bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of activated carbon on the growth of Chlorella vulgaris in an aqueous solution
Authors: Penno Alannah , Agar Emily , Divok Jordyn
Published: September 2019

Algal blooms, if left unmanaged, can negatively impact lake ecosystems. An unexplored method of removing excess nutrients from lakes, and therefore reducing algal blooms, is through the use of biochar. We hypothesize that due to the adsorptive characteristics of pyrolyzed material such as biochar and activated carbon, its presence would reduce the nutrient availability within aqueous solutions, therefore reducing algal growth. This experiment was conducted in an aqueous solution containing COMBO growth medium with and without the presence of activated carbon, studied under four conditions: 5 mg/L, 10 mg/L, 20 mg/L, and 50 mg/L phosphorous. We applied these treatments to an aqueous solution containing algae and measured fluorometer readings of the algae growth over a period of 12 days. An analysis of covariance followed by a Tukey’s HSD test demonstrated a significant difference between the means of samples containing activated carbon compared to samples without (p < 0.0001). Further, nutrient readings taken of each sample demonstrate a lower concentration of both phosphorus and nitrogen in samples containing activated carbon compared to those without. Our study demonstrates that activated carbon has the capacity to be used for the adsorption of phosphorous. This suggests that both activated carbon, as well as its more adsorptive counterpart, biochar, have the potential to be used in mitigating algal blooms and, more importantly, reducing the effects of anthropogenic eutrophication in aqueous environments.
Sacroiliac joint pain: Where are we now?
Authors: Klahsen Olena
Published: September 2019

Sacroiliac joint pain is often interpreted by healthcare practitioners as non-specific pain in the lower back region. This has resulted in many cases of sacroiliac joint pain being misdiagnosed as general chronic low back pain, which has led to large gaps in the knowledge regarding its exact causes and manifestation. The pain is theorized to develop because of the loss of form and/or force closure leading to destabilization and sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Current diagnostic tests include pain provocation tests and intra-articular injections. The intra-articular injections may exclude individuals with extra-articular pain, so more inclusive testing should be considered for use in clinical practice such as range of motion assessment or pubic symphysis analysis. Recent literature does not support the use of present treatments by healthcare practitioners as the therapies lack well designed studies to confirm their efficacy, are extremely invasive, or have minimal symptom management capabilities. Additional research into current and new treatment strategies needs to be done to determine their efficacy in managing this condition. Overall, the development of an animal model of the condition is recommended to better evaluate and improve the diagnosis and treatment of sacroiliac joint pain.
Preimplantation genetic screening: Changes in technology and methodology, ethical implications, and areas of future research
Authors: Vanderwal April Lynn
Published: September 2019

Advances made in the field of genetics have positively contributed to the ability to screen for genetic diseases. Preimplantation genetic screening  (PGS) is a type of Reproductive Genetic Screening that involves day 5 embryo biopsies and DNA testing prior to embryo implantation in the uterus. Historically, this DNA testing was performed using fluorescent in situ hybridization. However, this was deemed ineffective, so new procedures involving methods such as array comparative genomic hybridization and real time polymerase chain reaction have been implemented. As PGS technology develops, ethical issues arise, as well as a need for further research.
The finiteness of crude oil: Are we running out?
Authors: Smith Conor
Published: September 2019

Oil is a controversial natural resource. One aspect of its controversial nature takes the form of periodic expressions of fear at the prospect of the depletion of this energy source, often referred to as Peak Oil Theory. Julian Simon was among the first to challenge the increasing scarcity scenario and argued that global oil stocks are increasing as a result of anthropogenic activity. He presented evidence that, since the 1860s, oil prices had been generally decreasing. Bjørn Lomborg set out to challenge Simon’s finding, and ultimately ended up siding with Simon, concluding that crude oil stocks are increasing and that there is no sign that the world will soon “run out” of this finite resource. This paper updates the earlier work by Simon and Lomborg to see if the trends that they documented have changed since their research was published. Updated data are presented on oil prices, stocks, and extraction rates. These updated data suggest that most of Simon and Lomborg’s findings still hold. The analysis provided in this report concludes that the depletion of oil stocks is not of utmost concern, and that continuous technological innovation allows for greater output per unit of crude oil consumed, thus essentially increasing the availability of crude oil, and giving new meaning to the term “finite” in the realm of natural resources. Of course, future alternatives are important to discuss, as issues associated with oil dependency remain relevant. But fears of running out of this resource seem to be unjustified.
Psychosocial impact of Huntington’s disease on families and spouses from the perspective of the Family Systems Theory
Authors: Smolina Ekaterina
Published: September 2019

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurological disorder with a late onset and a long period of progression that is characterized by changes in personality and physical aptitude. Predictive testing for HD was introduced in 1993 but there have been no major advancements toward a cure since. The disorder is accompanied by emotionally charged issues that affect not only the carrier but the family members as well. The current understanding of the psychosocial impact of Huntington’s disease is limited in terms of both the depth and the breadth of the existent research. The present study examines the literature to date from the perspective of the Family Systems Theory, introduced by Murray Bowen in 1978. A description of the implications of the introduction of the disease into family life as well as a discussion of the various psychological aspects of the disorder are presented in light of four postulates of the theory. Findings suggest that Family Systems Theory may be employed as a useful model for implementation of better family and marital therapy practices for the relatives of the affected individuals because it calls for a more individualized and flexible approach, which is ultimately what is required to meet the unique needs of HD patients.
A comparison of variance estimators with known and unknown population means
Authors: Ng Jennifer , Horrocks Julie
Published: September 2019

Variance is a concept that is key, yet often difficult to estimate in statistics. In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating the population variance when the population mean is known. We compare two estimators, one that incorporates the known population mean and another which estimates the population mean. The standard normal, standard exponential, and t distribution with 3 degrees of freedom are considered, with sample sizes of 5, 20, 50, and 100. It is determined that both estimators are unbiased. For the normal and exponential distributions, both estimators have similar variances; however, the estimator that incorporates the known mean has marginally lower variance, and thus is recommended. For the t(3) distribution, the variances of the estimators do not exist.
Proposal of a new method for treating type II odontoid fractures: Odontoid process prosthetic (Ti)
Authors: Johnston Marc , Ranieri Shawn , De Wit William
Published: September 2019

A novel method for treating type II odontoid fractures is presented. The use of a sintered titanium odontoid prosthetic could eliminate long healing times associated with external fixation methods, and the neurological deficits associated with non-union events in odontoid fracture treatment. Finite element experiments provide early indications that the axis vertebral body could accommodate a titanium odontoid prosthetic. Strain of 3.5 % and stresses of up to 10.5 MPa on the reamed opening of the axis vertebral body are considered as the local maximums. Conventional and emerging implant fixation and non-fouling techniques are also discussed.
The U.F.O. and the broadening-out controversy: crisis of farmer identity in a changing world
Authors: Dorsey Mark
Published: September 2019

This essay explores the subject of farmer identity in Ontario during the United Farmers of Ontario (UFO) administration, 1919-1923. Although a wealth of scholarly attention has been given to the UFO, the focus has conventionally only been on the politics of the group. This particular paper seeks to address a gap in the historiography of the UFO by trying to determine the extent to which farmer identity was experiencing change during the UFO’s administration. Using a variety of primary source materials, this paper takes an in-depth look at how farmers saw themselves and how they were viewed by others. With a particular emphasis on how two polar-opposite personalities, E.C. Drury and J.J. Morrison, represented the conflicting opinions of the farming sector as a whole, this essay comes to the conclusion that the UFO’s “broadening out controversy” coincided with a major re-evaluation of farmer identity, the last time that such extensive discussion about the personality of agriculture took place in Canada.
Incidence and abundance of epiphytic and epigeic lichens in response to highway traffic in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
Authors: Irving Scott
Published: September 2019

Lichens are commonly used as indicator species of air pollution because of their sensitivity to prolonged exposure to sulphur dioxide, copper, zinc, arsenic, and lead from air pollution. The present study examines the incidence and abundance of lichens at varying distances from two roadways in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario: one with a high traffic volume, the other with a negligible traffic volume. Incidence was defined as the ratio of individuals to available habitats, while abundance was simply a count of individuals in a given space. The study found that lichen abundance did not vary significantly in relation to distance from the highway in either setting. Incidence, on the other hand, was found to increase with distance from the highway in the high-traffic site, while no such relationship was found in the low-traffic site. Obtained results suggest that incidence may be a relevant and practical measure of air quality in biomonitoring work.
Thinking and listening: Understanding improvisation
Authors: Desaulnier Evan , Waterman Ellen
Published: September 2019

To anyone who has ever attended a concert of live improvised music, I would ask: “Wasn’t there something about being there and witnessing the music unfold that somehow deepened your understanding of it?” The work that follows is the result of a seven month-long study that I conducted for my undergraduate honours thesis at the University of Guelph. My interest in the phenomenon of live improvised music has to do with the audience; for it is first as an audience member that I became fascinated with the way in which live improvisation meant more to me when I was immersed in its context: the performance event. The first goal of this study rests within developing an ethnomusicological research methodology that could be applied to field research in live improvisation. My research goals aim to discuss the social space of performance in improvised music and as such, considerable emphasis was placed on analysing the context of performance.
Alcohol and the Asian flush reaction
Authors: Ye Lisa
Published: September 2019

A substantial proportion of Asian populations suffer from the ‘Asian flush reaction’, which is characterized by adverse reactions upon the consumption of alcohol. Common symptoms include heart facial flushing, heart palpitations, and nausea. These negative reactions are caused by a genetically polymorphic aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzyme that is deficient and fails to break down acetaldehyde, causing an inability to metabolize standard alcohol. The accumulated acetaldehyde in the human body results in serious health consequences for Asian American populations. This targeted population faces an increased risk of developing disease including colorectal cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and markedly head and neck cancers. Western social and cultural trends in alcohol use among Asian American youths demonstrate a great influence by social pressures to consume alcohol. Due to severity of the public health implications, it is important to educate and raise awareness of this health risk and explore a harm reducing method in order to facilitate safe alcohol consumption for affected individuals.
A bioinformatics approach to defining the AU-Rich Element (AURE) Identification of novel motifs flanking AU-Rich Elements
Authors: Blake Josh , Gingerich Timothy J. , LaMarre Jonathan
Published: September 2019

Post-transcriptional regulation of genes is critical for the proper temporal and spatial expression of gene products. mRNA transcripts contain cis AU-rich elements (AUREs) in their 3’ untranslated region (UTR) that facilitate the binding of trans acting stability factors. AUREs however remain poorly characterized. Using regular expressions inherent in the PERL programming language, coupled to the Ensemble Human Transcriptome database, we confirm trends observed in already characterized 3’ UTRs as well as identify several significant and novel 3’ UTR flanking sequences that may have biological significance.
2009 College of Biological Sciences Poster Day Abstracts
Authors: CBS Poster Day Students
Published: September 2019

CBS Poster Day Students
Geographic distribution of West Nile virus reported in humans and corvids in southern Ontario, 2006
Authors: Sullivan Ashleigh , Berke Olaf
Published: September 2019

This study analyzes the spatial risk distribution of West Nile virus (WNv) in humans and birds across southern Ontario for 2006. The relationship between bird and human risk is also investigated. Surveillance data was obtained for the number of human WNv cases and the fraction of dead birds testing positive in each public health unit. The presence of disease clustering in humans and birds was investigated using a spatial scan test. Choropleth risk maps of regional empirical Bayesian smoothed estimates were created to investigate the spatial distribution of WNv in humans and birds. Isopleth risk maps were created through kriging of smoothed estimates, and were used to identify high-risk areas as well as investigate the relationship between human and bird risk. One disease cluster was found in both humans and birds. The human disease cluster was not significant when the bird data was used as a covariate in the analysis. The choropleth and isopleth maps identified the southern portion of southern Ontario to be the highest risk area for both humans and birds. This study indicates that bird outbreaks are a potential indicator for an increase in human risk. As well, WNv risk is greatest in the southern portion of southern Ontario and is geographically spreading in comparison to previous years.
The effects of mothers’ education on the nutritional outcomes of their children in Nicaragua
Authors: Geale Kirk
Published: September 2019

Using data from the 2001 Nicaragua Demographic and Health Survey, this paper examines the relationship of a child’s nutritional health outcomes relative to the completion of secondary education of their mother by measuring her child’s height-for-age and weight-for-height. This study focuses on Nicaragua in particular, in contrast to other literature surveying Latin America as a whole. The persistence of malnutrition amongst the population makes Nicaragua a candidate for research in this area, especially in face of educational reforms in the country approximately 10 years prior. In this study the control variables include paternal education, geographic location, socioeconomic status, birth order, and household size; combined to help attenuate the effects of maternal education. The analysis is subdivided to examine the relation of mothers’ education to health outcomes for children of each gender. It was found that maternal secondary education is significant for all scenarios with the exception of gender-separated weight-for-height, and that there is a stronger correlation between health outcomes for girls than for boys when examining maternal education.
Correlation between sonic anemometers at three heights within a mixed temperate forest
Authors: Halliday Mark
Published: September 2019

Correlation coefficients were determined for the horizontal and vertical components from three sonic anemometers in a mixed temperate forest. It was found that the vertical structure of the canopy is important for two point correlations within the canopy. This was especially noticed for horizontal motion due to differences in structure between the upper and lower parts of the canopy, which effected the correlations between these parts. This suggests that there is a decoupling trend between these parts of the canopy. Typically the anemometers with smaller vertical height separations were shown to have stronger correlations than the larger height separations.
Anatomy of the shrimp plant, Justicia brandegeana (Acanthaceae)
Authors: O'Neill Caitlin Selena
Published: September 2019

Justicia brandegeana is a popular ornamental plant in North America commonly known as the shrimp plant. In the wild, it grows as a shrub in semi-arid climates. Little is documented on the anatomy of this plant, therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the anatomy of the shrimp plant at the cellular level through various hand sectioning and staining techniques. It was determined that many anatomical features of this plant were synonymous to those of a typical dicotyledonous plant. However there were unique features of this plant that can be linked to its hot/dry environment such as a layer of suberized parenchyma in the stem surrounding the vascular tissue, a thick band of secondary xylem in the stem and root, phi thickenings in cortical cells just inside the exodermis in mature root, and expansion of the Casparian bands in the endodermis consistent with the secondary growth of the vascular tissue in the root. Further research is necessary on plants that have also adapted to semi-arid environments in order to compare and contrast the adaptations found in the anatomy of J. brandegeana.
Secondary equity offerings as a leading indicator of market performance
Authors: Cain Jeff , Walsh Kellen
Published: September 2019

Secondary Equity Offerings as a Leading Indicator of Market Performance examines the perception of an imminent market downturn as a motive behind new dilutive stock issuances. Market conditions, represented by the value of the TSX composite index, are found to have a weak , yet significant relationship with the total gross proceeds of secondary offerings. The paper interprets this relationship as evidence that an influx of seasoned equity offerings is a leading indicator of a market downturn. The paper suggests that this is a result of opportunistic managers cashing in on favourable market conditions in order to insulate their capital holdings while the opportunity is still available. The paper observes a trend in which the leading secondary issuances tend to occur in two distinct peaks. The “dual peak” effect is believed to be a product of herding by managers due to relative risk sensitivity.
Immunological control of coccidiosis in poultry
Authors: Price Kayla Rebecca , Barta John R.
Published: September 2019

Coccidiosis – caused by parasites of the genus Eimeria – is an infection known to damage poultry. Eimeria spp. follow a typical coccidian lifestyle consisting of an endogenous asexual and sexual phase and an exogenous infectious phase. Eimeria spp. infections are self-limiting because the number of asexual, pathogenic, cycles is genetically pre-determined. However, the infection may be chronic because of oocyst cycling in feces. Coccidiosis is a burden on the poultry industry and many preventive anticoccidial drugs have been created; however, a major limit is emerging drug resistance. Live vaccination is another method of coccidiosis prevention where protective immunity is developed by a dose of non-attenuated Eimeria spp. that is then cycled in the feces to produce protective immunity. The cycling of the controlled infection with live vaccination of replacement laying hens is influenced by commercial caging techniques. This review provides an overview of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria species infecting domestic fowl and the nature of coccidial infections in commercial poultry houses.
Molecular dynamics investigation of myelin basic protein stability on lipid membranes
Authors: Bessonov Kyrylo , Harauz George
Published: September 2019

Simulation of proteins and membranes composed of synthetic lipids on computer clusters provides molecular information that complements experimental data. This paper describes molecular dynamics (MD) approaches to study the properties of biological membranes and proteins using the freely available GROMACS package on the C-terminal α-helical peptide of myelin basic protein (MBP). We simulated a mixed membrane – consisting of 2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DMPC/DMPE), and a pure DMPC membrane, composed of 188 and 248 lipids, respectively – for 200 ns at 309K. The DMPC membrane was approximately three times more fluid compared to the DMPC/DMPE system, with the diffusion coefficients (D) being 0.0207x10-5 cm2/s and 0.0068x10-5 cm2/s, respectively. In addition, we simulated the 14-residue peptide representing the C-terminal α-helical region of murine MBP, with sequence NH2-A141YDAQGTLSKIFKL154-COOH, in both membrane systems for 200 ns. The negatively-charged N-terminal end of the peptide penetrated further into the DMPC bilayer than into the mixed DMPC/DMPE bilayer. Reduced peptide accessibility to a formal positive charge of the DMPC amine ‘N’ atom surrounded by methyl and methylene groups may be the cause [1]. The peptide lost its α-helical structure in DMPC/DMPE but not in the DMPC bilayer. These findings show that membrane composition affects MBP’s interaction with it, a phenomenon that provides insights into myelin structure – and that may eventually be relevant to understanding the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Distinguishing black holes through their ringing
Authors: Potter Shannon , Lehner Luis
Published: September 2019

A perturbed black hole spacetime emits gravitational waves possessing quasinormal modes that are characteristic of the black hole itself. We use a massless scalar field as an analog to a gravitational wave to find the quasinormal modes emitted by both a Schwarzschild black hole and a new alternative black hole model which places the Schwarzschild black hole in an aether—a zero density, negative pressure perfect fluid. The later model was proposed as an alternative explanation for accelerated cosmic expansion [1]. We construct a computational code to study both systems numerically and obtain the corresponding quasinormal modes. We find that the quasinormal modes of a black hole in an aether are distinguishable from those of a Schwarzschild black hole and so, in principle, gravitational wave observations could be exploited to determine if either black hole solution represents those existing in our universe.
Sexual risk taking in adolescence: examining negative gender beliefs
Authors: Robinson Suzanne Marie
Published: September 2019

Sexual risk taking behaviour carries a number of aversive outcomes including HIV infection, STIs and unplanned pregnancies. Past research has shown adolescents in particular are at a high risk for these negative consequences. This study examines how negative gender beliefs operate to predict sexual risk taking in later adolescence. Participants were 164 adolescents that completed 2 questionnaires over 2 years. Past research has suggested sexual risk taking behaviour is determined by multiple systems of influence. Therefore, additional demographic and contextual variables were included in data analysis. Results suggest that the single best predictor of future sexual risk taking is past sexual risk taking F (10, 170) = .54, p < .001. Additionally, high levels of drug use, F (10, 170) = .25, p < .001 and low acceptance of interpersonal violence, F (10, 170) = -.19, p < .05 were found to predict sexual risk taking in later adolescence. The findings have significant implications on intervention and prevention methods aimed at adolescent sexual health.
Examining current research on local food: a review
Authors: Hebert Marc
Published: September 2019

The decision to purchase local food is fast growing into a popular movement across North America. This research paper reviews the literature that examined the various consumer behaviour factors surrounding the local food movement, as well as the suggested possible benefits. This research also provides insights gained from in-depth interviews with local food community members to understand the unique characteristics of the local food movement within the author’s own community. Finally, suggestions for further research are laid out, indicating considerations required for the replication of studies completed across the United States and London, England.
The elephant in the (class)room: The debate over Americanization of Canadian universities and the question of national identity
Authors: Anderson Brooke
Published: September 2019

Focusing primarily on the period from 1968 to 1970, this essay analyses how a campaign led by two Carleton University professors, Robin Mathews and James Steele, to defeat “Americanization” in Canadian universities, morphed into a crucial nationwide debate. Ultimately, it will find that regardless of academic or social rank or citizenship, all participants in the debate relied on one common idea to support their arguments and criticize their opponents: that of the ‘colonial mentality’, or the notion that Canadians unquestionably accepted their country as subservient to the United States. Ultimately, this paradoxical usage of postcolonial themes represented an underlying ambivalence in regards to what was being debated in the first place. Thus this essay strives to address how a specific dispute within academia could, in Mathews and Steele’s words, evolve into a “struggle for the very existence of Canada as a self-respecting and independent community” [1a]. Moreover, it contributes to a deeper understanding of Canadian-American relations and the recent debate on Canadian universities’ hiring practices, which continues to be an issue nearly forty years later. In doing so it presents a fascinating case study of national identity within postcolonial frameworks.
Patterns of tree diversity in response to logging in Algonquin Provincial Park
Authors: Jones Brittany , Molenda Olivia , Hayward Colin , D'Aguiar Mark , Miller Nathan , Rye Leslie , Cottenie Karl
Published: September 2019

The acceleration of human disturbance on natural systems necessitates the understanding of the effects of disturbance on species diversity, in order to mitigate its impacts. The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) provides a general framework for predicting how these effects will unfold, centered on the premise that diversity will be maximized at intermediate levels of disturbance, or after an intermediate amount of time has passed since the last disturbance. We investigated the impact of disturbance by logging in Algonquin Provincial Park, ON, Canada, on tree species diversity. We sampled 7 sites, with known times since the last logging event, ranging between 4 and 149 years. We found that species richness and diversity indeed peaked at an intermediate disturbance regime of approximately 80 years since logging. We also found that this maximum diversity was caused by a combination of early, pioneer, post-pioneer, sub-climax, and climax species. Our experiment shows that IDH is applicable to the mixed forests of Algonquin, and therefore, provided that sites are logged after a suitable amount of time has passed, it is possible to harvest trees and maintain diversity.
Land Tenure Rights in India: an analysis of the failure of amendments to the Hindu Succession Act
Authors: Yang Victoria
Published: September 2019

The right to a minimum standard of living as a basic human right is recognized internationally. As Hernando DeSoto argues in his book, The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else, a clear, legal definition of property rights is essential in an owner’s realization of return to their capital [1]. This would enable an individual in a developing country to raise their standard of living, thus contributing to the recognition of the right to property as a basic human right [2]. The implementation of property rights has become a priority for governments, NGOs, and international development agencies in many countries. While the right to property legally applies to both sexes, it is not extended to women in practice. Amendments to section 6 of the Hindu Succession Act in 2005 legitimized land ownership and inheritance for Indian women [4]. However, the 2006 Agricultural Census indicates that only 10.7% of Indian landowners are women [5]. The failure of implementation of legal changes regarding property rights and women can be attributed to cultural and religious opinions of women, traditional land tenure systems established before British colonial rule, and government bias within legislation. The Indian government must consider preexisting cultural norms and de facto property rights in the employment of new legislations, as they may impose costs on women. In order for changes in legislation to be effective, they must be inclusive of all women of different religious backgrounds, and simultaneous changes across government sectors must be enacted.
Regional Disparity in Modern First Nations’ Treaty-Making
Authors: Gatensby Anthony
Published: September 2019

First Nations’ self-government treaties have arisen solely in British Columbia, to the exclusion of every other Canadian province. At first glance, the amount of historical treaties enacted in what is now Ontario prevents new claims from being pursued. Therefore, the assumption exists that because the majority of British Columbia’s land mass was never formally ceded to the Crown, the opportunity to do so has now presented itself. However, identifying the amount of historical treaties as the sole influence over the contemporary process of land claims is an assumption that excludes the importance of regional circumstances in emerging self-government treaties. Therefore, the intention of this paper is to establish that this assumption is inadequate, and that regionalism better explains the historical, political, legal, and geographical reasons why First Nations’ self-government has surfaced exclusively in BC.
Land fragmentation in southern Ontario: A tragedy of the spatial anticommons
Authors: Robson Victoria
Published: September 2019

Competition between agricultural operations, urban transplants, and ecological interests is changing the nature of property rights and land use in rural Ontario. In a region with valuable ecosystems and climate, soil, and location traditionally well-suited for crop and livestock production, plot sizes are decreasing as land is subdivided and allocated to non-agricultural residential use. Although this practice can increase property value for farmers, Michael Heller’s spatial anticommons may also be observed, such that “each owner receives a core bundle of rights, but in too small a space for the most efficient use” [2]. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new application of Heller’s anticommons theory, examining how the increasingly patchwork-like distribution of rural land parcels can be expected to affect farm and ecosystem productivity. Ultimately, deadweight loss occurs because neither agricultural nor ecological economies of scale can be recognized on plots that are too small for efficient use. Using rural planning reports and habitat ecology studies, trends in the fragmentation process are described and compared to the aims of provincial land-use policy, including the Provincial Policy Statement, the Greenbelt Act, and the Places to Grow Act. While the goals of farmers and conservationists may at times seem discrete or incompatible, the anticommons framework may be used to identify shared challenges. Thus the two parties might consider how collective action could be used to overcome the difficulties of reuniting subdivided tracts of land.
Applications of electrospun nanofibers in the biomedical field
Authors: Khan Nishath
Published: September 2019

Electrospinning is a technology that has been widely used as a novel method for the generation of nano scale fibres. Electrospun fibres are used in a wide range of applications from electronics to textile. The viability and popularity of this technology can be evidenced by its ease of use and the simplicity of the science behind building the electrospinning machine. The generated fibres have a high surface area- to- volume ratio, the fibrous mats are highly porous and display excellent mechanical properties when compared to other materials of the same scale. In the past decade, this technology has taken off with the use of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. This review is a summary of the different ways in which electrospinning can be used in the biomedical field. This article analyzes the recent advances of this technology in tissue engineering, drug delivery and in enzyme immobilisation, which once again showcases the versatility of the electrospinning procedure.
The Porfiriato: The stability and growth Mexico needed
Authors: Evens Travis Lee
Published: September 2019

The presidency of Porfirio Diaz is often remembered as a period of social degradation and oppression of freedoms in Mexico. His extensive thirty-five year virtual dictatorship brought about a great deal of hardship for the lower classes and an inequitable system of wealth distribution. This image of Porfirio Diaz as a ruthless despot has become an almost impenetrable one in the post-revolutionary Mexican tradition. However, what is often overlooked or unaddressed are the immense economic and social benefits that were still brought about under his rule. Through massive infrastructural improvement programs, superb financial management, and an unrelenting desire to see the implementation of law and order, Porfirio Diaz brought much prosperity and stability to Mexico when it needed it most. Stability, an expression rarely uttered in discussions of Mexican history, was implemented at all costs under Diaz—no small feat considering the near century of political and judicial disorder that preceded his rule. This essay in no way intends to justify the oppressive policies of Diaz, nor excuse the suffering of the lower classes he brought about. Rather, it intends to provide a more balanced view of his rule; bringing to light the more beneficial economic and social policies he implemented that would bring Mexico into the modern, twentieth century world.
Effect of road salt application on soil conductivity in Canmore, Alberta
Authors: Zima Michael K
Published: September 2019

Road salting is a wide-spread practice employed to increase driver safety during the winter months. Salt is, however, very mobile in the environment, toxic to some vegetation and invertebrates in high concentrations, and can seep into aquifers through groundwater recharge. Conductivity of roadside soils was measured as an estimate of soil salinity on the Trans-Canada Highway running through Canmore, Alberta on four consecutive days. Road size and elevation above the surrounding topography were deduced as key factors in determining where highest conductivity was found. Using a cubic polynomial equation for regression, peak conductivity values were estimated to occur at 12.1 m from the edge of the highway. Levels as measured from August 29th to September 1st 2011 demonstrated that soils were weakly to moderately saline. Although excessive soil salinity may be an issue following the spring melts, levels measured at this time of year were not considered to be of any significant environmental concern.
Links between food price behaviour and nutrition in the developing world
Authors: Woods Bethany
Published: September 2019

With the recent financial crisis and its enduring fallout, questions surrounding the state of global food security have become more pressing. A key element influencing the nutritional status of the world’s poor is price behavior within global food commodity markets. In recent decades, food commodity markets have experienced both significant price increases, and an increase in volatility. These price trends have had significant impacts on the diversity of diets in impoverished households worldwide, which in turn has impacted nutrition and health. This paper will discuss the causes behind recent trends in food commodity prices, and the extent of their impact on food security and nutrition. Specifically, it will address the impact of food price increases and the uncertainty induced by food price volatility on household food consumption and nutrition. Micronutrient intake is the focus of the nutritional discussion of this work, and variations of consumption behavior in various regions and within different household dynamics are all taken into account. Existing policy actions are discussed in terms of the frequency of their implementation, the factors encouraging or deterring their implementation, and their intended and unintended consequences. Finally, the paper concludes with suggestions for future actions and areas for future research.
In silico modeling of Arp1 and Arp2 as targets of Photox ADP-ribosylation
Authors: Davidge Lianne P. , Daly Kristen V.L.
Published: September 2019

Photox has been identified as an ADP-ribosylating toxin, produced by Photorhabdus luminescens, which targets actin. Recent unpublished studies have suggested that Photox may also target actin-related proteins (Arps). Herein we report possible interacting residues of actin, Arp1 and Arp2, with Photox. Both actin and Arp1 were predicted to interact with Photox in six main groups across the NAD+ binding surface whereas four interaction groups were proposed between Arp2 and Photox. The possible interactions evaluated included hydrogen bonds, salt bridges, and electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Our results suggest that Arp1 is a very likely target of Photox, while Arp2 is also a possible candidate; however, the possible interactions between Photox and Arp2 appear to be weaker than the possible interactions between Photox and Arp1. Understanding the various interactions of Photox and its targets may help to provide insight into its biological action, and may potentially lead to a treatment plan for similar toxin-related diseases.

Keywords: ADP-ribosylating toxins; Photox (Photorhabdus luminescens); actin-related proteins (Arp1, Arp2) (targeting of); in silico modeling of protein interactions
Peering into the matrix: A look at biofilms and their inherent antibiotic resistance
Authors: Stinson Kevin J.
Published: September 2019

Biofilms are increasingly being regarded as the predominant form of bacterial growth in natural settings. These structures consist of bacterial cells immobilized at a surface and encased in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. In clinical settings, biofilms are the cause of persistent infections that are difficult to clear through the action of the host immune system. Biofilm-encased cells are also associated with increased levels of antibiotic resistance compared to their planktonic counterparts. The result is increased morbidity and mortality when biofilms are associated with disease. In this review, the focus of discussion will be the various mechanisms of antibiotic resistance common to biofilms and the role these mechanisms play in the pathogenesis of major clinically-relevant microorganisms. Antibiotic penetration, altered microenvironments, phenotypic variation, and adaptive resistance mechanisms are all key players in the development of antibiotic resistance in bacterial biofilms. Though the relative significance of each individual mechanism varies, when combined they confer extensive protection to the biofilm’s cellular populations.

Keywords: biofilms; antibiotic resistance (mechanisms of); clinical applications; disease; antibiotic penetration; altered microenvironments; phenotypic variation; adaptive resistance; review
Global laws for a global economy: A case for bringing multinational corporations under international human rights law
Authors: Grant Alicia
Published: September 2019

Economic globalization has created a governance gap, often leaving powerful corporations largely unregulated. The result has been frequent and gross violations of human rights that too often go unpunished. This article outlines the mechanisms that currently exist for regulating the activities of multinational corporations including: (i) corporate self-regulation; (ii) regulation within the state where a company is operating (the host state); (iii) regulation within the state where a parent company is incorporated (the home state); and (iv) codes of conduct at the international level. The advantages and insufficiencies of each level are highlighted, and an argument is subsequently made that the governance gap will only be filled if firms are subjected to binding international law. The article then turns to an examination of international human rights law and discusses the place of non-state actors within this framework. It finds that corporations do have obligations under international human rights law despite the fact that systems for enforcing these duties do not currently exist. The final section discusses the difficulties that might be associated with creating enforcement mechanisms. The article ultimately argues that binding regulation at the international level is necessary in the long run; however, due to the difficulties in achieving this objective, regulation should also continue to be improved at the company, industry, host-state, and home-state levels.

Keywords: multinational corporations; international law; human rights; corporate activity (regulation of)
Improving dichotomous keys for undergraduate teaching
Authors: Vollbrecht Lisa , Rush Marie Thérèse , Cottenie Karl
Published: September 2019

University of Guelph undergraduate students have been struggling to independently identify macroinvertebrates using dichotomous keys in the Biology of Polluted Waters course (BIOL*4350). The course currently uses dichotomous keys that lack definitions of complex anatomical terms and illustrations that place features in the context of the whole organism. This results in taxonomic bias, whereby some macroinvertebrate families are ignored in subsampling, especially for Ephemeroptera (mayflies). This is of particular concern to biotic assessment of stream quality that uses Ephemeroptera as biological indicators. An updated dichotomous key for Ephemeroptera with illustrations and definitions of anatomical terms integrated within the text of the key was developed at the University of Guelph in Winter 2012. The generation of the key utilized a local macroinvertebrate collection, published literature and existing keys. The effectiveness of the updated key was tested against the BIOL*4350 key by comparing the number of correct identifications produced by undergraduate student volunteers using both keys. Additionally, the number of correct identifications by student volunteers who had previously taken BIOL*4350 (n=18) and those who had not taken the course (n=40) were compared. It was predicted that students who had previously taken BIOL*4350 would produce more correct identifications than students who had not. The new key had a significantly higher proportion of correct identifications than the old key (p
Effects of nicotinic cholinergic system manipulations on paired-associate learning (PAL) in mice
Authors: Milanovic Melissa
Published: September 2019

Rationale: The ability to perform on the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery touchscreen paired-associate learning (PAL) test is predictive of Alzheimer’s disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Recently, an automated computer touchscreen PAL task for mice has been developed. Pharmacological validation of this task is warranted to establish it as a useful tool in future drug discovery pertaining to Alzheimer’s disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Objectives: This investigation provides a systematic analysis of nicotinic involvement within the PAL task for mice. Particularly, the effects of systemic administration of nicotinic cholinergic agents (agonist and antagonist) on PAL task performance in C57BL/6 mice were investigated. This was done to detect whether bidirectional modification of performance is consequent upon these manipulations.

Methods: Upon acquiring the PAL task, nicotine (nicotinic receptor agonist; 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg) and mecamylamine (nicotinic receptor antagonist; 0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to the mice in a within-subjects design, prior to daily sessions in the PAL task.

Results: Nicotine did not have any significant effect on PAL performance improvement at any doses. However, mecamylamine did increase perseverative responding and reaction time in the mice. Such impairment effects are interpreted as being attentional in nature.

Conclusion: This investigation indicates that mice indeed acquire the rodent PAL task, deeming it a valuable tool for future drug discovery. Further, the nicotinic cholinergic system appears to be implicated in PAL task performance, with greater effects seen with deactivation rather than activation of the system, and with these effects appearing to be of an attentional nature.

Keywords: paired-associate learning (PAL); Alzheimer’s disease; nicotinic cholingeric system; touchscreen
Reading and relating: Digitally tracing human groupings in the illustrations of the Utrecht Psalter
Authors: Caskenette Stephanie
Published: September 2019

Within the illustrations of the ninth century Utrecht Psalter, groupings of multiple people with no imperative role in the narrative are found in large numbers. This inclusion is unique and with clear intention, and unlike other non-essential pictorial elements in the composition such as foliage or buildings, all of these figures are drawn to completion. As the images in the Utrecht Psalter show consistency in their measurements on the page, as well as through the scale of elements within the actual illustrations, direct comparisons can be made on how these figures are employed in the scene. By using digital applications to create a compositional overlay of all these groups, a concentration of figures on the left and right sides of the image is observed. This article suggests that such an arrangement provides a readable image, with human groups added in order to encourage engagement with the text of the Psalter and aid in remembering its messages.

Keywords: Utrecht Psalter; medieval literacy; manuscript illustration; image composition; digital humanities; artwork engagement