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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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    Microbial Decontamination of Egg Surface via Cold Plasma
    (2024-03-18) Movasaghi, Mina; Zhang, Lifeng; Schwean-Lardner, Karen; Kirychuk, Shelley; Lin, Yen-Han; Zhang, Haixia
    Eggs and egg products are widely consumed worldwide. In North America, eggshells are cleaned to eliminate contamination by microorganisms such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli. The most common commercial decontamination method in the egg industry is washing eggshells with hot water and a chemical solution. Egg washing reduces the bacterial load, however, the use of chemicals can produce a considerable amount of chemically contaminated wastewater. More recently, cold plasma or non-thermal plasma has attracted global attention as an emerging non-thermal technology for food decontamination. Cold plasma is an emerging green technology‎, generating several reactive species that can be used effectively for microorganism inactivation and is attracting global attention for food safety purposes. Investigating the application of this technology as a chemical-free and non-thermal approach for decontaminating egg surfaces‎ and assessing its potential as an alternative to the conventional method of washing eggs was the primary objective of this study. For optimizing the process, various operation conditions of a cold plasma jet device were examined to decontaminate eggshells inoculated with Escherichia coli and Salmonella.‎ The different operating variables, including the distance between the nozzle and egg surface (1, 2, or 3 cm), device power ‎‎(300, 350, or 400 W), gas flow rate (30, 32.5, or 35 l/min), feed gas (air, N2, He and air mixture), relative humidity of the feed gas (20%, 40%, 65%), and exposure time (20, 40, or 60 s)‎ were examined in the study. To evaluate the potential impact of cold plasma on egg quality, different properties such as eggshell thickness, specific gravity, albumen pH, Haugh unit, yolk index, moisture content, and qualitative analysis of the egg albumen and yolk were measured after the treatment with cold plasma. The results showed that 60 seconds of direct exposure time resulted in the optimal cold plasma operating conditions that led to the highest deactivation percentage for bacteria inoculated on the egg surface included an air (RH=65%) flow rate of 35 l/min, a distance of 1 cm, and a power of 400 W. At these conditions, the system achieved a maximum reduction of 1.94 log CFU/egg and a deactivation percentage of 98.64 % for E. coli and 92.20 % deactivation percentage with a 1.11 log reduction for Salmonella. Statistical analyses of the physical properties of treated eggs showed that there was no significant difference in physical properties between the cold plasma-treated eggs and the control eggs (unwashed and washed eggs) when measured one week after the treatment. The intensity of protein bands of SDS-PAGE gel image was analyzed, and the results indicated that there was no significant variation in protein content between the three sets of eggs (cold plasma-treated, washed, and unwashed eggs). The research has demonstrated that cold plasma jet can be used as a promising and environmentally friendly method for decontaminating eggshell surfaces. However, the study was limited in scale, and further investigations are required to scale up and apply the cold plasma system for large-scale commercial applications.
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    COMPASSIONATE SPORT BODIES: EXPLORING RACIALIZED YOUNG WOMEN ATHLETES’ INTERSECTING IDENTITIES AND BODY-RELATED SPORT EXPERIENCES
    (2024-03-15) Eke, Abimbola O; Ferguson, Leah J; Erlandson, Marta C; Humbert, Louise M; Martin, Stephanie L; Williams, Toni
    Body image is an important part of women athletes’ sport experiences. The perception of one’s athletic body may be different for people of racialized backgrounds playing sport in Western society. However, body self-compassion, a kind and non-judgemental attitude towards one’s body, has been linked to more positive body image. My research program comprised of three interrelated studies aimed at exploring the body-related sport experiences of racialized young women athletes in Canada. In Study 1, I focused on the identity and body-related sport experiences of racialized young women athletes. Employing a qualitative description strategy of inquiry, Study 1 involved eight racialized young women athletes (ages 14–18 years), who engaged in one-on-one interviews and reflexive photography. A reflexive thematic analysis identified three overarching themes—(a) Who I am vs who they say I am; (b) My unique body in sport; and (c) The importance of representation. Through reflexive thematic analysis, I identified that intersectionality, discrimination, and diversity are critical factors influencing the quality of sport experiences for racialized young women athletes in Canada. Building upon Study 1, Study 2 focused on body self-compassion, exploring its potential benefits for racialized young women athletes in sport. This study involved eight racialized young women athletes (ages 14-18 years), adopting semi-structured one-on-one interviews and reflexive photography. Following a reflexive thematic analysis, three themes were developed—(a) Representing my racialized body authentically; (b) Accepting my racialized body for performance; and (c) Understanding the attitudes and emotions about my racialized body. Despite the unique challenges racialized young women athletes may have in sport, my findings in Study 2 suggested that body self-compassion fosters body acceptance, emphasizing the importance of promoting a compassionate approach to the body in sport for a more inclusive and accepting environment. Study 3 took a narrative approach, exploring the practical application of body self-compassion with seven racialized young women athletes (ages 13-18years). Using focus group discussions and body mapping, this study developed three overarching narrative themes—(a) Racialization and compassion; (b) The importance of compassionate support systems; and (c) Culture, religion, and sport. Presented through creative non-fiction, Study 3’s findings, represented through five portrait vignettes, demonstrated how body self-compassion can nurture a focus on function. This study highlights that for athletes navigating the complex intersections of racialization, cultural backgrounds, and religious beliefs, body self-compassion could help foster a more positive body image. Collectively, my studies contribute valuable insights to the understanding of the sports experiences of racialized young women athletes, advocating for a more inclusive and compassionate approach that honors their multifaceted identities within the sport context.
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    Master Thesis
    (2024-03-15) You, Yun; Samuel, Butler; Igor, Morozov; James, Merriam; Artur, Sowa
    With a given fixed array of electrodes, a very large number of four electrode measurements can be made. However, most of the possible measurements are not linearly independent, indicating that a smaller number of measurements can be made in order to save time, and the results of other measurements can be calculated later. In some cases, this calculation process can amplify measurement errors and so a robust quality control criterion is needed. In the past, it has been demonstrated that pole-pole, pole-dipole and pseudo-pole-dipole data can be used as a basis for calculating other measurements. In this study, we consider pseudopole- pole datasets as a basis. We define a pseudo-pole-pole array as one in which there is always a fixed current and potential reference electrode, but these reference electrodes are not necessarily far from the rest of the measurement array. We show that all four-electrode measurements can be easily calculated from pseudo-pole-pole data in ways that are similar to pole-pole data. We additionally show that good quality pseudosections and inversion results can be recovered from transformed data from pseudo-pole-pole data, especially for transformed data in configurations similar to the Wenner-α array. We also show that independent normal and reciprocal four electrode measurements can be calculated for each four electrode array and the comparison of these can be used as a quality control criterion.
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    Empirical Study and Modelling of Leaf Surface and Angular Optical Properties
    (2024-03-15) Peters, Reisha D; Noble, Scott D; Tabil, Lope; Bueckert, Rosalind; Baik, Oon-Doo; Bourassa, Adam; He, Yuhong
    Leaf optical property modelling is a tool that has been used for many decades to describe the interactions of light with plant leaves. Using these tools, measurements of light reflected and transmitted from plant leaves can be used to estimate the biochemical and biophysical properties remotely. Light in the ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared regions of the spectrum is affected by different biochemical components within the leaf sample and the biophysical properties have the potential to affect the whole wavelength spectrum. Furthermore, the angle of illumination and observation affect both the spectral shape and intensity of the reflected and transmitted light spectra. Some of the most widely used leaf optical property models use spectral data that do not describe the angular components of reflectance and transmittance. While this simplifies the model and results in a more predictable spectral result from defined biochemical parameters, it is difficult to apply this model to field data. The data used in these models requires hemispherical measurements of reflected and transmitted light whereas data collected in the field are typically limited to single angle with variable illumination angle and polarization. These single angles are not always representative of the hemispherical spectra expected by the model and are affected to a greater degree by the biophysical attributes of the leaf. In this work, an extension to the PROSPECT-D leaf optical property model was developed to combine the effective hemispherical modelling developed by previous researchers with the spatial component that is related to the angular measurements obtained in a field setting. This was done by connecting physically measured attributes of plant leaves to the spatial distribution of the reflected spectra. Through the course of this work, it was hypothesized that the modelling capabilities could be further improved by calibrating the model with a more diverse and agriculturally-based calibration dataset. However, it was found that the approach to this problem may be better aligned with calibrating the model with species specific datasets for targeted applications. In short, a one-size-fits-all model may not be the best solution to improve biochemical and biophysical parameter acquisition using leaf optical property modelling.
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    Jigging our Health
    (2024-03-05) Mainra, Nisha; Foulds, Heather; Oates, Alison; Lovo, Stacey; Marks, Wendy
    The Red River Jig (RRJ) is a traditional Métis dance practiced among Indigenous and non- Indigenous Peoples. Though exercise benefits physical health and fitness, the benefits of cultural dances to improve wholistic aspects of health are less clear. This study aimed to investigate social, psychosocial (cultural and mental), physical function, and physical fitness benefits of participation in an RRJ intervention. Indigenous and Non-Indigenous adults (N=27,38±14 years, 20 females) completed an 8-week RRJ intervention. Social support index, multigroup ethnic identity measures of cultural connectedness, and mental well-being questionnaires, as well as seated blood pressure and heart rate, weight, grip strength, six-minute walk test, and one-leg and tandem balance measures were assessed before and after the intervention. Cultural connectedness and mental well-being scores were similar before and after the intervention. Community components of social support scores (7.7 ± 1.4 vs. 10.3 ± 1.4, p<0.001), six-minute walk test distance (551.5 ± 96.6 m vs. 581.3 ± 100.8 m, p=0.002), and tandem eyes closed balance (86.0 ± 45.9 s vs. 102.8 ± 31.9 s, p=0.02) increased after the intervention. Seated systolic blood pressure (117.6 ± 6.1 mmHg vs. 112.9 ± 10.8 mmHg, p=0.02) and heart rate (62.2 ± 6.3 beats·min -1 vs. 59.8 ± 5.6 beats·min -1 , p=0.02), weight (80.6 ±23.1 kg vs. 79.4 ± 23.2 kg, p=0.04), and one leg eyes closed balance (26.0 ± 17.2 s vs. 22.6 ±16.3 s, p=0.04) decreased after the intervention. A RRJ intervention can improve social support, physical function, and physical fitness for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous adults. (Funding: Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation)
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    Language and Acculturation Among Iranian Immigrants in Canada
    (2024-03-12) Davoodizadeh, Fatemeh; Makarova, Veronika; Li, Zhi; Cenerini, Chantale
    Since Canada is one of the world’s major recipients of immigrants and refugees, their social accommodation remains one of the priorities in immigrant studies, bilingualism studies, and immigrant language research (Green & Worswick, 2017; Picot, 2008). However, since the cultural and linguistic accommodation needs differ by the group of immigrants, it is essential to increase the diversity of ethnic groups in the scope of research (Shea et al., 2022). More specifically, linguistic and acculturation experiences of Persian-speaking immigrants in Canada have been under-investigated despite a steady increase in the population of Iranian immigrants in Canada over the last decade (Rahnama, 2020). This study investigates how Persian-speaking immigrants adjust to life in Canadian society, acquire English, and whether they are preserving their heritage culture and maintaining the Persian language. The research is grounded in bilingualism and multilingualism theory (Lorenz et al., 2023), as well as in the bidimensional model of immigrant acculturation theory (Berry, 1997). The study adopts a mixed methodology based on a descriptive and quantitative analysis of survey responses and a qualitative analysis of interviews with participants. The study thus falls into “Explanatory Design” (Creswell, 2006, p. 37) informed by Model 4 of Steckler et al. (1992) classification of mixed methods designs in which qualitative and quantitative methods are used equally and in parallel. The results of the present study are based on the responses of 67 participants (age group of 18 years old and above) who spoke Farsi as the first language and also had some knowledge of the English language. The analysis of survey questions was conducted using Chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis tests by rank. The participant responses to interview questions were first transcribed using Otteri.ai, and the analysis of interview responses was conducted through thematic analysis with NVivo software. The findings demonstrate a significant increase in the participants’ perceived importance of maintaining Persian language over time of immigration (at the time of immigration and at the time of the study), whereas the importance of acquiring English skills remains relatively stable. Proficiency in English emerged as a key factor in employment opportunities. Furthermore, bilingualism in English and Farsi was found to play a critical role in shaping and enriching the participants’ social interactions. iv The participants also suggested several measures that the government could apply to facilitate the integration of newcomers in Canada. These suggestions include organizing social events and gatherings where immigrants can interact and share their culture, government sponsored language training programs to help immigrants improve their English or French skills and offering other government programs and services for newcomers. Additionally, the development of Persian language learning programs in education was identified as a valuable strategy for preserving the Persian culture, which the government could facilitate. The current study extends the understanding of acculturation among Persian-speaking immigrants in Canada, offering insights that could be helpful in developing a more supportive and welcoming environment for newcomers.
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    Advancing Design and Fabrication of Microfluidic Devices for Biomedical Applications
    (2024-03-12) Tony, Anthony; Zhang, Chris; Badea, Ildiko; Oguocha, Ikechukwuka; Chen, Li; Bugg, Jim; Chen, Daniel; Selvaganapathy, Ravi
    Applications of engineering methods to biology have grown with a desire to build devices for integrating various tests on cells, called Lab-On-a-Chip (LOC), and for mimicking biological systems, called Organ-On-a-Chip (OOC). Such devices have “small” channels (around micrometer to nanometer) and manipulate “small” amounts of fluids to flow (typically micro-litre, nano-litre up to milli litre) and therefore are called microfluidic devices. While LOC is useful for diseases diagnosis, OOC goes much beyond, not only for the improved capability of diseases diagnosis but also for drug development at cellular levels, as well as research into more understanding of cellular behaviours, by providing a biomimetic environment for cells, including the facility of stressing cells. There is no doubt that the OOC technology is a disruptive one to biology and medicine. Due to the need of high compatibility (chemical, physical and biological) with LOC and OOC, polymer materials are usually employed. This thesis aims to advance the technology of design and fabrication of (polymeric based) microfluidic devices of both LOC and OOC for biomedical and healthcare applications. This thesis conducted four specific studies. The first study aims to advance our understanding of the additive manufacturing (AM) technology with the material of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This is achieved by categorizing and classifying all AM processes in literature. As a result, AM processing of PDMS is divided into two categories, namely (1) direct approach and (2) indirect approach. The literature in both categories was critically reviewed, leading to the identification of five knowledge gaps. The study also presented the author’s preliminary experiment on the indirect approach, printed mold approach in this case. Specifically, the experiment leads to the finding of the optimal post heat treatment of the mold for PDMS casting for the material of Full cure835 Vero white plus, namely (1) the heat treatment of the mold at 65° C for a time duration of 4 h and overnight cooling, followed by (2) oxygen plasma treatment at 50 watts, 45 millitorrs of O2, for a time duration of 30 s and (3) silanization of mold for a time duration of 1 h, and (4) casting of the PDMS and curing it under room temperature for curing at 24 °C) for a time duration of 24 h. The second study concerns bonding of two polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) parts, an important step to construct PDMS microfluidic devices. Two main requirements on the bonding are such that (1) the bonding strength is as high as possible, and (2) the alignment of two parts is as accurate as possible. The study developed a simple yet effective bonding process for PDMS-to-PDMS using isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Specifically, the process aligns two PDMS parts and adheres them with IPA prior to the plasma treatment and subsequent post treatment of the assembly, followed by natural curing of the assembly. The result with this process significantly improves bonding strength from 1.9 MPa (the best bonding strength reported in literature) to 3.060 MPa. The mechanism behind this improved performance with the proposed process is also proposed in this study. The study can conclude that the proposed bonding process is very promising in the bonding of two PDMS parts with high strength as well as the potentially improved accuracy in alignment of two PDMS parts. The third study concerns the development of a biocompatible OOC, which is capable of (1) programmable stretching of cells in the X, Y, Z directions (3D stretching in short), (2) generation of static, cyclic, and randomized stretching forces to cells, (3) nutrients transfer, and (4) wastes discharge. Design as well as fabrication of such an OOC made from PDMS is a challenge. In this study, the OOC was designed to have three layered modules (top, middle, bottom) with each having a chamber. The middle module and the bottom module are separated by a porous membrane, so the chamber of the middle module is on the top side of the membrane, and the chamber of the bottom module is on the bottom side of the membrane. The middle module, porous membrane, and bottom modules are bonded together. Cells are anchored upon the top side of the porous membrane, and they reside in the middle chamber, while the nutrients and wastes are inside the bottom chamber. Four ports (two along the X direction, the other two along the Y direction) surround the middle chamber and bottom chamber, respectively, and these ports are filled with the air. By regulating the air pressures inside these ports, the side walls of the chambers deform in the X and Y directions, so does the porous membrane, thereby resulting in the stretching of cells in the X and Y directions. The top module is responsible for the stretching of cells in the Z direction by regulating the air inside its chamber to deform its bottom part, thereby generating the pressure on cells along the Z direction. All these modules were made from PDMS, and they were fabricated using the printed mold approach. In this study, the preliminary experiment was performed on (1) the deformations in the X, Y, and Z directions, (2) the programmability of these deformations, and (3) characteristics of the deformations (static, cycle, randomized). By preliminary it was meant that the quantitative measurement and assessment of the deformation response of the device were not attempted. The result of the experiment showed that the foregoing requirements were satisfied with however one problem, that is, the bonding of the porous membrane with the middle module as well as bottom module is weak in terms of fatigue strength. The study can conclude that (1) the developed OOC has a potential to meet the requirements and (2) the problem of weak bonding needs to be addressed and a potential solution may be to use a stronger bonding process or to change the design of the interface structure between the porous membrane and the middle or bottom module. The fourth study concerns the so-called sliding microfluidic device. The main challenge with such a device was in the interface of two components which can perform a relative sliding motion. This challenge was addressed by a new design concept called a “step” structure. This structure also eliminates the need for putting “chemical lubricant” on the interface to prevent leakage, which was used extensively in literature. Another challenge was the difficulty to fabricate a high aspect ratio step structure by using the traditional lithography approach. The study found that the AM technology can overcome this difficulty. The developed devices was tested for sorting poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) particles, which were regarded a good substitute of real cells in literature. The study can conclude that (1) the design concept of the step structure is valid, and (2) the sorting accuracy (85%) can be achieved, which was excellent at that time. Overall, besides the specific conclusions drawn in each of the four specific studies, this thesis has the following general conclusions: First, the current AM technology can build PDMS microfluidic devices to meet the requirements of OOC. Second, there is room to further improve the functionality of the PDMS microfluidic device by improving the fabrication technology, including the AM and the development of new materials that possess the merits of PDMS but with improved manufacturability by AM.
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    Intersections of Historical Consciousness: The Meeting of Indigenous and Settler Histories in Canada’s Storied Places
    (2024-03-11) Desveaux, Michelle; Carlson, Keith; Handy, Jim; Korinek, Valerie; Bidwell, Kristina; Campbell, Claire
    The abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo.
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    Characterization Of Chemical, Nutritional, And Techno-functional Properties of Protein-rich Fractions Obtained From Canola Cold-pressed Cake
    (2024-03-08) Majumder, Dipika; Wanasundara, Janitha; Nickerson, Michael T; Tanaka, Takuji; Vujanovic, Vladimir; Ghosh, Supratim
    The present study explored proteins of canola cold-pressed cake (CCC) for value-addition prospects. The protein and fiber fractionation developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) was applied to CCC as-it-is (N-CCC) and after de-oiling with ethanol (E-CCM) or hexane (H-CCM). De-oiling with hexane and ethanol provided < 1% oil containing meal with protein levels of 40.6% in E-CCM, 35.4% in H-CCM compared to 31.1% in N-CCC. The fractionation generated two protein-rich and three fiber-rich fractions of each meal. The napin protein isolates (NPI) had the highest protein content (96.2%-97.9%) followed by cruciferin protein concentrates (CPC) (55.3%-74.2%) and intermediate protein fractions (IPF) (25.2%-29.7%). The soluble sugar rich fractions (SSF), and seed coat fractions (SCF) had 15.0%-16.3% and 21.4%-24.7% protein, respectively. These fractions recovered 99.8%-99.9% of total meal dry matter and 102.4%-102.7% of starting meal protein. Total phenolic content (TPC) was found to be 1.3-1.4 mg/g in N-CCC, E-CCM, and H-CCM, and NPI from N-CCC showed higher TPC than the other fractions. De-oiling did not affect meal phytate content (2.5-3.0 g/100g). The IPF of all meals had higher phytate values (15.3-19.3g/100g) than other fractions. The amino acid composition of the meals and their respective protein fractions followed their signature compositions. The presence of napin and cruciferin in NPI and CPC, respectively was confirmed. Selected functional properties of NPI and CPC of all three meals were studied. Proteins of NPI gave solubility values of 80-100% at pH 4.0, 7.4, and 9.5, regardless of the meal origin while CPC had values between 14-59%. The surface hydrophobicity values and negative zeta potential values of proteins in CPC were larger than NPI. Both NPI and CPC of all meals had higher oil holding capacity than commercial soy protein isolates at the same protein level but lower water holding capacity for CPC (<2.2 g/g protein). NPI emulsified more oil than CPC under the conditions of 0.5 M NaCl, and 10% sucrose, regardless of the meal origin, however, the stability of formed emulsions was similar. NPI of ethanol de-oiled meal exhibited better foaming properties at pH 4.0 than N-CCC with a foam capacity and stability similar to commercial whey protein isolate at equal protein level. The proteins of NPIs showed denaturation temperatures that aligned with constituent proteins and denatured completely at ~100ºC. The AAFC meal fractionation process can successfully be applied to CCC with or without defatting to obtain highly pure NPI, however, product composition and functional characteristics of CPC fraction depend on the residual oil that is portioned from the meal. This process allows obtaining protein-rich products from CCC with unique protein types and functional properties.
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    THE POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN UNIVERSITIES IN PAKISTAN: AN AGENCY THEORY FRAMEWORK APPROACH
    (2024-03-08) Gill, Qasim Shahzad; Coates, Ken; Prytula, Michelle; Kuzhabekova, Aliya; Xiao, Jing; Katapally, Tarun; Schmeiser, Peggy; Boucher, Martin
    Universities are important in any society as they help citizens to be more productive and innovative, playing a key role in contributing to research modernization in many ways and assisting societies with a rapidly evolving world. This research examines the relationship between the provincial governments and universities in Pakistan. Specifically, this study analyzes the governments in each of Pakistan’s four provinces and their oversight of the higher education systems within their respective jurisdictions. Following the implementation of the 18th Amendment to the 1973 Constitution in 2010, Pakistan’s federal government provided the provincial governments with control over education, thus changing the province’s relationships with the universities. Drawing upon the theoretical framework of agency theory, this study aims to understand the provincial government’s exercise of influence through the appointment of university leadership and the composition of university governing boards. Furthermore, this research explores the effectiveness of the governments’ communication with universities pertaining to government decisions or legislation that the provincial government initiated about universities after the 18th Amendment. This study argues that each provincial government's influence over the selection of leadership and nomination of governing board members affects the performance of universities in unique ways. This dissertation adopts a qualitative research approach with multiple case studies. Since this study involves a comparative analysis of the relationship between universities and provincial governments after the 18th Amendment, an exploratory multiple-case study design constitutes an appropriate method for exploring the university system of each province. Specifically, this analysis mainly focuses on two indicators of organization autonomy: the selection of leadership and the composition of governing boards. As the main theoretical framework, agency theory provides the foundation for rigorously constructing each case study and analyzing each case under the theoretical framework. In particular, agency theory illuminates the roles of the government as a principal and the universities as agents of the government while each party engages in the selection of leadership and appointment of governing boards. Finally, agency theory reveals the expectations and complicating issues from the perspective of each party. The potential results of this study provide a useful contribution to the literature by providing the first effort to discover the way in which the 18th Amendment altered the relationship between provincial governments and universities. The findings of this study can serve as a reference for provincial and federal government legislators within Pakistan as well as international researchers, organizations, and policy analysts who seek to improve their understanding of Pakistan's university system. This study also provides recommendations for improving the government-university relationships in each province to enhance the effective and efficient utilization of public resources.
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    The Effect of Uncertain Predation Risk on the Expression of Neophobia in Convict Cichlids Archocentrus Nigrofasciatus
    (2024-03-05) Preagola, Alex A.; Ferrari, Maud C.O.; Brown, Grant E.; Chivers, Douglas P.; Benson, James D.; Chilton, Neil B.
    Predation exerts a pervasive and unforgiving selection pressure such that it can influence prey life history, morphology, physiology, and behaviour. The combined effects of climate change, anthropogenic disturbances, and invasive species can lead to short- and long-term changes in how prey mitigate predation risk. As a result, many animals are likely experiencing increasing amounts of novelty and uncertainty about their environment. In a predation context, uncertainty can be linked to the relevance of the antipredator response to the information contained within a predator-related cue. Increased uncertainty may have consequential impacts on the decision-making and risk-assessment abilities of various prey species. Thus, understanding how prey manage uncertainty and the ecological factors driving uncertainty is fast becoming a pressing issue for ecologists and conservation biologists. Neophobia, or the fear of novel stimuli, has been proposed as a way for prey to respond to increased uncertainty without the costs of learning unknown predator-specific information. While neophobia was initially presumed to emerge from high levels of predation risk, recent evidence has shown that uncertainty, instead of the level of risk, is likely the key driver of neophobia. However, the specific ecological factors that drive uncertainty and, by extension, neophobic responses remain unclear. Using juvenile convict cichlids (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus), I explored the extent to which neophobia emerges in response to the different factors that contribute to the uncertainty associated with predation risk. These factors were namely the unreliability of risk assessment cues and the temporal unpredictability of risk. Upon investigating the effect of cue reliability on neophobia, I demonstrated that neophobia is maintained after repeated encounters with unknown (i.e., unreliable) alarm cues from an unrelated species following exposures to known and highly reliable conspecific alarm cues. While I failed to find an effect of temporal predictability of risk on neophobia, I found that a lack of temporal pattern in predation risk induces neophobia in prey regardless of the level of risk intensity. My thesis identifies how certain factors that relate to how predation risk is perceived shape the uncertainty that prey experience and the resulting neophobic response. Faced with a rapidly changing world, understanding how prey manage novel cues provides valuable knowledge that can inform conservation and management efforts of ecologically and socioeconomically important key species.
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    THE EFFECT OF CONTINUOUS OR INTERMITTENT FEEDING OF ERGOT CONTAMINATED GRAIN IN A MASH OR PELLETED FORM TO STEERS IN THE BACKGROUNDING AND FINISHING PHASES
    (2024-03-05) Reynolds, Matthew R; Ribeiro, Gabriel D. O.; Schwartzkopf-Geneswein, Karen S; McKinnon, John J; Janzen, Eugene; Penner, Gregory B
    This study evaluated the effect of feeding ergot contaminated grain continuously or intermittently in a mash or pelleted supplement on the growth performance, blood, health, and welfare measurements, and carcass characteristics of feedlot beef steers through backgrounding (BG) and finishing (FN). Sixty black angus steers (300  29.4 kg BW) were used in a complete randomized 238-d study. Steers were stratified by weight and randomly assigned to 4 different diet treatments (15 steers/treatment) and individually housed. Treatments included: 1) control ration (CON; no added EA), 2) continuous ergot mash (CEM; fed continuously at 2 mg/kg total EA), 3) intermittent ergot mash (IEM; fed at 2 mg/g, EA during the first week of each 21-d period and CON for the remaining 2 weeks), and 4) intermittent ergot pellet (IEP; fed at 2 mg/kg EA incorporated into a pelleted supplement during the first week of each 21-d period and CON for the remaining 2 weeks). Steers were fed barley-based BG diets containing 40% concentrate: 60% silage (DM basis) for 84 d, transitioned over 28 d to a FN diet (90% concentrate: 10% silage DM basis) and fed for 126 d before slaughter. Steers were weighed every 21 d and blood samples were collected on d 0, 42, and 84 of BG and d 0, 42, 84, and 126 for FN. In the BG phase, steer DMI (P < 0.01, 7.45 vs. 8.05 kg/d) and ADG (P < 0.01) were reduced for all EA diets compared to CON. In the FN phase, steer DMI (P < 0.01, 9.95 vs. 11.05 kg/d) and ADG (P = 0.04) also decreased for all EA fed steers compared to CON. Total shrunk BW gain (P = 0.03, 202.5 vs. 225.2 kg), final BW (P = 0.03, 617.9 vs. 662.2 kg), and carcass weight (P = 0.06) decreased for all EA fed steers compared to CON. Results suggest that continuously or intermittently feeding ergot contaminated diets (2 mg/kg EA) can significantly reduce intake, growth performance, and carcass weight, with minimal impact on blood parameters in feedlot steers. Pelleting was not an effective method of reducing ergot toxicity.
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    Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: Resources for High-Performance Coaches
    (2024-03-05) Beatson, Ryan; Ferguson, Leah J; Kowalski, Kent C; Stacey, Adam
    Coaches are central to stimulating and sustaining participation in recreational sport, as well as enhancing and optimizing athlete performance in high-performance sport (Fletcher & Scott, 2010). With the realization that coaches are performers similar to the athletes they work with (Abrahams, 2022), they require resources to manage their mental health. Coaches who operate in high-performance environments are exposed to a myriad of stressors that can create mental ill-health when the stress is left unchecked (Norris et al., 2017; Olusoga et al., 2019). In line with the WHO’s (2022) conceptualization of mental health, high-performance coaches require resources that not only combat mental ill-health, but also facilitate mental well-being. Mindfulness and self-compassion are two resources being explored in high-performance environments that have shown promising results among athletes (Birrer et al., 2012; Sappington & Longshore, 2015; Cormier et al., 2023; Röthlin et al., 2019), yet have not received the same attention for high-performance coaches. Therefore, the present research aimed to explore mindfulness and self-compassion as resources for high-performance coaches to manage their mental health. A concurrent mixed-methods design was used where qualitative and quantitative phases occurred at approximately the same time (Creswell, 2011; Kowalski et al., 2022). The strategy of inquiry that guided the qualitative phase was interpretive description, where focus group discussions were utilized to better understand how high-performance coaches (N = 6) describe and perceive mindfulness and self-compassion. Two overarching themes from the focus group discussions became apparent: (1) a sport culture ripe for mental health resources such as mindfulness and self-compassion and (2) mixed descriptions and perceptions of support and uncertainty for mindfulness and self-compassion among high-performance coaches. For the quantitative phase, a cross-sectional nonexperimental study design including an online survey was used to determine the predictive utilities of mindfulness and self-compassion on mental health indicators among high-performance coaches (N = 78). Results from the quantitative phase showed that mindfulness and self-compassion are negatively related to an indicator of mental ill-health, and positively related to an indicator of mental well-being. Self-compassion accounted for unique variance beyond mindfulness among the indicator of mental ill-health, and mindfulness accounted for unique variance beyond self-compassion among the indicator of mental well-being. Results from the present research support the use of mindfulness and self-compassion in tandem for high-performance coaches to combat mental ill-health and facilitate mental well-being. Mindfulness and self-compassion educational and intervention programs should be provided for high-performance coaches, who appear motivated to find strategies to manage their mental health.
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    Relationship of Grain Anthocyanins with Winter Hardiness in Rye (Secale cereale L.)
    (2024-03-05) Gjevre, Tristan T; Chibbar, Ravindra; Baga, Monica; Reaney, Martin; Biligetu, Bill; Sharbel, Tim
    The abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo.
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    Position-specific isometric strength tests and their relationship with dynamic performance in collegiate athletes
    (2024-03-05) Scott, Parker AP; Farthing, Jon P; Lanovaz, Joel; Friesen, Kenzie; Jordan, Matt
    The abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo.
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    Study on Interactions between Endophytes and Hemp for Healthy Plants and Quality Products
    (2024-03-05) Srivastava, Ankita; Vujanovic, Vladimir; Sharbel, Timothy; Tanaka, Takuji; Tabil, Lope; Broadbent, Jordyn
    Modern Cannabis sativa L. cell lines encompass various chromosome variations through ploidy, such as diploid, triploid, and tetraploid, while their associated microbial communities are still underexplored. The lack of knowledge on symbiotic mycobiome-hemp interaction can be considered a bottleneck for sustainable plant and cannabinoids production, which is further exacerbated due to the recent legalization of Cannabis in Western countries, resulting in a surge in demand. Consequently, the imperative to investigate hemp's microbial communities has grown, as it plays a pivotal role in enhancing crop health and ensuring product quality, safety, and security. Hence, understanding the mechanism by which microbiome is acting in protocooperation with ploidy in hemp is a vital step towards microbiome-assisted agriculture and future breeding programs. The primary objective of this thesis is to elucidate the correlation between diploid (2n) and triploid (3n) hemp plants and their respective microbiome profiles. Specifically, the diploid and triploid Suver haze cultivar varieties and their associated microbial community composition on seeds, flowers and leaves were examined. The research findings shed light on the intricate interplay between the Cannabis sativa microbiome and host phenotypic characteristics. Notably, we observed that distinct microbial community structures were linked with shifts in plant growth parameters, hormonal activities, and phenotypic traits. Furthermore, our study underscores the dynamic nature of the hemp microbiome across different plant genotypes and growth stages, resulting in distinctive profiles of secondary metabolites. The variation in endophytic community structures between diploid versus triploid plants coincides with the level of plant plasticity to adapt in response to controlled in vitro and phytotron environments. Moreover, we found that differences in microbiome’s composition coincides with specific shifts in phenotypic characteristics of each plant host, offering practical applications for optimizing hemp cultivation. In summary, a combination of microbiology, microscopy, molecular, and phenotypical approaches was applied in addressing the main study’s objectives. Tested plants underscore the significance of considering the microbiome as a pivotal factor in shaping physiological (PSII) iii and phenotypic attributes in Cannabis sativa. A deeper understanding of these complex relationships has the potential to refine cultivation techniques and facilitate the development of hemp varieties with tailored traits, ultimately benefiting both the medical and industrial applications of this versatile plant. Additionally, our research may contribute to identifying biosignature markers of endosymbiosis that enhance the genetic diversity of hemp germplasm during the reproductive seed and flowering stages, potentially improving plant health, agricultural traits, and the quality of products.
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    Human cases of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius with probable transmission between companion animals to humans in Saskatchewan
    (2024-03-05) Blondeau, Leah D; Hamula, Camille L; Deneer, Harry; Sanche, Stephen E; Rubin, Joseph E; Kanthan, Rani
    A zoonosis is an infectious disease transmitted to humans from animals. These diseases spread a variety of ways including through direct or indirect contact, vectors, or through foodborne or waterborne sources. Humans and animals have existed in close proximity for thousands of years, but within the last century, the relationship has changed from utilitarian to companionship. Particularly, humans rely on companion animals, specifically dogs, and occasionally cats, for physical, social or emotional support. Humans live in close proximity to their pets, providing multiple opportunities for the pathogen to be transmitted from animal to human. Pets live in our homes. This relationship change is not without increased risk, and as such, pathogen exchange is inevitable. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a well - known commensal organism of dogs, and occasionally other animals, but also a canine opportunistic pathogen. Since 2006, S. pseudintermedius have been increasingly recovered from invasive/superficial infections in humans. It remains unclear if this is due to technological advancements in clinical microbiology, increased pathogenicity for humans or close proximity of humans and animals living together. Reports of this organism being recovered from specimens from humans might suggest an increased prevalence in human infections and/or improved diagnostics leading to more accurate identification. Its increasing presence in humans questions the relatedness between organisms collected from both human and their animal companion (s). Diligence by laboratories in correctly isolating and identifying this pathogen is essential for optimal patient care. We present a collection of human cases of S. pseudintermedius infections including evidence of transmission of S. pseudintermedius strains from family pets to their owners. We present evidence of transmission in these cases through antimicrobial susceptibility/resistance profiles and pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius infections were identified by either MALDI – TOF MS or Vitek II. Susceptibility testing was manually completed via microbroth dilution methods according to CLSI guidelines. No infections resulted in patient death. Accurately identifying S. pseudintermedius infections is important for proper patient care, especially if patients have underlying medical conditions. Health care providers may then educate patients on proper interactions with animals, including proper hand washing to prevent further transmission of potential infections.
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    Corporate Green Bonds, Stock Reactions, and Corporate Financial Performance in the U.S.
    (2024-02-29) Li, Woyang; Wilson, Craig; Yang, Fan; Maung, Min; Tannous, George; Fox, Kenneth; Mishra, Dev
    The rapid growth of green bonds highlights their increasing use as a financing tool for eco-friendly projects in response to the global environmental crisis and societal demand for sustainability. Our study, utilizing data from Bloomberg and the WRDS database, examines the relationship between U.S. companies’ green bond issuance over the past decade, its impact on stock market responses, and corporate performance to identify the driving forces behind such issuance. Our findings show that green bonds exert minimal impact on both short-term and long-term stock market reactions and investment returns. Interestingly, companies with lower environmental scores saw benefits in the form of positive firm valuations. This indicates profit maximization remains a dominant force in the U.S. investment landscape. The divergent expected firm values between non-financial and financial sectors suggest signaling theory as the primary motivator behind issuing green bonds. However, this trend, which allows companies who have lower ESG environmental scores or in non-financial sectors to reap greater benefits with minimal investment, could inadvertently promote greenwashing for issuers in these certain groups. This issue is tied to the current stage of development in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices and related financial tools. The rapid growth of ESG activities, including green bond issuance, juxtaposed with the sluggish evolution of national policies, could potentially encourage greenwashing activities. Despite employing various methods to minimize biases, the limitations in sample size prevent us from entirely eliminating all potential influences. Therefore, further development in the corporate green bond market in the U.S. would help for researchers to get more comprehensive and reliable results.
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    Exploring the Catalytic Potential of Metal Nanoparticles Stabilized in Alternative Solvents for Transfer Hydrogenation Reactions
    (2024-02-28) Kainth, Money; Scott, Robert; Gravel, Michel; Burgess, Ian; Wilson, Lee
    Ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional solvents in catalytic processes as they possess low vapour pressure, high thermal stability, wide liquid temperature ranges, and tunable physicochemical properties. Moreover, palladium nanoparticles have garnered significant attention as versatile catalysts in hydrogenation reactions due to their unique properties and high catalytic activity. The utilization of nanoparticles in conjunction with ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing hydrogenation processes. These composite systems offer unique advantages, including increased catalytic activity, improved stability in elevated temperature conditions, efficient mass transfer, and recyclability. Conventional direct hydrogenations in nanoparticle-ionic liquid composites often suffer from limitations such as low selectivity, mass transfer issues, tri-phasic catalysis, and the need for hazardous pressurized hydrogen gas. Room temperature transfer hydrogenation is a vital alternative catalytic sustainable process to direct hydrogenation for numerous organic transformations. This thesis explores the potential of using different alcohols, and ammonia borane as hydrogen donors for transfer hydrogenations using Pd nanoparticle catalysts in tetraalkylphosphonium halide ionic liquids, and urea-based deep eutectic solvents. The products of the catalytic reactions are analysed using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. The characterization of the Pd nanoparticle catalysts in ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents is performed using various techniques including transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The obtained results unequivocally showcase the remarkable catalytic activity and recyclability exhibited by the composite catalytic systems. Notably, these findings extend to diverse transfer hydrogenation reactions conducted at room temperature and reveal that the selection of hydrogen donor profoundly influences the reaction outcome, particularly in terms of product selectivity.
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    Enhancing Deep Learning Based Clone Detection
    (2024-02-27) Pinku, Subroto Nag; Roy, Chanchal K.; Mondal, Debajyoti; Roy, Banani; Stakhanova, Natalia
    The abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo.