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UNB Scholar is an institutional repository initiative of UNB Libraries intended to collect, preserve, showcase, and promote the open access scholarly output of the UNB community. Use UNB Scholar to explore specific collections, or search all content in the repository. Material submitted to the repository will also be freely discoverable online through Google and other major search engines.
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Recent Submissions
The economic effects of carbon tax policy in British Columbia
(University of New Brunswick, 2024-07) Xu, Zhaoran; Yevdokimov, Yuri
This study examines the impact and underlying mechanisms of carbon tax policy on employment in British Columbia using data for 10 Canadian provinces spanning from 1997 to 2021 and a Difference-in-Difference (DiD) model. Our findings reveal that under reasonable carbon tax rates, the imposition of such taxes stimulates increased investment in clean technology research and development by enterprises, leading to a significant reduction in carbon emissions. However, the influence on economic development appears to be statistically insignificant. Moreover, the rate of adjustment in carbon tax rates plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainable economic growth. As a result, to attain a steady-state economy under carbon emission constraints, policymakers should consider a balanced approach to carbon tax rate adjustments.
Species diversity, geographic distribution and phylogenetic context of rhodolith-forming coralline red algae in British Columbia.
(University of New Brunswick, 2024-07) Taylor, Keelie; Saunders, Gary W.
Rhodolith collections in British Columbia (BC) have historically been limited and published regional species diversity data are poor. To address this, BC rhodolith collections were barcoded with the markers COI-5P, rbcL-3P and psbA to identify unique genetic groups, which were placed into a phylogenetic context with other coralline algae and observed anatomically. Six non-geniculate rhodolith-forming species were uncovered: Boreolithothamnion astragaloi sp. prov., Boreolithothamnion colliculosum sp. prov., Boreolithothamnion phymatodeum, Boreolithothamnion soriferum, Boreolithothamnion tanuense sp. prov. and Rhodolithia gracilis gen. et. sp. prov., which has three varieties. Of particular interest, ITS sequences showed the variety Rhodolithia gracilis var. gracilis x ramosa var. prov. to be a hybrid of the other two varieties. Unexpectedly, rhodolith-like specimens of geniculate Calliarthron tuberculosum and Bossiella sp. 1heteroforma were also uncovered. While understanding the full extent of BC rhodolith beds will require additional sampling, these findings indicate that the rhodolith flora is widespread and diverse in BC.
Is the diel cycle of metabolic rate in mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) affected by near infrared lighting used for daytime and nighttime video recordings of behaviour?
(University of New Brunswick, 2023-04) Trembley, Annie Matilda; Speers-Roesch, Ben
Spontaneous activity, which is the routine volitional movements of an animal, is a fundamental behavioural trait that commonly shows a strong diel cycle in animals. Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) are an important estuarine fish, with a historically documented diurnal diel cycle (i.e., being more active during the daylight hours). Recent laboratory studies, however, have reported that mummichog have a free-running (i.e., similarly active regardless of time of day) or nocturnal diel cycle of activity (i.e., more active at nighttime). In the laboratory, activity is often recorded using near-infrared (NIR) lights to illuminate the fish so that a NIR sensitive camera can visualize and record activity across the normal light-dark periods of the 24-hour day. A proxy for activity, when we cannot measure it directly, is whole-animal metabolic rate (MO2) because movement is correlated with oxygen consumption rate. Since NIR light is close to the visible light spectrum, and certain fish show some sensitivity to NIR, its use could explain the uncertainty about the diel cycle of activity in mummichogs. To determine if NIR lighting can influence diel cycles of activity, I measured MO2 of mummichogs over four-day (Experiment 1) or six-day (Experiment 2) periods with alternating on-off regimes of NIR lighting: NIR off-on (two days each) for Experiment 1, or NIR off-on-off (two days each) or the reverse (on-off-on) for Experiment 2. NIR lights did not influence the diel cycle of MO2, which strongly suggests that mummichog do indeed have a nocturnal, but relatively free-running, diel cycle of activity. NIR illumination is a suitable method to visualize mummichog during light-dark diel cycles.
Providing Endophytic Fungi with Taxonomic Classifications Using DNA Taxonomy and DNA Barcoding
(University of New Brunswick, 2023-04) Oh, Hannah; Gray, Christopher
Accurate taxonomic classifications are essential when conducting research about an organism. Over the years, the discovery of DNA sequence-based classification techniques (DNA barcoding and DNA taxonymy) have revolutionized this process. The Natural Products Research group (NPRG) has a library of fungi that is used to isolate bioactive molecules. In order for the NPRG to communicate the results of their studies, it is critical that the fungal isolates are provided with accurate taxonomic classifications. Therefore, this study provided fungal isolates from the NPRG’s fungal collection with taxonomic classifications by using DNA barcoding in conjunction with DNA taxonomy. In doing so, 300 of the NPRG’s fungal isolates were grouped into 158 taxonomic families.
Education and training for infection prevention and control provided by long-term care homes to visitors: A scoping review in partnership with Loch Lomond Villa
(University of New Brunswick, 2024-07) MacLean, Rachel Florence Hawkins; Durepos, Pamela
Historically, visitors are restricted in long-term care homes during infectious outbreaks to decrease virus transmission to vulnerable residents. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic highlighted the negative consequences that visitor restrictions have for both residents and families, further complicated by the paucity of guidance for infection prevention and control education and training for long-term care visitors. In partnership with Loch Lomond Villa, a scoping review of infection prevention and control for visitors in long-term care was conducted to understand ways to mitigate the risk of infectious agents while upholding person-centered care. This report presents the results of a scoping review aimed at mapping available evidence on what infection prevention and control education and training has been recommended or provided to visitors in long-term care, and what, when, and how it is delivered.