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Access status: Open Access ,
DECODING CHRONIC PAIN: SYMPTOM DIMENSIONS, PAIN MODULATION, AND PERIAQUEDUCTAL GRAY CONNECTIVITY
(2026-04-07) Aleali, Alireza; Not Applicable; Master of Science; Department of Medical Neuroscience; Not Applicable; Dr. Kim Good; Not Applicable; Dr. Carlos R. Hernandez Castillo; Dr. Rudolf Uher; Dr. Javeria Ali Hashmi
Chronic pain is a complex condition that may not be adequately explained by diagnosis alone, motivating a symptom-based approach to phenotyping. Such symptom-defined phenotypes, informed by cognitive and neural mechanisms, may enable more precise stratification and improve treatment outcomes. This study examined 159 patients with fibromyalgia and chronic back pain, along with 72 healthy controls, and grouped patients into high- and low-severity phenotypes based on pain intensity, disability, and affective burden. Groups were then evaluated across behavioral, cognitive, and neural markers. In an expectation-induced pain modulation task, high-burden patients showed impaired modulation when positive expectations were violated, which predicted greater catastrophizing and hypervigilance. Resting-state fMRI demonstrated altered periaqueductal gray (PAG) connectivity, with high-burden patients exhibiting more negative dorsolateral/lateral PAG–dorsomedial prefrontal coupling. Stepwise machine learning classified phenotype membership with accuracy above chance, improved by integrating neuroimaging with behavioral features. These findings suggest a severe chronic pain phenotype with distinct behavioral and neural markers, supporting mechanism-based stratification.
Access status: Open Access ,
A Model for Pore Pressure Response of a Claystone due to Liberated Residual Stress Dilation
(Springer Nature, 2020) Corkum, Andrew Garnet
The hydromechanical response of Opalinus Clay is being studied as a potential host formation for the long-term geological storage of nuclear waste. Two separate mine-by field experiments were conducted at Mont Terri rock laboratory, Switzerland: one in 1997–1998 (HD-B) and one in 2008 (MB Niche) to observe the claystone’s response to tunnel excavation. The data from both mine-by tests revealed an undrained pore pressure response dominated by significant pore pressure drop (i.e., a dilational tendency), even in instrumentation locations where stress-induced damage (‘failure’) was not anticipated. This response is not reproducible by conventional hydromechanical models unless very low yield envelopes are used to predict the onset of dilation. An alternative mechanism for the undrained dilational response of Opalinus Clay due primarily to unloading in the low confining stress regime is presented in this paper. The mechanism is derived from observed behaviour of the Opalinus Clay in the field and laboratory, and an understanding of the composition and geological history of the material. The model is based on mechanisms associated with liberation of latent strain energy, and associated residual stress (‘locked-in stress’ or ‘stress memory’) through microcrack formation. Mobilization of this internal stress on the undrained response of Opalinus Clay results in distinct regimes of hydromechanical response, dependent on confining stress levels, that is accounted for in the model. The model was implemented into the continuum finite difference code FLAC3D and produced good agreement with mine-by test observations.
Access status: Open Access ,
Beyond the Mouth: Exploring Oral Health and Clinical Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Nova Scotians
(2026-04-07) Chan, Deborah; Not Applicable; Master of Science; School of Communication Sciences and Disorders; Received; n/a; Not Applicable; Shauna Hachey; Ana Maria Gonzalez-Barrero; Steve Aiken; Dr. Rebecca Affoo
This cross-sectional study explored the relationships between oral health and clinical frailty in 115 community-dwelling Nova Scotians aged 65 years and older. Oral health measures include the Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). Frailty was assessed by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). ROAG scores were significantly associated with CFS scores (rₛ(113) = .284, p =.002). OHIP-14 scores were also significantly associated with CFS scores (rₛ(113) = .269, p =.004), with the handicap dimension showing the strongest association (rs(113) = .294, p =.001). Social factors did not significantly predict ROAG total scores. However, social factors significantly predicted OHIP-14 scores (p =.015), with income ≥$100,000 associated with lower OHIP-14 scores (B = -5.137, 95% CI: -9.223, -1.051). Social factors significantly predicted CFS scores (p =.014), with female sex independently associated with higher frailty (B = 0.569, 95% CI: 0.075, 1.064).
Access status: Open Access ,
Hydrogen Embrittlement Mitigation in Structural Steels: Role of Nickel-Based Coatings as Permeation Barriers in Simulated Hydrogen Environments
(2026-04-06) Alaneme, Mmesoma; Not Applicable; Master of Applied Science; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Not Applicable; n/a; Not Applicable; Aminul Islam; Pedram Sadeghian; Zoheir Farhat
The global transition towards cleaner energy has positioned hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels, with the potential to lower the carbon footprint from modern energy systems. However, a major challenge with the complete deployment of hydrogen energy is the issue of hydrogen embrittlement (HE) which significantly compromises the reliability of structural materials exposed to hydrogen-rich environments. This study evaluates the HE resistance of nickel-based coatings applied on cold-finished mild steels, with particular emphasis on assessing their performance as permeation barriers to mitigate HE. Hydrogen was introduced into the coated steels via electrochemical hydrogen charging at varying current densities to replicate different levels of hydrogen exposure. The mechanical behaviour of the coated steel was evaluated through tensile, indentation, and fatigue testing. The results demonstrated that nickel coatings provide a measurable degree of resistance to hydrogen-induced degradation, however, their effectiveness is dependent on the level of hydrogen exposure.
Access status: Open Access ,
Women as reserve labour : the Nova Scotia case
(1978) Conrad, Joyce Dianne; Not Applicable; Master of Arts; Department of Sociology & Social Anthropology; Not Applicable; unknown; Not Applicable; J. Graham Morgan; Herb Gamberg; M. Patricia Connelly; unknown
The purpose of this research is to explain the rapid increase, in recent years, of female labour force participation. A general theory of women's labour force activity in Canada is introduced and applied to the specific conditions of working women in Nova Scotia. The case study method is employed in order to illustrate the conditions under which women work. Because it is the aim of this research to examine the problem as it occurs under the underdeveloped conditions of Nova Scotia, a single--industry town in a rural area was chosen for the case study. I argue that in order to understand the role of women in the labour force a structural analysis is necessary. This approach move away from the traditional mode of analysis which sees the labour force activity of married women as the result of individual decisions, formulated on the basis of subjective factors. A structural analysis goes beyond the traditional approach and provides a conceptual framework, within which the labour force activity of women can be seen as the result of objective structural conditions. This approach provides a view of the interrelation between the demand for, and the supply of, labour, which is involved in the growing trend of female labour force participation. The conceptual framework of this research is based on Marx's concept of the reserve army of labour , of which the defining characteristics are cheapness, availability, and competitiveness. It is argued that female labour has the defining characteristics of the reserve army of labour. As members of this reserve labour force women have a definite relation to the production process whether it is as a paid worker, or as members of the active or inactive reserve labour.
Access status: Open Access ,
Dalhousie University general calendar, 1968-1969
(1968) Dalhousie University
Item is a copy of Dalhousie's academic calendar for the 1968-69 session, which includes information about time tables, important academic dates, matriculation exams, courses of instruction, degree requirements, fees and scholarship opportunities and examinations. Also listed are the members of Senate, the Board of Governors, academic staff and students