Trent University

Cytokinins (CKs) are adenine derivative molecules that are present in all kingdoms of life. CKs are known to have a role in cell growth and development in plants. However, the role of CKs in vertebrate systems is not well understood. Frog virus 3 (FV3) is a type species of the Iridioviridae family, genus Ranavirus. FV3 is a major contributor to the amphibian population decline in North America. In this study, we demonstrate that concurrent and pretreatment of 20 µM of either N6-isopentyldenine (iP), N6-ispoentyladenosine (iPR), N6-furfurladenine/kinetin, and N6-furfurladenosine/kinetin riboside (KR) decreased FV3 replication. To understand the mechanism of inhibition, we assessed morphological changes in host cell nuclei to assess the effect of CKs on infected nuclei. Our results show that infection with FV3 and 20µM treatment of iP or iPR reduced nuclei size. These results are the first to reveal insight into the potential mechanism in which FV3 replication is inhibited by iP and iPR.  

Author Keywords: cytokinins, frog virus 3

An athlete's psychological response to a sports-related concussion may influence thesuccess of recovery and return to play. This exploratory study explored how athletes psychologically respond to concussion, using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to examine the role of psychological flexibility in recovery and return to play. Thirty athletes who experienced a concussion in the past three months completed online surveys measuring symptom severity, sport confidence, psychological strain, anxiety, depression, and psychological flexibility. Depression significantly predicted symptom severity (β = .615, p = .015). Psychological flexibility improved from pre- to post-return to play (p = 0.032, d = 0.45) and was correlated with greater confidence (pre: r = –0.451; post: r = – 0.577) and lower psychological strain (r = 0.471). These findings suggest that increasing psychological flexibility may enhance recovery by reducing distress and building confidence. Return-to-play protocols should include psychological recovery measures.

Author Keywords: Concussion, Injury Recovery, Psychological Flexibility, Return to Play

This thesis investigates the tensions, gaps and opportunities presented by outdoor play-based learning. Written by a founder of the Forest School concept in Canada, this exploration revolves around two research questions: How can we (re)conceptualize outdoor play-based learning in formal education for children aged 0-8, and how can we integrate and reinvigorate both pedagogical theory and practice to support educators in embedding outdoor playful learning practices?

The research methodology applies autobiographical experience and conceptual frameworks to historical and current pedagogical theory, in an anti-oppressive and feminist research orientation that challenges received notions of what "counts" as knowledge (Brown & Strega, 2005, p. 6) – much in the same way that play challenges truisms about what constitutes education.

Key findings include situating outdoor play-based learning within the theoretical landscape, understanding outdoor play-based learning as an emerging current of environmental education, defining a set of core principles for outdoor play-based learning, and re-examining the role of the educator.

Author Keywords: Early Learning, Pedagogy, Play, Play-Based Learning, Playful Pedagogies, Risky Play

Estimation of population abundance from samples has inherent practical challenges. Moreover, analytical methods to estimate abundance may vary in statistical assumptions and prediction uncertainties. I evaluated the performance of design-based and model-based methods to estimate Canada geese (Branta canadensis) abundance based on aerial fixed-width transect surveys in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, Canada. I evaluated Empirical Bayesian Kriging (EBK), areal interpolation and a ratio estimator on the basis of accuracy and precision using spatial point simulations. Untransformed EBK was the most accurate and precise, due in part, to its inherent handling of nonstationary distributions. The ratio estimator followed the same trends as EBK and, in some cases, had higher precision. Consideration of alternative analytical methods and their strengths and weaknesses is an important step in generating reliable information for population monitoring. Geostatistical approaches such as EBK have the benefit of providing spatially explicit mapping of abundance and reliable population estimates.

Author Keywords: Areal interpolation, Design-based inference, Empirical Bayesian Kriging, Geostatistics, Model-based inference, Ratio estimator

Nikawiy narratives including Mother to daughter, nation to nation, spirit and intent, and Treaty Enforcement are based on nikawiy (my mother's) teachings that I interpret as my inherent role as Nehiyaw iskwew (Cree woman) specifically for governance and numbered Treaty Enforcement. My methodology 1is also based on nikawiy's Circle of Life, Pimatisiwin, Calendar (Poitras, 1996) curriculum that is related and included in the "universe is listening to me" paskwaw moostoos Treaty Law School (Poitras, 2016). We are from the Peepeekisis Cree Nation in what is now known as Saskatchewan. My mother osawastimahkoop iskwew is originally from Onion Lake on what is now the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan. Peepeekisis is in Treaty Four territory and Onion Lake is in Treaty Six territory.Is there a 'gap' for the role of Indian women and Nehiyawak Iskwew in the numbered Indian Treaty negotiations and generally in leadership? 2Though such a 'gap' may be said to be relatively common knowledge perhaps from the time of the treaty negotiations, a comprehensive and chronological review has yet to be produced that may address this. Treaty Four was entered into in 1874 and Treaty Six was entered into in 1876. Before this and in historical accounts, this gap may also be apparent and indicative of European/settler ethnocentrism based on white male research and documentation of this history.3 The colonial disruption of the Indian Residential School, in particular, would have also impacted oral transmission of any history including the role of women in the treaty negotiations that might also denote a role in governance and leadership. In a contemporary context now, the question for this role is the search for inherent foundations that may be identified as the base to contemporary governance and leadership frameworks for Nehiyaw Iskwewak (Cree women) in Treaty Four and Treaty Six.

1 Protocol has been offered to nikawiy to request her interpretation of "methodology' meaning.2 I could not find any written historical accounts for the role of Cree women during numbered Treaty negotiations. I know that, in general, there are few sources for Indian women in leadership, and particularly for any historical accounts of Indian women leadership. In Treaty Four and Treaty Six, there are no written accounts of Nehiyaw iskwew (Cree women) involvement in these treaty negotiations. The signatories to these treaties are documented as Nehiyaw napew (Cree men) only. Historical accounts document what Cree men leaders/Chiefs may have stated at this time. 3 A reason for the lack of any Cree women documentation in historical accounts of numbered Treaty negotiations is that there could be a lack of understanding for the role of Cree women by the European men who wrote these accounts. Generally, Europeans were coming from white patriarchal societies where women did not commonly have leadership roles.

Author Keywords: Calendar of Life, Cree

The bringing together of Indigenous (IK) and Environmental science Knowledge (ESK) has garnered significant attention in environmental research. This intersection has been recognized for enhancing understanding of various contemporary environmental challenges. Despite its acknowledged importance, there remains a notable gap in understanding how these knowledge systems are brought together, specifically at the level of data analysis, presentation, and interpretation of results. Furthermore, even less is known regarding the appropriate and effective use of any one approach and method in its application. Therefore, this thesis was guided by the question, 'What approaches and methods have been used previously to bring together Indigenous and Environmental science Knowledge in environmental research, and what are the challenges and limitations of any one approach and method in practical application?' This question is investigated through the conduct of a systematic map and application of a case study scenario. A search protocol was developed and served as a guide for the conduct of a systematic map. This protocol detailed how articles focused on bringing together IK and ESK would be systematically gathered and analyzed (Chapter 2). The resulting systematic evidence base highlighted four main approaches used in the peer-reviewed literature to bring together IK and ESK, namely: (1) a narrative approach to mixing; (2) the use of statistical analysis; (3) use spatial overlap in GIS; and (4) mixing IK and ESK using illustrative figures (Chapter 3). In order to gain a more in-depth understanding of the identified approaches and methods, their use was explored through the application of a case study scenario on environmental factors influencing Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) growth in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (Chapter 4). Although more data collection and analysis is needed to understand the relationship between environmental variables on Arctic Char growth in lakes surrounding Ulukhaktok, the attempt to link Indigenous Knowledge of lake ice change with Environmental science Knowledge on landlocked Arctic Char growth, coupled with insights informed from a review of relevant literature, led to the development of criteria that may be used in future research to test the identified approaches and methods. This thesis makes contributions to the academic literature by documenting and examining the types of approaches used to bring together IK and ESK at the level of data analysis, offering insights into the complex and evolving landscape of linking IK and ESK in environmental research.

Author Keywords: Arctic, Arctic Char, Environmental research, Environmental science Knowledge, Indigenous Knowledge, Knowledge linking

Northern flying squirrels (NFS) are mycophagous specialists (fungi-dominated diet) thatmay be displaced with southern flying squirrel (SFS) range expansion, thereby limiting fungal dispersal in forest communities. To understand the implications of squirrel species turnover on mycophagy, we investigated the home ranges of both flying squirrel species who are living in stable sympatry. We found no significant difference in home range sizes and identified spatial overlap between the two species. Through habitat selection ratios we found SFS were strongly selecting for deciduous-dominated habitats more than NFS. Lastly, we conducted microscopy on flying squirrel scat and found NFS were eating more fungi than SFS. We conclude that the squirrels are sharing the same habitat landscape but are finding ways to partition the habitat accordingly to allow for sympatry. SFS may contribute to the spore-dispersal cycle similarly to their northern counterpart through moderate fungus consumption and large home range sizes.

Author Keywords: diet, flying squirrels, Glaucomys, home range, mycophagy, sympatry

Climate change is a major conservation concern, especially for many cold-adapted species. The rate of warming due to climate change will likely outpace adaptive responses, and many populations will likely need to rely on phenotypic plasticity to cope with environmental warming. It is currently unclear whether plasticity in physiological responses to warming will be sufficient to offset the negative consequences of chronic environmental warming in ectotherms. I studied within-generation and transgenerational plasticity in two cold-adapted species of fishes, lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and brook trout (S. fontinalis), following temperature acclimation. Adults of both species were acclimated to either cold or warm temperatures and offspring were generated using a fully factorial breeding design, whereby the family thermal histories included crosses made within each temperature treatment and bidirectional crosses between temperatures. Offspring families were subdivided into two groups and acclimated to either warm or cold temperatures, so that offspring thermal experience matched or mismatched that of one or both parents. Offspring metabolic rate and critical thermal maximum during an acute thermal challenge were measured for both species. Limited transgenerational plasticity was detected in both species, but had a lesser effect than within-generationacclimation. In brook trout, the paternal contribution was greater than the maternal contribution. In lake trout, a mismatch in thermal acclimation, where the offspring were cold-acclimated but the parents warm-acclimated, resulted in elevated offspring metabolic rate without a corresponding increase in growth, suggesting that a mismatch in temperatures across generations could be detrimental to offspring. Using RNA-sequencing, transgenerational plasticity was linked to differential gene expression in the liver of lake trout offspring, in that genes were differentially expressed depending on the parental acclimation temperatures. Within-generation warm acclimation had the greatest effect on gene expression profile of offspring, with more genes differentially expressed under conditions of within-generation warm acclimation compared with transgenerational warm acclimation. Although it has been suggested that transgenerational plasticity may help to buffer the impact of warming due to climate change, my work implies that transgenerational plasticity, like within-generation plasticity, will be insufficient for these two species of cold-adapted salmonids to cope with climate change.

Author Keywords: Brook trout, Climate change, Lake trout, Phenotypic plasticity, Thermal tolerance, Transgenerational plasticity

Older adults with dementia experience higher rates of hospitalization than those without dementia, yet nurses in acute care frequently feel unprepared to support patients with responsive behaviours using non-pharmacological approaches. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of nurses' using activity-based interventions, such as colouring, word games, therapeutic dolls, and mechanical pets, with patients with dementia in a small community hospital. Using a qualitative interpretive descriptive method, face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten nurses (five Registered Practical Nurses, two Registered Nurses, and two Nurse Practitioners). Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. Five major themes and multiple sub-themes were identified: (1) enhancing safety, stability, and emotional well-being, (2) facilitating engagement through practical and adaptive strategies, (3) collective responsibility and collaboration, (4) opportunity for deeper understanding and connection, and (5) challenges implementing activity interventions. The findings highlight how activity-based interventions enhance relational, person-centred care while revealing barriers related to resources, time, and knowledge. These results can inform the Canadian Gerontological Nurses' Association's aesthetic/artful standard and reinforce the need for enhanced dementia education for nurses and evaluation of activity-based interventions.

Author Keywords: activity, acute care nursing, dementia care, gerontological nursing, non-pharmacological interventions, responsive behaiours

Pharmacological cognitive enhancement is the use of prescription drugs to improve cognitive functioning in healthy individuals. Multiple ethical concerns have been raised by such use. The purpose of this project was to develop a reliable and valid measure to assess public attitudes about this issue. Participants were university students in Studies 1 (N = 465), 2 (N = 580) and 3 (N = 156). In Study 1 principal components analysis reduced the 90-item Attitudes Toward Pharmacological Cognitive Enhancement Scale to 42 items that loaded onto four components: Cheating/Unfairness, Motivation, Expected Benefits and Safety. Subscale scores differentiated users and nonusers. In Study 2 confirmatory factor analyses supported the model and statistically significant associations were found with related constructs such as attitudes toward performance-enhancing drugs, and prescription drug expectancies. In Study 3 test-retest reliability over a 3-week interval was above .70 for 3 of 4 subscales. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Author Keywords: attitudes, cognitive enhancement, nonmedical use of prescription drugs, scale development, smart drugs