HARVEST
University of Saskatchewan's Repository for Research, Scholarship, and Artistic Work
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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, Bruce
The 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.
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, Bruce
Previous 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.
Ethics, Privacy and Beyond: A Habermasian Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Discourses in Canadian Healthcare
(2024-06-26) Diego Chavez, Cristina; Dickinson, Harley; Downe, Pamela
This 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.
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, Tim
Phytoplasmas 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.
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, Tim
Phytoplasmas 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.
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, Carolyn
The 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.
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, Marguerite
Using 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.
Epitope-TCR Interaction Prediction with Deep Learning based on Sequence and Physicochemical Properties
(2024-06-19) Raha, Rawshon; Wu, FangXiang; Liu, Qiang; McQuillan, Ian
Immune 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.
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, Bruce
Oil 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).
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, George
The abstract of this item is unavailable due to an embargo.