Trent University

With wide applications ranging from quantum communication and metrology to biomedicine, single photon sources in solid-state hosts have become a major area of study. Here, we focus on three applications: nanothermometry, optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR), and second order autocorrelation. We present novel statistical and machine learning (ML) approaches to extract information from experimental and simulated data and benchmark these methods against traditional inference-based statistical approaches. We found that compared to traditional inference-based methods ML algorithms can: i) predict temperatures at the nanoscale with greater accuracy and with less calibration points than traditional fitting methods; ii) identify the resonance peaks in ODMR spectra with factors ~1.3x and ~4.7x better accuracy and resolution and achieved equal or better performance with ~5x less data; and iii) have the potential to parse second order autocorrelation data more efficiently. ML algorithms are thus powerful tools for quantum sensing techniques.

Author Keywords: colour centers, machine learning, nanosensing, nanothermometry, optically detected magnetic resonance, second order autocorrelation

Freezing of gait is a debilitating symptom affecting individuals with Parkinson's disease. Emerging evidence suggests freezing may represent a global motor control deficit beyond gait. We investigated freezing episodes in the upper limbs using spatially-constrained reaching tasks known to elicit freezing of gait. Fourteen people with Parkinson's disease and 13 controls completed reaching tasks under three spatial conditions with varying backgrounds. The tunnel condition produced the greatest kinematic disruptions. Despite people with Parkinson's disease showing significantly longer movement times and slower speeds, they were less accurate in their movements, suggesting observed differences reflect genuine motor control deficits rather than speed-accuracy trade-offs. The tunnel's narrow spatial constraints challenge the motor system's ability to maintain coordinated movement trajectories, with people with Parkinson's disease exhibiting increased trajectory variability. These findings demonstrate that freezing-like episodes extend beyond gait, supporting the hypothesis that freezing represents a global motor phenomenon in Parkinson's disease.

Author Keywords: freezing of gait, motor control, Parkinson's disease, reaching, upper limbs

Freezing is a debilitating phenomenon that reduces quality of life for people withParkinson's disease (PwPD). This study tests the hypothesis that: 1) freezing is linked to executive dysfunction; 2) freezing is a global motor phenomenon, not limited to gait. We compared 14 PwPD to 16 controls. Several aspects of executive function were measured using pro- and anti-saccade tasks under gap and overlap timing conditions, where the gap effect is defined as the reduction in saccade latency associated with the removal of fixation before target presentation. As predicted, results showed larger anti-saccade gap effects in PwPD with than without FOG, and that the pro-saccade gap effect predicted FOG severity in PwPD with FOG. PwPD also demonstrated impaired performance on reaching and walking tasks designed to elicit freezing. These findings strengthen the evidence that executive dysfunction, measured by saccade tasks, is linked to freezing in PwPD.

Author Keywords: executive function, eye movements, freezing of gait, freezing of upper limbs, Parkinson's disease

It is widely believed that basic mental processes involved in skilled reading are automatic in the sense that they occur without intention. Evidence that reading occurs without intention comes from the observation that the meaning of a colour word (e.g., "red") affects the time to name the ink-colour of the word in the Stroop task. Evidence also suggests that non-colour words (e.g., house) interfere even though they are irrelevant to the colour naming task. The present study examined which reading processes are triggered without intention in the non-colour word Stroop task. One hundred and twenty skilled English readers completed both a reading aloud task and a colour naming task. In order to identify the reading processes triggered without intention, three psycholinguistic variables were examined, lexicality, word frequency, and neighbourhood density. The findings suggest that processing up to and including the activation of orthographic lexical representations occurs without intention and that intention is required to activate all subsequent reading processes.

Author Keywords: Attention, Reading, Stroop Effect, Visual Word Recognition

Positive coaching techniques are gaining prominence in the sport of Gymnastics. Coaches are focusing on positive reinforcement, encouragement, and constructive feedback rather than relying solely on traditional, more authoritarian coaching methods. Furthermore, technology is being used to enhance coach-athlete relationships. Video analysis tools and performance tracking software allow for more detailed feedback and communication between coaches and gymnasts. Previous research has shown that sensory feedback, and physical cues and guidance impact both motor learning and motor skill performance. Spotting is a form of physical guidance (touch) that may be used by gymnastics coaches during both the learning phase of a skill and during performance, even after mastery. This research has examined whether and how spotting with touch influences the athlete's skill performance and confidence. The current study explored how spotting affects both skill performance and self-confidence of participants as they performed a basic skill (a backward jump onto a specified target) they have already mastered. We asked Intermediate-level gymnasts to perform a backward jump from height under two levels of landing difficulty, while being spotted with and without touch. Their confidence was measured in each condition using a brief survey. The timing, accuracy and precision of their landing was measured from video recordings of their performance. We evaluated the relationship between touch and skill performance to determine if it is affected by athlete self-confidence. It was hypothesized that physical guidance in the form of spot with touch would improve the accuracy and precision of the jump landing and that athletes would report higher levels of self-confidence in the touch versus no touch condition. We found no significant differences in skill performance and landing stability as assessed by rate of force development and peak force. We found that participants reported significantly higher levels of self-confidence when receiving spot with touch in the easy landing condition.

Author Keywords: gymnastics, physical guidance, self-confidence, skill performance, spotting, touch

Globally, wildlife populations are experiencing increasing rates of range loss, population decline, and extinction. Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) have experienced dramatic declines in both range and population size across Canada over the past century. Boreal caribou (R. t. caribou), one of twelve Designatable Units, have lost approximately half of their historic range in the last 150 years, particularly along the southern edge of their distribution. Despite this northward contraction, some populations have persisted at the trailing range edge, over 150 km south of the boreal continuous range (BCR) in Ontario, along the coast and near-shore islands of Lake Superior. Better understanding the population structure and evolutionary history of caribou in the Lake Superior range (LSR) could help to inform conservation and management actions, such as the delineation of conservation or management units or translocations between populations. In this thesis, I use whole genome sequences from boreal, eastern migratory and barren-ground caribou sampled in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec to investigate evolutionary history and population structure. I discovered that the LSR caribou form a distinct group but also some evidence of gene flow with the BCR. Notably, caribou from the LSR demonstrated relatively high levels of inbreeding (measured as Runs of Homozygosity; ROH) and genetic drift, which may contribute to the differentiation observed between caribou occupying the two ranges. Despite inbreeding, the LSR caribou retained Heterozygosity Rich Regions (HRR). I found genomic structure among caribou populations from the LSR and BCR but found these two ranges had similar demographic histories. My analyses indicate that the LSR caribou display distinct genomic characteristics but share ancestry with the BCR, with historical gene flow between these two ranges. Collectively, this dissertation characterizes the population structure and evolutionary history of caribou from the southernmost range in Ontario, providing key insights for the conservation and management of these small and isolated populations.

The study examines the phytochemical and phytohormone profiles of two ecotypes of Doliocarpus dentatus (Capadulla) from Guyana with an emphasis on their potential therapeutic applications, particularly in the context of erectile dysfunction. The research concentrates on the red and white ecotypes, which are visibly differentiated by the colouration of their inner and outer bark; moreover, the red ecotype is widely regarded by traditional knowledge to be more efficacious in treating erectile dysfunction. The study seeks to provide much-needed scientific evidence to support the traditional medicinal uses of D. dentatus and aims to accomplish this by providing semi-targeted and targeted analysis of its bioactive compounds.The thesis employs a multi-faceted approach, commencing with Chapter 2, an examination of the international and national frameworks that govern natural product research in Guyana, thereby ensuring ethical and sustainable practices. Chapter 3, Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics was utilized to analyze the phytochemical profiles of the red and white ecotypes of D. dentatus. Approximately 847 compounds were identified, with 138 tentatively classified as potentially therapeutic, particularly polyphenols exhibiting antioxidant properties. Chapter 4 focus on the phytohormone profiling revealed that the red ecotype generally exhibited higher levels of active cytokinins, particularly trans-zeatin (tZ) and cis-zeatin (cZ), compared to the white ecotype. A strong correlation was identified between specific cytokinins and secondary metabolites such as flavonoids and alkaloids, suggesting complex interactions that may enhance the therapeutic potential of D. dentatus. Chapter 5 further analysis of total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and their antioxidant capacities demonstrated differences between the red and white ecotypes, with the red ecotype generally showing higher levels of these compounds. Both ecotypes demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, with the red ecotype showing enhanced radical scavenging capacity. The study also revealed a diverse range of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, which may contribute to the plant's reported medicinal properties. This semi-targeted and targeted analysis provides novel insights into the phytochemical and phytohormone profiles of D. dentatus ecotypes, offering a scientific basis for their traditional medicinal uses and potential therapeutic applications. The findings suggest that D. dentatus, particularly the red ecotype, may have significant potential for developing new drugs, especially in the context of erectile dysfunction therapy.

Author Keywords: antioxidant, Bioactive compounds, liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, metabolomics, secondary metabolites, therapeutic properties

This thesis is focused on studying the population dynamics of a predator-prey system in a patchy environment, taking anti-predation responses into consideration. Firstly, we conduct mathematical analysis on the equilibrium solutions of the system. Using techniques from calculus we show that particular steady state solutions exist when the parameters of the system meet certain criteria. We then show that a further set of conditions leads to the local stability of these solutions. The second step is to extend the existing mathematical analysis by way of numerical simulations. We use octave to confirm the previous results, as well as to show that more complicated dynamics can exist, such as stable oscillations. We consider more complex and meaningful functions for nonlinear dispersal between patches and nonlinear predation, and show that the proposed model exhibits behaviours we expect to see in a population model.

Author Keywords: Anti-predation response, Asymptotic stability, Dispersal, Patch model, Population dynamics, Predator-prey

Many middle-class families, according to Whiteman (2023) find it challenging to manage unless both parents contribute financially through employment. I chose to become a professional because I'd wanted better employment options. My academic research interests soon had me wondering what working-while-parenting experiences were like for other professionals. The overarching topic of my master's thesis was working-while-parenting. The study broadly explored how working experiences affect the parenting goals and/or family well-being of securely employed Trent faculty and/or staff.Trent working parents shared the experiences that working interferes with parenting; and that parents have specific work-life balance needs; they also shared the perspective that parenting accessibility is a working parent right. Trent working parents indicated that success in fulfilling their parenting goals, needs and responsibilities, requires priority, presence and at times, childcare. It was recommended that specific Trent Working Parent Representation be more broadly interpreted and purposefully approached.

Author Keywords: Family well-being, Parenting accessibility as a right, Parenting goals, Presence and childcare needs, Work-life balance, Working-while-parenting

Lyme disease (LD), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, presents major diagnostic and treatment challenges due to its diverse symptoms and often ambiguous progression. Despite growing awareness, many patients face misdiagnosis, dismissal, and inadequate care—especially in North America, where brief treatment guidelines may fail to address persistent symptoms. This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences and adaptive strategies of 16 individuals diagnosed with LD for over a year. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), revealing five key themes: medical journey and testing accuracy, functional and cognitive suffering, mental and emotional impacts, adaptive practices, and advocacy for systemic reform. Participants reported significant disruptions to daily life, reliance on alternative care, and frustration with mainstream medicine. Their narratives underscored institutional shortcomings and highlighted the need for improved education, diagnostic protocols, integrative care access, and patient-centered policies. This study contributes valuable insights into chronic illness care and contested disease recognition.

Author Keywords: Adaptive practices, Lived experiences, Lyme Disease, Mental health, Nursing, Public health