Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The North American conservation movement and modern conservation model was created in part because of the exploitative commercial hunting industry that caused the collapse of species such as the bison and auk in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These historical actions continue to shape views today and the public perception of hunting can often be negative. This thesis engaged… more
Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>This thesis project explores landowner experiences of wind energy development through an inductive qualitative case study in Huron County, Ontario. The research included in-depth interviews with landowners focused on landscape and community change, participant observation of Environmental Review Tribunals (ERT), the gathering of participant photos, as well as relevant government and… more
Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Cytokinin biosynthesis in organisms aside from plant species has often been viewed as a byproduct of tRNA degradation. Recent evidence suggests that these tRNA degradation products may actually have a role in the development of these organisms, particularly fungi. This thesis examines the importance of cytokinins, a group of phytohormones involved in plant cell division and… more
Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The appearance of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in oxide interfaces between strontium titanate (STO) and other materials has become a major area of study. The behaviour of the 2DEG in STO is not well understood in part because the dielectric properties of STO are not well characterized. The differential susceptibility has a major impact on the electric fields within strontium… more
Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), while providing many benefits, presents challenges to clinicians such as predicting the stability of symptoms. Accurately predicting symptom severity allows clinicians to confidently diagnose and assign the most appropriate treatment. Little research exists to date to predict symptom severity in children with ASD who have not been… more
Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Fishers (Pekania pennanti) were extirpated from many parts of Ontario in the early 20th century, but as of the early 2000s the species had recolonized most of its historical range. While the primary population genetic structure of fishers in central and eastern Ontario has not changed drastically over the past ten years, we did find evidence of increased secondary structure and a… more
Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The modern world faces a number of social, economic, and environmental sustainability challenges. Since businesses are assumed to have a role in causing such problems, they must also play a role in finding solutions.</p><p>In Canada, the extent to which corporate social responsibility is institutionalized in the oil and gas industry remains a contentious issue among… more
Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The activities of phytohormones during the reproductive phase have been partially clarified in seed physiology while the biological role of plant hormones in oil accumulation during seed development has been investigated in part only. In this research, fatty acid (FA) contents and hormone profiles, including abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinins (CKs) of seed samples in four different… more
Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>There are three cattail (Typha) taxa in Canada: T. latifolia (native), T. angustifolia (introduced), and their hybrid T. x glauca. The latter is invasive in regions around the Laurentian Great Lakes, and I investigated the potential role that commercial suppliers may be playing in the introduction of non-native Typha by comparing genotypes of North American, European, and commercially… more
Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>We investigated if the performance of selected supervised machine-learning techniques could be improved by combining univariate outlier-detection techniques and machine-learning methods. We developed a framework to discover class-specific thresholds in class probability estimates using univariate outlier detection and proposed two novel techniques to utilize these class-specific… more