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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of contact tracing as a tool for controlling the spread of the virus, but it has also raised concerns about the privacy and security of personal information. Blockchain technology, with its immutability and security features, has the potential to address these concerns. However, traditional blockchain solutions may not be sufficient to protect sensitive personal information, especially when it comes to interoperability with other chains that may have different privacy standards. Cross-blockchain technology, such as the interoperability feature of the Polkadot network, allows for the creation of a decentralized and distributed contact tracing system that can be used by multiple organizations and jurisdictions while ensuring privacy. This research examines the technical challenges and potential solutions of using cross-blockchain technology for interoperable and scalable digital contact tracing. In this research, we proposed a solution using the Polkadot network, where the personal and contact information is stored on a blockchain, accessible only to authorized parties. The use of cross-blockchain technology and encryption would ensure that sensitive personal information is protected and that only authorized parties can access the data. Additionally, the data on the private blockchain would be shareable with other health authorities or other blockchain networks by using the interoperability feature of the Polkadot network. Overall, this thesis seeks to demonstrate the potential benefits and limitations of using cross-blockchain technology for digital contact tracing applications and highlights the importance of further research and development in this area by providing recommendations for implementing this technology. With the right approach, it is possible to create a contact tracing solution that is both effective and respects the privacy of individuals.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of contact tracing as a tool for controlling the spread of the virus, but it has also raised concerns about the privacy and security of personal information. Blockchain technology, with its immutability and security features, has the potential to address these concerns. However, traditional blockchain solutions may not be sufficient to protect sensitive personal information, especially when it comes to interoperability with other chains that may have different privacy standards. Cross-blockchain technology, such as the interoperability feature of the Polkadot network, allows for the creation of a decentralized and distributed contact tracing system that can be used by multiple organizations and jurisdictions while ensuring privacy. This research examines the technical challenges and potential solutions of using cross-blockchain technology for interoperable and scalable digital contact tracing. In this research, we proposed a solution using the Polkadot network, where the personal and contact information is stored on a blockchain, accessible only to authorized parties. The use of cross-blockchain technology and encryption would ensure that sensitive personal information is protected and that only authorized parties can access the data. Additionally, the data on the private blockchain would be shareable with other health authorities or other blockchain networks by using the interoperability feature of the Polkadot network. Overall, this thesis seeks to demonstrate the potential benefits and limitations of using cross-blockchain technology for digital contact tracing applications and highlights the importance of further research and development in this area by providing recommendations for implementing this technology. With the right approach, it is possible to create a contact tracing solution that is both effective and respects the privacy of individuals.

Mechanical ventilators are an important lifesaving medical device and because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were in a massive demand for them to help the patients most severely affected by the disease. A large number of open-source hardware ventilator projects were established during the pandemic, most of which did not provide sufficient information on the design of their control systems. In this thesis, a model-guided extremum seeking control scheme is proposed for use on a open-source hardware ventilator design. The performance of the control scheme is intended to not be significantly affected by changes to the patient, nor to variations in the ventilators geometry. To test the robustness of the model-guided extremum seeking control scheme to patient variation, a prototype ventilator was built, using the hardware design from one of the open-source hardware ventilator projects, and experiments were conducted using a test lung. In this process it was determined that the control scheme was able to achieve its goal of converging unto a targeted volumetric flow rate during inspiration for all volume-controlled ventilation tests performed. To test the robustness of the model-guided extremum seeking control scheme to variations in the ventilator design, a numerical model was created that replicates the experimental device. The numerical model was able to reproduce the experimental results with a 16% difference for the tidal volumes and a 14% difference for the positive end expiratory pressures. Various ventilator parameters were investigated, and it was found that the only geometric parameters that had a significant effect on the ventilators performance were the diameter of the main ventilator piping and the length of the expiratory piping. Through all the tests performed via the numerical model, the model-guided extremum seeking control scheme was always able to converge upon the target volumetric flow rate during inspiration.

Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) thrive in close cohabitation with humans and carry a diversity of pathogens of public health and veterinary significance. This thesis was both an evaluation of zoonotic pathogen surveillance through partnerships with pest control professionals and an investigation of the ecology and epidemiology of rat-associated and emerging zoonotic pathogens in Norway rats. While zoonotic pathogen occurrence is well-documented in Norway rats in some regions, there are significant challenges associated with field studies of urban rats and a paucity of knowledge on the presence and ecology of these pathogens in Ontario. Based on a sample of rats collected by pest control professionals in Windsor, Ontario, I determined that pest control sourced carcasses were in adequate condition for the collection of a variety of tissue samples that could be used for surveillance of a range of pathogens. After establishing this as a feasible method of disease surveillance, I continued to collaborate with pest control professionals working in southern Ontario to investigate two emerging zoonotic pathogens: SARS-CoV-2 and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Norway rats from southern Ontario. We did not detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in any rats tested; 1.4% (2/138) were seropositive. Hepatitis E virus was detected in 5.6% (21/372) of rats. Phylogenetic analysis of partial ORF1-derived sequences indicated that all infections were Rocahepevirus ratti genotype C1 (rat HEV), which has been recently reported as the cause of multiple human cases of hepatitis E. Using regression analyses, I examined environmental and sociodemographic factors and their association with two rat-associated zoonotic pathogens (i.e., Leptospira interrogans and Bartonella spp.) in Norway rats from Windsor, Ontario. Leptospira interrogans and Bartonella spp. were detected in 12.7% (32/252) and 16.3% (37/227) of rats, respectively. I identified associations between infection status and environmental (i.e., building density, population density, and uncollected garbage) and sociodemographic factors (i.e., median household income and proportion of dwellings built in 1960 or before). This thesis adds to our current understanding of rat-associated and emerging zoonotic pathogen distribution and ecology in Norway rats. 2024-05-11

Livestock farming serves to support human sustenance and livelihood, but these systems also emit atmospheric particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and ammonia (NH3), which are known respiratory stressors. Over three epidemic waves in Ontario, Canada, prolonged exposure to PM2.5 and NH3 were explored as risk factors for COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Through multilevel negative binomial principal component (PC) regression modeling, regional variations in PM2.5 were positively associated with COVID-19; the strength of this association declined as the pandemic continued. Compared to livestock farming, fuel combustion appeared to have had a more prominent role in the observed association of PM2.5 with COVID-19. There was a minor inverse association between NH3 and COVID-19, suggesting that livestock farming communities, as opposed to more urbanized communities, had a tendency toward a decreased risk of COVID-19 health outcomes; this result may reflect confounding. In this thesis, PC regression served as an effective tool for enabling a robust One Health risk factor analysis. PC regression can be recommended for studying intricate relationships in the One Health context. Centre for Advancing Ethical and Artificial Intelligence, University of Guelph

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. 51 p. The posing bias is the phenomenon explaining that individuals perceive and express emotion more in the left side of the face. This is based on the right hemisphere hypothesis, which posits that emotions are typically processed in the right hemisphere of the brain. This study aims to assess this neurological bias in cases where not all facial cues are visible in the case of widespread mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in relation to emotion expression and perception deficits. Deficits of emotion perception and expression of interest are the result of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), wherein people with ASD have a significantly harder time recognizing and expressing emotion. ASD has also been linked to the subclinical emotional processing deficit called alexithymia, which is the inability to recognize or express others’ or one’s own emotions. The current study investigated these deficits and the influence that masking has on emotion perception and expression. In the present study, we recruited 44 undergraduate students who completed handedness, ASD, and alexithymia questionnaires and participated in two tasks: a forced choice task where they were presented with images posed left or right with and without a mask, and an expression task where they posed with and without a mask after reading two scripts. Findings suggest that alexithymia may be a better predictor of emotion expression and perception deficits than ASD, and that mask wearing may modulate lateral posing, warranting further review. Student no

Across the Circumpolar North, Inuit have complex relationships with mining. In Inuit Nunangat, mining contributes significantly to the economy. In Nunatsiavut, Canada, the Voisey’s Bay mine (the region’s only mine) employs 6% of the Inuit population. Despite this, there is little research about past, present, and potential future impacts of mining on Inuit well-being or the relationship between mining and Inuit well-being. In collaboration with Inuit, this Inuit-led research sought to understand the impacts of mining on Inuit well-being from the perspectives of Inuit employees in Voisey’s Bay and their family members. First, to understand the national context, a literature review identified published research on the relationship between natural resource development and Inuit well-being. Then newspaper articles were reviewed to investigate how the media reported on the mining industry’s initial response to COVID-19 in Inuit Nunangat. Then, to understand the perspectives of Inuit employees and their family members on current and future well-being impacts of Voisey’s Bay, data were collected through 16 in-depth interviews conducted between 2021–2022 and were thematically analyzed. Results validation sessions were held with four participants and eight key Nunatsiavut Government officials in 2022 to ensure accuracy and authenticity. Results indicated the ii importance of protecting and enhancing Inuit well-being and the responsibility the mining industry holds in doing so. Inuit described a desire to live in their home community, as there is a deep sense of community, a strong connection to family, and a strong connection to the land and culture, which is vital for Inuit well-being. Employment in Voisey’s Bay has enabled some Inuit to remain in their home community. However, due to key social determinants of health (e.g., low housing availability and inadequate access to healthcare), some Inuit are utilizing the fly-in/fly-out nature of Voisey’s Bay to leave Nunatsiavut. Results also indicated the importance of long-term planning and economic diversification to avoid “boom and bust” scenarios in Nunatsiavut in protecting Inuit well-being. Given these research results, this dissertation is a call to action to ensure mining activities are conducted in a way that protects and enhances the well-being of Inuit and Indigenous Peoples. University of Guelph Aboriginal Graduate Scholarship; RBC Royal Bank Aboriginal Graduate Award; Nunatsiavut Government Department of Education; Canadian Institute of Health Research’s Environment and Health Signature Initiative

Cancers and infectious diseases are two of the most significant health problems globally and new therapeutics and prevention methods are being researched every day. Viral vectors are powerful tools that can be used to treat cancers and in the prevention of infectious diseases, in the form of oncolytic viruses (OVs) and viral vector-based vaccines, respectively. Rhabdoviruses have shown efficacy in in vitro and in pre-clinical studies as viral vectors. However, research investigating how environmental conditions affect their performance when used as therapeutics is limited. Preliminary data from our research group demonstrated that decreased temperatures could negatively affect the oncolytic ability of two rhabdoviruses, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and Maraba virus. This thesis aimed to further investigate the relationship between lower temperatures and viral vector efficacy and how cold adaptation could be used as a mitigation strategy. The interface between virus biology, cell biology, and temperature is also discussed and investigated. COVID-19 Rapid Research Fund (Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities);Innovation Grant (jointly funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Cancer Research and Canadian Cancer Society); Pandemic Response Challenge Program Grant (National Research Council Canada); Program Project Grant (Terry Fox Research Institute); Operating Grant (Cancer Research Society)

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. vii, 60 p. Previous research on dark personality traits (i.e., narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy) and pandemic behaviours suggests a relationship between narcissism and a disregard for public health interventions (e.g., social distancing, isolation, vaccination). Individuals who disregard public health measures put many other people at risk of contracting COVID-19, potentially leading to several health-related complications, added burden on limited health care resources, or even death. The present study aims to examine the relationship between narcissism and pandemic attitudes and behaviours using a population representative sample of 5,812 participants from Canada and the United States. Participants were recruited via Qualtrics and were asked to complete a survey which assessed levels of narcissism, entitlement, non-adherence to nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPI), COVID disregard, anti-vaccination attitudes, reasons for social distancing, and COVID stress. MANOVA indicated that individuals with high narcissism were more likely to have greater levels of non-adherence to NPI, COVID disregard, COVID stress, anti-vaccination attitudes, and entitlement compared to those with low narcissism Furthermore, males displayed greater levels of non-adherence to NPI, COVID disregard, COVID stress, and entitlement, whereas females displayed greater levels of intrinsic motivations for social distancing. Lastly, men with high narcissism showed greater levels of non-adherence to NPI, COVID disregard, COVID stress, and entitlement, in comparison to women with high levels of narcissism. These finding provide a better understanding of the relationship between narcissistic traits, sex, and pandemic attitudes and behaviours and have implications for tailoring COVID-19 public health interventions based on individual difference variables. Student no

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. 85 p. Brehm's (1966) theory of psychological reactance seeks to explain why people perform behaviors that they are told not to do by someone because they value their freedom. People may also defy the source of restriction by engaging in other restricted behaviors. Recently, Reactance Theory has been applied to explain refusals to perform health related behaviors relating to COVID-19. That research found people experience state reactance when confronted with information about COVID-19 pandemic regulations or masked mandates. The purpose of the present study is to understand how people in Saskatchewan experience reactance to COVID-19 information despite Saskatchewan lifting lockdown restrictions. Eighty-two participants from the University of Regina Research Participant Pool watched a low or high freedom threat video discussing COVID-19 before completing measures. Participants were assessed for state reactance and indirect freedom restorative behavior (FRB) of COVID-19 threat denial and avoidant social media behavior. State reactance was hypothesized to be associated with indirect FRBs. The manipulation of high and low threat video conditions were generally not effective in manipulating perceived freedom threat and state reactance. Low threat video condition participants with low negative cognitions showed lower COVID-19 denial behavior that high threat condition or high negative thoughts participants. There was also a stronger preference for ignoring such videos if encountered on social media. Thus, health communicators should try to convey information in a less threatening and more attention grabbing manner. Finally, Trait Reactance was positively associated with State Reactance and negatively associated with the Big Five’s agreeableness. Student no