensitive detectors, the multiplex advantage of an FTS becomes a disadvantage if instantaneous broad spectral measurements are attempted as the photon noise associated with the astronomical source now determines the spectral noise density. The only way to reduce the photon noise is by reducing the instantaneous spectral bandwidth observed by a single detector, typically to a fraction of one percent, using some form of post-dispersing element. While there are many approaches to post-dispersion, it is widely regarded that reflection diffraction gratings are the preferred method. The efficiency of a diffraction grating varies with wavelength. At the high angles of incidence required to achieve the necessary resolving power of R ∼ 100, reflection diffraction gratings operate with high and uniform efficiency (∼ 80%) for transverse magnetic (TM) polarized light, but lower and variable efficiency (10% to 40%) for transverse electric (TE) polarized light. The polarizing encoding properties of a Martin-Puplett interferometer can exploit this strong polarization dependence by ensuring that the interferometer output presents the TM mode to the grating. The hybrid post-dispersed polarizing Fourier transform spectrometer (PDPFTS) concept is the leading candidate for a future far-infrared astronomy mission. A fully cryogenic far-infrared PDPFTS has been developed in our laboratory to gain a better understanding of the challenges presented by this novel hybrid instrument. The results obtained from this PDPFTS will be valuable in guiding the development of such hybrid spectrometers being proposed for future far-infrared space observatories.

This thesis is about the abilities of two plant extracts to cause aggregation or “clumping” of Staphylococcus aureus. This project is in response to rising levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and a lack of methods to control the dispersal of bacteria of agricultural origin. As the implementation of antibiotics in the agricultural sector has increased since the discovery of antibiotics, concerns regarding human health have arisen. The use of antibiotics acts as a selection pressure against bacteria that are susceptible to the antibiotic’s effects. This allows for those bacteria that possess antibiotic resistance to reproduce, creating strains of mainly antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate two clump-inducing plant extracts that are a potential tool to limit the dispersal of bacteria in solution (ex. Bacteria in agricultural wastewater). By promoting clumping in the bacteria, it is thought that the bacteria’s dispersal will be limited, decreasing instances of infection, thereby indirectly reducing the need for antibiotic use. The two plant extracts studied here were selected from a library of bacterial clump-inducing plant extracts. They come from different botanical families and induce clump formation in S. aureus resulting in differing clump phenotypes. In addition to clump formation, both plant extracts cause a significant reduction in the growth of S. aureus (F (3, 72) = 4.022E+17, p < 0.001), (F (3, 58) = 185, p < 0.001). It is found that clumping molecules act in an adhesive manner and that the bacteria do not play an active role in clump formation. With this finding the first steps of affinity purification of clumping molecules were carried out for further identification of their chemical identities. This thesis outlines a procedure to study, compare and purify other clump-inducing plant extracts, many of which have not been investigated.

This thesis examined how Inflation Target (IT) countries have performed in terms of managing inflation and inflation volatility. The thesis also conducted a comparative analysis of inflation between inflation targets and non-inflation targets countries. A sample of 48 IT and non-IT countries and annual observations from the period 1990 to 2022 were employed. For the empirical analysis, the probit model was used to estimate the probability of inflation falling within the target band. The results suggest the lower and upper limit of the inflation rate in IT is crucial in maintaining inflation within its target band combined with a policy interest rate. The probit regression model also suggests that Sub-Saharan African countries that use Inflation Targeting on average are more likely to fall outside their inflation target band relative to the omitted zone of Oceania though not significant. Europe, Asia, and North and Central American regions were not significantly different from the Oceania zone. South American countries have a higher probability relative to Oceania of approximately 0.13 and this is the only statistically significant regional result. The empirical evidence from the volatility regression model suggests that implementing IT in countries lowers inflation volatility compared to those without IT adoption. The dummy coefficient of the IT target suggests that volatility, measured by the standard deviation of the historical inflation rate, is 28% lower for countries that use IT and is statistically significant.

Iiniiksi (plains bison; Bison bison) are ecocultural keystone species that have coevolved in sacred reciprocal relationships with Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot People) and nonhuman Saokio (prairie) relatives since time immemorial. The historic decimation of native prairie and Iiniiksi, along with the displacement of Indigenous plains peoples, disrupted this web of prairie interrelationships, creating an imbalance in the grassland ecosystem and the Siksikaitsitapi way of life. Grounded in Blackfoot Ecological Knowledge (BEK) and Siksikaitsitapi Science (SS), my research explores interactions amongst soil, plants, and people resulting from Iinnii rematriation (the return of sacred ways that centers and restores responsibilities and relationships) to Kainaissksaahkoyi (Blood Reserve / Kainai First Nation) to offer a path forward for healing these sacred relationships. I characterized soil and plant communities in nine paired ungrazed and grazed sites on the Kainai Iinnii Rangelands two and three growing seasons after Iinnii returned. I gathered Iinnii relational BEK with five Blackfoot Elders and Knowledge Keepers to better understand the social effects of Iinnii rematriation. After one year of Iinnii grazing, there were no significant differences in soil, plant communities, or the occurrence of traditional plants. Long-term monitoring is needed to capture future Iinnii effects on the landscape. Blood Tribe Land Management (BTLM) can use essential baseline data collected in this study for an Indigenous-led community-based monitoring program. Synthesizing BEK with Western Science (WS) provided invaluable insight to reconnect people to Iinnii and Saokio and guide future Iinnii reintroduction and grassland stewardship efforts.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a significant global health challenge, representing a substantial portion of lost work hours, reduced productivity, disability, injury, and pain across industries worldwide. Low back discomfort and disease is the most prevalent work-related musculoskeletal disorder. Low back disorders often result from the cumulative loading from repetitive bending, grasping, lifting, and carrying present in manual materials handling tasks. while much research has focused on safe and injurious manual materials handling behaviour, it may be useful to identify the perceptual strategies and outcomes that both couple with and precede manual materials handling actions, enabling the development of targeted interventions to modify those behaviours and reduce the risk of injury. This study investigates the differential impact of affordance perceptotype (hyper or hypo-affordant) and gaze behaviours on handling kinematics within ecologically relevant manual materials handling tasks. Specifically, this research aims to identify if differences exist in kinematic measures and visual attention strategies between affordance perceptotype sub-groups. The study used motion capture technology and vision tracking to quantify kinematics and gaze behaviour and examined two manual material handling tasks, with a static and dynamic target respectively. We predicted the hyper-affordant participants would identify with higher risk-taking behaviour plus demonstrate a limited visual attention strategy and injury-risk handling kinematics, with those behaviours connecting to an increased prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort. This research revealed that hyper-affordants did exhibit larger values for relevant handling kinematics plus different gaze behaviours, potentially increasing their risk of injury. The role of state and trait characteristics and gaze behaviour in occupational behaviour were not significantly associated to kinematic measures, task condition, or p

From the early 1960s, the American Hotel in Fort Macleod, Alberta was a space where individuals from the neighbouring Kainai and Piikani reserves interacted. This thesis examines how the American Hotel served as a contact zone between white settlers and other non-Indigenous peoples of Fort Macleod and Blackfoot peoples. Drawing on archival research and thirteen oral history interviews conducted with individuals from Fort Macleod and surrounding areas, this thesis explores (1) the history of the American Hotel as a contact zone and (2) the planning, curation, and reception of the museum exhibition Contact Zone: The American Hotel, which ran at the Galt Museum and Archives in Lethbridge from April to October 2023. Providing additional scholarship to the exhibition, this thesis details the sections of the exhibit and discusses the public reception before concluding with a discussion of colonial haunting in contact zones like the American Hotel.

The phosphodiester backbone in nucleic acids is remarkably resistant to degradation. Although high stability is essential for storage of genetic information and proper cell function, some circumstances necessitate the cleavage of the nucleic acid backbone. For example, breaking the DNA backbone is critical to repair damage and maintain genetic integrity, while RNA cleavage is necessary for quality control during protein synthesis. Nucleases are enzymes that facilitate the challenging phosphodiester bond cleavage by accelerating the uncatalyzed reaction. Many nucleases utilize metals to enhance catalysis. Despite several experimental studies on enzymes that cleave phosphodiester bonds in nature, the mechanism for bond cleavage used by many enzymes, including the role and/or number of metal ions involved, is still unclear. Computer modeling is a powerful tool to investigate enzyme-catalyzed reaction mechanisms and discern the roles of the metal/s and amino acids involved in the reaction. This thesis uses computational techniques (i.e., quantum mechanics calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and quantum mechanics–molecular mechanics calculations) to gain an atomic-level understanding of the phosphodiester bond cleavage reaction catalyzed by nucleases, specifically focusing on APE1, I-PpoI, and EndoV. These enzymes are particularly interesting since they either invoke a single metal ion for catalysis, which conflicts with the two-metal mediated mechanism generally proposed for most nucleases, or the metal-dependence is unknown. The mechanistic details uncovered by this thesis will open the door for new and improved applications of these enzymes in the fields of disease diagnostics, genetic engineering, and therapeutics.

Digital Humanities, Corpus and Language Technology: A look from diverse case studies is an outstanding collection of research contributions that explores the intersection of technology and the humanities. The authors provide a comprehensive overview of how these technologies can enhance research across various disciplines, from literature to history to anthropology. This book is a mustread for anyone interested in future research in the humanities. Digital Humanities, Corpus, and Language Technologies are rapidly growing fields that have the potential to revolutionize research across various disciplines. New technologies have opened up new perspectives for research, allowing scientists to analyze data in previously impossible ways. The interdisciplinary approach and practical applications make it an invaluable resource for researchers, students, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and the humanities. This publication is peer reviewed. Typesetting: LINE UP boek en media bv: Mirjam KroondijkCover design: Bas Ekkers Published by University of Groningen PressBroerstraat 4 9712 CP GroningenIn co-edition with Facultad de Comunicaciones y Filología, Universidad de Antioquia (Colombia) Production support: LINE UP boek en media bv The Softcover version of this book (ISBN: 9789403430232) can be ordered via Print on demand directly on the site of our partner Uitgeverij kleine Uil, and through all regular (internet) bookshops. International shipping is possible via Amazon. Mainly due to a software update and a new way of presenting this edited volume with separate landing pages per chapter, the old download statistic of this book has disappeared, the number of pdf downloads until 1 July was: 1421

The research cross-culturally investigates the expression of stance in the Facebook posts of large multinational automobile corporations in two countries, namely Egypt and the United Kingdom. It seeks to identify the ways stance markers differ from one culture and language to another and interpret the possible influence of culture on these metadiscoursal choices. Accordingly, a contrastive analysis is performed in which the Arabic and English Facebook pages are compared. Data are collected over a period of 5.5 months yielding a corpus of 214 Facebook posts. In order to analyse and interpret the data, the study adopts Hyland’s (2005) interpersonal model of metadiscourse with a particular focus on the stance category and explores the possible influence of each culture on the interpersonal markers employed using the cultural dimensions proposed by Hofstede, Hofstede, and Minkov (2010). The results of the study show that stance markers are significantly more common on the Egyptian pages. However, no striking variations are found in the general distribution of the stance markers across the various categories. While some similarities in the choice of the stance markers can be associated with the promotional genre, the results also reveal some differences dictated by the context and core values of the cultures under investigation. Hence, the findings of the study demonstrate that both culture and genre are two essential aspects that cannot be ignored when studying interactional discourse. The study has profound implications for corporations both nationally and internationally with regard to building solidarity with potential consumers and managing their corporate image in computer-mediated communications since country-specific content enhances usability, accessibility, and interactivity. Received: 03 April 2023Accepted: 14 April 2023Published: 20 April 2023

Multimodality is a new developing approach in linguistic studies which investigates various modes of meaning — from images to text and music. Women’s empowerment is the process where women are able to have greater choice and to seize more opportunities to improve their quality of life. However, sexual harassment, in particular, is a serious obstacle to achieve it and to women’s full realization of their human rights, because it restricts their freedom to move, study and work. Thus, this study sought to apply the principles of Kress and van Leeuwen’s Visual Grammar (2006) to conduct a multimodal analysis of a selection of anti-harassment posters published online and designed by Women between 2011 and 2017 in three different campaigns to observe the verbal and visual manifestations of women’s empowerment discourse. It aimed to study how these posters promote women’s self-confidence to encourage them to liberate themselves from patriarchal domination and to believe in their capabilities to overcome sexual harassment as one of the most oppressive dangers that threaten their participation in their societies.Keywords: Multimodality, Visual Grammar, posters, women’s empowerment, sexual harassment, Feminism. Received: 08 November 2022 Accepted: 04 September 2023 Published: 12 September 2023

This study investigates diasporic identity in Arab– American autobiographies. It particularly tackles the question of diasporic identity representation and its impact on the projection of individual self-perception in accordance with the different social contexts and ideological leaning; it aims at explaining how different social contexts, that the authors encounter and experience, affect their own identity. The study employs insights from autoethnography and socio-cognitive inquiries to examine two Arab- American memoirs; Leila Ahmed’s (1999) “A Border Passage” and Edward Said’s (1999) “Out of Place”. The research adopts the “Interpretive Autoethnography” approach, postulated by Denzin (2014), to engage with the question of self-perception and identity representation through an analysis of the self- writings of the authors. The study also adopts van Dijk’s (2016) Socio-cognitive discourse studies framework to analyze the authors’ language to reflect their self-perception, and by extension, identity. Received: 06 November 2022 Accepted: 15 March 2023Published: 01 May 2023

Local food production may not meet food market needs because of population growth and urbanization. Greenhouse cultivation has been used as an effective technique for providing an environment isolated from outside conditions to grow a wide variety of high-quality products with secure and sustainable harvesting in all seasons, especially in northern climates. The main problem with greenhouse cultivation is energy consumption required to maintain the indoor environment desirable for plant growth. Energy efficiency and conservation have become important issues around the world due to the cost increase, disruptions in availability, and the growing significance of environmental problems. Developing efficient greenhouses can be one of the most important actions to support food security and climate resilience. One objective of designing an energy-efficient greenhouse is to reduce CO2 emissions caused by burning fossil fuels to operate a greenhouse or generate electricity to be used in greenhouses so, increasing the investment in renewable energy for greenhouses is an energy-saving action. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to investigate energy-efficient designs of greenhouses for year-round food security in the harsh and changing climate of Southern Alberta, Canada. Using EnergyPlus™, a well-known building energy simulation tool, the most energy efficient greenhouse has been determined through modelling, simulation, and comparison of greenhouses different in parameters such as shape, dimension, orientation and covering material. In the first part of the study, the optimum design between 6 types of conventional greenhouses was investigated considering different variables for mentioned parameters. In the second part, the thermal performance and energy consumption of Conventional Greenhouses (CGs), Chinese Style Greenhouses (CSGs) and Plant Factories (PF) were compared and the most energy-efficient one was selected. After finding the greenhouse with the minimum energ

Over the past few years, research into gene therapies has dramatically increased, with thousands of drug candidates in clinical trials. However, only a few are available on the market today, highlighting the need for improved analysis methods that can help validate the drug development process. The challenges associated with gene therapy analysis vary with different vector types and compositions. The main challenges for lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), a non-viral vector, are their large size and inherent heterogeneity. The challenge for adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), a viral vector, is differentiating between the full AAV capsid and the product-related impurities due to their similar hydrodynamic radii and surface properties. For both vectors, these challenges prevent their accurate quantification and characterization by many chromatography and size-based techniques. We have employed analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) to improve gene therapy analysis by characterizing solutes in a sample based on their molar mass, shape, and density. AUC provides high statistical certainty through bulk observations, resulting in the correct assessment of sample purity and loading states. To further improve the resolution of AUC results, we have incorporated multi-wavelength capabilities into our AUC methods, adding an orthogonal optical characterization dimension. This thesis presents considerations for the design, execution, and analysis of multi-wavelength (MW) AUC experiments, looking at cases where optical deconvolution is not possible and cases where it is. It also includes a section on using MW sedimentation velocity experiments to characterize protein-DNA interactions, providing an example of how stoichiometry can be determined from MW-AUC experiments. Further, we apply MW capabilities to several AUC methods to improve the quantification and characterization of AAVs and LNPs. This results in the precise quantification and characterization of vectors, product-related impuritie

Wildfires are increasing in severity throughout areas that support large carnivore species; Yet, our understanding of the impacts of these disturbance events on carnivore distributions and activity remains limited. In this thesis, I took advantage of a rare opportunity to compare pre-fire and post-fire activity levels of black bears and grizzly bears in response to the Kenow wildfire, a severe fire event that occurred in Waterton Lakes National Park in 2017. My results revealed a decrease in the activity of both species in the park following the wildfire, although for both species, changes in activity depended on other predictors. In particular, changes in black bear activity following the fire varied by region (burnt versus unburnt) and season, with significant declines in activity occurring in the unburnt region during the spring and summer and in the burnt region during the summer and autumn. Grizzly bear activity was predicted by a three-way interaction between time period, human activity, and season. Grizzly bear activity was significantly negatively associated with human recreation in the summer, with the magnitude of this relationship being stronger post-fire. Despite decreases in overall bear activity in the park, the locations of hotspots of activity were relatively stable, with only minor shifts in the concentration of grizzly bear activity. The response of black bears to human recreation varied with season and did not seem to change following wildfire, whereas the association between grizzly bear activity and human activity differed among seasons and varied before and after the fire. These results have implications for the management of bears in this region in the aftermath of a severe wildfire and more generally inform our understanding of the response of the two largest carnivores in North America to these types of extreme events.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that affects the brain, resulting in social and communication deficits. Play therapy is one way in which we can assist autistic persons in developing and growing social and communication skills. The study consisted of a control group with three neurotypically developed teenagers and three test groups comprised of three autistic teenagers. Each group participated in three problem-solving rooms where the group had to work together to complete the room and played four different cooperative video games together throughout seven sessions, scheduled across a three-and-a-half-week period. A behavioural and social network analysis was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the cooperative play intervention. It was found that there was no notable difference between the neurotypically developed teenager (control) group and the autistic teenager group, with no improvements in pro-social behaviour.

Acoustic structure varies at multiple levels in birdsong. Note-level analyses are beneficial because they can enable scientists to characterize song structures, define song types, and more precisely measure vocal performance. By-eye analysis of spectrograms is sometimes adequate for note classification. However, Adelaide’s warbler (Setophaga adelaidae) notes are difficult to classify visually because they contain a blend of discrete and continuous variation. We ran a novel, automated, image-based analysis called latent visualization to determine if discrete note types exist and to explore variation among notes. Notes differed primarily in general frequency characteristics, and note clusters (i.e., types) were not discrete. Contrary to our expectations, cluster labels disregarded note contour, which is the most important aspect of note structure for by-eye classification. Overall, latent visualization may not be ideal for species that produce frequency-modulated notes. We recommend running future image-based analyses on note contours alongside acoustic feature analysis for validation.

There are two theories of how the neocortex processes sound. The feature detection theory posits that cortical neurons process sound to extract its features, whereas, in the decoding theory, cortical neurons are viewed as the decoders of “sound objects”: specific spectrotemporal patterns. In this thesis, I assess both theories in a set of longitudinal experiments with simple and complex sounds presented to awake and isoflurane-anesthetized mice. For the feature detection theory, the auditory cortex (AC) maps of tone frequency and frequency modulation (FM) rate are updated. In these maps, new areas and topographic gradients are discovered. The maps are stable across a recording period and reproducible between brain states. Moreover, a region in the primary AC encodes for the FM direction, crucial in the perception of complex sounds. Finally, fast FM rate topographic areas are the most involved in processing MVocs. For the prediction theory, both AC and the dorsal neocortex (DC) were considered. First, network analysis revealed that AC and DC work together to process sounds, with the interaction level determined by acoustic complexity and brain state. Second, a classification analysis showed that both cortices are informative of the stimuli, with AC twice as informative as DC. Isoflurane-anesthesia maintains the informative power of AC but vanishes the power of DC, except for simple sounds. Lastly, a regression analysis between sounds and behavior (predictors) and the cortical activity (response) was performed to assess the power of stimuli to explain the cortical activity. The sound stimuli could explain AC and DC activity up to 68% and 32%, respectively. The higher explanation power of sound is observed for more complex sounds in the awake state. To conclude, despite the simplicity of the feature detection theory, the detection theory provides a superior understanding of the neocortical functions in auditory processing.

Traditionally, behavioural research of Alzheimer disease animal models involved specialized experiments that require dedicated apparatus and presence of experimenter. However, experiment apparatus and the interaction between animals and experimenters can influence the behaviours of the animals, and result in difficulty in reproducibility. One recent innovation is to study behaviours of Alzheimer disease mouse model in their homecages. This thesis presents an experiment using automated homecages to observe the homecage behaviours of 5xFAD mouse models over 26 weeks. By measuring daily activity level, circadian rhythm and excursion behaviours, the experiment successfully produces measurements consistent with prior knowledge and provides some further insight in the behaviours of the mouse model. This thesis validates the approach using homecage behaviours as a paradigm for AD animal research.

Analysis of bovine movement and behavior is crucial in detecting their motor disorders and maintaining their welfare. Quantitative gait analysis methods have been designed to facilitate this task, but the on-site subjective assessment of the gait pattern remains prominent and depends on human expertise. Gait pattern could be assessed in feedlot cattle using AI as a substitute for the absence of human diagnosis, but creating an AI diagnosis procedure requires substantial behavioral information for training the AI tool. One solution for obtaining behavioral information is to use AI-assisted tools for diagnosis based on recordings of cattle movement. In this study, we created a three-dimensional digital representation of walking cattle to generate the required information and compare its applicability to that of the actual gait patterns. We used video recordings of cattle walking and trotting, and then used them as reference to create three-dimensional pose representations. Then, we introduced variations to these representations by altering specific aspects of the original walking cow model and its environment. We then tested the combined representations against the real data to see if they can prove useful in training a deep neural network for detecting gait pattern and features. This method can compensate for the scarcity of behavioral data, provide information to create mathematical representations of specific behaviors and be used for the development of smart-phone-based diagnosis systems.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health problem. It affects people suffering from infections and is also able to jeopardize livestock food security. With the rise of this problem, steps have been taken to reduce the use of antimicrobials in livestock production. “Raised Without” antimicrobial livestock production has been described to reduce antimicrobial resistance by removing the selective pressure which would reinforce resistance gene conservation in bacterial genomes. This thesis’ goal was to investigate the extent to which this statement is true. First, optimization of several different methods was used to detect resistance genes and associate them with mobile genetic elements to determine their transferability potential. Taking those methods and applying them to a beef cattle dataset revealed that an absence of antimicrobial use is likely not the cause of differences observed in antimicrobial resistance gene and microbiota abundance. Macrolide resistance genes are more likely to be stably conserved than tetracycline resistance genes. Expanding that analysis to include broiler chickens and swine both raised with and without antimicrobials, revealed there to be no difference between antimicrobial management practices unless at specific antimicrobial resistance gene group-levels.

The strengthening of synapses between coactivating neurons is believed to be an important underlying mechanism for learning and memory. Hebbian learning of this type has been observed in the brain, with the degree of synaptic strength change dependent on the relative timing of pre-spike arrival and post-spike emission called spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP). Another important feature of learning and memory is the existence of neural spike-timing patterns. Early work by Izhikevich (2006) argued that STDP spontaneously produces structures known as polychronous groups, defined by the network connectivity, that can produce such patterns. However, studies involving STDP face two important issues: how the STDP rule distributes synaptic weights and not knowing what STDP rule is used in the brain. This highlights the importance of understanding the fundamental properties of different STDP rules to determine their effect on the outcome of computational studies. This study focuses on the comparison of two STDP rules, one used by Izhikevich (2006), add-STDP, that produces a bimodal weight distribution, and log-STDP which produces a lognormal weight distribution. The comparison made is between the number of polychronous groups produced and the number of spike-timing patterns, or cell ensembles, found with another detection method that is applicable to experimental data. The number of polychronous groups found with add-STDP was significantly larger as were their sizes and durations. In contrast, the number of cell ensembles found in log-STDP was considerably larger, however, sizes and lifetimes were comparable. Lastly, the activity of cell ensembles in the log-STDP simulations has a non-trivial relationship with the dynamics of synaptic weights in the network, whereas no relationship was found for add-STDP.

Asphaltenes from various sources and processed in different ways were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation and diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) methods. The study investigating samples obtained from various depths of an oil well from a Saudi Arabian deposit found those samples to exhibit increasing aggregate sizes with depths, with the molecular structure remaining essentially unchanged. DOSY experiments reveal three distinct asphaltene aggregation states in different solvents, with increasing particle sizes at greater depths. However, hardware limitations were observed in resolving particle sizes beyond 4 nm. Asphaltenes from in-situ pyrolyzed American oil shale were characterized with respect to maturity, showing that aggregate size increases with maturity. As part of an international effort to characterize one particular crude and sonicated sample from Colombia (PetroPhase 2017), this study found that sonication reduces the aggregate size. Three fluorinated probes were tested to study a Kuwaiti asphaltene sample by 19F NMR spectroscopy and the results were compared to those obtained using the 1H signals of the sample; perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was found to be an effective probe for asphaltene aggregation, mirroring the results of the minor component of the 1H relaxation dispersion analysis. In relaxation dispersion measurements of all four asphaltene types, two mobility regimes were observed with percentage contributions varying between asphaltene origins but being unchanged with respect to processing and sample depth. The behaviour of the contributions of the two mobility regimes in all samples cannot be explained by attributing them to different aggregation states, but a core-shell model is proposed with the more mobile component being on the outside ‘shell’ and the more rigid component constituting the core of a nanoparticle.

Antimicrobial resistant strains of pathogenic Escherichia coli are a burden on the healthcare system, causing longer hospital stays and increased treatment costs compared to nonresistant strains. The proportion of E. coli infections in Canada caused by resistant strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase rose from 3.4% in 2007 to 11.1% in 2017. Use of most antimicrobials in the treatment of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli infection is not recommended due to their propensity to increase toxin production. Rapid detection of resistant strains would improve both treatment and prevention of this pathogen. With whole genome sequencing (WGS) now ubiquitous in the analyses of outbreak and surveillance samples, in silico methods can be both faster and cheaper than traditional wet-lab methods. In this work, machine learning (ML) classification methods were used for the prediction of antimicrobial resistance and the identification of potentially novel genomic markers of resistance in E. coli. There are four supplementary files to accompany Chapter 3. Supplementary Figure 1 is the Phylogenetic tree of the 4300 E. coli isolates with Salmonella as an outgroup; it is coloured by country of origin and serotype and paired with legends for each. Supplementary Table 1 contains the list of publicly available genomes collected and their corresponding metadata. Supplementary Table 2 contains the top features extracted from trained machine learning models and their annotations. Supplementary Table 3 contains the accuracy data for training machine learning models across a range of 100 to 5000 features. Supplementary Table 4 contains the complete performance data for the 11-mer and 25-mer machine learning models.

Positive affect is the extent to which an individual experiences positive moods, encompassing a broad scope of positive emotions including happiness, joy, optimism, interest, and contentment (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005; Qi et al., 2021). Previous research using simplistic stimuli has struggled to form a consensus on a general model of positive affect in the brain. Of current significance in the field of cognitive neuroscience is the utilization of naturalistic stimuli to better emulate “real-world” experiences. Previous research has demonstrated that movies can evoke robust correlations in brain activity across participants, suggesting a shared processing pattern for naturalistic stimuli (Hasson et al., 2004; Jääskeläinen et al., 2008). Nevertheless, amidst this shared overarching response of integrated brain regions, individual differences in processing arise, influenced by specific personality traits (e.g., paranoia: Finn et al., 2018). In line with this, a behavioural study by Sullivan & Ekstrand (2021) showed that participants with higher positive affect scores had significantly higher correlations in a keypress response task than those with lower positive affect scores. To explore deeper, the current study employs the Naturalistic Neuroimaging Database (NNdB) (Aliko et al., 2020, v2.0) to examine the impact of different levels of self-reported positive affect on neural synchrony during movie viewing and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Results showed that individuals with higher levels of positive affect exhibited greater neural synchrony in higher-order cognitive regions such as the bilateral precuneus, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and superior temporal gyrus (STG), while individuals with lower levels of positive affect exhibited greater synchrony in rudimentary audiovisual regions such as the bilateral planum temporale (PT), STG, fusiform gyrus (FG), and lateral occipital cortex (LOC). Overall, this study contr

This project examines whether Black youth experience differential treatment during their interactions with police in Southern Alberta, how those experiences might differ from those of others residing in larger, more prominent Canadian or United States (U.S.) cities, and the extent to which those experiences shape their sense of belonging in Canada, Alberta, their cities of residence, and their Black communities. Using a Critical Race Mixed Methodology consisting of an online perception survey and interviews, I created 37 cases that I analyzed in NVivo, using an intersectional Counter-Storytelling framework. Of the 46 Black youth aged 16-30 that participated in this study, those who identified as women, who were also Black youth from Lethbridge, were more likely to experience subtle forms of police violence, ranging from dismissiveness to harassment and intimidation. In contrast, participants from Calgary who predominantly identified as men were more likely to experience physical and hostile police violence, ranging from handcuffing to having firearms aimed at them. As a result, I found that anti-Black police violence is as much a problem in Southern Alberta as in larger cities like Toronto or Ottawa, Ontario. However, this study revealed that covert police violence happened more to the participants and significantly impacted them. This is due primarily to the fact that these forms of violence are hard to challenge. This study, therefore, takes an intersectional approach to state violence at the hands of police by amplifying the voices of Black youth in Southern Alberta who have experienced both covert and overt forms of police violence. This approach challenges dominant narratives that suggest that only overt forms of state violence against Black people count as violence and suggests that police violence is a gendered phenomenon that impacts people differently depending on their location at the intersection of perceived (by police) and actual (self-identification of

This thesis examines the incorporation of open educational practices into the teaching of Anthropology at a medium-sized, Canadian postsecondary institution. By taking a research-creation approach, I examine the process of co-designing an Open Educational Resource with faculty members and students. I also reflect on the implementation of non-disposable assignments to encourage students to engage with scholarly knowledge production, and how this impacts their relationship with knowledge in postsecondary education. Through this process of co-inquiry with both faculty and students, I examine how three concerns of accessibility in postsecondary education can be addressed using open educational practices. Throughout this thesis, I reflect on the challenges and successes of these practices and provide insight to interested practitioners on how open educational practices can be integrated into their own teaching.

Species distribution models (SDMs) have become a widely used tool for understanding species distributions and informing conservation actions. However, user decisions made during model development can impact model predictions and performance. In this thesis, I address the sensitivity of model predictions and performance to several modeling decisions. I first reviewed modeling decisions used in studies that validated SDMs with independent data and found that the impacts of some decisions (i.e., choice of geographic study extent) have yet to be fully tested using independent data. I then used independent data to test the impacts of study extent on SDMs for six amphibian species at the edge of their respective ranges in western Canada. I found that model predictions were highly sensitive to the study extent used, and that many models failed to accurately predict independent occurrence regardless of the study extent used. Following from this result, I explored the joint impacts of choice of study extent, the type of environmental data used, and whether sampling bias was accounted for in SDMs developed to inform conservation translocations of long-toed salamanders. I found that these decisions impacted the prioritization of potential release sites, and that models developed using random background points and local study extents tended to perform best. In this study I also demonstrated an approach for incorporating future climatic predictions into the selection of potential release sites and found that tradeoffs exist between developing accurate models and those that can make future predictions without extrapolation beyond the conditions with which models were generated. Overall, my thesis contributes several validated SDMs for use in amphibian conservation in western Canada while simultaneously adding to our understanding of how key modeling decisions can impact SDM predictions, performance, and downstream conservation decisions.

Drawing from theories of Chinese indigenous psychology, subjective well-being, and cultural identity, this study examines the representations of Chinese women immigrants in four texts by Wayson Choy, SKY Lee, and Denise Chong. These women lived through the Canadian Chinese-exclusion period of 1923-1947, and many witnessed the introduction of the points-based system in 1967. Situating my examination in the social, historical, and cultural contexts of the multiple worlds where they lived, I suggest that through these characters, who use their own language/dialect to tell their own stories and demonstrate their own values, these texts literally and figuratively give this generation of women a voice and present them as complex humans. In this way, the authors are actually ‘bone collectors’; they excavate neglected aspects of Canadian history to find the ‘bones’ of their elders and attempt to piece these together, while being aware that they are not fully capable of doing so.

This study analyzed the genetic structure of mountain bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) from across their range using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing to find single nucleotide polymorphisms. I found evidence of at least four distinct genetic clusters, two of which were in Alberta. I then went on to hypothesize current and historical barriers to gene flow. In the third chapter, I examined the mountain bluebird breeding populations in Alberta and Saskatchewan for signals of current and historical hybridization. Although I did not find evidence of recent hybridization, I did detect signals of ancient introgression from both bluebird congeners. I then used both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA to examine the Sialia polytomy containing all three species of bluebirds. The polytomy showed signs of both incomplete lineage sorting between mitochondrial genes and mitonuclear discordance. As such, it appears that hybridization and other potential factors may obscure the evolutionary history of the entire genus.

The neuropathological sequelae of stroke and subsequent process of recovery are incompletely understood. The manuscript-based thesis presented herein used a clinical pilot population to elucidate changes in cellular metabolic dynamics following stoke, thereby contributing to the existing knowledge base on the pathophysiological mechanisms orchestrating stroke recovery. The investigation explores these biochemical profiles via a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-driven metabolomic profiling approach. The objective of this research was to determine if this powerful technique can (1) uncover the biochemical pathways underlying stroke repair and functional recovery and (2) yield novel biomarkers indicative of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment efficacy subsequent to stroke. Urine samples and serum samples along with clinical stroke assessments were collected during the acute phase of stroke and the chronic phase, six months later. Employing a 700MHz 1H NMR spectrometer, the metabolomic profiles of the patients were acquired. Following NMR post-processing, a combination of univariate and multivariate statistical analysis, along with biological pathway analysis was conducted. Lastly, clinical correlations illustrated the relationship between significant metabolite concentrations and clinical measures. Ultimately, NMR-based metabolomics provided valuable insights into post-stroke cellular functions and established a foundational framework for future investigations to develop standardized clinical assays, advance personalized neurorehabilitation regimens, and enhance overall quality of life for stroke-afflicted individuals.

Quantum Theory and General Relativity are two of the most successful theories of Nature in their respective regimes. In situations where effects from both are non-negligible, the regime of Quantum Gravity emerges. Many theories, such as String Theory, Loop Quantum Gravity and Doubly Special Relativity, attempt to address the high-energy regime of Quantum Gravity. The structures of such theories suggest the existence of a minimum measurable length. This in turn modifies the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, to the so-called Generalized Uncertainty Principle (GUP). In this work, GUP is used to construct phenomenological models, which can be used to verify the existence of a minimum measurable length. Specifically, in Earth-based experiments, the magnetometer experiment and Bose-Einstein condensation are considered, and in cosmology, explanations of the baryon asymmetry in the Universe and the EDGES anomaly are provided. Furthermore, a novel conceptual approach to Quantum Gravity, namely the Quantum Equivalence Principle, is explored.

The Lansing effect is a specific type of parental age effect whereby older parents have shorter-lived offspring than younger parents. The phenomenon is important because it implies the presence of non-genetic forms of inheritance relating to parental age, such as epigenetics or physiological effects. Further, the existence of the Lansing effect informs our understanding of the evolution of life histories because it shows that senescence – traditionally defined in terms of decreases in survival and reproduction with age – also involves a decrease in offspring quality. The Lansing effect has been observed in a wide variety of taxa, including plants. Here, I investigated the Lansing effect in the subfamily Lemnoideae (duckweeds). My objectives were two-fold: (1) testing for the Lansing effect, and (2) if the Lansing effect is present, determining whether shortened lifespans of offspring of older parents are due to a higher mortality rate at all ages (i.e. a difference in baseline mortality), or a faster-accelerating mortality with age. I recorded lifespan, reproduction, and other metrics of fitness of 392 individuals; half were their parent’s first clonal offspring (offspring of younger parents), and half were fifth clonal offspring (offspring of older parents). Offspring of older parents had shorter lifespans (i.e., the Lansing effect occurred) and produced fewer offspring themselves compared to offspring of younger parents. Further, a model-selection approach indicated that offspring of older parents had a greater initial mortality rate at birth that then persisted through life compared to offspring of younger parents. Thus, greater baseline mortality was responsible for the Lansing effect for the plants in this experiment. My work emphasizes that senescence can manifest in offspring as a result of parental age effects, specifically the Lansing effect, in addition to the more well described phenomena of decreasing survival and reproduction.

This study analyzed the genetic structure of mountain bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) from across their range using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing to find single nucleotide polymorphisms. I found evidence of at least four distinct genetic clusters, two of which were in Alberta. I then went on to hypothesize current and historical barriers to gene flow. In the third chapter, I examined the mountain bluebird breeding populations in Alberta and Saskatchewan for signals of current and historical hybridization. Although I did not find evidence of recent hybridization, I did detect signals of ancient introgression from both bluebird congeners. I then used both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA to examine the Sialia polytomy containing all three species of bluebirds. The polytomy showed signs of both incomplete lineage sorting between mitochondrial genes and mitonuclear discordance. As such, it appears that hybridization and other potential factors may obscure the evolutionary history of the entire genus.