University of Lethbridge Theses

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    Access to sexual violence services for underserved communities in Southern Alberta
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Women and Gender Studies, 2024-02-20) Bastien, Aleah; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Williams, Carol
    This thesis examines accessibility to sexual violence services for 2SLGBTQIA+ and faith affirmed communities in Southern Alberta. My central research question was: what is the current state of accessibility to sexual violence services for underserved communities in Lethbridge and surrounding rural communities? The limited scope of inclusion within the scholarship I reviewed meant I was unable to explore a wide range of diverse experiences and how different facets of identity may contribute to increased vulnerability of experiencing sexual violence. Using a combination of praxis and embodiment as methodologies, I conducted eight individual interviews with participants who self- identified as either 2SLGBTQIA+ and/or faith affirmed. Following the completion of each interview, as well as the transcribing process, I deployed intersectional and queer theoretical frameworks to find common themes throughout each of my conversations with participants. I found common themes relating to the normalization of sexual violence, through sites of indoctrination and structures of inequity. I also found a common theme surrounding access and affirming sexual violence services in Southern Alberta. To demonstrate the commonalities identified, experiences and/or examples are pulled directly from my conversations with participants. These experiences and examples are then used to detail pathways forward.
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    The effectiveness of inflation targeting since 1990: a cross-country comparative analysis
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Economics, 2024) Amankwah, Kwame; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Rockerbie, Duane W.
    This thesis examined how Inflation Target (IT) countries have performed in terms of managing inflation and inflation volatility. The thesis also conducted a comparative analysis of inflation between inflation targets and non-inflation targets countries. A sample of 48 IT and non-IT countries and annual observations from the period 1990 to 2022 were employed. For the empirical analysis, the probit model was used to estimate the probability of inflation falling within the target band. The results suggest the lower and upper limit of the inflation rate in IT is crucial in maintaining inflation within its target band combined with a policy interest rate. The probit regression model also suggests that Sub-Saharan African countries that use Inflation Targeting on average are more likely to fall outside their inflation target band relative to the omitted zone of Oceania though not significant. Europe, Asia, and North and Central American regions were not significantly different from the Oceania zone. South American countries have a higher probability relative to Oceania of approximately 0.13 and this is the only statistically significant regional result. The empirical evidence from the volatility regression model suggests that implementing IT in countries lowers inflation volatility compared to those without IT adoption. The dummy coefficient of the IT target suggests that volatility, measured by the standard deviation of the historical inflation rate, is 28% lower for countries that use IT and is statistically significant.
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    Development of a cryogenic far-infrared post-dispersed polarizing fourier-transform spectrometer
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, 2024) Buchan, Matthew A.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Naylor, David A.; Spencer, Locke Dean
    The next generation of far-infrared space observatories will feature large (2 m to 3 m class), actively cooled (4.5 K) telescopes and high resolution spectroscopic capabilities provided by a Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS). In the absence of telescope self-emission and with access to ultra-sensitive detectors, the multiplex advantage of an FTS becomes a disadvantage if instantaneous broad spectral measurements are attempted as the photon noise associated with the astronomical source now determines the spectral noise density. The only way to reduce the photon noise is by reducing the instantaneous spectral bandwidth observed by a single detector, typically to a fraction of one percent, using some form of post-dispersing element. While there are many approaches to post-dispersion, it is widely regarded that reflection diffraction gratings are the preferred method. The efficiency of a diffraction grating varies with wavelength. At the high angles of incidence required to achieve the necessary resolving power of R ∼ 100, reflection diffraction gratings operate with high and uniform efficiency (∼ 80%) for transverse magnetic (TM) polarized light, but lower and variable efficiency (10% to 40%) for transverse electric (TE) polarized light. The polarizing encoding properties of a Martin-Puplett interferometer can exploit this strong polarization dependence by ensuring that the interferometer output presents the TM mode to the grating. The hybrid post-dispersed polarizing Fourier transform spectrometer (PDPFTS) concept is the leading candidate for a future far-infrared astronomy mission. A fully cryogenic far-infrared PDPFTS has been developed in our laboratory to gain a better understanding of the challenges presented by this novel hybrid instrument. The results obtained from this PDPFTS will be valuable in guiding the development of such hybrid spectrometers being proposed for future far-infrared space observatories.
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    Some aspects of magpie (Pica hudsonia) learning
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Psychology, 2024) LaValley, Dylan; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; Barrett, Louise
    I reviewed a method and apparatus used to establish a research paradigm studying the free-ranging black-billed magpies (Pica hudsonia) that are local to Western Canada. Corvids, like the magpie, have a long history of being fruitful model species in psychological investigations, and their relative abundance in Lethbridge affords an opportunity to conduct meaningful research in a way that is minimally invasive, cost-effective, and logistically practical. Here, I discuss the exploratory investigation of the factors that relate to magpie engagement with custom, automated feeding apparatus, after considering initial oversights in theoretical rationale and logistical failures to implement theory-driven study design that incited the necessary shift in telos. Several results (including failures) provide fruitful insight into how to better implement future investigations with the custom apparatus. In reflection, this investigation has clearly demonstrated that our apparatus affords a minimally invasive way to study the local corvid populations (both magpies and the common crow) and provides relatively high experimental control compared to typical investigations of organisms in ecological valid settings.
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    Kainai / Blood Tribe Iinnii rematriation relationality between prairie soil, plants, and people
    (Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences, 2024) Fox, Kansie M.; University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science; McCune, Jenny; Gorzelak, Monika
    Iiniiksi (plains bison; Bison bison) are ecocultural keystone species that have coevolved in sacred reciprocal relationships with Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot People) and nonhuman Saokio (prairie) relatives since time immemorial. The historic decimation of native prairie and Iiniiksi, along with the displacement of Indigenous plains peoples, disrupted this web of prairie interrelationships, creating an imbalance in the grassland ecosystem and the Siksikaitsitapi way of life. Grounded in Blackfoot Ecological Knowledge (BEK) and Siksikaitsitapi Science (SS), my research explores interactions amongst soil, plants, and people resulting from Iinnii rematriation (the return of sacred ways that centers and restores responsibilities and relationships) to Kainaissksaahkoyi (Blood Reserve / Kainai First Nation) to offer a path forward for healing these sacred relationships. I characterized soil and plant communities in nine paired ungrazed and grazed sites on the Kainai Iinnii Rangelands two and three growing seasons after Iinnii returned. I gathered Iinnii relational BEK with five Blackfoot Elders and Knowledge Keepers to better understand the social effects of Iinnii rematriation. After one year of Iinnii grazing, there were no significant differences in soil, plant communities, or the occurrence of traditional plants. Long-term monitoring is needed to capture future Iinnii effects on the landscape. Blood Tribe Land Management (BTLM) can use essential baseline data collected in this study for an Indigenous-led community-based monitoring program. Synthesizing BEK with Western Science (WS) provided invaluable insight to reconnect people to Iinnii and Saokio and guide future Iinnii reintroduction and grassland stewardship efforts.