University of Lethbridge Theses
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- ItemConnecting with nature during COVID-19: the effect of a Time on the land program on perceptions of experiences of affect and stress in adults(Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education, 2023) Greenwood, Brooke E. M.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Education; Greidanus, ElaineSocial restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, imposed significant barriers for individuals seeking mental health supports and coping resources which negatively impacted wellbeing. Over the past couple of decades, spending time in nature has become an increasingly popular coping resource for enhancing wellbeing. To bridge affordability, safety, and accessibility, Dreamcatcher Nature Assisted Therapy developed a Time on the Land therapeutic recreation program to provide a unique opportunity for individuals and families to escape the unique stressors imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and connect with nature by interacting with animals and exploring rural farm environment located in Ardrossan, Alberta. With a focus on investigating emotional wellbeing, this mixed-methods pre-post research study explored the effect of Time on the Land on perceptions of perceived stress, affect, and potential mechanisms underlying such changes in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic (July to November 2021). Data was gathered from 48 participants and datasets were compared at two points in time; baseline, and post-session after participants attended a one-hour session of Time on the Land. Significant differences in perceived stress, negative affect, and positive affect were observed. Participants reported subjective experiences of Time on the Land derived five common qualitative themes which were considered as perceived mechanisms that facilitated changes in stress and affect: (1) being immersed in the moment, (2) a psychological sanctuary, (3) a greater sense of purpose, (4) gained broader perspective, and (5) human-nature relationship. Further, mixed methods analysis provided opportunity to identify and explore implications of harnessing nature-based experiences within therapeutic, and daily settings. Findings extend previous theoretical perspectives, highlight potential new pathways of benefits, and explore how an interactive relationship between humans and nature enhances adults’ emotional wellbeing.
- ItemThe lived experience of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) support workers through the COVID-19 pandemic(Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2023) Bulmer, Sydney J.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences; Sanders, JamesThis phenomenological study explores the lived experience of support workers who have worked with clients with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through in-depth interviews with five support workers, the study aims to understand the extent to which working during the pandemic has impacted the support workers' experiences and their relationships with clients. The findings reveal that the pandemic brought numerous challenges, including the need for constant adaptation, limited ability to provide necessary support, and disruptions in routine and resources. Participants identified building rapport and trust as crucial aspects of successful relationships with their clients. The pandemic presented barriers to building trust with new clients, but pre-existing rapport mitigated some of these challenges. Clients with FASD experienced negative impacts on their well-being, including increased substance use, limited access to resources, and difficulties in maintaining self-care. Support workers faced unique challenges in advocating for the FASD population during the pandemic, stemming from limited knowledge and training on FASD, as well as disruptions in service provision and communication. Effective communication strategies and person-centered approaches were identified as essential in supporting clients with FASD. Support workers also faced significant mental health challenges, mirroring those experienced by other healthcare workers during the pandemic. This study contributes to the understanding of the experiences of support workers and clients with FASD during times of societal upheaval. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, enhanced training, and support systems to address the unique needs of this population. Practical implications include the importance of day-to-day adaptive strategies, fostering trust and rapport, effective communication, and supporting the mental well-being of support workers. Further research should explore long-term effects, evaluate interventions, and examine the experiences of clients with FASD themselves.
- ItemThe Blood song winter count: a cycle of musical compositions interpreted through the perspective of Blackfoot ritual and Indigenous storywork(Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Music, 2023) Day Rider, Sonny-Ray; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Fine Arts; Schultz, ArlanThe Blood Song Winter Count, is a collection of five (5) musical works that collectively function as sonic symbols which document my personal experience of grief and loss. These works function as ritualized emotional “time capsules” of my lived experience and are interpreted through my Indigenous knowledge inheritance of Blackfoot storywork and ritual. Although this supporting paper is meant to contextualize their creation, this document also serves a relational seed to root myself in an audiences’ soil. To fully decipher the sonic symbols that make up The Blood Song Winter Count, you must fully understand their ancestral lineage, which ultimately originates with the land and with an emotional-spiritual ecosystem within me.
- ItemExploring sulfate cycling in a mineral-soil wetland restored with wastewater(Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences, 2024) Denny, Mariya; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Bogard, Matthew J.Sulfate (SO42-) pollution is contributing to the salinization of surface waters worldwide. Wetlands are natural filters on the landscape that remediate surface water by retaining and processing pollutants. However, the capacity for wetlands to process excess SO42- from wastewater is poorly understood, especially for natural (as opposed to constructed) wetlands. Here, I explore the SO42- remediation capacity of Frank Lake, a restored, multi-basin wetland complex in southern Alberta, Canada, that is used to treat effluent from municipal and beef slaughterhouse sources. Using a combination of approaches, I show that there was limited SO42- processing throughout the wetland. Mass balances constructed for two distinct hydrologic periods showed that Frank Lake shifted from a SO42- source during wet years (2013 - 2015) to a sink during drought years (2021 - 2022). Yet I found little evidence of active SO42- processing in surveys conducted during drought years. SO42- remained the dominant form of sulfur (S) among all three basins (>95% of total S), implying little net change in the S pool. Similarly, dual stable isotope (34S and 18O) analysis showed limited isotopic enrichment among wetland basins, implying limited transformation of SO42- via microbial reduction. Sediment incubations confirmed the patterns observed with stable isotopes, showing little net removal of SO42- throughout the wetland. The preferential reduction of nitrate (NO3-) and other more energetically favourable constituents of the effluent may restrict the extent of microbial SO42- reduction throughout Frank Lake. The limited extent of emergent and submerged vegetation may also limit SO42- uptake by plants. Given the limited SO42- processing in Frank Lake, and the headwater position of this wetland complex in the broader aquatic network, my work provides context for previous reports of increasing salt concentrations documented in rivers of the South Saskatchewan River watershed.
- ItemInvestigating the structure-function relationship of anti-mitotic natural products in Canadian prairie plants(Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences, 2024) Healy Knibb, Shannon M.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Golsteyn, RoyThis thesis investigates Canadian prairie plants as sources of natural product compounds capable of inhibiting human cell division. Natural products present an opportunity to identify novel anti-mitotic compounds to address the lack of known inhibitors for many mitotic regulatory proteins. By biology-guided fractionation, we purified the natural products anemonin from Pulsatilla nuttalliana and (+)-6-tuliposide A from Erythronium grandiflorum, and this is the first report of their anti-mitotic activities. We then conducted a comparative study between pulchelloid A (from Gaillardia aristata), anemonin and (+)-6-tuliposide A, and identified unique mitotic arrest profiles, suggesting distinct protein targets and mechanisms of action consistent with the widespread relationship between structure and function in biology. The discovery of natural product inhibitors from Canadian prairie plant species holds tremendous potential for advancing our understanding of mitotic regulation and contributes to the development of targeted treatments for precision medicine.