Production of Volatile Fatty Acids from Food Waste

Food waste is a major environmental concern, often ending up in landfills or incinerators, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and the loss of valuable organic matter. Conventional treatment methods like composting or anaerobic digestion offer limited resource recovery, particularly in colder climates where energy demands for heating remain high. As the demand for sustainable and climate-adaptable solutions grows, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) have emerged as valuable intermediates for bio-based products such as bioplastics and biofuels This research explores the microbial production of VFAs from food waste under psychrophilic conditions (≤20 °C), presenting a low-energy alternative aligned with cold-climate needs. Compared to traditional mesophilic systems, fermentation at 17 °C resulted in slower hydrolysis but showed a distinct shift in the VFA profile, with enhanced butyric acid accumulation. Microbial community analysis revealed the dominance of psychrotolerant genera such as Solibacillus, Sporosarcina, and Paenibacillus, which supported butyrate-producing Clostridium species. These findings highlight the potential for pathway-specific adaptation at low temperatures. To improve process efficiency, substrate solubilization was enhanced using thermal-alkaline pretreatment and rhamnolipid biosurfactants, which led to a twofold increase in VFA yield (up to 4.4 g/L). The addition of rhamnolipids not only improved lipid accessibility but also favored acidogenic microbial populations over lactic acid producers, promoting more efficient fermentation. Further targeted butyric acid was enhanced through bioaugmentation with Clostridium butyricum, a known butyrate producer. Its introduction significantly increased butyric acid concentration by sevenfold (reaching 1.4 g/L), validating the approach of targeted microbial steering even under low-temperature conditions. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of psychrophilic fermentation as a sustainable platform for producing VFAs from food waste. By integrating pretreatment, microbial community insights, and bioaugmentation, the research offers a practical framework for resource recovery in cold regions, advancing circular bioeconomy goals while addressing food waste challenges

Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Systemic Sexual Misconduct: A Critical Analysis

This study offers a comprehensive examination of the systemic nature of sexual misconduct within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), a national law enforcement agency with a long history of service and public trust. Through a multi-method approach that includes legal case analyses, testimonies in reports and media accounts, and a critical review of relevant policies, this research investigates how the RCMP's institutional culture has perpetuated a toxic environment for women officers. Central to this study is the exploration of the role of hypermasculine ideals, which have shaped the organization's practices, creating a culture that tolerates and even enables sexual harassment and misconduct. The analysis highlights persistent patterns of institutional silence, retaliation against those who speak out, and the marginalization of female voices within the organization, all of which contribute to the failure to address the widespread problem of harassment Despite legal action, including multiple lawsuits and class-action cases, as well as public scrutiny, the study finds that significant cultural and structural barriers remain entrenched in the RCMP. These barriers continue to impede meaningful progress toward achieving gender equity and a safe working environment for all officers. While policy changes have been implemented in response to public outcry, they have proven insufficient in dismantling the entrenched power dynamics that protect perpetrators and silence victims. The research also examines the role of organizational leadership, identifying the ways in which insufficient accountability and lack of independent oversight contribute to the persistence of harassment within the RCMP. Drawing from feminist criminology, intersectional theory, and institutional power frameworks, this dissertation offers a critical perspective on the complexities of gendered violence in law enforcement. The study underscores the need for comprehensive institutional reform, including the establishment of stronger accountability mechanisms, independent oversight bodies, and better support systems for victims of harassment. By contributing to ongoing discussions about workplace harassment and law enforcement reform, this research provides both theoretical insights and practical recommendations for addressing the pervasive culture of sexual misconduct within the RCMP and similar law enforcement agencies across Canada

Social Movement Struggles for 'Housing for All': Case Studies of Vienna, Berlin and Toronto

This dissertation explores the paradoxical nature of the ‘housing question’—the social conditions of housing under capitalism—and how it can serve as a catalyst for social transformation. In 'The Housing Question', Friedrich Engels first outlined the central paradox—that housing as a commodity is produced to satisfy the need for shelter as well as a means to accumulate private wealth. This contradiction creates and reproduces social and economic inequalities, particularly in the form of a housing crisis. It has also led to state intervention and social activism to address market failures through the decommodification of housing—the provision of non-market housing. The central argument of this dissertation is that the paradoxes embedded in the ‘housing question’ generate democratic struggles in the form of housing activism and social movements. Using interviews and secondary literature, I conduct a comparative historical analysis of case studies in Vienna, Berlin, and Toronto to investigate the historical and contemporary forms of state management of the housing crisis. Applying Gramsci’s concept of the ‘integral state’, I analyze the policy terrain of housing provisioning across the case studies as well as the political strategies of housing movements and activism to transform the state and capital by building popular administrative capacities while providing shelter as a social need. The key finding is that the ‘housing question’ produces particular policy regimes in the form of commodified, decommodified, and partially decommodified systems of housing provision. Each typology of housing provisioning is defined by social struggles and the degree to which their political strategies advance five key features of decommodification: 1) democratic governance; 2) social ownership; 3) social financing; 4) social production; and 5) the provision of housing as a common good. This dissertation concludes with a synthesis of housing struggles and platforms in the form of a counterhegemonic program of ‘housing for all’. The findings of this dissertation will contribute to new theoretical formulations on the contradictions of housing provisioning under capitalism and the political terrain for social movements to democratize and decommodify social provisioning

Coupling Geothermal Heating with BTEX Bioremediation in the Subsurface

There has been a worldwide interest in renewable energy technologies as a means of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, mitigating the effects of climate change, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One such technology is geothermal heating, where the constant subsurface temperature is used to cool or heat building interiors via heat pumps. In Canada, the use of geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) has become a popular option for heating and cooling buildings. It is anticipated that, in the near term, most large buildings will incorporate GHPs as part of their climate control strategy. However, little is known about the environmental impacts of geothermal heating on the subsurface environment. The present thesis examined the effect of geothermal heating on groundwater flow and remediation efforts, whereby the heat generated by geothermal systems may aid in addressing urban pollution. "Geothermal remediation" could leverage the subsurface heating resulting from geothermal systems to accelerate biodegradation of certain petroleum-based pollutants at brownfield sites, while providing building(s) with sustainable heating and cooling. This idea coincides with the rising momentum towards sustainable and green remediation in Europe and the United States. To ensure that Geothermal remediation is achievable, the effect of heat on bioremediation needs to be examined. This research investigated the heat effects on the bioremediation potential of pure culture and consortia and their potential for (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene(s)) BTEX degradation as a pollutant. In the present thesis, soil microorganisms with the potential to degrade BTEX were isolated using an enrichment method from soil samples collected at different depths from geothermal boreholes. The microbes were screened and optimized for BTEX degradation at three different temperatures (15, 28 and 40 °C). The bacterial strains Microbacterium esteraromaticum and Bacillus infantis exhibited the highest degradation compared to other isolated strains and the reference strain, Pseudomonas putida. All four BTEX compounds were metabolized 2 times faster at 28 °C and 40 °C. Metabolomics data showed that BTEX was metabolized entirely to acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide by these selected strains. The catechol 1,2-dioxygenases, catechol 2,3-dioxygenases, and toluene monooxygenase enzyme activity confirmed the tol and tod degradation pathways. Furthermore, the present work offers new insights into the responses of soil microbial communities to electron acceptors under anoxic conditions, indicating that intrinsic microorganisms can be successfully stimulated for in-situ bioremediation (ISB) with electron acceptors as a supplement. The investigation revealed a maximum BTEX biodegradation of 57% by B. infantis under sulfate reduction and overall, 98% by M. esteraromaticum in combined nitrate and sulfate reduction. To understand the soil matrix influence and to mimic geothermal heating effects, small-scale soil batch experiments and continuous soil column experiments with cyclic temperature were performed. The results revealed that cyclic temperature of 5 °C to 40 °C (shallow low enthalpy geothermal temperature range) enhanced the BTEX biodegradation by 2-fold in silty loam soil (> 80%) in comparison to constant aquifer temperature (12 °C) (40%). Finally, a metagenomics study was performed on soil samples from different depths at three temperatures (15, 28, and 40 °C) to provide insight into how geothermal heat could impact the soil microbiome and its effect on bioremediation activities. Potential known strains for BTEX biodegradation such as Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, as well as some novel strains such as Microbacterium, Janthinobacterium, Methylotenera, were found to be dominant at 28 °C and 40 °C. Since microbial abundance and diversity decreased drastically at 15 °C; these findings showed the potential of geothermal heating as a sustainable heat source for ISB of pollutants

Unlocking Phytoalexin Biosynthesis Using Multigene Engineering

Plants have evolved sophisticated defense mechanisms to balance growth and immunity, with phytoalexins and lignin playing central roles in pathogen resistance. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the jasmonate repressor JAZ1 and transcription factor ANAC042 act as opposing regulators of this process. The regulation of phytoalexin biosynthesis is highly complex, and manipulating individual transcription factors has generally proven insufficient to fully activate the pathway. To address this limitation, this study investigates whether the knockout of JAZ1 in combination with the overexpression of ANAC042 can more effectively unlock phytoalexin biosynthesis. While JAZ1 knockout promoted systemic lignification under prolonged stress, while ANAC042 overexpression alone did not strongly induce phytoalexins. However, their combination enhanced accumulation of hydroxyindole-3-carbonyl nitrile and monolignols. Transcriptional analysis revealed altered regulation of WRKY33 and MYB15, suggesting that JAZ1 and ANAC042 are a part of a broader defense regulatory network. Growth-defense trade-offs showed growth penalties in all tested genotypes under Flg22 elicitation, except in ANAC042 overexpression lines, where growth was unaffected by the elicitor, highlighting the metabolic costs associated with sustained immunity. Extending these findings to soybean, a dual-gene plasmid (pGEMINI-B) was constructed to co-overexpress two positive regulators of glyceollin biosynthesis, while silencing GmJAZ1 genes. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that manipulating antagonistic regulatory factors simultaneously can unlock levels of phytoalexin accumulation that are unattainable through single-gene modifications. The underlying shifts in gene expression and metabolism driving this effect are unconventional and warrant deeper investigation, as elevated phytoalexin biosynthetic gene expression does not directly account for the observed increases in phytoalexin levels

Designing a Game of Resistance: An Approach to Cultural Misrepresentation in Educational Visuals

This thesis explores the pervasive issue of cultural misrepresentation within Ontario’s elementary school curriculum, with a specific focus on the visual content found in educational materials for grades 4 to 6. Through a qualitative content analysis of commercial and Ministry-endorsed teaching resources, this study reveals how visual narratives often reinforce Eurocentric ideologies, marginalize racialized identities, and offer reductive portrayals of culture under the guise of multicultural inclusion. Rather than fostering meaningful cross-cultural understanding, these representations tend to prioritize aesthetic cohesion, palatability, and marketability, ultimately compromising cultural accuracy and complexity. Guided by Semiotics, Critical Design Theory, and Decolonial Design Theory, this research interrogates the underlying pedagogical and design assumptions embedded in these visual tools. It argues that the erasure or tokenization of non-dominant cultures is not incidental but structurally ingrained, reflecting larger systemic inequities. In response to these findings, the thesis presents a speculative design intervention—an interactive, critical experience that visualizes and challenges cultural misrepresentation in educational media. This intervention aims not to offer solutions, but to provoke reflection, dialogue, and discomfort. Ultimately, the project advocates for a decolonial design approach that centers cultural authenticity, and amplifies marginalized voices to challenge dominant narratives and reimagine how culture is visually represented

Factors Affecting Nest Site Selection and Daily Nest Survival of Killdeer (Charadrius Vociferus) in a Highly Urbanized Environment

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) are a commonly found ground nesting shorebird within urbanized environments in North America. Killdeer population numbers have been decreasing and this study aimed to investigate their nest site selection preferences and Daily Survival Rate (DSR) in Downsview Park, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Nest survival checks were performed on Killdeer nests during the nesting period in 2023 and 2024. I also performed habitat analyses and placed motion-triggered cameras around the park to measure predator and anthropogenic disturbance rates. I found no significant difference in habitat between real nest sites and randomly selected sites, indicating no strong nest site selection preferences. DSR for nests was within range at 0.949 (27% nest success) and decreased as Canine activity rates increased. Human activity rates had no effect on DSR. There was no evidence of an ecological trap

Low-Income, Racialized Women's Experiences of Housing Access in Lawrence Heights, Toronto, Canada

This thesis investigates the experiences of low-income, racialized women in Toronto’s Lawrence Heights during ongoing redevelopment in the early twenty-first century. Grounded in an intersectional feminist urban studies framework, it examines how poverty, gender, and race shape access to affordable housing and employment, and how social networks mediate everyday challenges and sense of belonging. The study draws on qualitative interviews with residents and insights from service providers alongside social network analysis to explore housing search, employment precarity, discrimination in rental markets, housing repair issues, community safety concerns, and participation in revitalization consultations. Findings highlight multiple barriers to securing adequate housing and stable work, while showing how family, neighbours, and community ties provide resilience, mutual support, and locally specific knowledge. The thesis contributes empirically by centering the voices of marginalized women in Lawrence Heights, analytically by linking intersectionality, social networks, place, and belonging in the context of redevelopment, and materially by speaking to debates on social mix policy and urban planning in Canada

Traveling Together, Traveling Alone: Experiences of Violence and Danger for Migrating Children and Families in the US–Mexico Borderlands

This article is published under a Creative Commons CC-BY license.Decisions to migrate are based on individual and family assessments of risk and opportunity, shaped by economic conditions, risks and experiences of violence, resources, and networks, which interact with personal factors and opportunity. During the journey, migrating people may encounter threats to their safety and wellbeing from both human and natural hazards. This study drew on survey data from 305 Mexican and Central American participants who migrated into the US between 2013 and 2022 alone or with families and children. Respondents provided demographic data and answered questions about stressors that prompted their migration, dangerous experiences encountered on their journey, sources of support, and what they wished they had known. Factors that influenced migration included economic stressors such as loss of job and poverty, witnessing or experiencing interpersonal violence or state violence such as kidnapping or threats to self or family, and environmental factors such as natural disasters. Approximately a third of participants traveled with their children, parents or siblings. Younger migrants and migrating people traveling with children reported significantly higher likelihood of encountering dangers during migration. Implications for supporting migrating children and families who have encountered violence and trauma are discussed, as well as limitations of the research

Tracing the Roots of Racial Profiling: Gender Bias, Socio-Economic Factors, and Police Encounters With Black Youth in Toronto's Eglinton West

This study critically investigates the intersection of race, gender, and socio-economic status in shaping the policing experiences of Black youth in Toronto’s Eglinton West, with a specific focus on the Toronto Police Service’s 13 Division. Drawing on Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality, this research explores how systemic biases, urban spatial politics, and institutional practices contribute to the over-policing and criminalization of Black youth in a historically Black neighbourhood undergoing rapid socio-economic transformation. Through a mixed-methods approach, including an in-depth conversation with a community worker and historical-spatial analysis of census data, this study provides insight into how enduring stereotypes of Black masculinity and the invisibilization of Black femininity produce distinct forms of state violence. These experiences are compounded by economic marginalization, racialized surveillance practices such as carding, and the erosion of community spaces due to gentrification. A comparative analysis with Jane and Finch highlights how policing dynamics and community experiences differ across historically Black neighbourhoods in Toronto. While Eglinton West has experienced significant gentrification and displacement pressures, Jane and Finch’s high-rise environment shapes distinct patterns of surveillance, social isolation, and community resilience. Contrasts in local infrastructure, social spaces, and cultural hubs reveal how the urban environment interacts with systemic biases to produce varied forms of state violence and community coping mechanisms. By situating these policing practices within broader historical and policy frameworks, the research identifies how racial profiling persists despite legal reforms and public scrutiny. Ultimately, the study offers evidence-based policy recommendations centred on equity, community empowerment, and transformative justice, highlighting the need for structural change in both policing and social investment to address the compounded vulnerabilities faced by Black youth in urban Canadian contexts