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Recent Submissions
In Memoriam: Dr. Stephen Clark
(Dalhousie University, 2025)
Sexuality, Intimacy, and Speech-Language Pathology: A survey of clinicians’ knowledge, comfort, attitudes, and practices
(2025-04-01) Day, Francis; Not Applicable; Master of Science; School of Communication Sciences and Disorders; Received; n/a; Not Applicable; Dr. Rebecca Affoo; Mr. Glen Nowell; Dr. Ellen Hickey
Communication (speech, language, cognitive) and swallowing disabilities have been shown to have an impact on sexuality and intimacy in a variety of populations. Augmentative-Alternative Communication (AAC) users reported impacts on their sexuality and intimacy as well. Previous research suggests speech-language pathology may have a role in addressing sexuality when it is impacted by communication and swallowing disorders. This thesis aims to investigate the current state of practice of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Canada regarding addressing sexuality and intimacy, barriers to doing so, and their knowledge, comfort, and attitudes. A survey with a mix of 26 closed-ended and 4 open-ended questions was distributed to 1,149 SLPs; 56 met the inclusion criteria and completed the survey.
The results show SLPs in Canada are addressing sexuality and intimacy to some extent, although most do not have a specific strategy to do so. Barriers to treating sexuality and intimacy appear to primarily be the lack of knowledge and training. In general, SLPs are unsatisfied with their knowledge regarding sexuality and intimacy, particularly around its relationship to disability and the ethics of treating sexuality and intimacy. Other significant barriers include uncertainty with their scope and practice guidelines, as well as discomfort with treating sexuality and intimacy.
These findings are largely consistent with findings of research in other healthcare fields. Solutions may be found in examples from other professions. Future research should further investigate and promote the roles of SLPs in addressing sexuality and intimacy, and continue examining personal and environmental factors, as well as adaptations for youth.
SEMANTIC BRIDGE: A MODEL FOR SEMANTIC WEB LITERATURE-BASED DISCOVERIES
(2025-03-31) Di Matteo, Nicola Raffaele; Not Applicable; Doctor of Philosophy; Faculty of Computer Science; Not Applicable; Leslie Carr; Not Applicable; Evangelos Milios; Eric Poitras; Jamie Blustein
Literature-based discovery focuses on retrieving hypotheses from apparently unrelated scientific papers.
Studies show that joining facts from different documents can suggest unpublished hypotheses, potentially leading to significant discoveries.
With over fifty million papers published and the significant benefits to humanity that discoveries bring, succeeding in automatically generating new hypotheses from the scientific literature is both challenging and crucial.
At this stage, a collective effort and a strong collaboration of technical and domain experts of different disciplines are required.
The best system can be built with technologies that standardize knowledge sharing and reasoning by combining published data, like those offered by the Semantic Web mechanisms.
Surprisingly, existing systems proposed for making discoveries overlook these tools and neither provide means to include other tools to resolve a specific part of the problem.
Thus, they require considerable effort to build from the ground up, which confines them to merely interesting projects that are eventually abandoned.
One reason for not adopting Semantic Web technologies could be the previously scarce availability of essential data resources, a situation that has changed rapidly.
Literature-based discovery systems based on Semantic Web technologies can now be built; the possibility of having a system to make discoveries where researchers, practitioners, and experts of different disciplines collaborate to create its building blocks is concrete.
With my thesis, I propose a model that uses Semantic Web technologies to facilitate the development of collaborative, expandable, and reusable discovery systems.
A proof-of-concept will be presented, demonstrating the integration of natural language processing, efficient reasoning, and innovative result presentation methods.
This system will highlight the effectiveness of publishing scientific assertions with nanopublications, preserving provenance and intellectual property, suggesting a new way to publish papers, and the emergence of a Web of scientific facts for which the study aims to lay the foundation.
Reveries of a Family History Muting Present Identity An Analysis of Silence in Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Boy on Earth
(2025-03-31) Nicholas Rodrigues
This paper analyses how silence, and how it is represented in Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Boy on Earth, corresponds to the development of identity for protagonist Jimmy and his sister Amy, respectively, given their family's traumatic history.
Chinese Consumers’ Perceptions, Attitude, and Purchase Intention of Organic Products
(2025-03-28) Liu, Yining; Not Applicable; Master of Science; Faculty of Agriculture; Received; Dr. Hélène Deval; Not Applicable; Dr. Gumataw Abebe; Dr. Andrew Hammermeister; Dr. Christopher Hartt; Dr. Ji Lu
This research studied the psychological mechanisms influencing Chinese urban consumers’ organic food purchases. Surveying over 1,500 participants from Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing, it identifies key predictors using regressions, MANOVAs, neural networks, and SEM. Findings show that perceptions of nutritional content drive purchase intention, while affordability predicts behaviour. Attitudes toward utilitarian and hedonic benefits directly influence intention; ethical attitudes have an indirect effect. The study offers practical and theoretical insights for promoting organic food in China.
Transcultural Approaches to Weather, Water, Ice, and Climate Research in Nunatsiavut
(2025-03-28) Bishop, Breanna; No; Doctor of Philosophy; Interdisciplinary PhD Programme; Received; Dr. Henry Huntington; Yes; Dr. Melanie Zurba; Dr. Gita Ljubicic; Dr. Eric C.J. Oliver; Dr. Claudio Aporta
Globally, there have been increasing calls for environmental research and governance to be led by Indigenous groups, be inclusive of Indigenous Knowledge, and support Indigenous self-determination. This is being advanced in weather, water, ice, and climate (WWIC) research throughout Inuit Nunaat – Inuit circumpolar homelands – where climate change is having cascading effects on WWIC conditions, the timing and distribution of species, and the ability for Inuit to safely travel and successfully harvest year-round on the land, water, and ice. It is important to understand how Inuit Knowledge and Western science can be brought together to advance WWIC research with and for Inuit. This dissertation provides critical insights on participatory research approaches that can be used to co-develop boundary objects (research constructs) that support and enable transcultural WWIC research and generate outputs that align with Inuit experiences of their environment.