Validation of a dynamic local muscle function test and its response to local muscle temperature

Current single joint isometric and isokinetic tests used to assess muscular performance are limited by the very testing-condition specific nature of the results, leading to a low to moderate correlation to in-vivo performance during sprinting and jumping. This study aimed to develop a single-joint plantarflexor test consisting of 30 s of maximal repeated dynamic contractions from 5° of dorsiflexion through 30° of plantarflexion at 70% of pre-testing isometric MVC. Twelve recreationally active healthy volunteers (9 male, 3 female) completed two different visits where they performed the isotonic plantarflexion test (IPFT). Session 1 aimed to establish its repeatability and variability during thermoneutral muscle temperature (36.6 ± 0.3°C). Across 4 bouts of IPFT with 30 min separation, no significant differences or pairwise differences were observed across measures of power, torque, work completed, time-to-peak torque or rate of torque development while average measures intraclass correlations ranged from 0.935 – 0.996. Session 2 assessed the sensitivity of the test to passive heating and cooling of the lower leg across thermoneutral (TN, 36.5 ± 0.3°C) Hot (38.3 ± 0.2°C) and Cold (33.3 ± 1.2°C) muscle temperatures. Aside from peak torque Hot had no effect on IPFT performance compared to TN, while Cold had a differential effect on IPFT performance. Compared to TN Cold led to significant increases in time-to-peak torque (Δ ↑ 0.14 s) and decreases in total work (Δ ↓ 10.02 J), average power (Δ ↓ 16.92 W) number of repetitions completed (Δ ↓ 4.90), average rate of torque development (Δ ↓ 65.30 Nm∙s-1) and peak torque (Δ ↓ 6.40 Nm). Changes in performance in Cold were likely due to the effects of cooling on rate processes and contractile characteristics, while we may not have heated muscle enough to impact performance in Hot. Keywords: Isotonic Plantarflexion Test, Muscle Temperature, Muscular Power, Performanc

Determining the Roles of the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Enzymes 5 and 6 during Icewine and Table Wine Fermentation in a Commercial Wine Yeast Using CRISPR-Cas9.

Canada is known for Icewine which is fermented from grapes naturally frozen on the vine. Grapes are harvested below –8°C and pressed while frozen, trapping ice crystals inside the berries and releasing juice highly concentrated in sugars and acids. The high sugar juice environment (40°Brix) causes hyperosmotic stress for yeast, resulting in water loss, triggering glycerol production to act as an internal osmolyte to draw water back into the yeast cell, resulting in an NAD+ imbalance. Icewine has significantly higher acetic acid versus table wine, where acetic acid production may be used to reduce NAD(P)+ to NAD(P)H via NAD(P)+-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase proteins (Aldp). Previous research linked the NAD+ redox imbalance during Icewine fermentation with ALD gene expression patterns indicating a role of Ald3p encoded by ALD3 in elevating the acetic acid whereas in table wine, ALD6 expression dominated. In the overall research program from our laboratory, the goal is to remove all five of the ALD genes, individually and in combination, from a commercial yeast genome using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. The objective of this project is to remove three (ALD6, ALD5, and ALD4) of the five ALD genes individually from the genome of a commercial wine yeast K1 V1116 using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to assess the roles of the aldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes in acetic acid production in both Icewine and table wine using these commercial yeast deletion strains. All copies of ALD6 and ALD5 were successfully knocked out of K1-V1116. The ald6Δ yeast had a significant impact on the acetic acid production with an 86% decrease in acetic acid production during Icewine fermentation and an 85% decrease during table wine fermentation in comparison to the wild-type control yeast. The ald5Δ had a significant but minimal impact on acetic acid production during table wine fermentation and no impact on acetic acid during Icewine fermentation. Under table wine conditions, ald5Δ had a 16% decrease in acetic acid production. One allele of the ALD4 gene was successfully knocked out of K1-V1116, creating a heterozygous ALD4 mutant. This heterozygous mutant was not evaluated in fermentations

The CrISIS of Ludic Terrorism: Videogaming Exploited as a Means of Islamists’ Radicalization, Recruitment and Propaganda

Abstract “Ludic terrorism” is a game-mediated phenomenon whereby videogaming, i.e., designing, modifying, playing and exploiting gaming-adjacent platforms, is exploited at the service of Islamist terrorist and white supremacist causes. In this PhD dissertation, I examine the scope of ludic terrorism in the available gaming ecosystem, what has driven extremists to use these outlets, what gaming features have been utilized, for what purposes and how. I specifically look at how the exploitation of videogaming by terrorists has been tailored toward propagating their causes and radicalizing vulnerable individuals. I conduct this interdisciplinary game study, incorporating the psychology of behavior, geopolitical examination of the contexts (Islamic, ethnic clashes and the US’s invasion of the Middle East) in discourse analysis, and semiotics of the embedded ideological and gamic elements. I begin by exploring why individuals need to be members of something bigger than themselves, what renders them vulnerable to persuasion and how their need for meaning-making in life can be satisfied by joining communities, organizations and hubs. Scanning the online ecosystem of gaming and gaming-adjacent platforms, I proceed to study how digital gaming outlets have been used as “hotbeds of radicalization” for white supremacists and what results one can draw regarding potential radicalization, propaganda and recruitment. Next, I study Salil-Al-Sawarim (SaS), a modified version of GTA V by ISIS or its sympathizers. Building on Ian Bogost’s concept of “procedural rhetoric” to examine the rules and mechanics of the game, I observe how these features may persuasively facilitate radicalization or propaganda. Moreover, to unveil the embedded messages of propaganda, I review in-game elements such as words, cutscenes, colours, etymological undertones, the Quranic verses involved and other relevant items. This semiotic study is also a discursive reading of Islamist ideology along with the aftermath of the US invasion of the Middle East and its “War on Terror” discourse being retaliated by ISIS. I conclude that, although videogames are effective cultural artifacts for communication and message conveyance, their functionality in recruiting for ideological extremist groups is either not data-driven or should be approached as a more complex phenomenon. Keywords: videogaming, Islamists, white supremacy, radicalization, propaganda, ISI

Enhancing Stock Price Predictions: The Impact of Sentiment Analysis on Forecasting Accuracy Across Models and Time Horizons

This study tests the performance of various models of forecasting stock prices at short-term (oneyear) and long-term (five-year) horizons, with sentiment analysis to determine its contribution to predictability. Tested models are SARIMAX, Random Forest, SVM, LSTM, GRU, and Regression, on various industry sectors and volatility classes. Our findings indicate that models perform better in one-year forecasts than five-year forecasts, with Regression and Random Forest performing with the least Root Mean Square Percentage Error (RMSPE) across the board. Sentiment analysis was of greatest benefit to certain models, particularly SARIMAX, whose topperforming setups tended to be those in which it was utilized. Sentiment analysis benefited most for stocks and industries that had high volatility and high-speed movement in the market, such as the energy and technology sectors. In addition, the study examined optimal lag values for prediction and established a trend towards decreased lags in fast-changing industries and increased lags in stable industries. The study emphasizes tailoring prediction models to the specific nature of stocks, industry movements, and volatility, with the caveat that a complex strategy is necessary to enhance the accuracy and validity of stock price predictions. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on how different determinants, including sentiment and industry forces, lead to stock price predictability and is of interest to investors and financial analysts

Assets and Obstacles: An Analysis of Ontario Preparatory School Hockey from the Coaches’ Perspective

As young hockey players continue to dream of playing at elite levels, the landscape of men’s hockey development in Ontario is has been a popular subject of conversation. Especially as minor hockey eligibility comes to a close or the Ontario Hockey League draft year passes, young players are left with the decision to choose the right path for them to continue to pursue their dreams. While some options have a clear reputation for developing players, there are other options that provide the level of development that players seek but are marginalized in a space dominated by existing heavyweights. This study had the purpose of exploring the assets owned and challenges faced by hockey teams in one of the less-popular development options in Ontario: preparatory schools, as well as how these assets and obstacles impact a program’s legitimacy and reputation. The researcher used the VDF model to gather information about the strengths and challenges of men’s hockey programs at Ontario preparatory schools. The goal was to create a helpful document for these programs to use when making strategic decisions to improve their program. Interviews were conducted with 10 coaches from different Ontario preparatory school men’s hockey teams, with questions regarding organizational reputation as well as the assets and challenges their programs face. Through the results, it became clear that these programs rely on physical and organizational assets primarily to find success and establish themselves as a legitimate or reputable option in the Ontario hockey development ecosystem. Overall, Ontario preparatory school men’s hockey teams have assets unique to each program but face a vast landscape of challenges that vary depending on the context of each school

Gaming with Queer Design Principles

This research analyzes queer characters in the narrative games The Last of Us Part I, The Last of Us Part II, and Tell Me Why, aiming to identify how these titles represent these characters and how the multimodal elements present in them contribute to more authentic queer representations. This study draws on multimodal semiotic analysis, multimodal discourse analysis, close playing, and qualitative methods, to analyzes the three games and their queer characters across four main dimensions, story/narrative, dialogue, visuals, and game design, and, from these, develop design principles that promote authentic queer representation in games. The results indicate that queer authenticity in games depends not only on the inclusion of characters, but also on the integration of identity into the narrative and who is behind or participating in the production. This study also proposes a set of flexible design guidelines to support game developers in creating inclusive and authentic queer characters. These recommendations aim to unite academia with gaming industry and contributing to the fields of queer game studies

Exploring Computational Thinking and Mathematical Reasoning Through Programming-Based Mathematics Tasks in Scratch and Python

This exploratory study seeks to better understand computational thinking (CT), mathematical reasoning (MR), and their interplay in solving programming-based mathematical tasks at the secondary level. Theoretically, I mainly adopt Kallia et al.’s (2021) characterization of CT for mathematics education and Jeannotte and Kieran’s (2017) model of MR. Empirically, I reflect on my engagement with three mathematical tasks drawn from Gadanidis’ (2022) Math + Coding Teams, using Scratch and Python. The analysis consists of identifying CT components (e.g., abstraction, decomposition, algorithmic thinking) and MR processes (e.g., conjecturing, generalizing, justifying), and their interaction. My analysis suggests that CT, through coding, supported my problem-solving and enabled hypothesis testing and iterative MR refinement. In other words, the programming environments served not only as execution tools but as spaces for mathematics inquiry and exploration, enhancing both my CT and MR engagement. These findings highlight the value of integrating coding into mathematics education to foster conceptual reasoning. Keywords: Computational Thinking, Mathematical Reasoning, Programming-Based Tasks, Mathematics Education, Scratch and Python

The Rhythms and Disruptions of a Maltreatment Report: A coach's autoethnography in a community sport organization

This study uses critical autoethnography (Adams et al., 2015) to explore my experiences as a coach and member of a community sport organization (CSO). Specifically, I documented the cultural experience of Safe Sport practices before, during, and after a significant maltreatment report was made toward another coach in the CSO, conveying and critiquing this experience to address current Safe Sport systems and practices (Adams et al., 2015). Data collection consisted of journal entries recorded over one year following the news of the maltreatment report. Findings were presented in two forms to create an accessible autoethnographic account along with analytic themes. For the account, journal entries were transformed into an accessible story following utilitarian and aspirational ethics principles (Graham & Blackett, 2022), meaning the stories are based on actions, avoided blame onto others, and protected others by refraining from naming places, people, and dates. The analytic themes used Ellis’s (2004) thematic analysis of narrative, drawing from my autoethnographic account as data to follow Emerson et al.’s (2011) Analytic Coding to develop themes inductively and inspired by grounded theory. Following the autoethnographic account, the theme (The Disruption of) the Rhythm of Sport was generated to describe the the repetitive nature of coaching and the impact a maltreatment report had on that experience. Connections were made to the power of daily sport rhythms’ ability to influence maltreatment, as well as to the institutional betrayal (Smith & Freyd, 2014) I felt after losing a coaching mentor— a moment that led me to reflect on my own coaching practice. These findings add to literature on Safe Sport and Safeguarding in CSOs, describing strategies and suggestions for managing future cases of maltreatment. Specifically, how reactive approaches associated with Safe Sport could be better managed through preventative approaches associated with Safeguarding

Prior to the Podcast: Preparing for Your Episode

Effective podcasts are engaging, authentic, creative, entertaining and convey information to the audience using terms and descriptions that they can relate to. Many of these aspects can be controlled by the guest, host or both. This worksheet is a guide to effectively communicate science through a podcast, whether you will be in the role of a guest or as a host. Although these roles may seem similar, different types of preparation are required. This worksheet is from a series of 4 worksheets on the topic of science communication: 1. Introduction to Science Communication: Pre-worksheet; 2. Writing in Plain Language: Getting Started; 3. Creating a Graphical Abstract: 10 Steps to Start; and 4. Prior to the Podcast: Preparing for Your Episode. These worksheets are intended for individuals interested in building their science communication skills to effectively communicate science to the public as well as other knowledge users. The worksheets were developed within the Validation, Prototyping and Manufacturing Institute (VPMI) at Brock University (https://brocku.ca/vpmi/) to support the sharing of scientific findings.Created with funding through a Science Communication Skills Grant (pilot) from NSERC, “Mobilizing science from the lab to the community” to Wendy E. Ward, Brock University

The Heterogeneity of Adolescent Factors: Investigating Individual, Interpersonal, and Contextual Factors

Friendship is an essential relationship, and its importance is particularly pronounced in adolescence. While it is known to be an important peer relationship, it is both dynamic and complex, meaning there are many aspects of adolescent friendship that remain to be understood. With my dissertation, I explore the heterogeneity of adolescent friendships utilizing a combination of self- and peer-reported variables at the level of the individual, the interpersonal, and the contextual. In Study 1, I explored the relationship between individual differences and friendship change over time. Specifically, I considered the role of different HEXACO personality traits in relation to reciprocal friendship quantity, formation, maintenance, and dissolution over a one-year period. My findings suggest that while specific personality traits are not associated with friendship formation in my sample, some traits (e.g., Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience) are associated with friendship quantity and friendship maintenance. In Study 2, I investigated the potentially overlapping interpersonal contexts of friendship and aggression, comparing the concurrent outcomes of victimization and perpetration between friends to those found between non-friends. Results indicated that for both victimization and perpetration, the context of friendship alters the concurrent outcomes associated with aggression. In Study 3, I considered broad, contextual factors that may influence adolescent friendship. With a two-part study, I explored the role of a variety of social media platforms on in-person and online friendships. In the first part of the study, I employed social network analysis, with results suggesting that there is considerable, but not complete, overlap between adolescents’ in-person and online friendship networks. With the second part of Study 3, I found evidence for positive direct and indirect associations between use of specific social media platforms, the importance of technology for social connection, and levels of friendship closeness. Altogether, the three studies of my dissertation further our understandings of the heterogenous nature of adolescent friendships at different levels of analysis. These findings suggest that future research should be undertaken with this heterogeneity in mind, to help inform and promote healthy relationships in adolescence