Faculty of Graduate Studies Online Theses

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Open Access
Nova Scotia As A Clean Electricity Source: An Analysis Of Possible Subsea Cable Interconnections With Quebec and New England
(2025-02-11) Godwin, Michael; Not Applicable; Master of Applied Science; Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering; Not Applicable; na; Not Applicable; Hamed Aly; John Mackinnon; Larry Hughes
This thesis examines Nova Scotia’s potential as a clean electricity source by integrating offshore wind with subsea cable interconnections. The province targets 80% renewable electricity and plans to lease 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030 to support green hydrogen production. The study uses this target to assess offshore wind generation and potential electricity exports to Quebec and New England. Simulations of 5 GW offshore wind farms at Sable Island, Sydney, and Yarmouth show an annual generation potential of 14–17 TWh, exceeding Nova Scotia’s projected 12 TWh demand by 2035, indicating a surplus. Future demand in Hydro Québec and New England, driven by electrification, is estimated at 25 TWh by 2032 and 21 TWh by 2033. The Proposed subsea cable routes include Point Aconi to Havre Saint-Pierre, Yarmouth to Boston, and Sable Island to both destinations. These interconnections could optimize offshore wind utilization and mitigate curtailment issues.
Open Access
Reimagining Policing Mental Health: A Call for Abolitionist-Informed Alternatives
(2025-02-09) Rowe, Megan; Not Applicable; Master of Social Work; School of Social Work; Received; Dr. Jan Defehr; Not Applicable; Dr. Martha Paynter; Dr. Catherine Bryan
To date, police are the default first responders to crisis calls in Canada. The involvement of police in responding to crisis calls has been termed policing mental health, which represents one aspect of broader carceral mental healthcare practices. Policing mental health has long existed, evidenced throughout Canada’s history, and continues to be upheld by sanism and racism. Recently, civilian-led (i.e., non-police staffed) crisis teams have started to gain traction, however research on these teams remains limited. This thesis employs a multi-sited case study design, including three civilian-led crisis teams in Canada, to explore the key processes involved in their conceptualization, development, implementation, and operation. This research takes a prison industrial complex (PIC) abolitionist lens positioned toward transformative justice and is enriched by the theoretical orientations of mad studies and critical race theory. The findings offer insight into the common elements involved in establishing civilian-led teams, while equally sharing site-specific insights. As an early contribution to a growing field, this thesis advances understanding of civilian-led crisis response and offers critical knowledge for reimagining mental health care in Canada.
Embargo
Exploring molecular mechanisms influencing rapid adaptation and development in spring and fall Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus)
(2025-01-30) Kho, James; Yes; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Biology; Received; Dr. Anti Vasememägi; Not Applicable; Dr. Ian Bradbury; Dr. Paul Bentzen; Dr. Daniel Ruzzante
Adaptation is a key evolutionary process by which organisms develop increased fitness in response to a change in their habitat. In marine fishes, understanding adaptation is critical for predicting how species respond to changing ocean conditions, providing insights into evolutionary biology and informing management decisions. My thesis focuses on Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus L.), a species of immense ecological and economic importance, to explore the mechanisms and implications of adaptation in early life stages through genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic analyses. I first employed a suite of microsatellite markers to explore connectivity in herring through kinship structure in Gulf of St. Lawrence Spring herring and found half-sibs and potential full-sibs in a single juvenile aggregation. This is potential evidence for kinship recognition and larval retention in a herring spawning aggregation at least six months after hatching, shedding light on the genetic structure and relationship within an aggregation. I then designed a rearing experiment to assess how temperature (11°C and 13°C) and photoperiod (6 and 12 hours daylight) influence the epigenetic and transcriptomic patterns throughout larval development. In addition to high levels of global methylation levels across all samples, a decline in global methylation level was observed with increased developmental stages and was more pronounced in the 13°C treatment. Differentially methylated sites were found primarily in exon and promoter regions of genes linked to metabolism and development. These results suggest DNA methylation is an important mechanism in herring larval development and a key component to early-stage responses to environmental stressors. Alongside the epigenetic results, I found significant differential gene expression in both environmental treatments across all developmental stages but the effects on genes were stage specific. Genes associated with eye structure constituents were upregulated in longer photoperiod treatments, and immune response associated genes were upregulated in higher temperature treatments. The transcriptomic results provide novel findings into molecular mechanisms underlying herring larval development and early life-stage response to environmental stressors. This research contributes to our understanding of how populations can rapidly adjust to changing environments and highlights the complex interplay between genetics, epigenetics, and gene expression in shaping the evolutionary trajectories of natural populations.
Open Access
Marsh-estuarine benthic foraminiferal distributions and Holocene sea-level reconstructions along the South Carolina coastline.
(Dalhousie University, 1996) Collins, Eric Stephen.; Ph.D.; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences; N/A; N/A; N/A
Open Access
Using EEG to Endophenotype Schizophrenia
(2025-01-22) Anderson, T-Jay; No; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience; Received; Dr. Michael Kiang; No; Dr. Philip Tibbo; Dr. Aaron Newman; Dr. Derek Fisher
This dissertation investigates EEG-derived endophenotypes to elucidate the neurophysiological underpinnings of schizophrenia through three interconnected studies. Study 1: Meta-Analysis of Resting State Microstate Differences in Schizophrenia The first study is a meta-analysis of EEG-derived microstates in schizophrenia. Microstates are brief, stable patterns of synchronized brain activity. This meta-analysis consolidates data from numerous studies to identify consistent alterations in microstates in individuals with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls. The findings reveal significant differences in microstate classes, particularly an increase in the duration and occurrence of microstate class C and a reduction in class D. These alterations suggest disrupted neural dynamics in schizophrenia, highlighting microstate parameters as a potential endophenotype for the disorder. Study 2: Resting-State Microstate Differences in Early Psychosis as an Endophenotype Candidate. The second study explores resting-state EEG recordings to examine intrinsic brain activity in individuals with early-phase psychosis. Resting-state conditions reveal baseline brain functions, often associated with the default mode network. The study compares these microstates between individuals with early psychosis (n = 27) and healthy controls (n = 30) to determine if aberrant neural dynamics persist in the absence of external stimuli. The results indicate that individuals with early psychosis exhibit distinct microstate patterns, suggesting fundamental disruptions in brain function that could serve as reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring of schizophrenia. Study 3: Mismatch Negativity as an Endophenotype of Schizophrenia. The third study focuses on auditory processing, a critical domain affected in schizophrenia. Using EEG, this research study investigated event-related potentials (ERPs), particularly the mismatch negativity (MMN) component, which reflects automatic auditory change detection. The study found no group differences. However, MMN measures were associated with clinical symptoms. General Conclusion: The collective findings of these studies advance our understanding of the neurophysiological abnormalities in schizophrenia. By identifying microstate alterations, this research provides evidence for EEG-derived markers as potential endophenotypes. These biomarkers offer promising avenues for early diagnosis, targeted interventions, and monitoring treatment efficacy, ultimately contributing to improved outcomes for individuals with schizophrenia.
Open Access
Numerical Study of Interactions between surface waves, currents and hydrography in extreme weather conditions
(2025-01-15) Hughes, Colin; Yes; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Oceanography; Not Applicable; Oliver Fringer; Yes; Ian Folkins; Michael Dowd; Jinyu Sheng; William Perrie
Surface gravity waves significantly affect air-sea interactions, turbulent vertical mixing, ocean currents and hydrography in the upper ocean, particularly during extreme weather events such as hurricanes and winter storms. Currents in the upper ocean also influence surface waves via the Doppler shift, relative wind effect, refraction and advection. This thesis examines the impact of wave breaking (WB), Langmuir turbulence (LT) and conservative wave effects on the upper ocean dynamics and effects of currents on surface waves during hurricane conditions using a coupled circulation-wave model. The wave-current interactions (WCIs) are investigated numerically in two cases using (a) idealized hurricanes moving at three translational speeds and (b) Hurricane Arthur (2014) over the northwest Atlantic Ocean. Model results in the fully coupled run are examined in comparison with results in other runs in which wave effects are selectively disabled to quantify main physical processes of WCIs, with a special focus on wave-induced changes to the upper ocean turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), thermal structure and currents. For the case of idealized hurricanes, analyses of model results reveal that LT has a larger impact on upper ocean currents, temperature and TKE, compared to the other considered processes. The combined wave effects reduce the surface currents in the front two quadrants of the hurricane and enhance the cold wake and near-surface cooling, predominantly to the right of the storm track. For the case of Hurricane Arthur, both the LT and WB driven acceleration are found to be important to storm-induced changes in the upper ocean temperature and circulation. By contrast, the WB induced surface flux of TKE has a limited effect on the temperature, salinity and currents in the surface layer. Over pathways of the Gulf Stream, the large WCIs reduce the significant wave heights (SWHs) of surface waves during Hurricane Arthur, with the biggest differences occurring to the right of the storm track. SWHs on the left hand side of the storm are limited by the shorter fetch, shallower water depths and coastline.
Open Access
A City Transformed? Urban Development and the Role of Canadian Railway Policy in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1900-1920
(1992-03) Hodgins, Murray B.; Not Applicable; Master of Arts; Department of History; Not Applicable; unknown; Not Applicable; David Sutherland; Henry Roper; Michael Cross
This thesis analyzes the development of the city of Halifax in the first two decades of the twentieth century, emphasizing the themes of suburban growth, the rise of municipal boosterism, and the drive for industrial development. During this period the notions of privacy and autonomy of the traditional leadership of Halifax were challenged by Ottawa's decision to build a modern wharf and rail complex in the heart of Halifax's genteel south end. This challenge and the responses it generated within the city's business elite, civic administration, and Civic Improvement League, a group committed to the planned and orderly development of the city, provide an opportunity to explore major elements of the city building process in post Confederation Atlantic Canada. The federal design, a massive departure from the existing course of development, was announced as a fait accompli. Fear of the project's vulnerability to political opposition compelled the booster element in the business elite to support the proposal as presented, despite the fact that the elite residential district would be destroyed. The municipal administration and the Civic Improvement League yielded to pressure and "rubber stamped" elite approval of the project. The League rose to assume the role of advocate for the city's interests, and used this position to continue its pursuit of comprehensive planning and orderly development. Its progressive goals were reduced to the enactment of protective zoning legislation for the residential area, however. The decline in national economic fortunes after 1913, and the onset of post-war economic deflation in 1921, slowed the city's growth to a halt. This decline rendered obsolete the optimistic projections behind the Ocean Terminals, and left the city of Halifax with a large, federally-controlled transportation complex in its formerly proud south end.
Embargo
TREATMENT PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT AND MODELING OF A SOIL-BASED WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM IN NORTHERN CANADA
(2025-01-14) Carvalho Boratto, Débora; Not Applicable; Master of Applied Science; Department of Civil and Resource Engineering; Not Applicable; n/a; Not Applicable; Dr. Lauren Somers; Dr. Azadeh Kermanshahi pour; Dr. Rob Jamieson; Dr. Barret Kurylyk
Wastewater treatment in northern communities is an ongoing challenging. This research focused on the performance assessment and modeling of a passive soil-based wastewater infiltration system in Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories. A combination of year-round site-specific field data and physically-based numerical modeling of subsurface contaminant transport was used. The investigations reveal that site conditions allow satisfactory system performance despite harsh operating routines, with accumulation of nitrate in groundwater being the most prominent concern. Wintertime conditions have a significant impact on the system’s hydrodynamics and microbial community structure. Model results indicate that an improved effluent distribution system would be required to avoid system failure from excessive mounding in more restrictive scenarios. Atypical operation routines can exhibit advantages from a hydraulic perspective but decrease pollutant removal efficiency compared to conventional procedures. Ultimately, the research findings contribute to addressing knowledge gaps related to the use of soil-based wastewater treatment systems in northern regions.
Embargo
Autonomous Landing of an Unmanned Aerial System on Water in an Unknown Sea State
(2025-01-12) Taylor, Connor; Not Applicable; Master of Applied Science; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Not Applicable; n/a; Not Applicable; Dr. Guy Kember; Dr. Clifton Johnston; Dr. Mae Seto; Dr. Robert Bauer
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are used in the marine and oceans environment for a variety of purposes. In this thesis, an approach is taken to enable safe and reliable autonomous landing of a UAS on the water's surface in an unknown sea state. With a UAS capable of landing on the water's surface under a range of sea state wave conditions, the types of mission that a UAS can undertake in marine and oceans environments will be expanded. In this work, it is assumed the UAS has no prior information of the water surface wave characteristics at the landing spot. Therefore, algorithms were developed to enable the UAS to determine the dominant wave period, significant wave height, and mean wave propagation direction in-situ using range measurements with onboard range sensors. With the desired ocean wave characteristics identified, a method was devised to identify persistent low wave-height segments in the wave field, over a spot, using onboard range sensor measurements. These persistent low wave-height segments provide safe landing windows for the UAS. A staged landing algorithm was then developed to ensure safe and timely autonomous landing of the UAS on the water surface. In addition, an investigation was conducted to determine the efficacy of ultrasonic sensors to measure wave heights when the sensors are in motion and mounted at oblique angles on the UAS. The contributions of this work are: a timely method to identify water surface wave characteristics in situ using range sensor measurements, a means to classify and identify low wave-height segments of a wave field using range sensor measurements, a staged landing algorithm for safe and reliable landing on the water's surface in a sea state, and the analysis of the efficacy of an ultrasonic sensor when mounted at oblique angles to measure water wave heights.
Open Access
Characterizing Pathways of Groundwater Recharge and Discharge in a Geologically and Topographically Complex Watershed
(2025-01-06) Dauphinee, Reid; Not Applicable; Master of Applied Science; Department of Civil and Resource Engineering; Not Applicable; na; No; Dr. Barret Kurylyk; Dr. Fred Baechler; Dr. Lauren Somers
Groundwater is a critical water source for many Canadian and First Nations communities, but the interactions between groundwater and surface water, and the impacts of climate change on groundwater recharge, are not well understood. This study investigates the Christmas Brook watershed and fault aquifer system, which supplies water to Eskasoni First Nation, Nova Scotia. The goal is to quantify the sources and flow pathways of streamflow and groundwater recharge feeding the pumping wells, informing watershed management. Water sampling, hydrochemical analysis, hydrometric monitoring, and groundwater modeling were used. A total of 134 samples were analyzed for ions, isotopes, and metals. Gauging stations were installed at the highland wetland outlet and lowland watershed outlet. Hydrochemical results show groundwater contributes 27 ± 15% of streamflow at the downstream station. A MODFLOW6 model indicates streamflow infiltration provides 60% of pumping well water, with the remaining 40% from fractured rock recharge.
Open Access
The production and exchange of sperm whale coda vocalizations
(2007-09) Schulz, Tyler Michael; Not Applicable; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Biology; Not Applicable; unknown; Not Applicable; Andy Horn; Alex Hay; Hal Whitehead
The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is a highly social animal that exchanges patterns of clicks ('codas') amongst members of long-term social units. Due to the difficulty of assigning codas to individual whales, little was known of the coda production of individuals or the exchange of vocalizations between them. To address this problem, I developed a method for assigning recorded codas to whales using differences in the inter-pulse intervals of clicks. Applying this method to recordings of two social units - one studied off Dominica, the other off the Galapagos Islands - revealed that sperm whales produced codas at regular 3-5 s intervals. Furthermore, whales synchronized their vocal output, resulting in duet-like sequences of overlap exchanges. I suggest that these exchanges affirm social relationships between unit members. The coda repertoires of both studied units were highly redundant, indicating little potential for syntactic communication. Moreover, whales in both units tended to repeat one particular coda type, both in the sequences of individuals and in overlap exchanges. Given that units preferentially associate with other units with similar coda repertoires (i.e. from the same acoustic clan), I suggest that the repetition of a particular coda type functions to bond unit members and/or communicate clan affiliation. Most whales in the Dominican social unit had similar coda repertoires, again suggesting that coda types function to advertize clan identity. However, the repertoires of two whales - a male calf and its mother - differed from those of others in the unit, including each other, suggesting that their repertoires signal individual identity. While adult females in the unit vocalized at approximately equal rates, the calf and a juvenile male vocalized less often. This is likely because they did not engage in overlapping exchanges, interactions that may have a social bonding function unnecessary for males that leave their natal unit. To examine the distance between vocalizing whales, I developed an acoustic array consisting of remotely-piloted vessels. Deployment of the array in the Sargasso Sea in 2004 revealed that sperm whales engaged in overlapping coda exchanges both with nearby and comparatively distant whales. This again supports a social bonding function for overlapping exchanges. The acoustic array was also used to show that the waveform structures of coda clicks, like echolocation clicks, vary with the recording position relative to the orientation of the whale. In summary, this thesis suggests that coda production functions to affirm social bonds between unit members (via coda overlapping and matching), advertize clan identity, and advertize individual identity for animals with an increased need to do so.
Open Access
Management and Control of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
(2024-12-20) Ali, Gama; Yes; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering; Received; Dr. Ahmed F. Zobaa.; Yes; Dr. Jason Gu.; Dr. Ghada Koleilat; Dr. Timothy Little.; Dr. Hamed Aly
There is a big attraction towards renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and biomass because of concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and the limited supply of fossil fuels. While fossil fuels still comprise much of the world’s energy supply, many countries are moving toward renewable energy to lessen their environmental impact. This dissertation bridges key control, optimization, and decision-making domains to advance renewable energy integration, contributing to the development of sustainable, efficient, and resilient power systems.
Embargo
Assessment of the Validity of Virtual Reality-Based Binocular and Visual Tests in a Strabismus Clinic
(2024-12-19) Smeltzer, Emma; No; Master of Science; Department of Clinical Vision Science; Received; Stephanie MacLeod; No; Dr. Bashar Bata; Darren Oystreck
Many tests of visual function were created decades ago and remain unchanged to this day. Tests may be improved by using virtual reality (VR), because binocularity and digital customization intersect. However, its representation of vision remains to be validated. Four binocular and one visual tests (Worth Four Dot, Bagolini Striated Lenses, Frisby Stereotest, Double Maddox Rod, and Pelli-Robson Contrast Sensitivity) were replicated in VR and compared to the current method. Normal and pathological participants aged 5-61 completed each method and were analyzed pairwise. The VR method of Frisby Stereotest was significantly correlated to its clinical method (0.623, p<0.001). Six-meter results of Worth Four Dot (0.370, p=0.001) and Bagolini Striated Lenses (0.272, p=0.021) were also significant. The 1/3m results were not significant. Requirements of accurate visual function are emphasized in this study. VR’s hardware and software need continued development to provide a more realistic viewing environment for these tests.
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Quality mapping of potato tuber storage facility using real-time location system, wireless communication and machine vision for improved traceability
(2024) Campbell, Colton Al; Not Applicable; Master of Science; Faculty of Agriculture; Not Applicable; Chyngyz Erkinbaev; Not Applicable; Vincent Sieben; Yves Leclerc; Ahmad Al-Mallahi
This thesis proposes a novel post-harvest potato tuber storage traceability system designed to enhance quality monitoring and management. The system leverages a real-time localization system (RTLS), wireless communication and machine vision to identify and map the quality characteristics of potato tubers. RTLS experiments, conducted in both controlled laboratory settings and field environments, utilized a 3D grid structure with up to 60 actual tag locations, each generating 100 predicted positions. To further enhance accuracy, a Kalman filter was employed in conjunction with LS and a Support Vector Regressor, achieving a total Root Mean Square error (RMSE) as low as 0.183 meters in obstacle-free environments. Field tests were conducted during active harvest operations at a commercial potato farm, demonstrating the system’s robustness under real-world conditions. Additionally, a Grading Localization Synchronization System (GLSS) was implemented to predict tuber travel times during bin filling operations: thus, synchronizing localization with machine vision grading. The experiment was repeated for 30 trials, capturing both actual tuber travel times, and predicted times for nine combinations of bin-piler extension and conveyor belt speed. The system integrated real-time monitoring of bin-piler extension and belt speed, achieving synchronization RMSE values as low as 0.356 seconds with a Linear Regression model, compared to 0.585 seconds without. By creating a detailed 3D quality map of the storage facility, integrating tuber quality data with their spatial and temporal placement, and uploading this information to a remote server, the system enables centralized monitoring and analysis. This integrated approach significantly enhances traceability, reduces post-harvest losses, and improves the overall quality management of stored potato tubers.
Open Access
A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program
(2024-12-18) Nuyens, Alexandra; No; Master of Science; Department of Community Health & Epidemiology; Received; n/a; No; Rob Rutledge; Mohammad Hajizadeh; Gabriela Ilie
Prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer among Canadian males, causing adverse effects and increasing healthcare costs. The Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) is a home-based intervention aimed at reducing mental distress, improving physical/urinary functions, and enhancing quality of life. This study evaluated PC-PEP’s cost-effectiveness, hypothesizing that early implementation reduces healthcare spending and improves patient outcomes. In a six-month cross-over randomized trial, participants were assigned to PC-PEP or a waitlist control group. PC-PEP included daily stress reduction, fitness routines, pelvic floor exercises, healthy habits, intimacy training, social support and dietary recommendations. Results demonstrated PC-PEP’s cost-effectiveness. At six months, the intervention saved 411.53 CAD per patient and prevented 30% of psychological distress cases while gaining 0.0134 QALYs. At 12 months, savings increased to 660.89 CAD, preventing 31% of psychological distress cases and gaining 0.0344 QALYs. These findings support integrating PC-PEP into clinical practice to reduce costs and improve outcomes.
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ENHANCING GLIOBLASTOMA THERAPY: COMBINING DEEP LEARNING SEGMENTATION WITH ROBOTIC HISTOTRIPSY
(2024-12-15) Dorosti, Shadi; Not Applicable; Master of Applied Science; School of Biomedical Engineering; Received; Frank Rudzicz; Yes; Rob Adamson; Jeremy Brown; Thomas Landry
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and prevalent adult brain cancer, with a median survival of 14 months due to its rapid growth, invasiveness, and resistance to conventional treatments. Current challenges include incomplete surgical removal caused by GBM’s infiltrative nature and limitations in intraoperative visualization techniques, posing significant risks to surrounding healthy tissue. Minimally invasive technologies like histotripsy, which uses focused ultrasound for mechanical tumor ablation, offer promising alternatives but require precise tumor delineation and targeting. This research addresses these challenges by developing an AI-driven framework for automatic tumor segmentation and robotic control for accurate histotripsy delivery. Testing on ex vivo and in vivo models demonstrated minor under-treatment. Similarly, in mouse models injected with GL261 cells, a manageable over-treatment was observed, which can be adjusted due to the flexible design of the developed algorithm. Additionally, applying a deep learning model achieved high real-time tumor segmentation performance, significantly enhancing both accuracy and efficiency.
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Servants of God and Slaves of the Devil?: Witchcraft, Tyranny, and Skepticism on the Early Modern Stage
(2024-12-12) Vogel Kubik, Sharon; Not Applicable; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of English; Not Applicable; Dr. Mary Floyd Wilson; Not Applicable; Dr. Goran Stanivukovic; Dr. Roberta Barker; Dr. Kathy Cawsey; Dr. Christina Luckyj; Dr. Andrew Brown
When King James I ascended the English throne in 1603, his book Daemonologie, a treatise on witchcraft originally published in 1597, was reprinted in London, and James’s fascination for witchcraft was soon widely known. In 1606, Macbeth was performed, and that play that included witchcraft was soon to be followed by several other witchcraft plays. Some scholars have interpreted this Jacobean trend as a compliment to the king’s interests (Paul, Kearnan). However, although these plays draw on James’s demonological interests, they do not use the topic of witchcraft to flatter his authority. Rather, they use witch characters to expose corruption in royal courts and community leaders alike, representing tyranny and not witchcraft as the true threat to a nation. In early modern literature, the king and the witch are often represented as opposites. According to Newes from Scotland, “the King is the child & servant of God, and [the witches] but servants to the devil” (D3r). This binary often works to flatter the monarch; Ben Jonson’s Masque of Queens, for example, uses witches as a foil to royalty. However, I argue that the plays I discuss turn the blame on rulers and power structures, breaking down the established binary between the witch and the godly ruler, or the witch and the godly community. Dismantling the binary from both ends, these plays build on contemporary skepticism about witchcraft and witch trials to represent rulers as tyrants and communities as corrupt. Removing the opposition between witch and legitimate ruler, they portray the authorities as inept and ineffective (The Merry Wives of Windsor), illegitimate and tyrannical (Macbeth), morally bankrupt (The Witch), paranoid and vacillating (The Tempest), or corrupt (The Witch of Edmonton). By featuring only witches and corrupt leaders, without a just ruler to represent a clear binary opposite, these plays then contrast corrupt leadership with witchcraft to demonstrate that tyranny is the greater of the two evils. Using witchcraft to expose the corruption of both royal and community leadership, these plays critique power structures rather than legitimizing them.
Open Access
An Aristotelian analysis of war and conflict on social media
(2024-12-13) Lee, Peter; Not Applicable; Master of Arts; Department of Philosophy; Not Applicable; n/a; Not Applicable; Letitia Meynell; Greg Scherkoske; Duncan MacIntosh
This project provides an Aristotelian framework, using the concepts of mimesis and catharsis, kalon and character, and perfect friendship, to draw out why social media has the potential to better represent war and conflict than more traditional media such as television, radio, newspapers, etc. Media and journalism studies research about western media coverage of the Global War on Terror along with philosophical analyses of issues in media demonstrate the issues that social media has the potential to address. The potential benefit of social media is that it now allows users to participate in shaping how war and conflict is represented on the platform. Now that audiences have the ability to participate in and influence the representation of war and conflict on social media it is crucial that they have the capacity to do so responsibly which the Aristotlian concepts provide the foundation for the pathway to achieving this potential.
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Localization of North Atlantic Right Whales Using a Deformable Sonobuoy Array
(2024-12-17) Thebeau, Kamden; Not Applicable; Master of Science; Department of Oceanography; Not Applicable; na; Not Applicable; Sarah Fortune; Bruce Martin; David Barclay; Carolyn Binder
North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered, with an estimated 356 (+7/−10) individuals remaining as of 2023. Current mitigation measures include fishing area closures and vessel speed slowdowns when a right whale is detected acoustically or visually. Although the primary means of detection is from aerial surveys, passive acoustic monitoring has the advantage of being long-term and can be persistent without requiring continual human observation. However, acoustic detections currently used in Canada do not include localization estimates, which could enable better management decisions. This thesis examines three localization algorithms: bearing localization, time-difference-of-arrival, and matched-field processing. They were evaluated according to the precision they provided with the location estimates and the assumptions needed to use them. Based on the results, the bearing and time-difference-of-arrival algorithms showed promise in improving mitigation procedures with their localization estimates. However, given its uncertainty and assumptions, matched-field processing was deemed untrustworthy.
Open Access
Proprioception After Upper Extremity Agonist Antagonist Myoneural Interface and Development of a Force Myography System for Prosthesis Control
(2024-12-15) Gudimella, Rakesh; No; Master of Applied Science; School of Biomedical Engineering; Received; Janie Wilson; No; David Tang; Jeremy Brown; Robert Adamson; Ya-Jun Pan
Purpose: Agonist-antagonist myoneural interface (AMI) is a surgical procedure hypothesized to improve proprioception after amputation. We aimed to translate this procedure to transradial hand amputation and develop a quantitative assessment of proprioception in amputees for a pilot study. Methods: The transradial AMI technique was performed and described as a surgical case study. We developed a pilot experiment for quantitative assessment of proprioception in amputees based on surface force myography (sFMG) of remnant forearm muscle force using a custom designed force sensor optimized for sFMG. Results: The surgical procedure was technically successful with radiographic evidence of a functioning AMI with 15-21 mm of tendon excursion at 18-month follow up. The AMI amputee’s performance at a force-matching task was similar to non-amputees, whereas the standard amputee was an outlier with worse performance (p=0.015). Conclusion: The AMI technique is feasible and safe for transradial amputation. The pilot results suggest that a functioning AMI may improve force-matching accuracy.