Faculty of Graduate Studies Online Theses

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CULTURAL ADAPTATIONS OF DEVELOPMENTAL INTERVENTIONS AND NATURALISTIC DEVELOPMENTAL BEHAVIOURAL INTERVENTIONS FOR PRESCHOOLERS WITH AUTISM
(2026-03-13) Hamodat, Teba; No; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience; Received; Dr. Kathy Leadbitter; Yes; Dr. Sean P. Mackinnon; Dr. Ana Maria Gonzalez-Barrero; Dr. Isabel M. Smith
Developmental Interventions (DIs) and Naturalistic Developmental Behavioural Interventions (NDBIs) for preschoolers with autism are typically delivered by caregivers in the context of play or daily routines to amplify children’s social communication gains. Cross-cultural differences exist in caregivers’ expectations of these programs, parent-child engagement styles, and play preferences, which may necessitate modification of existing DIs/NDBIs to suit diverse families’ needs. Stirman et al. (2013, 2019) developed the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications- Enhanced (FRAME), which captures content, contextual, and training and evaluation modifications to evidence-based interventions. In this three-part study, we examined the ways in which DIs/NDBIs have been or can be modified to suit the needs of cultural groups using the FRAME. Manuscript 1 details the findings of our scoping review. Forty-one studies detailed culturally adapting a DI/NDBI spanning 17 countries. Findings provide examples of the various ways in which researchers/clinicians have modified these interventions, most frequently describing modifications to intervention content, context, and staff training. We also coded the goals and rationales for implementing these adaptations. To further enhance our understanding of cultural adaptations, we disseminated a series of questionnaires to experts globally to discern ways in which DIs/NDBIs have been, or should be, adapted for cultural groups. We used the Delphi technique to establish consensus among experts regarding the importance of these adaptations. Many themes overlapped with our scoping review findings, including the importance of adapting intervention materials and packaging. Building on these findings, Study 3, described in Chapter 5, showcases the development and evaluation of an NDBI knowledge translation tool for Arabic-speaking families. Clinicians and caregivers made positive reflections regarding the infographic during its development. Overall, this dissertation sought to offer ways that researchers and clinicians may modify DIs/NDBIs to better suit the cultural needs of families they serve. Numerous examples obtained in this dissertation research showcased the breadth of modifications to consider. More empirical assessments of adapted interventions would further enhance our understanding of, and need for, cultural adaptations.
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A Graph-Based Machine Learning Approach for Feature Set Matching: Towards Multi-Factorial Donor-Recipient Matching for Kidney Transplantation
(2026-03-10) Majouni, Sheida; Not Applicable; Doctor of Philosophy; Faculty of Computer Science; Not Applicable; Dr. Jose Manuel Juarez Herrero; Not Applicable; Dr. Hassan Sajjad; Dr. Samina Abidi; Dr. Syed Sibte Raza Abidi; Dr. Karthik Tennankore
Many decision-support tasks require determining optimal correspondences between heterogeneous entities, such as services to clients or donors to recipients. These heterogeneous feature set matching (FSM) problems involve complex relationships, multiple criteria, and domain constraints that challenge traditional machine learning methods based on flat feature vectors. This thesis presents a graph-based representation-learning framework for predicting optimal matches. We construct a bipartite knowledge graph integrating domain knowledge, temporal dynamics, and multi-relational interactions, and introduce an edge-pruning strategy to improve scalability in dense graphs. FSM is formulated as a link prediction problem using a Graph Neural Network (GNN) that learns embeddings capturing both attribute similarity and relational context. A temporal-aware graph partitioning strategy prevents information leakage during evaluation. The framework is validated on donor-recipient matching in kidney transplantation using the SRTR dataset (27,000 patients and 49 million relationships), outperforming traditional ML models. Interpretability analysis and simulation-based waitlist evaluation further demonstrate the framework’s ability to reveal compatibility patterns and support real-world allocation decisions.
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A Mixed Methods Approach to Exploring the Implementation Fidelity of the Eat, Sleep, Console Model of Care
(2026-03-09) Gallant, Sarah Madeline "Maddie"; Yes; Doctor of Philosophy; School of Nursing; Received; Dr. Karen McQueen; Yes; Cynthia Mann; Dr. Janet Curran; Dr. Britney Benoit; Dr. Christine Cassidy; Dr. Megan Aston
Families affected by substance use disorder (SUD) continue to experience inequities within the healthcare system. The Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) model is a healthcare innovation that has shown positive outcomes; however, its core components remain poorly conceptualized, impacting implementation. This study used a convergent mixed-methods research design to explore the implementation fidelity of the ESC model at two sites in Eastern Canada. Qualitative data included an analysis of direct care and nurse leader perspectives using an interpretive description approach, while quantitative proxy measures were examined through a retrospective analysis using the Nova Scotia ATLEE perinatal database. Triangulated results underscore the importance of contextual understanding and qualitative inquiry to support the spread and scale of the ESC model of care in diverse contexts.
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DESIGN AND INVESTIGATION OF SINGLE-CRYSTAL AND COATING STRATEGIES FOR CATHODE MATERIALS IN LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
(2026-03-09) Dutta, Animesh; No; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Not Applicable; Arumugam Manthiram; No; Kevin Plucknett; Chongyin Yang; Jeff Dahn
This thesis focuses on improving the lifetime of spinel LMO cathode materials through single-crystal synthesis and morphology control. It also investigates the role of surface coating elements in enhancing the electrochemical performance of medium-nickel NMC cathodes. The initial work focuses on developing single-crystal LMO spinel cathode materials to address the long-standing challenge of Mn dissolution by minimizing surface area. This study identifies Li₂MnO₃ as an effective sintering aid for single-crystal formation. Building on this understanding, multifaceted LMO single crystals were synthesized and identified using Laue diffraction. Their performance was benchmarked against commercial materials, but reducing surface area and controlling morphology did not prevent Mn dissolution, which remains a key barrier to the widespread adoption of spinel LMO. The next part of this work focuses on understanding the role of coating elements in improving the electrochemical performance of medium-nickel NMC cathodes at higher upper cutoff voltages. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), several common coating elements were investigated in commercial materials obtained from multiple reputable vendors. Tungsten was studied extensively, and two W-based surface compounds, Li₂WO₄ and Li₄NiWO₆, were identified using XPS. The beneficial role of the Li₄NiWO₆ surface compound was further investigated. However, this work also highlights the instability of this surface compound in NMP solvent. In addition, W-based surface compounds exhibited voltage-dependent dissolution and subsequent deposition of W on graphite during electrochemical cycling, and the impact of this deposition was demonstrated in a separate study. Another study focuses on understanding the role of cobalt rich surface layers. Cobalt rich NMC cathodes were synthesized and evaluated, showing improved performance comparable to vendor materials through minimized surface rock-salt phase formation. The final part of this work addresses air instability issues of NMC cathodes. Using XPS, surface fingerprints associated with air stability were identified, and the resulting strategy was applied to in-house NMC cathodes. Overall, this work demonstrates how single crystal engineering and coating elements can enhance the electrochemical performance and air stability of Li-ion battery cathodes.
Access status: Open Access ,
Determinants of Household Food Waste and Packaging Reduction Behaviour in Nova Scotia
(2026-03-05) Kayelle, Prosper Kaangmenpuo; Not Applicable; Master of Science; Faculty of Agriculture; Received; Dr. Michael von Massow; Yes; Dr. Gumataw Abebe; Dr. Prosper Koto; Dr. Emmanuel Yiridoe; Dr. Ji Lu
The purpose of this study was to better understand household food and packaging waste reduction behaviour in Nova Scotia. Household food and packaging waste reduction behaviours for a sample of 750 Nova Scotia residents were evaluated. A first objective involved applying the theory of planned behaviour and structural equation modelling to evaluate how household financial concerns influence household food waste behaviour. A second objective investigated the effects of food packaging characteristics on household food packaging waste management. A third objective applied an ordinal logit model to investigate the effects food packaging characteristics on household food waste magnitude. The results indicated that although Nova Scotia households who reported difficulties affording food showed a greater intention to reduce food waste (b=0.128, p=0.002), they interestingly reported a higher percentage of food wasted than less challenged families. The probability of wasting more food is lower among respondents who consider transport integrity to be important, while those who consider convenience important were more likely to waste more, compared to those who consider these attributes to be not important. Lifestyle convenience of packaging (b=-0.190, p<0.001) negatively influence recycling intention, while appropriateness of package size reduced reuse intention (b=-0.067, p=0.043) but increased recycling intention (b=0.094, p=0.009).
Access status: Open Access ,
HOW PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CAN BE DISCUSSED IN CLINICAL SETTINGS WITH ONCOLOGY CARE PROVIDERS AND NON-CURATIVE CANCER PATIENTS
(2026-03-03) Langley, Jodi; Yes; Doctor of Philosophy; Faculty of Health; Received; Dr. Katie Dainty; Yes; Dr. Robin Urquhart; Dr. Christine Cassidy; Dr. Grace Warner; Dr. Melanie Keats
Physical activity (PA) is an important component of a healthy lifestyle, with strong evidence demonstrating its benefits for individuals living with and beyond cancer, including those with non-curative cancer. Evidence shows that PA helps maintain quality of life (QOL), improve physical functioning, and enhance overall well-being. Despite this, PA remains underutilized in cancer care. One key factor is the role of oncology care providers (OCPs), who are trusted sources of information for patients but face challenges in consistently integrating PA discussions into clinical practice. This dissertation explored the clinical care context of PA conversations, understanding the current healthcare system, use of resources, and how patients, family/ friend caregivers, health decision makers, and OCPs perceive these discussions. To achieve this, this dissertation conducted three studies, with corresponding manuscripts. We conducted interviews to gain a deeper understanding of clinical appointments and to identify barriers and facilitators to PA conversations. We present these findings in two manuscripts: one focused on glioblastoma (GB) patients, OCPs, health decision-makers, and family/friend caregivers; the second study on OCPs of patients with non-curative cancer. We mapped these findings onto the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model and then further refined them using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to create co-designed resources in the subsequent study. In the third manuscript, using a co-design approach this study embedded the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to identify ways of making PA conversations more effective and efficient for both patients and OCPs. This process involved co-design workshops, during which participants collaborated with the research team to gather, analyze, and interpret data. Methods employed included storyboarding the clinical appointments to identify touchpoints where an OCP could discuss PA. Following this, this study developed workshop outputs into resources to support future integration into clinical care. Findings from this research emphasize the importance of the patient–provider relationship. Both patients and providers want PA conversations to happen but face systemic barriers such as limited appointment time and a lack of formal support. This work contributed to the design of two resources 1) a patient-facing information video for waiting rooms and 2) a prompting guide to support OCPs in having efficient, meaningful PA conversations. Overall, this dissertation offers valuable insights into the local health system context, with implications that extend to both local and national levels. The findings highlight multilevel factors, spanning individuals and the health system, that influence discussions about PA in clinical care for non-curative cancer patients. Importantly, OCPs are willing and motivated to engage in these discussions but need better systems to support them. Given the growing evidence base for PA in cancer care, these findings represent an important step toward embedding PA as a standard component of oncology practice.
Access status: Embargo ,
Transforming Assistive Technology Service Provision and Access in Low-Vision Rehabilitation for People Who Are Blind or Partially Sighted in Canada: Evidence to Inform Policy and Practice
(2026-03-04) Alnasery, Yaser; Not Applicable; Doctor of Philosophy; Faculty of Health; Received; Dr. Colleen McGrath; Yes; Dr. Darren Oystreck; Dr. Parisa Ghanouni; Dr. Tanya Packer
Low-vision rehabilitation (LVR) enables people who are blind or partially sighted maintain independence and actively participate in daily life. However, in Canada, there are still gaps in how assistive technology (AT) is chosen and experienced, as well as delays in referrals to rehabilitation services. This thesis explores these interconnected issues by analyzing patterns of AT use, assessing service provision from the user's perspective, and creating a practical referral tool to facilitate earlier access to care. These studies provide a solid evidence base to guide policy and practice. By integrating informal supports into formal services, incorporating user-centered decision-making into AT services and device prescription, and utilizing efficient referral tools in clinical settings, Canada can deliver more timely, equitable, and effective LVR for people who are blind or partially sighted.
Access status: Open Access ,
Plant-Pollinator Interactions in Lowbush Blueberry Agroecosystems
(2026-03-02) Rutherford, Katherine; Not Applicable; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Biology; Not Applicable; Dr. Valerie Fournier; Not Applicable; Dr. Robert Beiko; Dr Scott White; Dr. David McCorquodale; Dr. Paul Bentzen; Dr. Nancy McLean
Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton, Ericales: Ericaceae) is a shrub native to northeastern North America. Wild bees have co-evolved with lowbush blueberry and are effective pollinators. The objective of this thesis was to describe plant-pollinator interactions in lowbush blueberry ecosystems in Maritime Canada. The specific objectives were 1) to evaluate correlations between plant richness, abundance, and diversity and bee visits to lowbush blueberry 2) determine which wild bees collected pollen from lowbush blueberry and 3) which non-crop flowers wild bees collected pollen from over the season. Interactions were characterized at 28 site-years. Observations of bee visits to flowers were recorded during transect walks and a subset of wild bees were captured for DNA metabarcoding of bee-associated pollen. Significant correlations between plant metrics and bee visits to blueberry were rare. During bloom, andrenid bee visits to blueberry were positively correlated to plant richness and diversity in the field. Bumble bee visits to lowbush blueberry were positively correlated to the mean bloom abundance (excluding blueberry) in the field. Other wild bee visits to blueberry were positively correlated to bloom abundance in the fall. Bees were observed on 55 of the 113 plant taxa recorded. The most abundant wild bees observed on blueberry flowers were the long-lived, social Bombus spp. and Lassioglossum spp. as well as the short-lived, solitary Andrena spp. At some sites, wild bees were observed on blueberry more frequently than honey bees. All wild bee taxa captured carried Vaccinium spp. pollen. In fact, 96% of captured bees carried Vaccinium spp. pollen, and 52% of captured bees had only Vaccinium spp. in their pollen loads. During bloom 86% of wild bee pollen loads had three or fewer plant genera. There were very few significant differences among bee taxa for the number of plant genera present in pollen loads. DNA metabarcoding of bee-associated pollen revealed more plant- pollinator interactions than observations during transect walks. The most common non- blueberry plant families in pollen loads during bloom were Rosaceae, Sapindaceae, and Asteraceae. Asteraceae was the most common plant family in summer and fall pollen loads. This study identified the wild bees present in lowbush blueberry fields. Observations and bee-associated pollen revealed the plant taxa wild bees visited throughout their lifecycle. These data identified plants that support wild bees in lowbush blueberry agroecosystems.
Access status: Open Access ,
“I do not desire healing”: Grief as Identity in Medieval(ist) Literatures
(2026-02-27) Foster, Gavin; Not Applicable; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of English; Not Applicable; Em Kightley; Not Applicable; Matthew Roby; Erin Wunker; David Evans; Kathy Cawsey
This dissertation examines the processes by which grief becomes identity in medieval and medievalist texts. Where scholars have traditionally read medieval grief through frameworks of consolation, I argue that an alternate tradition exists— one in which grief fundamentally transforms who characters are. Across the Old English elegies, The Wife's Lament and Wulf and Eadwacer, Beowulf, Le Morte Darthur, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, as well as contemporary translations by Maria Dahvana Headley and Miller Oberman, I trace how grief operates as an enduring force that remakes identity at three progressive levels: grammatical identity, bodily identity, and inner selfhood. My project begins with grammar. In the Old English elegies, dual pronouns represent the movement of characters beyond normative cycles of grief and mourning into melancholia, as grief is woven into the speakers’ grammatical selves. I establish this framework by close reading the elegies through a Freudian lens, focusing on Freud’s definitions of “melancholia” and the “work of mourning,” and then apply and extend these insights to Sir Thomas Malory and J.R.R. Tolkien, arguing that shifts between “ye” and “thou” and modernized dual constructions are similarly used to signify characters’ turns to melancholia. The project then moves to the body, reading dysphoria— the painful disconnection between internal experience and external presentation— as grief made physical. Again, I develop this framework through one text before extending it. In The Lord of the Rings, Éowyn's transformation into Dernhelm reveals how dysphoric grief reshapes bodily identity, and this lens proves equally revealing when applied to translations from Old English, where characters suffer altered and/or imperfect genders through both Othering and translation processes, and when applied to Malory, where Lancelot grieves his imperfect masculinity and “monstrous” women are Othered. Finally, the project turns to inner selfhood, characterized through instances of performative death. Drawing on theories of performativity (Derrida, Butler, Phelan, Ahmed) and photography (Barthes's Camera Lucida), I examine how characters stage their deaths as the ultimate articulations of grief-as-identity. Gawain and Elaine in Malory performatively write and stage their deaths, and this framework extends to speakers in the Old English elegies and to Tolkien's Elves, revealing grief as a practice of self-making through which texts imagine what it means to remain changed.
Access status: Open Access ,
EXPLORING REAL-TIME MALICIOUS BEHAVIOUR DETECTION IN VANETS
(2026-02-20) BAHARLOUEI, HAMIDEH; Not Applicable; Doctor of Philosophy; Faculty of Computer Science; Not Applicable; Dr. Sudhakar Gant; Not Applicable; Dr. Riyad Alshammari; Dr. Srinivas Sampalli; Dr. Yujie Tang; Dr. Nur Zincir-Heywood; Dr. Tokunbo Makanju
Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) net- works are increasingly used in intelligent transportation systems and autonomous aerial missions. Due to their decentralized and wireless communication nature, these networks are vulnerable to cyberattacks such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), spoofing, and message tampering. This thesis presents ADVENT (Attack/Anomaly Detection in VANETs), a distributed malicious behaviour detection framework de- signed to detect attack onset and identify malicious nodes in real time in both VANET and UAV environments, while preserving data privacy through federated learning. ADVENT integrates statistical analysis with supervised machine learning in a feder- ated learning architecture to support decentralized detection of malicious behaviours. The framework is evaluated under multiple attack scenarios and mobility models. A key methodological contribution is the design and integration of Adaptive Time Slicing (ATS) and Detection Threshold (DT) mechanisms within the malicious node detection (MND) component. These parameters can be tuned to accommodate dif- ferent network characteristics, including topology, node density, and communication dynamics. The ATS mechanism improves temporal detection resolution and mitigates the impact of transient misbehaviours by analyzing fine-grained behavioural snap- shots and aggregating evidence over time. This enhances the robustness of malicious node identification while reducing false positives and missed detections. ADVENT is evaluated using public and simulated datasets, including a custom VANET simu- lation (FourCities), the VeReMi-Extension dataset, a simulated UAV dataset, and a public cyber-physical UAV dataset. Its generalization capability is further examined using unseen attack types not included during training. Results show that ADVENT consistently achieves high F1 scores, low false positive rates, and timely attack onset detection across different network environments. By validating the framework in both ground-based and aerial vehicular networks, this thesis demonstrates the potential of federated learning–based approaches to provide scalable and privacy-aware security mechanisms for future intelligent transportation infrastructures.
Access status: Open Access ,
The impact of nasogastric tube gastric decompression on postoperative nausea and vomiting in orthognathic surgery
(2026-02-25) Curry, Katherine; Not Applicable; Master of Science; Faculty of Dentistry; Received; na; Not Applicable; Dr. Curtis Gregoire; Dr. Stephen Middleton; Dr. James Brady
The emetogenic effect of ingested blood is believed to be a major precipitating factor in the development of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following orthognathic surgery. This study aimed to determine whether perioperative nasogastric decompression with a nasogastric tube reduces the incidence of PONV. A randomized control trial of 133 patients was conducted, and participants were assigned to receive perioperative nasogastric decompression (n=64) or no decompression (n=69). Nausea and vomiting were assessed in the twenty-four-hour postoperative period and secondary outcomes evaluated patient and perioperative clinical factors associated with PONV. Nasogastric decompression did not significantly reduce PONV, although a lower incidence of symptoms was observed in the nasogastric decompression group. Opioid use was the only variable independently associated with increased PONV. These findings suggest that nasogastric decompression alone does not significantly reduce PONV following orthognathic surgery, but may be a useful intervention as part of a multimodal prevention strategy.
Access status: Open Access ,
The Vehicle Scheduling Problem: Models, Complexity and Algorithms
(1988-03-28) Cyrus, James Pemberton; Doctor of Philosophy
The Vehicle Scheduling Problem with time windows (VSP) is concerned with finding a minimum-cost set of vehicle schedules which processes a set of jobs with specified earliest and latest start times, durations and trip times between jobs. This problem is well known to be very difficult to solve. A proof that the VSP decision problem is NP-complete is developed in order to gain a deeper understanding of the reasons for the problem's complexity. The ideas are extended to measuring the difficulty of integer instances of the problem. A graph-theoretic representation of the VSP is combined with ideas related to problem difficulty and this leads to theorems on reducing the difficulty of problem instances. The techniques are aimed at reducing the number and sizes of the time windows, therefore greatly reducing the size of the feasible region. The window reduction methods are shown to be both theoretically and empirically valid. The VSP is formulated as a constrained assignment problem, and the start times of jobs are replaced by time window variables. This new formulation leads to theorems on bounds for the VSP, and to a class of approximation algorithms with strong convergence properties. The algorithms prove to be effective in solving both easy and hard problems. The ideas are extended to produce exact algorithms for the VSP. Extensions of the VSP model to include earliness, waiting time and return trips are formulated. The optimal solutions to some special cases of these problems are developed. The approximation algorithms for the VSP are easily adapted to these extended models. An interactive system is developed to build and test new algorithms. This facility allows fundamental algorithms to be combined to produce new results. The user interfaces allow multiple solution views and manipulations to gain insight into the solution structures.
Access status: Open Access ,
Scheduling Problems in Automated Guided Vehicle Systems
(1984-07-23) Cyrus, James Pemberton; MASTER OF APPLIED SCIENCE
The scheduling problems in Automated Guided Vehicle Systems are investigated. A survey of vehicle routing and scheduling problems is presented. The characteristics of Automated Guided vehicle Systems (AGVS's) are described. A taxonomy is developed for the Vehicle Scheduling Problem in AGVS's, and formulations are presented for the most important problems. Heuristic algorithms are developed to solve three of the scheduling problems in AGVS's: the Vehicle Scheduling Problems (VSP's) with fixed start times and minimum route length and minimum cost objectives, and the minimum-cost VSP with time windows. A fast implementation of the Dilworth decomposition algorithm, 0(n 2 ), is developed to solve the traditional minimum-vehicle VSP as applied to AGVS's. A sub-gradient algorithm is developed to solve the minimum-cost VSP with fixed start times; the algorithm uses a new application of Lagrangian multipliers in an upper-bound heuristic. The algorithms are analysed and the heuristic algorithms are shown to have complexity 0(n 2 ) and also to be capable of solving problems with up to 800 tasks in less than 30 seconds. The solutions to problems with 100 tasks are shown to be within 20 percent of the optimal solutions, for the particular types of data used.
Access status: Open Access ,
Investigations Into the Synthesis, Physicochemical Characterization and Enzymology of Substituted Benzoxaboroles, Phosphonic-boronic acid anhydrides and Exoglycals
(2026-01-30) Ospanow, Elisa; Yes; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Chemistry; Not Applicable; Dr. Christopher Cairo; Yes; Dr. Stephen Bearne; Dr. Carlie Charron; Dr. Alex Speed; Dr. David L. Jakeman
This thesis describes the design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel chemical scaffolds for the development of potent enzyme inhibitors. The work explores the strategic incorporation of boron and phosphorus to investigate their effect on the physicochemical properties and biological activity. Three distinct compound classes were investigated: benzoxaborole-phosphorus(III) hybrids, phosphonic acid-boronic acid anhydrides, and exoglycal derivatives. A one-pot synthetic route was developed to access previously unreported benzoxaborole-phosphorus(III) hybrids. These compounds demonstrated enhanced aqueous stability and oxidative resistance compared to conventional boronic acids. Subsequently, phosphonic acid-boronic acid anhydrides were introduced as a novel scaffold, where the appended phosphorus group was shown to affect the boron atom's acidity and stability. Biological evaluation demonstrated these boron-phosphorus compounds to be promising inhibitors of Class A, C, and D β-lactamases. A series of exoglycals were synthesized as transition-state analogues for glycoside hydrolase family 3 (GH3). One compound exhibited potent competitive inhibition against the model enzyme EryBI, with affinity comparable to the natural substrate, by mimicking the half-chair conformation of the hydrolysis transition state.
Access status: Open Access ,
Ethical Capital and Cybersecurity Behaviour: Exploring Large Language Model (LLM) Use in Organizations
(2026-01-30) Ayeni, Adebimpe; Not Applicable; Master of Science; Rowe School of Business; Received; na; Not Applicable; Dr Rita Orji; Dr Phillippe Mongeon; Dr Binod Sundararajan
This study examines how ethical orientations and organizational factors shape users’ ethical cybersecurity behaviour when interacting with large language models (LLMs). Using a quantitative design supported by thematic insights, it investigates how ethical capital and responsible LLM use influence cybersecurity ethics. Findings show that ethical capital affects behaviour primarily through responsible use of LLMs rather than through direct effects. Demographic factors, including age, gender, discipline, education, country, and usage frequency, did not significantly predict behaviour, suggesting that the rapid evolution of LLMs places users from diverse backgrounds on a similar learning curve. Complementary qualitative analysis highlights that human behaviour, organizational culture, and governance structures are as critical as the technology itself. Themes such as output oversight, responsible prompting, data protection, and overreliance reveal persistent human-centred vulnerabilities and the need for adaptive governance. Overall, the study identifies responsible LLM use as a key behavioural pathway for strengthening cybersecurity ethics and underscores the importance of continuous oversight, inclusive training, and human accountability in LLM deployment.
Access status: Open Access ,
NARCISSISM AND STOCK RETURNS: AN ASSET PRICING TEST
(2026-01-30) Khorram, Nakisa; No; Master of Science; Rowe School of Business; Not Applicable; n/a; Not Applicable; Dr.Fooladi; Dr.Hebb; Dr.Attig; Dr.Sy
This study looks at how CEO narcissism, measured by pronoun use in earnings call transcripts, relates to abnormal stock returns. Previous research connects narcissism to company outcomes, but it is still unclear how financial markets respond to it. We use data from U.S. firms in COMPUSTAT and CRSP to build monthly strategies based on CEO narcissism and test their performance with standard asset pricing models, such as CAPM, and the Fama-French factor models. We find that companies with highly narcissistic CEOs have meaningful higher returns than those with non-narcissistic CEOs, with a monthly spread return of about 0.29%. However, the return differentials driven by narcissistic CEOs is not statistically significant -at the standard 5% level- after controlling for different factors. Since the abnormal return is positive and marginally economically significant, investors can benefit from the strategy where they long firms managed by highly narcissistic CEOs and short those managed by non-narcissistic ones.
Access status: Open Access ,
EXPLORING EXPERIENCES OF A PILOT INTERGENERATIONAL PLAY PROGRAM IN NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA.
(2025-12-23) MacRae, Caitlyn; Not Applicable; Master of Arts; School of Health & Human Performance; Received; n/a; Not Applicable; Dr. Son Truong; Dr. Michelle Stone; Dr. Sara Kirk
Physical inactivity and social isolation are two pressing public health concerns in Nova Scotia, particularly among older adults. Intergenerational play (IGP) has emerged as a promising community-based strategy to address these issues by promoting both physical activity (PA) and social connection (SC). This thesis describes a study designed to explore the factors that influence participation in “Free for All” (FFA), a locally developed IGP program modeled after ParkPlay in the United Kingdom. FFA offered one free drop-in session in Halifax during the summer of 2024. Guided by a constructivist worldview and framed by the Social Ecological Model (SEM), this study employed a qualitative design to understand participant experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with participants to explore personal experiences, barriers, and facilitators to participation in FFA. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, and three themes were generated: 1) Negotiating entry into play: ‘on ramps’ matter, (2) Play as an intergenerational equalizer: children open doors and adults walk through them, and (3) The fragile infrastructure of belonging: material conditions build social connections. The findings of this study contribute to a growing body of knowledge that IGP can serve as an inclusive, community-based health promotion strategy to promote PA and SC. Findings highlight the importance of cost-free design, child-led openness and supportive facilitation to promote participation. They also suggest that material and environmental conditions, such as accessibility and program continuity, are critical for sustaining participation and connection. Together, these insights have created a framework to implement IGP in Nova Scotia.
Access status: Open Access ,
The combinatorial game theory of Reverse Hex
(2026-01-13) Jeremiah, Hockaday; Not Applicable; Master of Science; Department of Mathematics & Statistics - Math Division; Not Applicable; n/a; Not Applicable; Richard Nowakowski; Julien Ross; Peter Selinger; Svenja Huntemann
Rex, short for Reverse Hex, is a set coloring game in which players try to avoid connecting terminals of their color. Combinatorial game theory (CGT) is the study of perfect strategy games. Until recently, both Rex and Hex were not examined through the lens of CGT. In this thesis we take inspiration from the study of normal play games by Berlekamp, Conway, and Guy, along with the combinatorial game theory of Hex developed by Selinger, to develop methods for analyzing Rex positions. We explore how to tell if one position is preferable to another, how to simplify positions, and some special properties of Rex (and antimonotone set coloring games in general). By the end of this thesis we will be able to take a position in a game of Rex, break it into smaller positions, analyze each of the smaller positions, then add the results back together.
Access status: Open Access ,
The Experience of Persistent Infertility: Beyond the Medical Model
(2026-01-09) Redgrift, Lisa; No; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Sociology & Social Anthropology; Received; Dr. Sarah Earle; No; Dr. Fiona Martin; Dr. Brenda Beagan; Dr. Emma Whelan
This research explores the experience of persistent infertility among 15 childless Canadian women who discontinued fertility treatments when they did not work, who could not access assisted conception, and/or whose infertility is untreatable. By investigating how women understand their experience with persistent infertility and examining the parallels and divergences within and across the participants’ experiences, this analysis indicates that women’s fertility is an intricate lifelong journey, and persistent infertility disrupts this journey in ways that are biological, social, and gendered. Further, persistent infertility fractures the complex relationship between the body and the self. This research theorizes the embodiment of persistent infertility and the meaning placed on reproductive loss events (e.g., failed embryo transfer, miscarriage, and stillbirth), by the women in this study. Lastly, in the medicalized Canadian context, persistent infertility illustrates that hope for maternity is commodified, stratified, and reenforces the biological standard of normative motherhood.
Access status: Open Access ,
EXAMINING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BREAST CANCER TREATMENTS AND SELF-REPORTED SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN CANADIAN WOMEN: A POPULATION-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
(2026-01-09) NISHIMAGIZWE, PATIENCE; Not Applicable; Master of Science; Department of Community Health & Epidemiology; Not Applicable; N/A; No; Dr. Jennifer Payne; Dr. George Kephart; Dr. Robin Urquhart; Dr. Cindy Feng
Background The prevalence of female breast cancer survivors in Canada has increased from 1.8% to 2.1% (2007-2021). Sexual dysfunction is a common long-term side effects of breast cancer treatments. Objective To estimate the prevalence of self-reported sexual dysfunction among breast cancer survivors in Canada and examine the association between of single and combined treatment modalities and sexual dysfunction. Methodology This cross-sectional study utilized data from 3772 participants who participated in the 2016 Experiences of Cancer Patients. The outcome was sexual dysfunction. The exposures chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations. Results Sexual dysfunction was most prevalent among survivors treated with chemotherapy (48.3%). Chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, radiotherapy, and combined modalities were associated with sexual dysfunction, with the highest odds observed among those receiving all three treatments. Conclusion Sexual dysfunction is common among Canadian breast cancer survivors and is associated with all treatment modalities.

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