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OPUS: Open Ulethbridge Scholarship

Open ULeth Scholarship (OPUS) is the University of Lethbridge's open access research repository. It contains a collection of materials related to research and teaching produced by the academic community.

Self-archiving your research in OPUS is one way to meet Open Access policies of granting agencies. It is important to retain your final, post-peer-reviewed drafts for submission to OPUS, as this is often the only version publishers will allow to be archived. Click here for information on the U of L Open Access Policy.

Check here for more information about OPUS.

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Recent Submissions

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    How do they get there? Where do they go? An exploration of senior administrator hiring practices and roles in Canadian academic libraries.
    (American Library Association, 2025) Eva, Nicole; Hoover, Jasmine
    The process for hiring and terms of employment of University Librarians/Deans and Associate University Librarians/Associate Deans in Canada varies widely, as does the way in which academic library administrative units are organized. Using a survey method, we asked questions on whether it is most common for libraries to do external vs internal searches for these positions; the composition of the hiring committees; the qualifications of successful candidates; and the terms and conditions of their appointments, such as whether they are able to return to the faculty ranks when their mandates are over. A survey of Canadian university libraries tried to determine commonalities and differences in these hiring processes, as well as the administrative structures of these organizations. This is not a well-studied area, so we hope to contribute to the literature on this topic and aid any academic libraries going through reorganization or changes in administration.
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    Fidgeting and first impressions: the impact of nonverbal cues on personality perception
    (Elsevier, 2026) Chertoff, Sydney; Mesler, Rhiannon M.
    Fidgeting is a pervasive nonverbal behavior that occurs across diverse social contexts and populations. While prior research has explored the role of fidgeting as an indicator of internal states such as anxiety or engagement, limited research has examined how observers interpret fidgeting behaviors when forming personality impressions of others. This preregistered study investigates the impact of fidgeting on personality trait attributions using the HEXACO-PI-R. In a between-subjects design, a U.S Prolific sample of 388 participants were randomly assigned to view a short video (avg. 56.25 s) of a game of checkers/draughts which they either viewed one of two players engaged in fidgeting (e.g., object manipulation, self-touching, foot tapping), or viewed a game in which both players remained still. Video stimuli were also counterbalanced for the sex of the fidgeter presented (Man_Fidget, n = 95, Man_Still, n = 99, Woman_Fidget, n = 96, Woman_Still, n = 98). Participants then assessed the personality traits of the observed individual. Results indicate that fidgeting significantly influenced perceptions of four of the six HEXACO personality traits: Emotionality was rated higher for the fidgeting condition (d = 0.84) while Agreeableness (d = −0.35), Conscientiousness (d = −0.65), and Openness to Experience (d = −0.50) were rated lower. No significant differences were found for Extraversion (d = −0.24) or Honesty-Humility (d = −0.11). Neither the gender of the fidgeter nor participant moderated these effects. These findings contribute to the literature on nonverbal behavior by demonstrating that fidgeting can shape social judgments in neutral contexts, with potential implications for workplace interactions, educational settings, and social evaluations.
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    Anemonin is one of two anti-mitotic activities present in extracts from the Canadian Prairie Crocus, Pulsatilla nuttalliana
    (Elsevier, 2025) Healy Knibb, Shannon M.; Lockwood, Tanner C.; Yeremy, Benjamin; Molina, Layla; Beck, Chad R.; Sagoe-Wagner, Araba; Williams, David E.; Andersen, Raymond J.; Golsteyn, Roy M.
    We are investigating plants from the prairie ecological zone of Canada to identify natural products that inhibit mitosis in cancer cells. Extracts prepared from the Canadian prairie plant species Pulsatilla nuttalliana (Ranunculaceae) exhibited anti-mitotic activity on human cancer cell lines. P. nuttalliana-treated cells acquired a rounded morphology and were positive for phospho-histone H3, a mitotic protein. Further investigation revealed that some arrested cells displayed mitotic spindles, whereas others lacked detectable spindles. Fractionation of the extract prepared from plant stems revealed two distinct anti-mitotic activities, each of which exhibited different effects on spindle organization. Using biology-guided fractionation, we isolated one of the anti-mitotic compounds as the natural product anemonin and are the first to report its anti-mitotic activity. In addition, this is the first report of two distinct anti-mitotic activities in one botanical species and contributes to a growing body of evidence that select Canadian prairie plants have a range of anti-mitotic activities.
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    Racism in southern Alberta and anti-racist activism for change
    (AU Press, Athabasca University, 2023) Hodes, Caroline; Bonifacio, Glenda Tibe
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    Registered nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases: findings from a cross-sectional survey
    (Wiley, 2026) Vandenberg, Shannon Y.; Oosterbroek, Tracy; Chircop, Andrea; Kellett, Peter
    Objective: Climate change is contributing to increasing rates of vector-borne diseases, affecting global population health. As the largest group of regulated health professionals, nurses play an integral role in climate-related health challenges. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of registered nurses in Canada related to climate sensitive vector-borne diseases. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Sample: A national online survey was distributed to practicing registered nurses, through contact with nursing organizations and regulatory bodies, as well as social media. Measurements: Three hundred and eighty-two survey responses were included in data analysis. Results: Research findings suggest that nurses’ knowledge on climate change and vector-borne diseases was limited, especially among frontline nurses and those in Western and Northern regions of Canada. There was greater knowledge of Lyme disease compared toWest Nile virus, particularly among nursesworking in endemic areas. Participants did not often consider vector-borne diseases in practice and demonstrated a lack of confidence and preparedness in addressing in practice. Conclusions: The study validates that while climate-related issues are important for nurses, nurses must be better prepared to address vector-borne diseases in practice and assume a greater role in leading change to advocate for a climate-resilient future.