Graduate Theses and Dissertations
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This collections holds all University of Saskatchewan graduate level electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) published since 2005. More than 700 print theses published before 2005 have been digitized and added to the collection as well.
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Item Sedimentology and ichnology of a shallow-marine clastic system from the Silurian-Devonian Furada Formation of Asturias, Spain: Benthic response to event deposition and environmental disturbance(2024-06-28) Thue, Katherine L; Buatois, Luis A; Mangano, M G; Sproat, Colin D; Dorador, Javier; Eglington, BruceThe Furada Formation of Asturias, Spain, represents a clastic, wave-dominated shallow-marine unit deposited during the middle Silurian to the Early Devonian. This formation contains abundant evidence of event deposition and non-uniform distribution of bioturbation structures representing a benthic response to multiple stressors. The 170 m-thick succession was measured and described, and the ichnotaxa were recorded and associated with lithofacies. Most shallow-marine environments are characterized by periodic events of environmental disturbance, mainly by episodic deposition, which may be recorded by a change in both the degree of bioturbation and ichnodiversity. The general depositional setting for this formation has been previously interpreted as a wave-dominated and storm-influenced shallow-marine environment. However, sedimentologic features described in this study such as anomalous heterolithic units and fluid mud flow deposits suggest the influence of fluvial discharge, making it a more complex depositional setting. Body fossils are restricted to a single subfacies and include disarticulated and fragmented echinoderms, brachiopods and bryozoans. The trace-fossil assemblages of this formation reflect environmental stress factors introduced by fluvial input (e.g., sedimentation rate, hydrodynamic energy, substrate consolidation), resulting in reduced ichnodiversity and low abundance. The overall trace-fossil content of the Furada Formation is generally representative of the Cruziana Ichnofacies. Integration of sedimentologic and ichnologic datasets allows for a refined depositional interpretation of the formation and greater understanding of the environmental diversity of wave-dominated shallow marine clastic systems, including middle Paleozoic shallow-marine benthos and their responses to event sedimentation and environmental disturbance.Item THE ICHNOLOGICAL AND DEPOSITIONAL CONTEXT OF BIOERODED TRICERATOPS BONES FROM THE MAASTRICTHIAN FRENCHMAN FORMATION OF SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA(2024-06-28) Milligan, Jack R; Buatois, Luis A; Mangano, Gabriela; Bamforth, Emily L; Sproat, Colin; Pirrone, Cecilia; Eglington, BrucePrevious studies on osteic bioerosion trace fossils on dinosaur bones have contributed to our understanding of Mesozoic terrestrial paleoecology and depositional environments. In many cases, body fossils of the inferred tracemaker are either exceedingly rare or absent from the fossil record due to taphonomy. However, studies of bioerosion on dinosaur material conducted on Canadian specimens are uncommon, which is surprising given the volume of dinosaur material collected each year in the country. The ceratopsid Triceratops prorsus is the most common dinosaur fossil from the latest Maastrichtian Frenchman Formation in Saskatchewan, represented by thousands of specimens. Classifying osteic bioerosion trace fossils on Triceratops bones from the Frenchman Formation using established ichnotaxobases coupled with sedimentological data allows for insight into the hidden invertebrate diversity within the Frenchman Formation, as well as how plants used dinosaur bones as a nutrient source. Stratigraphic sections of the Frenchman Formation were measured in four localities containing Triceratops specimens. All bioeroded specimens of Triceratops identified were preserved in organic-rich mudstone and siltstone deposits, representing floodplain paleosols. Soils are the ideal habitat for terrestrial invertebrate scavengers that serve as the decomposers of decaying animal matter during the early dry stages of decay. The large ichnodiversity of osteic bioerosion trace fossils preserved in Triceratops bones from the Frenchman Formation are the result of pupation chamber construction and necrophagous, and possibly osteophagous terrestrial invertebrates, likely beetles based on comparisons of extant carrion beetle behaviour. Rhizoetchings on bone can be attributed to ancient plant roots directly associated with the Triceratops bones. Established plant communities that utilize soils therefore have a significant ichnological footprint on post-mortem Triceratops bones following burial. Different degrees of preservation of Triceratops bones within floodplain and overbank deposits including poorly drained or water-logged paleosols indicate different taphonomic pathways. This thesis serves as a template for future taphonomic studies of vertebrate body fossils material, considering sedimentological and ichnological evidence on the bones.Item Ethics, Privacy and Beyond: A Habermasian Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Discourses in Canadian Healthcare(2024-06-26) Diego Chavez, Cristina; Dickinson, Harley; Downe, PamelaThis paper examines the challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Canadian healthcare by employing Jürgen Habermas's three-dimensional theory of rationality (Cognitive-Instrumental, Aesthetic-Expressive and Moral-Practical) as a framework for analysis. Through a review of both peer-reviewed and grey literature from 2018 to 2023, the research reveals an interconnection among ethical, privacy, technological, and legal concerns. This reflects the validity and applicability of Habermas's three-dimensional theory of rationality as a useful framework to assess the multifaceted discourses on AI in healthcare. Ethics and privacy are identified as central to navigating AI's implications in healthcare, suggesting their foundational role in shaping policies and practices.Item Aster Yellows Phytoplasma, Aster Leafhopper And Canola: Development And Application Of Improved Molecular Methods For Pathogen Detection And Genetic Characterization Provide Increased Understanding Of Aster Yellows Disease(2024-06-26) Pusz-Bochenska, Karolina H; Wist, Tyler; Gray, Jack; Philiips, Iain; Prager, Sean; Yangdou, Wei; Niyogi, Som; Groves, Russell; Dumonceaux, TimPhytoplasmas are insect-vectored, difficult-to-culture bacterial pathogens that infect a wide variety of plants. They are associated with diseases connected with severe yield losses in global agricultural production, including Aster Yellows (AY). Aster Yellows phytoplasma (AYp) is primarily transmitted by the aster leafhopper (ALH), Macrosteles quadrilineatus Forbes, and AY outbreaks in Western Canada tend to damage canola crops most severely. Even though there are several methods to control AYp spread, the most common method is insecticide spray, which can damage the environment if used unsustainably. Tools that can rapidly diagnose phytoplasma infection and accurately identify phytoplasma strains are of critical importance for disease management. Currently, detecting AYp involves a time-consuming process of transporting insect samples and extracting DNA, and this method often delays the application of mitigative measures. A rapid and field-adaptable diagnostic method was developed, which uses Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) PlantSaver paper cards to extract insect DNA followed by a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. This approach successfully detected AYp in under an hour, and its application could be expanded to a wide range of insect-transmitted pathogens. Disease management can also be improved by identifying and understanding the various species, strains, groups, and subgroups of phytoplasma. PCR-based methods targeting universal taxonomic markers (e.g., 16S rRNA) are commonly used to identify phytoplasmas in plant and insect tissues; however, these methods provide limited resolution of phytoplasma strains. In response to these limitations, a PCR-independent, hybridization-based multilocus sequence typing (MLST) assay was developed to precisely characterize phytoplasmas through the concurrent sequencing of seven taxonomic markers. This novel approach could serve as a standardized method for phytoplasma identification and may inform the understanding of phytoplasma spread in crop plants worldwide. Little is conclusively known about the long-distance dispersal patterns of ALH, but gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the species could positively influence the development of AY control strategies. A panel of 22 microsatellite markers for ALH was developed and used in multiplex format to explore the genetic makeup of Saskatchewan ALH populations. This initial investigation into ALH genetics indicated a wide range of genetic variation within populations. In addition, there was no correlation between genetic and geographic distances, suggesting that Western Canada is a melting pot for North American ALH populations. While this study is a pioneering work and cannot be compared to reference data, it is a critical step in furthering knowledge of ALH. In the context of Western Canada, while researchers explore knowledge gaps in AYp identification and ALH origins, this work has determined that the best approach to AY management is, and may remain, prompt detection of AYp using field-adaptable molecular diagnostic methods.Item Aster Yellows Phytoplasma, Aster Leafhopper And Canola: Development And Application Of Improved Molecular Methods For Pathogen Detection And Genetic Characterization Provide Increased Understanding Of Aster Yellows Disease(2024-06-26) Pusz-Bochenska, Karolina H; Wist, Tyler; Gray, Jack; Philiips, Iain; Prager, Sean; Yangdou, Wei; Niyogi, Som; Groves, Russell; Dumonceaux, TimPhytoplasmas are insect-vectored, difficult-to-culture bacterial pathogens that infect a wide variety of plants. They are associated with diseases connected with severe yield losses in global agricultural production, including Aster Yellows (AY). Aster Yellows phytoplasma (AYp) is primarily transmitted by the aster leafhopper (ALH), Macrosteles quadrilineatus Forbes, and AY outbreaks in Western Canada tend to damage canola crops most severely. Even though there are several methods to control AYp spread, the most common method is insecticide spray, which can damage the environment if used unsustainably. Tools that can rapidly diagnose phytoplasma infection and accurately identify phytoplasma strains are of critical importance for disease management. Currently, detecting AYp involves a time-consuming process of transporting insect samples and extracting DNA, and this method often delays the application of mitigative measures. A rapid and field-adaptable diagnostic method was developed, which uses Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) PlantSaver paper cards to extract insect DNA followed by a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. This approach successfully detected AYp in under an hour, and its application could be expanded to a wide range of insect-transmitted pathogens. Disease management can also be improved by identifying and understanding the various species, strains, groups, and subgroups of phytoplasma. PCR-based methods targeting universal taxonomic markers (e.g., 16S rRNA) are commonly used to identify phytoplasmas in plant and insect tissues; however, these methods provide limited resolution of phytoplasma strains. In response to these limitations, a PCR-independent, hybridization-based multilocus sequence typing (MLST) assay was developed to precisely characterize phytoplasmas through the concurrent sequencing of seven taxonomic markers. This novel approach could serve as a standardized method for phytoplasma identification and may inform the understanding of phytoplasma spread in crop plants worldwide. Little is conclusively known about the long-distance dispersal patterns of ALH, but gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the species could positively influence the development of AY control strategies. A panel of 22 microsatellite markers for ALH was developed and used in multiplex format to explore the genetic makeup of Saskatchewan ALH populations. This initial investigation into ALH genetics indicated a wide range of genetic variation within populations. In addition, there was no correlation between genetic and geographic distances, suggesting that Western Canada is a melting pot for North American ALH populations. While this study is a pioneering work and cannot be compared to reference data, it is a critical step in furthering knowledge of ALH. In the context of Western Canada, while researchers explore knowledge gaps in AYp identification and ALH origins, this work has determined that the best approach to AY management is, and may remain, prompt detection of AYp using field-adaptable molecular diagnostic methods.Item Fostering FASD-Informed Practice with Incarcerated Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Towards More Informed, Strengths-Based, Investigative and Connected Correctional Environments(2024-06-21) Buttinger, Pam R; Dell, Colleen; Mela, Mansfield; Olver, Mark; Buhler, Sarah; Sharp, Maegan; Reid, Natasha; Ahmed, AG; Brooks, CarolynThe capacity to foster an FASD-informed environment is predicated on the ability of those within the said environment to make their own practice and interactions FASD-informed. The aim of this study was to critically consider how Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)-informed practice could be fostered within Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) facilities. The study aimed to identify, first, the receptiveness of CSC staff towards adopting FASD-informed practices, and second, the essential elements of an FASD-informed environment and whether they could be applied to a correctional environment. To do so, the researcher carried out the research using a three-part, mixed-methods design that combined a traditional survey, an open-ended survey with a modified Delphi approach follow-up, and interviews with three separate professional groups. The groups included CSC frontline staff, professionals working within intervention and research for FASD, and CSC staff who work within an institution that also houses an FASD diagnostic clinic. The results indicated that FASD-informed environments employ practices and people who (a) are informed about the disorder, (b) are willing to employ strengths-based approaches, (c) are relentlessly investigative in their pursuit to help the individuals they work with find success, and (d) value the role of connection and relationships. Within CSC, many staff reported being receptive to adjusting their approach when working with individuals with FASD; however, promoting widespread FASD-informed attitudes and approaches will require changes to current practice, necessitating further training and exposure. Mainstreaming FASD training requires an understanding that not all staff need the same level of FASD knowledge. A tiered implementation model (foundation, knowledge base, action, and specialized service) is offered as a guide to fostering FASD-informed correctional environments. At a foundational level, working towards all institutions being trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based will be beneficial to all incarcerated individuals, not only those with FASD. This can be fostered by offering regular, multimodal training to all staff and fostering attitudes that promote interdisciplinary teamwork and safety. For those in specialized environments or disciplines, offering domain and discipline-specific intervention strategies and opportunities to practice them is suggested. Continued support of the FASD Diagnostic Clinic teams will also ensure continued diagnostic capacity, consultation, and specialized services. All four tiers in the tiered implementation model rely on strong managerial support and are strengthened through connections within the institution and the surrounding community. The implication of the findings within this study offers recommendations on how to respond to FASD within correctional systems that is consistent with CSC’s mandate to provide treatment aimed at rehabilitation and mitigating the risk offenders place on the safety of society. Given the overrepresentation of FASD within institutions, there is a need to provide employees with tools to work with this population and be responsive to these mandates. With top-level support to introduce sustainable training opportunities alongside recognizing that FASD requires frontline staff the room to be flexible and accommodating, a shift can begin towards fostering more FASD-informed correctional environments.Item Comparing the vocabulary and grammatical structures of The Sims 4 with those of the Evolve 5(2024-06-21) Habibi, Ashkan; Li, Zhi; Cenerini, Chantale; Koole, MargueriteUsing video games for language learning can be beneficial for language learners. While previous studies have investigated the utility of video games for language learning, there are limited studies that compared the linguistic input in video games and that in existing language classes. This study delves into a comprehensive exploration of linguistic elements by comparing the vocabulary and grammatical structures present in the virtual realm of The Sims 4, a simulation video game, with those found in an English textbook called Evolve 5, published by Cambridge University Press targeting B2 or upper intermediate English language learners. The purpose of this study is to see whether the game has the potential to be used as an extramural activity outside the classroom along the book. The corpus of The Sims 4 script includes 323,555 words, and the Evolve 5 contains 294 targeted words or phrases, as featured in the textbook’s vocabulary sections and 20 grammatical structure groups distributed in 12 units. In addressing the research questions of this study, two software tools were employed: LancsBox for identifying vocabulary and grammatical structure groups within the game script, and AntConc for visualizing the dispersion of words and phrases. The findings show that The Sims 4 is a valuable source for English language learning for both vocabulary and grammatical structures learning. The results show although The Sims 4 has a rich content for language learning, in terms of overall vocabulary coverage. However, the game seems to be most useful for teaching a few topics as only six out of 24 topics in the textbook show medium or higher coverage of vocabulary, that is over 45% of the targeted words or phrases in the corresponding topic appear six or more times in the game script. Regarding grammatical structures, it is an invaluable and appropriate source to be used as an extramural activity because out of 20 grammatical structures, 12 of them appear highly frequently in the script of the game (i.e., 40 or more occurrences). The findings of this research offer advantages to language learners and educators alike. By highlighting certain topics heavily featured in the game, educators can harness its potential to motivate learners to engage in it as an extracurricular activity beyond traditional classroom settings. Furthermore, the results emphasize the significance of incorporating digital gaming technologies into language education to promote immersive and engaging learning opportunities.Item Epitope-TCR Interaction Prediction with Deep Learning based on Sequence and Physicochemical Properties(2024-06-19) Raha, Rawshon; Wu, FangXiang; Liu, Qiang; McQuillan, IanImmune system cells are capable of defending our body from attack by a pathogen if they succeed to recognize the pathogen as a threat before its attack. The recognition of chewed up fragments of the antigen (epitope) by immune system cells (TCR) can be predicted by successful epitope-TCR recognition. However, testing numerous epitope-TCR sequences experimentally for interaction is very time and resource consuming. Predicting this interaction computationally before testing them in the laboratory can help with effective vaccination and personalized healthcare. In this study, I addressed the interaction prediction task in the unseen epitope setting by developing a pairwise combination based model, and in the unseen TCR setting by developing an ensemble learning model with sequence based calculations. In the pairwise combination based model for unseen epitope-TCR interaction prediction, the pairwise epitope and TCR sequences are used simultaneously to generate images like features using absolute difference and vector outer product of constituent amino acid's physicochemical properties. The best performing physicochemical properties have been selected and found to exhibit much higher performance in comparison to the existing unseen epitope prediction models. The absolute difference based model produced an AUC of 0.64 with only two best performing physicochemical properties, namely, Hydrophobicity and Net Charge Index. The vector outer product based model produced an AUC of 0.60 with the same two properties. Furthermore, the model achieved an AUC of 0.82 by combining both types of features while the best competing model had an AUC of 0.55 for similar setting and dataset. In the ensemble learning model for predicting unseen TCR-epitope interactions, the features were generated using physicochemical property vector, one hot vector, and ProtBERT embedding vector. During the model training, the equally-long sequences were created by zero padding and a masking strategy is adopted to mitigate the noises which may have been introduced by the zero padding. The best performing models using physicochemical property vector, one hot vector, and ProtBERT embedding vector achieved AUC values of 0.74, 0.78 and 0.77, respectively. Moreover, the ensemble learning model based on the individually predicted posterior probabilities achieved an AUC of 0.79, which is convincingly better than the existing best performing methods.Item Biogeochemical Implications of Sulfate-Based Coagulants in Treated Oil Sands Fluid Fine Tailings(2024-06-19) Adene, Philip A; Lindsay, Matthew; Birks, Jean; McBeth, Joyce; McPhedran, Kerry; Butler, Sam; Eglington, BruceOil sands mining operations generate a large volume of fluid fine tailings (FFT), requiring incorporation into aquatic and terrestrial reclamation landforms. These tailings are a mixture of inorganic solids, oil sands processed-affected water (OSPW), and residual bitumen. The initial solid contents, which range between 25 to 35 % (w/w), are dominated by quartz and clay minerals (i.e., kaolinite, illite, and illite-smectite (I-S) mixed layer) with minor carbonates, trace sulfides, and oxides. Associated OSPW contains elevated concentrations of Na+, Cl-, HCO3-, and NH4+, plus trace elements, naphthenic acids (NAs), and residual hydrocarbons. Elevated Na+ concentrations relative to other cations (e.g., K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+) hinder aggregation of silt- and clay-size particles (≤ 44 µm), thereby slowing FFT settlement and dewatering, which precludes prompt integration into reclamation landscapes. Consequently, FFT inventories within tailings ponds have grown steadily over time, approaching 1.3 billion m3 by 2020. Regulators have issued directives intended to curtail these growing inventories and promote progressive mine reclamation. These directives, coupled with slow settlement behaviour, prompted oil sands operators to develop various technologies that accelerate dewatering with the addition of chemical coagulants. However, the influence of these coagulants on FFT biogeochemistry is not fully understood. The main goal of this thesis was to examine the biogeochemical implications of chemical coagulant treatments on oil sands FFT and to understand the effects of cation exchange reactions associated with gypsum addition on the isotopic signature of FFT pore-water. This research uses the integration of analytical methods and anaerobic batch experiments to examine how different doses (i.e., 0, 500, 1000, and 1,500 ppm) of coagulants (i.e., alum [Al2(SO4)3.nH2O], ferric sulfate [Fe2(SO4)3.nH2O], and gypsum [CaSO4.2H2O]) affect FFT geochemistry, mineralogy, and microbiology over time. The research also uses Na-Ca exchange batch experiments with different masses (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 2.4, and 3.2 g) of reference clay minerals (kaolinite, illite, and I-S) and FFT to determine the extent of Ca uptake during cation exchange reactions associated with gypsum amendments using the magnitude of isotopic fractionation. The anaerobic batch experiments showed that both treated and untreated FFT samples host diverse microbial communities with a range of metabolic capabilities. Sulfate and Fe(III) reduction and methanogenesis are the key biogeochemical redox processes in FFT deposits. The interactions among these processes lead to the complex biogeochemistry of FFT. Sulfate reduction suppresses CH4 production, while the H2S produced reacts with microbially-derived Fe(II) to form Fe(II) sulfide minerals, which promote the sequestration of metals, which include As, Ni, V, and Zn. Coagulant addition enhances mass-transfer reactions (e.g., carbonate minerals dissolution-precipitation, ion exchange, adsorption-desorption, and sulfide minerals precipitation), which determines the release or attenuation of major and trace elements. The sulfate-based coagulants also decreased solution pH (alum: 7.16 to 4.50, ferric sulfate: 7.72 to 6.28, and gypsum: 8.03 to 7.41) and alkalinity (alum: 840 to 20 mg L-1, ferric sulfate: 920 to 280 mg L-1, and gypsum: 920 to 420 mg L -1) and increased electrical conductivity (EC) (alum: 3.78 to 9.06 mS cm-1, ferric sulfate: 2.31 to 10.71 mS cm-1, and gypsum: 5.98 to 10.30 mS cm-1) due to elevated Na+, Cl-, and SO42-. The Ca - Na exchange experiments revealed that cation exchange dominates Ca uptake in acidic environments, and the magnitude of isotopic fractionation depends on the extent of Ca uptake. Illite and I-S exhibited the most Ca uptake and isotopic fractionation compared to kaolinite. The clay minerals present in FFT control the Ca uptake and the magnitude of isotopic fractionation. Heavier isotopes (e.g., 44Ca) were preferentially attached to the clay surfaces in most samples, which could be controlled by variation in Ca2+ coordination number (CN).Item Social Trust, Social Tolerance, and Board Gender Diversity in a Cross-Section of Countries(2024-06-19) Kordi, Fatemeh; Maung, Min; Yang, Fan; Mishra, Dev R; Wynes, Mike; Tannous, GeorgeThe abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo.Item Attachment insecurity and sleep disturbances: Exploring the association in individuals and their bedpartners, and the effects of co-sleeping behaviours(2024-06-19) Castillo, Dyana; McWilliams, Lachlan; Symons, Doug; Tomczak, Corey; Gagnon, Michelle; Loehr, Janeen; Stacey, AdamA growing body of research indicates that individual differences in attachment insecurity are related to sleep-related variables. In general, greater attachment insecurity (i.e., anxiety and/or discomfort in close relationships) has been found to be associated with sleep problems, such as pre-sleep hyperarousal (Palagini et al., 2018), and poorer sleep quality (Maunder et al., 2011). Research to date has primarily studied samples of individuals. When studying heterosexual couples, relationships between the variables from one type of couple member (e.g., male partners) are often referred to as “actor effects.” Research conducted with couples indicates that attachment insecurity is also associated with the sleep quality of relationship partners (i.e., “partner effects”). Further research exploring actor and partner effects involving adult attachment and sleep is warranted. The goal of Study 1 was to replicate actor and partner effects regarding adult attachment characteristics and ratings of sleep quality. In Study 2, the goal was to identify variables likely to be moderators (e.g., co-sleeping arrangements) and mediators (e.g., pre-sleep hyperarousal) of these associations. Study 1 utilized the actor-partner interdependence model to study attachment and sleep quality in a sample of 173 couples. It found actor and partner effects of attachment anxiety, but not avoidance. Study 2 involved a series of multiple regression analyses of attachment variables and confounds (age, depression, and health) on a variety of sleep-related variables in a community sample (N = 309). Attachment anxiety was a robust predictor of electronic device use in bed, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, pre-sleep cognitive arousal, and pre-sleep arousing activities, as well as a global sleep outcome (i.e., daytime sleepiness). Attachment avoidance was a robust predictor of pre-sleep eating and drinking and pre-sleep cognitive arousal. Both attachment dimensions predicted the frequency of pleasant and neutral pre-sleep conversations with partners. Only one variable (dysfunctional beliefs about sleep) emerged as a mediator between attachment anxiety and a sleep outcome (i.e., daytime sleepiness). This program of research highlights the potential impacts that one's own and partners’ attachment and pre-sleep activity have on sleep.Item A Comparative Genre Analysis Study of Scientific Articles Abstracts and AI-Generated Abstracts(2024-06-18) Alqudah, A.R.; Zhi, Li; Spreng, Bettina; Makarova, VeronikaThis study investigated and compared the rhetorical moves and steps employed in human-written abstracts of published articles with those generated by ChatGPT, 3.5 free version. The grammatical features and move patterns are also analyzed. The data for this study was collected by compiling corpus of 25 original research papers’ abstracts and 25 ChatGPT-generated abstracts. The ChatGPT abstracts were based on the titles of the 25 original abstracts collected prior, which were all published in Q1 journals from 12 different disciplines. Those disciplines are Psychology, Economics, Biology, Physics, Geology, Artificial Intelligence, Linguistics, Sociology, Agriculture, Mechanical Engineering, Management, and Sports Medicine. UAM CorpusTool (version 2.8), a corpus annotation tool, was used to annotate the texts based on a scheme developed by the researcher. Adapted from the IMRD (Introduction-Methods-Results-Discussion model for abstract writing, this scheme contains four moves, namely, Introduction-Methods-Results-Conclusion or IMRC, and a total of 21 steps. This adaptation reflected the rhetorical structures identified in the corpus. Four moves (Introduction, Methodology, Results, and Conclusion) were found to be employed in the abstracts written by human authors and those generated by ChatGPT. It was found that the Results move is the most frequent move in ChatGPT abstracts, while the Introduction move is the most frequent one in original abstracts. Significant differences were found in the frequency of the Introduction and Conclusion moves, and key literature findings step between the ChatGPT-generated abstracts and original abstracts. Such differences are likely due to the nature of the training data used for the AI model. As for the linguistic features, a high tendency was found in both ChatGPT and original abstracts to use past tense and simple present tense, content words, and active voice. However, significant differences found between ChatGPT and original abstracts indicated that simple present was employed much more in ChatGPT abstracts than in original abstracts, while the opposite was the case for simple past tense. Significant differences in the use of pronouns also showed that this part of speech is used significantly more in original abstracts. The move sequence patterns found showed that the patterns of ChatGPT is similar to that of typical research publications, while human abstracts display a variety of move sequence patterns. The findings of the study show that ChatGPT abstracts mimic original abstracts in terms of the rhetorical move pattern and in most of the steps used in each move. The researcher concludes the study with recommendations for future researchers based on the findings of the current study.Item Multi-stage orogenic gold mineralization of the Pine Lake greenstone belt: evidence from the Seabee Gold Operation, Trans-Hudson orogen, northern Saskatchewan(2024-06-17) Beaudin, Dallan; Partin, Camille; Ansdell, Kevin; Englington, Bruce; Lawley, Chris; Yuanming, PanThe abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo.Item Hunting for the Gathering: Terminal Pleistocene and Early Holocene Plant Resource Exploitation at the Quebrada Jaguay (QJ-280) Site, Southern Coastal Peru(2024-06-17) Furlotte, Brett Alexander; Stuart, Glenn; Zarrillo, Sonia; Walker, Ernest; Swenson, EdwardAlthough plants were essential resources to human populations colonizing the desert Andean coast, paleoethnobotanical evidence associated with these events are scarce. While in some cases this is due to poor preservation, especially when considering the antiquity of the sites in question, the infrequent use of adequate recovery and analysis techniques is a bigger, preventable, concern. Ultimately, the lack of such evidence renders our understanding of the initial forays and subsequent settlement of the region incomplete. In this thesis I report on novel macrobotanical evidence from the most recent excavations of Quebrada Jaguay (QJ-280), an archaeological site on the hyperarid coast of southern Peru with occupations spanning the Terminal Pleistocene to early Middle Holocene (ca. 14,000–8000 cal yr BP). Macrobotanical remains were recovered in situ during trowel excavation and from bulk sediment samples via a combination of fine meshed dry sieving and water flotation. Taxonomic identifications were carried out through stereoscopic observation and comparison of anatomical features with those of modern reference specimens. Comprised of woods, seeds, spines, leaves, fruit skins, and possible parenchymous tissues, the assemblage acquired includes a large total of 41 distinct macrobotanical types represented by a minimum of 37 taxa, the vast majority of which are sourced to lomas and riverine vegetation communities. These results show that a diverse range of wild plant resources (e.g., foods, medicines, fuels, craft and construction materials, animal fodder, and cultural items) from nearby coastal vegetation communities were available to and likely used by the sites inhabitants. In contrast to prior marine-centric subsistence characterizations, the wide range of plant foodstuffs recovered in particular, several of which were directly dated, suggests that the inhabitants enjoyed a broad spectrum rather than specialized diet. Finally, the presence of a few seasonal plant parts restricted in availability to particular times of the year indicate that edible plant resources, lomas cacti and riparian fruit tree seeds in particular, were likely harvested from winter–spring and spring–summer respectively. Based on this and other proxy evidence I suggest with caveats that Quebrada Jaguay, or the coast and interior lowlands at minimum, may have been occupied on a year-round basis.Item Improving Deep Learning Classifiers for Plant Phenotyping using XAI Techniques(2024-06-17) Mostafa, Sakib; Mondal, Debajyoti; Stavness, Ian; Sun, Shangpeng; Elshorbagy, Amin; McQuillan, Ian; Vassileva, JulitaThe world's food security today is under threat and we need to improve the food production and nutritional values of the crops, invent climate-resilient foods, and plan better crop management to ensure food security. Precision agriculture is playing an integral role in food security by integrating technology to analyze large agricultural data to understand phenomic and genomic information, predict new breeds of crops, and improve crop production. Deep learning models are an important part of precision agriculture as they allow the analysis of large amounts of data and achieve impressive results. However, the deep learning models are of a black-box nature as they provide very little information about which features of the data contributed to the results and how such results were achieved. Explainable AI (XAI) allows researchers to investigate deep learning models and provide an explanation of the results which allows building trust in the model and helps improve and invent better models. In plant phenotyping, researchers are increasingly using deep learning models for analysis, but XAI techniques are being explored only recently. This thesis investigates the potential of XAI in plant phenotyping by leveraging XAI techniques for the selection and performance improvement of deep learning models with a focus on classification tasks in plant phenotyping. I start by conducting a comprehensive review of the XAI techniques in plant phenotyping. The review provides a detailed overview of the state-of-the-art and traditional XAI techniques that are used in various domains of research. The XAI techniques are designed to improve the explainability of the deep learning models. Therefore, I reviewed the deep learning models that help plant scientists study plant phenomics. The use of deep learning models and XAI techniques in plant phenotyping is still in its early stages. I provide an overview of the application of deep learning and XAI in plant phenotyping and propose an XAI framework that may be used to ensure the use of XAI for plant scientists. There are a few examples that use XAI techniques for the selection of a deep learning model in plant phenotyping. It is essential for a model to have the right complexity or depth relative to the dataset to achieve optimal performance. Therefore, I investigate ways to utilize XAI for selecting the model depth of deep learning classifiers performing plant phenotyping. I use a popular XAI technique known as Guided Backpropagation to visualize the learning of the intermediate layers of a deep learning model performing plant phenotyping tasks. I study the visualization of the feature maps to understand the relation between the capacity and the features learned by a model. I show that the shallow layers of a deep learning model learn more diverse features than the layers at higher depths. I designed a technique that leverages the Guided Backpropagation based visualization of the layers to provide insights into the model depth that should be used to achieve optimal performance for the dataset being used for model training. Optimization of the deep learning models is considered to be an important part of building the model. I propose two novel approaches that utilize an XAI tool known as the activation pattern of the neurons to improve the accuracy of deep learning classifiers. In the first approach, I embed the neurons' activation probability in the training process as a loss function that increases the classification accuracy of state-of-the-art deep learning models on popular datasets by as high as 4.5%. In the second approach, I developed an auxiliary model based training process that achieves a classification accuracy improvement of as high as 5.2%. Unlike the loss function based approach, the auxiliary model based training is faster and can be used to boost the performance of a pre-trained model. I conduct extensive experiments with diverse deep learning classifiers on traditional and plant phenotyping datasets. The results show that the described techniques can potentially improve the accuracy of the classifiers in all cases.Item Volcanic and tectonic history of mafic volcanic rocks in the Winter Lake greenstone belt, Slave craton, Northwest Territories(2024-06-17) Stone, Dawson; Partin, Camille; DeWolfe, Michelle; Ansdell, Kevin; Cubley, JoelThe Archean Winter Lake greenstone belt (WLB) is located in the western part of the Slave craton, ~250 km north-northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Volcanic rocks of the WLB comprise calc-alkaline and tholeiitic basalts with komatiitic flows and associated volcaniclastic rocks contained in the ca. 2.7-2.6 Ga Snare and Credit formations, as well as felsic to intermediate volcanic rocks of the older Newbigging Formation. Archean volcanic sequences of the Slave craton in the Northwest Territories are highly prospective for base metal mineralization, as several are known to host volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits. This MSc research elucidates the depositional and tectonic history of volcanic rocks that host massive sulfide mineralization in the WLB. Bedrock mapping (1: 2000 scale) of the mafic volcanic rocks of the WLB for this study took place in four different locations: 1) the south end of Sherpa Lake, 2) the south end of Big Bear Lake, and 3) at the 152 massive sulfide showing 20 km south of Big Bear Lake, and 4) the south end of Newbigging Lake. Lithofacies observed in the eastern WLB at Sherpa and Newbigging lakes include rhyolite domes with autoclastic breccias and highly sheared pillow basalts and mafic volcaniclastic rocks, though both areas are dominated by gabbroic intrusions. In the western WLB, lithofacies observed south of Big Bear Lake include massive and pillowed tholeiitic basalt flows with syn-volcanic mafic dykes and sills, thin komatiitic flows, ultramafic intrusions, and thick ash and lapilli tuff beds locally interbedded with calcareous sedimentary layers. Previous structural interpretations of the WLB have suggested a broadly synclinal architecture, but the proposed east and west limbs are difficult to correlate in terms of lithofacies. Trace element geochemistry of these units is consistent with a plume initiated evolving rift on a continental margin.Item Forearm Loading (FAL) Study: A Recreational Gymnastics Intervention within a Physical Education Setting(2024-06-14) Beaulieu, Shae; Erlandson, Marta; Baxter-Jones, Adam; Humbert, Louise; Arnold , KathyIntroduction: Accruing bone during childhood and adolescence is paramount to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in later life. Children who participate in recreational gymnastics during young childhood have been found to have better bone parameters than children participating in other sports. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an 8-month forearm loading intervention, based on a recreational gymnastics loading model, on bone health of children in grade 5. Methods: Forty-one participants (20 intervention and 21 comparison), 10-years of age, were recruited and measured at baseline and 9-months later. Bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC), areal bone mineral density (aBMD), fat mass (FM), and lean mass (LM) were measured using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone health was also measured using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT) which assessed total bone area (Tt.Ar), cortical area (Ct.Ar), trabecular area (Tb.Ar), bone mineral density (Tt.BMD), cortical thickness (Ct.Th), trabecular bone volume fracture (Tb.BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) at the distal radius and tibia. Independent sample t-tests were used to determine differences in demographics and DXA measures and MANOVA was used to assess HR-pQCT at baseline and follow-up. With-in group differences were determined using paired sample t-test. Lastly, ANCOVA was used to investigate adjusted group differences controlling for height, weight, maturation, sex, and initial bone values. Level of significance was set at p < 0.05 for all statistical tests. Results: There were no differences between groups in any anthropometric characteristics at baseline or follow-up. Intervention and comparison groups did not significantly differ from one other in any DXA measures pre or post intervention. At baseline, tibial TrA was significantly greater in the comparison group. All other tibial and radial measures were not significantly different at either timepoint between groups. Bone parameters statistically increased from baseline to follow-up at the radius for Ct.Ar, Tt.BMD, Ct.Th, and Tb.Th in the intervention group and Ct.Ar and Ct.Th in the comparison group. At the tibia Ct.Ar, and Ct.Th statistically increased from baseline to follow-up in the intervention group and Ct.A, Tt.BMD, Ct.Th, and Tb.Th in the comparison group. Conclusion: This data suggests that although recreational gymnastics skills are attainable by most children, the current model did not seem to be effective in eliciting bone parameter changes at the tibia and radius in 10–11-year-olds.Item A Narrative Inquiry into the Experiences of Cervical Cancer Screening for Transgender Men(2024-06-11) Dykhuizen, Melissa; Anonson, June; Holtslander , Lorraine; Murphy , Shaun; de Padua , Anthony; Burles, Meridith; Estefan, Andrew; Martin, WandaThis monograph-style dissertation delves into the experiences of cervical cancer screening (CCS) among four transgender men residing in Saskatchewan. CCS traditionally has been framed within the context of women's reproductive health, and it has seldom been inclusive of non-binary, gender-diverse, or transgender individuals. I noticed the need for more information when I started graduate school and began reflecting on my nursing practice. Nurses are usually providers on the front line who provide healthcare for transgender people. Nurses with advanced practice, including nurse practitioners, can routinely perform CCS. It was in my practice as a public health nurse providing CCS that I began to wonder about the experiences of transgender men and CCS. I wanted to come alongside transgender men to understand how to improve CCS experiences for transgender men. In adopting narrative inquiry as the research methodology, I embraced a relational approach guided by the three-dimensional inquiry space: temporality, sociality, and place (Clandinin, 2013; Clandinin & Caine, 2013; Clandinin & Connelly, 2000). The narrative accounts intend to capture individual lives and the unique history of each participant. Participants met with me in person or over Zoom to engage in interviews spanning several months and engaged in open-ended conversations about life events influencing their CCS experiences. Narrative accounts shared multiple and layered details of their lives. Each participant has a detailed chapter where they shared not only narratives of CCS but narratives that explored the complex experiences within many different facets of life, including personal, social, and institutional stories (Clandinin & Rosiek, 2007). Within each person's narrative account, I found stories of how we can attend to people in a better, more holistic, and inclusive way. It is increasingly important in today's political and social climate for healthcare providers (HCPs) to pay attention to the voices and experiences of transgender people. When exploring narrative threads across accounts, stories of healthcare, holistic health, and family and friends significantly shaped the participants CCS experiences. The narrative accounts of the four transgender men have implications across nursing practice, education, and policies. The stories embedded in this dissertation call for more inclusive, knowledgeable, and equitable care for transgender people in Saskatchewan.Item DUAL PERSPECTIVES ON BETTER TELEWORKING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: A MIXED METHODS APPROACH(2024-06-11) Wafa, Yasmine; Longo, Justin; Coates , Ken; Gutwin , Carl; Katapally , Tarun; Doberstein, CarlThis research followed a sequential mixed-methods approach, including an analysis of Twitter data to gauge employee and employer perspectives on teleworking, a review of contemporary Canadian public administration perspectives on managing teleworking in the COVID era to capture employer’s perspective, a web-deployed survey of Canadian public servants, and interviews with public servants to probe these perspectives more deeply. The research is aimed at understanding employee and employer perspectives of teleworking. Founded on an alignment of socio-technical theory (Trist, 1993), bounded rationality theory (Simon, 1957), and the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991), these theoretical frameworks serve as the basis for developing a theoretical framework that considers the benefits and drawbacks of teleworking, the factors that contribute to better teleworking arrangements, and potential government policy initiatives that can address the barriers to and opportunities for teleworking success in the Canadian public sector.Item Characterization of the Type II Secretion System in Citrobacter rodentium(2024-06-11) Kanwal, Nabeela; Thomassin, Jenny-Lee; Koester, Wolfgang; Bull, Harold; Kobryn, kerryThe abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo.