Mitogenomes of Adeleid Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Coccidia: Adeleorina: Adeleidae) Infecting Invertebrates

Mitochondrial genome sequences were generated from two adeleid species: Obvallatus mesnili, infecting Indian meal moths (Plodia interpunctella) in Türkiye; and, Adelea ovata, infecting garden centipedes (Lithobius forficatus) locally. The circular-mapping mitochondrial genome of Obvallatu mesnili (6760 bp) possessed 3 CDS regions (cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and III [COI, COIII], cytochrome B) and 36 fragmented rDNAs comprising 82% of this compact extrachromosomal genome. Genome content and organization agreed with those of the mitochondrial genomes of Klossia species (Adeleidae). A 2828 bp portion of the mitochondrial genome of Adelea ovata contained the COIII CDS region and 18 fragmented rDNAs in an organization that matched O. mesnili. These sequences represent the first mitochondrial genome data from any member of either genus, Obvallatus or Adelea. The mitochondrial genome of O. mesnili can act as the genotypic reference sequence and help resolve the taxonomic affinities of these understudied parasites.Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canad

Application of Bentonite Adsorption for the Removal and Fractionation of Protein from Acid Whey

The recovery of valuable components from dairy waste presents an opportunity to generate economic value for producers while reducing the environmental burden associated with treatment and disposal. Gaps in cheese whey utilization persist due to the lack of accessible treatment options for small-scale producers to valorize their waste, necessitating investigation into alternative technologies. To address this, bentonite clay was evaluated as an adsorbent for recovering and fractionating proteins from acid whey. The objectives of this investigation were to optimize the adsorption process, gain insights into the mechanisms responsible for adsorption and identify suitable applications of the process. The process was evaluated through a series of batch adsorption experiments, in which key operational parameters, including contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH, and temperature, were systematically varied. Adsorption performance was quantified, with a focus on the removal and separation of the major whey proteins, alpha-lactalbumin (α-LA) and beta-lactoglobulin (β-LG). Adsorption of major whey proteins using bentonite reached equilibrium after 10 hours at 20 g/L and pH 4.7, with α-LA exhibiting a higher rate constant under pseudo-second-order kinetics. Increasing bentonite dosage to 30 g/L enabled complete protein removal at equilibrium. Elevated temperatures enhanced removal efficiency, while pH variation from 3 to 9 revealed the potential for selective adsorption, with α-LA removal favoured at low pH, and β-LG at high pH. The selective removal of the major whey proteins was optimized using factorial experiments. Variation of pH and temperature was used to determine an optimal region for the selective removal of β-LG. Further optimization of the adsorbent dosage and contact time resulted in a condition where β-LG removal reached 88%, while α-LA removal was only 26%. This investigation establishes this process as an effective means of whey processing, utilizing a low-cost, scalable strategy. Bulk removal of whey proteins via adsorption is a viable technique for producers unable to implement conventional membrane filtration systems, providing a valuable unit operation for separating protein from whey. Furthermore, the method’s potential to fractionate major whey proteins enables the generation of high-value, pure protein fractions, thereby presenting an opportunity to reduce the cost and complexity of traditional processing approaches.Dairy Farmers of OntarioOntario Ministry of Farming, Agriculture and Agribusiness and Ministry of Rural AffairsNational Research Council Canad

Mechanisms of Social Learning in Female Mice: The Roles of Estrogens and Muscarinic Acetylcholine Signaling

Social learning is a common, adaptive learning strategy in animals and humans, in which an individual acquires information or skills from another in their social group. Despite its importance to human and animal learning, social learning has received relatively little research attention, and we thus are only beginning to understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this type of cognition. In this thesis, I investigated the roles of the rapid effects of estrogens and the effects of acetylcholine signaling at muscarinic receptors in short- and long-term memory for socially learned information using the Social Transmission of Food Preferences (STFP) task in mice, in which an observer mouse preferentially consumes a novel food that they had previously smelled on the breath of a conspecific demonstrator mouse. Estradiol rapidly (within 45 minutes) and activation of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) with the agonist G1 facilitate short-term STFP memory on the STFP when administered systemically. The first part of this thesis focuses on the brain regions in which estrogens may act to facilitate social learning. We therefore infused estradiol into the dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala of female ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Second, we investigated muscarinic acetylcholine signaling as a possible downstream mechanism of estradiol and G1’s rapid facilitatory effects. We tested this by co-administering doses of estradiol or G1 previously found to facilitate STFP memory with a subeffective dose of the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine before testing short-term STFP memory. Finally, we sought to determine which muscarinic receptor subtypes mediate the impairing effects of scopolamine on the STFP. We first tested the effects of scopolamine on long-term STFP memory in ovariectomized and gonadally intact female mice. We then tested the effects of the M1 antagonist dicyclomine and the M2 antagonist AF-DX 116 on long-term STFP memory. Through these investigations, we found that while estradiol did not facilitate short-term STFP memory when infused into the hippocampus or basolateral amygdala, it may facilitate short-term memory by enhancing acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors. Lastly, we found that muscarinic receptor signaling is also necessary for long-term STFP memory in gonadally intact female mice and that the M1 receptor subtype is one of the muscarinic receptors mediating this effect

Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Studies of Carbon Dioxide Reduction at Bismuth-based Bimetallic Nanostructured Catalysts

The advancement of nanostructured catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to value-added chemicals has attracted significant interest. However, progress remains limited by the complexity of the catalyst synthesis methods and the lack of fundamental understanding of the reduction reaction mechanisms. In this thesis, bimetallic bismuth-based catalysts with nanostructured morphology were synthesized using relatively simple methods, including galvanic replacement reactions and co-electrodeposition. The effects of bismuth incorporation on catalytic activity and Faradaic efficiency were investigated and compared with those of pure Zn, Sn, and Cu catalysts. High Faradaic efficiencies of the bimetallic ZnBi, SnBi, and CuBi catalysts were mainly attributed to their increased electrochemically active sites and facilitated charge transfer. A three-compartment membrane electrode assembly (MEA) cell was employed to achieve higher current densities compared with a conventional H-type cell. A high faradaic efficiency of 84% and 98% towards formic acid formation was obtained at -90 mA cm-2 for the SnBi and CuBi catalysts, respectively. In situ electrochemical attenuated total reflection Fourier transform spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR) was further employed to elucidate the reduction reaction mechanism. This study revealed that formate and carbon monoxide formation proceeded through the carbon-bound adsorbed CO2 on the ZnBi catalyst. However, the oxygen-bound adsorbed CO2 and the adsorbed bidentate formate were detected during the electrochemical CO2 reduction using CuBi and SnBi catalysts, respectively. The cost-effective synthetic procedures, the formic acid MEA cell design, and the CO2 reduction mechanistic studies in this thesis can help pave the way toward the development and optimization of catalysts for formic acid generation.2027-01-0

Does Processing and Chopping of Low-quality Forage Impact Gestating Beef Cow Performance and Enteric Methane Emissions?

The objective of this study was to investigate the use of bale processing technology for low-quality forage and its impact on performance, digestibility, feed intake, sorting behaviour, and enteric methane in gestating beef cows. Eighty-two multiparous Angus cows were enrolled 77 ± 9.0 days before calving and randomly assigned to a dietary treatment of short wheat straw (SS: ~ 5 cm) or long wheat straw (LS: ~ 18 cm). SS-fed cows tended to have higher dry matter intake and sorted less against larger particles. The SS cows were able to maintain higher levels of rib fat deposition during late gestation and had indications of higher digestibility of dry matter, total digestible nutrients, and crude protein. No difference in daily methane yield (g/kg DMI) was detected. This work provides support for the chopping of low-quality forages to help maintain feed intake, animal performance, and reduce sorting behaviour of gestating beef cows

Design and performance evaluation of a strawberry gripper for greenhouse elevated culture harvesting

This thesis addresses the problem of automating strawberry picking in elevated greenhouse settings. Strawberry farming is a relevant agricultural activity worldwide, as it has a broad economic impact that will continue to grow with the demand for fresh fruit products. Strawberry crops are hand-picked due to the fruit’s delicate nature, which incurs higher costs in time and logistics. Harvesting year-round in controlled greenhouse environments increases this output. Automation of strawberry harvesting could be a potential solution to increase process efficiency and reduce costs. The design, development, and evaluation of end effectors for automated strawberry harvesting allowed for a final tilting robotic gripper capable of detaching greenhouse strawberries with minimal damage. The work was done through multiple prototype iterations that integrated findings from mechanical performance, in-lab testing, and field observations. Overall, this work assesses the feasibility of a tilting-based harvesting mechanism and contributes insights into mechanical interactions, sensing requirements, and variety-dependent behaviour in automated strawberry picking mechanisms, thereby widening the state of the art.2026-12-1

Space, Place and Power: A Case Study of Highly Skilled Talent and Governance Dynamics in The Bruce County Energy Sector

This research presents a case study on how Bruce County has transitioned into a highly specialized rural economy through its strategic alignment with the nuclear energy sector, centrally anchored by Bruce Power. The deliberate spatial clustering of industry stakeholders, specialized supplier networks and supportive institutional frameworks exemplifies Porter’s (1990) Diamond Framework, while also aligning with contemporary theories on regional governance systems and cluster development. Municipal planning and policy priorities, infrastructure investments and workforce development have become increasingly tailored towards meeting the specific operational needs of Bruce Power, illustrating the profound spatial and economic reconfiguration occurring within this rural setting through sectoral specialization and coordinated partnership with other actors. Interview data underscores that Bruce County’s ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals is closely connected to its status and reputation as a center of an energy sector, focused on nuclear power operations. However, this research also reveals stratification within the skilled migration experience. While highly skilled workers, who are specialized and globally mobile professionals, are actively recruited, long-term residents and individuals employed in sectors that are not related to energy in Bruce County face limited access to equivalent economic opportunities

Investigating the Role of the Environment on Antimicrobial Resistance in Canada

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complex global challenge affecting human and animal health. This thesis applied multiple analytical approaches to explore the role of the environment in AMR dissemination across Canada. A scoping review identified water and soil as major AMR transmission pathways studied and revealed gaps in AMR studies related to air. Using factor analysis of mixed data and hierarchical clustering on data from the scoping review and 2 other data sources (the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance and the Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Bioaerosols Project), this work revealed similar AMR profiles across livestock farms and other environmental settings. Additionally, source attribution models using both frequentist and Bayesian approaches, identified chicken and pig farms as major contributors of AMR subtypes to other animal production systems and environmental settings. Finally, an integrated assessment model was used to integrate and analyze AMR proportions across environmental and agricultural sources. This model suggests that interventions targeting a single source result in limited reductions in overall AMR exposure, whereas coordinated reductions across multiple sources lead to substantially greater decreases in human exposure to AMR. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that AMR cannot be effectively understood or mitigated by examining individual sectors in isolation. Instead, the results underscore the importance of integrated, multi-sectoral strategies that explicitly include environmental pathways alongside animal production systems. This thesis provides a methodological framework for integrating heterogeneous data sources to inform coordinated AMR mitigation strategies through a One Health approach

Fertilizer Nitrogen Dynamics in Inbred Seed Corn (Zea mays L.): Yield Response, Utilization and Residual Effects in Southwestern Ontario

Inbred seed corn (Zea mays L.) production in Southwestern Ontario benefits from favorable agro-climatic conditions but faces critical challenges in fertilizer nitrogen (FN) management. The objective of this dissertation was to establish a regional FN recommendation for inbred seed corn through accessing yield response, uptake, distribution and fate of FN in the soil-plant system using a three-study approach. The first study evaluated 46 inbreds from 2015 to 2018 across 13 site-years. Significant variability was observed, with 27 inbreds demonstrating quadratic marketable yield responses to FN, with an agronomic optimum N rate (AONR) ranging from 115 to 210 kg N ha⁻¹. When AONR data pooled by sites, regardless of responsiveness, an overall AONR was 162 kg N ha⁻¹, providing a regionally relevant benchmark recommendation for seed corn production in Southwestern Ontario (i.e. the Southwestern Ontario FN recommendation). However, applications of 180 kg N ha⁻¹ significantly increased residual soil inorganic N (70 kg N ha⁻¹), identifying a threshold for environmental risk. The second study used 15N-labeled FN in microplots on loamy sand and loam soils to track the fate of FN. Findings showed that FN uptake was more heavily influenced by soil type than inbreds, with grain N content being 22% higher in loamy sand than the loam soil. Notably, 25% of applied FN was immobilized in soil organic pool, while 12 to 30% was unaccounted for by harvest depending on soil type. The third study used residue exchange approach to assess the fate of residual FN. Results confirmed that residual FN is an insignificant N source, contributing only 1 to 3 kg N ha⁻¹ to spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) uptake, while up to 50 kg N ha⁻¹ was unaccounted for and presumed lost during the non-growing season. Together, these findings demonstrate that a single fixed FN rate cannot adequately account for the high variability in inbred response. To enhance both sustainability and productivity, future management should adopt the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework to refine nitrogen applications

Development of a vaginal canal measurement tool and ultrasound compatible model to guide the design of patient-specific pessaries

Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) management relies on subjective diagnostic measurements and inefficient trial-and-error pessary fitting. This thesis establishes a patient-specific engineering workflow to address these limitations. First, a mechanical introitus measurement tool was prototyped using Selective laser sintering (SLS). Although measuring differently than digital calipers, it demonstrated feasibility for standardizing internal assessments. Second, a parametric manufacturing pipeline for personalized silicone pessaries was developed using 3D-printed molds. Finally, a high-fidelity, ultrasound compatible pelvic phantom was engineered to validate these technologies. Using a novel sacrificial tooling technique, the phantom integrated a realistic introitus and a rigid, 3D printed pubic symphysis within a ballistics gel matrix. Industrial validation confirmed the model’s anatomical and acoustic fidelity. Collectively, these innovations transform POP care by replacing subjective assessment with a rigorous, data-driven methodology. model’s anatomical and acoustic fidelity. Collectively, these innovations transform POP care by replacing subjective assessment with a rigorous, data-driven methodology.Mitacs2027-02-2