MNK Graduate Student Research Conference Program

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14th Annual Graduate Student Research Conference Conference Program Thursday April 11, 2019



MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019

Mapping the New Knowledges 2019 Brock University, Niagara, Ontario Thursday, April 11, 2019

8:00 to 8:30 a.m.

Registration and Breakfast - Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine

8:30 to 9:00 a.m.

Welcoming/Opening Remarks - Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine Diane Dupont, Interim Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies

Keynote Address Tek Thongpapanl, Associate Dean, Goodman School of Business 9:00 to 10:40 a.m. Concurrent Oral Session 1 1a Health and Well-being 1 - Plaza 409 1b Science and Mathematics - Plaza 311 1c Issues in Contemporary Society - Plaza 410 1d Reshaping of Societal Norms - Plaza 308 1e Children and Youth Learning and Developing - Plaza 408 1f Issues and Ideas in Contemporary Education - Plaza 411 1g Undergraduate Student Presentations 1 - Cairns 336 10:40 to 11:45 a.m.

Coffee Break and Poster Session #1 Viewing - Cairns Complex Level 300

11:45 to 12:15 p.m.

Brock FGS 3MTÂŽ Finals - Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine

12:15 to 12:45 p.m. 2019 Faculty of Graduate Studies Awards - Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine Marilyn Rose Leadership Award Michael Plyley Mentorship Awards Jack M. Miller Excellence in Research Awards 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Lunch - Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine 1:30 to 2:50 p.m.

Concurrent Oral Session 2 2a Health and Well-being 2 - Plaza 409 2b Management 1 - Plaza 308 2c Bioscience and Health - Plaza 410 2d Supporting the Needs of Others - Plaza 311 2e Meeting the Challenges of Life and Learning - Plaza 408 2f Computer Science - Plaza 411 2g Undergraduate Student Presentations 2 - Cairns 336

2:50 to 3:50 p.m.

Coffee Break and Poster Session #2 Viewing - Cairns Complex Level 300

3:50 to 5:15 p.m. Concurrent Oral Session 3 3a Health and Well-being 3 - Plaza 409 3b Management 2 - Plaza 308 3c Sport, Health and Youth Research - Plaza 410 3d Intersections of Power and Identity Negotiations - Plaza 311 3e Lessons Learned from Books, Films and other Media - Plaza 408 3f Computer, Earth and Biological Sciences - Plaza 411 3g Undergraduate Student Presentations 3 - Cairns 336 5:30 p.m.

Graduate Students’ Association Social - Pond Inlet


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 Welcome to Mapping the New Knowledges (MNK) 2019! In our conference’s 14th year, we are proud of the experiences it has provided over the last decade for our graduate students and we look forward to many more years of knowledge dissemination activities. When this conference began in 2005, we had 80 student presenters. We are delighted to announce that today this number has more than doubled in size. The MNK Conference is a chance for graduate studies at Brock to showcase its best and brightest. Not only do we have more than 165 student presenters sharing either an oral or poster presentation today, but we are also thrilled to host the Three Minute Thesis Finals, and present the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) Awards. The FGS Awards consist of the Marilyn Rose Graduate Leadership Award, the Michael Plyley Graduate Mentorship Awards and the Jack M. Miller Excellence in Research Awards. These awards, named in honour of past Deans of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, allow us to recognize faculty members, staff and students who provide outstanding student mentorship and enhancements to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Dr. Diane Dupont Interim Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies

For many of our students, today is the first chance for them to present their research in a public setting to a broad audience. I applaud each of our students (both new presenters and those who are experienced) for having the desire to share their passions with the Brock community. It is my sincere wish that they use this conference to strengthen their presentation skills and take the time to make connections with students from other disciplines. Broadening one’s understanding of other disciplines will always strengthen the foundation of research. I’d like to extend my sincerest thanks to our MNK Committee. Each member has worked hard to make this the best possible experience for our graduate students. I’d also like to thank the Graduate Students’ Association for hosting the wrap-up celebration at Pond Inlet. Regards, Diane Dupont

Keynote Speaker Narongsak (Tek) Thongpapanl is Professor of Marketing and Product Innovation at the Goodman School of Business, Brock University’s CCOVI Research Fellow, and Chiang Mai University’s RAC Research Fellow (Thailand). Dr. Thongpapanl received his B.S. (magna cum laude) in Electrical Engineering, his M.B.A. in Technological Entrepreneurship, and his Ph.D. in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (U.S.A.). Prior to joining Brock University, he worked with Advanced Energy Conversion and helped successfully launch a number of technological applications for the automotive, industrial and renewable energy industries. His main research and teaching interests include: new product development, innovation and technology management, e-commerce/m-commerce, wine marketing and business management, strategic marketing management in high-tech environments, marketing knowledge creation and management in highly dynamic settings, and the integration of marketing and technology competences. Dr. Tek Thongpapanl Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies Goodman School of Business

Dr. Thongpapanl’s work appears in many leading business and management journals, and he also reviews for a variety of scholarly journals, and presently serves as Associate Editor of Technovation in the marketing and new product development area, and as Member of the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of International Marketing. Dr. Thongpapanl was also recognized with awards for outstanding contributions in the areas of research, teaching, and service. His recent recognition includes the 2018 Brock's Michael Plyley Graduate Mentorship Award, 2016 University of Canterbury’s Visiting Erskine Fellowship, 2016 Goodman's Distinguished Researcher of the Year Award, 2015 Goodman's Departmental Researcher of the Year Award within Marketing, International Business, and Strategy, 2015 Journal of International Marketing’s Outstanding Reviewer Award, and 2015 CPA Ontario’s REC Research Grant.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019

Faculty of Graduate Studies Awards MICHAEL PLYLEY GRADUATE MENTORSHIP AWARDS The Michael Plyley Graduate Mentorship Awards at Brock University were established in 2011 to recognize exceptional mentorship of graduate students by a core faculty member in one or more of Brock’s graduate programs. The awards honour and recognize the essential role of mentorship in graduate education by graduate faculty supervisors in two categories: • mentorship of master’s students only • mentorship of both master’s and PhD students Nominations are submitted by graduate students. It is an opportunity for graduate students to pay tribute to individual graduate faculty members who have provided them with outstanding support and encouragement in their development as graduate student researchers. Value: Recipients in each category are awarded $1,000 to assist with ongoing graduate student mentorship.

MARILYN ROSE GRADUATE LEADERSHIP AWARD The Marilyn Rose Graduate Leadership Award was established in 2014 to honour faculty, staff and students for contributions to graduate education at Brock. The award recognizes individuals for their vision and leadership on behalf of graduate studies at Brock in areas such as academic programming, research and scholarship, student services, and student experience initiatives — the kind of work through which a strong and vital graduate culture has emerged in support of graduate students and in support of the University’s academic and research goals. Value: $500

JACK M. MILLER EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AWARDS In 2013 the Faculty of Graduate Studies Excellence in Research awards were renamed to honour Dr. Jack Miller. Each year the awards recognize outstanding Master’s and Doctoral graduate students in a research based program from each of Brock’s Faculties. Dr. Jack Miller served as Associate Vice-President of Research and Dean of Graduate Studies from 1999 to 2004. Dr. Miller was actively involved in the design and construction of almost every campus building since the expansion of the Glenridge campus in 1967. Value: $1000


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019

Detailed Conference Schedule 8 to 8:30 a.m.

Registration and Breakfast

8:30 to 9 a.m.

Welcome

Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine

Diane Dupont, Interim Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies

Keynote Address Tek Thongpapnl, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Goodman School of Business

9 to 10:40 a.m.

Concurrent Oral Session 1

Plaza Levels 300 and 400 Cairns Level 300 1a

Health and Well-being 1 - Plaza 409 Chair: Stacey Woods

Maram Livermore, Applied Health Sciences Adolescent Obesity and Academic Achievement: A Thesis Proposal Shai Olansky, Applied Health Sciences Transition Study 2.0 - Identifying life-style that impact students physical wellbeing during university Julie Finnigan, Applied Health Sciences Beyond the Numbers: Evaluating the Impact of a Health Organization-Based Quality Improvement Experiential Education Program Allison Flynn-Bowman, Applied Health Sciences The DadRocks Study Sukhdeep Kaur, Applied Health Sciences Time Variant effects of precarious labour on sleep

1b Science and Mathematics - Plaza 311 Chair: Margaret Thibodeau Mohammad Ahmadi, Physics Investigation on anisotropic properties of low-dimensional purple and blue bronzes Jeremy Dion, Physics Electronic Properties and Synthesis of the Doped Chalcogenide As2Te3 Mark Pelaccia, Chemistry Heteroleptic Redox-active Spin-crossover Complexes Nico Bonanno, Chemistry Properties and Coordination Chemistry of New Stable Radical Ligands

Leila Meskine, Mathematics and Statistics Why do we need Identity Based Cryptography


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019

1c Issues in Contemporary Society - Plaza 410 Chair: Gianluca Agostinelli Jennica Giesbrecht, Geography Rethinking the Geographies of Death Care Lauren Peddle, Geography Healthy Clusters? A survival analysis of firms in the Canadian video game industry Peter Sekyere, Political Science Examining the outcomes of secession struggles in Post-Colonial Africa. Eugene Danso, Political Science Rethinking Public Accountability in Emerging Democracies: The Case of Ghana Audit Service

1d Reshaping of Societal Norms - Plaza 308 Chair: William Ankomah Georgie Gagnon, Business Economics How the Gig Economy is Reshaping Canada’s Labour Force Sandra Kroeker, Social Justice and Equity Studies The new norm? Precarious work, unfairness and policy reform. Samara Goldsworthy, Child and Youth Studies A Qualitative Exploration of the Connections Among Quality of Relationship with Parent(s), Motivation for Academic Achievement, and Self-Compassion in Young Adults Amber-Lee Varadi, Critical Sociology The Policing of Young Motherhood Michelle Lesley Annett, Critical Sociology Exploring the Narratives of Mothers Working as Strippers

1e Children and Youth Learning and Developing - Plaza 408 Chair: Matt Marini

Nicole Staite, Child and Youth Studies

Dance with a B-E-A-T!: Recreational Dance with Behavioral Analysis and Therapy for Children and Youth with Exceptionalities Renata Roma, Child and Youth Studies Animal-Assisted Therapy and Children With Autism Spectum Disorder Allison Maynard, Child and Youth Studies Children's Outdoor Experiences: Moral Concern for Mother Earth Rebecca Joseph, Child and Youth Studies What makes a good mentor? An exploratory study of an after-school program in a low-income neighbourhood. Elizabeth Al-Jbouri, Child and Youth Studies Adolescent Incivility: the Role of Classroom Climate


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 1f Issues and Ideas in Contemporary Education - Plaza 411 Chair: Taylor Downes

Colleen Logie, Education The Impact of Administrator Trust on Teacher Stress: A Transformational Relationship to Foster Student Success Nyasha Nyereyemhuka, Education Student Equity and Inclusive Education Policy in Ontario: Perspectives of Three High School Principals Min Huang, Educational Studies Motivation in Cellphone-based Second Language Classrooms: A Review of the Literature Jordan Gallant, Applied Linguistics The Influence of Chinese on English Language Processing in Chinese-English Bilinguals Joshua Manitowabi, Interdisciplinary Humanities Revitalizing Indigenous Knowledge Through Interactive Digital Maps

1g Undergraduate Student Presentation 1 – Cairns 336 Chair: Christina Quintiliani Olivia Kit, Child and Youth Studies Supporting Children Reach Their Best with The B.E.S.T program Melissa Blackburn, Rachel Ray and Kayla Wingrave, Child and Youth Studies The Competitive Dance Project

10:40 to 11:45 a.m. Coffee Break and Poster Viewing Session #1 Cairns Level 300

1.

Kirina Angrish, Applied Health Sciences Body image improves over the course of a pregnancy.

2. Michelle Lesley Annett, Critical Sociology Exploring the Narratives of Mothers Working as Strippers 3. Madeline Arnott, Business Economics Higher Education and Employability 4. Madeline Marie Asaro, Applied Disability Studies Evaluating Thinning Schedules of Reinforcement in Functional Communication Training Using Multiple Schedules and Chained Schedules 5.

Paria Azadi Namin, Chemistry Thermally Reversible Silicone-Based Elastomers using the Diels-Alder Reaction as a Cross-Linker

6. 7.

Amanda Balyk, History Give Her Something that Will Set that To Rights�: Medico-Moral Influence on Abortion 1840-1880. Lucas Coia, History Off the Beaten Path : Rural Cult and Local Identity in Southern Italy, 1200-1500 CE

8. Bertram Darko, Canadian-American Studies Measurement of Poverty and Anti-Poverty Strategie


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 9.

Danja Den Hartogh, Applied Health Sciences Attenuation of FFA-Induced Skeletal Muscle Insulin Resistance by Carnosic and Rosmarinic Acid

10.

Melanie Extance, Education The Long Road Home: Shedding Light on Ontario’s Student Transportation Services

11. Rachel Fenech, Applied Health Sciences Combined metformin and resveratrol prophylactic therapy inhibits GSK3ß activity in the hippocampus of C57BL/6 male mice 12.

Nico Gadea, Applied Health Sciences Sex-associated differences of immunoendocrine profiles in neurocysticercosis patients versus healthy controls: a clinical study in Honduras

13.

Mitch Goldsmith, Interdisciplinary Humanities Science as Sorcery: Conjuring an End to Experiments on Animals

14.

Steffannie Hancharyk, Applied Health Sciences Supporting the Transition to Accessible and Sustainable Martial Arts Participation in Ontario

15. Natalie Hicks, Applied Health Sciences Y hang around? Fetal microchimerism as a mechanism for maternal immune system stimulation against NLGN4Y 16.

Amanda Kornel, Biological Sciences Role of Octopamine as a cotransmitter in fruit flies

17. Richard Le Sueur, Chemistry Anion Dependent Hydrogen Bonding States: Resulting Fluorescence Implications in a Proton Sponge Model System 18.

Jessica Linzel, History “The Shopkeeper Aristocracy”: Examining Trade Networks in Colonial Niagara

19.

Aindriu Maguire, Applied Health Sciences Examining inflammation as a link between adverse childhood experiences and development of cardiovascular disease through the Niagara Longitudinal Heart Study

20.

Gabrielle Marshall, History Sympathy for the Devil: The Role of Motherhood in the Infanticide Trials of 19th Century England

21.

Anneke McCabe, Educational Studies Evoking a soundscape in elementary classrooms

22. Reginald McLean, Computer Science Analysis of Swarm-based Algorithms for Neural Network Training 23.

Joseph Moretto, Applied Health Sciences Body Image In Powerlifters

24. Paige O'Neill, Applied Disability Studies Systematic Literature Review of SCEDs of Parent-Training to Address Problem Behaviour in Children with ASD 25. Jennifer Phillips, Political Science The application of policy diffusion theory on Canadian border policy in a post 9/11 world: American pressures, Canadian responses


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 26.

Nivetha Prabaharan, Psychology An evolutionary psychological perspective on victimization by bullying and non-bullying aggression

27.

Bailey Ross, Applied Disability Studies Utilizing Statistical Techniques in the Applied Behavior Analysis Field

28. Ayse Sen, Educational Studies Examination Of The Conceptual And Operational Alignment In Froebel Gifts Within The Scope Of Abstraction Processes 29. Ivor Smajlagic, Chemistry Cyclopropenium Enhanced Thiourea Catalysis 30.

Martina Tepavcevic, Earth Science The occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the streams of the Niagara Region

31. Kristen Tollan, Applied Disability Studies “Liking Disability”: Exploring the Development of Identity and Community Amongst Disabled Youth Through Social Media 32.

Diane Tran, Business Economic Impacts of Seller Information on Price setting in Online Markets.

33. Liam Waters, Applied Health Sciences Mental toughness in academics and sports: An insight into how student-athletes perceive mental toughness 34. Kingston Wong, Applied Health Sciences The investigation of cortisol as a candidate mediator in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and inflammation 35.

Reza Zandi, Critical Sociology The Influence of Iranian Satellite Channels on the Rise of Iranian Nationalism

36.

Sepehr Sepehri, Management A Life Time Value Framework for Supplier Selection and Relationship Management

11:45 to 12:15 p.m. Brock FGS 3MT® Finals Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine Judging Panel: Mark Cressman, Postmedia Frances Hallworth, United Way Niagara Shane Malcom, Leadership Niagara

12:15 to 12:45 p.m. 2019 Faculty of Graduate Studies Awards Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine Presentation of the 2019 Marilyn Rose Graduate Leadership Award and the Michael Plyley Graduate Mentorship Awards Recognition of the recipients of the 2018 Jack M. Miller Excellence in Research Awards

12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Lunch Plaza 400 Level Mezzanine


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 1:30 to 2:50 p.m. Concurrent Oral Session 2 2a Health and Well-being 2 - Plaza 409 Chair: Kylie Dempster

Jessica Murphy, Applied Health Sciences The Role of Coaches and Athletic Trainers in Promoting, Preventing and Intervening with Athlete Mental Health David Brown, Applied Health Sciences Muscle Up: Examining Psychological Responses to Social-Evaluative Body Image Threats in Male Athletes and Non-Athletes Sarah Galway, Applied Health Sciences Functionality versus appearance: The role of instructor emphasis on body image outcomes to an acute exercise class in older adults Steffannie Hancharyk, Applied Health Sciences Supporting the Transition to Accessible and Sustainable Martial Arts Participation in Ontario Sara Madanat, Applied Health Sciences Effects of an Exercise Intervention on Depression in Women with Coronary Artery Disease 2b

Management 1 - Plaza 308 Chair: Julianne Burgess

Fares Belkhiria, Management Does e-Government Technology Always Fit? Moderating Role of Technology-Job Fit on Employee Acceptance of E-Government. Qianqian Li, Management Impacts of Top Five Executives’ Compensation on Employee Mahmud Rahman, Management Market Reaction to the Passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Tanbirul Islam, Management Tax Evasion in New Digital Platforms in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study Cansin Cagan Acarer, Management Scheduling Elective Surgeries in Multiple Operating Rooms 2c

Bioscience and Health - Plaza 410 Chair: Nigel Kurgan

Bradley Baranowski, Applied Health Sciences Role of acute exercise-induced brain BDNF on APP processing and BACE1 Jennifer Wilkinson, Applied Health Sciences Increasing membrane saturation promotes release of cytochrome c in synthetic membrane model to support mitochondrial-mediated cell death Mackenzie Ruthven, Applied Health Sciences The influence of tafazzin on in vitro myogenesis Colton Watson, Applied Health Sciences The role of transforming growth factor-Ă&#x;-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in allergen-mediated mast cell degranulation


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 Jeremia Coish, Applied Health Sciences Zika virus-induced mast cell activation

2d Supporting the Needs of Others - Plaza 311 Chair: Min Huang

Amanda Marcinkiewicz, Applied Disability Studies Directly Measuring Committed Actions by Caregivers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities throughout Acceptance and Comittment Therapy Nancy Leathen, Applied Disabilities Studies Comparing the High-Probability Instructional Sequence with and without Food to Increase Acceptance of Nonpreferred Foods in Children with Feeding Difficulties Carly Magnacca, Applied Disability Studies Evaluating Behavioural Skills Training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Caregivers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Reghann Munno, Applied Disability Studies The Effects of a Self-Management Treatment Package on Physical Activity in University Students with Depressive Symptoms Emma Peddigrew, Child and Youth Studies From Medication to Meditation: A Strengths-Based Approach to Mindfulness-Based Practices for Children with Learning Disabilities

2e Meeting the Challenges of Life and Learning - Plaza 408 Chair: Erica Walter Monica Louie, Education Teacher’s Comfort with Racial and Ethnic Diverse Classes Hyacinth Campbell, Education Colorism: Black Women's Experience in Post-Secondary Education William Ankomah, Educational Studies Questions Sow the Seed of Change: Hmm, What Does it Mean? Rose Walton, Educational Studies Conceptualizing Fathers as Literate Beings as Diverse Socio-cultural and Linguistic Texts: How Fathers Contribute to Their 3- Year- Old Children’s Early Literacy Development Shannon McGann, Child and Youth Studies What Is ‘Settlement’?: Theorizing ‘Settlement’ For Young Refugees Under Canadian Refugee Assistance Policy of the Syrian Refugee Crisis. 2f Computer Science - Plaza 411 Chair: Esther Santos Arpi Sen Gupta, Computer Science Objective Reduction in Many-Objective Optimization Problems Shaun Banik, Computer Science Effect of the Side Effect Machines in Edit Metric Decoding Nurbek Imangazin, Computer Science A Relation-Algebraic Approach to L-Fuzzy Topology


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 Fatemeh Salahi, Computer Science Surface Area of Interconnection Networks James Paterson, Computer Science Graph Model Inference of Complex Networks Using Genetic Programming 2g Undergraduate Student Presentations 2 – Cairns 336 Chair: Kirsten Bott Olivia Bagshaw, Biomedical Science ‘TPP-LA’: A Potential Therapeutic Approach to Barth Syndrome Danny Marko, Health Sciences Examining the Mechanisms of Interleukin-6 Signaling in SH-SY5Y Cells Matthew Nasato, Kinesiology Effects of an Acute Bout of Exercise on Nrf-2 and Wnt/B-catenine Signaling Cascades in Obese and Normal Weight Mice

2:50 to 3:50 p.m. Coffee Break and Poster Viewing Session #2 Cairns Level 300 1. Meredith DeCock, Sustainability: Science and Society Visualizing climatic and non-climatic drivers of coastal evolution: a case study of Lincoln, Ontario 2.

Stacey Duncan, English Beyond Borders and Bards: Scottish Romanticism and the Transnational Poetics of Joanna Baillie

3.

Taghi Farmani, Earth Science Intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation ~2.7 million years ago – the North Pacific connection

4.

Hayden Foy, Chemistry A Mechanistic Study of Oxygen Atom Transfer from N-Sulfonyloxaziridine to Enolates

5.

Mariana Garrido de Castro, Biological Sciences Effects of Mayaro and Zika virus co- and super-infection in Vero cells

6. Matt Guest, Chemistry Fluorescence of Cyclopropenium Ion Derivatives 7. Brandon Harrison, History Chivalrous Pirates or Fiends of the Sea? Analyzing America’s Conceptualization of Privateers in the War of 1812 8. Alina Jaglanian, Applied Health Sciences Rosemary extract inhibits PC-3 prostate cancer cell proliferation and survival

9.

10.

Zack Lansfield, Business Economics Employment and Income Determinants for Aboriginal Canadians Jinyi Li, Education Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language to English Speaking Language Learners: Teachers’ Handbook

11. Megan Magier, Applied Health Sciences School policies and youth perceptions of school support for the prevention and cessation of cannabis and alcohol use


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 12. Meera Mahmud, Applied Health Sciences Evaluation of the PLCOM2012 Risk Prediction Model and the National Lung Screening Trial Criteria for Selecting Individuals for Lung Cancer Screening 13. Michael Martignago, History Continuing the Toxic Spray: The Environmental Politics of Militarized Pesticide Use in the Vietnam War 14.

Bryan McLaughlin, Professional Kinesiology Exploring athlete burnout in elite youth ice hockey players in a specialty sport school

15. Natalie Meisenburg, Applied Health Sciences Barriers to Health Care Aides’ Communication with Families about End of Life of LTC Home Residents with Dementia 16. Larry Nie, Education Chromebooks @ Ontario Schools: Teachers' Perspectives 17.

David Oshana, Applied Health Sciences The Case of Grindr and Gay Men’s Embodied Image: An Interpretive Study for Identifying the Sociocultural Gay Body Image on New Media.

18. Madeline Pontone, Applied Disability Studies Benefits of Recreational Dance and Behaviour Analysis for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review 19.

Hannah Rose, Applied Health Sciences Picture This: Using photographs to describe the relationship between physical activity and positive body image in university men

20. Sheena Sisavath, Critical Sociology BDSM Practitioners’ Experiences of Social Exclusion from Access to Health Care and Social Services 21.

Laura Tardi, Applied Disability Studies Decreasing Food Selectivity Using Simultaneous and Sequential Presentation: A Review

22. Filip Vlavcheski, Applied Health Sciences Carnosol increases skeletal muscle cell glucose uptake via AMPK activation 23.

Anka Wojtis, Applied Health Sciences The examination of parental support and elite athlete motivation

24.

Alexander Yang, Applied Health Sciences Effects of Resveratrol and Metformin on AMPK Activation and Neuron Health in obese mice

25.

Jessica Zugic, Sustainability: Science and Society Carbon Sequestration and Growth of a Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) Plantation in Response to Variable Retention Harvesting (VRH) and Climate Change

26. Robert Crozier, Medical Sciences Investigating the role of rosemary extract polyphenols in the attenuation of allergen-mediated mast cell activation. 27.

Hayley Lutz, Public Health Five Year Trends of Young Adult 9-1-1 Callers in the Niagara Region

28.

Melissa Rouillard, Medical Sciences ASK1ng about a role in allergen-mediated inflammation & mast cell degranulation


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 29. 30.

Vanessa Sjaarda, Nursing Design of an Emergent Acute Heart Pain Application: Patient and Clinician Perspectives

31.

Raymond Wong, Biological Sciences Vitamin A metabolite and one -trial training: fast-learning snails

Dasilyn Vida, Biological Sciences Moving at a snail’s pace: using snails to determine the importance of Vitamin A for memory formation.

32. Dana Kalil, Child and Youth Studies and Psychology I Believe in Me Not OCB!: Functional Behavior-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to Treat Obsessive Compulsive Behaviours in Children with Autism: A 5-7 Year Follow-up 33. Lara Ostrowski, Public Health The Content Validity Index of the Prodromal Symptoms Screening Scale: An Expert panel 34.

Kindeep Singh Kargil, Lechuan (Sibelius) Peng, Saad Ali Ghaznavi, Thomas Wolf, Mathematics Colourings of the First 313230 Knots

3:50 to 5:15 p.m.

Concurrent Oral Session 3

3a Health and Well-being 3 - Plaza 409 Chair: Emily Guertin

Rachel Richmond, Applied Health Sciences A Phenomenological Analysis of Chronic Pain Self-Management Elyse Gorrell, Applied Health Sciences The mindfuck of social media on athletes Merna Seliman, Applied Health Sciences Mindfulness therapy as a means to improve sexual satisfaction in couples with spinal cord injury Celine Teo, Applied Health Sciences Does precarious labour alter mental health trajectory in the LGB population? Deanna Buchmayer, Applied Health Sciences Defining Self-Compassion Through Photo Elicitation in University Students

3b

Management 2 - Plaza 308

Chair: Rodela Kaleci

Ziwen Wang, Management Comparing Asset-Pricing Models Using Quantile Regressions For Distance-Based Metrics Songchan Guo, Management Idiosyncratic momentum and option markets Deepan Kumar Das, Management Macroeconomics Events and Emerging Foreign Exchange Markets Guliziba Juma, Management A Matter of Reemergence and Perish: Innovation and the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Outcome


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 3c Sport, Health and Youth Research - Plaza 410 Chair: Phil Wallace

Yixian (Crystal) Chen, Applied Health Sciences Associations between Dietary Factors, Selected Obesity-Related Metabolic Markers (Leptin, C-peptide, and Highly Sensitive C-reactive Protein), and Lung Cancer: A Matched Case-Control Study Nested in the Prospective PLCO Trial Colin Dunne, Applied Health Sciences The Effect of Blade Alignment on Kinetic and Kinematic Characteristics During the Execution of the Butterfly Technique in Goaltenders Steve Dol, Applied Health Sciences A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Functional Movement Screen (FMS) Scores In Male AAA Minor Hockey Players Carolynn Hare, Child and Youth Studies Impact of Inattention, Anxiety and Sensory Processing Patterns in Cognitive Control Jaime Barratt, Education Parental Perceptions of Physical Activity in Young Children

3d Intersections of Power and Identity Negotiations - Plaza 311 Chair: Jill Planche Keely Grossman, Social Justice and Equity Studies

“We Had More Eyes on Us Than the Boys”: Gendered Surveillance at Residential Schools for the Blind

Anella Bieteru, Social Justice and Equity Studies Gendering household decision making in rural Ghana: Women still in the margins? Janet Moore, Critical Sociology The Influence of the Western Evangelical Church on Homosexual Men Married to Women Iris Yap, Geography Are the Kids Alright? Ontario Sex-ed Curriculum and Socio-Spatial Governance Connor Thompson, Sustainability: Science and Society Thinking outside the grid: Motivations and barriers to leading a quasi-urban off-grid lifestyle

3e

Lessons Learned from Books, Films and other Media - Plaza 408

Chair: Miroslav Zovka

Carmen Long, Interdisciplinary Humanities Pulping Justice: Joan Baxter’s The Mill: Fifty Years of Pulp and Protest Camila Mugan, Interdisciplinary Humanities The Body that Moves: Orientation as Audibility of Silence in Literature Mahmoud Elewa, History Tracing the History of African Diasporic communities in Oman: Slavery, Slave Resistance & Manumission in 19th and 20th Century Al-Batinah Sydney Forde, Canadian-American Studies Media Literacy Across Borders: A Canada-US Comparison


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019

3f

Computer, Earth and Biological Sciences – Plaza 411

Chair: Danielle Williams

Scott Cocker, Earth Sciences A true palaeo diet: What the East Milford Mastodon ate 40,000 years ago. Emily Ham, Earth Sciences Microplastics and microfibres in agricultural soils and wastewater effluent of the Niagara Region: Sources, sinks, and solutions Margaret Hughes, Biological Sciences Impacts of Perimeter Plantings on Farm Ecology and Ecosystem Services Rodela Kaleci, Biological Sciences It smells good! Arvand Fazeli, Computer Science Stock Return Prediction Using Deep Learning

3g Undergraduate Student Presentations 3 - Cairns 336 Chair: Natalie Spadafora Sophie Hamstra, Applied Health Sciences Low dose lithium feeding improves murine left ventricular SERCA function by regulating SERCA2a and phospholamban expression. Joshua Reycraft, Health Sciences The effect of exercise intensity and recovery on plasma BDNF in healthy young adults Jake Scott, Health Sciences Alterations in Cerebral Blood Flow during Dopamine Reuptake Inhibition and Hyperthermia".

5:30 p.m.

Graduate Students' Association Social - Pond Inlet


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019

Oral Presentation Abstracts 1a

Health and Well-being 1 - Plaza 409

Maram Livermore, Applied Health Sciences Adolescent Obesity and Academic Achievement: A Thesis Proposal Available literature indicates the presence of an obesity achievement gap. Students with obesity have poorer academic achievement, higher dropout rates, and are less likely to pursue and attain post-secondary education. What accounts for these disparities remains largely unexplored. The limited literature is restricted to cross-sectional designs, often with small sample sizes, and has yet to test underlying mechanisms. This proposed thesis aims to explore whether weight bias, and associated poor self-concept, account for lower academic performance and post-secondary aspirations among youth with obesity. Using longitudinal data, quantitative analyses will address the following questions: 1) do weight status and perceptions predict academic performance and post-secondary aspirations? 2) are weight status and perceptions associated with lower self-concept, psychological distress, and perceptions of unfair treatment from educators, and 3) do these factors contribute to decreased academic achievement for youth with obesity? This work will add to the growing discussion of the potential impact of weight bias and poor mental health for individuals with obesity. Deterrents to academic achievement in adolescence have critical implications for future career opportunities and successful transitions to adulthood, with school failure and dropout increasing the risk of unemployment, poverty, lower quality life and various health risk behaviours. Shai Olansky, Applied Health Sciences Transition Study 2.0 - Identifying life-style that impact students physical wellbeing during university Background: it is acknowledged today that obesity is a growing problem in our society which could lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, cancer and heart disease. The transition to university life is a critical time for change, often accompanied by the adoption of negative lifestyle habits including unhealthy nutrition. Purpose: to investigate how changes in nutrition and physical activity plays a role in promoting weight gain and changes in body composition during four years of undergraduate at university. Methods: The students completed food frequency questionnaires, and had their body weight, body composition and waist/hip circumference measured at the beginning, end of first-year university and at the end of their senior year of university. Hypothesis: When looking across all four years of undergraduate, students will continue to gain weight. However, we estimate that the amount of weight gained will be less in the latter years than in first year. Julie Finnigan, Applied Health Sciences Beyond the Numbers: Evaluating the Impact of a Health Organization-Based Quality Improvement Experiential Education Program Experiential education is an expanding practice in post-secondary education that involves students learning in a real-world setting, allowing them to gain practical and profession-specific knowledge. Quality improvement (QI) is a methodology that aims to optimize processes through implementing changes and measuring their results over time. In healthcare, it involves making changes to processes with the goal of improving patient outcomes, performance of the system, and utilization of resources. An experiential approach to interdisciplinary QI education has been identified as the most effective for future healthcare professionals. This research project aims to qualitatively evaluate the long-term individual-level impacts of the Interprofessional Education for Quality Improvement Program (I-EQUIP), a program at Brock University that engages undergraduate students in QI projects at health organizations in the Niagara Region. The influence of I-EQUIP on the career trajectory and workplace habits of professionals will be evaluated through semi-structured interviews and collection of personal narratives from previous program participants. Currently, there is limited research examining the long-term practice implications for individuals who were engaged in experiential QI education during an undergraduate degree. This research will provide a structure to evaluate other experiential education programs and highlight opportunities for improvement. Allison Flynn-Bowman, Applied Health Sciences The DadRocks Study Imagine that you are the father of a newborn. It can be overwhelming for you, and your relationship! Also imagine that you took the prenatal classes but these focused on the delivery, and had far fewer details about caring for the infant. Your partner may have been busy reading about caring for this infant but there is less material for you as the father. What if, there was a way you could get simple information, like a text message, with information about caring for your infant, and your relationship with your partner. This is where the DadRocks study comes in. Fathers were sent 99 messages, such as suggestions of things they can do for their infant, and for their partner over the first six-months of the infant’s life. There were differences in measures such as was an increase in father-


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 infant interaction (specifically in play, and in caregiving). Other differences include a decline in relationship quality between baseline and 6-months. Overall, fathers reported liking being involved in the study, even if they didn't like specific components of it. This will be discussed in the context of this study, and other m-health interventions! Sukhdeep Kaur, Applied Health Sciences Time Variant effects of precarious labour on sleep Background: Prior studies have highlighted concerns regarding the impact of precarious employment on workers’ well-being, but virtually none have examined its impact on sleep, an important determinant of physical and mental health. Given the growth of precarious employment across most OECD countries, our study will examine the association between precarious labour (e.g. job insecurity, low job autonomy) and sleep problems. Aim: To identify and assess the relationship between precarious labour and sleep problems over time. Methods: Using the UK Household Longitudinal Study, we will assess the longitudinal association between 1) self-reported number of sleep hours and, various sleep problems (e.g. waking up in the night) and 2) dimensions of precarious labour at 3 time-points between 2010-2017. Results: I will present cross-tabulations of sleep hours and sleep problems by levels of labour precarity. The association between precarious labour and sleep will be analyzed by using the Fixed effect model to observe patterns over time. Conclusions: No prior studies have examined the impact of precarious labour on sleep. The findings of the study will help shed light on labour practices that promote or deteriorates the sleep of affected employees and will be useful to physicians to identify risk factors for sleep deprivation.

1b

Science and Mathematics - Plaza 311

Mohammad Ahmadi, Physics Investigation on anisotropic properties of low-dimensional purple and blue bronzes The molybdenum oxide bronzes are a family of low-dimensional materials exhibiting interesting behaviour including superconductivity, charge-density wave states, and metal-insulator transitions. After considerable study, there is still no firm consensus regarding a theory to explain their unique features. We have synthesized single crystals of blue bronzes A0.3MoO3 (A=K, Rb) and purple bronzes A0.9Mo6O17 (A=Li, Na) using a gradient flux technique and have investigated the optical and electrical properties of these materials along different crystallographic axes using optical reflectance spectroscopy and electrical resistivity measurement. We have taken advantage of annealing the single crystals in various gas flows to analyze changes in their properties after annealing in hopes of contributing to the understanding of the mechanisms at play in these low-dimensional materials. Changes in their structural and magnetic properties upon annealing were investigated via X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements and will also be reported. Jeremy Dion, Physics Electronic Properties and Synthesis of the Doped Chalcogenide As2Te3 The Chalcogenide family of semiconductors are materials that contain a chalcogen element (S, Se or Te) and are important for applications due to their sensitive response to light, electrical current and heat. In the past decade many chalcogenides have been found to exhibit exotic electronic states including superconductivity upon doping. For example some of these materials, act as bulk insulators, while also having metallic surface states. These materials are called topological insulators. Arsenic Telluride is a chalcogenide that exhibits multiple structural phases. The beta-phase is obtained by rapid quenching from a melt, and is isostructural with the topological insulator Bi2Te3. Upon doping with Copper Bi2Te3 becomes superconducting. Theoretical work has predicted that beta-As2Te3 may also have topological insulating states. To explore possible exotic electronic states in this material we have synthesized Cu-doped samples of the beta-phase of As2Te3 by adjusting the rate of melt qunching. In addition we have investigated sample properties by Xray Diffraction and Infrared Spectroscopy, along with resistivity measurements below 300 K. Mark Pelaccia, Chemistry Heteroleptic Redox-active Spin-crossover Complexes Coordination chemistry encompasses the interactions between electron donating species (Lewis bases) and electron acceptor species (Lewis acids) coming together to form a coordination complex. In the context of our research, the interactions between some organic fragment known as a ligand (Lewis base) coordinating to a metal ion (Lewis acid) gives rise to metal coordination complexes. The main interest of the Lemaire research group revolves around the preparation and properties of these new hybrid materials. One of the properties we are interested in studying is known as spin-crossover. Spin-crossover is a molecular switching process between the spin states of d4-d7 metal ions in coordination complexes. This switching phenomenon, often observed with FeII and FeIII ions, is induced by some external perturbation most often, temperature. The structural alterations involved with spin transitions as a result of a change in temperature also influence the magnetic properties of these materials.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 My research goals are centered around creating metal coordination complexes that combine physical properties like spin-crossover with electrical conductivity within a single material; a multifunctional material. Combining physical properties that are not typically observed together within a single molecule can lead to more advanced molecular electronics, sensory materials, or information storage. Nico Bonanno, Chemistry Properties and Coordination Chemistry of New Stable Radical Ligands To most, the term "radical" evokes negative connotations, based on the unstable free radicals that are known to wreak havoc on biological systems. However, in recent years, attaching stable-radicals to metal centers have shown to be an effective pathway to tuning many of the important magneto-chemical properties required for advancement in molecular magnetism. We have discovered a way to create a series of rare stable-radical molecules, that contain fascinating properties and when bound to metals have assembled into interesting structural arrays. Recently, we reported the properties and synthesis of an unusually stable phenoxyl radical ligand, 2,6-bis(8-aminoquinolyl)-4-tert-butylphenoxyl (BAQP) [1,2], and subsequently, the first coordination complex with this ligand using a Cu(II) perchlorate metal salt [3]. This resulted in a Cu4L4 structure where each ligand (L) exists in a rare dianionaminyl radical oxidation state. The following presentation will focus on the recent expansion of the BAQP ligand system, and its derivatives, to other metals in the first-row transition series. [1] N.M. Bonanno et al., Dalton Transactions. 2016, 45, 5460–5463. [2] N. M. Bonanno et al., Chem. Eur. J. 2018, 24, 14906. [3] N. M. Bonanno et al., Inorg. Chem., 2018, 57 (9), 4837–4840. Leila Meskine, Mathematics and Statistics Why do we need Identity Based Cryptography One significant impediment to the widespread adoption of public-key cryptography is its dependence on a public-key infrastructure that is shared among its users. Before secure communications can take place, both sender and receiver must generate encryption and signature keypairs, submit certificate requests along with proof of identity to a Certificate Authority (CA), and receive CA-signed certificates, which they can then use to authenticate one another and exchange encrypted messages. This process can be both time-consuming and error-prone and is especially prohibitive for novice computer users. Frequently, individuals who can already receive encrypted email are still unable to send secure messages to others due to lack of preparedness, limited interoperability, device limitations or lack of technical competence on the receiving end. Given the need to communicate and the complexity of PKIbased cryptography, correspondence that could benefit from additional security is frequently conducted in the clear. Identity-Based Cryptography seeks to reduce these barriers by requiring no preparation on the part of the message recipient. My research is based on studying the complexity of the existing Identity Based schemes. The ultimate goal is to develop a new scheme that uses hard mathematics problems from number theory in an Identity Based encryption scheme.

1c

Issues in Contemporary Society - Plaza 410

Jennica Giesbrecht, Geography Rethinking the Geographies of Death Care The contemporary funeral industry is increasingly facing criticism for various approaches to death care. Political and economic concerns have been raised regarding the corporatization of the industry, its exorbitant costs and environmentally harmful practices, and its sanitization and invisibilization of death. The exclusion of death from daily life has also been criticized for contributing to disempowering end of life care and intensifying painful emotional experiences for both the dying and the bereaved. Alternative perceptions and practices of death care are beginning to emerge in response to dominant approaches to death care. This research examines autobiographical narratives, written by people who work in death care, which reflect the harms of the funeral industry in its current state while also providing alternative understandings and approaches to death care (Nadle, 2006; Doughty, 2014; Wilde, 2017). Autobiographical texts are recognized for their potential to re-examine and alter how the experience of daily life intertwines with broader socio-political contexts (Moss & Dyck 2003; Cameron, 2012; Donovan, 2015; de Leeuw et al., 2017). Therefore, I examine these autobiographies to query the socio-political dynamics of death care to analyze emergent alternative death care epistemologies and their responses to the concerns associated with the contemporary funeral industry. Lauren Peddle, Geography Healthy Clusters? A survival analysis of firms in the Canadian video game industry Since its inception the video game industry has experienced explosive growth. In Canada alone, 596 active video game studios contributed an additional 3.8 billion CAD to GDP and some 21,000 jobs in 2017 (Entertainment Software Association of Canada,


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 2018). With the working title ‘Healthy Clusters? A survival analysis of firms in the Canadian video game industry’, my thesis will be centered on using Hazard models to asses the health of Canadian video game clusters. De Vaan et al. (2013) who used hazard models to establish a global baseline cluster size at which positive externalities outweigh the negative. I will contribute to a growing body of literature through my thesis work which will be focused on using statistical modeling to study the geography of video game firm survival in Canada. Peter Sekyere, Political Science Examining the outcomes of secession struggles in Post-Colonial Africa. The theoretical expectation of secession and the right to external self-determination in post-colonial Africa is yet to be realised. After about six decades of Africa’s independence, only two sub-national have successfully seceded from their home states-South Sudan from Sudan and Eritrea from Ethiopia. What factors account for the limited number of secession attempts in Africa? While a handful of cases of secession struggles are ongoing in Africa, the limited number is an apparent shortfall of the theoretical expectation at the time of independence. Also, the basis for secession and self-determination claims appears to be different from the expected: the arbitrary demarcation of international borders that split ethnic groups and tribes to belong to different sides of international borders, at the pleasure of colonial masters. Focusing on Sudan and Nigeria, this paper examines why the limited secession efforts have recorded different outcomes despite the similarity between the cases. Using JS Mill’s method of agreement, this paper examines the role of international factors in the determination of the outcome of secession struggles. It argues that the opportunities and constraint provided by the international environment are critical to the success or failure of an attempt at secession. Eugene Danso, Political Science Rethinking Public Accountability in Emerging Democracies: The Case of Ghana Audit Service The Ghana Audit Service is the constitutionally mandated audit institution charged with the responsibility of promoting good governance in the areas of accountability and probity in the public financial management system. However, structural and institutional deficiencies in the Ghana Audit Service continues to constrain its role in enhancing public accountability. This study seeks to assess the challenges facing the Ghana Audit Service in promoting public accountability? A survey of the literature only provides some insights such as structural and constitutional reforms in the Ghana Audit Service. However, most studies are primarily descriptive and historical, and therefore do not adequately address the challenges and prospects of the Ghana Audit Service. This has been identified as the gap in the existing literature that needs to be filled. This study will adopt a diachronic case study analysis by considering the structural and institutional challenges facing the Ghana Audit Service during two-time periods (Pre-independence and Post-independence). Institutionalist and process tracing approach will be employed in tracing the past and present challenges in the Ghana Audit Service. The findings of this project will serve as a policy guideline for enhancing accountability and public sector reforms in Ghana and other developing countries.

1d

Reshaping of Societal Norms - Plaza 308

Georgie Gagnon, Business Economics How the Gig Economy is Reshaping Canada’s Labour Force A recent study conducted by Statistics Canada estimates that 2.18 million Canadians are engaged in some form of temporary work. This translates to 6% of the total Canadian population earning a side income but it has not been determined exactly where and how much is being made. This research will focus on companies such as Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, TaskRabbit, Chegg and Upwork, and how the emergence of online gig work affects how Canadians make labour work decisions. There are two agents in this study, the worker and the gig company. Company data is not as feasible to obtain as worker data, and in general, there is limited research on this topic. Labour force participation rates have been declining since 2008 while the emergence of online work has been steadily inclining. A statistical analysis will be applied and a call for data transparency from said companies will also be made. The overall objective is to develop a model that can measure the current and potential impact of gig work on labour force participation rates. The [research] will then discuss the role of limited information and what kind of information will be needed in order for policymakers to make clear of these new labour force dynamics. Sandra Kroeker, Social Justice and Equity Studies The new norm? Precarious work, unfairness and policy reform. There are two parts to my major research paper. First I determined the characteristics and consequences of precarious employment and analyzed the available data on negative health effects and its contribution to the feminization of poverty to determine that precarious work is unfair to certain groups and policies that allow for precarious work violate the definition of public policy which is to be in the interest of the public good and fails in its ultimate goal of finding a balance between the political atmosphere and the


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 majority. The second portion provided a policy analysis and suggestions for new policies to bring a balance between business and worker interests. Samara Goldsworthy, Child and Youth Studies A Qualitative Exploration of the Connections Among Quality of Relationship with Parent(s), Motivation for Academic Achievement, and Self-Compassion in Young Adults Researchers have demonstrated a link between the quality of the parent-child relationships and children’s capacity for selfcompassion. In turn, children’s self-compassion has been linked to children’s motivation for achieving academic success. However, research has not explored the connections among quality of parent-child relationships, young people’s capacity for self-compassion, and young people’s academic achievement motivation. This qualitative research study fills an important gap in the literature by exploring holistically the self-perceived connections among these three constructs among university students. This study included 9 undergraduate students attending Brock University (across several disciplines and years). Students completed a self-compassion survey and took part in a semi-structured interview. participants reported being more self-compassionate and motivated to achieve academic success when they felt supported by their parents and when they perceived their parents as extending compassion to them in difficult situations. Interestingly, three of the nine participants who did not perceive their parents as being compassionate and supportive still reported being very motivated to achieve academic success, and they cited their capacity for self-compassion as integral in this regard. This study’s findings can inform efforts that aim to support undergraduate students as they strive to navigate the transition to university life and excel academically. Amber-Lee Varadi, Critical Sociology The Policing of Young Motherhood Within a public consciousness informed by mythological beliefs in meritocracy, postracialism, and postfeminism, youth pregnancy continues to be socially recognized as a tragedy, a mistake, and a “wrong” choice resulting from “careless” behaviour, consequentially influencing young mothers by shaping and constraining their behaviour, actions, and “lifestyle choices” (Baker, 2009; Cense & Ganzevoort, 2018; Kelly, 1998, 2000; Luttrell, 2003; SmithBattle, 2007). While today’s postfeminist and neoliberal ethos trivializes and denies the relevance of gender, class, and race, existing literature on young motherhood demonstrates how systems of inequality continue to influence and govern the lives of young mothers. This qualitative research aims to uncover these inequalities through its application of a Foucauldian and poststructural feminist lens to examine how, where, and why young mothers experience forms of policing. Michel Foucault’s (1977/1995, 1978) theory of discourse, which works to reveal how relations of power and knowledge actively reproduce existing power relations, enables a recognition of the nuanced discourses of young motherhood that are active today. Through semi-structured, one-on-one interviews with 11 young mothers, this research examines how young mothers both resist and reproduce discourses of “good” motherhood and neoliberal citizenship, which may serve to encourage their policing of other young mothers and/or themselves. Michelle Lesley Annett, Critical Sociology Exploring the Narratives of Mothers Working as Strippers Despite a large body of research exploring issues faced by working mothers today, there is little literature focusing on mothers who take part in highly stigmatized and unconventional forms of paid labour to provide for their children. Taking up this line of inquiry, my MA thesis project explores both micro and macro understandings of the narrated experiences of four women in Canada, who are both mothers and exotic dancers, with the overarching question: ‘how do these women navigate and negotiate their socially constructed identities and practices as both mothers and sex workers?’. Exploring the daily routines and practices employed by these women to meet the responsibilities of both roles, how they negotiate the work of social reproduction, the forms of support they have access to, and the barriers these women have been faced with, this research aims to give space to these women’s narratives, and in turn, place their experiences of both socially devalued forms of work within the greater context of contemporary capitalist society, and in relation to gender and class inequalities.

1e

Children and Youth Learning and Developing - Plaza 408

Nicole Staite, Child and Youth Studies Dance with a B-E-A-T!: Recreational Dance with Behavioral Analysis and Therapy for Children and Youth with Exceptionalities Dance with a B-E-A-T! (Behavioural Analysis and Therapy) is a comprehensive 9-week recreational dance program for children and youth aged 7 to 12 years old diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder (ND) and/or anxiety disorder. NDs encompass many pervasive disorders that affect one’s social, emotional, and/or cognitive performances over a widespread continuum of symptoms and severities (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The proposed intervention program will therefore target improvements in three


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 key-stone domains: (1) the child’s gross motor skills, (2) the child’s balance skills, (3) the child’s perceived confidence towards his/her dance, motor, balance, social, and/or coping skills, as well as his/her overall sense of belonging. An open trial design will be conducted at a local non-profit mental health facility with one group of 5-10 children. Implementing and evaluating the facilitators and barriers of this unique intervention program will ground the foundation for excelling research on the benefits of recreational dance to include dancers with various abilities – not just those who have met expected developmental milestones. Renata Roma, Child and Youth Studies Animal-Assisted Therapy and Children With Autism Spectum Disorder It remains unclear why Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) has been shown to be useful for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this quantitative study, we analyzed emotional responses among children with ASD toward dogs and humans during AAT sessions. Using recordings of sessions with 11 children, we measured the frequency and the latency of children’s expressions of joy or rejection in response to approaches from a dog, a handler, and a therapist. Approaches were coded as either frontal (with visual contact) or lateral (without visual contact). The frequency of children’s joy expressions to lateral approaches was higher when approached by dogs as compared to humans (Z =-1.99 (0.24), p = 0.047). Considering frontal approaches, there was no significant difference found in children’s responses. However, the frequency of rejection expressions towards dogs was lower for seven children when approached laterally. When comparing children’s responses, the latency to expressions of joy (X2 (1, N = 11) = 7.312, p= 0.007) and rejection (X2 (1, N = 11) = 11.277, p= 0.001) were lower when approached by dogs. These results help to unpack key attributes of the canine-child interactions that might help us to understand why AAT is beneficial for children with ASD. Allison Maynard, Child and Youth Studies Children's Outdoor Experiences: Moral Concern for Mother Earth This study will investigate how spending time outdoors is associated with children’s thoughts about the moral welfare and obligation to protect wild animals or ecosystems. It also examines if partaking in specific outdoor activities, or if using technological devices while outside in nature, is associated with children’s thinking about these issues or moral welfare. To collect data, we had parents fill out a demographic and family-based experiences with animals questionnaire, and children completed quantitative measures and took part in a semi-structured qualitative interview. The research findings will help other researchers and educators understand the connection between children’s outdoor experiences and their moral concern about both animals and the natural world. This can then inform the development of school-based activities to enhance youth’s moral reasoning and compassion toward nature. In the future, these results could be utilized to increase conservation habits in children that stay with them as they grow, with the goal of improving the overall health of the planet. Rebecca Joseph, Child and Youth Studies What makes a good mentor? An exploratory study of an after-school program in a low-income neighbourhood. Schools were designed with the intention of teaching children knowledge and life skills that they could further practice and apply in settings outside of the classroom, such as in their homes with the help of parents and guardians. However, for children who live in low-income areas, caretakers may either not be available to help or are not skilled enough to guide them. A solution can be found through mentors in after-school programs who are available to provide resources and tips for these children to succeed in school. Using the framework of Critical Pedagogy, this exploratory study will look at the traits of effective mentorship and academic success in relation to children enrolled in after-school programs in low-income areas. This particular theoretical framework was chosen because it critically examines the scope of mainstream education. Dr. Paolo Freire first introduced Critical Pedagogy in the 1970s after reflecting on the disadvantages faced by the illiterate in his home country of Brazil. The theory includes components of Marxism, as seen in the need to challenge the hierarchy between teacher and student. This study plans to get input from both child participants and staff (mentors) in an after-school program located in a low-income neighbourhood. Perspectives from both groups will be analyzed for common themes and findings from this study will lead to new strategies to make education more accessible to children in Ontario, regardless of socioeconomic background. Elizabeth Al-Jbouri, Child and Youth Studies Adolescent Incivility: the Role of Classroom Climate Incivility, characterized by rude, discourteous and disrespectful attitudes and behaviours (Andersson & Pearson, 1999), may serve as a potential precursor to more serious forms of anti-social behaviour. Classroom incivility has been found to occur in two thirds of classrooms (Boice, 1996), representing a pressing issue. Recent research suggests that ratings of school climate are significantly related to incivility (Powell, Powell & Petrosko, 2015). Therefore, this paper considers the relationship between classroom climate and incivility within adolescence, a key developmental period for addressing uncivil attitudes and behaviours before they potentially become more serious antisocial behaviours in adulthood (Schaefer, 1995). The extant research considers the implications of incivility


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 in young adult samples in post-secondary institutions and the workplace, but few studies examine incivility as it relates to younger populations in school contexts. The sample for the present study was recruited through extracurricular clubs and sports teams within southern Ontario. Participants completed self –report questionnaires on their attitudes towards incivility and their school climate (school discipline, bullying norms, school conscientiousness and school social success). Preliminary results highlight the importance for educators to create and support a positive school climate to ensure students are developing positive attitudes towards civil actions, particularly during adolescence.

1f

Issues and Ideas in Contemporary Education - Plaza 411

Colleen Logie, Education The Impact of Administrator Trust on Teacher Stress: A Transformational Relationship to Foster Student Success Increased absence, teacher turnover, burnout, illness, and depression are all known consequences of teacher job stress. Though transformational leadership has been widely explored as a productive leadership strategy, few studies have evaluated its impact on reducing stress in staff members. Transformational leaders work to revolutionize their employees’ ways of thinking and gain followers to organizational visions so that employees work collectively to change the system they work in. This interdependence requires trust to facilitate interactions between colleagues. This will increase teacher’s potential to achieve self-actualization, allowing full use of their talents, capacities, and potentialities. Trust development is essential, as distrust takes energy, subsequently increasing stress as the individual considers how they can protect themselves by anticipating and avoiding harm. This proposed mixed-methods study will examine the quantitative relationship between teacher trust in their administrator and job stress. I will conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews to explore the ways trust and job stress are connected in an educational setting. By understanding how trust development between administrators and teachers impacts job stress, solutions can be established to improve working conditions for Ontario teachers. Nyasha Nyereyemhuka, Education Student Equity and Inclusive Education Policy in Ontario: Perspectives of Three High School Principals Embracing diversity within schools is a complex endeavour faced by high school principals. Data on student achievement in Ontario’s urban high schools indicates a disconnect between the expectation of equitable and inclusive education as stated in the Ontario Ministry of Education’s vision Achieving Excellence: A Renewed Vision for Education in Ontario (2014) and the social realities of discriminatory barriers in schools. This research study employed semi-structured interviews to obtain the perspectives of three urban high school principals on the implementation of policies that support the goal of ensuring equity—identified as a key goal in Achieving Excellence. The analysis of findings highlights that the interconnectivity of policies, how principals translate policy messages, and the character traits associated with leadership are factors that muddy the implementation process in high schools. It was suggested that implementation is not static and occurs in a fluid system consisting of individuals with differing lived experiences, beliefs, and intersectional identities. Emphasizing the delicate state of Ontario’s current political climate, participants proposed the dismantling of tokenism and assumptions placed on principals, the reframing of teacher perspectives on equity and inclusion, and changing the pathologizing nature of professional judgment as strategies to improve principal policy implementation. Min Huang, Educational Studies Motivation in Cellphone-based Second Language Classrooms: A Review of the Literature Cellphone-based language learning has been attempted in a second language (L2) context, aimed at facilitating language learning outcomes. The effects of cellphone use on learners’ motivation has not been fully addresses yet. This review examined the use of cellphones in existing research during the past decade for the purpose of investigating changes in learners’ motivation, or desire to learn English. Keller’s (1984) motivation model was adopted as the analytic lens to evaluate papers and to analyze how the reviewed articles addressed the issues of learners’ attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction. This review showed that L2 learners in most of the existing research indicated enhanced attention and satisfaction in language skills, especially on speaking skills and vocabulary development, which confirmed that cellphones contributed to learning motivation. This research informed instructors about the most effective instructional approaches which involved developing a collaborative and enjoyable learning environment in the L2 learning context while using cellphones. This review provided insights into measurements of motivation and data collection in order to develop effective instructional approaches, raise students’ motivation, and thus facilitate language learning outcomes. Future research should include instructors’ observations and voices and implement research on more advanced cellphone applications. Jordan Gallant, Applied Linguistics The Influence of Chinese on English Language Processing in Chinese-English Bilinguals


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 My research investigates how words are organized in the bilingual mind. It has been established that words across languages are linked on the basis of meaning and form overlap. During language processing, words that are linked become activated simultaneously. In this study, I investigate whether words that sounds similar and have similar structure are linked in the Chinese-English bilingual mind. Specifically, I look at a) whether Chinese words are activated during the processing of similar English words and if so, b) whether accent affects the degree to which those words are activated. Data collection utilized two methodological innovations. First, a typing task was used to determine the latency of keystrokes during the typing of English words. The second was the use of PyschoPy3 to deliver the experiment over the web with millisecond accuracy. I discuss the implications of my findings on the organization of bilingual mental lexicon and the involvement of a bilinguals first language during the production and comprehension of their second. Joshua Manitowabi, Interdisciplinary Humanities Revitalizing Indigenous Knowledge Through Interactive Digital Maps Indigenous peoples have sought to be and are increasingly involved in the designing and selecting of content and methods of presentation of museum exhibits and educational curricula about their own cultures and histories. Maps have traditionally been used to situate a people in a spatial area and sometimes to graphically represent aspects of their culture. However, museum maps and historical cartography in general had ethnocentric and colonialist biases and thus misrepresented Indigenous peoples’ views of their territory, their cultural knowledge, and their histories. These maps tended to present Indigenous cultures, socio-political structures, and territories as static or disappearing rather than as vibrant, evolving cultures. How can new possibilities within Indigenous counter-mapping aid land claim negotiations and/or decolonizing space and place? This presentation will examine the potential of Indigenous interactive mapping to facilitate greater Indigenous community involvement in portraying, preserving, and revitalizing their culture and relationship to their land within Indigenous resurgences. In addition, interactive mapping will be examined for its potential to address the limitations of static mapping in presenting a true Indigenous perspective, one that would involve incorporating traditional ways of imparting knowledge, such as storytelling, oral history, art, music, and dance. From the user’s perspective, this type of modern technology for constructing digital maps can offer alternative perspectives of Indigenous cultural representations while simultaneously providing new insights within contested areas of space between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

1g

Undergraduate Student Presentation 1 - Cairns 336

Olivia Kit, Child and Youth Studies Supporting Children Reach Their Best with The B.E.S.T program In this Interactive Paper (Poster) presentation, I will illustrate the Better Emotional Social Times (B.E.S.T.) program –an intervention based approach, which supports and educates children who struggle with learning disabilities who also demonstrate underlying emotional instability. In addition to illustrating the program, the poster will also present research data collected from this past program season illustrating the efficacy of the program. B.E.S.T. is an approach that is designed to teach and improve children’s overall emotional and psychology well-being through active engagement of self-awareness, self-advocacy, self-knowledge, and coping strategies. The research team developing B.E.S.T. has partnered with the Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara Region (LDANR) to offer the program in local communities to children with learning disabilities who struggle with self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. At the beginning of each program season children are administered a pre-assessment by the group facilitator to observe their self-awareness, self-advocacy, and coping skills. The assessment is comprised of knowledgeable strength-based questions, such as appropriate goal setting, self-advocacy level, understanding of assistance, and level of emotional regulation. This detailed assessment notifies the facilitator the areas the child is lacking in and then can begin implementing useful strategies. Each week the program introduces a new theme through interactive games, role-play, and small-group direct instructions. The various themes are mindfulness, healthy expression of anger, emotional management, gratitude, and coping strategies. The implications of this program have lead to better academic success, improvement in self-esteem, and emotional regulation. This Interactive Poster will present the B.E.S.T. program as well as the research around the program’s efficacy. The poster is designed for educators, clinician’s, researchers, and stakeholders concerned with supporting children who struggle with social and emotional regulation. Melissa Blackburn, Rachel Ray and Kayla Wingrave, Child and Youth Studies The Competitive Dance Project Coming from a larger group of 6 researchers, all studying under the supervision of Dawn Zinga, and Danielle Molnar in the Competitive Dance Project, this presentation will discuss and consider the competitive dance culture and life experiences of dancers,


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 on behalf of three researchers being, Kayla Wingrave, Melissa Blackburn, and Rachel Ray. Melissa Blackburn: My work focuses on how parents and instructors may help to foster enjoyment in competitive dancers. The outcome of enjoyment in dance was selected as it has been supported for use as a proxy measure for sports participation (Gardner, Magee, & Vella, 2017). Youth in North America drop out of sports at an alarming rate, therefore it is important to explore factors that can help to keep youth involved, healthy, and active (Grieser, et al., 2006). Kayla Wingrave: Supportive parenting may help girls participating in competitive sports achieve a healthy lifestyle. The research examines if autonomy supportive maternal and paternal parenting is associated with dancer’s satisfaction, mediated by dancer’s motives. Self-determination theory is used to uncover primary motivators of dance and the role of autonomy supportive parenting. Rachel Ray: Perfectionism is a debilitating multidimensional construct consisting of both interpersonal and intrapersonal aspects, (Hewitt, & Flett, 1991), and can be related to many forms of psychological distress or psychopathology. The purpose of my research therefore, is to consider if perfectionism is associated with anxiety through mediating variables like self-efficacy in young competitive dancers.

2a

Health and Well-being 2 - Plaza 409

Jessica Murphy, Applied Health Sciences The Role of Coaches and Athletic Trainers in Promoting, Preventing and Intervening with Athlete Mental Health University student-athletes are just as likely as non-athlete peers to struggle with mental illness; unfortunately, student-athletes are less likely to seek help. Athletic staff are in a unique position as they can act as a barrier or facilitator to help-seeking. Potential factors influencing the supportive actions of staff will be measured: demographics, literacy of depression and anxiety, confidence in advising and opinion on the responsibility of staff to help struggling student-athletes. Relationships between factors, and the ability of factors to predict actions by staff that support mental health and help-seeking will be measured. Student-athletes have reported stigma and negative perceived support as barriers to help-seeking. By identifying factors and their influence on supportive actions of staff, one can be target and improve these factors, potentially increasing help-seeking behaviours. David Brown, Applied Health Sciences Muscle Up: Examining Psychological Responses to Social-Evaluative Body Image Threats in Male Athletes and Non-Athletes Body dissatisfaction and shame often occur as a result of negative social evaluation of the physique. Previous body image research suggests that athletes have less body dissatisfaction and shame compared to non-athletes, however, no studies have examined negative body image responses to acute social-evaluative body image threat conditions. Outside of the body image context, athletes have shown reduced psychological responses to acute psychosocial stressors when compared to non-athletes. Therefore, the present study looked to examine psychological responses to acute social-evaluative body threats in 28 male varsity athletes from nonaesthetic sports and 52 non-athletes. Participants were randomized into a high or low body image threat condition, and measures of body dissatisfaction and shame were assessed across the session. Results revealed that participants in the high-threat condition experienced significantly higher levels of body shame compared to those in the low-threat condition, regardless of athletic status, when controlling for physical activity levels, body fat percentage, and internalization of the muscular ideal. No changes in body dissatisfaction were found between conditions or athletic status. In conclusion, contrary to previous body image research involving men and athletics, these findings suggest that acute social-evaluative body threat conditions affect men equally, regardless of athletic participation. Sarah Galway, Applied Health Sciences Functionality versus appearance: The role of instructor emphasis on body image outcomes to an acute exercise class in older adults Body image refers to people’s unique thoughts and attitudes about their bodies and what they can do. While studies have examined the effects of instructor emphasis (e.g., appearance versus health) during group exercise on measures of class enjoyment and body image in university samples, this relationship has yet to be explored in older populations. Additionally, no studies have explored positive body image, which may be especially relevant to older individuals. Therefore, the present study will examine body image outcomes to an acute exercise class framed by either appearance or health/functional benefits in older adults. Approximately 60 men and women over the age of 55 will be recruited and randomly assigned to an appearance (n=30) or health focused (n=30) exercise condition. Conditions will be manipulated through exercise cues and the attire of the instructor. Participants will complete several questionnaires to assess positive and negative body image immediately before, and immediately following completion of their assigned exercise condition. Lastly, participants will a complete a measure of class enjoyment. Results will provide insight as to whether or not instructor emphasis affects body image and class enjoyment in older adults, which may aid in the development of


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 appropriate exercise classes for older individuals. Steffannie Hancharyk, Applied Health Sciences Supporting the Transition to Accessible and Sustainable Martial Arts Participation in Ontario Martial arts has been shown to improve fitness, emotional regulation, and social relatedness among students experiencing Autism. Further, research demonstrates that students taking part in martial arts as a recreational pursuit, stand the most to gain when compared to other athletic activities because classes are offered regularly throughout the week all year round, with a heavy emphasis on fitness, structure and ritual. Recent studies demonstrate that students experiencing disability are lacking in accessible and inclusive programs, and more so in rural regions. Moreover, the Accessibility for Ontarian’s with Disabilities Act 2025 (AODA, 2017) has mandated that all businesses comply with regulations that will assure accessibility across all services for diverse populations. The Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF) has 41 martial arts facilities across rural regions in Ontario, and although its senate members are enthusiastic about the move to accessibility, they do not know where to begin, or what accessible and inclusive martial arts looks like. This project seeks to provide insight into the current state of accessibility in all 41 of the SWKKF facilitates so that we can provide a structure for transitioning to accessibility in a way that is sustainable and meaningful. Sara Madanat, Applied Health Sciences Effects of an Exercise Intervention on Depression in Women with Coronary Artery Disease Every 7 minutes in Canada someone dies from heart disease or stroke. The most common form of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD). Individuals with CAD are vulnerable to developing depression. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by the year 2020, CAD and depression will be the two major causes of disability-adjusted life years. Heart disease is thought of as a man’s disease, albeit, women are almost equally affected and they maybe more likely to develop depression and have increased risk of primary or second cardiac event. Exercise has been shown to be an effective treatment for depression. However, there is insufficient research regarding the effectiveness of an exercise intervention that targets depression in women with CAD. The present study aims to investigate this issue. Participants will be randomly assigned into the experimental (35min of aerobic training 3x per week) or control group (educational pamphlet). Salivettes will be used to collect saliva to assess cortisol levels pre- and postintervention. A short form of the Health Survey (SF-12) and Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) will also be completed pre- and post-intervention. Results from this study may provide evidence of cost effective treatment to combat depression in vulnerable individuals.

2b

Management 1 - Plaza 308

Fares Belkhiria, Management Does e-Government Technology Always Fit? Moderating Role of Technology-Job Fit on Employee Acceptance of E-Government. E-government technologies have widely been praised by academics, policy makers and the public. However, several governments heavily invest into these technologies but still struggle to implement them into their organisations. In my study, I argue that this is due to the lack “fit” of these technologies with the structure, processes and practices of the employees. Against this backdrop, my study draws from organizational job fit, task-technology fit and technology acceptance literatures to introduces the “Technology-Job fit” construct and explore its moderating role on how employees of government organisations perceive and adopt e-government technologies. I test my model on a large sample of employees of different government organisations in a developing country (Thailand). My study contributes to literature by providing a model that helps solve the inconsistency in e-government literature on the effect of quality perceptions on satisfaction. My findings will also guide practitioners and policymakers as to how to improve adoption of e-government technologies by designing their systems and training material in a way that showcases their fit with the job. Qianqian Li, Management Impacts of Top Five Executives’ Compensation on Employee As agency conflicts are one of the most examined issues among academics, financial economists have studied whether the corporate executives are paid for what they actually deserve. Mangers are hired to work for the best interest of the shareholders. However, since shareholders cannot be informed of all the information, the managers may select the projects that will benefit themselves most. This is what we call the agency conflict. Our study is to investigate this conflict by examining the impacts of the incentive compensation to the top five executives on the employee wages. From our results, we find that there is negative impact of executive compensation on employee wages.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 Mahmud Rahman, Management Market Reaction to the Passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act This thesis investigates the market reaction to the events leading up to the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Specifically, I examine whether investors value the changes in the corporate tax structures and restrictions of the deductible executive compensation using short and long window event studies. Tanbirul Islam, Management Tax Evasion in New Digital Platforms in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study Tax evasion is a global issue that has attracted the attention of governments, policymakers, researchers and members of the public. It is a practice that can significantly reduce the revenue available to the government for financing public projects and providing basic services such as healthcare. In addition, those who evade taxes place a significant economic burden on their fellow citizens who responsibly meet their tax obligations. Like many other countries, Bangladesh has experienced the negative impact of tax evasion as the government works to develop and globalize the economy. Although increased use of technology and digital platforms like social media have created new opportunities that are being exploited by small and large enterprises, concerns have also been raised about the effect on tax compliance. The current paper intends to address this issue by examining the possibility that some businesses which are using social media in support of new business models may be using the nearly entirely on-line nature of their transactions to avoid customs taxes. Based on interviews with Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and customer surveys, the study develop an understanding of the potential mechanisms of tax evasion being employed by these businesses. The results of the study will assist stakeholders such as the government and regulatory agencies in understanding how technology is contributing to tax evasion in Bangladesh. Cansin Cagan Acarer, Management Scheduling Elective Surgeries in Multiple Operating Rooms This paper focuses on the problem of designing appointment schedules in a multiple operating room surgery center. A simulation optimization approach is used to develop schedules for elective surgical procedures in the presence of uncertain surgery durations. We study the pooling of operating room resources as an option for improving resource utilization and performance.

2c

Bioscience and Health - Plaza 410

Bradley Baranowski, Applied Health Sciences Role of acute exercise-induced brain BDNF on APP processing and BACE1 Perturbations in metabolism results in the accumulation of beta-amyloid, which is a pathological feature of Alzheimer’s Disease. Beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is the rate limiting enzyme in the pathway responsible for betaamyloid production. Exercise has been shown to reduce BACE1 activity and increase brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) content and signalling, however whether BDNF mediates the effects of exercise on BACE1 regulation requires further investigation. C57BL6 male mice were placed on a low or high fat diet (HFD) for 10-weeks. Following the intervention, the mice either remained sedentary or underwent an acute bout of treadmill running. Mice were euthanized, and the brain was collected for protein quantification. The HFD intervention led to increased body mass, impairments in glucose and insulin tolerance, as well as spatial memory (p < 0.05). A HFD led to decreases in ERK phosphorylation (downstream of BDNF) (p < 0.05). An acute bout of exercise recovered ERK phosphorylation in the HFD group (p < 0.05) and significantly increase BDNF protein content in both LFD and HFD groups (p < 0.05). Results from this study suggest that exercise can increase BDNF protein content in an obesogenic rodent model and recover deficits in BDNF signalling. Jennifer Wilkinson, Applied Health Sciences Increasing membrane saturation promotes release of cytochrome c in synthetic membrane model to support mitochondrial-mediated cell death Skeletal muscle is a highly active tissue comprising up to 40% of total body weight. As a highly dynamic tissue, it relies on mitochondria and mitochondrial respiration to survive. Since composition of mitochondrial phospholipids influence the functional efficiency of mitochondrial proteins, healthy membranes are unsaturated to promote respiration. In addition, increasing membrane saturation has been implicated in many diseases resulting in muscle wasting, a condition caused by unregulated programmed cell death identified by the release of specific proteins. Currently, it is unclear how membrane composition promotes the release of these “pro-death” proteins, specifically cytochrome c. Thus, synthetic membranes mimicking the composition of isolated mitochondrial membranes from healthy and wasted muscle were created. Cytochrome c shape and function was measured with and without these membranes. There were no differences in protein shape or function between the healthy and wasted synthetic membranes. However,


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 cytochrome c attraction for these membranes is increased with greater unsaturation. This suggests that decreasing membrane saturation, as implicated in muscle wasting disease, promotes the release of cytochrome c and cell death. Given these points, nutritional interventions to improve membrane unsaturation may prove to be an alternative therapy for muscle wasting diseases. Mackenzie Ruthven, Applied Health Sciences The influence of tafazzin on in vitro myogenesis Cardiolipin (CL) is a phospholipid found predominately in the inner mitochondrial membrane. It has a variety of biological roles including electron transport chain organization, cristae organization, mitochondrial fission and fusion, and signalling in apoptosis and mitophagy. CL is synthesized in the mitochondria and must be remodelled with the appropriate fatty acid chains for optimal functioning. Tafazzin (Taz) is the main enzyme responsible for this remodelling. When Taz function is impaired, mitochondrial function is also impaired, which is reflected by pathologies such as cardiomyopathy and skeletal muscle myopathy. It is difficult to examine the direct relationship between Taz, mitochondrial form and function, and myogenesis in vivo. An inducible model of Taz knockdown (TazKD) in rodents can be used to isolate and characterize primary myoblasts in vitro. Thus, the purpose of this research is to characterize this model and study the influence of Taz on cardiolipin remodelling and, in turn, on proliferation, differentiation, and fusion in primary myoblasts in vitro. Isolated primary myoblasts will be monitored in proliferation and differentiation medias, and rates will be characterized alongside Taz concentrations, lipid profiles, and measures of mitochondrial health. It is hypothesized that TazKD will result in impaired proliferative capacity, differentiation ability, and myotube formation. Colton Watson, Applied Health Sciences The role of transforming growth factor-Ă&#x;-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in allergen-mediated mast cell degranulation Using well-established pharmacological inhibitors of TAK1, 5Z-7-oxozeaenol (OZ) and AZ-TAK1 (AZ), we have identified novel TAK1 activation at the key Ser412 residue as a critical conserved linking node between the MAPK and NF B pathways in allergen-activated mast cells. TAK1 inhibition resulted in profound decreases in the late-phase production of pro-inflammatory mediators by mast cells, but more remarkably, inhibition of TAK1 also decreased early-phase mast cell degranulation. Current directions include confirming the OZ/AZ-mediated blockade on degranulation is via direct TAK1 inhibition followed by dissecting how TAK1 fits into the mast cell degranulation mechanism through interrogation of the cell signaling and physical protein interactions that are mediated by TAK1, while also examining the potential utility of targeting TAK1 in the context of models of allergic inflammatory diseases. This research is critical to further our understanding of the basic mechanisms behind mast cell exocytosis, as well as to precisely determine how TAK1 plays a role, ultimately informing on the potential utility of targeting TAK1 in the development of therapeutic agents for treating mast cell-mediated inflammatory pathologies, including allergy. Jeremia Coish, Applied Health Sciences Zika virus-induced mast cell activation There are myriad obscure viruses present in our environment. Time and again, one leaps out of obscurity and into the headlines, as was the case in 2015 with Zika virus (ZIKV). In response to viral infections, including ZIKV, the human body devotes cells that are committed to defence, collectively establishing the immune system. Among these immune cells, the mast cell (MC) is uniquelypositioned in close proximity to blood vessels. As a mosquito searches for a blood vessel, saliva including various vasodilators and concealed viruses are released into this intradermal space. Whether MCs recognize ZIKV remains unexplored. However, host receptors that facilitate ZIKV infection are expressed by MCs. Additionally, previous Dengue virus (DENV) infection appears to augment ZIKV infection by antibody-dependent enhancement cross-reactivity, a rare idiosyncrasy where beneficial antibodies from a primary viral infection render an individual more susceptible to a subsequent analogous viral infection. To determine viral-induced MC activation, MCs will be stimulated with ZIKV in the presence or absence of sub-neutralizing antibodies isolated from the serum of previously infected DENV individuals. Variation in mast cell responses (gene expression and cytokine production) will be compared between conditions to identify whether mast cells may immunomodulate the vector-borne ZIKV infection site.

2d

Supporting the Needs of Others - Plaza 311

Amanda Marcinkiewicz, Applied Disability Studies Directly Measuring Committed Actions by Caregivers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities throughout Acceptance and Comittment Therapy The limited research on enhancing the wellness of caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs) typically focuses on measures of internal states (e.g., self-reported anxiety), versus behavioral actions (e.g., setting and achieving goals). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a third wave behavioral therapy that increases psychological flexibility by modifying one’s relationship with internal states to overcome challenges. ACT has been successful in improving mental health for parents of


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 children with NDDs, yet, limited research has explained which of the caregivers’ behaviours helped them to overcome life challenges. The purpose of this study is to examine caregiver’s goal setting and behavioral actions in overcoming challenges by measuring a key component of the ACT process - committed actions (CAs). Using an uncontrolled pre-post group design, with a changing criterion within- participant component, this study will address the gaps in the literature by measuring parent self-reported behavioral outcomes (i.e., committed actions) and assess whether these outcomes are associated with self-reported secondary outcomes (i.e., stress, life satisfaction). Practical implications include addressing the lack of support for caregivers of children with NDDs and identifying specific actions that could be crucial in understanding the mechanisms for improving life satisfaction for caregivers of children with NDDs. Nancy Leathen, Applied Disabilities Studies Comparing the High-Probability Instructional Sequence with and without Food to Increase Acceptance of Nonpreferred Foods in Children with Feeding Difficulties Food selectivity is defined as a child or youth refusing to eat a sufficient variety of foods based on type, texture, or other dimensions (e.g., colour, packaging). It can have a substantial negative impact on family stress, child nutrition and health, and can lead to inappropriate mealtime behaviours. The high-probability (high-p) instructional sequence is a non-intrusive procedure that involves the presentation of three high-p instructions followed by the presentation of one low-probability instruction. To date, only eight studies – with mixed findings – have examined the effectiveness of the high-p instructional sequence to increase young children’s consumption of food. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of two iterations of the high-p instructional sequence, high-p with a preferred food on a spoon and high-p with an empty spoon, to increase food consumption in two children with autism spectrum disorder and food selectivity using a multielement design within a reversal design. Carly Magnacca, Applied Disability Studies Evaluating Behavioural Skills Training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Caregivers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Multiple randomized control trials demonstrate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for improving the quality of life across populations. However, positive outcomes are less frequently maintained at follow up. Two suggestions to improve maintenance of ACT outcomes are to increase the quality of the training process by using behavioural skills training (BST), and having caregivers facilitate training for other caregivers. Recently, caregivers have been trained to provide ACT to others, although little is known if they do so accurately or feel prepared to do so. The aim of this research is to assess whether adding BST to ACT sessions increases the quality and acceptability of training provided, and/or increases caregivers’ competency in providing ACT to others. This study will provide ACT training to 20 caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, half of which will be randomly assigned to receive an additional BST training session (between subjects). Repeated measures of competency, confidence, and acceptability will be collected from the participants (within subjects). Treatment integrity and acceptability measures will also be obtained from the facilitators. Evaluating an evidence-based training strategy (BST) to deliver ACT may improve the training process, and in turn increase caregivers’ access to coping strategies. Reghann Munno, Applied Disability Studies The Effects of a Self-Management Treatment Package on Physical Activity in University Students with Depressive Symptoms Depression is a highly prevalent condition with proportionally higher rates among university students than the general population. Significant social and economic resources are required to implement contemporary treatments such as cognitive and pharmacological therapies. In research settings, exercise-based interventions have been shown to be highly effective in treating symptoms of depression, however these treatments are infrequently implemented in clinical practice. Behavioural selfmanagement techniques offer an effective, cost-efficient approach to teaching individuals with depressive symptoms to engage in increased physical activity. This study will evaluate a self-management treatment package including self-determined goals, self-monitoring, and researcher-delivered feedback for increasing participants’ frequency of daily steps. This study will also examine secondary outcome measures including, sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms to evaluate any collateral effects associated with engaging in self-management behaviours intended to increase physical activity. If the intervention is successful it will extend the literature on behaviour analytic, self-management techniques targeting increased physical activity by demonstrating its effectiveness with university students experiencing depression in their natural environment. Further, this study may provide support for the generality and maintenance of the self-management techniques by showing that the participants continue to engage in selfmanagement behaviours without contrived reinforcement or the involvement of the researcher.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 Emma Peddigrew, Child and Youth Studies From Medication to Meditation: A Strengths-Based Approach to Mindfulness-Based Practices for Children with Learning Disabilities Historically, individuals with learning disabilities (LD) have been understood from a medical or deficit model. This approach tends to label individuals as dysfunctional and in desperate need of treatment. However more recently, LD has become understood as encompassing not only neurological explanations, but social and emotional aspects as well. Often the socio-emotional difficulties faced by individuals with LD have detrimental effects on mental health, immune system functioning, cognitive processing and educational outcomes. This presentation will focus on how mindfulness- based practices can positively influence the lives of children with LD by understanding one’s ability to become capable and interconnected. Mindfulness refers to the process of continuous awareness and attention toward the present-moment experiences with a non-judgmental point of view. Practicing mindfulness will offer children with LD a unique way of thinking, learning, and approaching real-life situations. Specifically, practices of mindfulness may refocus children away from negative thought processes towards concentrating on the present moment, controlling attention and emotion, and focusing on strengths. To date, very little research has tended to this field. This presentation will attempt to critique traditional approaches and offer an alternative regarding the practice of mindfulness for children with LD.

2e

Meeting the Challenges of Life and Learning - Plaza 408

Monica Louie, Education Teacher’s Comfort with Racial and Ethnic Diverse Classes My research considers the implementation of equity and inclusion policies and their relevance for teachers working within racially and ethnically diverse schools in Ontario. Although the Ontario Ministry of Education includes a number of policy documents that suggest all schools and classrooms in Ontario can be equitable and inclusive when policy is applied, the experiences of new or soonto-be teachers suggest that implementation is more challenging. Facing discussions of race and ethnicity in the classroom can be a difficult experience for many teachers, particularly those new to the field. The purpose of my study is to explore the limitations of policy-in-practice and consider the bridge that might help guide current and future teachers to feel more readily prepared to teach in ways that are relevant to the diverse students within their classes. As a Teaching Assistant for a course that addresses diversity issues in schooling, I hear many students in the Concurrent Education program share their uneasiness about discussing issues of race and ethnicity. Although the issues and topics explored in classes and seminars allow for some open discussion on issues such as racism and equity, teacher candidates often struggle to consider their relationship to and experiences with power and privilege as educators in Ontario. How can teachers work to break the social, systemic, and structural barriers within education and society if they never confront or question them? Of significance is this study’s focus on how new teachers can develop their identities and knowledge in ways that support the complex identities and experiences of their diverse students. I explore what else teachers may need to consider alongside policy documents if we are to truly create equitable and inclusive learning environments in schools. Hyacinth Campbell, Education Colorism: Black Women's Experience in Post-Secondary Education My research examines how colorism informs Black women's post-secondary experiences. The process of racialization works together with different types of oppression to marginalize students of colour. Combined with the issues of sexism and racism, Black women face the complexity of colorism. Racism and colorism work together to reinforce structures of racial discrimination and bias based on skin tone. Various racialized experiences may inform how Black women negotiate schooling, their relationships with peers, teachers, and school experience based on hegemonic construction along colour lines. The concurrent problem of racism and colorism are central to understanding the intricate ways in which colorism is manifested. Hence, a focus on colorism will highlight Black women’s complex experiences. The racialization of students of colour is manifested in small and overt ways to discount their knowledge or silence the voices of students of colour. By focusing on Black women’s experiences, I hope to identify the variety of “…voices, experiences, and knowledge that have not been at the table” (Dei, 2013, p. 7). Hence, an exploration of colorism within postsecondary contexts is useful because it can inform anti-racist initiatives in education which have tended to overlook nuances of colorism. William Ankomah, Educational Studies Questions Sow the Seed of Change: Hmm, What Does it Mean? Appreciative inquiry (AI) theorizes that inquiry and change happen at the same time. Does it mean that change begins as soon as a research question is asked? In this brief presentation, I will refer to AI to discuss the notion that questions sow the seed of change. As such, I will use the 5-“D” Cycle of AI (i.e., define, discover, dream, design, and destiny) to tease out the benefits of asking positive research questions to foster educational development. Cooperrider and Whitney (2001) suggest that “human systems grow in the direction of what they persistently ask questions about” (p. 3). Again, these scholars argue that “if inquiry and change are a


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 simultaneous moment; if the questions we ask set the stage for what we 'find'; and if what we 'discover' (the data) creates the material out of which the future is conceived, conversed about, and constructed” (p. 5), then how can we use AI to create positive change? Again, appreciative inquirers believe that positive change is fostered when inquiry questions solicit encouraging ways to development. In their critique of traditional action research (AR), David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva (1987) came up with a philosophy that serves as a praxis (theory and action) when conducting research, shifting away from the problem-solving focus of AR. These scholars defined AI as “both a search for knowledge and a theory of intentional collective action which are designed to help evolve the normative vision and will of a group, organization, or society as a whole” (p. 159). Cooperrider and Srivastva thus inspire appreciative inquirers to collect data not only to solve organizational problems but also, and most importantly, to reveal the vision of the collective in order to stimulate change in that direction. Rose Walton, Educational Studies Conceptualizing Fathers as Literate Beings as Diverse Socio-cultural and Linguistic Texts: How Fathers Contribute to Their 3- Year- Old Children’s Early Literacy Development Family literacy research is dominated by mother-child interactions (Quiroz & Dixon, 2012; Aram, 2008; Puglisi, Hulme, Hamilton & Snowling, 2017; Mount-Cours, 2016; Tamis-LeMonda & Rodriguez, 2009) engendering roles of care as feminine in nature (Taisey Petrie & Holloway, 2006; MacLeod, 2008; Hegarty, 2016). Children engage in early literacy activities with families at home before formal school entry (Jarrett & Coba-Rodriguez, 2017; Wasik & Van Horn, 2012) where meaning making occurs within relations and experiences. Bowen’s Family Systems Theory (BFST) explores naturally occurring systems within reciprocal relationships (Kerr & Bowen, 1988) whereby families negotiate ongoing structures as processes leading to changes in behaviour patterns. Fathers’ roles and interactions within a family system (Sohrabi, Asadi, Habibollahzade & PanaAli, 2013; Duursma, Pan & Raikes, 2008) provide a framework of interdependent and interactional spaces. Hegemonic masculinity is constructed as a gender position with its hegemonic roots (Gramsci, 1971) espousing dominance through consensus. Connell and Messerschmidt’s (2005) argue masculinity exists within three relationships: subordination, complicity, and marginalization from and within groups. Critical ethnographic case study exposes hegemony and themes through description of shared behaviour patterns, beliefs and language in ordinary settings. Family literacy practices are the relationship of children learning with and from family members about language, culture and community. Defining family literacy as a continuum of meaningful learning (Nordtveit, 2005) to support goal attainment, knowledge building and community participation as valued resources. Integrating information from focus group conversations, cultural material artefacts and observations of shared culture group interactions through a constant comparative methodology will be explored. Shannon McGann, Child and Youth Studies What Is ‘Settlement’?: Theorizing ‘Settlement’ For Young Refugees Under Canadian Refugee Assistance Policy of the Syrian Refugee Crisis. This paper aims to explore the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) that facilitated the settlement of thousands of Syrian refugees into Canadian communities beginning in 2015 onward. This three-tiered settlement system, comprised of government funding, private citizen sponsorship and a blended-visa option mediated the economic circumstances for refugees in their first 12-months in Canada. During this initial first-year period, refugee families face expectations to find permanent housing, parental employment, means of transportation, and engage with various other responsibilities associated with long-term settlement. Additionally, little conversation has surrounded the experience of the young Syrian refugee in Ontario, particularly under this refugee policy. Using Derrida's theory of Hospitality, I will critique the discourses surrounding the 'settlement' period embedded in the RAP. I argue throughout this paper, enmeshed in this federal policy are expectations and discourses of citizenship shaping the settlement experience for refugee children and youth. By evaluating this policy, I will theorize potential long-term barriers to settlement for young refugees, contingent upon economic and social reliance on Canadian citizens and the federal government within the first-year. Overall, the aim of this paper is to re-conceptualize 'settlement' beyond economic resource, in order to better support young Syrian refugees, and uphold Canada’s long-term commitment to re-settlement under current refugee policy.

2f

Computer Science - Plaza 411

Arpi Sen Gupta, Computer Science Objective Reduction in Many-Objective Optimization Problems Many-objective optimization problems (MaOPs) are multi-objective optimization problems which have more than 3 objectives. MaOPs face major challenges because of search efficiency, computational cost, decision making, and visualization and so on. The most well-known multi-objective evolutionary algorithms like NSGA-II and SPEA2 do not scale well with an increasing number of objectives. Objective reduction can alleviate such difficulties. However, most of the publications in objective reduction use nondominated sorting or Pareto ranking which must reduce sub-problems to < 4 objectives. In this research, we are going to explore new approaches to objective reduction using the normalized sum of ranks and the Age Layered Population Structure algorithm (ALPS). When applied to many-objective problems, the sum of ranks outperforms normal Pareto ranking for problems with a large number of


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 objectives. In our approach, we are less restricted in objective reduction compared to research using Pareto ranking. We will use ALPS in our approach with the aim of removing premature convergence and improving results. Lastly, the performance of the proposed approach will be studied extensively on standard benchmark problems (DTLZ) which enables us to compare performance with others in the literature. Shaun Banik, Computer Science Effect of the Side Effect Machines in Edit Metric Decoding An error correcting code removes unwanted noise to a degree by using redundancy and this process of finding and correcting errors is called decoding. In edit metric decoding, the edit distance, between two words is the minimum number of substitutions, insertions and/or deletions required to change one word into another. Since these types of errors occur in DNA, error correcting codes over the edit metric are useful in bioinformatics applications. Side effect machines, an extension of finite state machines, can provide efficient decoding algorithms for such codes. However, the edit distance can be calculated in O(n2) which differs from the Hamming distance which can be found in O(n) time. We would like to explore an expanded set of codes and try to find out if there are trends in terms of machine size, capability, etc. Therefore, the methodology of evolutionary programming will be studied further with the extension of exploring minimum-maximum number of states. This includes analyzing the best machines generated to determine the exact count of states that are reachable from the start state. This could be used to then simplify the resulting machines. Nurbek Imangazin, Computer Science A Relation-Algebraic Approach to L-Fuzzy Topology Any science deals with the study of certain models of the real world. However, a model is always an abstraction resulting in some uncertainty, which must be considered. The theory of fuzzy sets is some way of formalizing one of the types of uncertainty that occurs when modeling real objects. Fuzzy sets have been applied in various real-world problems such as control system engineering, image processing, and weather forecasting systems. The main research focuses on applying the categorical framework of abstract L-fuzzy relations to L-fuzzy topology with ideas, concepts and methods of the theory of L-fuzzy sets. Since L-fuzzy sets were introduced to deal with the problem of approximate reasoning, t-norm based operations are essential in the definition of L-fuzzy topologies. We use the abstract theory of arrow categories with additional t-norm based connectives to define L-fuzzy topologies abstractly. The resulting theory of L-fuzzy topological spaces provides the foundation for applications and algorithms in areas such as digital topology, i.e., analyzing images using topological features. Fatemeh Salahi, Computer Science Surface Area of Interconnection Networks Parallel Computing is an approach of computation to address the problem of solving large problems by dividing large problems into smaller parts and processing each part in different processors simultaneously and then combining the results to get the final answers. Processors need to communicate to each other and one way to accomplish this task is to connect them together based on an interconnection network which can be modeled as a graph, where each node represents a processor and edges indicate connections between these processors. Choosing a suitable topology is very critical in terms of complexity, reliability, power-usage and network traffic. An interesting property of an interconnected network G, is the number of nodes at distance i from an arbitrary processor u, denoted by BG(u, i). This is an important property as it can be used in evaluating network performance, characterizing the k-neighbourhood broadcasting behavior of a structure and it can be used to derive the average distance of a network structure. In this research, I have worked on graphs such as the (n, k)-arrangement graph, A(n, k), and I have proposed a recursive formula to compute BA(n,k)(u, i) and I am trying to verify the forward difference property of order i+1 for this graph, so that as a result, a closed-form formula for BA(n,k)(u, i) can be obtained. James Paterson, Computer Science Graph Model Inference of Complex Networks Using Genetic Programming Graph models are tools that can be used to help understand the structure and functionality of networks. A graph model is an algorithmic description of the process which created the modeled network. The creation of these models can be a difficult and timeconsuming process, involving lots of trial and error. To aid in the creation of graph models, automated processes can be used to infer a model for a given target network. One successful approach for this problem uses an artificial intelligence technique known as genetic programming (GP). GP is used to evolve programs to solve problems, taking inspiration from biological evolution. My thesis work builds off previous work using GP for the problem of automatic graph model inference. I am conducting a comparative study between different GP-based approaches for finding graph models. Using the results of this preliminary study, I will be extending the GP system to more accurately model different network properties. One property that I am interested in is called community structure, which is where a network is divided into multiple distinct clusters called communities. I will be using the GP system to evolve models for several real-world networks, particularly networks which exhibit community structure.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 2g

Undergraduate Student Presentations 2 - Cairns 336

Olivia Bagshaw, Biomedical Science ‘TPP-LA’: A Potential Therapeutic Approach to Barth Syndrome Barth's syndrome (BTHS) is a mitochondrial disease characterized by cardio-skeletal myopathy and exercise intolerance. BTHS is caused by mutations in the TAZ gene, which encodes Tafazzin, an acyltransferase involved in the synthesis of cardiolipin, a unique mitochondrial phospholipid that contains primarily linoleic acid. In the absence of Tafazzin, cardiolipin is synthesized without linoleic acid, resulting in mitochondria with abnormal structure and function. Life expectancy of people diagnosed with BTHS is approximately 40 years and treatments are limited to ameliorating symptoms. We hypothesize that healthy cardiolipin synthesis can be restored by exploiting the mitochondrial acyltransferase MLCLAT1, which catalyzes an alternative pathway of linoleic acid incorporation into cardiolipin. However, MLCLAT1 requires high levels of linoleic acid to catalyze this reaction. We have invented triphenylphosphonium-conjugated linoleic acid (TPP-LA) as a means of increasing linoleic acid concentration inside of mitochondria, thus increasing linoleic acid incorporation into cardiolipin via MLCLAT1. TPP-LA, because of its positive charge, accumulates up to 5000x inside of mitochondria. Inside mitochondria the TPP moiety is removed from TPP-LA by resident esterases, leaving free linoleic acid. This strategy should promote cardiolipin synthesis via MLCLAT1, even in the absence of Tafazzin. To test this, I am using TAZ knockout cells that lack functional Tafazzin. I hypothesize that administration of TPP-LA will rescue mitochondrial dysfunction in these cells, and am testing this by measuring mitochondrial network morphology (structure) and membrane potential (function) in the presence and absence of TPP-LA. If successful, TPP-LA will next be validated using a pre-clinical mouse model of BTHS. Danny Marko, Health Sciences Examining the Mechanisms of Interleukin-6 Signaling in SH-SY5Y Cells IL-6 is a cytokine released from the brain with exercise. GLUT4 is expressed in the brain and can be recruited to axonal plasma membranes with neuronal activity through AMPK activation. The aim of this study is to examine: 1) if IL-6 results in AMPK activation in neuronal cells; and 2) if IL-6 increases the phosphorylation of proteins involved in GLUT4 translocation. Retinoic acid differentiated SH-SY5Y neuronal cells were treated with insulin (100nM) and two doses of IL-6 (10ng/mL and 20ng/mL) for 30min before being collected for Western blot analysis of Akt, STAT3, AMPK, and AS160. To examine the time course response cells were treated with 20ng/mL of IL-6 for 10, 20, 30 and 60 minutes followed by Western blot analysis of AMPK. Insulin treatment increased phosphorylation of Akt and AS160 (p<0.05). The 20ng/mL dose of IL-6 resulted in phosphorylation of the α-subunit of STAT3 (p<0.05) as well as AS160 (p<0.05). Time course study results demonstrated that 20ng/mL of IL-6 resulted in phosphorylation of AMPK at 20 minutes (p<0.05). IL-6 can phosphorylate AMPK and AS160. This is important because of the role AS160 plays in stimulating GLUT4 neuronal translocation. Future studies will examine glucose uptake in response to IL-6. Matthew Nasato, Kinesiology Effects of an Acute Bout of Exercise on Nrf-2 and Wnt/B-catenine Signaling Cascades in Obese and Normal Weight Mice The goal of this study is to examine whether obesity effects the response of Nrf-2 and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling cascades to an acute bout of exercise, specifically in relation to bone tissue. It is known that obesity causes many complications including lipotoxicity, an increase in proinflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, leptin and adiponectin) and a decrease in insulin sensitivity. However, there is a lack of research pertaining on how obesity effects osteogenesis. Wnt/ß-catenin is an anabolic signaling cascade that has been shown to lead to bone formation. It is inhibited via sclerostin, which has been shown to increase during an acute bout of exercise, which seems biologically counterintuitive. Nrf-2 is a cytoprotective regulator, it is activated through reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are found to be higher following running exercises as well as in obese individuals. It is unknown if Nrf-2 regulates bone metabolism positively or negatively. To test how these signaling cascades respond to an acute bout of exercise in obese and normal-weight animals, 40 mice were divided into four groups: wild chow diet/sedentary, high fat diet/sedentary, wild chow diet/ active, high fat diet/active. The active groups of each diet condition participated in an acute bout of exercise that consisted of running on a treadmill for 2 hours at 2% grade. The tibia and femur were harvested from the subjects and snapped frozen. They were then pulverized and homogenized for further western blotting analysis. It is expected that there will be an increase in Nrf-2 signaling and a decrease in Wnt/ß-catenin signaling for the high fat diet groups in both baseline and exercise conditions.

3a

Health and Well-being 3 - Plaza 409

Rachel Richmond, Applied Health Sciences A Phenomenological Analysis of Chronic Pain Self-Management Self-management is a poorly understood concept from both the academic and patient perspectives. Within the literature it is known as a vague concept which is often mistaken for other terms such as self-care and self-help. The ambiguity surrounding self-


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 management in academia is then transferred to patients through their physicians. Living with a debilitating, invisible condition, such as chronic pain, can force patients to self-manage their conditions. This study set out not only to define this concept and those related to it, but also to understand self-management behaviours from a patient perspective of persons with chronic pain. A literature search as well as qualitative interviews were conducted to explore with more depth the meanings that participants associate with the phenomenon of self-managing their chronic pain. Five themes emerged from the analysis of interviews: Doctors, Getting Through the Day, Being Limited, My Hidden Burden, and What’s Next. Chronic pain proved to be a controlling factor in the lives and decisions of all participants. Overall the self-management behaviours that participants found the most useful, other than medication, were relaxing behaviours that reminded them of their childhood and families. Elyse Gorrell, Applied Health Sciences The mindfuck of social media on athletes The purpose of the research was to understand the use of social media and how it affects athletes' mentality. Previous literature suggests that athletes may not understand the implications of social media, and that there is psychological ramifications that could play a part in the athletes’ behaviours. The study examined how social media might affect athletes’ mentality as well as why athletes use social media. Using a phenomenology approach, the study utilized semi-structured interviews with 10 high performance athletes in combat sports. The interview guide included questions on what sport and level of sport the athlete played, what his or her social media usage was like, and how social media impacted him or her as an athlete. Results demonstrate a distinction of two different spaces — the real and the virtual — that may alter athletes’ behaviour, such as building false confidence or second guessing their ability. Merna Seliman, Applied Health Sciences Mindfulness therapy as a means to improve sexual satisfaction in couples with spinal cord injury Approximately 119,000 people across Canada are affected by spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI represents a significant challenge to quality of life (QOL). A SCI causes nerve damage that affects sexual function. Sexuality is a basic human need and is a vital component for achieving satisfaction with one’s overall QOL. The impairment of sexual function is associated with lower QOL for individuals with SCI, especially if the injury occurs during the reproductive period of their lives, which is often the case. Early research has focused primarily on fertility and erectile function. There is a relative lack of focus on the quality of sexual experiences in couples after SCI. A more holistic approach to sexuality that includes psychosocial aspects in addition to physical aspects of sexuality is needed in order for individuals with SCI to experience richer and more satisfying sexual encounters which will likely improve their QOL. Mindfulness has been found to improve a variety of negative mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Mindfulness has been shown to be effective in treating sexual dysfunction in different populations. The current study aims to investigate the effects of an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention on sexual satisfaction in couples with SCI. Celine Teo, Applied Health Sciences Does precarious labour alter mental health trajectory in the LGB population? Background Employment conditions and sexual orientation are powerful social determinants of mental health, but they have not been studied simultaneously in previous studies. There is evidence to suggest that LGB individuals are uniquely vulnerable to adverse employment conditions including workplace harassment, job insecurity, low wages, lack of job autonomy, and are over-represented in low-wage and low-skill jobs. Aims 1. 2.

Do LGB individuals face a higher rate of labour precarity? Does the impact of precarious labour on mental health differ by sexual orientation?

Methods The main data source is the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS). The sample comprises of roughly 40,000 households participating in the UKHLS. Predictor variables associated with dimensions of precarious labour along with outcome variables measuring psychological well-being (i.e. GHQ, SF-12) will be captured across 8 time points. Analysis We will examine the association between precarious labour and psychological well-being, and whether the association differs by sexual orientation. As longitudinal analysis is required, we will use person-year as the unit of analysis and fixed effect model to analyze the effect.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 Conclusions As precarious employment plays such important role on mental well-being, it is essential to study their interaction effect on vulnerable groups such as the LGB population. Deanna Buchmayer, Applied Health Sciences Defining Self-Compassion Through Photo Elicitation in University Students     Researchers define self-compassion as empathy directed towards the self, involving noticing and understanding one's own suffering, disappointments, and struggles. Self-compassion comprises three components: self-kindness, recognition of common humanity, and mindfulness. Limited research has explored how individuals' define self-compassion in their own words. Perspectives of selfcompassion have been examined in individuals with anxiety and depression, adolescents and young adult female exercisers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine women's perspectives of self-compassion through photo elicitation and semi-structured interviews with nine female university students aged 18-24. This study involved two visits. At visit 1, participants completed a questionnaire package and received instructions for taking about 10 photos. At visit 2, participants completed a one-onone interview lasting 25-60 minutes in length. After transcribing and analysing the data using thematic analysis, the following five themes were developed reflecting participants' perceptions of self-compassion: positive health behaviours, individualized, self-love, forgiveness and external sources. The results demonstrated that self-compassion was incredibly individualized, and defining selfcompassion was challenging, as many participants struggled with what self-compassion really meant. As prior research suggests, self-compassion has many positive benefits, thus continuing to explore this topic and understanding individuals' perspectives in larger and various populations is necessary.

3b

Management 2 - Plaza 308

Ziwen Wang, Management Comparing Asset-Pricing Models Using Quantile Regressions For Distance-Based Metrics Asset pricing model is used to estimate the expected return on portfolios or the cost of equity for individual stocks by using single or the multi-factors. More and more papers focus on comparing the existing models or try to find the best combination of the factors. However, some traditional methods that used to measure model performance may cause many problems such as power problem and extreme-error problem. In this thesis, we try to rank the model performance by using distance-based metrics that can avoid the problems we mentioned. We use quantile regression to find the impact of a covariate on the entire distribution of returns, and figure out that Fama-French six factor model has the best performance through overall ranking results. In addition, we believe that the momentum factor is not as necessary as we think, but HML as a value factor plays an important role in the model and cannot be ignored. Songchan Guo, Management Idiosyncratic momentum and option markets This paper documents that the idiosyncratic momentum strategy can generate more stable profits than traditional momentum strategy. We find that traditional momentum profits become less significant or even turn to negative after the appearance of traded options when holding months are one, three, six and twelve, while idiosyncratic momentum profits are still positively significant when portfolios are held for three, six and twelve months, although they are less significant for one month holding period. We confirm that idiosyncratic momentum is an even bigger violation for conventional asset pricing literature. Deepan Kumar Das, Management Macroeconomics Events and Emerging Foreign Exchange Markets This paper primarily intends to identify sudden spikes (jumps) in the exchange-rates of emerging currencies, and to investigate how the jumps, cojumps and exchange-rates’ return and volatility react to various macroeconomic news and monetary policy settings coming from the respective emerging economies as well as those from the US, Eurozone and Germany. In this research, I focus on 5 emerging countries (currencies): Hungary (Forint), Mexico (Peso), Poland (Zloty), South Africa (Rand) and Turkey (Lira). Examining the effects of the macroeconomic news lends an opportunity to understand how the rates are connected to the broader economies of those emerging nations. However, the available evidence from studies concerning the preceding relationships is predominantly based on developed markets. And the fact is world economy is changing towards an increasing significance of emerging market economies. As transmission of information across forex markets continues to become a widely studied topic in the literature, this research has the prospect of documenting interesting features on such markets in the emerging countries. Also, existence of jumps and cojumps in exchange-rates of emerging currencies has yet to be researched thoroughly, because of which the importance of this research is growing. Preliminary results clearly show dominance of announcements coming from the US over those from any other country. The


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 number of different types of announcements from the US that impact the exchange-rate return and volatility is higher than that from Eurozone and Germany. FOMC rates have remarkable impacts on return and volatility. Domestic news on interest rates, and selling of bonds is significant. Ben Bernanke, Esther George, Robert Kaplan, Dennis Lockhart, Loretta Mester and Jerome Powell from Federal Reserve, and Timothy Geithner, David McCormik and Henry Paulson from the US Department of the Treasury are found to exert significant influences on the exchange-rate volatility. Guliziba Juma, Management A Matter of Reemergence and Perish: Innovation and the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Outcome It is a widely held belief that innovative activities are related to firm`s performance as well as firms` survival. However, previous studies have not fully examined the effect of innovation on distressed firms. The purpose of this study is to explore the mediating effects of boardroom independence and diversity on the relationship between firm`s innovation and Chapter 11 bankruptcy outcome. Specifically, this research hypothesizes and finds that the more independent and diversified the corporate boardroom is, the more likely the bankrupt firm exits from Chapter 11 bankruptcy via reorganization and rejoin the market. On the other hand, the less independent and diversified firms are tend to liquidate and perish from the market. This result is more significant for firms in the technology related industry.

3c

Sport, Health and Youth Research - Plaza 410

Yixian (Crystal) Chen, Applied Health Sciences Associations between Dietary Factors, Selected Obesity-Related Metabolic Markers (Leptin, C-peptide, and Highly Sensitive C-reactive Protein), and Lung Cancer: A Matched Case-Control Study Nested in the Prospective PLCO Trial Excess body weight is a risk factor for many cancers, but an increase in body mass index (BMI) shows a protective effect against lung cancer (LC). Metabolic changes caused by smoking promote lung carcinogenesis. Previous studies suggest that elevated levels of C-peptide and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and lower concentrations of leptin are associated with increased odds of LC in smokers. The current study evaluates associations of dietary factors in addition to BMI and the aforementioned metabolic markers with LC. Using data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, 931 cases and 1909 controls are studied. The study employs a case-control design nested in a prospective cohort to evaluate the associations. Controls are matched to cases on age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking status, and duration of follow-up. A structured questionnaire obtained data on additional variables: BMI, family history of LC, education, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and smoking history. Multivariable conditional logistic regression is used to study main effects and interactions. Stata 14.2 is employed for statistical analysis. If novel associations are discovered, they may suggest further investigations for developing and implementing preventative strategies. Colin Dunne, Applied Health Sciences The Effect of Blade Alignment on Kinetic and Kinematic Characteristics During the Execution of the Butterfly Technique in Goaltenders Recent manufacturing of goaltender skates without the cowling presents an opportunity to investigate the effect of blade alignment on goalie specific performance techniques. A single-subject, A-B-A, quasi-experimental design will be conducted; baselineintervention-baseline. True Pro Custom skate boots will be worn retrofit with four blade alignment conditions defined by the positioning of a cowling versus a traditional blade holder on the skate boot; neutral alignment dictated by a cowling (ANC), and three alignment interventions: alignment lateral (AL), alignment medial (AM), alignment neutral (AN). Five trials of two butterfly techniques will be executed in each condition (N=90 trials). Kinetic and kinematic data will be collected simultaneously in a controlled lab environment including synthetic ice. Kinetic data will be collected using LogRTM wireless in-skate pressure distribution insoles (OrpyxŽ Medical Technologies Inc., CA) measuring: peak plantar pressure [PPP(psi)] and time to peak plantar pressure [TPP(s)]. 3D kinematic data will be collected using a Vicon motion capture system (ViconTM, UK) measuring: butterfly drop velocity [BV(m/s)], butterfly recovery velocity [RV(m/s)], lateral butterfly slide velocity [LBSV(m/s)], lateral recovery velocity [LRV(m/s)], and butterfly width [BW(cm)]. A Repeated Measures ANOVA will determine significant differences in kinetic and kinematic measures within and across the four blade alignment conditions (p≤0.05). Steve Dol, Applied Health Sciences A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Functional Movement Screen (FMS) Scores In Male AAA Minor Hockey Players The purpose of the study was to compare Functional Movement Screen (FMS) scores across hockey age groups and stage of maturation in adolescent male ice-hockey players. Furthermore, to determine if years of training in a unilateral sport correlates with movement pattern asymmetries. One hundred and eleven male (9-17 years) AAA players completed a battery of physical measurements including; height (cm), weight (kg) grip strength (kg), sit and reach (cm) and the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). FMS total scores (TS), frequency of individual scores (1, 2, 3), and frequency of left/right asymmetries were used to interpret movement


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 efficiency. FMS TS revealed significant differences across both hockey age groups (F (3,107) = 7.002), p=.00 and stages of maturation (F (4,106) = 4.790), p=.00, meaning that FMS TS improved with both age and physical maturity. No significant differences were found in the frequencies of individual screen scores (1, 2, 3’s) or frequencies of left/right asymmetries across hockey age group or stage of maturation. A relationship between years of hockey experience and left/right asymmetries was not revealed, therefore we are left questioning the unilateral nature of a training stimulus versus normal growth and development on movement efficiency. Carolynn Hare, Child and Youth Studies Impact of Inattention, Anxiety and Sensory Processing Patterns in Cognitive Control People with anxiety and ADHD have difficulty detaching from distracting events and focussing on a task. These challenges in information processing have significant impact on academic performance. The findings suggest relationships between anxiety, and ADHD in clinically diagnosed children, youth and adults. However, there has been limited research on how these emotional and behavioural patterns interact, and furthermore, impact cognitive processes such as decision making in non-clinical emerging adults. In a previous study with university students I investigated the effects of trait anxiety and ADHD-like behavioural patterns on target detection performance during distractor and non-distractor conditions. Results of this study revealed independent and additive effects of trait anxiety and inattention on task performance (Hare, 2017). Following these preliminary findings, currently I am investigating the relationships among trait anxiety, ADHD and sensory processing patterns in university students and if and how they predict decision making performance. As sensory processing defines the way we interpret our environment, I expect that in addition to anxiety and attentional challenges, different patterns of sensory processing (e.g., sensory sensitivity) may influence information processing efficiency. The findings will have implications in understanding cognitive and academic difficulties in those with sensory processing challenges, trait anxiety and ADHD-like behaviour. Jaime Barratt, Education Parental Perceptions of Physical Activity in Young Children The first five years of a child’s life are a crucial period for parents to foster the development of fine and gross motor abilities. Developing such physical proficiencies promotes a healthy body weight and most importantly decreases the risk of obesity (Tremblay et al., 2016). A qualitative study explored the potential relationship between parents’ and preschool children’s physical activity levels. Further, the study investigated the knowledge parents have of physical activity guidelines (Tremblay et al., 2012), and the potential influences of that awareness on parental and children’s level of physical activity. The research was guided by the following research questions: (a) What knowledge and awareness do parents have of physical activity guidelines? (b) How do parents’ perceived levels of their own activity align with how active they report their children to be? (c) What do parents conceive of as their role in fostering activity levels in their children to be? Findings indicated most parents reported engagement in sedentary behaviours and were largely unaware of physical activity guidelines. Despite parents’ own levels of inactivity, they reported daily physical activity engagement for their children. The findings suggest more advocacy is needed in relation to parental engagement in physical activity alongside their children.

3d

Intersections of Power and Identity Negotiations - Plaza 311

Keely Grossman, Social Justice and Equity Studies “We Had More Eyes on Us Than the Boys”: Gendered Surveillance at Residential Schools for the Blind The presentation draws my larger project on the intersections of gender, sexuality and disability at residential schools for the blind. Drawing on the framework of critical disability studies as it intersects with feminist, queer and intersectional theorizing, the presentation focuses on related issues of methodology. The presentation analyses, for example, the ways in which my own social location shaped the process of data collection and how online qualitative interviewing yielded of rich data from an under researched and under-represented population- notably former female students at residential schools for the blind. Some preliminary findings relating to female student experiences of gendered surveillance and sexuality within the residential school setting are also offered. Anella Bieteru, Social Justice and Equity Studies Gendering household decision making in rural Ghana: Women still in the margins? Western scholarship on African studies have shown that patriarchy is absolute in many African societies and women are mostly the victims of this system. This has created wide gender gaps between men and women making the potential of women either unrecognized, overlooked, or suppressed. However, some African feminists’ scholars such as Ifi Amadiume and Oyeronke Oyewumi have questioned this notion of patriarchal absolutism which has one major consequence of undermining the major contributions of African women in the power dynamics of African societies. They have also demonstrated through their works that power is not all held in the hands of men in many African societies. The findings reveal that, while women bear major economic responsibilities


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 of their families, they are constrained by many social, economic and cultural factors which limit their opportunities at gaining any economic or social independence. The findings further show that women, even in their subordinate positions, are capable of resisting patriarchal power in complex ways despite public declarations of rural African women as powerless. Janet Moore, Critical Sociology The Influence of the Western Evangelical Church on Homosexual Men Married to Women Homosexual men raised with evangelical Christian values, through church, family, educational, and community influences, are more likely to marry women than their non-Christian peers. Having a homosexual orientation within a heterosexual marriage can be the source of many marital problems, leading to a life of wedded agony for both partners. I am currently conducting a critical literature review that focuses on the role of the Western evangelical church in a homosexual man’s decision to marry a woman. By overlaying the influence of the church with a modern understanding of homosexuality and marriage, I will develop a position of normalcy that can be embraced by individuals within the church who are troubled by the traditional teachings. Sociological themes for discussion arising from this research include: fears of family and community sanction if homosexual men divulge their sexual orientation to an evangelical Christian audience; homophobia within the church; the presentation of heterosexual marriage producing natural offspring as the ideal; deconstruction of conservative religious ideology regarding sexual orientation; the location of power and identification of the beneficiaries in the heterosexual marriage scenario; and the effects of living with a repressed sexual orientation. Iris Yap, Geography Are the Kids Alright? Ontario Sex-ed Curriculum and Socio-Spatial Governance Geographies of education have focused on the spatiality of schools and its role in shaping social identities and behaviours in order to become contributing citizens to society. For decades schools have represented power structures and have been designed to achieve specific ends. Schools are known as spaces that are constructed through moral beliefs and are generally controlled by adults which include, the government, teachers, and principals through the use of the legally binding curriculum. My paper will look at the ways in which children use their agency to contest and challenge these adult spatial hegemonies by looking at the September 2018 student protests of the reinstatement of the 1998 Ontario sex-ed curriculum. Connor Thompson, Sustainability: Science and Society Thinking outside the grid: Motivations and barriers to leading a quasi-urban off-grid lifestyle Over 200,000 Canadians currently live in remote northern communities without access to the electrical grid. Some choose to lead a more robust quasi-urban off-grid lifestyle (OGL), wherein they live independent of major electrical, natural gas, and water and wastewater utilities but still rely on some amenities in nearby communities. By taking responsibility for their own service pro-vision, OGL adopters must maintain awareness of their resource consumption habits as the basic inputs of water and power can have irregular availability and require ongoing conservation. Em-bracing an OGL is not yet possible throughout Southern Ontario due to restrictive municipal leg-islation, so those looking to do so are forced to move to unorganized townships where homes need only comply with the Building Code Act, 1992. Through two respondents who presently live off-grid in Northern Ontario, a snowball sampling method will be used to distribute ques-tionnaires among additional members of their community on motivations and barriers to leading an OGL. This paper will add to the limited academic literature by providing a current analysis of OGLs in a modern Canadian context, and discussing the viability of off-grid development given contemporary technologies and climate challenges.

3e

Lessons Learned from Books, Films and other Media - Plaza 408

Carmen Long, Interdisciplinary Humanities Pulping Justice: Joan Baxter’s The Mill: Fifty Years of Pulp and Protest Joan Baxter’s narrative account of the Pictou County pulp mill in Canada’s Nova Scotia province exposes the force of a single industry and the social totalities of power and money. The Mill reveals the borderless, comprehensive grasp of a compulsion that considers economics and the environment as inseparable. This literary journalistic exploration of the systemic expansion of the exploitation of the environment to imbricate relations of production and consumption, and the lives of those caught up in the struggle for their livelihoods and well-being, asks of the reader to enter another realm – as narrative journalism does – to consider the story of the pulp mill through a lens of epistemic injustice. Baxter’s journalistic tracing of a historical arc that spans some five decades, makes evident the legacy of impositions of vulnerability on the earth and those it sustains, and brings into sharp focus especially the ecological racism perpetuated against communities who continue to be “imaginatively” displaced and expunged from discourse by a powerful rhetoric.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 Camila Mugan, Interdisciplinary Humanities The Body that Moves: Orientation as Audibility of Silence in Literature Beyond reticence and indirect speech, a female character’s silence can become a type of voice able to orient or shift narrative perspectives. My project engages with the concept of “orientation” (Ahmed 2006) as one of the timbres of an audible silence or a type of literary voice. Silence is analysed in two ways: as the narrative non-voice and as the bodily movements that compose the materiality of the female characterisation. These two literary formal elements function as defining the standpoint from which the world of the literary texts evolves or changes course (Ahmed 8). Also, they reveal the possibility of silence to become expressive within the literary text. Direction, orientation, spatiality are the conceptual tools applied to analyse how the female bodily presence constitutes its place and role in the world of literary texts. Through a close reading of a scene in Marcel Proust's Swann's Way this paper reflects on how the female body and bodily movements direct silence towards a type of voice. Mahmoud Elewa, History Tracing the History of African Diasporic communities in Oman: Slavery, Slave Resistance & Manumission in 19th and 20th Century AlBatinah Al Bātinah is a coastal region located in the northern part of Oman which has one of the largest African diasporas in the Persian Gulf. This paper seeks to contribute to the understanding of the roots of this diaspora through the examining Al Bāṭinah’s past in the nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. In these two centuries many enslaved Africans were trafficked to the region through the Indian Ocean slave trade from East Africa to work on the date plantations which involved the labour of pollinating, irrigating and the harvesting of date palms. This paper will focus on slavery and slave resistance in Al Bāṭinah where it will be based on archival research in the India Office Records at the United Kingdom’s British Library relating to British manumission accounts of enslaved Africans and their experiences from slavery to manumission. Through the manumission certificates and records of the experiences of enslaved Africans I will examine the testimonies enslaved Africans who escaped slavery from Al Bāṭinah and their lives on the plantations with the conditions which led to them to resist slavery. The archival research will also be supported by scholarly works written on Omani history, slavery and the African presence in the Persian Gulf written by historians such as Matthew S. Hopper, Behnaz Mirzai, Bernard K. Freamon and Thomas F. McDow. Sydney Forde, Canadian-American Studies Media Literacy Across Borders: A Canada-US Comparison The United States of America is currently experiencing rising levels of political polarization. Media researchers have credited this social division to increasingly partisan based news organizations generating sensationalized stories meant to attract audience attention for advertisement revenue. My research intends to examine what role varying levels of media literacy among audiences play in the consumption of sensationalized news information, while also comparing the media environments of each nation. I intend to conduct surveys collecting demographics, political views and affiliations, media consumption habits, media trustworthiness, perceptions of various news organizations’ political biases, and level of media literacy in two first-year undergraduate courses at Brock University in St. Catharines Ontario, and at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo New York. This sample is representatively justified by comparing students at both schools, 30 miles apart who grew up in the shared Niagara region. Borderland theorists suggest that regions that straddle international boundaries should host the least differences between nations. Thus, finding any differences between populations here would presumably point to more substantial differences in the larger context of both nations. Overall, my research aims to better understand why the Canadian and American media systems vary so greatly in terms of sensational and partisan appeals of news media.

3f

Computer, Earth and Biological Sciences - Plaza 411

Scott Cocker, Earth Sciences A true palaeo diet: What the East Milford Mastodon ate 40,000 years ago. In 1991, adult mastodon remains (Mammut americanum) were discovered in the East Milford National Gypsum quarry, Nova Scotia and dated to approximately 40,000 years BP. The American mastodon is an extinct species, unique to the Americas, which existed until the end of the Wisconsinan glacial (10,000 years ago). Within Canada, mastodon remains have largely occurred in southern Ontario but several individuals (mostly dental remains) have been excavated from the Canadian Maritimes. The adult specimen is 60% complete with recovery of the pelvic girdle, sections of the tusk, and palate containing four molars. Along with the mastodon remains, the site yielded several amphibious individuals including a frog (Rana pipiens) and two turtles (Chrysemys picta and Clemmys inscuplta), all of which are still extant in Nova Scotia today. Despite several studies establishing palaeoclimatic conditions and constraining the mastodon’s age, minimal work has been aimed at the palaeoecological significance of faecal samples also preserved at the locality. This study therefore aims to identify the pollen, fungal spore and invertebrate assemblages recovered from the mastodon faeces. The results from this study provide a unique insight into diet preference of these megaherbivores and will enhance palaeoecological knowledge of mastodons in the Canadian Maritimes.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 Emily Ham, Earth Sciences Microplastics and microfibres in agricultural soils and wastewater effluent of the Niagara Region: Sources, sinks, and solutions Microplastics are now ubiquitous in freshwater and terrestrial environments across the globe. Plastics are entering Niagara water systems as microplastics and microfibres derived from household products, including synthetic clothing and personal care products. These microplastics are known to enter wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with untreated influent and exit with the effluent into water bodies where they may be taken up by aquatic organisms. Microplastics can accumulate in wastewater sludge, which is applied to agricultural fields throughout the Niagara Region. Applied microplastics may be making their way onto agricultural lands where runoff can facilitate their transport into adjacent water bodies. The main objectives of this study are: (1) to determine the prevalence of microplastics in the Niagara wastewater treatment system; (2) to determine if microplastics are accumulating in agricultural soils via biosolids application; and (3) to determine if microplastics are finding their way into surface water, potentially via runoff from adjacent agricultural fields and effluent discharge. Monthly effluent sampling was conducted in 2018, and surface water sampling was conducted downstream of a Niagara WWTP in summer/fall 2018 using a manta trawl. Agricultural soil samples were collected from 3 Niagara fields. Results indicate substantial microplastic pollution in these systems. Margaret Hughes, Biological Sciences Impacts of Perimeter Plantings on Farm Ecology and Ecosystem Services With rising global populations, and concern about food security, safety, and sustainability, there is a need to rethink agricultural production. The common use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers has negatively impact the environment, local biodiversity, and hindering the potential for the provision of ecosystem services. In vineyards, perimeter plantings may support local abundances of natural pest-enemies through increased plant diversity. However, the impact of increased diversity within the margin of fields is influenced by a number of landscape and management variables, and therefore can be location or region specific. My project aims to better understand the interaction between increased plant diversity in various types of perimeter plantings throughout the Niagara region, and the potential impact on invertebrate communities. Surveys were completed collecting both plant and invertebrate community data on 8 unique vineyard sites, encompassing a wide range of management practices. We found that plant communities differed from the perimeter to the interior of vineyards, as well as across sites, and was significantly impacted by management practices. Invertebrate communities also varied between perimeter and interior locations. Through further investigation of the potential impacts on invertebrate assemblages, best practices may be designed, increasing economic and environmental benefits through increasing the potential for biological pest control. Rodela Kaleci, Biological Sciences It smells good! This study involves an examination of a simle reaction that we all perform in our everyday life - the Maillard Reaction, known as the non-enzymatic browning. The Maillard occurs when heating any food products that contains proteins (amino acids) and reducing sugars. I am interested in flavour compounds produced. This evidenced if you simply smell your meat before and after cooking – what do you smell? The literature concerning the mechanism behind th Maillard Reaction is unclear, and is the subject of my research. I aim to study the Mailllard Reaction using sparkling wine, because it contains the substrates and good conditions for the reaction to happen, and has yet to be studied. In my presentation, I will present the issues involved in this research, my expectations, the research design, and the methodology of work. Arvand Fazeli, Computer Science Stock Return Prediction Using Deep Learning Stock markets are volatile, prices fluctuate and there are many complicated financial indicators involved. A complete analysis of a company’s financial performance to predict its future stock price requires reviewing public earnings documents. Reviewing and analyzing these documents to reach an investment decision is a tedious and time-consuming task. To perform an investing strategy, stocks are given points based on different factors and investment portfolios are created from stocks with the highest scores. While there are multiple ways to predict stock markets, the most common ones use either technical indicators or fundamental data such as revenue, cash flow or other financial ratios. Stocks can also be predicted by using other factors such as news, tweets and other sources of information. While problems in the financial market tend to be different from other deep learning applications, they are different in one particular aspect. Unlike other problems which humans have a great ability to perform, whether it be recognizing a shape in an image or recognizing a voice, humans do not have an innate ability to select a stock that will perform better in the long run. A deep leaner is able to perform computational calculations to find the relations for a return to gain insight into the hidden patterns. This is different from the methods and techniques used in statistical and other quantitative asset management. In our work, we will integrate Deep Learning with financial data gained from stocks to identify patterns and predict the prices ahead of time.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 3g

Undergraduate Student Presentations 3 - Cairns 336

Sophie Hamstra, Applied Health Sciences Low dose lithium feeding improves murine left ventricular SERCA function by regulating SERCA2a and phospholamban expression. The sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) pump is responsible for regulating calcium (Ca2+) within muscle cells. SERCA2a is the predominant form seen in cardiac muscle. Its inhibitor, phospholamban, decreases SERCA’s affinity for Ca2+ therefore decreasing SERCA activity. This means that changes in the SERCA2a:PLN ratio can cause calcium dysregulation that is often seen in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The enzyme glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK3ß) negatively regulates SERCA function by decreasing the SERCA:PLN ratio. Lithium is a well-known inhibitor of GSK3ß and interestingly, a negative correlation has been seen between trace lithium in tap water and cardiovascular disease. We sought to determine whether low-dose lithium feeding in mice would improve left ventricular SERCA function by altering the SERCA2a:PLN ratio. In this study, male wild type mice were fed low-dose lithium via their drinking water (10mg/kg/day for 6 weeks) and their left ventricles were removed and tested. Maximal SERCA2a activity did not change between lithium and control mice however, SERCA’s apparent affinity for Ca2+ along with the ratio of SERCA2a:PLN were both significantly higher in the lithium group. These findings suggest that low-dose lithium can improve SERCA function via alteration in the SERCA2a:PLN ratio which could have clinical implications. Joshua Reycraft, Health Sciences The effect of exercise intensity and recovery on plasma BDNF in healthy young adults Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a centrally derived exercise-induced growth factor promoting brain health via mediating neuroprotective and neurogenic processes. BDNF content declines with aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. While circulating BDNF levels increase immediately post-exercise in proportion to exercise intensity, the plasma BDNF profile following acute exercises (continuous and intermittent) at different intensities is unknown. The aim of the current study is to examine plasma BDNF recovery following different acute running-based exercises to identify the optimal protocol offering a neuroprotective BDNF response. Eight males completed four acute exercise sessions: 1) MICT (65% VO2max); 2) VICT (85% VO2max); 3) SIT (“all out”); and 4) CNTL (no exercise). Blood was collected pre-exercise, immediately, 30 min, and 90 min post-exercise. Plasma BDNF was assessed via ELISA biochemical analysis. Plasma BDNF increased post SIT exercise session compared to CNTL, MICT, and VICT (p < 0.05). AUC values representing BDNF recovery were significantly greater within the SIT group compared to CNTL, MICT, and VICT (p < 0.05). Plasma BDNF increased in an intensity-dependent manner with SIT eliciting the highest exercise-induced BDNF response. These results support HIT as an effective time-efficient exercise modality to promote brain health through BDNF release. Jake Scott, Health Sciences Alterations in Cerebral Blood Flow during Dopamine Reuptake Inhibition and Hyperthermia". Increases in core body temperature by ≥1.0˚C (hyperthermia) impair cognitive function via a proposed mechanism of reduced brain blood flow (BBF) and/or alterations in extracellular dopamine concentrations. Methylphenidate (MPD) inhibits the reuptake of dopamine - thus increasing brain dopamine concentrations - which may influence BBF through increased sympathetic nervous system activity, potentially impacting the cardiovascular system. Nine male participants completed a randomized, double-blind study consisting of two experiments, where participants received 20 mg of MPD or a placebo 60-min before passively heating core body temperature by 1.5˚C. Middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) – an indirect measure of BBF – was measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasound and heart rate (HR) was obtained via electrocardiography. MCAv decreased with hyperthermia (baseline VALUE; hyperthermia VALUE, p<0.001), with no differences between placebo and MPD at baseline (Placebo 63.0±9.1; MPD 59.3±4.6 cm/s, p>0.05) or at hyperthermia (Placebo 48.2±12.1; MPD 48.2±8.2 cm/s, p>0.05). MPD led to a greater increase in HR at hyperthermia than placebo (125±19 vs 135±16 beats·min-1, p<0.05), but was not different at baseline (Placebo: 74±9; MPD: 80±14 beats·min-1, p>0.05). Oral administration of MPD led to increased HR at hyperthermia but did not counteract the decreases in BBF caused by hyperthermia.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019

Poster Presentation Abstracts Session 1 1. Kirina Angrish, Applied Health Sciences Body image improves over the course of a pregnancy. Research investigating body image in pregnant women has generally examined negative body image outcomes with findings showing pregnant women have more negative body image in early pregnancy compared mid-to-late pregnancy. In this population, there has been a lack of research investigating positive body image constructs and self-objectification. Specifically, how these construct change during pregnancy. In non-pregnant women, positive body image is associated with positive health behaviours, thus it is important to determine if pregnant women experience positive body image during their pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether body appreciation, self-objectification, and embodiment levels differ across trimester. The sample consisted of 12 women in their first trimester, 28 in their second trimester, and 43 in their third trimester. Participants completed measures of body appreciation, self-objectification, and embodiment. A multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to determine whether pregnant women’s body appreciation, self-objectification, and embodiment differed across trimester. There was a statistically significant difference between the trimesters. Follow-up univariate ANOVAs showed self-objectification and embodiment, specifically body agency, were statistically significant. Games-Howell post-hoc tests showed self-objectification decreased significantly from first to third trimester whereas body agency increased significantly from first to third trimester suggesting body image improves during pregnancy. 2. Michelle Lesley Annett, Critical Sociology Exploring the Narratives of Mothers Working as Strippers Despite a large body of research exploring issues faced by working mothers today, there is little literature focusing on mothers who take part in highly stigmatized and unconventional forms of paid labour to provide for their children. Taking up this line of inquiry, my MA thesis project explores both micro and macro understandings of the narrated experiences of four women in Canada, who are both mothers and exotic dancers, with the overarching question: ‘how do these women navigate and negotiate their socially constructed identities and practices as both mothers and sex workers?’. Exploring the daily routines and practices employed by these women to meet the responsibilities of both roles, how they negotiate the work of social reproduction, the forms of support they have access to, and the barriers these women have been faced with, this research aims to give space to these women’s narratives, and in turn, place their experiences of both socially devalued forms of work within the greater context of contemporary capitalist society, and in relation to gender and class inequalities. 3. Madeline Arnott, Business Economics Higher Education and Employability I am interested in researching concepts surrounding the sustainability of post-secondary education achievements categorized by program type/field of study in regards to: job matches, median salaries, student debt undertaken, in addition to a variety of qualitative interacting characteristics amongst graduates from a recent cohort. The “sustainability” concept of higher education is tested as we examine the prevalence of over-education and over-skilling (synonymous to an underutilization of qualifications or skills) thereby likely dampening personal and society productivity amongst the Canadian class of 2010 graduating with a postsecondary certification. I plan to include variables capturing geographical location of study, gender, program, student debt, labour force status while studying, labour force status(es) during the 3 years elapsing after graduation, and variables measuring selected qualitative attitudinal responses to investigate the resulting effects on wage, job satisfaction, student debt, and other relevant variables pertaining to recent graduates entering the labour force, as well as how these variables interact/correlate with one another. 4. Madeline Marie Asaro, Applied Disability Studies Evaluating Thinning Schedules of Reinforcement in Functional Communication Training Using Multiple Schedules and Chained Schedules Functional communication training (FCT) is a common intervention in the area of applied behavior analysis. It is designed to decrease problem behavior while increasing a functionally equivalent communicative response (FCR), such as asking for a break from work or using a picture card to request a toy. Although effective, this procedure tends to produce high rates of the FCR that may not be manageable for parents or teachers. The purposes of this ongoing evaluation is to evaluate the effectiveness of (a) FCT and (b) two common strategies (multiple and chained schedules) to thin the schedule of reinforcement for the FCR. The participant is a five-yearold boy who is diagnosed with ASD whose problem behavior is maintained by escape from demands and access to tangible items. We


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 are using a multiple baseline across functions design and found that FCT produced an immediate decrease in problem behavior and an increase in FCRs. We have recently begun the schedule thinning evaluation and have observed moderate to low levels of problem behavior and high levels of the FCR. Results will be discussed within the context of future areas of research and suggestions for improving the practicality of this intervention.  5. Paria Azadi Namin, Chemistry Thermally Reversible Silicone-Based Elastomers using the Diels-Alder Reaction as a Cross-Linker The strong and flexible nature of elastomers have led to them being used numerous applications in various industries, products, and technologies. Silicone elastomers, in comparison to other materials, have been shown to have high tensile strengths, tear resistance, and in some cases fire resistance (1). We are exploring the cross-linking of silicone polymers using the Diels-Alder (DA) reaction in an effort to make silicone elastomers recyclable and self-healing (2). Siloxane polymers possessing a furan moiety as the diene have been synthesized, and cross-linked using the DA reaction with N,N'-(1,3-phenylene)dimaleimide as the dienophile (3) to yield silicone elastomers with a slight golden color and various thicknesses. These elastomers could be deformed and would recover their original shape. The physical properties of these elastomers, along with their capacity for self-healing and potential for recyclability will be discussed. REFERENCES: (1) Yilgör, E.; Yilgör, I. Silicone Containing Copolymers: Synthesis, Properties and Applications. Progress in Polymer Science2014, 39(6), 1165–1195. (2) Gheneim, R., Perez-Berumen, C., and Gandini, A. (2002) Diels−Alder Reactions with Novel Polymeric Dienes and Dienophiles: Synthesis of Reversibly Cross-Linked Elastomers. Macromolecules35, 7246–7253. (3) Nasresfahani, A., and Zelisko, P. M. (2017) Synthesis of a self-healing siloxane-based elastomer cross-linked via a furan-modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane: investigation of a thermally reversible silicon-based cross-link. Polymer Chemistry8, 2942–2952. 6. Amanda Balyk, History “Give Her Something that Will Set that To Rights”: Medico-Moral Influence on Abortion 1840-1880. Throughout the Victorian era, varying modes of print treated abortion in very different ways. The legality behind it confirmed that abortion was illegal, punishable by a life sentence of penal servitude for both the woman and whosoever supplied or procured the abortion, though interestingly, men were indicted more so than women. Books for women merely outlined the symptoms of, prevention of, and treatment of abortion, or discussed the “evils” of abortion. However, the mode of print that had the most varied discourse was that of medical men. Medical discourse varies as many doctors would advertise that they could perform procedures that would make women “regular”, or “set that to rights”- coded language for abortion, whereas other medical press condemned the “quack” medicine. What’s more, in the 1850s, the medical field was professionalized, and men who were guilty of procuring abortions were condemned by the medical field. By evaluating the British Medical Journals between 1840-1880 and evaluating the professionalization of physicians, whilst condemning “quack” doctors who procured abortions, I hope to evaluate the conflicting discourse to shed light on the relationship between abortion, and the widely accepted social mores of this particular period surrounding abortion. 7. Lucas Coia, History Off the Beaten Path : Rural Cult and Local Identity in Southern Italy, 1200-1500 CE The relationship between elite and popular culture is a topic that has interested historians of the Middle Ages and early modern period. For instance, Tommaso Astarita has argued compellingly that popular practices relating to religion, morality, and community justice remained dominant in the villages of early modern southern Italy, despite the attempted hegemony of ecclesiastical and state authorities. (1999). My presentation addresses this question as it relates to the cult of saints in late medieval southern Italy. Late medieval southern Italy is a subject that is largely overlooked in Anglo-American scholarship, which focuses on religion in the central and north parts of the peninsula. That said, the south makes for a compelling case study as it highlights the peculiarities of the acculturation process in a culturally ambiguous and remote region of Europe, with Latin, Norman, Greek, and Arab influences. This presentation will make use of a number of late medieval hagiographical texts, written accounts of a saint’s life. It is instructive to conduct a deep reading of these sources, as they refract contemporary notions of Christian identity and practice. It is then possible to compare these texts, which were often commissioned for use in local liturgical life, with official Catholic doctrine. Thus, a picture emerges in which local culture is set against that of a cultural elite. Understanding this relationship in a region as complex and remote as southern Italy, provides an important contribution in the crafting of a medieval centre-periphery model more broadly, as it is often through atypical cases such at this, that the most can be gleaned.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 8. Bertram Darko, Canadian-American Studies Measurement of Poverty and Anti-poverty Strategies Eradication of poverty is the first United Nations Sustainable Development goal. While poverty is such a multi-layered problem associated with the third world, it also is present in the western world. This study investigates and examines how poverty is defined and measured in Canada. The study will assess three anti-poverty measures in the period of 2008 - 2018: Low Income Measure (LIM), Low Income Cut-off (LICO) and Market Basket Measure (MBM). Through a mixed methodology approach of quantitative, qualitative and geospatial analysis, the overall findings indicate poverty is defined through an arbitrary poverty line framework of low-income and not in an economic and social assistance framework – a poverty model that uses a combination of non-deprivation indices and income. Non-income indicators and social idiosyncrasies of poverty reveal the gaps in the Market Basket Measure of poverty measurement where to some extent it exposes the actual incidence and depth of poverty in different areas of Ontario. The findings suggest the high incidence and persistence of poverty is on the decline using the Low Income Cut-off whereas using the Market Basket Measure, poverty is on the rise in Ontario. The shift from the Low Income Cut off to the Market Basket Measure, from 2008 - 2017 will reveal increasing levels of poverty. This will help identify and perhaps address some root causes of poverty specific to the Niagara region and modeling anti-poverty strategies tailored for the region. 9. Danja Den Hartogh, Applied Health Sciences Attenuation of FFA-Induced Skeletal Muscle Insulin Resistance by Carnosic and Rosmarinic Acid Impaired insulin action in muscle leads to insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes mellitus, a disease on the rise. Elevated blood free fatty acids (FFAs), as seen in obesity, are associated with insulin resistance and studies have shown increased serine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate (IRS-1) and reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in muscle cells exposed to FFA palmitate. A number of serine/threonine kinases including JNK, IKKB, mTOR and p70 6SK have been implicated in serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and insulin resistance. On the other hand, activation of the energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) increases glucose uptake and has become an important target to counteract insulin resistance. We reported recently that rosemary extract (RE) increased skeletal muscle cell glucose uptake and activated AMPK. The polyphenols carnosic acid (CA) and rosmarinic acid (RA) are found in high concentration in RE and in the present study we investigated their effect on palmitate-induced insulin resistant L6 muscle cells. Glucose uptake was measured using [3H]-2-deoxy-D-glucose and the signaling molecules involved were investigated by immunoblotting. Exposure of L6 myotubes to the FFA palmitate (0.2 mM, 16 hours) resulted in significant reduction of insulinstimulated glucose uptake, indicating insulin resistance. Importantly, in the presence of 2 uM CA or 5 uM RA, the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was restored. Treatment with palmitate increased serine phosphorylation of IRS-1, increased the phosphorylation/ activation of JNK, mTOR and p70 6SK and significantly decreased the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt. The effects of CA and RA on these signaling molecules are under investigation. Our data indicate that treatment with CA or RA attenuates the FFAinduced muscle insulin resistance. These polyphenols may have potent effects against insulin resistance and deserve further study. 10. Melanie Extance, Education The Long Road Home: Shedding Light on Ontario’s Student Transportation Services Transporting students to and from school has become an ever-present concern for the public, including: parents, educators, schoolbus drivers, administrators, and students. Major media and news stories often shed negative light on the transportation services (e.g. school busses) provided by school boards. Despite this concern, school boards throughout Ontario are not required by law to provide transportation for elementary and secondary students. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education provides minimal funding to school boards for transportation expenditures which, depletes every year due to budgetary cuts. Fortunately, all 72 school boards in Ontario provide transportation for their students but, to what end? The variances of services have created inequalities that affect the safety and efficacy of this necessary service. This literature review explores the past, current, and possible future threats to student transportation services in Ontario. 11. Rachel Fenech, Applied Health Sciences Combined metformin and resveratrol prophylactic therapy inhibits GSK3ß activity in the hippocampus of C57BL/6 male mice GSK3ß plays a key role in various metabolic pathways including Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, brain GSK3ß activity is increased with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and thus inhibiting its activity has clinical potential. Metformin (MET) and resveratrol (RSV) are promising GSK3ß inhibitors due to their antidiabetic nature. This study examined MET and RSV independently and in combination against HFD-induced brain insulin resistance. It was hypothesized that combined treatment would have an additive benefit via AMPK activation and subsequent GSK3ß inhibition. Prefrontal cortex and hippocampal tissues were collected from C57BL/6 male mice fed a low-fat diet (LFD; 10% kcal fat), HFD (60% kcal fat), HFD+MET (250mg/kg/day), HFD+RSV (100mg/kg/day), or HFD+MET+RSV (COMBO; 250mg/kg/day + 100mg/kg/day). Following 13 weeks, MET, RSV, and COMBO prevented HFD-induced weight gain as well as glucose and insulin intolerance (p<0.05). While no significant changes to pAMPK were observed, inhibitory pGSK3ß was higher


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 in the hippocampus of MET, RSV and COMBO mice relative to HFD mice (p<0.05). COMBO mice also had increased pGSK3ß in the hippocampus compared to LFD mice (p<0.05), suggestive of additive benefit. This study illustrates the clinical potential of inhibiting GSK3ß with MET and RSV. Further work is needed to fully elucidate the efficacy of these drugs. 12. Nico Gadea, Applied Health Sciences Sex-associated differences of immunoendocrine profiles in neurocysticercosis patients versus healthy controls: a clinical study in Honduras Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a clinically and radiologically heterogeneous disease caused by the establishment of Taenia solium larvae in the central nervous system (CNS). Experimental evidence suggests this parasite can not only evade immune responses actively but can also exploit the hormonal microenvironment within the host to favour its establishment. Sex hormones seem to play a large role in the immune evasion of this condition. In brief, estrogens seem to favour and androgens hinder the reproduction of cysticerci by at least two main ways; (a) through the hormonal estradiol (E2) stimulated shift into a parasite-permissive Th2 dominant response, which is dependent on the over-expression of P450-aromatase by IL-6 that catalyzes the deandrogenization of testosterone (T4) into E2, thus propagating a positive feedback loop that continuously diminishes the parasite-resistant Th1 response; and (b) estrogens and androgens act directly on the reproductive system of the cysticerci by favouring or hindering its asexual reproduction respectively. The current study will explore the immunoendocrine profiles of 40 neurocysticercosis patients and compare their results to a healthy group of 20 controls in an effort to further elucidate the unexplained sex-associated differences in parasite intensity and immune response in women compared to men. 13. Mitch Goldsmith, Interdisciplinary Humanities Science as Sorcery: Conjuring an End to Experiments on Animals Despite worries about a lack of scientific efficacy, exorbitant costs, growing public opposition, serious ethical concerns, and an increase in sophisticated and often superior non-animal research methods, animal experimentation remains an enduring phenomenon. In my research, I examine the material as well as psychic and less readily apparent processes involved in animal experimentation including those that make it so resilient to critique. To that end, I argue that animal experimentation can be understood as a type of ritualized sorcery, replete with traditional psychic manifestations (projection, introjection, splitting, etc.) identified by Freud, Melanie Klein and others but also types of sacrifice, conjuring, and diabolic spell work identified by 19th c antivivisectionist and spiritualist Anna Kingsford and contemporary theorists Isabelle Stengers and Philippe Pignarre. Looking to contemporary witches, those best handled to deal with the evils of the practice; I hope to build a queer, feminist response to animal experimentation based on feminist ethics of care and posthuman materiality. 14. Steffannie Hancharyk, Applied Health Sciences Supporting the Transition to Accessible and Sustainable Martial Arts Participation in Ontario Martial arts has been shown to improve fitness, emotional regulation, and social relatedness among students experiencing Autism. Further, research demonstrates that students taking part in martial arts as a recreational pursuit, stand the most to gain when compared to other athletic activities because classes are offered regularly throughout the week all year round, with a heavy emphasis on fitness, structure and ritual. Recent studies demonstrate that students experiencing disability are lacking in accessible and inclusive programs, and more so in rural regions. Moreover, the Accessibility for Ontarian’s with Disabilities Act 2025 (AODA, 2017) has mandated that all businesses comply with regulations that will assure accessibility across all services for diverse populations. The Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF) has 41 martial arts facilities across rural regions in Ontario, and although its senate members are enthusiastic about the move to accessibility, they do not know where to begin, or what accessible and inclusive martial arts looks like. This project seeks to provide insight into the current state of accessibility in all 41 of the SWKKF facilitates so that we can provide a structure for transitioning to accessibility in a way that is sustainable and meaningful. 15. Natalie Hicks, Applied Health Sciences Y hang around? Fetal microchimerism as a mechanism for maternal immune system stimulation against NLGN4Y Natalie J. Hicks1, Colton J.F. Watson1, Malvina N. Skorska1, 2, Anthony F. Bogaert1, 2, & Adam J. MacNeil1 Departments of Health Sciences1 and Psychology2, Brock University The fraternal birth order (FBO) effect states that homosexuality is more likely to occur in males with older brothers. The FBO effect may be mediated by a maternal immune response that occurs in utero, where Y-linked protein functions could be modified by maternal antibodies. Our team (Bogaert et. al, 2018, PNAS) has demonstrated that this may occur via NLGN4Y, a cell adhesion molecule expressed in male fetal brain. We hypothesize that this maternal antibody production may be perpetuated by fetal microchimerism, where cell lineages originating from the fetus become established in the mother’s body. The persistence of Y


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 chromosome-containing cells may be a possible mechanism for repeated stimulation of the maternal immunity. The aim of this research is to examine isolated blood cells of mothers of sons, about half who have a gay son, for evidence that fetal microchimerism is contributing. DNA will be extracted and examined with quantitative PCR for the presence of the Y chromosome-specific marker dystrophin (hDYS). As well, flow cytometry will be used to quantify circulating male cells. Potential implications of this study include revealing a mechanism for how the mother’s immune system may be stimulated to mount an immune response against Y-specific proteins. 16. Amanda Kornel, Biological Sciences Role of Octopamine as a cotransmitter in fruit flies Nerve cells communicate with each other and with muscle cells by releasing chemical signals (neurotransmitters) at chemical synapses. Effects of a neurotransmitter can be modulated by release of cotransmitters from the same neuron and by hormones. Drosophila larvae (fruit fly maggots) serve as a model system for studying modulation of synapses. Motor neurons innervating the body wall muscles release glutamate (L-Glu) as the primary neurotransmitter to depolarize the muscle fibers and initiate contraction. The motor neurons also contain octopamine (OA) and several neuropeptides that are thought to act as cotransmitters. To examine a role for OA as a cotransmitter, muscle contractions were evoked by stimulating the motor neurons, and OA was applied in the bath. OA did not alter muscle contractions at low or high impulse frequencies, but it enhanced the force of nerve-evoked muscle contractions at a moderate frequency (32 hz). OA’s effect was blocked by phentoamine, an OA receptor blocker. Release of peptide cotransmitters is known to increase with stimulus frequency. The absence of an effect of OA at high stimulus frequencies might indicate high levels of release of OA that, in turn, saturate OA receptors on the muscle. 17. Richard Le Sueur, Chemistry Anion Dependent Hydrogen Bonding States: Resulting Fluorescence Implications in a Proton Sponge Model System Through-space, non-covalent interactions, particularly the hydrogen bond, play an indispensable role in chemical and biochemical processes, such as those regulating the vast network of reactions controlling life. Several model systems have aided in our understanding of the H-bond, among which peri-disubstituted naphthalene-based compounds classified as “proton sponges” hold particular historical significance. Our recent development of a cyclopropenium-based proton sponge has expanded the scope of interactions in these systems to include the generation of aromaticity, internal charge-transfer states, and ion-pair interactions. Additional properties of this molecule include high fluorescence in solution and solid state while containing an intermolecular hydrogen—counterion interaction, as opposed to a short, strong intramolecular H—bond to the peri-NMe2 group typical of proton sponges. Herein, in building upon the cyclopropenium based proton sponge platform, the counterion dependent nature of hydrogen bonding in this system has been studied by varying the anion component. X-ray crystallography indicated that by changing the anion, we were able to switch between inter-molecular hydrogen bonding and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding. This switching between hydrogen bond states influenced the structural, electronic, and photophysical properties of this system leading to significant differences in quantum yield, while leaving the absorption and emission unaffected. Computations revealed this trend in quantum yield was attributed to diminished electron donation from the NMe2 group into the naphthalene ring system, as a consequence of intramolecular hydrogen bond formation. Furthermore, the relatively large changes in electronic and geometric properties arising from these varying hydrogen bond states has obvious potential in terms of developing new molecular switches. 18. Jessica Linzel, History “The Shopkeeper Aristocracy”: Examining Trade Networks in Colonial Niagara The Niagara region of Ontario experienced significant adjustments during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. With the decline of the fur trade, the new American border, the influx of a few thousand Loyalists, and the War of 1812, the patterns of exchange were constantly being disrupted. The merchants that operated within Niagara controlled not only local exchange between townships along the peninsula, but connected them with the broader network of Great Lakes and Laurentian trade. The British government provided substantial funding to the region for its strategic position and market potential, but what exactly did trade look like in colonial Niagara? How did it function within the larger national and trans-national economic systems? How did British officials, the mercantile elite, and the farming communities interact with one another? My research situates itself within Canadian historiographical arguments about the role of burgeoning colonial societies in the production of materials for both local consumption and commercial export. The events of this time period held crucial implications for the trajectory of Niagara’s future socio-economic success, and as such are deserving of further study.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 19. Aindriu Maguire, Applied Health Sciences Examining inflammation as a link between adverse childhood experiences and development of cardiovascular disease through the Niagara Longitudinal Heart Study Individuals who suffer from various forms of abuse and neglect are at a greater risk for developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) later in life. The Niagara Longitudinal Heart Study (NLHS) is working towards a better understanding of the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and future cardiovascular health, as well as the mechanism(s) driving this relationship. To investigate the mechanism(s), our team has employed a number of methodologies to dissect potential biological explanations. General and specific markers of inflammation will be measured for each participant through Multiplex and ELISA analysis of serum. Cortisol, an indicator of stress, will be analyzed in the participants' hair, allowing us to approximate their chronic stress levels. Saliva will also be collected from each participant and DNA will be extracted. Reductions in telomere length and mitochondrial copy number, associated with an accelerated rate of cellular aging linked to inflammation - inflamm-aging - will be assessed through a quantitative PCR analysis of DNA. These measures will give insight into the inflammatory state and the rate of cellular aging in young adults that participate in the NLHS. This work will provide insight into the lifelong impact of ACEs and potentially tease out a mechanistic link between ACEs and CVD. 20. Gabrielle Marshall, History Sympathy for the Devil: The Role of Motherhood in the Infanticide Trials of 19th Century England The treatment of infanticide in 19th Century England is rife with contradictions, as moral panic rages in newspapers and medical journals the courtroom conversely extends sympathy and leniency towards mothers accused of murdering their children. Why in a period of public fear over the rise in infanticide in England do juries circumvent the gallows with the charge of concealment or not guilty verdicts? Historians have argued that the reason for the courts’ leniency on the accused, which were by a mass majority lower class woman, is due to their understanding that the motives for murder were that of poverty or shame. Further, it has been argued that judicial leniency was due to the fact that the Victorian public did not consider infanticide to be of the same severity as homicide and thus the punishment of death was determined too harsh for the crime. While there is little doubt that cultural understandings of desperation and the severity of the crime played a role in the sympathy of the juries for the women on trial, there is a distinct lack of analysis in the historiography regarding the role of popular social and medical understandings of the physical experience of motherhood and how this played a role in the persecution of infanticidal mothers. I will use the British Medical Journal and The Lancet to ground links between female acts of violence and the Victorian understanding of the biological experience of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and the critical popular belief in puerperal insanity. While the role of economics and sexual shame is crucial to the study of infanticide this research is important as it brings much needed attention to the role of Victorian conceptions of biological gender differences and inherent female weakness as a crucial element of judicial sympathy for the mother in the infanticide trials of 19th Century Britain. 21. Anneke McCabe, Educational Studies Evoking a soundscape in elementary classrooms What new and creative approaches in an elementary classroom bridge a teacher’s teaching into learning? When we are all positioned as learners, how does the initial reaction to an original piece of music, render the poem as event, inviting an inquiry into future ideas? This poster session aims to render what resonates with you, as an art-based approach to communicating in a classroom’s soundscape is explored using original music. Evoking a poem, translated through music as a medium, invites metacognition to reconstruct the surrounding silence by engaging all voices in the redesign of innovative and shared thinking (Barone & Eisner, 2012; Eisner, 2002). In Ontario elementary schools, we prioritizes teachers’ content knowledge of the prescribed curriculum ahead of a reflective and responsive approach (Dewey, 1934) to the shared learning experiences between the student and teacher (Donohoo, 2017). When teachers rely on traditional approaches to curriculum it positions students as receiving objects (Freire, 1996), enacting a monophonic tone in the classroom’s soundscape. We must breath life back into the curriculum, make learning meaningful, and focus on the art of teaching (Sameshima, 2008). When students are provided an opportunity to analyze and interpret the transaction they live through (Rosenblatt, 1978) the voices in the classroom begin a cycle of genuine inquiry, where students are awakened by intuition and imagining. References: Barone, T., & Eisner, E. W. (2012). Arts Based Research. Thousand Oaks, California. https://doi. org/10.4135/9781452230627. Dewey, J. (1934). Art as experience. New York: Capricorn Books, 1934. Donohoo, J. (2017). Collective teacher efficacy research: implications for professional learning. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 2(2), 101–116. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPCC-10-2016-0027. Eisner, E. W. (2002). The arts and the creation of mind. New Haven : Yale University Press, c2002. Freire, P. (1996). Pedagogy of the oppressed


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 22. Reginald McLean, Computer Science Analysis of Swarm-based Algorithms for Neural Network Training Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have recently come to the forefront of Machine Learning research thanks to developments in both computing power and the abundance of data that is available in the world. ANNs take data and attempts to model the non-linear relationships that may be present in the data. To generate this model, the data can be used to train the ANN using how incorrect the model is. Another method of training the ANN is to apply function optimization algorithms, specifically Swarm Intelligence (SI) algorithms. These algorithms are based on the systems that can be seen from Biology; how birds flock to a food source, how ants travel, or how bats navigate using echolocation, to name a few. One algorithm in particular, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), has been applied to training ANNs and has been found to have deficiencies in regards to its ability to train ANNs. This work examines the ability of other SI algorithms to train ANNs and compares it to the PSO trained ANNs to see if the other SI algorithms also suffer from the same deficiencies as PSO. 23. Joseph Moretto, Applied Health Sciences Body Image In Powerlifters While some studies have examined body image within specific populations such as bodybuilders and weightlifters, one population that has not been explored is powerlifters. Studies examining bodybuilders’ and weightlifters’ behaviours have suggested that men experience negative body image-related concerns (e.g., body dysmorphic disorder, obsession with the male muscular ideal, excessive attention to diet). Novice female weight-trainers reported lower social physique anxiety and improved body satisfaction compared to those who did not weight train. However, none of these studies have examined positive body image outcomes such as body appreciation. Body appreciation is positively associated with physical activity and some dietary patterns (e.g., intuitive eating). Further, powerlifting differs from both bodybuilding and weightlifting, as the focus is on increasing strength for performance (i.e., lifting the highest total weight in competition) rather than appearance (bodybuilding) or general health/appearancerelated outcomes (weightlifting). The purpose of the present study is to explore body image experiences in approximately 10 male and female powerlifters who will participate in semi-structured interviews. Interview questions will aim to understand the interconnection between body image, exercise, and dietary habits. Results from this study may provide evidence as to how dietary habits and resistance training is linked to positive or negative body image. 24. Paige O'Neill, Applied Disability Studies Systematic Literature Review of SCEDs of Parent-Training to Address Problem Behaviour in Children with ASD Parent involvement is an integral part of autism service provision. This is a burgeoning area of study, but much remains to be explored. I am conducting a systematic literature review of single-case experimental designs of parent-training to address problem behaviour in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current review literature of parent-training for children with ASD lacks a focus on single-case experimental designs, the gold-standard in applied behaviour analytic research. Previous reviews have focused largely on parent-training to facilitate social communication in children with ASD, and fewer reviews have been done on studies of parent-training to address problem behaviours. I will collect information from studies on parent and child sociodemographic information, types of problem behaviours addressed through parent-training, dose and setting of parent-training, implementation fidelity, generalization, and social validity. This review will follow Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. The Cochrane Collaboration is the benchmark for quality information in health care, particularly with respect to systematic reviews and information synthesis. The proposed study will add valuable information to applied behaviour analysis; it will inform researchers on gaps in the literature and inform clinicians about methods and protocols that may be effective for parent-training programs. 25. Jennifer Phillips, Political Science The application of policy diffusion theory on Canadian border policy in a post 9/11 world: American pressures, Canadian responses After the events of September 11, 2001, the Canadian government embarked on a pathway which would redefine the policy goals of the CCRA. Through a series of legislation changes and the re-organization of the CCRA to the CBSA, Canadian border policy experienced a significant shift in how the Canada-US border would be monitored, enforced and governed. This research paper is an original contribution to the literature on Canada-US border policy. There is no question that the events of September 11, 2001 have had a profound effect on Canada-US border relations and policy. Although there is a large body of literature on the increasing levels of integration between the two countries, the application of policy diffusion theory on this area of cross-border issues is the first of its kind. By detailing four alternative mechanisms, including learning, imitation, normative factors & competition, this theory demonstrates the influence of US policy changes on Canadian policy. These four mechanisms also contribute to a detailed understanding of how the regional diffusion model comes into play as well.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 26. Nivetha Prabaharan, Psychology An evolutionary psychological perspective on victimization by bullying and non-bullying aggression Bullying is goal-directed aggression towards an individual of lesser power than the perpetrator. In contrast, non-bullying aggression is aimed towards an individual of equal or greater power than the perpetrator. Taking an evolutionary psychological approach, we investigated potential motivations of using both types of aggression. Specifically, we examined dating and sexual behaviour and psychosocial maladjustment experienced by adolescent victims of bullying aggression (victimization by those of greater power) and adolescent victims of non-bullying aggression (victimization by those of equal or lower power). A total of 352 adolescents between the ages of 12 – 18 years (M = 14.6, SD = 1.5) completed self-report measures about aggression, victimization, dating and sexual behaviour, and psychosocial maladjustment. As predicted, adolescents with fewer close friendships and lower social competence had greater odds of being victimized by bullying aggression. Female adolescents with greater dating and sexual partners had greater odds of being victimized by non-bullying aggression. Results suggest that adolescents who are victimized by those of greater power may be targeted due to social vulnerability. Adolescents who are victimized by those of equal or greater power may be seen as rivals and evoke intrasexual competition for mates due to greater involvement with dating and sexual partners. 27. Bailey Ross, Applied Disability Studies Utilizing Statistical Techniques in the Applied Behavior Analysis Field Purpose: The purpose of the research is to apply statistical techniques used in behavioral science research to data from Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) field in order to determine if these analysis methods can be effectively applied to ABA data. Limitations of Current Technique: The ABA field primarily uses visual inspection (overlap statistics) to determine an effect of an intervention; however, this technique does not account for trends and could impede additional understanding of behavior and the results. Behavioral Science Technique: Statistical analyses, such as Hedges g, can be used to analyze single-case designs. This technique could provide additional information that is not gained by visual inspection alone. Additionally, the d-statistic is useful for metaanalyses of single-case designs. How they work together: A more thorough analysis of variables that influence socially significant behavior would continue to provide more knowledge of what is effective in a behavioral program. Future Implications: Exemplifying how statistical analyses can provide more information along with traditional methods will aid in the growth and development of the behavior analysis field. Furthermore, the utilization of a more formal d-statistic could allow ABA results of single-case designs to be incorporated into meta-analyses. 28. Ayse Sen, Educational Studies Examination Of The Conceptual And Operational Alignment In Froebel Gifts Within The Scope Of Abstraction Processes Abstraction of the structures underlying mathematical concepts within areas such as geometry is a key skill used to understand mathematical operations. Many of the current instructional tools used to expose young children to mathematical concepts are inspired by Froebel materials which were introduced as Froebel Gifts in the 1850s. Froebel Gifts consist of 10 sets of wooden materials which are aligned and used in a specific order with the aim of facilitating learning geometry in young children. This poster presents the framework that has been used to study the alignment between the Froebel Gifts and the geometry concepts and operations in order to examine the gifts’ effectiveness in pre-school children’s abstraction processes. The Van Hiele’s Model of Teaching Geometry and Rand’s Theory of Abstraction serves as the framework for this specific analysis. 29. Ivor Smajlagic, Chemistry Cyclopropenium Enhanced Thiourea Catalysis An integral part of modern organocatalysis is the development and application of thiourea catalysts. Here, we present a thioureacyclopropenium organocatalyst with both cationic H-bond donor and electrostatic character. The utility of this thiourea organocatalyst is showcased in pyranylation reactions employing phenols, primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols under operationally simple and mild reaction conditions for a broad substrate scope. The addition of benzoic acid as a co-catalyst facilitating cooperative Brønsted acid catalysis was found to be valuable for reactions involving phenols and higher substituted alcohols. The mechanism of these reactions is proposed to occur through a Brønsted acid mode of catalysis.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 30. Martina Tepavcevic, Earth Science The occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the streams of the Niagara Region Plastics occur ubiquitously in aquatic and terrestrial environments across the globe. There are numerous pathways for plastics to reach these systems, where they can become fragmented and persist, degrading ecosystem health for potentially thousands of years. The Niagara Region has abundant freshwater resources, which may harbour a substantial amount of microplastics (<5mm). Marine studies on microplastics in sediment, water, and fauna are well developed, however freshwater research on microplastics are limited. Freshwater has a closer proximity to potential point sources of contamination, like residential or industrial waste, and effluent from waste water treatment plants. Microplastics are persisting in freshwater around the world, where lake and river beds are an important sink for microplastics. This study aims to address gaps in freshwater microplastic contamination research by exploring the occurrence of microplastics in river sediment in the Niagara Peninsula. Surface sediment grab samples were extracted from streams adjacent to potential point sources. The Niagara Peninsula has 202 watersheds which drain into three water basins: Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and the Niagara River. This study aims to identify the sinks of microplastics in the Niagara Peninsula, and assess where mitigation efforts are needed. 31. Kristen Tollan, Applied Disability Studies “Liking Disability”: Exploring the Development of Identity and Community Amongst Disabled Youth Through Social Media Technological exploration is increasing exponentially, while scholars frequently research its influence on developing brains of young children and adolescents. A specific population is often excluded from these studies — children and youth with disabilities. Disabilityfocused research often plays into a medical approach in which impairments are to be cured. This model, often inadvertently, portrays disability as tragic. Other models, such as Swain & French’s affirmative model (2000) use a more socially focused-approach and examine disability as a positive characteristic, built on personal and group identities and communities. As social media is becoming one of the most frequent uses of technology, especially by youth, it prompts the question of how disabled youth use these platforms. How do they disclose their status as disabled and how do their patterns of use relate to their experiences as disabled? This poster examines the rationale of my research, as well as the critical disability studies relationship with concepts of identity and community, detailing what the proposed study will entail. Contributing to the concept of “mapping new knowledges”, it aids in the expansion of affirmative research surrounding disability and the understanding of disability not as something of which to be ashamed but as a positive characteristic. 32. Diane Tran, Business Economics Impacts of Seller Information on Price setting in Online Markets. Introduction: To document and study the properties of online prices such as frequency, size, and synchronization of price changes, etc., Gorodnichenko and Talavera (2017) constructed a five-years dataset about online price quotes (and other related relevant information) in the United States and Canada, using leading Price Comparison Websites (PCW). I will be using the same dataset from Gorodnichenko and Talavera (2017) to answer the following research paper objectives. Research Objectives: 1. Find out whether there is a relationship between online price quotes and seller types (i.e. offline-online sellers, online-only sellers, etc.), as well as the ranking of seller quality. To be more specific, I want to find out whether the seller types and the ranking of seller quality will have a statistically significant impact on online prices (using net prices, which are prices before taxes and shipping/handling costs). Will the result be different between United States and Canada? IReferences: Gorodnichenko, Yuriy, and Oleksandr Talavera. 2017. “Price Setting in Online Markets: Basic Facts, International Comparisons, and Cross-Border Integration.” American Economic Review 107 (1): 249–82. 33. Liam Waters, Applied Health Sciences Mental toughness in academics and sports: An insight into how student-athletes perceive mental toughness Mental toughness has been an area of great discussion within the sports psychology field in recent years. The majority of the literature focuses around senior elite or semi-elite athletes to define mental toughness, its antecedents, or how it can be developed. However, mental toughness is relevant in other domains as well. For example, research has identified the presence of mental toughness within academic settings. To date, a link between mental toughness in academics and sports has not been investigated. Exploring mental toughness in student athletes, could illuminate similarities and differences on how student-athletes perceive mental toughness in sport and academic domains. This study will qualitatively examine how mental toughness is perceived by student-athletes from a Canadian university. Approximately nine (until saturation is reached) current team-sport student-athletes performing at the Ontario University Athletics(OUA) level will be purposefully selected to take part in a semi-structured interview. Interviews will ask participants to describe their experience of mental toughness across both domains and contributing factors which either debilitate or facilitate mental toughness. This research will provide insight into how mental toughness is developed by studentathletes in both their academic and sporting contexts. Coaches may use findings to assist them in developing talented youth athletes.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 34. Kingston Wong, Applied Health Sciences The investigation of cortisol as a candidate mediator in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and inflammation Traumatic events experienced during childhood have been linked to many diseases in adulthood such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and auto-immune diseases. Adults with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are found to exhibit elevated circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines which drives the pathogenesis of these diseases. However, current research has yet to clearly identify pathways on how ACEs contribute to chronic inflammation. One of the pathways explored in the proposed study is the biological embedding model. The model states that ACEs amplifies the risk for disease in adulthood because they occur during periods of development when immune cells in the body have heightened plasticity. ACEs also affect other physiological systems such as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, creating a hormonal milieu characterized by elevated cortisol that further amplifies the pro-inflammatory tendencies in immune cells. This cross-sectional study investigates the direct and indirect effect of ACEs on inflammation via cortisol, as well as attempting to determine how different types of ACEs influence cortisol levels among young adults. The proposed study uses participants recruited from the Niagara Longitudinal Heart Study. Human inflammatory cytokines are measured from blood samples while cortisol levels were extracted from hair collected from the participants. 35. Reza Zandi, Critical Sociology The Influence of Iranian Satellite Channels on the Rise of Iranian Nationalism In my research, I explore the contribution of the Persian satellite channels (PSCs) to the revival of nationalist sentiments and the nationalist political discourse among Iranian masses. My main concern is to what degree these media have been influential in reviving the nationalist sentiments and the nationalist discourse, and discover the qualities of their influence. There are two subquestions that will need to be addressed in order to answer my research question: 1. What is the difference between ‘the resurrected nationalism’ versus the ‘early nationalism’, namely the nationalism which was dominant at the time of the Constitutional Revolution and Reza Shah’s rule, and also the one advertised by his son Mohammad Reza Shah? 2. What are the incentives and interests of the people who run these outlets; what is their class position, social location, and political, social, economic background? I will seek to answer these questions by first hand and second hand documentary research, and also by analyzing a great number of tweets, using the software NVivo, in order to be able to sketch how the current Iranian nationalist discourses look. 36. Sepehr Sepehri, Management A Life Time Value Framework for Supplier Selection and Relationship Management The primary focus of academic research and industry practice in relationship management in the supply chain has been on the downstream side of it (customers). In addition, traditional approaches and specific methods used for supplier selection and supplier relationship management are not scalable and often not effective. However, the complexity of today’s supplier network as well as the criteria often used to assess and select a trusted portfolio of suppliers, have made this domain increasingly important. This thesis attempts to fill in this gap by developing a supplier life-time value framework for supplier selection and relationship management using social network theory and machine learning techniques.

Session 2 1. Meredith DeCock, Sustainability: Science and Society Visualizing climatic and non-climatic drivers of coastal evolution: a case study of Lincoln, Ontario Climate change is predicted to bring significant changes in ecosystem structure and function. Coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to these changes due to the continued influx of people and development and greater frequency of unpredictable coastal storms and winds causing flooding and erosion. My poster presentation will outline my proposed research, which aims to evaluate coastal vulnerability of the Town of Lincoln, Ontario, located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Climate change trends for the Niagara Region include increased annual precipitation and frequency of heavy rainfall and high wind events, which will have a direct effect on the coastline. Climatic (such as precipitation, ice cover, and wind speed) and non-climatic data (such as land use and road networks), as well as historical air photographs will be integrated into a geographic information system to assess the evolution of the coastline over time. I will also conduct a photograph comparison of selected locations to illustrate changes of the shoreline through time. This project will expose potential areas of high vulnerability to coastline erosion. The final phase will be to create an interactive web application that can serve as a communication tool for Lincoln as they seek to build resilience. 2. Stacey Duncan, English Beyond Borders and Bards: Scottish Romanticism and the Transnational Poetics of Joanna Baillie My project aims to position the early poetry of Joanna Baillie as a uniquely valuable contribution to an emerging Scottish Romanticism. Through analysis of her early 1790 collection entitled Poems, Wherein it is Attempted to Describe Certain Views


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 of Nature and of Rustic Manners, I will demonstrate Baillie’s transnational engagement with the concerns of both the Scottish Enlightenment and British Romanticism. While many believe these movements to be antithetical, scholars argue that they are “inextricably intertwined” in Scottish Romanticism (Pittock 91). Murray Pittock describes Scottish Romantic writers as “engaged in a prolonged argument about the validity and definition of Enlightenment terms and claims…often more socially engaged with these very questions, and thus less autonomously in pursuit of a Romantic aesthetic than some of their English contemporaries” (91). In examining Baillie’s poetic explorations of identity, sympathy, and sentiment through Scottish Enlightenment philosopher David Hume, I will argue that Baillie’s Poems participate in these “prolonged arguments” of Scottish Romanticism. In addition, I will engage Tilottama Rajan’s The Supplement of Reading: Figures of Understanding in Romantic Theory and Practice (1990) to locate Baillie’s poetic project within British Romanticism’s “growing emphasis of hermeneutics on the reader as coproducer of the text” in making meaning present and immediate (Rajan 19). 3. Taghi Farmani, Earth Science Intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation ~2.7 million years ago – the North Pacific connection The Earth has long experienced periods of glaciation. However, between 2.8 and 2.5 million years ago, the high latitudes of the northern hemisphere experienced three particularly pronounced expansions of ice sheets. The moisture required for ice sheet expansion may have been provided by the North Atlantic Current. This oceanic surface current originates in the subtropical Gulf of Mexico and moves northward to provide the required moisture. However, during glacial periods, this oceanic current is typically deflected southwards, which will then limit the supply of moisture needed for further ice sheet expansion. Therefore, it has been proposed instead that the moisture required for major intensification of northern hemisphere glaciation at ~2.7 Ma was sourced by the Northern Pacific ocean. Geochemical and microfossil studies of sediment cores show that late summer water stratification of Northern Pacific and seasonal intensification provided the required moisture via westerly wind systems that deposited snow over northern North America. To further refine this hypothesis, cored sediments from a drilling site in the northwest Pacific Ocean will be examined for fossil dinoflagellate cysts at high temporal resolution. Their preserved cysts will allow detailed paleoceanographic reconstructions to be made during the critical 2.8–2.5 million year interval. 4. Hayden Foy, Chemistry A Mechanistic Study of Oxygen Atom Transfer from N-Sulfonyloxaziridine to Enolates Enolate additions to chiral N-sulfonyloxaziridines providing enantiomerically enriched α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds is a reaction of importance, yet a clear understanding of the factors governing stereoinduction in these transformations remains ambiguous. This is despite, previous computational studies, one by Bach et al employing truncated model systems exploring oxygen atom transfer to an unsubstituted lithium enolate and another by our own group. Accordingly, in providing improved mechanistic understanding we report here a computational study examining oxygen atom transfer from 1-S-(+)-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxaziridine, viz., archetypal Davis chiral oxaziridine to substituted Li, Na and K enolates. From this investigation, a revised model is offered revealing the metal cation, chelation effects and sterics as decisive stereocontrolling factors in enolate additions to chiral N-sulfonyloxaziridines affording enantiomerically enriched α-hydroxy carbonyl compounds. 5. Mariana Garrido de Castro, Biological Sciences Effects of Mayaro and Zika virus co- and super-infection in Vero cells Arboviruses are a serious threat to public health and account for a great economic impact, morbidity and a high number of deaths worldwide. Mayaro fever is caused by Mayaro virus (MAYV) and the human infections are characterized by fever, headache, retroorbital pain, rash and arthralgia. These symptoms are common to other viral infections such as Dengue, Yellow Fever, Zika (ZIKV) and Chikungunya, and patients displaying these symptoms are usually misdiagnosed. MAYV has been reported in at least 14 countries in Central and South America since it was isolated in 1954. This virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, mainly the ones of the genus Haemagogus, but studies have shown that Aedes mosquitoes are also capable of transmitting the disease. Aedes aegypti is also a vector for other important viruses, such as ZIKV. ZIKV was isolated in 1947 and it has been reported in 48 countries in the Americas, with over 360,000 cases since 2015. Besides possibly sharing the same vector, MAYV and ZIKV are found in overlapping geographical areas, which makes co-infection a very possible consideration. This study investigates the effects caused by co-infection and superinfection of these viruses in Vero cells, a kidney cell line derived from the African green monkey. 6. Matt Guest, Chemistry Fluorescence of Cyclopropenium Ion Derivatives Small organic fluorescent molecules find applications as light-emitting diodes, chemical sensors, and biological probes, cellular imaging agents, and light harvesting agents. Their utility is broadened by their many mechanisms of action, such as Förster resonance energy transfer, photo-induced electron transfer, aggregation and disaggregation-induced emission, internal charge transfer, and recently, motion-induced changes in emission. Currently, several classes of small organic fluorophores are commercially available.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 These fluorophores and their derivatives, however, often do not meet the desired photo-physical and/or chemical properties needed for a given application. For this reason, new classes of small organic fluorophores are highly desirable, especially, if they expand the range of properties sought by consumers. In adding to this area of research, we recently developed a cyclopropenium substituted aminonaphthalene derivative coined the “Janus sponge” that fluoresced in both the solid and solution states while maintaining a high quantum yield and large stokes shift. In view of these fascinating properties we recently synthesized a series of novel cyclopropeniumsubstituted amino compounds and investigated their photophysical properties. By systematic structural modifications of these compounds we were able to make measurable and predictable changes in molar extinction coefficients, quantum yields, and Stokes shifts. Using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations, the origin of these trends was traced to internal charge transfer (ICT) coupled with ensuing structural reorganization. Associated with this structural reorganization was an inward gearing of the cyclopropenium ring and twisting of the peri-NMe2 group into co-planarity with the naphthalene ring systems. The findings of these investigations, which provide valuable insight into the photophysical properties of these compounds will be presented. 7. Brandon Harrison, History Chivalrous Pirates or Fiends of the Sea? Analyzing America’s Conceptualization of Privateers in the War of 1812 During the War of 1812, privately armed vessels – otherwise known as privateers – prowled the Atlantic in search of richly-laden prizes. Despite their prominence however, little is known about the ways in which these vessels were portrayed and perceived. By examining how, during the War of 1812, American print not only portrayed but also responded to the character, exploits, and effectiveness of both native and foreign privateers, my research sheds valuable new light on these important historical actors. While the historiography of the subject remains underdeveloped, my research challenges the common argument posed by scholars such as Faye Kert and Fredrick Leiner. While it is true that privateering elicited a positive response from those who deemed it an economic necessity, it was in no way an uncontested subject for citizens of the United States. By examining privateers through nineteenth-century American print (newspapers, pamphlets, later books etc.), it is possible to uncover how these Americans not only conceptualized these often dubious characters, but also how these conceptualizations changed over time. While it is evident that the war would have played a key role in shaping the public’s perception, the broader context of American society within the early nineteenth century must be taken into account as well. This was a time in which partisan politics, religion, and even economic uncertainty were just a few of the many factors influencing individuals and their worldviews. This project ends with an examination of national memory in the post-war period. Despite their differences, Americans not only reconstructed their various conceptions, they also managed to fit privateers into the larger patriotic, but also mythological national narrative of the War of 1812. 8. Alina Jaglanian, Applied Health Sciences Rosemary extract inhibits PC-3 prostate cancer cell proliferation and survival Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. Prostate cancers are typically characterized by the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Prostate cancers that are AR positive can be treated with hormonal therapy, however those which are AR negative are more aggressive and do not respond to hormone therapy, thus there is an urgent need to find novel chemicals that can inhibit this subtype of prostate cancer. Many chemotherapeutic drugs have been discovered by screening natural products from plants. Polyphenols derived from the plant rosemary, have been found to have antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties and are proposed to have anti-cancer effects. In previous studies, rosemary extract (RE) has been found to reduce cell proliferation, viability, survival, and increase apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. However, there is very limited evidence examining RE’s effects in AR negative prostate cancer cells. In the present study, we examine the effects of rosemary extract on PC-3 prostate cancer cell proliferation, survival, and the mechanisms involved. RE significantly inhibited PC-3 cell proliferation and survival in a dose dependent manner. Our findings indicate that RE may have potent anti-cancer properties against PC-3 cells and supports the need for further investigation. 9. Zack Lansfield, Business Economics Employment and Income Determinants for Aboriginal Canadians The topic I am proposing for presentation is the employment and wage determinants for aboriginal Canadians. The main objective of the research is to determine which activities/programs are most beneficial to the likelihood of becoming employed. I also plan to analyze the differences in determinants when targeting specific wage levels. The implications of this research will hopefully contribute to the optimal use of government subsidies that aim to reduce the high aboriginal unemployment rate and increase income for aboriginals. I plan to use a Probit model like the one used in a 2012 study titled The Impact of Human and Social Capital on Aboriginal Income in Canada which examined determinants of aboriginal income. Most previous studies have concluded that education is the driving force behind aboriginal income and employment. The data I plan on using is the public microdata available through the Data Liberation Initiative. Specifically, I plan on using the Aboriginal People Survey which provides in depth data on income, education, employment and demographics which will either support past research or given the detail of the data, provide interesting and more specific results.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 10. Jinyi Li, Education Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language to English Speaking Language Learners: Teachers’ Handbook The research aims at developing a handbook for teachers to teach Chinese as a foreign language to English language speakers. The handbook is developed by using the autoethnographic analysis of my own experiences or stories related to foreign language learning and teaching the Chinese language. The handbook provides practical lesson samples with drills, figures, and charts which are supported by the audio-lingual and communicative foreign language teaching approaches (Cook, 2001). Unlike many current Chinese teaching materials in which spoken and written Chinese are taught together, this handbook creates an innovative teaching method that emphasizes the importance of developing listening and speaking skills before reading and writing skills, in order to assist students to apply knowledge of the Chinese language in communication more effectively. Hopefully, this project will inspire more teachers to promote Chinses language teaching methods for communication purpose in the future. 11. Megan Magier, Applied Health Sciences School policies and youth perceptions of school support for the prevention and cessation of cannabis and alcohol use Recent cannabis legalization provides a critical time to further our understanding of substance use policies in schools. Little is known about what policies and programs schools are implementing, their effectiveness in delaying substance use and how students perceive different school policy environments. This proposed thesis will explore what policies are in schools and their relationship to student cannabis use and binge drinking. Furthermore, student perceptions of school support for the prevention/cessation of substance use will be examined with the violation disciplinary consequences used by schools. Longitudinal student- and school-level survey data will be used from year 5 (2016-2017), year 6 (2017-2018), and year 7 (2018-2019) of the COMPASS study. The sample includes 60,000+ students in grades 9 through 12 and the 120+ secondary schools they attend across Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec. Student questionnaires will provide information on substance use and student perceptions of the school environment. School administrator surveys will assess the substance use policies and violation disciplinary consequences implemented in schools each year. Results will help inform planning within the changing landscape of cannabis legalization across Canada and assist in the development of more effective prevention approaches related to the two most commonly used substances among youth. 12. Meera Mahmud, Applied Health Sciences Evaluation of the PLCOM2012 Risk Prediction Model and the National Lung Screening Trial Criteria for Selecting Individuals for Lung Cancer Screening Rationale. Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer death in North America. Cancer screening trials, such as the PLCO (Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian) and NLST ( National Lung screening trial) evaluate LC mortality. This study compares two selection criteria methods, the NLST criteria and the PLCOM2012 risk prediction model (at 1.5% and 2% risk) , for selecting smokers over the age of 55 for screening who may develop or have already developed LC. Purpose/Objectives. The purpose of this study is to evaluate what characteristics or risk factors of these smokers are identified by one criteria and not the other. Since smokers are at high-risk for dying from other health related causes, this study will also evaluate which risk factors are highly associated with competing causes of death (COD). Screening may not be beneficial for those dying within 5 years from other causes. Methods. Contingency table analysis and logistic regression, using STATA software, were used to analyze the results of applying both criteria on the population and to assess which variables were associated with COD. Results/Outcomes. Higher LC proportions were found using the PLCOM2012 model than the NLST in various individual characteristics. Increasing the threshold at which individuals should get screened using the model (2%) resulted in less false positives, higher positive predictive value and probability of 6-year LC incidence. The PLCOM2012 model was also shown to be significantly associated with 5-year non-LC death (p<0.001). Conclusion. Overall, results show that the PLCOM2012 risk prediction model takes more risk factors into account and identifies higher proportions of LC cases compared to the NLST criteria. Risk prediction models, such as the PLCOM2012, may play an important role in LC control, as screening would be directed at those at increased risk of developing the disease thereby improving diagnosis, treatment, and survival. 13. Michael Martignago, History Continuing the Toxic Spray: The Environmental Politics of Militarized Pesticide Use in the Vietnam War In 1961, the United States government began Operation Ranch Hand which involved spraying pesticides on the Vietnamese landscape to fight the dense jungle terrain and to destroy enemy crops. A year later In 1962, Rachel Carson published her book Silent Spring which heavily criticized the unregulated and irresponsible use of synthetic pesticides like DDT, and created a massive public uproar that is credited by many historians as kick-starting the environmental movement of the 1960s and 70s. Following the publication and success of Silent Spring, President Kennedy tasked his Science Advisory Committee to study the impact of pesticides on the environment and human health. On May 13th, 1963, the Science Advisory Committee released its findings which largely agreed with Carson’s claims that pesticides, specifically DDT, had toxic qualities that were harmful to human health. Following this report, the


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 American government and military continued to utilize pesticides in the conflict in Vietnam until 1971 when they were banned for use by President Nixon. My research attempts to answer the question, if the Kennedy Administration knew about the dangers of pesticide use due to the Science Advisory Committee’s report in May 1963, then why did the United States government and military continue to utilize tactical pesticides in Vietnam until 1971? There are a number of potential answers including the American government’s symbiotic relationship with agribusiness, that believed military usefulness of pesticides outweighed the potential political and human health risks, and the belief that scientific uncertainty could shield the government from any legal/political backlash. There have been histories written on the problems of domestic pesticide use and histories specific to the pesticides used in the Vietnam War, but none have attempted to connect and compare the two different realms and explore the U.S. government's complicity in continued pesticide use. 14. Bryan McLaughlin, Professional Kinesiology Exploring athlete burnout in elite youth ice hockey players in a specialty sport school Sport schools are becoming common for elite youth athletes looking to balance an intensive athletic schedule as well as academics. Sport schools pose an underlying implication for most student-athletes, as they are asked to specialize at a young age, making athletes more prevalent to potential physical (i.e., overuse injuries) and psychosocial (i.e., emotional, burnout) risks (Baker, Cobley & Fraser-Thomas, 2009). The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of burnout in elite youth ice hockey players in a sport school setting, using Gustafsson et al (2011) integrated model of athlete burnout. Six to ten student-athletes attending a sport school in the Greater Toronto Area will participate in a semi-structured interview. These interviews will be transcribed verbatim and examined through thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Results from this study will allow athletes, parents, coaches, and policy makers gain knowledge on how a youth student-athlete may experience burnout. 15. Natalie Meisenburg, Applied Health Sciences Barriers to Health Care Aides’ Communication with Families about End of Life of LTC Home Residents with Dementia Background: Research has demonstrated that health professionals have a hard time talking with family members about end-of-life and avoid these conversations. Recently, a white paper on palliative care and dementia confirmed that palliative care is appropriate for dementia. Effective communication between healthcare providers and relatives is imperative. Research Question: ‘How do health care aides (HCAs) in long-term care homes experience discussions about death and dying with relatives of residents who have dementia?’ The aim of this descriptive qualitative study is to explore the experiences of health care aides’ (HCAs) and understand the conversations they have with family members when a resident in long-term care has dementia and is nearing end-of-life. Methods: This specific study will aim to address the who, what, where and experience and will involve minimally to moderately structured, face-to-face open-ended individual interviews. The process of thematic analysis will be used as a method to identify, analyse, and report themes within the interview data. The sample for this study is HCAs working at the research site who have experience providing end-of-life care to residents with dementia. Findings: The study is in progress and the findings will be presented. Discussion: This study will explore what contributes to making these conversations easier or difficult and will illuminate knowledge that will be relevant to healthcare providers’ practice in LTC. The findings from the proposed study can guide future research to develop interventions to support HCAs and LTC homes providing optimal palliative and end-of-life care for persons with dementia and their families. 16. Larry Nie, Education Chromebooks @ Ontario Schools: Teachers' Perspectives Currently is information and communications technology (ICT) integrating well enough in our schools? Some may say yes, yet some may shake their heads vertically. One can never tell until they have in-depth dialogue with those educators who have already embraced ICT integration in their teaching. This research will conduct such conversations by interviewing five in-service public elementary school teachers in Ontario in order to investigate the most prevailing technology integration status quo in educational domains. The objectives of this research are two-fold: first to examine what has to be changed or improved if insufficient efforts have been made on current ICT integration in education; the second is to reveal what can be done if room for expected enhancements is still available. Together the ultimate goal that this research targeting at, is to maximize the power of employing Chromebook to reinforce teaching and learning process. 17. David Oshana, Applied Health Sciences The Case of Grindr and Gay Men’s Embodied Image: An Interpretive Study for Identifying the Sociocultural Gay Body Image on New Media. A dearth of literature has prompted a need to better understand gay men’s body image and its connection to concepts of masculine embodiment as well as to further delineate gay embodiment itself. One aspect of embodiment is the mind-body connection; however, experiences of some gay men offer a perspective on possible disembodied connections resulting in and from negative


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 body image. Grindr is a unique social media application for investigating this issue as it intersects sexuality, sociocultural norms, LGBT culture, discrimination, and technology. A qualitative case study approach informed by social constructionism will be used to explore the application itself and the users’ positive and negative experiences. The study will focus on open-ended, one-on-one and group interviews along with cross-references with the application. Purposeful sampling, through application advertising, posters, and snow-balling, will be employed for the 12-15 gay men needed for the inquiry. Both types of interviews will be transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed with relevant content pertaining to participants’ experiences from the application. The data from each set will be triangulated together and cross-referenced against previous research to finalize a case report. The integrity of the case will be informed by both social constructionist and case study measures of trustworthiness. 18. Madeline Pontone, Applied Disability Studies Benefits of Recreational Dance and Behaviour Analysis for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review Unlike in typically developing population, studies examining the benefits of recreational dance for individuals with disabilities are limited. In this review, we conducted a thorough literature search, where ‘dance’ was cross-listed with all neurodevelopmental disorders (DSM-5, 2013) across 5 databases, yielding 18 articles. Studies included individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities such as intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, learning disorders and ADHD. Regarding age of participants, 9 studies included an adult population, 12 studies worked with a children and adolescent population, and overlap between both age categories existed in 3 studies. It is promising that six studies used a single-subject research design and 8 studies included behavior analytic components. Results suggest that there are benefits to using recreational dance and behavior analysis together to improve core areas such as social skills and motor development. There is a need for experimental research to evaluate recreational dance programs utilizing behavior analytic components as a modality for improving core challenges as well as secondary outcomes such as inclusion and belonging for individuals with disabilities. 19. Hannah Rose, Applied Health Sciences Picture This: Using photographs to describe the relationship between physical activity and positive body image in university men Body image is a multifaceted construct involving individuals' perceptions, cognitions, and behaviours related to their bodies' appearance and function. Generally physical activity is related to improvements in body image (i.e., reductions in negative body image); however, for some individuals or in some settings, exercise may be harmful to body image. A variety of factors can impact whether physical activity is associated with more or less positive body image, such as exercise context. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between body image and physical activity in university men using photo elicitation. Participants (n =13) were asked to complete a short demographics questionnaire package and take up to 10 photographs showing how physical activity is related to their body image. Next, the participants completed a one-on-one interview about the photographs they took. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed for data analysis. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data and identify the main themes that emerged. The main themes were Motives for Physical Activity, Gender Specific Ideals, Growing Normative Discontent and Photos vs. Reality, demonstrating the interconnected and complex nature of the relationship between body image and physical activity. 20. Sheena Sisavath, Critical Sociology BDSM Practitioners’ Experiences of Social Exclusion from Access to Health Care and Social Services The misconception that BDSM (bondage and discipline, domination and submission, and sadism and masochism) is violent, abusive, and pathological has resulted in significant persecution of practitioners in the form of discrimination and physical attacks. Utilizing an intersectional queer theory perspective, this poster reviews dominant understandings of what constitutes normalized sexual activity, and the underlying reasons as to why particular groups are rendered abnormal. This poster will also acknowledge how practitioners’ access to medical health care, psychiatry and other social services are shaped by discriminatory beliefs and practices that are rooted in dominant ideologies like heteronormativity and ableism. Employing an intersectional analysis recognizes the heterogeneity of the BDSM community and considers how their multiple and intersecting locations further their experiences of discrimination. Despite the varying experiences of social exclusion, I will refer to the LGBTQ+ community specifically, to reference how they have addressed issues concerning access to social services, and what lessons can be learned from these experiences that may be applicable to BDSM practitioners. Following these chapters, I will conclude by identifying the gaps in the literature, proposing suggestions for remedying unequal access to competent care, and by making suggestions for future research regarding the BDSM community. 21. Laura Tardi, Applied Disability Studies Decreasing Food Selectivity Using Simultaneous and Sequential Presentation: A Review Selective eating is defined as a child refusing to eat common foods, or only eating foods of a specific type, texture, color, or food group (Peterson & Ibañez, 2018). It is estimated that approximately 72% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show signs of selective eating (Schreck, Williams, & Smith, 2004). Interventions based on applied behaviour analysis (ABA) have the


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 most empirical support for treating pediatric food selectivity (Bachmeyer, 2009). Simultaneous and sequential presentation are two commonly used procedures in the field of ABA to treat food selectivity (VanDalen & Penrod, 2010). Simultaneous presentation consists of presenting an individual with a piece of a nonpreferred and a preferred food at the same time (Bachmeyer, 2009). Conversely, sequential presentation consists of providing an individual with a preferred food directly after he or she consumes a nonpreferred food (Kern & Marder, 1996). Researchers have found that both food presentation formats increase the consumption of nonpreferred food in children of varying ages and diagnoses. In this poster, we will examine the current literature on the simultaneous and sequential food presentation formats to treat food selectivity, discuss the procedural variations within and across studies, and discuss areas for future research. 22. Filip Vlavcheski, Applied Health Sciences Carnosol increases skeletal muscle cell glucose uptake via AMPK activation Skeletal muscle plays a role in glucose homeostasis and is an important insulin-target tissue. Insulin action in muscle activates the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway causing the translocation of intracellularly stored GLUT4 glucose transporters to the plasma membrane and increased glucose uptake. Impaired insulin action in this tissue leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Activation of the energy sensor, 5’ AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) results in increased skeletal muscle glucose uptake and in recent years finding compounds that increase the activity of AMPK has been viewed as a targeted approach to treat insulin resistance. Exercise/contraction, metformin and the polyphenols resveratrol and naringenin all activate AMPK and increase skeletal muscle glucose uptake. We previously reported that rosemary extract (RE) activated AMPK and increased glucose uptake by skeletal muscle cells, but the exact components responsible for these effects are unknown. In the current study, we investigated the effect of carnosol, a RE polyphenol, in L6 rat muscle cells. Carnosol stimulated glucose uptake in L6 myotubes in a dose- and time-dependent manner, did not affect Akt, increased AMPK phosphorylation and plasma membrane GLUT4 levels. The carnosol-stimulated glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation was significantly reduced by the AMPK inhibitor compound C (CC). Our study is the first to show an AMPK-dependent increase in muscle glucose uptake by carnosol. Carnosol deserves further study as it shows potential to be used as an agent to regulate glucose homeostasis. 23. Anka Wojtis, Applied Health Sciences The examination of parental support and elite athlete motivation Motivation has been defined as a hypothetical construct that describes both internal and external forces that produce the initiation, persistence and direction of behaviour (Vallerand & Thrill, 1993). The proposed study will focus on intrinsic and extrinsic motivating factors for elite athletes who lack a parental influence. Prior research has shown that parental involvement plays a big role in developing elite athletes, however most research has focused on how parents act as a support system and play a role in the learning process (Keegan, Harwood, Spray & Lavallee, 2009). The purpose of this study will be to examine how the lack of strong parental support motivates elite athletes. This will be studied by using a qualitative phenomenological approach and will consider the sports motivation scale, alongside the expectancy value theory. 24. Alexander Yang, Applied Health Sciences Effects of Resveratrol and Metformin on AMPK Activation and Neuron Health in obese mice Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease impairing cognition through the accumulation of amyloid-ß (Aß) peptides. Two drugs, metformin (MET) and resveratrol (RESV), are being considered for the clearance of Aß through AMPK-mediated autophagy activation. However, AMPK over-activation observed in late-stage AD brains and relationships between AMPK and neurogenesis, questions these drug treatments. Objective: To examine if MET and/or RESV supplementation activates brain AMPK, regulates brain autophagy markers, and affects neuronal health markers. Methods: 8 week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a low- (N=12; 10% kcal from fat; LFD) or high-fat diet (N=40; 60% kcal from fat; HFD) for 9 weeks. HFD mice were then treated with/without MET (250mg/kg/day), RESV (100mg/kg/day), or COMBO (MET: 250mg/kg/day, RESV: 100mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks. Hippocampus and prefrontal-cortex were extracted for western blotting analysis. Results: AMPK (T172), and raptor (S792) phosphorylation were up-regulated in the cortex following RESV, COMBO treatments. mTOR (S2448) and ULK1 (S555) phosphorylation increased with MET, COMBO and RESV, COMBO treatments respectively in the cortex/hippocampus. p62 content was decreased following RESV, COMBO, with LC3 content increasing following RESV treatment in the cortex. Brain derived neurotropic factor was decreased following RESV, COMBO as well as synaptophysin following all treatments in the cortex. 25. Jessica Zugic, Sustainability: Science and Society Carbon Sequestration and Growth of a Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) Plantation in Response to Variable Retention Harvesting (VRH) and Climate Change Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have been rising since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, but the ability of trees to efficiently utilize this available CO2 for growth has been questioned. Silvicultural practices, such as variable retention harvesting


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 (VRH), have been suggested as ways to increase carbon sequestration in forest environments. This study aims to explore the effect that climate change and VRH have on tree growth and carbon sequestration at a red pine plantation in Turkey Point, Ontario. The effects of VRH on carbon sequestration and tree growth of red pine trees in Ontario is unknown. 30 trees will be sampled from each of the 20 VRH plots at Turkey Point, which were planted in 1931 and harvested in 2014. This research aims to understand how carbon sequestration has changed over time by reconstructing tree biomass from the early 1930’s to 2014. In order to determine the effect VRH has on tree growth and carbon sequestration, 5 years pre- and post- harvest will be analyzed by calculating percent growth change and tree biomass. This research will aid in informing larger questions concerning carbon uptake, and may provide insight into a technique that can be utilized to increase carbon sequestration. 26. Robert Crozier, Medical Sciences Investigating the role of rosemary extract polyphenols in the attenuation of allergen-mediated mast cell activation. Mast cells are innate immune cells responsible for initiating inflammation during normal and pathological immune responses. These immune sentinels are established as being central mediators of allergic inflammation, a hypersensitive immune response towards an allergen resulting in immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody-mediated mast cell activation. Mast cell activation results in the immediate release of preformed inflammatory mediators, an early phase process called degranulation, as well as the sustained release of newly synthesized inflammatory mediators during the late phase response. Rosemary extract (RE) and three of its polyphenolic constituents: carnosic acid (CA), rosmarinic acid (RA), and carnosol (CO) have been shown to inhibit signalling pathways essential for mast cell activation in many other cellular models. Recently, our lab has established RE as a potent inhibitor of mast cell functional responses. Therefore, the aim of this study is to dissect the RE polyphenolic mixture focusing on CA, RA, and CO at concentrations found within 25 Οg/ml RE, to determine if these polyphenols are the main contributors to the inhibitory effects observed in our mast cell models. Results from this study will help to improve our overall knowledge of how this naturally occurring plant product modulates essential mast cell signals. 27. Hayley Lutz, Public Health Five Year Trends of Young Adult 9-1-1 Callers in the Niagara Region Over the past five years, Niagara Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) as the provider for Ambulance Service in the Niagara Region has experienced unprecedented call volume growth. This study retrospectively examined over 25,000 calls-for-service over a fiveyear period (2013-2017) in the Niagara Region. The purpose of this study is to identify and explore possible trends to account for the 60.4% increase amongst the 18 to 34-year-old age cohort. Descriptive statistics and contingency table analysis using SPSS software was used to analyze the relationships between call volume, call severity and caller primary concerns. Initial results revealed a number of key trends. For example, the proportion of young adults reporting behavioural and psychiatric issues as a primary complaint doubled (6.1% to 12.5%) during the five-year period. Research in this area is particularly limited, with most attention being focused on the hospital aspect of the patient journey. By identifying trends amongst young adult 9-1-1 callers, further research can be employed to determine best practice for servicing this particular age cohort. 28. Melissa Rouillard, Medical Sciences ASK1ng about a role in allergen-mediated inflammation & mast cell degranulation Identifying and targeting molecules critical in allergen-mediated mast cell activation is crucial in the discovery of novel therapeutic interventions to treat allergic inflammation. Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) involved in a multitude of cellular functions, including the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that mediate inflammation. Our team has identified a pivotal role for transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), also a MAPK, in both early and late phases of the allergic inflammatory process. These novel findings prompted inquiry into links between unexplored MAPK members and coordination of several mechanisms in IgE-mediated mast cell exocytosis. A link between ASK1 and mast cell activation has yet to be made, however we hypothesize that ASK1 contributes to mast cell activation, similarly to TAK1. Through the use of a selective ASK1 inhibitor, GS-444217, we plan to investigate the role of ASK1 in allergically activated mast cells, in the context of both the early and late phase of the allergic response. This proposed work will not only contribute to understanding MAPK signaling events in allergen-mediated mast cell activation, but will also provide a foundation for the examination of potential therapeutic interventions in allergic inflammation, tissue homeostasis, and infection. 29. Vanessa Sjaarda, Nursing Design of an Emergent Acute Heart Pain Application: Patient and Clinician Perspectives Introduction: Immediate treatment of acute cardiac pain is critical in the first hours of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) onset to prevent transition to persistent cardiac-related pain. Aim: To design the Acute-Heart PAiN-APP. There are no known digital health technologies (DHTs) (APPs) developed or evaluated to treat acute cardiac pain during an emergency hospital admission for ACS that are designed by patients and health care providers (HCPs). Methods: Qualitative interviews with individuals with ACS and HCPs


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 were conducted to determine the preferred content and format for the APP. Results: 18 patients and 4 HCPs suggested that the APP consist of four interactive parts: 1) coaching through the acute heart pain, 2) symptom tracking of anxiety and their pain, 3) SMART goals to manage the acute symptoms such as: a) choice of diversion: relaxation-paced breathing, b) guided imagery c) music and d) forms of gaming, and 4) immediate visual representation of pre-and-post APP effect on pain and anxiety levels. Conclusions: The Acute-Heart PAiN-APP is an interactive DHT adjuvant treatment for ACS. The APP will permit a therapeutic level of patient control, symptom monitoring and self-management of ACS-pain and prevent the transition to persistent forms of cardiac pain and related disability. 30. Dasilyn Vida, Biological Sciences Moving at a snail’s pace: using snails to determine the importance of Vitamin A for memory formation. Lymnaea stagnalis is a freshwater pond snail which resides in the most stagnant parts of ponds, hence the ‘stagnalis’ portion of its name. It can breathe in two different ways. It can breathe through its skin, but can also breathe through an opening called a pneumostome, which allows the exchange of air between its lungs and the atmosphere. Lymnaea stagnalis is useful for studies of learning and memory; its breathing behavior (opening of the pneumostome) can be easily observed, measured and trained, and the brain circuit mediating this behavior has been identified. In our research, training of the breathing behavior is used to examine the role of retinoic acid on memory formation. Retinoic acid is the active product of the metabolism of vitamin A, and it performs many roles in vertebrates, such as increasing neuronal growth and signaling in memory formation. In Lymnaea, we have shown that retinoic acid is important for long term memory formation, but not for learning or short-term memory. However, no studies have yet looked at its role in a process called memory reconsolidation (in any species). In memory reconsolidation, previously consolidated (or formed) memories are retrieved, placed into a temporarily active state (during which time they are vulnerable to change), and then become consolidated once more. My research is aimed at determining whether, in addition to its requirement for initial memory formation, retinoic acid is also required for memory reconsolidation. 31. Raymond Wong, Biological Sciences Vitamin A metabolite and one -trial training: fast-learning snails Vitamin A is important for health. It is obtained through one’s diet before being converted into retinoic acid, which is essential for nervous system development and regeneration, in addition to effective learning and memory in mammals and humans. We have recently shown that retinoic acid signalling is also important for memory formation in invertebrate animals, such as the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis. Retinoids play a role in forming long - term memories in the snail using aversive classical conditioning paradigms, where the snail learns to avoid a normal food (such as sucrose) following pairing with an aversive chemical. In this study, we developed a different paradigm to train the snails to respond to a neutral stimulus (amyl acetate) following its pairing with sucrose. This is known as appetitive classical conditioning. Exposure to chemicals that disrupts retinoid signalling were found to have different effects on long - term memory formation following appetitive conditioning, depending on the nature of the training paradigm. The factors that influenced the role of retinoids in memory formation included how long the animals were initially deprived of food for, as well as the concentration of the sucrose stimulus used. These results help us to understand that the extent of retinoic acid’s role in long – term memory formation may depend on the drive to perform a behavior, as well as the nature of the stimuli involved. 32. Dana Kalil, Child and Youth Studies and Psychology I Believe in Me Not OCB!: Functional Behavior-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to Treat Obsessive Compulsive Behaviours in Children with Autism: A 5-7 Year Follow-up Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) engage in repetitive behaviours (e.g., repetitive handwashing, checking) that are topographically similar to those exhibited by children with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. These behaviors are time-consuming and cause significant interference in the lives of children and their family members. Limited research exists on treating these behaviors. Therefore, a recent randomized controlled trial (Vause et al., 2018) evaluated a manualized Functional Behavior-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Fb-CBT) treatment package entitled I Believe in Me, Not OCB!: Clinician’s Manual (Vause, Neil, Jaksic, & Feldman, 2013) for addressing these obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCBs) in school-age children with ASD. Treatment included components such as functional behavioural assessment and intervention, cognitive and behavioral skills training, psychoeducation, and exposure and response prevention. Results indicated preliminary efficacy for this manualized treatment. The present study is a 5-7 year follow-up aimed at evaluating the long-term effects of Fb-CBT with 13 participants. Standardized assessments (e.g., Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised [sameness, compulsive, and ritualistic subscales]; Bodfish et al., 1999) indicated no significant differences in OCBs between post-test and 5-7 year follow-up. Collection of qualitative follow-up data is currently ongoing. Implications and limitations of findings will be discussed.


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019 33. Lara Ostrowski, Public Health The Content Validity Index of the Prodromal Symptoms Screening Scale: An Expert panel Background: Over 16,000 Canadians die each year from unrecognized warning signs [prodromal symptoms] of cardiovascular disease (CVD), accounting for 29% of Canada’s annual mortality. To remedy this, the Prodromal Symptoms-Screening Scale (PS-SS) was developed, a 13-item tool guiding patients and clinicians to identify symptoms of encroaching heart disease and assess risk. This study determined the content validity index (CVI) of the PS-SS. Methods: A sample of clinical experts and individuals with CVD rated each item’s relevance. The CVI was completed for each item (I-CVI), and total scale CVI (S-CVI/AVE) was determined. Results: 17 panel members were approached to rank the PS-SS; there was a 53% response rate. The healthcare professional experts had a mean 20.5 years (SD 7.6) of cardiovascular experience. The mean age of experts with CVD was 67.3 years (SD 4). Item CVIs range from .50 to 1.0. The total CVI scale average was 0.81, indicating strong validity, and the inter-rater reliability for raters that scored items as quite/extremely relevant was 0.77. Conclusion: The PS-SS has potential to impact patients’ knowledge of warning prodromal signs and provide a new screening tool for clinicians to individualize and provide pre-emptive diagnostic evaluation for individuals at risk of developing CVD. 34. Kindeep Singh Kargilz, Lechuan (Sibelius) Pengy, Saad Ali Ghaznaviy, Thomas Wolfe. Mathematics, Brock University and University of Waterloo Colourings of the First 313230 Knots. The poster reports on a colourability classication of mathematical knots with a crossing number up to 15. After an introduction to mathematical knots and their colour invariants, a list of results and references, the poster shows gures of all 250 knots with a crossing number up to 10 coloured in one of their n-colourings [1]. Although the invariance of knot colouring is known for many years, a classication of knots wrt. colouring has so far not been available (see, for example, the KnotInfo database [2]). The classication became possible through repeated algorithmic improvements of a computer program to speed it up multiple times and compute all n-colourings of knots very eciently. For example, all colourings of all 250 knots with up to 10 crossings are computed in 3 sec on a desktop PC. A first run of the computations up to crossing number 13 resulted in an c nmax Knot B(c) approximate yet rather precise formula for the maximal value nmax of n-colourability in dependence on the crossing number c : nmax ≈ 1:7(c−1). 3 3 31 1.732 By using this result it was possible to speed up the computations again 1.710 4 5 41 dramatically and complete them for the 59937 knots with crossing numbers up to 14 within 1 day and up to 15 in 2 weeks by running the 1.627 5 7 52 computation in parallel on 10 CPU. The colouring module used to perform 6 13 63 1.670 the computations has been included in a freely available interactive 1.634 7 19 76 workbench for knots [3]. A complete list of colourings is available under [4]. 8

37

817

1.675

9

61

933

1.672

10

109

10115

1.684

11

199

11a301

1.698

12

353

12a1188

1.705

13

593

13a4620

1.703

14

1103

14a16476

1.714

15

1823

15a65606

1.710

References [1] R. H. Fox, Metacyclic invariants of knots and links, Canadian Journal of Mathematics 22 (1970) 193201. [2] J. C. Cha and C. Livingston, KnotInfo: Table of Knot Invariants, http:// www.indiana.edu/~knotinfo . [3] T. Wolf, A Knot Workbench, Linux download:https://cariboutests.com/ games/knots/AsciiKnots.tar.gz . [4] Colour Classication of Knots with Crossing Number up to 15, https:// cariboutests.com/qi/knots/colour3-15.txt 2


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019

MNK 2019 Concurrent Sessions Room Assignments Room Numbers

Concurrent Session #1 (9-10:40 a.m.)

Concurrent Session #2 (1:30-2:50 p.m.)

Concurrent Session #3 (3:50-5:15 p.m.)

Plaza 308

1d

2b

3b

Plaza 311

1b

2d

3d

Plaza 408

1e

2e

3e

Plaza 409

1a

2a

3a

Plaza 410

1c

2c

3c

Plaza 411

1f

2f

3f

Cairns 336

1g

2g

3g

Plaza Level 300 Floorplan

Plaza Level 400 Floorplan


MAPPING THE NEW KNOWLEDGES 2019

14th Annual Mapping The New Knowledges 2019 Committee Lauryn Carrick Communications, Marketing & Recruitment Coordinator, Faculty of Graduate Studies Kimberley Gammage Associate Professor, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Heather Gordon Associate Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies Luiza Guimaraes Santos Graduate Student Skills Development Coordinator, Goodman School of Business Amanda Macdonald Graduate Students’ Association Caroline Moffatt Executive Assistant to the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies Mike Plyley Professor, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Snezana Ratkovic Research Officer & Instructor, Faculty of Education Elizabeth Vlossak Associate Professor, Faculty of Humanities Dawn Zinga Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences


Tuesday, April 30

SHIFT

Professional Development Conference for Graduate Students

Self-discovery + Transferable Graduate Skills + Career Action Whether you are just beginning to think about what comes next, wanting to kick-start or energize some career action, there is something for you at SHIFT! We have a great roster of dynamic and passionate experts who have some fresh ideas about how to make the most of your graduate education.

REGISTER NOW https://brocku.ca/graduate-studies/conferences-events/shift/




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