Undergraduate theses (2019 - present)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14662/389
This collection contains honours theses submitted digitally by Mount Allison University undergraduate students. The option to submit an electronic thesis was introduced in 2019. Electronic theses are required as of the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar.
Some undergraduate theses published between 2019 and the phasing in of this requirement are only be available in print format. They can be found in the MtA Libraries Catalogue Thesis Collection.
Some undergraduate theses published between 2019 and the phasing in of this requirement are only be available in print format. They can be found in the MtA Libraries Catalogue Thesis Collection.
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Item Open Access The effect of cholecystokinin administration in the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus on food intake in young rats(Mount Allison University, 2020) Rust, Victoria A.M.; Crosby, KarenCholecystokinin (CCK) is an appetite-suppressing hormone and neuropeptide that has recently been found to act in the dorsomedial nucleus (DMH), a key appetite-regulatory area of the hypothalamus. In a recent electrophysiology study using brain slice recordings from young rats, CCK was found to activate CCK2 receptors (CCK2R) and interact with nitric oxide (NO) to increase the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA onto appetite regulatory neurons in the DMH. However, it is unclear whether this is the pathway through which CCK supresses appetite, thus necessitating the use of in vivo studies in young rats to elucidate the function of this pathway in relation to CCK. In the current study, we implanted bilateral guide cannulas into the DMH of young, male rats and administered injections of either 1) vehicle (aCSF), 2) CCK, 3) CCK + a NO synthase inhibitor, 4) CCK + a CCK2 receptor antagonist or 5) a NO synthase inhibitor, into food deprived animals. Following injections food intake, change in body weight and latency to feed were measured over a two-hour period. We also looked at the effect of CCK in young rats given a high fat diet (HFD) using two treatments 1) vehicle (aCSF) + HFD and 2) CCK + HFD. We found that CCK suppresses food intake in young rats and does so through interactions with NO but not CCK2 receptors in the DMH. We also found that the appetite suppressing effects of CCK had no impact on latency to feed. Finally, CCK was unable to suppress appetite in rats given high fat food. By confirming that CCK supresses appetite through NO signaling in the DMH this project provides a potential therapeutic target for future drugs to combat obesity.Item Open Access Optical properties of aerosol emitted from indoor biomass burning cookstoves(Mount Allison University, 22-Apr-23) Whidden, SamuelItem Open Access The endocannabinoid, anandamide, modulates anxiety-like behaviours in young, male rats(Mount Allison University, 2020) Burns, Hailey V.Anxiety disorders are a major psychological health concern in society today and while treatments are available that target neurotransmitters such as GABA and serotonin, they are known to cause adverse effects. Other neurotransmitters, like endocannabinoids (eCBs) and nitric oxide (NO), have been shown to modulate anxiety-like behaviours; however, the mechanisms regarding how eCBs and NO affect anxiety in youth remains unclear. Many studies have highlighted the importance of the eCB anandamide in the modulation of anxiety and the stress response. Thus, the purpose of this study was to further investigate eCBs, specifically anandamide, and NO in young rats. We hypothesized that anandamide will modulate anxious behaviours in a CB1 receptor and NO dependent manner. In order to investigate this hypothesis, young male Sprague-Dawley rats were placed into one of the following treatment groups: 1) vehicle (saline), 2) URB597 (fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor), 3) vehicle (30-minute restraint), 4) URB597 (30-minute restraint), 5) L-NAME (blocks NO synthesis, 30-minute restraint), 6) URB597 + L-NAME (30-minute restraint), 7) SR141716 + URB597 (cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor antagonist, 30-minute restraint), and their anxiety was tested using the elevated plus-maze. There were no statistically significant differences observed between nonstressed experimental groups (vehicle and URB597). Administration of URB597 prior to acute stress significantly decreased open arm time in the maze, reflecting anxiogenic behaviour. In the presence of the CB1 receptor antagonist or the NO synthesis blocker, URB597 significantly increased anxious behaviours. These findings suggest that anandamide may have anxiogenic-like effects following acute stress in which CB1 receptors and NO does not play a role.Item Open Access The Development of Executive Function in Risky Decision Making among Preschoolers(Mount Allison University, 2023) Savoy, MollyRisky decision making refers to making a decision that includes a choice with an uncertain outcome. Many skills such as executive function (EF) are important for effective decision making. EF refers to higher-order cognitive skills necessary for goal directed behaviour. It is divided into two categories: hot executive function and cool executive function. Hot EF are used in a motivational context, whereas cool EF are used in a more abstract context. The present study assessed three- and four-year-olds’ EF development in regard to risky decision making by utilizing various EF tasks and a Risky Decision Making task. Participants included 125 children from preschools across the greater Moncton area. Results revealed no significant difference in risk taking across a gain domain vs loss domain, that four-year-old children take more risk than three-year old children in the Risky Decision Making task used, and that the delay of gratification task (DoGT), which assesses hot EF skills, is associated with proficient risk taking. In the future, research should evaluate the comprehension of the preschool-aged participants on the tasks at hand, exclude any distracting factors within the tasks, increase the age sensitivity of the Risky Decision Making task, and use a larger sample with a broader age range.Item Open Access In their own voices: How can parents' expectations in the care of their children with complex health conditions be met by NB and PEI professional care providers(Mount Allison University, 2021) Brun, Jaqueline A.; Azar, Rima; Doucet, ShelleyFamilies of children with complex health conditions (CCHC) face many everyday struggles. It is important for stakeholders (i.e., healthcare, social and education providers) to understand the needs of these families in order to give them the best care possible. This study aimed to describe the insights of parents of CCHC in two Maritime provinces, New Brunswick (NB) and Prince Edward Island (PEI), about how health care providers can meet their expectations. A qualitative descriptive design was used to analyze the secondary data of family interviews. Participants’ interview data (N = 24) consisted of 16 participants from NB and 8 participants from PEI. Three overarching themes emerged from the data: (1) communication/collaboration; (2) support; and (3) advocacy. This study described these findings and discussed their practical implications. Overall, the current research emphasized the voices of parents of CCHC in Atlantic Canada to answer: how can healthcare providers meet the expectations of parents of CCHC’s care?Item Open Access "Pull your heart to my heart": Touching the past to build queer selves, communities, and theologies for the present(Mount Allison University, 2020) Yeo, Rebecca L.Rooted in my own experience as a queer cradle Anglican, this thesis seeks to address theological obstacles to contemporary queer Christian identity that alienate queer Christians from God and overlook the theological value of queer forms of knowledge. It investigates potential resources for the expression of queer Christian identities and queer relationships with God, through the possibility of forming affective relationships with past figures who can be identified as queer. Building on the work of queer historian Carolyn Dinshaw, the thesis finds such a resource in Margery Kempe of Lynn, a fourteenth-century Christian mystic who negotiated the margins of medieval domestic and religious life.Item Open Access Is the Colavita effect replicable in an online study?(Mount Allison University, 2021) Park, Sarah V.; Desmarais, GenevieveProper functioning in a multimodal environment requires us to be able to bind our senses into a coherent perception of the world. The Colavita effect is an instance of multisensory competition whereby we prioritize visual information over auditory information when they are presented simultaneously. Past research has shown the Colavita effect to be a robust phenomenon through resistance to several experimental manipulations. In recent years, researchers have opted to migrate many psychological studies to online platforms. However, studies of cognitive phenomena present a particular challenge due to their reliance on strict environmental controls. I aimed to examine if the Colavita visual dominance effect would be replicable in an online study. Participants completed a Colavita protocol online and remotely where they were asked to respond to the modality of unimodal (auditory, visual) and bimodal (audiovisual) stimuli. Bayesian analyses revealed that participants did not respond preferentially to the visual component of audiovisual stimuli, and thus did not show evidence for a Colavita effect. Given past success in finding evidence for visual dominance in traditional laboratory settings and robustness in the literature, the absence of the Colavita effect is likely attributable to both the change in environment and variation in environment between participants.Item Open Access Change in gold nanoparticle surface coatings results in distinct cytotoxic profile across various cancer models(Mount Allison University, 2021) Cahill, Hannah F.; Rourke, JillGold nanoparticles (AuNPs) hold unique surface properties, making them interesting candidates for cancer treatments. AuNPs surface chemistry can be modified by binding thiols creating linkage points for different surface coatings. The chemical structure of the coatings regulates the interaction AuNPs have with cells and is an important determining factor in AuNP cytotoxicity. This study looked at AuNP’s functionalized with 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), and three polyethylene glycol (PEG) coatings: PEG methyl ether thiol (PEGCH3), PEG amine terminated thiol (PEGNH2) and PEG 2-mercaptoethyl ether acetic acid (PEGCOOH). The particles cytotoxic effects were compared across three cell lines: Human embryotic kidney (HEK293T/17), prostate cancer (PC-3) and ovarian cancer (SKOV3).Item Open Access "Am I normal?" An analysis of adult sex education through interviews with sex educators(Mount Allison University, 2021) Corrigan, Olivia D.; Hamilton, Lisa DawnResearch and discussion about sex education almost exclusively focused on sex education of children and teens; however, there is an increasing amount of sex education aimed at adults. Despite its growing popularity, few studies have explored adult sex education from a pedagogical perspective. With educators ranging from Instagram sex ed influencers to dominatrix-led kink workshops to church-based sex education courses, adult sex education has solidified its place in modern society. The current study sought to investigate adult sex education from the perspective of the educators in order to better understand the work that they do, as well as the clients they serve. Seventeen sex educators from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom participated in this study. Five themes were identified as part of this sample. This included normalcy, communication, shame, past sex education, sex education beyond heteronormativity, and empowerment. The results of this study help to outline the information sought from adult sex education, as well as inform gaps in mainstream sex education.Item Open Access The untypical prisoner: Commodifying labour in Dorchester Penitentiary, 1880-1900(Mount Allison University, 2020) Wilson, Grace M.Item Open Access Characterizing activation and localization of the metabolite-sensing G protein-coupled receptor, GPR52(Mount Allison University, 22-Apr-23) Suh, Gawon; Rourke, JillItem Open Access Synthesis and computational studies of a novel tethered diindane(Mount Allison University, 2023-04) Lee, John; Briand, GlenThe Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry, which were developed by Anastas and Warner in 1998, seek to reduce environmental risks and wastes produced by chemical processes and products. One of these principles, catalysis, is key, as the use of chemical catalysts eliminates waste that would result from the use of stochiometric amounts of reactant. Because of their favorable redox properties, precious transition metals such as palladium and rhodium are essential components of homogeneous organometallic catalysts used in a variety of important industrial processes. However, these metals are expensive and toxic and have significant environmental impact. In contrast, the base main group metal indium is relatively non-toxic and inexpensive and has seen utility as a metal center in Lewis acid catalysts. Indium is stable primarily in the +3 oxidation state, which limits its utility in catalytic processes where oxidative addition/reductive elimination reactions are required. The current work seeks to synthesize and characterize the novel redox active diindane [(NCN)In]2(naphth) (6), which will ultimately be tested as a redox active green catalyst. The synthetic routes explored and the structural characterization of the novel compounds [(NCN)InBr]2 (5) and [LiBr(TMEDA)]2 are reported.Item Open Access Cloning and enzymatic characterization of Polysiphonie japonica methionine dehydrogenase(Mount Allison University, Apr-20) Garrett, Emily; Waller, JeffreyItem Open Access GIS based accumulation model of microplastics loading in the Saint John River watershed(Mount Allison University, 2020) Saucier, Nicholas; Lieske, DavidAs microplastic pollution in freshwaters becomes a greater area of focus for many researchers, the development of GIS based mapping tools specific to this field becomes increasingly important. Although many GIS models have been constructed to map the transport and sedimentation of various types of particulates through river systems, models specific to microplastics have yet to be developed. The goal of this study was to create a GIS based accumulation model of microplastics loading in the Saint John River watershed. This model considers the location of potential microplastic point sources such as wastewater treatment plants and tributaries, as well as the rivers flow strength and direction. Observed suspected microplastic concentrations from the Kennebecasis and Naskwaak tributaries were used to calibrate and test the accuracy of the model’s predictions. Waste water treatment plants seem to be better predictors of suspected microplastic concentrations than tributary confluences. The outcome of this project will further the understanding of microplastics pollution in the Saint John River watershed, and will serve as a reference to implement similar models in other freshwater systems.Item Open Access How Bright is the Bright Side? Measurement and Implications of Toxic Positivity for Self and Others(Mount Allison University, 2023) Binns, RachelToxic positivity refers to the belief that no matter how hard or difficult a situation is, people should maintain a positive outlook. The present research aimed to demonstrate that toxic positivity is a measurable construct through the development of the Binns Toxic Positivity Scale (BTPS). For Study One a community sample (N = 94) completed an initial set of 13 items to index toxic positivity. Factor analysis showed that items could be reduced to two subscales: Control and Positivity. Each subscale showed acceptable reliability, and correlations between the two subscales and emotion regulation strategies provided evidence of validity. Importantly, the subscales failed to correlate with optimism, indicating that the BTPS assesses a separate construct. The purpose of Study Two was two-fold: (1) to examine the psychometric properties of a revised BTPS and (2) to assess the impact of mood. Results from a sample of undergraduates (N = 142) showed that the revised Control and Positivity subscales were reliable. However, the evidence for validity was mixed. Specifically, the Control subscale was associated with more optimism, self-compassion, and better mental health, indicating that aspects of toxic positivity may have benefits for individuals. Of interest was the finding that participants who received toxic positivity feedback after reading an imaginary scenario of failure experienced more negative mood than participants who received compassionate feedback. This negative impact of toxic positivity on mood was moderated by individuals’ level of self-compassion. Overall, findings illustrate that toxic positivity is a measurable construct, that scores relate to emotion regulation strategies, and that toxic positivity statements have negative impacts on others. Future research should focus on refinement of the BTPS and validity of its utility.Item Open Access Investigation of wavelength shifting materials in an active helium target and detector calibrations(Mount Allison University, 2020) Perry, Michael Steven; Hornidge, DavidThe strong nuclear force, responsible for binding nucleons and nuclei together, has proved challenging for physicists to study experimentally. Asymptotic freedom allows the strong force to be studied and tested e↵ectively at high energies; however in medium to low energy regimes, it remains to be solved. To establish a deeper understanding of how particles behave at these energy scales, the A2 Collaboration in Mainz, Germany, studies nucleon polarizabilites, which are fundamental structure constants specific to each nucleon. While these polarizability values are well established for protons, results obtained for the neutron remain unsatisfactory. To gain access to the neutron, the A2 Collaboration is using various helium targets: the cryogenic liquid 4He target that had been employed already, and the planned Active Helium target, set to contain gaseous helium isotopes. One of the main motivations for using the active target is it allows for the collection of scintillation light, which may be used to reduce backgrounds. However, the silicon photomultipliers in the prototype active volume are unable to detect the vacuum ultraviolet light emitted by the helium gas, and thus a wavelength shifting material is required. The work of this thesis examines various materials of this sort, including Tetraphenyl Butadiene, which has shown promising initial results and necessitates further examination. This thesis also examines detector calibrations in the aforementioned liquid 4He experiment from June of 2019, which include time and analog to digital onversion, setting o↵set values, energy pedestals and energy gains. A brief discussion of the beginnings of polarizability extraction is also touched upon. iItem Open Access Identifying epigenetic differences between Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) infected and uninfected with Borellia burgdorferi(Mount Allison University, 2020) Vickery, Jessica L.; Lloyd, Vett; Berthold, AnneBorrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, has long been recognized to modulate physiological and behavioural changes in the host for the disease, Ixodes scapularis. However, the mechanism by which this bacterium modulates these changes remains unknown. There are 3 distinct epigenetic mechanisms, histone modification, non-coding RNA regulation and DNA methylation, each of which alter gene expression through chromatin modification rather than changes in the genetic code itself. Epigenetics in the I. scapularis is relatively understudied, with little to no current research on DNA methylation specifically. Presently, it is unknown if DNA methylation changes or remains the same in the presence of B. burgdorferi. Furthermore, epigenetics has yet to be explored as the possible cause for the physiological changes in Ixodes scapularis, in response to infection by B. burgdorferi. In this study, the DNA methylation status of the pericentromeric tandem repeats family, Ixodes scapularis Repeats (ISR), in Borrelia-infected and non-infected I. scapularis samples was investigated. This was done through performing methylated-DNA immunoprecipitation reactions on I. scapularis DNA extracts of either infection status. DNA methylation status was quantified through a qPCR analysis involving the immunoprecipitated DNA, and primers targeting each ISR region. Calculations found that when comparing the ISR2A, ISR2D and ISR3 regions, overall significantly more DNA methylation was measured in the Borrelia-infected samples (p = 0.0129, n=3). The same trend was observed when targeting the ISR2B and ISR2C regions (n=1). Additionally, the ISR regions were found to be differentially methylated, with the ISR2A (p = 0005838, n=3) and the ISR3 (p = 0000833, n=3) regions experiencing significantly more DNA methylation than the ISR2D region. The ISRC region was also found to be more heavily methylated than the ISR2B region (n=1). This study found novel evidence that DNA methylation in I. scapularis may be responsive and modulated by the presence of B. burgdorferi. Additionally, it was demonstrated that distinct genomic regions can differ in their epigenetic responsiveness, and that the ISR2A, ISR2C and ISR3 may act as epigenetic markers in this organism. These results provide the groundwork for future epigenetic studies of the I. scapularis in relation to B. burgdorferi.Item Open Access Describing the mating system of Halenia deflexa, a native New Brunswick plant(Mount Allison University, 2020) McConnell, Sara K.; Austen, EmilyThe New Brunswick native plant Halenia deflexa (Gentianaceae) provides an excellent opportunity to investigate the association between within-plant variation in flower shape and within-plant variation in mating system. At the start of the season, H. deflexa flowers produced have long nectar spurs, but by the end of the season, nectar spur length declines significantly. This within-plant variation between early flowers and late produced flowers offers a character upon which natural selection could act. Nectar spurs offer a sugary reward to pollinators that then bring in outcross pollen for fertilization. Therefore, a decline in nectar spur length throughout the season could affect H. deflexa mating system. Halenia deflexa could be entirely self-incompatible, relying on outcrossing as its only mechanism for reproduction. On the other hand, H. deflexa could exclusively self or have a mixed mating system where both outcrossing and selfing are used. I compared plants with full pollinator access to pollinator excluded plants in bags to investigate this potential interaction between nectar spur and mating system. However, I observed no effect of pollinator access on H. deflexa fruit set or number of seeds per fruit throughout the season. I also compared emasculated flowers with anthers removed to intact flowers to observe the effects of autogamy on H. deflexa mating system. The ability to reproduce through autogamy increases fruit set throughout the season. Autogamous fruit produce more seeds than non-autogamous fruit early in the season, but by the end of the season there is no difference between the two. Collectively, my studies indicate that H. deflexa has a mixed mating system that does not rely on pollinators to successfully reproduce.Item Open Access Government contingent liabilities: Hidden debt and fiscal risk(Mount Allison University, 2020) Wong, Kevin A.; Berry, PaulAs ideas of economic management have developed, governments around the globe have taken an increasingly large role in their domestic economies. Leaders have faced increasing pressure to simultaneously decrease annual deficits, offer more services, and maintain economic growth. As a result, many leaders have intentionally and unintentionally turned to contingent liabilities. Contingent liabilities, often unrecorded or recorded insufficiently on the balance sheet, allow the offering of services or subsidies through the creation of off-balance sheet obligations – effectively allowing a governing party to provide more to citizens without having to deal with the political consequences of deficits or a growing national debt. As the topic of contingent liabilities has become an area of focus for scholars, it has become clear that while contingent liabilities do not cause fiscal crises, their propensity to occur at the same time create a more fragile fiscal state than traditional debt indicators such as gross debt show. This literature review compiles and represents the major sources within the field showing the causes, impacts, and solutions for government contingent liabilities.Item Open Access Does complexity matter? Visual and haptic identification of complex objects(Mount Allison University, 2020) Schneeberger, Laura C.; Desmarais, GenevieveEncoding specificity, the phenomenon where performance is best when encoding and retrieval are similar, applies to object recognition. Individuals who learn to recognize objects by sight are better at visual identification than haptic identification. However, learning to recognize objects by touch leads to similar performance across haptic and visual identification, violating the principle of encoding specificity. Further, recent studies have found that object representations may rely on a verbal encoding process, but this may be attributable to the visual simplicity of the objects used. I therefore evaluated whether learning to recognize complex novel objects would generate similar performance as learning to recognize simple novel objects. Participants completed learning trials where they explored each object by sight or by touch, and test trials where they identified objects by sight and by touch. Bayesian analyses indicated similar erformance across object types: similar objects were confused more often than distinct objects, and participants who learned to identify objects by touch demonstrated a violation of encoding specificity. Further, an interaction between learning condition and stimulus type emerged: participants who visually learned to identify simple objects made fewer errors than those who haptically learned to identify simple objects. In contrast, identification performance for participants who visually or haptically learned to identify complex objects was comparable. The violation of encoding specificity therefore appears to be a more general consequence of object processing independent of stimulus complexity.