University of Lethbridge Theses
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
- ItemWhat's happening with gym culture?: Exploring emerging adults' perceptions of public fitness facility users(Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Kinesiology and Physical Education, 2025) Engel, Alexander R.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Pope, PaigeWithin an emerging adult population (ages 18-25), a crucial phase for establishing enduring health behaviours, a decline in PA has been reported despite the well-documented benefits of regular exercise. Public fitness facilities (PFFs) serve as important spaces for exercise, where social dynamics, including the presence of other patrons, can shape perceptions and significantly influence one’s exercise experience (e.g., psychological outcomes and behaviours). Guided by Social Cognitive Theory, the purpose of this study was to understand what factors contribute to the debilitative presence of others at the gym among emerging adult women. To be included in this study, individuals had to identify as women between the ages of 18 and 25, have exercised within a public fitness facility within the six months prior to recruitment and be fluent in English. All participants (n = 10) completed a brief eligibility survey before continuing to their own one-on-one semi-structured interview. During the interviews, participants were asked about their exercise habits, as well as their expectations, values, thoughts, and feelings related to experiences with others in a gym. AI-generated images of potential gym-goers were used to extend the conversation and help participants identify and explain factors they perceived to hinder their exercise experience. Through the lens of a critical realist, a thematic analysis of the interviews was conducted to inductively produce two key themes: (1) Personal Insecurities Triggered by Gym Patrons (sub-themes: Low Confidence in My Exercise Abilities Around Others, Negative Feelings Occur When I Compare Myself to Others, and Social Fears), and (2) Contextual Contributors to a Negative Experience (sub-themes: Too Many People, The Negative Influence of Gender and Physique, and Undesirable Behaviours). This study demonstrated that the debilitating presence of others in a gym environment is multifaceted, extending from one’s own internal biases and emotional capacity to external impacts of the social world. Moreover, the implications of this study include proposed adjustments to various aspects of the public gym environment (ex. gym staff, layout, resources, safety), potential personal strategies to support one’s exercise experience, suggested ways for gym patrons to be facilitative and not debilitative to other’s experiences, and future research directions.
- ItemThe effects of generation anxiety on post-secondary mental health outcomes: Implications for service providers and educators(2025) Tahir, Aleena; Brenner, Charlotte; Gunn, ThelmaDespite increased access to mental health services, Generation Z reports the highest rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. Guided by Life Course Theory, this study examined how environmental, technological, and socioeconomic conditions influence youth mental health, with a focus on generation-specific anxieties related to climate change, artificial intelligence, and financial concerns. A mixed-methods design was employed, drawing on quantitative data from 586 post-secondary students using standardized mental health and anxiety scales, along with qualitative responses to open-ended questions. Pearson correlations and stepwise linear regressions revealed that financial anxiety was the strongest predictor of depression, anxiety, and stress. Eco-anxiety and AI anxiety also contributed to mental health outcomes in nuanced ways. Although proposed moderators did not significantly alter these relationships, factors such as social isolation, social support, and daily internet use were independently associated with mental health outcomes. Qualitative data reinforced these findings, with students expressing concern about financial insecurity, environmental degradation, and the impact of AI on job security. These findings highlight the need for clinicians, educators, and policymakers to develop targeted supports and policy responses that address the broader structural pressures affecting the psychological well-being of Generation Z.
- ItemComputational investigations into interactions between metal ions and nucleic acids(Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2025) Boychuk, Briana; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Wetmore, Stacey D.Metal ion contamination is an ongoing global crisis that negatively affects human and environmental health. As a result, metal ion detection and remediation techniques are required. Nucleic acids are promising tools as biosensors for metal detection. Although nucleic acid sensors have been designed for some metal ions (e.g., Cs+, Pb2+), there are metal ion contaminants that require sensing and remediation for which no sensors currently exist. Specifically, with increasing mining and usage of lithium in lithium-ion batteries, rising levels of lithium ions are present in the environment. To design nucleic acid sensing and remediation platforms, it is important to understand how metal ions interact with nucleic acids. Computer modeling can provide valuable insights into structural and binding information of metal–nucleic-acid interactions, thereby aiding the rational design of nucleic-acid-based sensing and remediation solutions for metal ions. This thesis uses different computational techniques, including ab initio (CCSD(T)/CBS), density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD), and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) to identify reliable methods to describe metal–nucleic-acid interactions, understand how metal ions interact with nucleic acids, and explore modifications that can capture lithium. The information gained from this thesis lays the groundwork for designing a lithium-specific nucleic acid platform for lithium extraction, which can also support future development of a nucleic acid sensor for lithium. Additionally, insights gained can be applied to designing sensing and extraction platforms for other metal ions, and aid development of therapeutics and materials.
- ItemExplorations of siRNA therapeutics using molecular dynamics simulations: structural impacts of 2'-ribose modifications on RNA duplex and interactions with human Argonaute-2(Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2025) Tajudeen, Ridwan O.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Sciences; Wetmore, Stacey D.RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism by which short strands of RNA, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), directly control the activities of genes through targeted gene suppression. RNAi can theoretically degrade any disease-related gene in a sequence-specific manner, thereby preventing disease. As a result, siRNA is a promising therapeutic. Indeed, drugs based on siRNA have emerged to treat various diseases, including cancer, viral infections, and genetic disorders. Despite their potential, siRNA-based therapeutics pose developmental challenges due to several inherent properties such as easy degradation in vivo and unwanted off-target effects, which reduce their potency. The introduction of chemical modifications into nucleotides has been employed to improve the drug-like properties of siRNA, with five such drugs having been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These drugs are used to treat diseases such as hereditary transthyretin mediated amyloidosis, acute hepatic porphyria, and primary hyperoxaluria type 1, and hypercholestomia. However, to rationally design improved drugs, we must know how existing versions work. Although an important step in this process is understanding the chemical structure of the drugs and other chemically-modified siRNA duplexes, this information is currently limited, primarily due to the extensive time requirements associated with experimental procedures. To bridge the gap in our understanding of useful siRNA modifications and thereby accelerate the transition from discovery and development to clinical trials, this research uses long-timescale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to analyze the structural preferences of the 5 siRNA drugs approved by the FDA, namely Patisiran, Givosiran, Lumasiran, Inclisiran, and Vutrisiran, and to examine how diverse chemical modification patterns influence the overall siRNA structure and interactions with human argonaute-2, the protein that facilitates gene suppression. My findings provide valuable insight into the changes in the structural dynamics, and interactions induced by chemical modifications, offering valuable information to assist the development of new siRNA drug with enhanced therapeutic efficacies.
- ItemProtective roles of psilocybin and eugenol in mitigating the effects of high-glucose and high-lipid treatment of human skin fibroblasts (BJ-5ta)(Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences, 2025) Norouzkhani, Farzaneh; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Kovalchuk, Igor; Kovalchuk, OlgaSkin aging, particularly under conditions of metabolic stress, is driven by a complex interplay of oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. This thesis investigates the protective effects of two natural compounds—eugenol, a phenolic compound derived from clove oil, and psilocybin, a serotonergic tryptamine alkaloid—against premature aging in human dermal fibroblasts (BJ-5Ta) exposed to high-glucose and high-lipid (HGHL) conditions (25 mM glucose and 400 µM palmitic acid). Both compounds were assessed using co-treatment and post-treatment approaches. A wide range of assays, including MTT, β-galactosidase staining, qPCR for inflammatory and ECM-related genes, flow cytometry for apoptosis and cell cycle, and wound healing assays, were employed to evaluate cellular viability, senescence, inflammation, and ECM remodeling. Eugenol treatment significantly reduced oxidative stress, inflammation (notably IL-1β, COX-2, and TNF-α), and cellular senescence, while upregulating ECM components such as COL3A1 and elastin (ELN). Psilocybin also preserved cell viability, reduced apoptosis, mitigated senescence markers, downregulated IL-1β, IL-6, and COX-2, and promoted ELN expression under HGHL-induced stress. Together, the findings demonstrate that both eugenol and psilocybin exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-senescent effects, helping to preserve dermal fibroblast integrity and function under metabolically stressful conditions. These results highlight the therapeutic potential of natural bioactive compounds in preventing or delaying skin aging and pave the way for future clinical research on their use in dermatological applications.