Trent University

Risk-taking (e.g., dangerous driving, substance use) rises during adolescence and can result in both adaptive consequences (e.g., social acceptance) and maladaptive consequences (e.g., alcohol poisoning, premature death). Adolescents also experience an increase in self-conscious emotions, including shame. Shame-prone adolescents may engage in risk-taking to cope with negative self-perceptions. Previous research is contradictory, however, finding shame and risk-taking to be positively correlated, negatively correlated, or not related at all. One reason for this may be that shame was assessed as an overall construct. Some conceptualizations of shame dictate that people can experience several types of shame, including body (e.g., shame about physical appearance), character (e.g., shame of personal habits), and behavioural (e.g., shame about doing something wrong). Our study fills this gap by examining how different types of shame are related to different types of risk-taking behaviours and subsequent outcomes. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Author Keywords: Adolescence, Behaviour shame, Body shame, Character shame, Emerging adulthood, Risk-taking

In situ chlorophyll sensors are beneficial for monitoring of long-term impacts of algal blooms and accessing water quality issues in bodies of water. However, more research is needed to validate their efficacy and understand how environmental conditions can influence sensor measurements. I assessed the performance of an in situ chlorophyll sensor under controlled environmental conditions and used the same sensor to collect vertical phytoplankton patterns in south-central Ontario boreal lakes. The performance of the sensor was assessed by examining the precision of chlorophyll measurements and determining the suitable timing length that would produce precise results. In general, the sensor was relatively insensitive to conditions under lower algal concentrations and the decent of the sensor should be slowed for vertical lake profiling in lakes with higher algal biomass. Most variation resulted from the movement of particle bound algal cells. We described chlorophyll profile characteristics including surface chlorophyll levels and chlorophyll peak depth and width and investigated the relationships of these features with environmental controls. The lakes showed a typical chlorophyll profile of low phytoplankton biomass lakes. Our results showed that dissolved organic carbon was a strong predictor of epilimnetic biomass while light attenuation and dissolved organic carbon were both strong predictors of peak depth. Light attenuation and surface area were small but significant predictors of peak width. We acknowledged that any uncertainties in sensor chlorophyll readings were not an issue in our lakes due to the overall low chlorophyll biomass.

Author Keywords: chlorophyll, chlorophyll fluorescence, in situ profiling, lakes, phytoplankton biomass, water quality 

Using Drosophila deficiency (Df) and Over Expression (OE) (GAL4/UAS>dCas9-VPR; sgRNA) gene systems, it was demonstrated that Dmel_CG31381 and Dmel_CG11089 are functional tRNA isopentenyltransferase (EC 2.5.1.8) genes (tRNA IPT1 and IPT2) critical to the first committed step in insect cytokinin biosynthesis. IPT Df mutants showed significant decreases in total CK levels and IPT1/IPT2 transcript levels compared to parent lines. IPT OE mutants showed significant increases in total CK levels and IPT1/IPT2 transcript levels compared to parent lines. Further, endogenous CK analyte levels and qPCR relative fold gene expression of Dmel_CG31381 and Dmel_CG11089 (tRNA IPT1 and IPT2) genes demonstrated expression patterns with functional confirmation corresponding to the predicted IPT mutant variants. The functional confirmation of tRNA IPT1 and IPT2 as the first committed step was further supported by the bioinformatic detection of putative gene homologs to corroborate seven remaining enzyme transcripts supporting the novel description of a CK biosynthesis pathway in insects.

Author Keywords: Cytokinin Biosynthesis, Drosophila, gene expression, Insect Gall, mass spectrometry, tRNA IPT

This study explores the connection between the historical occurrences and the landscape changes on Main Duck Island, located at the eastern end of Lake Ontario. This research is conceptualized within the framework of Maritime Cultural Landscapes (MCL) to understand the relationship between the landscape and Lake Ontario. To explore this relationship, the study integrates spatial and archaeological methods such as GIS-based paleoshoreline modeling to understand the landscape change over time, analysis of air photographs, visibility analysis (viewshed) to understand island mobility, archaeological reconnaissance survey to discover and rediscover archaeological sites on the island, and ceramic analysis of surface finds to identify decorative motifs to establish cross cultural similarities between finds on mainland Canada and New York. This study is significant in contextualizing historical events such as Indigenous and non-Indigenous migration with landscape changes and archaeological data. Ultimately, the study corroborates past environmental conditions that have influenced the island's morphology with contemporary ones.

Author Keywords: Archaeological Reconnaissance survey, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), Island Archaeology, Maritime Cultural Landscapes, Paleoshoreline Modelling, Viewshed Analysis

The global shift toward sustainability has prompted brands to promote their sustainability initiatives on social media, aiming to connect with pro-environmental consumers. However, this strategy comes with risks, as social media allows for swift and widespread backlash if consumers perceive greenwashing. The present work examines the impact of social media backlash toward a brand's sustainability initiatives on consumers' purchase intentions. In an experimental study (N = 553), participants were presented social media responses to a fictitious brand's sustainability initiative that were either negative, positive, or a mix of both. The findings indicate that the negative comments decreased purchase intentions for consumers with a pro-environmentalist identity but not otherwise. Moreover, this effect was mediated by decreased perceptions of value-congruence with the brand. This study contributes to larger academic discourses on sustainable marketing, greenwashing, and consumer-brand relationships while providing tangible recommendations to marketing practitioners attempting to mitigate the challenges posed by social media backlash.

Author Keywords: greenwashing, social identity, social influence, social media backlash, sustainability promotion, value congruence

Sustainable housing is crucial for immigrant settlement and integration in their host countries. This research focuses on achieving sustainable housing for one racialized immigrant group in Toronto. A concurrent mixed-method approach, which involves simultaneous collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, was used to explore how a racialized immigrant group, like Ghanaian immigrants in Toronto, struggle to achieve sustainable housing in Toronto. The quantitative method involves a survey of 145 Ghanaian immigrants, while the qualitative approach includes in-depth interviews with 10 key informants of Ghanaian immigrants in Toronto. Various quantitative data analysis techniques, including univariate and bivariate, were used to examine the relationships between socio-demographic variables and housing conditions of Ghanaians in Toronto. The findings from the quantitative data suggest that, while certain variables, such as gender and age, have no significant influence on sustainable housing attainment, factors such as immigration status, occupation, and income play an important role in determining the likelihood of achieving sustainable housing. For Ghanaian immigrants in Toronto, these factors impact their abilities to achieve sustainable housing. The qualitative data were explored using thematic analysis, which involved identifying recurring themes and patterns. The qualitative interviews revealed themes of barriers to sustainable housing, such as issues of affordability and accessibility. Overcoming these obstacles promotes immigrants' successful settlement and integration. These findings can be used by policymakers, housing providers, and community organisations to develop targeted interventions to address the housing needs of racialized immigrant groups in Canada. This thesis emphasises the importance of sustainable housing for Ghanaian immigrants in Toronto and informs evidence-based policies and practices. It adds to existing knowledge on immigrant housing experiences and serves as a resource for future research on sustainable housing for diverse immigrant populations in Canada and beyond.

Author Keywords: Chi-square, High-rise, Housing Career, Progressive housing, Purposive, Sustainable housing

Climate change is a global challenge with profound environmental, health, andsocio-economic implications. Canada's diverse geography offers a unique lens to study localized climate trends. This thesis models and clusters climate variables, focusing on temperature trends, using Bayesian hierarchical models and clustering techniques to uncover regional patterns and health impacts. Three decades of hourly temperature data from the Meteorological Service of Canada were split into 18 annual parts to capture seasonal variations. Metrics like mean, minimum, and extreme temperatures were analyzed. Bayesian models revealed regional variability, with examples of British Columbia and the Northern regions exhibiting notable trends. Clustering identified regional dependencies and linked temperature trends with morbidity and mortality risks from air pollutants (PM2.5, O3). Summer risks stemmed from O3, while winter risks were PM2.5 driven. Findings highlight the need for region-specific strategies, offering actionable insights for policy makers addressing climate-health linkages.

Author Keywords: Bayesian models, Climate change, Clustering, Temperature Trends, Time Series

Accurately forecasting financial distress in companies is crucial in the turbulent economic conditions of our time. This study highlights the potential benefits of incorporating qualitative data into financial distress prediction models. The study assessed the relative effectiveness of traditional distress prediction models against integrated models, determined which variables significantly impacted the predictive performance and ascertained the consistency of the models across Africa.The study employed three distinct classification techniques to evaluate the performance of both models: logistic regression, decision trees, and random forests, to ensure that the best-performing technique was identified. The study found that incorporating governance factors into the model did not positively impact the model's performance, affirming that traditional distress prediction models are relatively effective. The study also found that Current Ratio, ROA, ROE, DCE, and Asset Turnover significantly impacted the predictive performance of the models. Finally, it identified regional discrepancies in the performance of the analyzed models.

Author Keywords: Decision Tree, Financial Distress, Integrated Models, Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Traditional Models

Through an exploration of shared stories, hauntings and the sea, this study outlines the idea that an ideological shift is a necessary first step to address the impact of colonialism in the publishing industry. This thesis draws sustained attention to the ways in which colonialism has an inextricable material effect on the publishing industry, and focuses on the myriad ways this past material and ideological holdovers shape the frameworks of book production. The vestiges of colonialism continue to be carried forward as a constitutive element of the present, creating a complex situation of material forces and conditions that need to be negotiated to create a more inclusive and diverse literary landscape that accurately reflects the experiences and voices of marginalised communities.Referring to something both subtler and more apparent than reformation, this thesis argues that a shift in ideology is necessary to address the impact of colonialism on literary culture. The shift proposed by this thesis is inspired by the ocean, specifically the Caribbean Sea. As it invites a rethinking of traditional capitalist publishing practices by acknowledging the historical limitations and systemic inequalities at the emergence of postcolonial West Indian literature. This shift involves moving towards alternative literary production and study that are more generative, appreciative, and beneficial to minoritised groups whose histories make themselves known in the present, inscribed into our stories in an accumulation of tides.

Author Keywords: Hauntology, literary situation, Postcolonial literature, Tidalectics, West Indian Literature

The aim of this thesis is to explore the human/animal relationship at the walled and moated shwe myo taw, or "royal golden city," at the ancient Burmese capital of Bagan, Myanmar, which flourished from the 11th – 14th centuries CE, in the ecological area known as Myanmar's Central Dry Zone. This thesis achieves its objectives by applying an ethnoarchaeological based research strategy, examining the human/animal relationship within ten contemporary yet traditional villages, and house compounds, surrounding the remains of the ancient capital city. The traditional villages include Thae Pyin Taw, Shwe Hlaing, Zee Oo, Kon Sin Kyi, Kon Tan Gyi, Minnanthu, Hpauck Sein Pin, Thuhtaykan, East Pwa Saw, and West Pwa Saw. The premise of this thesis is that through a better understanding of the material correlates of human/animal relationships in the traditional villages of today can help settlement archaeologists interpret specific aspects of the archaeological record that may relate to these same types of relationships in the past. This study is part of the broader Integrated Socio-Ecological History for Residential Patterning, Agricultural Practices, and Water Management at the Medieval Burmese Capital of Bagan, Myanmar project (IRAW@Bagan).

Author Keywords: Animal-human relationship, Archaeology, Bagan, Ethnoarchaeology, Myanmar, Zooarchaeology